THE BAD GUYS IN: raising princess

Love yourself

(A request from AlicornNorth )

The cafeteria buzzed with chatter as Princess and her friends, Claudine, Eddie, and Kira, sat together at their usual table. The topic of the day was Picture Day, which was just five days away.

Claudine, her usual upbeat self, was already brainstorming outfits. "I think I'll go with something bold for Picture Day! Maybe a bright red dress or something that screams 'confidence.' What about you, Princess?"

Princess smiled and shrugged. "I don't know... maybe something simple. I've got a new jacket, so I might just wear that."

Kira chimed in, "I'm still debating between my new skirt or just a good old comfy hoodie and jeans. As long as I look good, right?"

Eddie laughed, "Just make sure we all look good so we don't embarrass ourselves. A picture lasts forever!"

As they joked and laughed, a voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.

"Hey, Princess," a girl named Trish called out, her tone dripping with disdain. "Did you even bother brushing your hair this morning? It looks like you just rolled out of bed. I mean, honestly, with those parents, no surprise." She shot a pointed glance at the group, making it clear she was referring to the Bad Guys.

Princess' smile faded, and the playful atmosphere at the table shifted. Trish's words stung, and her face flushed with a mixture of anger and self-consciousness.

"What's your problem, Trish?" Claudine snapped, standing up and glaring at her. "Leave her alone."

"Yeah," Kira added, "You don't have to say stuff like that. Just because you don't have anything better to do doesn't mean you should take it out on her."

Princess' heart sank, but she tried to put on a brave face. "It's fine, guys. I'm used to it."

But deep down, the words stuck with her. Her hair had always been something that, despite how much she tried to care for it, never seemed to cooperate. Princess tugged at the ends, feeling the frustration well up inside.

Claudine, seeing how shaken Princess was, softened. "Hey, if you want, I can help you out. I've got an older sister who's amazing with hair. She could totally fix it for you, no problem."

Princess looked up at her, grateful but still unsure. "You think she'd be able to...?"

"Of course," Claudine grinned. "We'll make sure you look fabulous for Picture Day. Trust me."

The next day, after school, Princess arrived at Claudine's house, where her sister, who was a couple of years older, was already waiting. She greeted Princess with a warm smile.

"I heard you needed some help with your hair. Don't worry; we're going to make sure you look amazing."

As Princess sat in the chair, she started to relax, feeling the weight of Trish's harsh words begin to melt away. Claudine's sister worked with quick hands, pulling her hair into a sleek, well-styled look that perfectly framed her face. After a few minutes, she stepped back to admire her work.

"Look at you," Claudine's sister said. "You look great. Now you're ready for Picture Day!"

Princess smiled in the mirror, her confidence returning. "Thank you so much. I really needed this."

"You're welcome," Claudine's sister replied with a wink. "Just remember, it's not about the hair. It's about you."

Claudine added, "Yeah, and Trish can go mind her own business. You're beautiful just the way you are."