Hexed Hearts
Chloe went through her usual routine, but as she glanced at her art project, she realized she still had about a fourth of her collage left to finish. She had fallen asleep without even realizing it the night before.
Sighing, she grabbed a note, jotted down a few words, and placed it alongside a bowl of cereal.
The note read:
Thanks for carrying me yesterday. I’d still be napping in that blasted stool in the art room if it weren’t for you darling.
Question- do you remember our first date, Rose? I was thinking about it yesterday, and since your birthday is coming up on Valentine's Day, I have a surprise for you linked to it.
Also, I think I’ll have to sleep in my dorm tonight before Ella sends a search party. Bridget's a decent liar, but Ella reads her like a book. Sorry.
Chloe folded the note neatly and placed it on the desk next to Red’s bowl. Then, she set to work on finishing her collage before she’d inevitably fall asleep again.
Red yawned, petting Cheshire as she rushed to the bathroom. But she paused mid-step when she realized the time. It was then that the small details caught her attention. The warmth in the bed beside her was gone, the toothpaste still on her toothbrush, her hairbrush neatly laid out. And when it came to breakfast, everything was already settled.
As she sat down to eat, she unfolded the note Chloe had left for her that morning, her eyes skimming over the words. She scrunched it up, then noticed Chloe had left her glasses behind. Red's heart skipped. She was stubborn about wearing them. She'd always thought glasses were a weakness—her mother had instilled that belief in her after a classmate had broken them in front of her. It was an event that left a scar on her, making her resort to contacts when she was outside and glasses only when she had to read.
Red couldn’t help but smile at the small details Chloe always noticed- the little things that made their relationship feel… different. But as she finished reading the note, a wave of disappointment settled over her. Chloe wouldn’t be joining her in their version of Eden today.
Still, Red’s mind lingered on something else- Chloe had mentioned a surprise. Now fully awake, she furrowed her brows, thinking hard. What could Chloe be planning?
Flashback
That realization made Red pout, and Cheshire, ever the comfort, licked her face, which made Red chuckle. She tossed her bowl and spork into the sink to deal with later and headed to the fridge, opening the door with a back kick from Cheshire. She lazily grabbed the milk and rushed out, duffle bag slung over her shoulder. As she pulled out her phone, she texted Chloe: "Of course I remember."
It was art class, and Red sat in her usual spot, basking in the sunlight that streamed through the windows. It was the best seat in the class, and no one dared to sit next to her. After that party, she had become like a stray cat—unpredictable and sharp, always ready to lash out. Her Wonderlandian friends, Ace and Hatter, were the only ones who knew how to handle her.
Hatter sat beside her, as he always did, but to her left, the seat remained empty. That was, until Chloe, the ever-determined overachiever, decided to take matters into her own hands. She confidently walked over and sat down next to Red, which caused a few seconds of raised eyebrows from the rest of the class. But soon, everyone returned to their work, leaving the two of them in their own bubble.
Hatter, amused by the situation, leaned in and asked with a smirk, “I’m surprised to see you over there instead of here, blueberry.”
Chloe smiled a little. “I’m just taking someone up on their offer.”
Red turned around, taking off her headphones and flashing a grin that could rival the Cheshire Cat’s. Her sharp canines were on full display as she leaned in, placing her hands on Chloe’s shoulders. “What are you doing here, geek?”
Chloe didn’t flinch. “Dunno. Just thought I could use some of that famous help on my work.”
Red raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. “Fine. One second.”
With a quick wave of her hand, she muttered a spell over her pencil. The numbers—the digits of her phone number—appeared in hex code. Red placed the pencil into Chloe’s hands, intertwining their fingers as she did.
“Since you touched it, you can keep the pencil,” Red said nonchalantly.
Chloe raised an eyebrow, glancing down at the strange numbers. “Thanks... but the hex code?”
Red just shrugged. “A little discretion never hurt anyone.”
Hatter, still watching with interest, piped up, “What help are you offering? I didn’t think you cared much for the blueberry.”
Red groaned. “Seriously, stop calling her that.” She leaned back in her seat and added, “To answer your question, it was at that party. And no, I wasn’t being nice because I had a sudden change of heart. I just didn’t want her to get caught up in something that could’ve been worse.”
Hatter was taken aback by her honesty but laughed, pulling his hat down over his eyes. “Rather unkind of you, Red.”
Red didn’t bother responding. She put her headphones back on and, with another flick of her fingers, conjured a new pencil out of thin air. Chloe giggled quietly, unable to hide her amusement at Red’s showmanship. Red raised an eyebrow at her, a faint blush coloring her ears.
“Did I just make you laugh?” Red asked, her voice low but amused.
Chloe smirked, her heart skipping. “Maybe you did.”
Red rolled her eyes, clearly trying to act nonchalant, but Chloe noticed the hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
“God, I think you’re smitten,” Red muttered, half under her breath.
Chloe, now thoroughly amused, replied, “You have a peculiar way of giving your number, Rebel.”
Red glanced at her phone, typing and deleting a message several times before finally sending it. "I’m offering a date, perhaps, to make up for our past?"
Chloe raised an eyebrow. “What kind of offer?”
Red grinned mischievously as she replied, "Maybe a picnic and we paint. I know we have at least that in common."
Chloe’s eyes softened, and she smiled. “I would be delighted, Rose.”
And just like that, Red felt a flutter in her chest, a strange warmth she hadn’t expected. It wasn’t like the spontaneous moments she usually had—it felt different. Maybe this was the start of something new.
Chloe realized, as she painted alongside Red at the Enchanted Lake, that perhaps Red was a romantic after all. Even if she did it unconsciously, it was charming in its own way. Maybe this could lead to something more. Chloe couldn’t help but smile at the thought, as they laughed together, painting timidly but closely. This time, Chloe was the one who invited Red out, and Red found the gesture unexpectedly endearing.
And that was how their first date led to many more, how they found themselves painting side by side, learning each other’s rhythms, and discovering a quiet comfort in one another’s presence.
Back in the present
As Chloe walked past with Bridget and Ella, Red leaned in just enough, her breath warm against Chloe’s ear as she whispered one word—
“Paint.”
Chloe’s steps faltered for just a second, but she didn’t stop. Instead, a slow, knowing smile spread across her lips. She didn’t turn around right away, but Red knew.
And just as she reached the door, Chloe glanced back.
Red was already watching.
For a moment, the world around them faded. No teasing smirks, no sharp words—just a quiet understanding.
Then, as quickly as the moment came, it passed. Chloe turned back, leaving with her friends.
And Red just smiled.