"Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they're big, flashing signs that something needs to change."

-Gretchen Rubin

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Elena stared at the script in her hand with a groan. She wished that her lines would automatically get inside her head without her having to memorize them.

She glanced at Ivan who read from the script he had with utmost concentration. She could guess which character's lines he was reading as his facial expressions changed every now and then.

She noticed Max standing by Kate's side, explaining how she had to vocalize as Aurora. Kate's left palm shook, and she turned it into a fist repeatedly to get over her fear.

Her right palm was enclosed in Max's left one, and Elena noticed how he unconsciously circled his thumb over her pale skin.

Elena smiled as she watched them, and dropped it when she heard Ivan hollering her name. With a groan, she sauntered forward, hoping to waste as much time as possible.

Ivan's glare in her direction made her quicken her steps, but someone's foot blocked her way. Before she could balance herself, she stumbled forward and crashed straight into Ivan.

Elena looked behind to see Kate winking at her, and watched her resume listening to what Max had to say.

Elena turned to face Ivan. His arms had caught her by the shoulders, his eyes gazing at her with a softened look.

He removed his hold from her shoulders and held her palm gently. She bit her lip and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous smile grazing her otherwise bold face.

She found him inching towards her, till their noses almost touched. She gasped slightly and took a step back, only to find him creeping closer.

She looked into his blue eyes, which looked like a calm sea without any anger or annoyance in them.

Her gaze flickered to his lips, soft pink ones that looked so kissable under the shadow of his height. She resisted the urge to kiss him and stared at the ground to distract her infatuated self.

She found him gently tucking the same strand of hair behind her ear. He slowly brought his lips near her ear, making her fidget.

"At least I don't have to teach you how to blush," he whispered with a smirk, making goosebumps rise on her arms.

She rolled her eyes and punched his shoulder lightly. "Dog."

"What? No witty comebacks, Snarky?"

When she stood quietly, he continued with an amused tone, "Glad that you know who's the leader, and that he deserves to be listened to."

He smiled mischievously at her, his teeth revealed as he grinned slightly for a second.

"Million-Dollar smile," she whispered, her lips pulled into a wide smile.

"No, a zillion," he corrected immediately, his hand still holding hers. His grin dropped when he saw her widened eyes.

"You remember..."

She tried to hold him back by enclosing his palm tightly, but he had let hers go. Without any explanation, he walked away with a shake of his head.

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The practice continued with Ivan being his usual icy self. He let each of the students repeat their lines and practiced his own.

Elena felt confused. She wanted to ask whether he was pretending to not recognize them or was everything true?

He was avoiding her, she could tell. When she found him spending way too much time with the others, she glanced around in boredom.

She found Ashley looking at the trio of Sarah, Riva, and Ruby, practicing the Godmothers' roles amongst themselves. Their giggles and closeness made it look like they were best friends.

Ashley's blue eyes focused on them longingly. She shook her head and distracted herself by glancing in Elena's direction.

Elena assuming that Ashley would glare at her was ready for it, but there wasn't any.

Instead, she found Ashley's eyes brimming with sadness. Among all the other cheerful students, she was standing alone except the script's company.

Some people wish to disappear from sight, while others hope that someone would care enough to find them.

Ashley's eyes portrayed sadness that demanded pity; anger that required love, and hopelessness that begged for hope.

Elena furrowed her eyebrows as Ashley smiled at her through her sadness, and waved.

Her otherwise mask of haughtiness was removed briefly as she surely must have felt stuffy.

Elena waved back, surprised by Ashley's gesture. She assumed that the queen bee was sad because her minions, Riva and Ruby, weren't with her anymore.

She also wondered if the minions had found a new queen.

She sauntered in Ashley's direction to ask her about this, but she had already sprinted out of the auditorium.

Before she could comprehend what had happened, Kate almost crashed into her, hiding behind her with a giggle.

Max and a small boy sprinted in their direction with big grins.

The boy was Sarah's brother and had been chosen by Ivan to play Prince Philip's younger version.

"You can't run now," the boy said in between huffs, the grin intact on his small face. He and Kate ran around Elena in circles, and she shook her head with a smile.

Max watched this with a small smile, but Elena could say that it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Kate huffed after a while and stopped running, but the boy slipped and fell down on his knees.

Max immediately came over his side and took him in his arms, his smile long forgotten as his face portrayed anxiousness.

"Are you okay?"

"You're okay, okay buddy?"

"You're okay, right?"

"Don't worry, this won't hurt much," Max spoke without a pause, his green eyes helplessly worried.

He ripped the sleeve of his shirt and tied it around the small boy's knees. The boy was then hugged close to him.

The twins saw Max rubbing the boy's back, his lips still moving as he uttered soothing words.

"He can't see people in pain," Elena commented with a sigh.

"I wonder what made him this way," Kate whispered with a frown. "It seems as if he's trying to calm himself down."

The twins found his back turned to them, the boy still in his arms. He rocked himself in an attempt to put the boy to sleep.

"People like him are rare," Elena whispered in between Max's lullaby.

His voice was so soothing that the twins closed their eyes in delight, almost swaying slightly with the rhythm.

What they missed was the carpet soaking his rapid tears.

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Hey, people! 💓 How are you all doing? :D I'm back with a new update. I know I'm late, but I was trying to make most of this chapter sad.

And I know the length is short, but the next one will be longer hopefully. :)

Did you find this chapter sad?

Yes?

Somewhat?

Not at all?

Do you think Ivan knows the twins and is pretending not to? Or he doesn't know them at all?

What do you think is behind Ashley's gesture? She appears sad too, any idea why?

Any guesses what might have happened with Max before? This is another incident which has made him anxious.

Most importantly, did you like this update? Yes/No/Maybe?

TAM received its first fan-made cover! This beautiful cover is made by my new friend _Enchanted_Princess. Isn't it lovely? Thank you so much for this lovely gift, dear reader. ❤❤❤

If you like my chapter and the previous ones too, kindly do leave a vote by clicking on the star sign below. A vote will let me know that you appreciate what I write. Thank you so much to the people who are reading my book regularly. It means so much. 💖

Sneak-Peek of Episode 25:

Ever imagined Ashley having a decent conversation with the twins? To know more, stayed tuned. 😆

Keep smiling! 💕
Lots of love ❤💙
Sakina

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