Oh, I'm feeling fragile can't you see
Closed my heart up like a locket
Now it's getting hard to breathe
___________________

"DID YOU want to talk about something?" I asked Carlos.

"No." He answered simply, "I just enjoy your company."

"Oh. Well, alright."

We sat down on the fallen log. A few moments passed. We were quiet, but there was not a single hint of awkwardness in the air. I liked that we were comfortable enough with each other to not feel the need to start a random conversation.

I looked around me. The green in the canvas left me breathless. The Isle was a rainbow of different shades of grey, so this was a nice change of things.

"Do you really think I can stay?" Carlos mumbled.

"In Auradon? Of course." I answered.

"Are you staying?" He asked.

The answer came to me sooner than I expected. "Yeah."

He smiled. Dude started barking, and Carlos placed him down on the floor. The small dog started rolling around in the dirt, causing Carlos and I to laugh.

"So." Carlos said, facing me, "What else don't you know?"

"Huh?"

"Well," He continued, "You didn't know what a hug was."

"I did." I corrected him, "But... I've never really... had one? That is, until Evie hugged me yesterday. I think I know everything else?"

He sat up. "Oh." He said, "What did you think of the hug, then?"

I thought for a second, feeling corny. "It was nice. But I guess I wasn't expecting Evie's, so my brain literally just shut down and I went limp."

He laughed. "It's awfully sad that hugging isn't a thing in your life."

Dude stopped at our feet, then let out a long whine. He leaped onto my lap, catching me by surprise. For a second, I had to worry if the mutt could somehow smell the weapon I have hidden under my trousers. But Dude started to snuggle and the cuteness made my thoughts scatter.

"Dude likes you." Carlos remarked, scooting closer to me.

I smiled down at the dog and started petting the top of its brown head. Carlos started resting his head on my shoulder, eyes fluttered close, smile content. I froze.

A strange feeling stirred up inside my stomach, gripping at my chest, crawling up my back like it was about to overflow. What is happening to me?

As if sensing my body tense up, Carlos moved away, and suddenly the feeling became empty, silenced.

"Did I make you uncomfortable?"

How does he come up with all these questions I don't have the answer to? My mind went blank. And instead of coming up with a response, my brain started noticing the little features on his face. The worry laced through his eyebrows. The crinkles by his eyes, and his freckles that caressed his cheeks and the top of his nose-

"Brae? You okay?"

I shook myself back to reality. "Ye- yeah, I am."

He moved a little further away. "Tell me what's wrong." He said, half demandingly.

"I don't know." I murmured, as Dude started whining again, "It was just really weird, to let you- or anyone, that close to me."

"I won't do it again." Carlos promised.

And for some reason, my heart felt heavy at those words. I didn't know what I was feeling, like my mind was grasping at the air around it for answers but found nothing. I blinked.

"I'm scared, Carlos."

The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could take it back.

"Scared?" He repeated, eyes wide, like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Like he couldn't believe the Isle Orphan is capable of being scared.

I tore my eyes away from him. I wanted to scream. I wanted to run and scream and run some more. Run away from the this world, and over the edge. This isn't how it works. I was supposed to be stronger than this. Auradon was making me weak.

"No it isn't." Carlos said.

I turned sharply towards him, causing Dude to jump of my lap. Did I say that out loud?

"Brae, Auradon is making you stronger." He continued, "It's exposing you to things you've never got to experience before. School, friendships, and lo..." He paused for a second, suddenly cautious of the words he was about to use. "and hugs." He finished hastily.

"I get it, Brae. It's like me being petrified of dogs." He looked down at Dude, who stood still, like he was listening to our conversation, "Now look at this guy. There is nothing to be scared of. Truth is, it's all in your head." He smiled at me. "True strength is vulnerability. Not running from fear, but letting it come to you. I think that's what I learnt today."

I listened attentively, letting his words soak into my skin and into the very structure of my bones. It oddly made sense to me. The idea of being vulnerable is more terrifying than being strong.

"If that's the case," I said to him, "then you are very, very strong, to stand up to your mom like that, and to hold Dude in your arms."

He broke into a grin. "I'm learning."

I nodded in agreement. "Me too."

"I think we all are."

"Speaking of being brave and strong," I stood up, "I think I owe Jay and Lonnie a visit."

The auditorium was exactly where I remembered it. Carlos had went to find Ben, Dude following close behind in his small legs. I gathered up my courage, knocked, then pushed the door open. Jay and Lonnie were in the middle of a match, both in yellow and blue sportswear and fencing helmets.

They both stopped when they heard the door creak.

"Hi." I said weakly.

Jay took off his helmet and smiled knowingly at me. "Hey."

Lonnie took hers off too.

"Do you guys have a minute?" I asked, letting the door close behind me, "I want to talk to Lonnie for a bit..."

"Sure!" Jay said, a little more enthusiastically than needed, "I need to get some water anyways." He picked up his water bottle and left.

I saw Lonnie's grip on her sword tighten, and I automatically thought about my hidden knife. But I quickly snapped out of it. I'm here to talk, not to fight.

I approached her. "I just wanted to let you know... I'm not gonna hold a grudge against you for what happened between our parents."

Lonnie looked surprised. "Really?"

"No." I almost laughed, "To be honest, I barely know much of what exactly happened. But I really don't want this to affect us."

Lonnie squinted at me, as if trying to figure me out, and I shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

She finally spoke, with a small huff. "Sorry I was being rude yesterday, walking off like that. Truth is, I didn't really know how to react to someone like you." She smiled timidly, "But you do seem pretty nice." She reached out her hand. "Friends?"

I shook it. "I thought you only shake someone's hand when you greet them. That's what Evie said."

Lonnie laughed. "This is like... making a deal, to be friends."

I grinned. "Cool."

Her smile disappeared into a small frown. "Jay told me about growing up on the Isle. So I understand if it's difficult to interact with other people."

"Thanks." I said, "Not a lot of people realize that."

Lonnie licked her lips, as if in deep thought, then picked up Jay's sword and held the handle in my way. I stared at her, perplexed.

"Wanna learn?" She asked, "Considering that you're Shan Yu's daughter, it shouldn't be too hard."

I took it out of her hand. It was surprisingly lighter than my knife, but I can't tell her that.

Suddenly, Lonnie came swinging with her sword, aiming straight at me. Taken by complete surprise, I staggered back as she continued to lunge forward. It alarmed me that we didn't have helmets on, but my instincts kicked in and I dived to my right, intercepting her move. The metal clashed. She struck from above and I blocked it with my sword, inches away from my face.

Lonnie laughed and let me go. "You're a natural."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "I am?"

"You're fast. That's good." She explained simply.

"You guys did a match without me?" Jay said as he came in, acting all offended.

"Yes." Lonnie crossed her arms playfully, "And she's a lot better than you."

"I fell once." Jay protested.

"And you're never gonna live it down." Lonnie replied, grinning, before turning to me, "You're always welcome to join us, Brae."

I smiled, a warm feeling in my chest.