CHAPTER 3

Better Together

The minute Dexter left, Cerise climbed out from under the clothes. She felt bad about not helping Dexter. Now I feel like a beast, she thought miserably. But she just couldn’t take the chance of Dexter seeing her wolf ears. Cerise felt fairy stressed out, and she needed a break from worrying about becoming Beauty and about Dexter finding out her secret. She knew she just needed to relax, and that nothing made her feel more herself than being at home. It was time to go outdoors.

She grabbed the pink sheet off her bed and quickly concocted a makeshift hood. It was tied kind of lopsided and didn’t really stay on straight, but at least she could leave the castle for a while with her ears safely covered. She found a skirt that was more comfortable than her big poufy dress and quickly slipped it on. Now she was ready to run.

All Cerise needed was a basket stuffed with snacks to keep her full while she was out. She was still a Hood ever after all! But when Cerise walked into the kitchen, she found Dexter fumbling around, trying to pick cookies off the floor with his huge paws. Every time he managed to grab one, he’d press too hard and it’d become a pile of crumbs.

“Here, let me help you with that,” Cerise offered, and started to gently pick up the cookies one by one.

“Thanks, Cerise,” Dexter said gratefully. He next tried picking up some eggs, but that was even more of a disaster. Soon his furry paws were a big, gooey mess.

“Scrambled eggs, anyone?” Dexter joked.

Cerise laughed with him. “Why don’t you leave the picking-up stuff to me?” Cerise told Dexter. She handed him a mop. “You can help me mop up the floor.”

“Ah! That I can do,” Dexter said. Soon the kitchen was spotless and gleaming again.

Once everything was in place, Cerise looked around. “We make a pretty good team,” she observed.

“Yes, we do,” Dexter answered with a smile.

Then Cerise spotted a pretty little basket and remembered why she’d come down there in the first place. Dexter seemed okay now, and she was sure he’d be fine on his own for a while as the Beast. He was a Charming, and Charmings were meant to be princes and princesses… unlike the Hoods and Badwolfs.

“So, Dex… I think I’m going to pack a basket, take a walk…” Cerise said awkwardly.

“Oh, okay. I guess I’ll just hang out in the gardens,” Dexter replied and he slumped out of the room.

Cerise hoped she was right that Dexter would make a great Beast without her help, and she started to make her way out of the castle with her freshly packed basket. But just as she arrived at the front gate, a strange noise made her stop in her tracks. Cerise looked around and discovered Dexter sitting alone in the garden, trying to howl and failing horribly. Cerise stifled a giggle. Dexter’s attempt at a howl sounded like a hungry baby goat! She shook her head as she quietly turned the handle. But as she took one last quick look at Dexter, she stopped herself. His head was buried in his hands and he looked so upset. Maybe I was wrong about Dexter. I can’t leave him here alone; I just can’t, Cerise thought. At least I can teach him to howl. She shut the front gate, turned around, and walked to the garden.

“You know, that howl sounded kinda pathetic,” Cerise joked as she sat down next to Dexter. Dexter looked up, and Cerise was startled—were those tears in his eyes? “I was only teasing,” she told him. “I’m sorry… just tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can help.”

Dexter let out a heavy sigh. “It’s not you,” he said. “It’s this fairytale.” He waved a furry paw at the castle grounds. “I’m hexpected to be this gallant Beast. But it’s just not me. It will never be me. And it just reminds me how I’ll never be half the prince my brother, Daring, is. I’m not brave or strong or great at sports. I’m clumsy and I get scared of things and I’m better at studying than at sports! Does that sound like a fairytale prince to you?”

“I think there are all sorts of fairytale princes, and none are better than the others,” Cerise said honestly. “But I can see how it must be tough to live up to the Charming family name and reputation,” she added softly. “It’s hard to feel like you have to be something you’re not.”

“There’s a reason Daring is destined to be the Beast, and I’m not,” Dexter continued. “I can’t even howl, as you heard before.”

Cerise realized that Dexter didn’t feel at home here, either. He didn’t think he could be the Beast, just the same as Cerise didn’t think she could be Beauty. And that made Cerise feel a little better. At least she and Dexter understood each other.

“I get it, Dex,” Cerise told him. “How do you think I feel?” She stuck out her foot and showed him her fancy heels. “I mean, just look at these shoes!”

“They’re pretty,” Dexter said. “What’s so bad about them?”

“They’re pretty, yes, but do you think I can wear them when I run through the woods and pick wildberries?”

“But you’re a princess in this fairytale,” Dexter reminded her. “I’m sure someone can pick berries for you.”

“I really just want to do it myself,” Cerise said. “I want to run through the woods and pick my own berries and wildflowers. I want to chase rabbits and squirrels. I want to—”

“Okay, I get it, I get it!” Dexter laughed. “So I’m not a proper prince, and you’re not a princess. What do you think we should do? Where do we go from here?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Cerise admitted. “But wherever we’re going, I know we’re going together. Two heads are better than one and all that. Deal?” Cerise put out her hand for Dexter to shake.

“Deal,” Dexter said with a chuckle, and he awkwardly shook her hand with his paw. “I’m glad you’re here, Cerise,” Dexter said.

“And I’m glad you’re here, too,” Cerise told him. They both sat quietly for a moment.

Suddenly, Dexter’s furry face broke out in a sly grin. “I have to ask you something…” he said, pointing to the sheet tied around her. “Are bedsheets really what princesses are wearing this season?”

Cerise let out a little yelp as her hands quickly flew to her head. She had completely forgotten she was wearing a bedsheet! Dexter seemed like a fairy nice guy, and she was happy to get to know him better. But she couldn’t show him her wolf ears… she just couldn’t.

“I know I must look a little silly,” she said slowly, “but, um, I don’t feel comfortable without my hood. And this”—she gestured to the sheet—“was the best I could come up with.”

“Well, I think that’s something I can help you with,” Dexter offered. “Let’s look through your closet together. I’m sure that we can find something more comfortable for you than a bedsheet. Growing up with a princess for a sister, I know a thing or two about princess fashions,” he told her shyly.

“Thanks, Dex,” Cerise said appreciatively. “And I can help you, too. With a little practice, I’ll have you howling like a pro.”

“Really? You know how to howl?” Dexter asked.

“Sure. Listen to this.” And Cerise threw her head back and howled with all her might. Dexter was shocked—and impressed.

“Wow. A Hood who can howl—that’s not something you see every day. Where’d you learn how to do that?” he asked.

“My dad showed me,” Cerise said without thinking. “He was a champion howler.”

“A champion howler?” Dexter said dubiously.

“Yes,” Cerise said. “It was, um, a hobby of his. And I can teach you, too.” Cerise stood up and stretched. “But first, let’s have a little race. Beauty versus the Beast.”

“A race?” Dexter asked. “Why?”

“Running is great for relieving stress,” Cerise explained. Then she pointed straight ahead. She kicked off her satin heels. “Let’s race to that little clearing in the woods and back here. First one back wins. Ready, Beast?”

“Ready, Beauty!” he answered.

“On your mark… get set… GO!” And they took off. For a moment, Cerise considered slowing down a bit, but she couldn’t help herself. It just felt so good to run with all her might! When the race was over, it wasn’t even close. Cerise won!