;;six feet under (clarissa)

[VICTORIA ROMENZ]

It was a typical Sunday morning at Baum Academy. Victoria was in the courtyard braving the cold weather even though to her it really wasn’t that cold. They had those space heaters in the area and if she sat by one, she could play her guitar without freezing her fingers off. It may have seemed stupid to other people but it was all worth it to her for some peace and quiet. Well, as quiet as you can get in a city with over a thousand cars driving the streets.

If Victoria close her eyes and listened to just the strumming of her guitar though, it almost felt like home. She really missed New Jersey. The small town neighborhoods and all of her friends. Sure it had been years since she’d been there but she was sure the old lady across the street from her old house was still there. Unless she died. Victoria hit a sour note on her guitar and frowned. What a terrible thing to think. She had to be only sixty when they moved out. She was still there for sure. She and Victoria’s dad seemed to get along very well. They had both lost their partners at a young age. The old woman’s husband had gotten lung cancer and passed away when he was just forty. A terrible thing smoking was. She couldn’t imagine how people could still stick a cig in their mouth after seeing what it did to people.

Victoria stopped playing for a second and listened. Was something ringing? She felt around in her pockets and pulled out her phone. It was her dad’s ringtone. It slightly humored her that she hadn’t heard it in so long that she didn’t recognize the tune. She debate for a second of letting it ring out of spite but gave in and answered.

“Hello? Dad?” she said, half-expecting it to be a mistake.

“Hello, is this Victoria Romenz, the daughter of Jonathan Romenz?” said a deep voice that sounded nothing like her father’s.

She furrowed her brow and spoke a slow, “Yes.”

“Hello Ms. Romenz. I’m so glad we could finally get a hold of you. This is Sheriff Dune of the Manhattan police department. We regret to inform you that your father has been found dead. We suspect foul play and would like to get you down to the station as soon as possible.”

Victoria couldn’t move.

Your father has been found dead.

Found dead.

Dead.

A rush of images flurried through her head of her father. The stone faced, strong man who never smiled but somehow she still loved him. She felt as though the world had finally ended. The man she thought to be invincible had left this earth. He was gone. Gone forever.

“Ms. Romenz?” the man spoke. She felt he was miles away.

“Yes. I’m sorry. Please... call me back tomorrow.”

“We understand this is a tough time for you. Should we call back at this number?”

They didn’t understand shit. All they wanted was an answer.

“Yes, this number is fine,” she said in a hoarse whisper. She hung up and saw a text message from Clarissa. She must have just gotten back to her room from breakfast. Victoria didn’t even bother to read it; she just pressed call.

“Clare? I...Can you come to the courtyard?” she said sound like you girl on the other line a mere three months ago.

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

Clarissa loved Sundays. She liked Sundays because she could use them to unwind. Most Baum students she knew used them to catch up on homework because they’d slacked off all weekend. Clarissa wasn’t a slacker, though. Even after Bashful had awakened and made her spend more time shopping or socializing, she still made sure to have her homework done before Sunday. Because Sundays were her days to unwind.

It was early and chilly. Of course, it was Winter. Clarissa had yet to really worry about the weather as she’d spent all morning inside. From her dorm to the cafeteria, Clarissa didn’t really have any intentions to step outside. Even indoors, it was a bit too cold for her liking. With so many kids paying so much money to attend Baum, you’d figure they could afford turning the heat up just a bit. Or maybe it was that she was used to keeping the temperature up really high at her parents’ house. (The one she tried to avoid, it being so empty and all).

She’d been in the cafeteria for at least an hour now, eating breakfast slowly. Clarissa probably shouldn’t have brought a book; she always took ages to eat when she was reading at the same time. It wasn’t until after she realized she’d read eight chapters, Clarissa closed the book resolutely and finished her now cold oatmeal. Yuck. Maybe she’d go out for breakfast somewhere. It’d be nice to go with a friend, though. Glad to have brought her phone with her, Clarissa clicked through her contacts for somebody who would be awake by now.

It seemed obvious once she’d found Victoria in the contacts. Sending off a text asking if she was hungry, Clarissa got up to throw her trash away. It wasn’t long after she’d sent the text that her phone was ringing. Checking the caller ID, she smiled and answered, “hey Victoria, did you g—” Before she could finish, Victoria was asking if she could come to the courtyard. She sounded really upset. Clarissa frowned and nodded before realizing Victoria couldn’t hear a nod. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there right away.”

Hanging up the phone, Clarissa hurried out of the cafeteria, weaving her way through a group of students coming in for a late breakfast. She kept her book tucked inside her jacket, her arms folded tightly to fight the cold. It was definitely cooler outside than it was in and she hoped maybe Victoria wouldn’t mind going back to one of their dorms to talk. It took her a moment to find Victoria in the courtyard but once she did, Clarissa quickly sat down on the bench next to her. “What’s wrong?”

outfit

[VICTORIA ROMENZ]

Victoria would not cry. Her father wouldn’t want her to. She had to stay strong and figure out what to do next. How could he have died? She had to find out. Her mind was slowly starting to boot back up again. What did they mean by foul play? Her father was an honest respectable man. How would want to kill him? Sure, she got mad at him sometimes and he was continuously hard on her but he wasn’t like that to his friends or co-workers. They all loved him and would always talk about what a good man he was.

Though Victoria knew that people lie. Not everyone was as open and honest as the Romenz family was. Even though her father was in the legal system, things did happen that were not so legal. Victoria’s stance grew tenser and that’s when she noticed her guitar. The strings were biting into the palm of her hand. She had the sudden urge to fling it across the courtyard but was distracted when she saw Clarissa walking over to her. She instead placed the fairly expensive instrument down and attempted to relax.

“What’s wrong?”

Okay, that last one was a failure. Victoria stood there frozen for a good solid minute. Her face looked close to the color of paper. She couldn’t open her mouth to speak. Just the thought of saying the words out loud made her want to bawl, sob, scream. Anything just to let it all out. Instead, she took a deep breath and looked down at her phone.

“I just got a call,” she began. Another deep breath and a minute of pure silence. She noticed it felt as though someone had dunked her underwater. “My father was found dead.”

That’s when it really sunk in. Her father was gone. She was alone. The only child of the Romenz family and the only one. Of course her mother’s family still lived in Russia but her fathers’s parents died before she was born. She was alone in New York. Suddenly independence didn’t feel so great.

“I’m alone,” she whispered.

The wind picked up and she began to hear that familiar tune. It didn’t seem to be in her head, but all around her as if it was in the air. She just listened hoping that maybe it was her mother. She heard the tune slowly die away and humming take it’s place. That’s when Victoria looked up and saw a true princess.

“Oh! I love that song!” the girl said after she stopped humming. “Hi there, Victoria.”

“Mother?” Victoria said. She’d completely forgot about Clarissa and just stared at the woman in front on her. She didn’t look much like her mother but who else could she be?

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

Clarissa watched as Victoria carefully set her guitar down. She was sure the instrument was expensive and for all Clarissa knew, it probably held some sort of sentimental value. She was glad, then, that whatever had happened hadn’t upset Victoria enough for her to damage the guitar. Thought, for all she knew, Victoria was just very good at fighting her emotions. “Victoria…?” Clarissa asked quietly once the redhead had failed to say anything – or even move, for at least thirty seconds. For another half minute, she was silent.

A… call. Clarissa was already preparing for really bad news. Calls were more often than not bad things, especially when one looked as upset as Victoria did. The next minute of silence didn’t help. She worried even more now over Victoria. Her hands had curled into fists and she was leaning forward, as if this would prompt Victoria to continue. … Clarissa wished she hadn’t. After she’d gasped, her hands flew to her mouth and her eyes grew wide. “Ohmygod.” Clarissa couldn’t think of a worse word to have said.

Lowering her hands and blinking slowly, Clarissa reached out and gently touched Victoria’s wrist. “I’m… so sorry.” It wasn’t like she could relate – she’d never been close to her grandmother so that death hadn’t really affected her. “Were you close?” If Victoria had ever told Clarissa anything about her dad, she was suddenly forgetting it in her attempt to console her friend. She shook her head quite fiercely and tugged on the sleeve of Victoria’s jacket, thinking maybe this would help Victoria realize that Clarissa was here for you.

“You aren’t alone. Not… not really.” Clarissa let go of Victoria’s sleeve then to raise both of her hands to her eyes, shielding against the sudden gusts of winds. Once the snow had settled back down, Clarissa looked at Victoria, a bit confused. She’d been ready to mention the strange weather when Victoria spoke. Following her gaze, Clarissa found the air to be empty. There was no one there; there was nothing to be staring at. Certainly not Victoria’s mother… “Uhm, sorry, what?”

Whatever had just happened seemed to wake Bashful. For a moment, he was angry as he’d planned on sleeping in. However, he caught on quickly and he was immediately scolding her. Why didn’t you tell me your friend was a princess?! This is a huge deal! I can’t even believe you! How many secrets are you keeping from me, Clarissa??

All she could do was stare at him, wide-eyed. What did he mean, Victoria was a princess?
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[VICTORIA ROMENZ]

The girl laughed. “No, I’m not your mother. I mean I guess I kinda was. She considered me part of her... Wow, explaining this is hard. I’m Anastasia Romanav.”

Victoria had heard the name before. She was certain that the Romanavs were a royal family from Russia. So she was being haunted by a ghost.

“Uhm, sorry, what?”

Victoria snapped her head back to Clarissa and turned bright red. She was still there. Victoria was having some haunting and Clarissa was there probably thinking she was crazy. Unless...

“Can you see her?” Victoria pointed to the girl.

“She can’t unless you let her. Shhh... don’t talk out loud. I can’t hear your thoughts,” the girl said with an smile.

Victoria just sat there wide eyed.What the hell? Hear her thoughts? “I must be going crazy,” she said to no one in particular. This was completely nuts. A lost princess was haunting her and her father just died. She really wished this was all a dream of some sort. Though Victoria never dreamed. Which always seemed crazy to people but to her it was just... how it was.

“Listen, Victoria. I’m a character from a storybook they made about the real princess. I’m sure you’ve never heard of it though because your father never let you read children’s books. Oh your mother would have hated that. Her imagination was amazingly vivid,” the ghost said.

How did she know her mother? Victoria figured it’d be best not to say anything until Clarissa answered. Victoria was odd but not crazy.

“I’m not a ghost but a story book character come alive. I knew your mother because you’re a special case. Why your mother died she sent me to you hoping I’d finish my mission with you. I’m not sure how she did it but here I am,” she continued fiddling with a strand of her hair.

As Victoria looked again the woman did have a sort of two-dimensional look to her. How could a raised to be so realistic believe in this though? It was close to nonsense.

The girl sighed and then snapped her fingers suddenly. “Here, Clarissa has the personification of Bashful from Snow White. Let her explain.”

Victoria stared blankly at the girl. Snow White?

“Just let me show myself to her,” she said getting frustrated.

Go ahead, Victoria thought. She looked at Clarissa and asked again, “Can you see her now?”

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

All Clarissa could do was sit there and wait for an explanation. Bashful wasn’t telling her anything. He didn’t tell her much anyway but it was more frustrating than ever right now. Bashful seemed to be openly staring at whatever Victoria was staring at, though Clarissa was sure he couldn’t see anything either. It may have been that he was trying to see someone. At least, that was the vibe she was getting from him. ‘Bashful, could you please tell me something. I’m so confused. Even a little hint would be nice.’ He waved his hand at her, obviously his version of telling her to shut up. She narrowed her eyes at him before looking back at Victoria.

Just because there was something going on with Victoria didn’t mean she needed to know just yet about Bashful. Clarissa would tell somebody else when she was ready. Today, she wasn’t ready. “No… no, I can’t see anybody.” And even though she was sure it was probably mean and rude, especially in a situation like this, especially with the news Victoria had just received, Clarissa laughed. She thought maybe then, just maybe, that Victoria was perhaps the reincarnate of a character. “I thought the same thing,” Clarissa said vaguely. Bashful took a moment to shoot her a glare before continuing to find the princess that Victoria apparently was.

Sitting there, watching the various expressions on Victoria’s face, Clarissa couldn’t help but wonder what the princess was talking about. Clarissa was ninety percent sure that Victoria could see a woman standing in the courtyard and that that woman was explaining what was going on. She was one hundred percent sure that the princess was telling Victoria more than Bashful had told Clarissa in all the time he’d been awake. Again, he turned to glare at her. ‘You know it’s true.' Like it matters anymore! I’ve been around long enough for it to make sense now.

Swinging her head back around to listen to Victoria (stop getting distracted, she told herself), Clarissa only looked more confused. “See wh—” It wasn’t until she actually looked around that Clarissa saw her. Your highness, Bashful said, bowing. … BOWING? Pigs must have been flying somewhere. “Yeah… I… I can see her.” Knowing what Clarissa was going to say next, Bashful beat her to the punch by making himself visible to Victoria. “It’s nice to finally meet you face-to-face.” Clarissa couldn’t even believe how polite he was being right now.

remember, this is what bashful looks like! not like a dwarf! :D (aka brian maddox)
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[VICTORIA ROMENZ]

“Yeah… I… I can see her.”

Victoria just blankly stared forward. She wasn’t even looking at Anastasia, at anything even. It was true. This was actually happening. And what had caused this? Because she was finally alone? She had no one left so the princess finally made her appearance? How about when she was actually in a good mood. Not just hearing news about her father’s murder. She had been alone before. She was always alone. Of course she had Clarissa and he other friends but none of them really understood what went on in her head. But if she had Anastasia it might have been a bit less empty. Why did she choose now of all times. At her lowest low.

“Hello there Clarissa,” the woman said with a smile. She then curtsied at an invisible figure. Through these probably more confusing actions she reminded Victoria that she was never alone. A familiar tune danced around her mind and she smiled. It was her. Anastasia was the tune. The sometimes annoying though ever reliable tune that seemed to never leave her head. It always seemed to get louder when she was upset or unhappy. As if Anastasia was telling her to chin up or stay strong.
She met eyes with the woman and felt a tear roll down her cheek. Wiping it away quickly, she heard a voice. A man’s voice to be exact.

“It’s nice to finally meet you face-to-face.”

Victoria just looked up and met the eyes of a pretty cool looking guy. She looked at Clarissa and said, “Bashful.” It wasn’t a question but just a remark. A still chuckle escaped her lips and she stood up. “I guess that makes sense.” She walked over to the guy and tilted her head slightly. “Nice to meet you too. I guess. Though you don’t look very bashful to me or even much like a dwarf,” she said tempted to reach out and touch him. This all just came as a shock to her. Nothing really made sense. What was reality these days. She was an orphan and had a princess in her head.

She was an orphan. Victoria felt her knees give out and sat on the icy grass. She had no family to speak of except for in Russia who didn’t speak English. What would they do with her? Where would she go?

“Chin up, doll. You’ll be alright,” says Anastasia as if on cue. Victoria looks up to see the woman in front of her. “To answer your question, we can take human form. Liiiike this.” A puff of smoke , a few sparkles and Anastasia was a human. She was much prettier than Victoria, beautiful even. “Oh I just love that!” Anastasia said with a huge grin cracked across her face. Victoria smirked and watched the now more life like girl stand next to Bashful. “See, now we’re practically the same. He could be my brother,” she jested.

Victoria rolled her eyes at Anastasia lame joke but couldn’t help but smile. She turned back to Clarissa, “Well, this is weird.” She really could find any other word to explain it.

oh hai anastasia!

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

Clarissa wondered if she had looked as confused as Victoria did right now. Yes. Yes, you did.

’ She blushed a little, shooting him a glare. At least he had spoken only to her. She was glad they could still speak to each other without having to worry about anybody else listening in. The princess curtsied in return to Bashful’s bowing; he had this permanent look on his face. Somewhere between proud and impressed. Clarissa didn’t really understand how he could be proud of somebody else’s awakening but she wasn’t even going to question it. She was still questioning her own.

“Er… hello. It’s lovely to meet you.” Clarissa was still maybe a little bit confused. She’d had no idea Victoria had been the reincarnate of a princess and it was throwing her off. The very slight disappointment she was getting from Bashful that Victoria was a princess, but not Snow White, was making her head spin all the more. This time, he glared at her and not long after, anything she was getting from him vanished. Fighting back a scowl, Clarissa looked back to Victoria and… had Clarissa gotten the princess’ name yet? “I’m so sorry, but I don’t think I got your name.” The princess may have told Victoria who she was but she was quite sure she hadn’t announced it to Clarissa and Bashful yet.

Clarissa watched as Victoria approached Bashful and she fought to keep a smile off her face. If she had a quarter for every time somebody said Bashful didn’t look like a dwarf – or, for every time she assumed somebody would say that – she’d be rich. She still questioned it herself. Bashful smirked, “I’d get that a lot if other people could see me.” As if he could tell that she wanted to reach out, he raised his arm and mussed up her hair. “Bashful!” Clarissa said in her most reprimanding tone, and then more apologetic to Victoria, “I’m sorry. He does that to me all the time.”

Bashful stepped back, staring at Victoria with big worried eyes, wondering if it was something he’d done. Frowning, Clarissa hurried to Victoria’s side, kneeling beside her. For a second, she almost laughed. The princess was using the word doll. Did all characters say that, or was it just the princess and Bashful? Again, the princess was explaining more than Bashful ever had. So that’s why he looked so human… For a moment, Clarissa just stared at the woman, open-mouthed. She was very pretty. Bashful laughed, “‘Doll.’ I like you.” Clarissa was glad she wasn’t the only one who had noticed. Bashful watched the princess’ face for a moment before nodding, “we could be siblings.” (Clarissa couldn’t see it).

For the first time that day, Clarissa smiled a very big smile. She laughed, long and hard, and once she was finished, wiping away tears from the laughter, she nodded. “It’s weird, alright. But you get used to it.”
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[VICTORIA ROMENZ]

The princess grinned and throwing a worried glance at Victoria. She didn’t seem to be taking any of these new things well. There definitely would be a talk later. “I’m Princess Anastasia Romanov.”

“No you’re not. She’s dead,” Victoria cut in. “She’s the little kid’s story they wrote about the real princess saying that she survived.” Her voice was bleak and void of emotion. Anastasia looked to over to her host and frown. She couldn’t even get angry about the comment because of the pain she felt coming from Victoria.

“You can call me Anya,” the girl continued speaking to both Bashful and Clarissa.

“Bashful!”

A touch of a smile appeared on Victoria’s lips as she reached her hand to her head. She could feel him. Even her hair was in a disarray. The phenomenon had her in a daze. Without thinking, she reached up to the tall boy and messed up his perfectly tousled hair. The gesture was actually something her father did when she was young. He didn’t think to stop when she and the neighbor fixed each other’s hair too. That was right before they moved.

The princess whispered Victoria’s name in her mind to take her out of the sad thoughts. It helped a bit. She felt like she was right near falling into and endless whole of despair. Near it, but not in it...yet.

“‘Doll.’ I like you.”

“I like you too! You’ve had quite the impact on dear Clarissa. Let’s just hope I can help Victoria as well as you,” she said with a warm smile. She turned her head in surprise at Clarissa laughing.

“It seems I have a lot to get used to these days,” Victoria said not sure how to react. As much as she seemed to be a savior, Victoria didn’t know what to think of Anastasia. Of all things crazy and wild that could of happened to her, Victoria would have never guessed she’d lose her father and gain a princess in one day.

“Just um, thanks for telling me about Bashful and uh, just being here. I feel better knowing that I’m not... crazy...” Yet. Victoria finished in her head. There was still a lot to go through. Investigations, funerals, will-reading and whatever else. Just like she when she was younger. This time they might actually have her under the list of suspects. If only the court would find her guilty for killing her parents indirectly. Then she could rot in jail like she deserved.

Victoria, Anastasia spoke this time in her head

Victoria sighed. She knew; no falling in the hole.

[CLARISSA RAMONE]

Princess Anastasia Romanov. Clarissa had seen movies featuring the princess, two of them being animated and neither being Disney (which Bashful was very adamant on). Clarissa watched Victoria with a scrutinizing stare, wondering if she was alright. Anastasia (which Clarissa was sure she’d continue to call the princess. Anya seemed too informal.) was clearly not dead. She was standing right there before them. She was very pretty, quite how Clarissa would imagine Anastasia would look like in real life. “It’s lovely to meet you, Princess Anastasia.” Clarissa nodded quickly, blushing a bit at not having said so herself. Bashful was paying more attention than she was.

Clarissa stared, speechless. Bashful rarely ever let Clarissa touch his hair, especially when it was as perfectly done as it was today. For a moment, she thought Bashful would be very cross with Victoria. For a moment, she was worried he’d never speak to her friend and the princess again. (It was definitely over-the-top, even for Bashful, but at this point, she felt like she hardly knew him at all). He laughed, though. Sure, he immediately started to fix it, but he laughed. Clarissa sighed, a heavy breath of relief. He was giving her an odd look, most likely confused as to why she thought he’d be upset. She shrugged, “I guess I don’t know you as well as I thought I did.”

Clarissa fidgeted with her sleeves, embarrassed almost that even a dormant princess could tell the different between then and now. It wasn’t like she had any reason to be shy about it. It was an improvement. “I’m sure you can,” Clarissa said, glancing at Victoria. She wasn’t sure what kind of help Victoria needed. She seemed perfectly alright to Clarissa. “It’ll be fine, I promise. You’ve got a lovely princess,” Clarissa nodded, before shooting a playful glare in Bashful’s direction. “I got stuck with him.” She managed to duck just in time to avoid his hand tugging on her hair. “Really not the time!”

Clarissa frowned, carefully placing a hand on Victoria’s shoulder. “Of course. I’ll always be here for you.” Clarissa couldn’t even begin to imagine what Victoria was going through right now. She’d first received the worst kind of news. Then, depending on how she saw the princess’ awakening, she’d received either wonderful or very strange news. Whatever she thought, it was probably turning out to be a very confusing day. “I’m sorry about your father…” Clarissa felt she’d needed to say it again, in case her concern had been lost sometime during the awakening of Princess Anastasia.