A Prince in the Mess of It All

A seven year old girl is watching The Little Mermaid on this Sunday afternoon. It gets to the wedding at the end when she turns to her mother, "Mommy, am I going to marry a prince when I'm older?" "Do you want to marry a prince sweetie?" She asks her daughter after she looks at her for a moment. "Oh yes mommy. Since I'm a princess, I must marry a prince that my Father approves of." She answers. "Of course your daddy has to approve of the prince baby, just like every other daddy." The mother chuckles. "Not just daddy. God has to approve as well mommy. He has a certain prince for me, I just have to meet him." The mother looks at her seven year old in complete shock, then regains her composure a second later. "Elesea? Where did you learn that?" She asks, wondering how a child of her age can know such a grown up thought. "My Sunday school teacher told me. I asked her the same thing." The little girl replies. "Well she's right Elesea. You never forget that. Okay?" The girls mother has tears in her eyes. "Okay mommy." The girl turns back to the TV as King Triton shoots a rainbow across the sky with his trident. * *10 years later... Present day* "Mom, I'm leaving for school! Love you!" I holler, opening the front door. "Love you too Elesea! Have a great day sweetie!" Her voice bounces off the walls from the kitchen and back to me. "I'll do my best." I mumble as I head toward my car. I drive down the road and the song "The Maker" by Chris August comes on the House F.M. I start to sing along and sway in my seat. As I pull into Alexandrea High School, it ends and I find a parking spot. I hum the song on the way in the glass front doors. Right as I turn the corner of the main hall, I run into someone. A guy to be precise. We both fall with a thud. Our books spill across the floor in all directions. We sit there looking at each other for a second. He has dark hair and bright gray eyes. Then we bust out laughing. He stands up, dusting himself off while offering me his hand. "Are you okay?" He asks through a laugh. "Yeah, are you?" I return the question, chuckling. "Yes." We bend down to pick up our books and we end up bumping heads. Laughing, we rub the sore spots. "I guess we are bumper cars today." He chuckles and I nod. "Just let me get your books." He says, and I blush at his chivalry. "Thanks." My face heats up as he stands to his full height. He's tall. "I'm Chase Taylor. What's your name darlin'?" He has a bit of an accent. Irish? "I'm Elesea. Pleasure to meet you Chase Taylor." I reply shyly. "The pleasure is all mine, dear." His face stretches into a wide charming smile. Is he flirting with me? I ask myself. You don't mind it. My subconscious chimes. I inwardly roll my eyes, or at least I think I did. "What? Did I say something wrong?" He gives a nervous chuckle. Oh brother. "No, why do you think that?" I ask, hoping he didn't see what I think he did. "You rolled your eyes." He states, with a look of obvious covering his handsome features. I mentally face-palm. Real smooth, Elesea. What are you going to do next? Talk to yourself out loud? "Oh sorry. I wasn't rolling them at you, I was rolling them at myself." I nervously chuckle. "I would never roll my eyes at someone I just met. I mean unless they really deserved it, but you didn't so.." Ramblemouth. Subconscious. Shut up! He laughs. Great, now he thinks we're a lunatic. "You're cute." He probably--wait what? I blush, clearing my throat. "I beg your pardon? I'm cute?" I squeak. My hearing must be off. No guy has called me cute. Hot, sexy, yeah, but never cute. "Yes, you're cute. Very much so." He grins. I look down at the ground hoping that it will open up and swallow me whole. The most good looking guy I have ever met just called me cute... and I have no response. "Thank you." I say in a small voice, looking up at him through my eyelashes. He smiles and it causes a confident feeling to run through me. From my head to my toes and every nerve in between. "You're pretty cute yourself." I lift my head to look him dead on in the face. Who was I kidding? Cute does not justify his looks. "Pretty cute? I was hoping for dashing, or handsome, but I guess pretty cute works." His right eye falls to a wink, and I feel my face ignite. "So I didn't catch your last name, lass." He has to be Irish. "Oh it's--" "Brown! Go long." My head turns at the sound of my surname, but they aren't talking to me. A bright ginger haired head is coming toward me, backwards. Before the body can hit me, I am being pushed up against the wall by another. Chase. Ethan looks to the side as he catches the pig leather ball to see Chase and I up against the wall. Together. This looks really bad. "Is this guy bothering you sis?" He asks, glaring at Chase as he backs away from me to face Ethan. Chase is built, with big broad shoulders and an easy 6"2' frame. His arms are muscular but they don't match Ethan's Popeye arms. "No, E. He was just moving me out of the way so I wouldn't be crushed by you from running backwards... again." I chuckle. "That has happened before? Who is this guy?" Chase speaks up, and both boys puff their chests out like animals about to charge each other. Oh gracious. "Yes, and I was fine. This is my brother Ethan. Ethan, this is Chase." I introduce them and Chase recoils, stretching out his hand in front of him. Ethan doesn't seem to be happy with the way Chase went about pushing me out of the way but lets it slide and shakes his hand. "Thank you for moving my sister out of the way so I didn't crush her.. again." He says. "Yo, Ethan! Throw it back!" Ethan kisses my head and runs off down the hall. "He's interesting." Chase states. I laugh in response. We both start down the main hall. As we walk, I learn more about him. He's a senior, he moved from Oklahoma like me, although he has family overseas. Soon we arrive at my homeroom. "Well, this is my stop. I'll see you later." As I turn to enter the classroom, he catches my arm and turning me back around. He rubs the back of his neck nervously. "Hey, would you like to get lunch together? I mean since I'm new and all. I don't really know my way around here. So I--" "Sure, why not?" I cut him off. He smiles, his right eye falling down into the second wink he has given me today. He turns and continues down the main hall to the senior's quarters. I walk in class and some girls are staring at me in.. envy? Why? Because you have the attention of the hottest boy that has moved here since our brother. Right. I nod to myself and walk to my seat toward the back of the class. I smile at those who are staring and sit down. My homeroom teacher, Ms. Dean, arrives as the bell rings and dumps her bags on her already crowded desk. "SETTLE DOWN, PEOPLE! Especially you Mr. Bart. Please have Ms. Andrews get off your desk and in the seat of her own. This is a classroom, not your home." I cringe. Gross. Their lips part with a smack. Ms. Dean sighs and starts giving the announcements for the day. I tune her out, already knowing what to do since I'm the one to write them out for her, and think about lunch. I wonder how lunch will go. The bell rings, signaling first period starts in 5 minutes. I run by my locker and change out my books. My first two periods speed by like The Flash. On my way into World History, I spot Chase in the front row. What's he doing here? This is a Junior class. Go sit by him. No! Are you nuts? No, I'm getting you a boyfriend. I don't want one now, and you know that good and well. I walk to my seat in the middle section. I am arguing with myself about a boy... I really am going crazy. I suppress an eye roll, not wanting what happened earlier to have a round two. Where are my friends when I need them? Mr. Thomas comes in and starts class. "Good morning class. We have a new student today. Please come to the front Mr. Taylor and introduce yourself to us." He says. Chase gets up front and center of everyone. "Mornin' everyone. Thank you Mr. Thomas." Some girls sigh at the looks of him. I roll my eyes. "Well I am Chase Taylor as some of you know." He spots me, eyes locking with mine and he winks for what feels like to millionth time today. I look down at my desk and my face flushes. "I moved here from Oklahoma, but my family is originally from Scotland, so that explains the slight accent." He chuckles. Scottish. I should've known, I love those accents. As he went on, his gaze kept coming back to me. Sensing his nerves, I just smile and nod for him to go on. "And I think that just about covers it." He finishes. "Oh! And I like french fries and mayonnaise." The class erupts in laughter and Mr. Thomas stands up and quietens them down. "Alright class, page 258 in your textbooks please. The Cold War, activity 12. Glad to have you with us Mr. Taylor." Chase makes his way to his seat only to grab his books. I look to my right, there is an empty desk. Oh no. Oh yes, be mine. He sets his books down as he squats to sit in the seat. "I didn't know you were in this class." He says. I smile and nod. "Well I don't blame you. It is your first day." I smirk at my witty response. He sucks in air as if he is in pain. "You got some bite there, eh lass?" He says, and smiles wide. "I like that in a girl. Keeps me on my toes." He smirks back at me and then it's my turn to wink. Where is this confidence coming from? Who cares? It's awesome! "Mr. Taylor, if you are done flirting with Ms. Brown, I suggest you start on your work." Mr. Thomas gives us a pointed look. My face lights up red as everyone stares at Chase and I. Please don't say anything back. "Oh no, sir. I don't think I'll be done with her quite yet. She's got some bite on her." He laughs and looks at me. Okay, now he's being cocky. I roll my eyes at him and start my work. I'll get him later. I am the first one out of Mr. Thomas' classroom and running to my locker when the bell rings. I grab next periods books and my lunch then slam the door shut. Behind it, stands Chase. Yay! "What do you want, Taylor?" I ask, my tone portraying my attitude towards him. "When did we start calling each other by our last names?" He chuckles. When he sees I'm not laughing, his face drops. His expression basically reads, 'Oh crap. I've done something.' "What did I do?" He looks scared of my answer. "You brought attention to me in class. I don't like that. I get enough of that with my brother being the quarterback and my best friend being his girlfriend. I don't need it from you." I explain and turn to walk to the lunch room. He runs to keep up with me. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. Are we still on for lunch? I was really looking forward to getting to know you better." He says. I stop and think it over. He didn't know, so don't be so hard on him. It's his first day for crying out loud. Sighing, I nod my head and we continue walking. When we enter the lunch room, all eyes are on us. I put my head down and walk to my usual table with my three friends. Their jaws drop at the sight of Chase following me. I sit down and life returns to the statues around us. He sits beside me and the girls look at each other. "Hi girls, this is Chase. Chase, this is Tracy, my brothers girlfriend, Taryn and Evelin." Tracy has long blonde hair with blue eyes and freckles, while Taryn has blonde hair and green eyes. Evelin has red hair like my brother's, and blue eyes. Evelin just nods in his direction not saying a word. Tracy just smiles and goes back to eating. "Well how you doing?" Taryn quotes Joey from F.R.I.E.N.D.S. I felt a sting of jealousy. What? Yes, jealousy. We saw him first. Tracy must see my eyes, and hits her in the arm. She silently signals to me and Taryn sees my look. She nods her head and starts eating again. Chase laughs, watching the whole ordeal and replies, "I'm doing well and yourself?" She nods her head in response. He turns to me and opens his mouth to speak but is interrupted by another voice. "Hey babe." Ethan arrives at the table, kissing Tracy on the cheek. She smiles and they start a conversation on how their day is going. He looks over and sees Chase next to me causing a look of confusion to take over his features. "Chase, right? What are you doing here?" He asks. "Right. I am here because your sister is the only friend I have made today, but mainly I want to get to know her better." His head turns to me and smiles. I smile in return, no doubt pink tinting my cheeks. Looking toward Ethan, I see him roll his eyes and Tracy smiles suggestively at me. We're in for a teasing later.