Forgotten

2: Don't call her cute

Alex's pov

' What's the matter? Not hungry anymore? '

She shoots me a questioning look before

following me. At the table there are at least 30 different dishes, with drinks of all kind but I'm more focused on the little girl sitting across me

Did she really not recognize me? I thought

Meanwhile the girl looks at the food almost afraid to touch the food infront of her.

' Go on.' I say ' No need to be shy you said you were hungry so eat.'

' But ...why?' she said looking at me.

' If you steal because you're hungry then all you need is to eat and not be hungry.' I analyzed.

' But... I'ma thief.'

' No your hungry. If you weren't hungry you wouldn't steal. ' I analyzed further.

' H-how do you know.'

' You said so.'

' What if I'm lying?'

She seems too have too much energy to argue for a hungry person. I close my eyes and explain.

' When you were caught you didn't deny it even if I obviously couldn't believe that you stole what they say you did. You don't seem to be the type to lie. So stop asking and eat your food.' I say and open my eyes to see her in tears!

' T-t-thank you' she says putting her hand in front of her in a prayer fashion. ' Thank you so much.'

' Umm... don't cry'

I don't know how to react to this . I've only ever had to deal with my sister's tears and even then it's just hugs, I can't hug a stranger.

' Ok ' she said as she dried her face with her sleeve.

' Just eat! ' I say a bit harsher than I intended to.

What is wrong with me. Just a few seconds ago when she said thank you I could feel the sincerity of it. As a prince always surrounded by people who don't care and false smiles at every corner it's not easy to figure out who's genuinely nice and who isn't, but seconds ago I felt it, that gratitude wasn't shown for the sake of manners, it was true gratitude in it's purest form.

I look across the table at the little ,10 yr old girl infront of me, her hood is down revealing her blonde hair, her face was covered in stains from the different food on the table. She was currently eating a drumstick with one hand and using the other hand to hold a fork that was currently shoving spaghetti into her mouth, making her look like a hamster. Or a squirrel with it's face stuffed with nuts. Before I could even realize it the word slips out of my mouth.

' Cute.' I say just below a whisper.

I'm trying to understand why my- wait, did she just freeze! There is no way she heard that.

' What did you just say?' she said swallowing all the food in her mouth at once.

I look at the 10 yr old girl that's should be only two years younger than my sister and smiled.

' I said you looked cute.' I say

Instead of saying thank you, or smiling, blushing, or saying I know like my sister would. She put down the bowl she was holding- that held the largest serving of spaghetti I've ever seen which was now empty- and looked straight at my eyes like my dad does.

' With complete respect don't call me that.'

' What!'

Ok I'm confused.

' I said don't call me that. '

I narrowed my eyes looking her ' So you don't want me to call you cute?' I said as she seemed to flinch at the last word.

' Yes.' she said simply. No explanation, no excuse. She just continued eating.

' You don't want me to call you cute?' I say and she stops eating again.

' Yes. '

' Do you know the meaning of the word cute?'

' Of course I do!' she snapped ' That's why I don't want you calling me that.'

' So you know cute is a compliment, right?'

' No, it's an insult.'

' An... insult?' I say slowly trying to process this.

She looks at me like I'm the dumbest person in the world and rolls her eyes.

' Yes, an insult. Ok let me ask you would you call a little kitten cute? '

I was about to answer when she continued

' What about a newborn baby or a baby bunny? Even a lion-wolf cub looks cute! Do you know what all of these have in common?'

I instinctively wanted to say they look cute but something about the way she had been talking warned me against it. Not to mention she didn't give me any time to answer. But her answer was the most shocking thing.

' They're all weak!' she said slamming her hands on the table then taking a huge gulp of juice.

' Weak ?' I said slowly

'Yes. They can't defend themselves, they can be bullied by anyone with hands, they're at the mercy of the world. And I'm not cute! I am strong and fierce like a female crocodillo. Raaaaaaaaaaaaar!' She roared stuffing 3 donuts into her mouth and eating it all at once.

Looking at her I felt like I was looking at my little sister. They both had blonde hair anyways except my sister probably wouldn't look at the word cute as an insult. And my sister wouldn't eat like this.

' Where did you get that definition from anyway.'

' What? ' she said looking up her face stuffed with pancakes.

' You don't have to rush your food you know.'

At that she freezes and slowly swallows her pancakes then burps loudly

' Sorry. I can't remember the last time I had a meal this good.' she says wiping her face with her sleeve ' Maybe that's because it's never happened.'

' Do you know who I am?'

' The rich kid who got me food.'

So she really didn't recognize me at all. Was it the clothes?

' Well then.' I said straightening up ' I am prince Alexander of this kingdom.'

' mmph... Hahaha yeah and I'm the princess of fairy tale land. Hahaha' she continued to laugh.

' I am the prince.' I said trying to convince her.

' As if. You a prince that's cute.' she said eating a turkey leg.

' Say's the girl who looks like the very epitome of cuteness.'

' I AM NOT CUTE!!!'

' You are, especially when you're angry.' I said wanting to annoy her.

' I AM NOT CUTE!!! TAKE THAT BACK. NOW!!'

' But you are cu-'

Splash!

My face is smeared with jam, while the little girl is pointing and laughing at me.

' Ha your the prince of jam now. Who's the cute one now.'

I hope for your sake little girl that Will has gone to eat and did not see that . Else I fear what might happen to you.

' Not many people had the guts to treat a prince like this. You're very... different. I like it.'

' Ugh' she says with a straight face. ' You rich people are wierd. I just threw jam at your face and called you cute. Why do you like it.'

' You remind me of someone.' I say

' Really? Is she strong,cool, fierce and awesome?' she said eating a turkey leg.

' No she's calm, gentle, sweet and cheeky.'

She raises an eyebrow and says ' You rich people are stupid. Who calls a human sweet you can't eat them.'

' You are adorable.' I say while laughing

Suddenly she stands on her chair clutching a huge drumstick she then looks at me from on top her chair and said

' I AM NOT SHORT!'

I take 5 seconds to process what she just said while, trying to remember when I called her short.

' I didn't call you short-'

' You better not try to deny this.' she said narrowing her eyes at me.

' I called you adorable no-'

' THEY'RE THE SAME THING!!'

I litteraly feel my brain shut down. Where does this girl come from?

' How old are you?' I ask

' I'm 16 .'

Boom! There goes my brain. How am I meant to believe the 10 yr old girl infront of me is 16.

' You...are 16?' I ask to be sure.

' Yeah got a problem with it?'

' No you just look-'

I'm thinking for a word that isn't small else I'm sure that drumstick will be in my eyes.

' Look what?'

' Umm... You look younger than your age.'

I said finally finding the right adjective, when something strange happens. She's... blushing. It's a faint one but it's there. Then she crosses her hand over her chest and says in a less dominant and more defensive tone;

' I'm a slow flower ok.' she says still blushing slightly.

So she thinks cute is an insult, believes adorable is another word for small and becomes embarrassed when called young. I give up on this girl is crazy.

' Where do you stay?' I asked

' In the forest.'

' Know I mean where you have always stayed and lived in.'

' Ohhh in a that case a cave.

...

Yep she's crazy.

' So you live in a cave?' I ask

' Yep ' she says l*****g her fingers from the jam she threw at me. ' Hey you aren't eating. Why?'

' Do you think I poisoned it?' I tease

Being a stranger she should be alarmed or afraid but she just shrugs.

' You couldn't poison it. Too soft for that.'

' Your one to trust a stranger easily.'

' Na your just harmless.'

' I-' I want to defend when she interrupts me

' It's in your eyes, very obvious actually. '

' That... doesn't make any sense. You can't read people through their eyes.' I argue

' Hmmm...' she hums looking at my eye making me uncomfortable ' Your here for the first time, you aren't eating cuz you haven't seen some of the food here and you don't want someone to catch me bullying you.'

I'm stunned for three seconds as she looks at me and smiles. It's a mischievous smile that lights up her face. Then she stands up and says

' Alright. I'm done eating. Since it's your first time here let me be your guide. Take it as a thank you for the food you bought me.'

I want to but Will might start looking for me later, and I don't want him to get worried or angry.

' I already had a tour with my butler. I also haven't seen hi-'

' Don't tell me you need your babysitter.'

' I don't!'

' Good then let's go!' she said pulling me out the door.

' I've already seen most of the stores.'

' Then get ready to see what your babysitter won't let you.' she said dragging me along.

What I didn't know was that that very decision would shape my future.