Prince Gregory

     "Mal, why did you turn down Declan's invitation to be your date on the Festival Ball?" Nick asked me after our last class of the afternoon, I am still edgy thinking about my date with his brother, later tonight.

     "You want me to change my mind Nicholas?"

    "Of course not! I'd love to be your date Malia, I am just curious why you chose me instead of Hale, how I wish you will allow me to be your date forever." He said looking sad.

     "There is no particular reason Nick, I just want you to be my date, besides you are closer to me compare to anyone aside from Freda, I want Hale to be with her."

    "Yeah! About that I think Freda will only get hurt at the end, Hale is in love with you, like me, how are we going to forget you Mal? Please tell me, and I can't believe my brother would, actually, came over here just to see you, I think he has more chance compared to Hale and I." Nick is staring at me like I am the most beautiful girl in Erthesia.

    "Oh! Boy, Nick, how I wish I can do something about your feelings for me, I don't deserve that affection, about Prince Gregory, I don't know Nick, I don't want to use someone just to get over with Flynn." I said, trying to keep away from his romantic stares.

"No need to be stressed about that Princess, I just want to let you know that you make me feel so lucky and happy today, being your date in the Deity Festival is fantastic, next week during the festival, you can just flirt with me Mal, you don't need to hide away from Flynn, I promise you, you will like it." Nick is teasing me.

"Stop that nonsense Nick." I said to him, then I can't hide the smile that formed in my mouth. Nick really knows how to make me smile.

"Okay, you made it clear, only friends, but please give my brother a chance Malia, you don't want me or Hale, at least try to have dinner with him, if you want us to accompany you, just say the word Mal." He said, looking so serious.

"Alright Nick, but I think I can manage being alone with your brother." I smiled at Nick.

"I am confident that my playboy brother is serious about you, he never courted anyone Malia, he is used being chased by girls, but now he came all the way from our Kingdom, just to have dinner with you, even with his busy schedule, I have witnessed a lot of girls cried because of his rejection, I guess this time he will realize how it felt being rejected." Nick said, then he kissed me on the cheek, then waved his hands and walk away to his own quarter.

Habitually, for how many weeks now, every afternoon after our last period, Hale and Freda are busy training. I think they were preparing for something, only Nick looks so relaxed and composed. I slowly walk into our dorm room, to prepare for my date with Prince Gregory.

When I arrive at our floor, I rounded the corner, then I am shocked to find the figure of Prince Flynn, sitting on the floor, he is leaning his back on our front door, when he sensed my presence, he raised his head and turn to my direction.

I moved slowly, I can't control the pounding of my heart. I can't explain how I feel, excitement mixed with fears. He just stared at me without saying a word, until I am standing in front of him. He stood up, then he puts his hands in his pockets and looked at me in the eyes, this time I am looking up at him, without blinking, I didn't say anything either.

We are staring at each other for a long time, until I finally got the courage to speak to him.

   "Can you move, please, I need to get inside my room." I said, turning away from his woeful eyes. He moved to the side, the moment I touch the door handle, Flynn holds my wrist, and he makes me face to face with him.

    "Malia, please don't go out with Prince Gregory, please just stay away from him." He said, I can see the look of pain in his face, and his eyes are begging me. It made me angry, he kissed Avery that night, and now he wants me to bail out with Gregory.

    "Who do you think you are? Even if you are the Crown Prince of Erthesia, you don't have any right to dictate me on what to do, especially about my love life. You played with my heart, and now you want me to what? To stay in my room and think about the hurtful things you've done to me and your beloved fiancee." I said angrily, I can't hide my devastation anymore.  

   "You want me to mope around and think about you, you broke my heart, and I didn't even receive an apology from you, how dare you tell me I can't see Gregory. I am done with your games, Flynn. I want to be happy too, you already succeeded in fooling me around. Get lost Flynn, since I don't want to see you, or talk to you anymore." I said, then get into our room, I shut the door strongly, in front of his face.

    I run to my bed, I embraced my pillow and I sobbed loudly. He already hurt me dreadfully, now that someone is interested in me, he wants to get in the way. He is the most infuriating, person I know, he really deserves Avery. I am already beginning to accept, that we could never be, why did he suddenly appear on our doorstep. Why does he love making my life here in the academy so hard.

I got up from bed, and change my school uniform, into a simple gown, I didn't put any makeup, I just keep my long hair cascades on my back. My eyes are swollen from crying, Flynn is the only person, who made me cry too much. I heard knocking on our door, I opened it gently, I found Nick accompanied by his brother, Gregory.

    "I am sorry Malia, but my brother can't wait to see you." Nick said, I am glad that he is okay with the idea, that I am going out with his elder brother.

   "Yes! Indeed, I want us to go early Malia, so that we can enjoy our time together." Prince Gregory said, giving me his signature smile, his dimples make him so attractive. I said goodbye to Nick, and I kissed his cheek, before I get inside the portal made by his brother.

   We arrived at the entrance of a fancy restaurant. The place is so romantic, it is located at the edge of a cliff, and overlooking the beautiful ocean. It takes my breath away. Beautiful lights are decorated at the railings, while the centerpiece of the table is made of fresh flowers, that can only be seen in Erthesia.

"What is this place?" I asked Prince Gregory, I amaze with our current location.

"One of the best restaurants, in Erthesia Kingdom, this is called the Hanging Restaurant, let me take you around, so that you will understand, why it's called hanging." He said smiling at me, the moment we tour the whole place, I realized, I was wrong. The restaurant is floating above the ocean, the cliff is far away from our current location.

"Wow! It is so beautiful, thank you so much for bringing me here, Prince Gregory." I said, looking at his mesmerizing eyes.

"I am glad you like the place, Princess." He said, smiling at me, then he called the waiter, and asked me what I want from the menu, I ask him to order for me, since I don't have any idea, about their menus. I just told Prince Flynn, that I like seafoods."

"Are you kidding me, I love this place, this is beyond amazing." I can't hide my excitement, I am so happy with Gregory. He is not only handsome, but he is also funny. We eat our food silently, I savor the delicious taste of the lobster, I can't believe, that everything around me is real.

"I can tell now, you really love seafoods." He said, I smiled shyly at him, because he never leaves his hypnotic gaze from me. The moment we finished our wine, I couldn't breathe properly due to the fullness of my stomach. I should have eaten less, but I can't help myself from devouring the delicate flavor of the meat, of the lobster.

After our meal, he holds my hand and take me to the hanging bridge, that somehow connected to the cliff, I haven't seen the bridge, when we circled the whole area, a while ago. It is made of thick ropes, intertwined intricately.

   "How come there is a bridge?" I asked confused.

   "Use your full power Malia, and you will see everything." He said, then I followed his instructions. The whole place shines brightly, I can see couples having a good time crossing the bridge.

  "You think, fairies are boring? We also enjoy things like this Malia." He said, while, we started walking on the platform of the bridge.

    "Would you mind, if we linger for a bit? But I can take you home, if you want." He said, looking at the sparkling water below us. I can see dolphins swimming from a distance.

    "Of course I'd love to."

I enjoy walking at the bridge, every time we move it also swayed, Prince Gregory never left my side, in fact he has been holding my left hand, the whole time.

"Is it okay, if I will visit you once in a while? If I am not only busy, I will be at the academy every day, but nowadays, we are all busy preparing for the upcoming battle, especially now, that Nick is with you at the academy. I need to lead our men. All kingdoms now are getting ready.

"Our informant from the dark realm send a message to our kingdom, that the king is now on high alert. He is training his army from morning to nightfall, the Dark King and Lucian is getting stronger every day." He said, looking at me intently.

"The informant said, the Lucian knew your location, that is why, you need to be careful at all times, and you must train more Malia, now that I personally know you, I can't sleep properly at night, just thinking about your safety." He touches my face tenderly.

I can't believe that this handsome man, beside me care so much about my safety. I am very touched of his words.

"Thank you for your concern, Prince Gregory, I am so flattered." I said smiling at him.

"Princess, it is not only because you are the savior of Erthesia, but because I care about you, I never felt like this, to any woman before, I am new to this kind of emotions, I am still trying to understand everything that I felt for you." He said, he looks frustrated, and I am lost for words.

    We continue walking, while holding hands, I can feel his warm touch, but it never felt as electrifying as Flynn's touch, Oh! Boy, how can I forget him, I am dating a very good-looking man, yet my mind is still occupied by Flynn's handsome face.

    We stop in the middle of the bridge, if I didn't know I am a fairy, I might be screaming out of fear, I noticed that the fairies who are strolling at the bridge are all gone now. Prince Gregory sits at the surface of the bridge, and I sit on the other side. I am beginning to enjoy the swinging of the whole bridge.

    "Thank you for coming with me, Malia, I really enjoy tonight, this is my first real date." He said.

    "You are welcome, I am glad that you brought me here, I am so happy Prince Gregory."

    "Hey! I asked you before, call me Gregory, I want you to address me on my first name." He said, looking at my face.

     "Okay Gregory, thank you so much for everything." I said, rubbing my arms, I suddenly felt cold, then Gregory stands up and cover my body with his coat, he smells so good too.

   "Do you feel better now? Malia?" He asked, grinning at me.

    "Yes! I do, why are you smiling that way?" I asked him weakly.

     "It is so funny, you are a powerful fairy Princess, but it seems you always forget you have magic, but I want you to have my coat anyway. Next time, if you feel suddenly cold or hot, use your magic Malia. You are still not use with magic, that is why, you are still dependent to the human ways, like rubbing your hands and arms, when you are cold." He said, the amusement in his face is still there.

     "Yeah! I know, even though I have been here for how many months already." I said sadly.

    "It is okay Mal, time will come, you will get used to it, for eighteen years, your life has been so different, just don't worry about it, okay?" He is looking at me fervently.

    "I think, it is time for us to go, as much as I want to be with you Malia, I know you still have class tomorrow." Prince Gregory stands up, then he pulled me up. Then he created a portal, and we get inside together. We arrived at the doorstep of my dorm room. He kissed me on the cheek and bid his farewell, then he vanished into thin air. I am still in a good mood, when I get inside the room.

    "Wow! Nice coat." Freda said, it registered to me, I forget to give back Gregory's coat, I think he left it intentionally.

    "Prince Gregory let me borrow it, I forgot to return it to him, when we arrived, he seems in a hurry." I said to Freda, I used my magic to dry-clean his coat, then hang it in my wardrobe cabinet.

    I am already in my bed, wearing my favorite night gown, I think about my dinner with Prince Gregory, but I can't help thinking about Flynn too, about his sudden appearance, prior to my date with Gregory, I am sure that I have a long night, before I can finally go to sleep.