Chapter 18 - Whose Fairy Tale

Dreamer

By the time the next school year started, I was well into the third book and the outline of the fourth one in the series. Every night, new ideas were formed and everything was branching out. The story took a slight swerve in a different direction though. I was feeling a bit selfish with the first character I had created and wanted to keep him from the world. At the same time, I found some inspiration while walking Mr. Nguyen's dogs.

Mr. Nguyen had asked me to keep walking the dogs during weekends and I gladly grabbed the opportunity to earn more money for college. Walking the dogs was also a good way to burn all the pounds I'd gained with our regular weekday breakfasts, Saturday lunches and weeknight dinners.

Unless I picked up the tab ahead of the brothers, which almost never happened, they'd insist I not pay. I was grateful, but also a bit annoyed. I didn't want to be a charity case. Although Ice did mention we were even because Francis normally emptied our fridge whenever he dropped by.

This was true. Mom now cooked spaghetti twice a week.

The brothers also enjoyed having my sisters around. Iris was still shy, but she talked more now than before. I'd hear her quietly singing pop songs to Ice. Aside from just playing games, Francis inspired Maya to study well and aspire to be a programmer. Francis lent her his Ultrabook and they worked on developing a computer game over the summer. I didn't understand machine language though.

Everything passed in a blurry blend of reality and fiction and I was startled when I woke up one day and realized it was just a few months before graduation. I'd saved enough to get in a particular university I'd been eyeing. Not Hephaestus unfortunately. I couldn't afford it there even if I juggled three summer jobs and walked all of Mr. Nguyen's dogs all days of the week.

Mom already made the arrangements. Maya was old enough to watch over Iris while Mom was at work. I was going to miss Mom and my sisters.

I was going to miss Francis. And Markus. And fine, Ice, too.

I hadn't told Francis yet. Maybe after graduation. I'd ask him to help Maya with her studies like I'd helped him with his.

Maybe I'd tell him later during lunch. It was another Saturday anyway.

Funny that Ice never joined us for Saturday lunch after that first awkward time. Sure, we had breakfast together most days of the week-he decided to sit with us instead of staying at the opposite side of the diner. We'd occasionally hang out for dinner and treats especially when Iris asked for cake. My baby sister had the giant wrapped around her little finger.

Breakfast and dinner, but never Saturday lunches with Markus.

Oh, Markus. Teen Gaspard. How was it possible for him to become more gorgeous every week? His hair had grown longer, but he still looked immaculate even in a plain grey shirt and ripped jeans. He could show up in sackcloth and he'd still be stunning. Those eyes. Those grooves on his cheeks. That dazzling smile. If I drew covers for romances, I'd use him as a model.

It was strange that I'd dreamt of Markus once, but he wasn't as impressive in my dream. Even though he had big black wings, he had looked dull in my vision and he couldn't compete with the creatures that formed a menagerie that night. I hadn't dreamt of him again after that.

Markus may be forgettable in my dreams, but he was definitely striking in reality.

"Could you move a bit? You're hogging all the air-conditioning."

Someone clearly didn't find Markus remarkable. Markus raised an eyebrow at my best friend before he stood and adjusted the fan swing to make sure the cold breeze hit Yvonne directly in the face. Then he pulled a chair and sat next to me.

Yvonne had started joining our random lunches after I showed her Francis' abstract. She was impressed with the kid. Not so much with the older brothers though-especially the god I semi-worshipped.

I was pretty impressed with myself that I hadn't drooled or choked on my food during these lunches with Markus. I managed to appear calm and collected-at least that was what I thought. I just made sure never to have coffee before meeting him for lunch. I also ate a heavy breakfast so I wouldn't look like a starved idiot. I liked to think I appeared a bit sophisticated whenever I just ordered a salad for lunch.

Francis would casually slide some slices of bacon on my plate and everybody pretended not to notice.

I was calm, collected and sophisticated.

Until Yvonne put me in the most embarrassing situation by asking, "Who are you going with to the graduation ball?"

I was sorely tempted to stuff some croutons up Yvonne's nose. I also resisted rubbing a hand across my face or thumping my head on the table. Neither would be sophisticated.

"I'm not going," I muttered.

"What do you mean you're not going?" Yvonne spoke loud enough for the people in the next table to hear. "You already missed last year's prom and now you're planning to skip the senior ball?"

I really didn't want to go. It was too much work. I had to buy a pair of shoes and a gown I'd probably never wear again after the prom. I had to figure out how to go there since I didn't relish having my mom drive me to the ball. I also didn't want to be the third wheel and have Yvonne and her date give me a ride to the prom. That would be beyond awkward.

And since Yvonne had a date, I didn't enjoy the idea of being a wallflower for three hours.

Knowing Yvonne, she would brush off my excuses and offer to lend me a dress she'd never worn (it would probably be too long for me) and convince me to buy a pair of shoes. Then she'd make me tag along like a kid sister. Ugh.

So I gave her the lamest excuse I could think of.

"I have no date."

"How is that a problem?" Markus asked. I was pretending he wasn't there listening to this mortifying conversation. "Yvonne can be your date."

"Excuse me?" Yvonne said. "I don't want our batch mates to remember us as a lesbian couple. Anyway, I have a date. Selene, maybe I could ask Brian to hook you up with someone."

"Err, no thanks," I said. I didn't exactly like Brian. I didn't dislike him either. He was a power forward in our basketball varsity team and he was over a foot taller than I was. We used to play Twenty-one when we were in third grade and I used to have a huge crush on him. Yvonne didn't know about that. Anyway, he forgot I existed when he started dating cheerleaders.

Aside from that, I didn't like jocks. I liked basketball, but not the high school players. They were too full of themselves. Well, maybe not all, but most of them.

"Brian," Markus grumbled. "What a weak-sounding name. I wager it's even spelled with an I and not a Y.

Yvonne glared at Markus. "It is spelled with an I just like the name of an Irish king."

"And the guitarist of a rock band with a gay lead singer," Markus quipped.

"And that's an insult how?" Yvonne retorted.

I deliberated excusing myself at this point while the two were arguing about a name. But then, Francis had finished his plate and suggested, "I'll be Selene's date."

And I would have "cradle snatcher" written on my yearbook.

Yvonne was scrutinizing Francis now. I wasn't sure how I could turn down Francis' offer without making him feel bad. As it was, I was yet to tell him about my plans to move to a different state next school year.

"You can't be her date because you're younger. You'll put her in an awkward position. Do you want people to make fun of her?" Markus lectured his brother.

Thank you, god of virility. Please have my babies.

"He's right," Francis reluctantly agreed.

"I know I'm right. Selene, I'll be your date," Markus said simply.

How many slices of bacon have I had? All the fat may have gone to my head because I thought I just heard Markus say he'd be my date to the ball.

I sipped some water and chewed on a leaf. I needed more dressing if I intended to finish a plate of greens.

"Selene," Markus drawled out my name. Sigh.

His warm hand clasped my cold one. I must be dreaming.

Markus tightened his hold on my hand and made me look at him. I looked at his gorgeous grey eyes, certain I was blushing, and he asked, "What do you say? Could I take you to the ball?"

What? "I-I..."

"Wouldn't you now look like a cradle snatcher?" Yvonne snapped at my obsession who had just offered to take me to the ball!

Teen Gaspard-Markus wanted to take me to the ball!!!

"Yes, thank you!" I blurted.

Yvonne looked at me, surprised. She knew I liked Markus. What was there not to like? My bestie frowned, but then recovered and said, "Okay, but the ball is just a few weeks away and you don't have a dress yet."

I slumped. I forgot about that. I didn't want to tap into my savings because I needed to make sure I had extra funds for college and at least leave some for Mom and my sisters. Darn it. And now, I doubted Yvonne would lend me a dress since it was Markus taking me. For some reason, she didn't like him, but she couldn't refuse his offer because he asked me, not her.

He asked me! I was floating on Cloud Nine!

Markus settled the bill then grasped my hand again. My eyes widened as I looked up at him.

He smiled at me and said, "Come on. Let me buy you that dress. Francis told me he'd been devouring all your food at home. This would be my treat. Yvonne, you could tag along if you want and help Selene pick a dress."

Yvonne narrowed her eyes at Markus, but she went with us. She may not like Markus, but she loved shopping. She loved it even more when she's not the one spending. It didn't matter even if she wasn't buying clothes for herself. It's the exercise she found stimulating. She called it retail therapy.

Sure enough, Yvonne picked the most expensive dress she could find. It was a black, open back sleeveless dress. The top of the dress had glittery gold and silver sequins over sheer mesh fabric. It had a short, pleated A-line skirt and Yvonne said it gave a stunning silhouette. I wasn't really sure what that implied.

All I knew was the dress was dazzling.

It was also insanely pricey. I could cover a whole month of groceries with that amount. I was pushing Yvonne to return the gown, but she purposefully strode to the counter and showed it to Markus. Markus didn't even bat an eye as he swiped his card to pay for the dress.

I think I shrieked a "No!" Markus just laughed and called me. "Hey, goddess, consider this a four-year long birthday gift. You deserve it."

Even Yvonne seemed to have yielded and given Markus her approval.

"Not bad, Markus. I guess this puts a slight dent on your account and you wouldn't get to buy dresses for other girls for a while," Yvonne commented.

"Even though I am extremely generous, I don't make a habit out of buying girls dresses or other sparkly things. Unless they're special like Selene," Markus answered.

I could've swooned. I was with my fairy godmother and my prince charming. I didn't mind that they were baiting each other. It was the best day of my life.

And had Yvonne not been squealing in my ear that we had to rush home and show the dress to my mom and sisters, I would've thought I was dreaming.

My fairy tale was coming true.

**

My mom and sisters were ecstatic. They gushed over the dress and Mom even called Markus to say thanks. Needless to say, that added to my embarrassment. Mom had only met Markus once and I thought she'd make a big deal out of my being friends with an older man. I supposed the fact that I was friends with his younger brothers reassured her that he could be trusted.

Either that or the fact that Markus could place any woman under his spell.

Make that most women. Yvonne was immune for some reason.

Anyhow, I had to leave Yvonne with my family. They were poring over magazines looking for the perfect hairstyle, makeup and accessories. I still had to head over to Mr. Nguyen's and walk his dogs.

I saw Ice sitting on a bench at the park on the way there.

He was hunched over a table and didn't notice me as I approached him. He was busily sketching and I took a peek over his shoulder.

Francis wasn't kidding. They were a family of artists and Ice did prefer black and grey. He was currently drawing with charcoal pencils and lead.

Ice was sketching a woman. Her eyes were huge and came across glittering even though the illustration was overcast. The woman's dark locks and long sheath blended with the surroundings. Ice penciled angles and shadows making the subject mysterious and intriguing. The details were amazing.

"She is beautiful," I remarked, startling Ice. He had his head so close to the paper while he sketched, but he abruptly straightened and turned to me when he heard my voice. I thought I heard something crack.

He winced. Yep, he did pull something.

"I'm sorry if I surprised you," I said. "Who is she?"

Ice looked at me a long while before he replied, "Someone who taught me a lot."

Hmmm. I stared at Ice then back at the drawing then back at him again.

"I guess you took after your father," I noted.

Ice frowned at me, confused with my statement. Then, "No, that's not my mother." He gazed at me then the drawing then back at me again. "Although now that you mentioned it, I can see there are startling similarities."

Interesting. I stared at his sketch again. Without meaning to be snide, I said, "Granted that you do look... uh, more mature than people our age, but isn't she too old for a girlfriend?"

Ice smirked at me and replied, "A girlfriend? One could only hope."

Huh?

He packed his things and stood next to me. "Come on. Let's go get the dogs."