In every good fairy-tale there is a prince, a princess, and some evil queen or witch trying to keep the first two apart, right? Well that’s not really how my story goes. You could say that I’m the princess and I guess you could say there’s a prince as well but there isn’t really an evil person per say. I wish there was. That probably would make my story a little more interesting. An evil, old queen trying to keep me away from my true love, but that isn’t exactly how it works out in the end but we’re nowhere near the end yet and that’s where the story picks up…
“So is ice cream as sweet as you remember it?” Kaci had called me exactly two minutes after I got home from having ice cream with Jalen.
“Hello to you too Kaci” I laughed, falling down on my bed.
“Enough with the chit chat. How was your date?” Kaci was known for being an impatient person.
“It wasn’t really a date, Kaci. We just went out for some ice cream, that’s it.” Kaci was silent for about, 5 seconds.
“well… is he a good kisser?” she spoke so fast I took me awhile to figure out what she said.
“Kaci! That is none of your business!” I shouted into the phone.
“Ha! So you did kiss him?! How was it?” damn, she’s better than I thought.
“Kaci,” I heard her talking but then realized that she was talking to someone in the background. I heard Zack’s distinct voice ask a question.

“yeah, they kissed.” Zack made some kind of remark that I couldn’t make out and Kaci was talking again to him,
“Oh chill Zackariah. I’m sure it was just a simple little peck. Don’t you go pacing on me now!”
“Kaci! Why didn’t you tell me you were with Zack! You shouldn’t have told him anything!” Kaci does not know how to keep her mouth shut sometimes.
“You really thought I wouldn’t tell him sooner or later? Don’t you know me better than that Alex?” she giggled into the phone.
“Zack’s already mad at me. You aren’t helping Kaci!”
“Oh Zack needs to get over it. It’s his problem if he doesn’t like Jalen. Jalen’s cute and you need a boyfriend.” I could hear Zack’s voice in the background again,
“You did not just say that Jalen was cute! Ugh!” I could here Kaci laugh slightly.
“Actually, something did happen when we were getting ice cream,” I looked down at my shirt with a smile on my face.
“Really? What?” Kaci said excitedly
“When he got my vanilla ice cream he turned around fast to give it to me and it went all down my shirt. It was freezing cold and he got napkins to try and clean it up but once he realized he spilled it all over my chest he put the napkins in my hands and ran to ask for another ice cream. I felt sorry for him. But I could not help from laughing.” I busted out laughing from the memory and heard Kaci laughing as well.
I heard her retell the story to Zack but I didn’t hear him laugh.
“He is such a loser” he finally muttered.

“So are you two going out again?” Kaci asked.
“I’m not sure. He was really embarrassed the whole time. I doubt he’ll have the courage to ask me out again I probably scared him away.”
“That’s too bad. Well I got to go. Zack is starting to pace again and I don’t want him to burn a hole in my floor. Catch ya later sweetie.” Before I could even respond Kaci hung up to deal with her stubborn boyfriend.

“Alexandra! Time for dinner!” I heard my mom call me from downstairs in the kitchen. She was the only one on the entire planet who called me Alexandra. Everyone called me Alex. I tried to get that through my mother’s head. But she never listened to me. Alexandra was my given name blah blah blah. I always stopped listening to her after that. The only other person who didn’t call me Alex was Tony. Tony, my older and only brother called me Andy. He always has and he probably always will. I always kind of liked it. It always made me feel more tomboyish than I actually am. He never gave a nick name to Claire. Claire’s my younger sister. She’s fourteen years old and has a mad crush on Zack. Tony and I always pretty much ignored her but sometimes that was impossible.
“How was your day Alexandra?” My mother asked me as a sat down to join the rest of my family for dinner. Dad wasn’t home as usual. He was a professor over at the community college and always had to stay late.
“fine”
“You came home later than usual. Why’s that?” my mother is always so serious. What does it take to get a smile out of this woman!?

“Oh, I stopped to get some ice cream with a friend.” I said looking down at my mashed potatoes.



“With Zack!?” Claire’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.

“No”

“Okay Alexandra. Enough with the one word answers. Please answer the question.” My mother looked at me, not amused with my ‘attitude’.

“I went with Jalen.” I finally said.



“You went to get ice cream with Jalen Strider, Andy?” Tony asked, trying to hold in his laugh.

“Who is Jalen?” My mother asked, interested in Tony’s outburst.

“Just a kid in my class” I glared over at Tony.

“How do you know this kid, Anthony?” My mother turned her attention to Tony. Of course she has to call him by his ‘given’ name as well.

“I guess you’d say he’s a friend of mine.” Tony said still smiling. My brother has always worn ripped skinny jeans to school with converse shoes and his black hair all in his face. My mother always said he was just ‘expressing himself’. But it seems like he has been ‘expressing himself’ since he was a freshman. So Tony was in the same circle of friends as Jalen. Jalen wasn’t as ‘emo’ as Tony and Tony is a year older than him. But I did know that they still sat together at lunch and had the same interest in music. Tony had told me more than once that Jalen talked about me. He thought his little crush on me was hilarious. I guess mom didn’t feel the same way.

“I’m sure he’s a nice boy. You should invite him over for dinner sometime Alexandra.” My mother said with a nod of her head like the decision was final.

“What a fine idea mother.” Tony said, hiding his smile.


“Zack should come to dinner too!” Claire said speaking up.

“Shut up Claire.” I said under my breath.



“Respect your sister, Claire. Maybe you should invite one of your own friends to dinner. Zack has been over plenty of times.” My mother said in her same boring tone of voice. Claire sat back in her chair with a scowl on her face.























****************************************

Every night before I go to bed the last thing I hear before my eye lids droop down is the slight sound of Tony’s guitar strings. It has been a ritual for me since he started playing when he was ten years old. There is something so peaceful about his playing. Every note is perfect and it flows perfectly like the best lullaby a girl could ask for.
Even though it may not seem like it, Tony is actually pretty shy. He has never played in front of an audience. The only person who has ever heard him play is me. My room is right next to his. My mother and dad’s room is on the other side of the house and Claire’s room is upstairs.
When I was little I never thought he knew I listened to him play. I always used to sit right behind his door and close my eyes listening to his beautiful melodies. I thought I was the sneakiest person ever. But one summer night he opened my door and asked me what I thought about his newest song. A big smile was on his face and he told me he had written it just for me. So when ever I tell him I’m going to bed he gets his guitar out and plays my lullaby for me every night in the comfort of his own room.

I have always told Tony that he should play for people. Start a band; break loose. But he always just shakes his head stubbornly and mumbles that it’d be a waist of time and effort. Even so I have always loved this part of my day the most. It was the perfect way to wind down and know that at least someone out there cares about me.

As I let my thoughts wander and my lullaby was coming to a close I drifted off and my dreams started to form…

I’m sitting alone. I’m sitting alone in a garbage filled truck. Where am I am? How did I get here? I frantically look around the truck when I hear the driver’s side door open and see Jalen climb into the cab with a sweet smile on his face. For a second I wasn’t even sure it was Jalen. He seemed come comfortable in his own skin. He seemed too mellow to be the Jalen I knew. But for some reason, I knew it was Jalen. For one second in my life I felt everything was right in the world. That one sweet smile made me forget all my worries and flaws in the one simple second. “You ready to go?” His voice was so sweet; like velvet flowing off his tongue. I was just about to say yes. Agree to anything he asked me that very moment. But then my senses returned to me and I was confused, “Where are we going?” He didn’t answer me. He put his truck into gear and drove off. “Where are we going, Jalen?” I tried to ask again. Yet all he did was smile in my direction, his focus totally off the road. However we never swerved. We didn’t go an inch off of the road. “We’re here.” He put the truck in park and sprinted out of the vehicle to my side and opened up my door all gentlemen like. Before getting out of the truck I looked out and saw where we were parked. We were parked right in front of the doors to the ice cream shop. I was so confused. Why are we here? Oh well, might as well go with it. He’s cute and I’m hungry. “Well, thanks?” I stepped down from the truck and walked into the ice cream parlor. “One vanilla and one chocolate” he said with confidence. I have never seen Jalen so confident. This was a side of him I’ve never seen. Jalen spun around fast and offered me my vanilla ice cream, without spilling it all over my front. “For you my lady.” Did he get taller? There’s something different about him. He has never been so attractive. “Aw, thanks for not spilling it all over me?” Instead of a nervous laugh like I was expecting, he gave me a concerned look, like he didn’t know what the hell I was talking about. “You know, when we got ice cream before? You spilled it all over me?” was I actually going crazy? “We’ve had ice cream before? I thought this was our first date?” he looked down at me like I was a confused child. Normally when people do that I absolutely hate it, but with him, with him it felt different. “Oh yeah, um, yeah” I didn’t know what to say. I just mumbled to myself while trying not to look even more stupid. “You’re cute when you’re nervous.” He said as a matter a fact. He took another lick from his ice cream, studying it intently. Feeling self conscience I put my blonde hair behind my ear and stared down at my own ice cream cone. Soon I finally started to loosen up and we started great conversation and I laughed a lot. But then all of a sudden I started to feel sleepy. Right as I yawned, Jalen looked at me with a sad expression on his face. “Time for you to go.” He got up from his chair and offered me his hand. “What? Why?” What was going on? I was just starting to enjoy myself. “I’m sorry A. but this is all the time we have.” A? Did he just make up some kind of nickname for me? How cute! So I held on to his hand and was led back to his truck. The car ride back to my house was completely silent. Not one sound came out of us until we go to my house. He turned the car off; scooted over to the middle seat between the two of us. Looked me in the eye, beautiful big brown eyes. Caressed my face so lightly I could barley feel it. He kissed me lightly on the lips. I didn’t want him to pull me away. I didn’t want his sweet scent to leave me. It was so much like the way I had kissed him in front of the ice cream shop but better, way better. He actually took control. Actually had confidence. Wait, when was that? What time is it, now? What day is it? Where am I? All of a sudden everything turned black. All that was left in my sight was Jalen. We were just floating there in the nothing less black. He touched my face one more time and whispered in my ear, “Goodbye A.” And then, like all good things, it ended. My perfect fairytale dream date was over with the blink of an eye. I blinked groggily and looked around my room wondering what the hell just happened. Was that for real? Was it really all just a dream? I didn’t know. I looked over at my phone and saw that I had two missed texts; one from Zack and the other from Jalen. We’re going to Finnegan’s at noon. Be ready. From Zack and, I had a dream bout u last nite. From Jalen Jalen had a dream about me? So does that mean that that was actually a dream? That didn’t really happen. Just a weird dream that was wonderful and everything I would hope a date to be. I didn’t really want to go to Finnegan’s today. It’s Zack’s favorite restaurant. But I didn’t have to meet them till noon. I’m sure I have plenty of time. I lazily looked over at my alarms clock and slowly read the digital clock. I could believe what it read, 11:20. What!? It cant be this late! I have never slept this late in my life! I have always been a morning person. I jumped off my bed knowing that I would not have time for a shower. I looked in my mirror over my dresser and saw that I still had make up on from last night all smudged over my face. Well don’t I look beautiful? I washed my face real fast and changed into my favorite skinny jeans and an old ratty shirt. I threw my hair into a short pony tail and straightened my bangs in record time. “Daddy can I borrow the car?” you would probably think that I was daddy’s little girl. You probably think I get everything I want. Well, that’s not exactly the case. “Only if you drop Claire off at the mall” He said with a thought about it. I may not be daddy’s little girl. But Claire, she’s a different story. Tony and I have made fun of her for it since the first time dad called her princess. I don’t really mind. I think it’s kind of funny. But why does Claire get to be “princess”? What I am the ugly sister? That seems fair to me, not! He calls Tony “sport”. He calls Claire “princess” and he calls me…Alex. Thanks dad, thanks a lot. “She just went to the mall last weekend. Why does she have to go again?” I didn’t want to sound like I was complaining. Complaining wouldn’t help my cause in the long run. “She needs new shoes. Here’s some money princess.” He handed Claire fifty dollars and gave her a kiss while she skipped off to the car outside. “Thanks daddy!” Life is so not fair. “You better get a move on, Alex. Claire is supposed to meeting her friends there.” He said not leaving his eyes from the newspaper. “Yeah, thanks daddy.” I stepped in to the car. Put my seat belt on. Fixed my mirrors and held out my hand to Claire. She put twenty dollars from the fifty dad gave her and we headed out to the mall. You see me and the “princess” have a deal. I won’t give her any crap if she gives me twenty dollars out of the fifty dad gives her when I have to drive to the mall. I guess you could say that it’s us… bonding. I know it may seem like it, but I don’t actually hate my sister’s guts. Sure she can get pretty annoying. And sure she is daddy’s little girl. But she’s my little sister. “Who are you meeting at the mall?” I said trying to make conversation. “Angela” “Okay, who are you really meeting at the mall?” I said with a laugh. “Trevor” she said with a blush. “Oh! Trevor? Is he cute?” I asked faking interest. “Yeah I guess so. But Zack is much cuter! I don’t see why you won’t go out with him. He is like, perfect!” “How many times do we have to go over this, Claire. Zack and I are friends. And we will always just be friends. Get that through your head.” Claire was finally silent. Out of the corner of my eye I saw her lower her shirt inch by inch trying to show off some cleavage that she didn’t even have. I stifled a laugh. Do all fourteen year olds act like this? Wasn’t I still playing with Barbie’s at this age? Wow, this Trevor guy must be something. “Uh, Claire, You really need your shirt that low? You don’t really have much to show off.” I finally said once we were said closer to the mall. “Oh come on Alex. You aren’t mom. Just lay off.” She knew it was coming. She was waiting for me to say something. And even though she yelled at me, I saw her lift her shirt a little higher. I pulled up to the entrance of the mall with a satisfied smile on my face as she tried stepping out of the car in her too short shirt. Oh how these kids are growing up. ********************************************* “Will you please tell me who you’re texting.” Zack said impatiently. From the moment I stepped in Flannigan’s I was texting Jalen about my dream. It was so weird. His dream was about the ice cream shop too. He said it was like the most perfect date ever. I kept telling myself that it was just a coincidence that we dreamed the same dream. But another part of me believed it was something deeper than that. “Jalen” I said hiding behind my cell phone. “Oh! How romantic!” Kaci said sarcastically. “Alex! Why Jalen? I know of a couple guys who would love to go out with you. Why Jalen? He is such a f*in’ poser! Leave him for the dogs.” Zack grunted, slamming his drink on the table top. Kaci took Zack’s hand wanting him not to make a big deal out of nothing. “I think they look cute together. Let Alex be happy for once.” Kaci said with a nod of the head and a wink towards me. “And it’s not like I’m getting serious with the guy, Zack. We’re just friends for now.” “Oh sweetie, you don’t need to defend yourself. It’s none of his business whether or not you are serious with the guy.” Kaci said with a smack of Zack’s hand and a smile on her face. “Like hell it isn’t! I’m her best friend. And best friends deserve to know things about each other. So shut up Kaci.” Zack said pulling away from his girlfriend. “Okay, okay you two. New subject please.” I finally said, putting my phone away. “You think you’ll be allowed to go to Rockets tonight?” Kaci finally spoke up. Rockets was the local hang out place. Everyone went their. It was like a club for kids in high school. It was a great place to hang out besides the fact that it smelled like old feet. “I’m not sure, maybe if Tony will drive me.” I said with a shrug, not really wanting to go to Rockets. “Why wouldn’t she want to go to Rockets. Jalen is always there isn’t he? Perfect place for you two to hook up.” Zack said, staring down at the table. Kaci looked her boyfriend up and down with a disgusted look on her face. “I have to pee.” She left the table, strutting to the bathrooms. “You are such an ass, Zack. How do you think that makes her feel?” I spit at him. “Shut up, Alex. This all your fault anyway. If you would have listened to me and just not talked to Jalen none of this would be happening.” He said still staring at the table. “You’re really gonna blame this on me? Thanks Zack. You can’t seem to get anything right now a-days.” I grabbed my purse and slid out of the booth without a second thought. “Alex, don’t leave! Okay Okay, I hear things about Jalen, okay? Guys talk, Alex. And not about ponies and lip gloss. I have heard things about Jalen, you shouldn’t hang around him, Alex. Please.” Zack stood up and walked over to be, grabbing my arm for me to sit back down. “I understand that you’re worried, Zack. But I can take care of myself. Those are all rumors anyway. I want to get to know the real Jalen. Not the rumor. Can’t you just accept that? I promise you I will let you know if anything bad happens, okay?” I sat back down at the table, trying not to make my voice louder. “Yeah Zack, can you accept that?” Kaci had come out of the restroom and was standing by the table, waiting for an answer. “I guess I can deal with that.” He looked up at Kaci with an apology written all over his face. “You better deal with it.” she sat back down next to him and give him a tiny kiss on the lips. “Sorry, but I gotta make sure my two best girls are safe.” He brought Kaci in closer to him and held out his other hand for me to take. “The three musketeers” I whispered, trying to glance at my phone once more.