Waves of Love

TWO

15 years old

Aquafina stared at the quivering boy in front of her. His chubby cheeks were red with embarrassment. "I like you Aquafina," the boy stuttered. She tilted her head in confusion, "why?" She had never talked to this boy let alone given any implication that she had feelings for him. He blushed ferociously, "because you are so beautiful! And I- I." Aquafina nodded in slight understanding. "You're the son of the sun god, yes?" His golden eyes nodded and brightened at her recognition.

Aquafina grimaced at the idea of becoming the wife of a sun god. The sun gods are known for being pompous and egotistical because they are the most worshiped gods. She wanted no part in it. Even if this boy seemed kind she knew he only liked her for surface value reasons. "I'm sorry, but there is someone else I like," she answered simply before turning on her heel and returning to her fathers side.

The boy waddled back to his family, tears of light poured from his eyes before quickly fizzling into the air. Aquafina only sighed. Her mother waved to her daughter from the other side of her husband. "Aquafina," she summoned.

Aquafina strode over to her mother and stared up expressionlessly. She was used to the indifferent gaze of her mother. She was once a demi-god with barely any ice powers so in large gatherings like this one she was never paid any attention to. But Aquafina was different. Her immense beauty caught the eye of everyone around her. She was as delicate as a snowflake with eyes as blue as blood. But she was on constant streak of breaking hearts left and right.

She had barely become an adult at the age of 15 before her door was filled with marriage proposals. But she did not desire marriage. Her father wasn't in any rush either to send off his only child but her mother had a different plan. "You rejected the son of the god of light? Do you plan on staying celibate! When I was your age your father and I were already planning our wedding!"

Aquafina looked to her father for support but he was already caught in conversation with his lose friend, the god of spring. She turned back to her mother, "no I do not plan on being celibate I just don't want to marry someone who I don't love."

Her mother's head snapped back as a rough laugh bellowed from her chest. "Love? LOVE! Aquafina you're a god of water not the god of love. You have no need for such silly human emotions." Aquafina bit her lip to refrain from talking back. Her heart pulled and twisted with growing irritation. "I didn't love your father when I married him. I didn't love you either when I-." She froze.

Aquafina's eyes brimmed with tears. She sucked in a sharp breath before straightening her dress. Her mother reached out to her, regret clear in her face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that." Aquafina shook her head. "No. It's fine. I just-. She calmed her shaky breathing. "I think I should go home and finish up my work."

Then she ran out of the temple. She ran till her feet couldn't run anymore. She walked the rest of the way home. Tears poured down her cheek like waterfalls. Her heart burned with heartbreak. She knew her mother was never happy with her marriage. Or their family. But to be told that her own mother didn't love her hurt.

She burst into her home and scurried into her own personal office. The room was white with pink and gold hints scattered through the room. This room was where she spent most of her time.

It was her safe zone.

She twirled a hand over the glass globe on her desk and scrolled till she found her favorite world. Her hands zoomed with clear familiarity. She stopped on a section of a sea with a large boat rocking in the harsh waves. It was in a storm. She had completely forgotten the weather had called for a hurricane but she had hoped the little prince would have gone home by now. She frantically searched the boat for the human boy but found nothing.

With fear gripping at her heart she checked the ocean. She skimmed past the fish and whales and stopped at a dark figure sinking under the waves. "Prince Evan!" She shrieked.

She whispered a quick spell and clapped her hands. Suddenly she was in his world. It was a forbidden spell that was only meant to be used in extreme circumstances. She melted into the water and hugged the boy, creating a bubble of air around his body. She pulled him out of the ocean slowly but surely. Once they were on the shore she waited in the waves for him to wake up.

A loud and harsh cough echoed across the beach. His long brown hair was wet and thick with sand. His white shirt was tattered and his green pants were pulled up past her knees. He had grown to be a fine adventurer and an aspiring prince. Over the years this boy had traveled across the continents to learn and collaborate with various countries. At such a young age this boy had made a solid place in this kingdom as the next possible crown prince. But his elder brothers were resilient and unyielding. But Aquafina was rooting for him every step of the way.

As she watched and hoped for his quick recovery Evan sat up and dazedly stared at the ocean. "Thank you goddess."

She didn't know why he had started calling her that. One day while it rained as he cried he spoke to the sky, "I have a feeling you are a goddess not a god." And since then he had called her goddess.

"I owe you my life," he sighed and laid back down on the sand. Aquafina touched his feet with water to assure he was alive. "I'm alive, goddess just tired," he answered her concerns with a patient tone in his voice.

He randomly sat up and stared at the vast sea. "Why do you favor me? Is it because I pray to you?" He re-thought the question. "But there are many people who pray to the water gods." Aquafina giggled as he rubbed his hair in the water. His hair latched to his face like sea weed, making him look like a sea monster.

She twirled her hand and the water danced out of his hair and floated back to the sea. He blushed, "I feel like I'm being pampered by my mom." She frowned and splashed his face with water. Ethan held his stomach as he leaned back with laughter. "Okay okay. I guess you aren't an older god."

He smiled, "now that I think about it I don't know much about you goddess?" Aquafina raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Evan scribbled on the ground in his native language. Aquafina read the words, 'yes, no.'

"Hmm what should I ask." He tapped his chin. "If you are a younger god are you around my age?" She pushed a bit of water to the 'yes.' He nodded. "Wow," he chuckled. "I don't know why but that makes me like you better." Aquafina grinned.

"Do you like sweets?" She pointed to the yes. He hummed in agreement, "I mean who doesn't like sweets?" Aquafina immediately though of her mother. Her mom despised sweets with a passion, so they were a rarity in her house. But when her father snuck her some it was always good day. "Do you like riding horses?" She pointed to the yes.

Even smirked, "should I ask a harder question." She again pointed to the yes. She didn't mind sharing things about herself. It was actually really nice. Evan was her first and only friend even if they were a heaven apart.

"Do you like being a goddess?" She pondered the question. Eventually she pointed to the yes. "Hmm, you had to think about that one huh?" Aquafina smiled. "It is a hard question. I think if you had answered too quickly I wouldn't have believed you."

Suddenly his face went grim, "if you were born as a demi-goddess instead of a goddess do you think you would have been happier?" She immediately answered no. He nodded at her answer. "I know it's a silly question. It's just. I'm starting to regret putting myself in in the running for the crown. I love sailing so much but I also love my people. But since my mother died I've felt so alone in all of this.

He stared at the ocean with eyes brimming with tears. When he felt a drizzle fall on his check he laughed. "I love how you always make it rain when I cry." He beamed, "I don't know why you choose me but I'm happy."

Shouts from beyond the beach echoed his name. "Prince Evan! Your highness!" He turned to the distant voice. He slowly rose to his feet. "I guess I should go." As he began to walk away he suddenly turned back to Aquafina. "One more question. Are you really a goddess? Or was I wrong."

Aquafina smiled and pointed to the yes. His face brightened, "I knew it." Then he was off.