Happily Ever After

Chapter 2: Waking Up To Reality

"Reality is a lovely place, but I wouldn't wanna live there." -Adam Young

Even though I was very much aware of what he had said, I was confused...after all he's a prince and I was just plain ole'--

"Maxiiiinne!!"

My look of confusion turned to fear. Fear of the person behind the voice.

My head raced with thoughts as I wondered how that voice, filled with death and laced with a dark unforeseeable future, could've entered a world so seemingly perfect such as this one.

The prince seemed oblivious to the fear in my eyes, just waiting for a response to his previous statement.

"I'm sorry, what?" I shook my head clear of the thoughts.

"I said would you like to accompany me to the ball?" His smile was just as perfect as he was... It seemed impossible to think this beautifully perfect creature was asking me to be his date to, of all things, a ball!

Which meant dresses, such as the one I had mysteriously acquired, guys...princes to be specific, very similar to the one sitting in front of me but possibly nowhere as close to perfection as he was.

"I would lov--"

"Are you crazy?! Not only do you not know this guy but you don't even know where you are. And last time I checked, WE. ARE. STILL. DREAMING!!" My conscience screamed it's verbal stop sign at me.

I sighed, after all, it was right; I didn't know anything about this sculpted beauty in front of me or where I was and more importantly, how I got here.

"Who are you?" I questioned, replaying my earlier curiosity.

"I, my lovely lady, am Prince Josh," He brought my hand up to his lips and softly kissed my fingers individually. "Your knight in shining armor." He winked, causing me to giggle a bit.

"Maxine," That voice, a whisper now but still so haunting. This time I heard footsteps...very faint, but footsteps nevertheless. I searched for the source but couldn't find him.

"Did you hear that?" I asked, no doubt with fear in my eyes.

"Hear what?" He looked confused and by now probably thought I was crazy.

I sighed. "Nothing," Ignoring the voice I plastered a smile on my face. "I would love to be your date to the ball." The twinkle in his eyes when he smiled gave off a hint of familiarity.

"You don't know where you are, how to get back, nor do you have another dress like this one." It seemed my conscience refused to cooperate with me.

"I trust him." Prince Josh gave me a perplexed look. "I mean, I trust you..." I tilted my head finally examining his face without infatuation. "You actually remind me of one of my friends." I gave him my award winning smile.

"And you trust him?"

"Yeah, completely. I trust him with my life, he's special to me."

"A boyfriend?" Prince Josh smirked.

I let lose a giggle. "No, nothing like that. We're just really good friends, that's all."

"Well, okay, he shouldn't mind me borrowing you for the ball then."

"Not at all. Soo, this um, ball, when is it?"

"Soon,"

"Soon? Is-is that all?"

"Yeah... Soon."

I accepted his horrible excuse to avoid telling me the truth. "I'd need a dress, right?"