Strawberry Milk [COMPLETED]

❧Chapter Three

There's something so elegant about him that he almost seems effeminate. He's got wonderful legs that carry him with grace. There's a regality in his walk -- after seeing his posture when watching him enter a room, it clicks immediately that he's no ordinary young man.

And good lord, if it weren't for his fine suit, the eyes might have given it away. The giant blue orbs sparkle back at me with a real gentleness to them that no one could mistake. He's so approachable with that amazing smile, too! Much better than stupid old Kenta.

And it's so cute the way his neat blond hair bounces as he walks! Man, did it look silky.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing out here all alone?" He asks, and then he takes in my battered appearance. The calm mood switches as he hurriedly pulls out a handkerchief and hands it to me. When I stare at the silky pink thing like he had just offered me a golden roll of toilet paper to wipe my backside with, he reaches over and starts to wipe my face for me.

I heat up instantly and snatch the handkerchief as fast as I can, burying my face in it out of embarrassment. It's so quiet for a moment that I get worried that I had made him angry. But before I know it, the sound of laughter fills my ears.

"You can keep it if you'd like. I have plenty more."

Damn this thing smells like his cologne. I'm keeping it forever.

"...Mm." Is the only thing I can think to reply with in my shyness. I glance up at him occasionally as I try to wipe my face to look a bit more presentable. I break out into a nervous sweat as I start thinking about how terrible I must look next to him.

"...Are you alright?" His voice becomes so serious that you'd think someone had just died. I look into his eyes, and there's a strange glint in them. I wouldn't expect someone like him to get upset.."I...saw some punks lying in the street on the walk here...Your uniform matches. Did you know them, perhaps..? Did they hurt you? "

I nod, struggling to find the words.

"I beat the crap out of them."

Damsel in distress over here.

Mr.Prince bursts into laughter all over again, this time clutching his sides as if to keep them from splitting. Something about his sense of humor makes me grin behind the shield of the sweet smelling handkerchief.

"You're...pretty amazing, aren't you?" He wipes at the wetness around his eyes as he catches his breath, chuckling a bit. I feel my heart jump a little. No one like him has ever called me amazing before.

It made me feel amazing.

"I..guess. You're not so bad yourself. You're..like a prince!"

Something shimmer's in the boy's beautiful blue eyes and he reaches up to flip his golden hair so dramatically that it makes me laugh. He turns his head a little as if to appear that his gaze has met something far into the distance. He grins and rests his chin in the smooth space between his thumb and forefinger.

"A prince, huh?"

"Haha! What's with that look on your face!" I point at him and he tries to hold the pose, but it falters as he starts to join in my laughter. What a nerdy sense of humor! I never would have expected that from someone like him!

He seemed to be full of surprises...

VRRRRRR!

A shimmering white limousine turns around the corner suddenly, like a chariot straight out of Cinderella. I know immediately that it's his -- they just go together!

The limousine stops directly parallel to where the prince is standing, but he never takes his eyes off of me. Instead he stares me down with a small smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eye. He was looking at me like he was admiring a gem.

My foolish insecurities gone, I wonder how possible it is for someone to show up out of nowhere and make me feel beautiful from one glance.

My heart is seriously going crazy right now. What on earth is happening...

6 trillion years later, the window of the limousine rolls down and a man peaks out to say something to the boy.

"Young master, your piano lesson starts in 10 minutes. If you would please get inside of the vehicle."

"Just a moment." He takes a step toward me and I start to blush as I realize that the driver was no doubt staring at us. Now at a closer proximity, I'm overwhelmed by the scent of his cologne.

"My name is Hajime Matsuoka. It's a pleasure to meet you. And you are?"

"Ichigo." I say as clear as day. There wasn't anything special about it. No sense adding on anything around it.

"Ah, what a cute name! Here, before I go I'd love to give you a present."

A present? For what?

He steps toward the car, opens the door, reaches inside, and pulls something out of a compartment. When he steps back over to me, he sets a small milk carton into my hand that says " Matsuoka Gourmet Strawberry Milk - Premium Blend."

My eyes get wide. I had only seen this kind of milk on commercials. The richest looking people would sip it on their high horses, chattering away with their even richer looking friends on tv.

"You're...no way..." I look up at him like it wasn't possible that this beautiful young man was the son from a family that ran a famous business that crafted gourmet recipes.

"Take care. I hope to see you again, Miss Ichigo."

I watch him get into the car, speechless as he shuts the door and waves at me from the lowered window as the driver starts to take off.

I watch them go until the car turns a corner, and then my eyes drift down to the strawberry milk carton in my hand. Without a second thought, I open it and down it in gulps that could be counted on one hand.