Andrew (Sleeping Beauty, No. 1 Modern Prince Series)

Chapter 1 - Once upon a time...

ANDREW

I look at the bunch of suitcases and bags filled with food. The situation is absurd. I'm only going to college. I won't be gone forever. My mother comes and gives me what must be the thousandth hug by now. She caresses my face and tries to control her tears.

"Are you set?" she rummages through the bags again.

"Mom, it will be all right," I kiss the top of her head.

"Do you have enough food?"

"You packed stuff for the whole dorm. I also got a job at the campus restaurant. Trust me; I won't starve,"

"But you got to promise me you won't eat crap,"

I chuckle. She knows me well, and I'm obsessed with chocolate. I load my bags in my second-hand car, or maybe third-hand by now. It looks decent, but it is old. I'm glad my dorm has furniture, or my dad would probably drive behind me with a moving truck.

I've been overprotected my whole life. It was too obvious, but I guess my parents have good reasons. They tried to have children since the moment they got married, and it didn't work. They even went through expensive treatments and still no baby. My aunts tell me that mom was losing hope and seriously thought she was not meant to have a little one.

One day she went together with my aunt Fleur to the carnival as they were fond of quick rides. My aunt convinced her to go to a palm reader there. Mom was skeptical about these things, and even more when they got in the tent and found a young girl with frizzy red hair sitting inside. The girl had a pack of Tarot cards in her hands, but she put them aside. She took a long look at my mom and just said:

"Why are you so sad?"

My mom didn't answer her. She thought giving her any information would help the gypsy come up with a false message.

"You will get soon what your heart desires the most. He will have the moon on his skin, an ocean in his eyes and hair as dark as the night. Don't despair, tell your husband and rejoice,"

According to my aunt, Mom was shocked about the words at first but soon forgot about them. She knew not to put her hopes on the impossible. 

Sometime later, my dad came back from work and found her hugging the toilet. He made a hurried trip to the pharmacy to buy the well-known 'stick'. It confirmed Mom didn't have food poisoning, but was finally pregnant with me. The months went by quickly, because after you have waited so long for something, what is a few months more, right? And then the Reyes family welcomed me to the world and called me Andres.

My arrival was celebrated with a big party. Since I come from a Latino family that is easy to believe. Family, friends, neighbors and colleagues came from all places to meet me. And just like the gypsy predicted, I have pale skin, black hair, and blue-green eyes.

I can't remember a thing as I was just a few days old, but there are a photo album and a video with memories of that day. In the video, you see my aunts arrive with bags filled with presents. You even notice the exact moment when they arrive. Their laughter is loud and contagious.

"You, my dear, will grow up to be a handsome and smart man," said Aunt Fleur.

I did well in school and got accepted to college to study veterinary medicine, but I'm far away from being considered handsome. Maybe the fact that I have acne, been wearing braces for an eternity and I'm gangly have a lot to do with my appeal to girls.

"And you my love, will grow up to be caring and strong, and loved by all," said Aunt Fay.

I care about people and make friends quickly, but I must admit that I care about animals a whole lot more. Strength is not my best trait. My muscles strained while putting the bags in the car.

When my third aunt was about to share her wishes in the video, the door opened to reveal a tiny woman with a crooked nose who walked supporting herself from a cane. Then the video scrambles and goes back to the rest of the party. Every time I ask my mom about what happened, she conveniently tells me that she can't remember. What she doesn't know is that my aunts told me that the tiny woman was my great-grandmother who found me too scrawny and harshly said:

"This one won't make it long, for one day he will meet a girl who will break his heart, and that will be the end of him,"

Apparently I cried, and Great Grandma Reyes will be known forever as the biggest party pooper in history. Dad used to call her an 'old bat' so I guess that she wasn't popular in the family anyway. My aunt María, who is a bit of an oddball and funny as hell said then:

"It won't be his end. He will just sleep for a hundred days, for one day a brave lady with a kind heart will mend his heart again,"

I'm still waiting for the brave girl who will cross my path, and I'm afraid that after all the study hours that are waiting for me, I won't mind the hundred days of sleep.

I finish packing my stuff and give Mom and Dad a final hug. Let this be the start of my adult life and a great adventure.

A/N: Hi everybody! I decided to make Sleeping Handsome in an extended version. Enjoy! x