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

Chapter 4 - Good Bye

PHOEBE

Today should be a happy day, but it isn't. When I started studying, I was looking forward to my graduation. Now, it is only a painful reminder that I will be moving away in one week.

I feel as if I'm letting Andrew fend for himself. He is a unique man, and I'm afraid that without someone to keep an eye on him, anybody can take advantage. He is not dumb, but he is so innocent at times. I made the mistake of giving him a beer one time. He giggled the whole night and fell from the chair. It was cute and heartbreaking at the same time. In a harsh world like the one we live in, I find it unusual to find a man with such a sweet and simple nature.

I went to see him a few times during his field classes at a farm. He would be sitting on the hay surrounded by goats and chickens while the other students were looking at their phones. I've never seen a human being so happy and so in contact with nature as him.

As I walk down to my seat at the beginning of the graduation ceremony, I spot Andrew in the crowd. He grins as I wave at him. He has a beautiful smile. In fact, he is just that... a beautiful man inside, handsome on the outside.

The ceremony is long and tedious. When my name is announced, Andrew claps madly. I'm going to miss him so much.

"Congratulations!" Andrew says when the ceremony is over, and the people start to mingle.

"Thanks. Well, this is it. More than a college graduation, it feels as if I became an adult officially," I say.

"Is that a bad thing?" he asks, confusion in his cute face.

"No, not at all. I guess that I feel a bit nostalgic about leaving this place," I say, looking at the campus grounds. "You still have a bit to go, so you will keep enjoying it,"

"I have at least four years. How will I survive without you?" he says with a sad smile.

My parents come to congratulate me. My mom is beaming at me, and my father looks at Andrew with curiosity.

"Mom, Dad, this is Andrew. My best friend for the past two years,"

"Pleasure to meet you ma'am, sir," Andrew says, shaking their hands.

"Aren't you graduating as well, son?" Dad says.

"No, sir. I still have two years of my bachelor to complete,"

"What are you studying?" Mom asks. She has the same dreamy eyes that she used to get when a date came to pick me.

"Veterinary medicine," Andrew says.

"Interesting," she says while smiling wide. Her seal of approval.

We all head for dinner and my parents insist that Andrew joins us. He behaves in a charming way and makes us laugh hard with stories about his aunts. My parents head home, and we decide to head to his dorm room.

"Too bad that we can't go to a club since I'm not yet 21. I always hear stories from the other guys," Andrew says as he gets two beers from his tiny fridge.

"Beer? Is that wise? How did you even manage to get them?"

"The guy that lives in the apartment in front of mine gets them for me. I can drink one from time to time without falling off my chair," he says with a wicked smile. "I knew that I had been a protected child my whole life, but getting so drunk from just one beer was embarrassing. You have been to a club, right? That guy that took you on a date brought you to one,"

"It's not as exciting as it sounds. Unless you are in a VIP section, it is crowded, loud and smells like sweat," I say.

"Okay, that doesn't sound appealing," he chuckles. "Why did he bring you there then? It sounds unpleasant,"

"Maybe he thought that it was the thing to do. We barely talked, and when we did, it was more like shouting. Anyway, I'm glad that it didn't work out. He was very attractive, but we didn't have much in common. Andrew, do you promise that you will take good care of yourself?"

"I will. Plenty of study and a bit of fun. Isn't that what you always say?"

"I do. Also be careful around women. Their intentions are not always innocent,"

"I don't think that I need to worry about that. Women are not interested in a dork like me,"

"You are not a dork. You are fine just the way you are,"

"You say that because you are my best friend. Women turn me down at an alarming rate," he says, taking a long sip of his beer. I have barely touched mine. "Maybe I should get a haircut and change my clothes,"

"What is wrong with those?"

"I don't match the city look," he says with a shrug.

"That is absurd. You are hot, Andrew. The girl that came to the restaurant last week couldn't take her eyes off of you,"

"She is in high school. The moment that she begins in college, I will be only one more face in the hallway,"

I stand up and hold his hand to make him stand up as well. I bring him to the mirror behind his door.

"Look at yourself. Andrew, you are twenty years old and look how beautiful you are. You look like a prince out of a fairy tale,"

Andrew looks at himself in the mirror. His face has cleared up and contrasts beautifully with his black hair. Those eyes with a dancing sea in them look back at him. He is tall and lean. He gives me a shy smile.

"Thanks, Phoebe," he says.

"Believe in yourself. The right woman will appear one day and see what a good catch you are,"

"Catch? Now you make me sound like a fish," he says with a chuckle. "I have a present for you. It is just a small thing to remember me. Don't open it here,"

Andrew opens his desk drawer and hands me a little box. I'm curious about what it could be, but I respect his request not to open it yet. Now is the moment to say goodbye and I'm finding it harder with every second that passes.

"I wish you a healthy and happy life. I will never forget you," I say, hugging him.

As we separate, I see that we are both fighting the tears. I head down to my car, and I look towards his window. He gives me a small wave and the tears begin to flow freely on my face. I sit on the driver's seat and get the little gift out of my purse. I open it to find a little silver charm in the shape of a cow. Goodbye Andrew...