A Different Kind Of Fairy Tale

Home Sweet Home

"Ivan! How have you been?" Leith tried grab my hand like he did when we were younger, but I swiveled around him and swam toward my sister. Leith spun around confused before looking down at Lilly.

"Hello Mr. Leith. I didn't mean to call you names, but I was wondering if-if-if-"

"If, if, if? I'm sorry little one but, If you want something, you have to say it straight out." He looked down at Lilly with kind eyes before turning his attention back to me with a bright smile. 

I placed a hand on my little sister's shoulders and grinned. "See Lilly, now that he knows who you're related to, he wont deny you anything." 

Lilly tilted her head up to look at me and then back to Leith.

"Really anything?"

"Yes, little one, you can have anything, but!"

"But?"

"But your big brother has to give me a proper hello first!"

"Ivan!" Lilly glared at me. "Don't deny our future king!" All traces of her calm sweet nature was gone and I mentally sighed. 

My little sister was starting to grow up and would no longer be the cutesy little girl without an attitude. I looked down at her and smiled it wont be long before our pleasant conversations will turn into arguments. 

"Your sister's right you know, you shouldn't deny me." Leith said with a devil grin.

Leith stuck out his hand with a great big smile on his face. I looked at it and then back up to his gleaming face. 

Why was he so desperate to reconnect with me? I'll admit that Leith never bullied me when everyone thought my father abandoned us, but he didn't stick up for me either. He just stood there pretending we weren't friends, while I was picked on and teased.

In fact, the only time Leith did care for me was when we were alone. He was inseparable from me and all the adults thought it was so cute, but my hate towards him only grew more and more.

I hated that he didn't want to be seen with me in public, it was worst then being shoved into abandoned ships where sharks like to live, or even having mussels nip at your bare skin while you were sleeping. It was worse because he was supposed to have my back. He was supposed to be my best friend and do something, anything!

"Hello," I gave Leith a firm hand shake. 

"I've missed you so much." He said pulling me into a hug. 

I would have thought it was more sentimental, if my head hadn't suddenly smacked into his chest. The longer he held onto me the more my jaw tightened. He just reminded me of my old life and my father. My heart began to ache. 

"I'm sorry Ivan that I remind you of bad memories. But I'm back from my studies, and we can make new memories. Happy ones too!"

"Stop that!" I tried to shove away from him, but he held onto me even tighter than before. I may call Leith a clown fish, but he's actually quite smart. He's the only one who ever figured out how to read more thanjust my current thoughts.

"HEY! WHY DOES THAT GUY GET TO HANG OUT WITH THE PRINCE AND NOT US!" Screams of maids and mers alike erupted from the crowd behind us.

"Well I guess that'sour cue to leave." I shoved off Leith and this time he let me go.

"Ivan, wait!" Leith shouted from behind me. 

I quickly grabbed Lilly and started swimming away. 

"Ivan!" Leith sure didn't know when to quit. "When can I see you again?!"

"My Brother says never and um, um, a few curse words my mother told me, I'm not allowed to say!" Lilly shouted for me as we continued swimming.