A Smile and a Chance

10 PRINCE CHARMING

*UNEDITED

It can't be. That's just impossible. Ava would never invite her. Hold that thought. I'm pretty sure Ava would never invite her, but what if she didn't check the guest list like she always does and someone – either one of my parents or grandpa, included Iris' name in the invitation list?

I looked away for just a few seconds and then, Iris was gone. She wasn't there anymore and it made me think twice if I'm hallucinating already or if was just someone who looked a lot like her. Maybe I should have my eyes checked; I hope I don't have to wear eyeglasses yet.

It was useless to think about that now. This was a very special occasion and I didn't want to ruin it just because I'm pre-occupied with thoughts of Iris being here. I reminded myself to ask Maia to dance with me later at the reception. Chris secretly told me Maia's an amazing dancer.

"I've never attended a wedding like this before." Maia said while we were on our way to the reception at one of Alejandro's hotels. "It's like a fairy tale...Ava looked like a princess in her wedding dress."

"Oh, I'm sure she can't wait to get out of that wedding gown and wear regular clothes again." I said. "My sister hates wearing gowns."

"I don't think so. It's not every day a woman gets to wear a wedding gown and besides, even if Ava hates wearing gowns like you say she does, I'm pretty sure this is the only gown she wouldn't be in a rush to take off yet. Every woman dreams to wear a wedding gown one day." Maia explained and Adelaide, who was seated at the back, nodded in approval.

"Every woman? As in every woman? Then you dream of wearing one too."

It took Maia a couple of seconds before she could give a reply.

"Yeah...but I don't think I will get to wear one."

"Why not?"

"You know how my life is, Liam..." she said, trying to fight off the loneliness in her voice. I glanced at Adelaide in the rear view mirror and she had that concerned look on her face.

"Someday, your prince charming will come." Adelaide chimed in.

"I'm not a princess, Adelaide. He won't be looking in my direction because he's already set his sights on a princess."

"That's not true. Not all Princes have their eyes set on a princess nor do they always require one." Adelaide replied and this time, I found myself nodding in agreement. I had to stop abruptly before Adelaide saw me, but that wasn't the problem, Maia saw me.

"What do they require then?" Maia asked, to which Adelaide quickly replied,

"Let's ask Liam."

"Thank you for making me answer such a difficult question." Adelaide was smiling; I knew that kind of smile – she was teasing me. There's nothing wrong with answering that question, and it's not like I'll end up in hell for answering that, it's just that I am the prince Adelaide was referring to. "A girl may be a princess, beautiful and kind and all that stuff, but if she can't make the Prince happy, then she's not what he's looking for."

"What does the prince look for in a girl, Liam?" Adelaide is beginning to sound like Ava, I swear! And she'll probably do anything just so I would answer her question.

"It has to be someone he's genuinely interested in...someone who has the power to invade his thoughts all the time, someone he wants to know inside and out...someone who wouldn't break his heart...you know what I'm saying, right?"

"Well, that didn't seem to be difficult, right, Liam?" Adelaide said from the backseat with that knowing smile again. I'm just lucky that Maia wasn't able to see Adelaide from the rearview mirror.