Protecting the princess (GXG) *Complete*

15. How do I say this?

The whisper sent me back 18 years, I was 3 years old; a couple of weeks before mom's death.

It was the end of winter. The town began to warm up, and children were no longer out playing in the snow. My mom, brother and I were walking around the village to see who needed help. There were older kids running around playing chase in the street. I remember very clearly that one ran into me and my mom kinda lost it. She began yelling and telling the other kid to apologize and help me up, But he refused.

I got up and told her it was okay. 3 years old, huh? She just stood there, the others ran into their houses and soon the streets were empty. Mom was just standing there, angry, Like I did. I yelled to get her attention, my brother stood behind me. My 5 year old brother at the time was terrified of our own mother, but I wasn't.

I grabbed her hand and held it. Took her into my embrace and I felt her legs flinch. When I looked up she was staring down at me with tears in her eyes. She picked me up and hugged me tight and pulled Tyler to her side and held us there.

She then whispered," don't ever be as sorry as I am right now."
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~present day, last day of spring.

My eyes fluttered open, I felt several things poking the side of my face. I slowly lifted my head and began to hear the sound of rushing water. My vision cleared up and it was the river. I guess I fell asleep and no one moved me into the house. I sat there admiring the water, then felt a soft presence behind me. The aroma and heat of chocolate was swishing around in the mug put in front of me. I glanced to my side and saw deep green eyes, then instantly turned back.

"Its a little cold out." Anna said as I got a shiver up my spine, however it wasn't from the cold breeze. "I...uh...I'm sorry." She paused," about yesterday, I shouldn't have done that and i should have taken the time to understand the boundaries you have or at least asked. I..."

" it's okay, just go back inside." I interrupted.

"But.."

"No go back inside. I don't wanna talk right now." I didn't move my focus, I heard her shift but her presence was still there. I sipped the hot chocolate and watched the tadpoles glide past once more in the water. They reminded me of little kids, swimming down the river without a care in the world. She's still there. I can't focus, ugh what's wrong with me!!

"What did you want to talk about?" I grunted.

She moved back to her original spot. " just anything. Well, I want to know something." I sighed, but let her continue," Can you tell me how you came to be like you are now?"

I scrunched my face," how do I say this? Where do I start?"

"Anywhere."

I went into detail about my mom and how my dad left my brother and I to fend for ourselves. The beatings in the military house, and I showed the scars left over on my stomach, my lower back, and upper chest. She looked appalled, like she wanted to vomit. Anna covered her mouth and began to tear up. I left out the big most important thing. She doesn't need to know what I am. I'll just leave her in the dark with that, yeah.

"you look disgusted, but before you ask, I'm fine. I always have been. It's just when you came into my life I thought that I wouldn't have much. Just an annoying young arrogant princess staying at my place for awhile." I pulled my knees to my chest, and looked to the grass in the corner of my eye." Some how i was wrong. You remind me so much of what I had lost, what I had forgotten. That was years ago, and you made me feel, I don't know.....feelings again. I'd only get that mad when someone was messing with my property and even then it wouldn't be as bad. Those days that we were out, people had gotten to me...my anger almost overwhelmed me. But I heard one thing, one thing kept me from breaking that limit." I stopped and chuckled a bit. I looked over to her, she was actually listening to me.

Anna was genuinely confused, to think she'd be the biggest protector of this village. If it weren't for her everyone would be - I shook my head and growled a little.

No, stop, you aren't like that you never have been, but she doesn't know what happened before, what I've done. Don't let your anger get the best of you. She's right there she's safe, you're safe because she right there.

My eyes started to well up with tears. I took her hand in mine and launched myself sideways. Rolling down the small hill almost landing in the river water. Anna ended hovering over me, and slowly got up into a sitting position, pulling me next to her. She wiped tears from my eyes.

She chuckled," what was that?"

"You." I answered.

"What?"

"You, your voice, your laugh, your cry, your everything." I muttered." You were, I mean are the thing keeping me from hurting everyone here. I'm in the wrong to get attached to you, but I guess I did a bad job of keeping my distance." I faced away but she cupped my cheek and pulled me back to facing her. Tugging me closer I thought that we'd kiss so I resisted but she just laid her forehead on mine. Anna rose her other hand to the opposite side of my face and rubbed her thumbs on my cheeks.

Looking me dead in the eyes, my heart rate quickened, my eye sight blurred anything behind her, my ears picked up no sound other than her heartbeat. It was silent to me. My body was on fire yet cold, my face colored red but I was still myself. No anger, no anxiety, no hatred, just us. Just myself and Princess Annabelle, I couldn't think of something better.

Whoa.