Dear Mr. Fantasy

CHAPTER 1-Driving Miss Crazy Part 1

Jacqueline walked steadily out of the Walgreens toward her rental car. It was an effort, her head was still spinning slightly. But she couldn't waste any more time being a spectacle for strangers to pity. The bleeding had stopped for now but the remains were left on her blouse, camisole and sleeves. She shook her head as she surveyed the damage and simultaneously reached in her bag for the keys.

Approaching the car, her fingers had found the keys. Looking up at the vehicle she stopped suddenly as she realized the other motivation for entering the store in the first place. She quickly pivoted on her toes to re-enter but....

"Jesus Christ!" she nearly screamed at the man now in front of her.

"No, Prince Nelson," replied the man following her.

I saw him in there and thought he was a mirage—a figment of my imagination. Why is that mirage following me outside? Oh what the hell, enjoy your fantasy until he drifts away in a lavender cloud.

"Cat got your tongue?" he asked in that beautiful baritone voice, "or did you run out of words in there?"

"Uh, I have to go back in there. I never did find out whose bike I totaled," she explained tilting her head toward the store.

"That would be my bike," Prince said flatly.

Her eyes widened at the realization. Her mouth was formed to say 'oh' but the word would not emerge. When the word was able to escape, so did every other thought that was forming in her brain. She called it oral diarrhea.

"Oh my god---goodness! Oh, oh, I am so sorry. I am so sorry, I, wow, uhm I'll pay you back for it, or if you want me to file a police report I can put it through my insurance but I'll go ahead and give you the money now but I'd rather not put this on an official report because I don't want my insurance to go up but that's up to you," she rambled as she was digging in her bag for her insurance card. "But I do have money, I mean, I can go by an ATM and get cash, uh, why don't you come with me, so let me know how much I owe you," Jacqueline continued as she decided to stop looking in her bag and looked at him. He didn't float away yet! Her hands went completely numb while her purse dropped to the ground and spilled most of the contents. She squatted to retrieve her items shaking her head as she gathered each piece.

Prince bent down to help her. Jacqueline wasn't aware that her posture was revealing more than it should. He could see the blood on her blouse had made it's way to her camisole but not to her bra. Her skirt was up over her knees and when she would lift her upper body to place items back in her bag he could catch a glimpse of the top of her black stockings. He didn't want to embarrass her but had to let her know before he was able to see her panties.

"You might want to pay attention to the way you're bending down. Someone might be seeing a little more of you than they need to see," Prince whispered.

She shot straight up. "Thank you for reminding me," she whispered back as she reached out her hand to steady herself and sighed, "Oooooh, head rush," as Prince gently extended his arm to her waist.

"I think I can pull the bike out from under the car and put it in the back. This is an SUV and I can pull down the second seats and it should fit. I'll take it to where ever you want for repair even if it's out of state and I'll pay for it," Jacqueline babbled pragmatically as her eyes surveyed the damage and brain was fully engaged in a to-do list.

"Look at me," Prince commanded as his other hand went to her waist and turned her to him. His eyes were sad as he announced, "Someone hasn't treated you like a lady in a long time."

As a lone tear formed and dropped from her eye she disclosed quietly, "The saddest part is, I let it happen." She paused, "I need a card from Fairy Godmother, 'Your 'Happily Ever After' is just a teardrop away!'"