New Princess in town

Part 16: A Date Remember

We arrived at the kitchen and immediately the head chef spotted us. She was still holding my hand, and my face was as red as a raw steak.

"Your highness, your grace, what can I do for you both?" She asked kindly.

"Oh, I fell down the stairs, can have a bag of ice and a washcloth or dish towel?" I told her.

"Fell, you both face planted and landed on your butt in the same fall." Cyn said calling out my played down version of what happened.

"Yeah, ok so, it was a spectacle, but I am fine. I just want to slow down the bruising." I said as the chef seemed concerned and had already called on of the other chef for the bag of ice.

"Here is you bag of ice your highness, but are you sure you are all right?" The head chef asked again.

"Yeah, I am," I told her wrapping my hands with the ice and towel.

"Ok, given that you will not concede to being injured, I want to see what you have planned for this date." Cyn said taking my arm as we left the kitchen, because my hands were full of ice.

"Ok," I said as I lead her outside. Past the different statues, past the carved bushes, and to a little grassy area, with a gazebo. The gazebo was all set up for a romantic date. The table had snacks all over the place.  Cyn then walked up to the table.

"Wow, I can't believe this is our date. I am really glad I asked you to surprise me." She said turning back around to look at me.

"Yeah, I wanted to make it all, but I only had the chance to make the chocolate chip cookies." I told her walking up stand next to her.

"You made them?" She asked surprised.

"Yeah, I know I had hoped to make it...wait, what?" I asked, not full registering what she said.

"You made these." She said wide eye, grabbing one of the cookies.

"Um, yeah, I love to cook and bake." I said still a little confused by her surprise.

"You really are nothing like anyone else in the court. It is refreshing." She said taking a bite.

"Well, I did grow up in the redneck part of Florida. It is nothing like the royal court." I stated, taking a cookie myself.

"Well, I think the court could use, some of your unique thought processes." She said taking a seat. I then grabbed the other seat that was across from her and moved it closer to her. Finally understanding why people sit like that.

"Well, my unique thought process is really due to my assortment of diagnoses. I have Asperger's, anxiety, ADHA, dyslexia and dysgraphia." I explained.

"Wow, you are doing really well. You are going to be an inspirational hero to so many little kids." She told me shaking her head.

"Yeah, that is what I am told." I told her, not truly believing that this could be my life, that I could possibly be this important.

"You say that like, you don't think it's true." She commented almost as a question.

"Honestly, I don't. I have been a "Princess" for over 3 months now, and I still think that one day I will wake up in my bright teal room surrounded by my art. That all of it will be forgotten in the land of dreams. That it was never real." I told her looking down at the food in front of me, not wanting to admit this to her face.

Her hand then slid over mine. I could feel her eyes on me, as I was too scared to look up. "Why would you think that?" She asked quietly.

"Because this is too good. Life should not be this good. Life isn't like a Hallmark Christmas movie. I am just some random girl from the redneck square of Florida. Who was randomly given a palace, home? Given, the ability, to pay off my brother's college debt. Who can now give my family a retirement that is deserving of them? Who..." I raised my head looking into her Florida sky eyes, " Who gets to have a chance with someone like you." I chuckled, "Cause you are way too good for me. There is no way this is actually my life." I said with a sad smile.

"You deserve everything you were given. And most of the things you listed as being given, as too good of a life, are pretty common. Life can be good, you know, that right?" She asked with a tilted head.

"I mean, I am not really sure." I said believing my words.

She rubbed her thumb on my hand, "Well, even if you don't deserve this, whether this is a dream or not, I can tell you, you will always have a chance with me, and I am not too good for you."

"Thanks," I said, hoping to believe that someday. "So, let's lighten the conversation, how bought it."

"Sure, what do you have in mind?" She asked taking her hand off mine grabbing another cookie.

"So, you like comics, or are you one of those nerds, that like only seen the movies?" I asked her with a hint of teasing.

"I actually read comics," she said smirking at me.

"What is you favorite spider, out of the superverse?" I ask eating my own cookie.

"Well, the original is always great." She said smiling.

"Yeah, couldn't agree more." I said getting lost in this moment. "Oh, hey are you going to be at the ball tomorrow?"

"Yeah," She answered.

"Would you by any chance save me a dance?" I asked her, watching her face contort in surprise.

"Oh, of...of course," She said after regaining a little bit of composer.

"Great," I said knowing that my face was glowing brighter than the atmosphere on the 4th of July.