There's No Such Thing as Prince Charming

Prologue

My eyes stay transfixed on my screen as I reread the text messages over and over wondering if maybe I misread something. I glance at the time to see it was already past seven-thirty and I wrap my denim jacket tighter around me as another autumn breeze made me shudder. It was already dark out as couple after happy couple walk inside the theatre as I stand next to the entrance, waiting for Tyler to show up. I tried calling him an hour ago to only get his voicemail, and I texted him about fifteen minutes after. A whirlpool of emotions swirled through me, one second I was hopeful, telling myself that he's on his way. The next, was just wanting to go home and hide under my covers...

Suddenly my phone goes off and I answer it before I even check the caller I.D. "Hello?"

"Hey, how's the date going? Y'all still at the movies?" my mothers voice chimes and my heart falters a little.

"... He's... not here, yet."

"What? It's been over an hour! Where are you?"

"... At the theatre."

"I thought Tyler was picking you up from the house?"

"He was... but something came up with him and the guys, and we just agreed to just meet here at six." I explained and she stayed silent for a moment. "He said he'd call me when he's on his way..." I said as my heart fell to my stomach and my vision started to get blurry.

"Lily... You need to come home, sweetie. It's late, and it's not safe for you to be alone at night."

My heart felt as if it was slowly breaking as I know she's right and tears start to roll down my face. I hang up and start walking down to the parking lot when suddenly, I bump into someone's shoulder.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" a man exclaims.

"I-I'm sorry. Please, excuse me-" I stutter as I try to hurry back to the car.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"I'm alright... E-excuse me, I'm k-kinda in a hurry." I say as I turn to head to my car.

Suddenly, a large hand roughly grabs my wrist. "Hold up, how about we go and talk about it. You don't look like you're in any condition to be out by yourself."

"I'm fine, really. Now sir, let go." I say as I pull my hand back, only for him to hold on tighter.

I suddenly feel sick to my stomach as disgust crawls down my spine. My eyes flicker up to his and every fiber of my being tells me to run away. I look to see if there's anyone to help, but everyone was already inside the theatre. He starts to pull me closer and I pull back. My mind scrambles on how to get away from this guy. Just as he give my arm another harsh tug, quickly I throw a right-hook to his face. Swiftly he weaves his head to the side; my left leg flies up and the tip of my umber boots slams against his groin making his knees buckle as he yells in pain. He lets go of my arm and I run for my car.

" Son of a-!" He roars and his string of curses drown out to the sound of my heart banging in my eardrums.

My hands tremble as I fumble with the keys and my fear begins to engulf my senses as I feel everything closing in on me. After finally getting in the car, I lock my car doors and I try to start the engine. The keys slip through my fingers and I can't even see where they fell as tears stream down my face. I decide to wait until I calm down. Just as I take a breath, my phone lights up and I rub my eyes and look, expecting my mom to have text me asking if I got in the car alright.

My heart drops as I read the text: 'Hey babe, I don't think I can make it tonight. Things got crazy with the Gabe and Nick from base and I completely lost track of time. Ttyl?'

He didn't even bother to ask how I was, or if I was already there... My mind replaying when he told me he loved me and that he always shared the same feelings as I did throughout high school and was too shy to say it then. I don't even remember getting my keys and starting my engine as I became stuck in a limbo of emotional distress. Tears flow down my cheeks as the fact that tonight was our only chance to go out before I had to go back too college. He had already delayed our plans to go out two days before saying that he was too tired from his drive from Washington, and wanted to hang out with his family and friends he brought with him from base...

Without texting him back I drove home and went to bed. Leaving early that morning, I ate breakfast with my parents before getting on the interstate, towards Georgia. Less than halfway there, I get a call.

"Hello?"

"Hey, what do you got planned, today?" Tyler asks and I feel a dull ache in my chest hearing his voice.

"Driving back to school."

"Already? Well... do you wanna meet and grab lunch before you go?"

"Tyler, I'm already over two and a half hours away from home. I told you that I was leaving early, today." I try to say calmly as I feel a lump develop in my throat.

"Oh... Well when will you be back?"

"Not until the end of the semester. School ends a week before Christmas."

"Oh..." he says awkwardly as we both know he won't be able to come home till New Years. There was a dead silence before he asks, " You okay, babe?"

My mind reels back to the day we went out for milkshakes and he confessed to me... Then our first date, and the way it felt when he kissed me. Tyler was the first guy I really liked, and despite my nervousness, I thought things were going well. I tried to make things simple for him since he was stressed with working in the navy and being so far from home. But I was constantly walking on eggshells trying to make it convenient for him... He was my first boyfriend, but I knew enough to know that relationships can't work like this.

" Not really... Tyler, I'm not mad at you but, you really left me hanging out there. I waited for you for over three hours, stood outside the theatre for two hours, by myself. You could've at least gave me a heads up."

" I did, though." He tries to argue and I feel my face grow warm as I try to hold myself back from yelling.

"Yeah, after eight o'clock at night! I waisted two days that I could've spent with my family and friends if you just told me that you weren't going to be able too hang out." I said as I bit my lip, and my heart aches at the thought. My mind replaying when that man grabbed me and my nausea returns at the thought of what could've happened if I wasn't able to get away.

"... Look, I got to meet with my folks for lunch. I got to go, but I'll talk to you later, alright?" He says calmly and I wondered if he even heard what I said.

"..." I don't answer... I don't think I could've without him hearing the sorrow in my voice and I hang up.

It wasn't until early the next morning when I got back to my school, I see he texted me.

" I don't think this is going to work. It's not you, it's just hard for me when things are crazy at work and you're so far away."

'It was hard for him to initiate a call? Or hard to tell me that he wouldn't be able to make it to our date?' I wondered as I cried myself to sleep.

..."Or was it hard because I wasn't worth it?"