"Prim, wake up," a soft whisper shakes me awake.

"What happened?" my sleepy voice croaks, and I rub my eyes. My face is stuck to the window and my cheeks are sore from the impact.

"You tell me. One minute we were talking about perfume, the next you're snoring! You slept through the whole drive too. What were you dreaming about? A male model? You mumble in your sleep, you know."

"Oh shoot!" My first motion is fast and alert. I lift my head suddenly. On impulse, I pat my head to adjust my fuzzy hair and calm my spinning mind.

I bet he knows what I was dreaming! "You okay, Prim?" Paxson worriedly stutters my full name, electrocuting my pulse.

"Oh yeah, I'm okay," I think.

"Well, we're here," his head nods my way and I glance out my window.

A glorious gate wrapped in bright flowers leads straight to a clean path. An angel carved into a marble fountain spews water and roundabout spirals straight toward a house. No, scratch that; not a house, a mansion! A cream-colored building with a layer of clear glass shimmers in the sun, and I can't help but gape. The sun has touched the peak of the building so glamorous, and I swear I can see God's fingers caress the mighty infrastructure to perfection.

Does this girl crap gold or something?!

"Prim, stop drooling, " he leans over to take my seatbelt off, and I suck in a breath.

My eyes don't waver from the mansion even as I step out. The zigzag of exotic vines latch within the gate and shape it into a floral, evergreen beauty. As I follow the road to this fantasy, Paxson's voice clears my head.

"I have to put the gate code in first, silly." His whimsical grin enchants me more than the scenery does. He types in the four-digit code and the mechanical gate swings open.

How does he even know what the code is? Maybe she texted it to him?

Looking in all directions, I glide closer to the angel fountain and instantly notice my attraction to it.

Perched at the top, the angel sits. Its wings of glory were high and mighty, with a chest, carved out to a girl's dream. His face is beautiful and irresistibly spellbinding. I turn my head involuntarily and catch Paxson and his equally interested stare. My mind roams and I picture him as the angel, all flawless and holy. In many ways, he has been a dream to me, he saved me many times with his caring touch and overflowing protection. I can't help but wonder if the handsome angel was, in fact, a replica of him.

We meet up at the ten-foot door, decorated in patterns and gems, and I mentally prepare myself for the day ahead. I'm dreading the enormous amounts of fake laughs, stupid stories, and snarky remarks that I'll most likely be forced to listen to.

"Prim, please remember to be nice, okay?" The wrinkles spotting his forehead show signs of anxiousness and worry. To reassure him I reach for his hand.

Paxson doesn't respond, but as he motions to ring the doorbell I glimpse the blush seeping into his cheeks. That's the only response I need. Someone speaks through the intercom.

"Is that who I think it is?" a high-pitched voice squeals.

"Hey, can you open the door for us, please?" Within seven seconds, the door flies open. The rush of a rosy, intoxicating smell strikes us.

Here she is, the Ice Queen!

Priscilla's glossy hair and evil eyes lock on Paxson, her devilish grin toying with his emotions at first glance. Her body is tanned evenly and the neon pink that covers her doesn't do justice.

"Hello, handsome. I was wondering when you'd get here." She slithers towards him, glaring at him like a snack, and slides her arms around him for a hug.

I angle myself the other way, my blood freezing into ice. That's what the Ice Queen does. Freezes and destroys.

"It's nice to see you too. Prim," she points her comment toward me, and I swallow back a nasty remark.

"Yeah, thanks for letting me come. You have a," I breathe in and make eye contact with her, "lovely home." I force a smile, and she plays right along.

Her arms still wrapped around Paxson, she replies with a voice silky as water.

"Why, thank you. It's a limited edition style, made by my father's Italian construction worker, Giovanni Abruzzo who so suddenly passed away a year ago. Rest in peace." I hold in a chuckle. She's so fake that she makes the statue seem more real than her!

"Well enough reminiscing, let's get inside so I can introduce you to the rest of the group" Priscilla grabs Paxson's arm and pulls him along like a dog. Reluctantly, I follow.

Right on the spot, I feel myself getting lost in this place. Priscilla and Paxson are already stepping ahead of me, and I manage to catch up by listening to her obnoxiously annoying voice.

Silver staircases and a high ceiling matched the modern style yet elegant tile. The place was more palace looking to be considered a home. Chandeliers, multiple rooms, and extravagant gadgets that are only created from dreams are now optical memory through my eyes. What can I say, this place is marvelous!

Love the house....hate the girl!

My flip-flops echo through the walls and I catch up to the two who have traveled to the far side of the mansion. A glass door is now in view with the most exquisite pool I've ever seen. With its own fountain and large perimeter, my excitement builds up.

Tiptoeing behind them, I listen in on what Priscilla is saying to Paxson. She clearly doesn't know the meaning of personal space.

"My friends are really very nice and I'm sure you both will get along with them just fine. There really are only a few of them including us, as I promised. And later I was hoping you'd like to find a quiet place to be together, just us two. There are so many places to choose from; the living room; one of the guest rooms; my bedroom-"

I force a cough to grab their attention.

"Oh boy. I sure am ready for some swimming!" I say with a little too much enthusiasm that even makes me cringe.

Paxson's eyes shine for me and his smile leaves me speechless. The corners of his mouth are mischievous with a hint of amusement, which has my head spinning. Priscilla, on the other hand, looks seriously pissed at my interruption.

Paxson frees himself from her touch delicately, and I take it as my cue to take my annoyingness up a notch. Paxson said to be nice, he never said I couldn't annoy the crap out of her.

Grinning to myself, I slide the glass door open and strip off my shirt and shorts that cover my bathing suit. I throw them aside with my towel and with no hesitation, splash right into the water.

I rise to meet the fresh air and see Priscilla's body twitch with irritation. Her hands cross in front of her, and her eyes dilate black.

A faint sound of clapping comes from across the pool and a group of five random people stares right at me with perky smiles.

Paxson and Priscilla make their way to the pool deck and Priscilla gets everyone's attention.

"Well everyone, this is Paxson." They all say a greeting.

"And... that's Prim. His...adopted friend." I wave in response to their forced hellos, but my gaze doesn't waver from Paxson who's just as worried as I am.

This is going to be one hell of a day...

***

In the time span of four hours, I've ignored, prayed, bit my tongue, and became a human raisin from migrating in the water for a long time period. Priscilla and her friends have chatted it up with the occasional jabber directed towards Paxson, but never at me. Not that I'm complaining! I casually listen in on the conversation and that's about it! I haven't initiated the conversation and I've decided it's definitely for the best if I'm going to be a good noodle.

The pack has now relocated to the jacuzzi and from where I swim freely, the Ice Queen calls.

"Hey Prim, stop being antisocial and talk with us," she motions me to come over and I think about just drowning right here and now.

Why I'd rather die than go over there! Then, I look at Paxson, his face completely shell-shocked and eyes pleading for comfort. Now how can I say no to that? I've been selfish this whole time. One of his requests was to never leave his side, and that's exactly what I've been disobeying all day. I've left him with a bunch of snobs. I owe it to him.

So with my new goal in mind, I paddle out of the pool and make myself present in the bubbling jacuzzi.

Nobody moves, and nobody speaks. Only the rumbling of the jacuzzi can be heard. Just great!

"So Prim," one of Priscilla's friends randomly initiates. He's a bleach-blonde loon from what I already can tell, "is it true about your parents?"

"Uhh, what?" I murmur ever so slightly. The cracks in my heart knock the wind out of me.

"I mean you're adopted, right?" He adds another question, and the dark-skinned girl next to him builds up more curiosity.

"Yeah, wasn't it a plane crash? What was that like? The news covered it for like two months, what a tragedy."

"Uhh, can we not-"

"Don't you have other family members?" Another girl with blue eyes chimes in and then it's complete chaos after that.

Question after question, the memories pile on. The thoughts and wondering paint a picture all over again. A picture of my staining past.

"Priscilla told us that you were all alone. Poor thing! Were you scared?"

"Did the plane explode?"

"Does your other family just not love you enough to keep you?"

"How did it crash again?"

Until one voice trumps them all.

"That's enough!" Paxson booms. The silence after that is impeccable but not as intense as the structure of Paxson's rigid body.

The curve of his jaw is tight and his eyes flare with a magnitude that could burn anyone to the ground if he wanted to. The muscles that set through his wet shirt are clenched and stern. Paxson ly furious, yet he keeps his composure even now.

I can't take it anymore. "I'm going to find the restroom." I blurt and rush out of the steaming water.

Luckily for me, the bathroom is only feet away from the poolside area, and I make sure three times that the fancy door is locked before I let the sting in my eyes break loose.

I slouch on the clean, polished toilet seat and weep for what had to be longer than usual for me. Granted, crying to me is very foreign and alien, but after my salty tears drip down my skin for a good two minutes, I know it's time for me to end it. Not only am I not in the comfort of my home but allowing the words and immaturity of others to hurt me is weak and childish. I'm better than that.

I reach over to my side and snatch some toilet paper. Blowing snot out of my nose and drying my eyes, I bring myself to a proper sitting position and pep-talk myself one last time before getting back on my feet.

My hand slowly turns the knob and I carefully poke my head out, the house is still quiet. I make my way out of the bathroom and just when I'm about to turn the corner, voices are caught by my ears.

"What your friends did to her was cruel, and you know it. I have every right to be upset." Paxson's familiar ring brings chills down my skin.

"Paxson, sweetheart, she's being too sensitive and silly. Don't be like this and defend her."

"No." He intervenes from her menacing charm.

"Paxson-"

"No, stop touching me. You just don't get it."

"What do you mean?"

"Or maybe you don't want to get it."

I lean against the wall, barely breathing. Is he really about to do this right now?

"Come on Paxson, she's a little girl. What you need is a real woman. One who won't get on your nerves all the damn time. One who'll treat you right in every way possible. Someone who'll treat you like a real man. Someone like me." Her voice whispers the last sentence, eagerly waiting for him to cave.

My heart drops to the floor, and my body follows. She's right, I am a little girl.

"A real woman is someone who cares and loves me in every possible way. A lady who doesn't want to use me as a stress reliever or some extra body to keep in her possession. A real woman won't need to make me a man because I'll become a man for her. That's how it works."

"And you seriously think Prim is the right person to fit that real woman description?" She snorts.

"She's the only person that crosses my mind." Paxson retorts and I feel the gap between them lengthen. My lungs fill with more air as the tension grows.

"Paxson, what the hell are you talking about? Have you gone insane!?"

"What we had before, it doesn't matter. You even told me that much."

I can't fully comprehend what he's saying. What they had? Were they a thing before? Suddenly the urge to vomit increases and my head spins. Still, Paxson continues and I tune in eagerly.

"We both were in a really bad place, and I'm sorry about what happened, it wasn't like me at all. Trust me, I wish I could take it back. But I don't feel that way about you. I never did, and you know that. Yet still, you can't stand the sight of Prim near me. That hard head of yours knots with jealousy. You don't want me, you just want what you can't have."

"You're blowing me off for some childish, arrogant kid who drives you insane. Can't you see how much better we are together? I could handle you in ways you couldn't even imagine. Paxson, let's face it, I surpass Prim by a landslide. It's no secret that I'm much better than her." Her squeal upsets my stomach

My knees squeeze my chest and I scrunch my eyes closed. What am I even listening to?

"You don't seem to get it, so let me put it in words your brain might be able to understand; All I want is Prim. You aren't Prim, so I don't want you. End of story." Paxson's words are final and said with such clarity it boils my blood with fervor.

"So then let me make it clear that I can ruin you so fast. Your little charade with her is completely crossing a line."

"What, what are you going to do?" Thunder explodes from within him and it makes me shake. Paxson is not known for being obnoxious like this.

"You going to call the police? Have me arrested for being with an underage girl? Really? We aren't together." The acerbic tone cuts right through any confidence Pricilla had a few seconds ago, and a shudder passes through me.

"You realize how much pain I've been through? How much grief she's in? Well of course not. You could care less. So you know what, I beg you to have me arrested and thrown in jail. I implore you. It might be the nicest thing you could ever do for me. I know the situation I'm in, and I'm trying," the tiredness sweeps back into his voice, except this time, I think she realizes it's because of her.

"Look," she attempts to redeem herself from the hole she has dug herself into.

"I know you're hurt, and I know you have these weird protective feelings for her, but I'm sorry. It's just sick! You're a groomer for even thinking of her that way." Priscilla spats the words as if she was conversing with the devil himself, and her accusing mouth pierces my heart.

"And in what way do I think of her then? What makes you think you know about how I look at Prim? You don't know a damn thing about how I feel." Paxson's voice draws closer and footsteps appear to be near. I rush back into the bathroom and close the door enough to slightly peak out.

Paxson walks fiercely down the hall, hands running through his hair, and in one quick motion, Priscilla spins him around and kisses him passionately. I cut my gaze away and restrain myself from whimpering.

I know the contact is broken once I hear Priscilla cry out of frustration. "I want you! And you're saying no to me!" She whines but it's clear Paxson is done with her games. His worn eyes and monotone voice prove just that.

"Must suck finally hearing the word no."

My heart pumps violently through my rib cage and my veins burn with desire. Paxson doesn't want her, he wants me.

"Priscilla, I'm sorry. I'm going to find Prim and we're gonna head out now. I've had enough of this for one day. I want to take her home."

"Fine then. Leave. I could care less!" She shrills with anger.

Priscilla huffs dramatically and storms away, and Paxson stands there like a statue. There is when I see it, the angel on the fountain. An angel standing before me.

"Okay, Prim. You can come out now," he wears a ghost smile, and I mentally facepalm. Of course, he knows I'm hiding.

I poke my head out shyly and move toward him in hesitation. I watch him as we walk out the door, walk past the perfect scenery around us and hop back in the car. I don't know what to say or how to feel.

It takes ten minutes for Paxson to make the smallest noise, and when he does it's two words I wasn't expecting.

"I'm sorry."

"What are you saying-"

"No, let me finish," he grips the steering wheel tight enough to make his hands turn white and his lips fold into his mouth. He's in pain, in just as much grief as me, but I've been too blind to see it.

"You were right. I chose to ignore Priscilla because I thought I had no choice. I was convinced she was the best I could get. I didn't think I could ever be with you. Then and now. I believed I was a monster, a creep for wanting us together. So I lied. I said I had to leave because I wanted space and a fresh start. But that's not what I wanted at all."

"But you led me to believe all that. Why did you do that to me? You can't make every decision for me." My eyes are on the verge of pouring out all the emotion I've built up. Every last stitch in my heart is deteriorating, and I have nothing left to hold it together.

"Because I had to let you go find someone your age. Someone who could kiss you and hold you and not worry about getting in trouble. I didn't want my age to be used against you like some power. I wasn't fair to you. It's better this way, you and I can't happen and I know that. I won't be a monster."

I lick my dry lips and keep the road in my sight. My mind is completely blank. There's nothing I have to say.

What feels like forever, the car comes to a halt in front of the familiar, normal home occupied by Paxson's family. Both of us stay still.

Even though the space between us is evident, I know I've never understood someone more in my entire life. 

Thanks again for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments! :)