This chapter is dedicated to mrsMartinez7 - thank you so much for reading "Brent's Story" and your many votes and support.

Meeting My Fairy Tale Princess

It is a nasty rainy morning when I stop by the Starbucks on Michigan Avenue for a quick coffee. I have been living in Chicago for a little over five months but have mostly kept to myself though I have made a few friends since I started DePaul four weeks ago. City life is really hard in comparison to Quantico and it took me some time to get used to living on my own.

My mother never showed me how to cook - after all, that's a woman's job - but I fixed myself a few times dinner from recipes of the internet. Usually I eat out or grab something from the college cafeteria before going home. Cleaning has been easier since I always tidied up my own room back home but keeping the bathroom spotless has been a challenge. It's gross having to scrub the toilet and the gunk off the tiles and I miss my mom who used to do these things for me.

Hopefully, I would find some girl soon who will move in with me eventually so I can dump all these tasks on her. My father is right - housework is just beneath any men. I wonder how women can even like that stuff but I guess it's just something that comes natural to them like changing diapers and cleaning up baby vomit.

I am at the side counter adding sugar to my latte when I see her. She runs down the sidewalk, trying desperately to shield herself from the rain with very little success. I chuckle, she is so cute with a small, delicate frame and long blond hair, wearing some type of a school uniform with a knee long skirt and stockings. I hope she will come inside the shop.

When she enters, she shakes the raindrops off her hair and I laugh at the sight. Her head snaps up and I am greeted by scolding crystal blue eyes that still can't hide their softness. She reminds me so much of my mom, it's not even funny.

"Maybe next time, you should try an umbrella," I tease which earns me a close inspection. Her gaze turns curious and she seems to like what she sees. The feeling is mutual, I have rarely met a girl more gorgeous than her though she seems a little young - maybe fifteen or so. She has this innocence to her when her cheeks blush lightly which is absolutely adorable.

"Well, sir, if you knew anything about Chicago, you'd know that it's also nicknamed the 'Windy City'. You don't get far here with an umbrella."

Her attempt to be witty is hilarious and I decide to play along. "Sir? That's something you'd call my father. Do I look that old to you?"

"Ancient," she says. I can barely stifle a laugh at her cute reply.

She is definitely someone I would like to get to know. "I just moved here a few months ago and go to DePaul. Since I'm obviously clueless about this town, maybe you could become my tour guide and give me a crash course on its customs."

She bites her bottom lip which is kind of sexy and makes me wonder how it would feel to kiss her.

"Well, rule number one, you don't make fun of girls in coffee shops."

Though is it probably meant as a brushoff, the sparkle in her eyes suggests that she is relishing my attention.

I decide to move into flirt mode. "Even cute ones you try to get to know?"

This time, her face could easily compete with a tomato. She can't have a lot of experience with guys.

"What's your major?"

I am glad she took the bait, all interested in me now. "Psychology." She twitches under my gaze, maybe she thinks I am already in my twenties. "I'm a freshman and only look old. I'm actually just seventeen."

She cannot hide her surprise. "And you're already in college?"

"I guess I'm just smart." As soon as the words leave my mouth, I could have kicked myself. That sounded really arrogant.

The smile vanishes from her lips. "Well, I have to get to school."

She spins around, heading for the counter, and I panic. This didn't turn out as planned and I am not ready to have her march off like that. Just before she is out of my reach, I grab her wrist. "Wait. I didn't mean to come across as arrogant. I just wanted to impress you."

The twinkle is back in her eyes. "Well, I'm not really into someone who is full of themselves."

I don't want to lose my chances with her. "I realize that," I say with a rueful smile. "How about dinner tonight? That will give you a chance to get to know me and decide whether you want the tour guide job."

She seems hesitant. "I don't think that would be a good idea. My father would never allow me to go out with someone in college. Plus it's a school night."

I shrug. "Hey, your dad doesn't need to know."

It's a test. One of the things I learned from Ruth is that girls who lie to their parents are bad news. Those are the ones who also later lie to their boyfriends and husbands.

She passes with flying colors. "My father is a cop. Trust me, he will know."

This puts me in the hot seat. Men in law enforcement are generally suspicious and don't entrust someone with their children as easily as ordinary guys. On the other hand, he will have taught her respect and some good values which makes her even more appealing to me. I will have to find a way to convince her father to allow me to take her out.

"Maybe I could introduce myself and show him that I'm actually a nice guy. My father works for the FBI, that might be an added bonus."

She seems to like the idea. "OK. But I have to be home by ten. And only if my dad agrees."

Excitement washes through me and I would have loved to pull her into my arms and spin her around.

"Sure. How does six o'clock sound?"

She nods and grabs a napkin, fishing a pen from her backpack. A minute later, I hold her address in my hand.

"Don't be late," she warns. "My father likes punctuality. And shave."

I have never been late for anything in my entire life and sure won't start today. "Don't worry." I pull her hand to my lips. "Your father will be dazzled." All of a sudden, I realize we haven't introduced ourselves. "I'm Brent, by the way."

There is a little more blushing which causes a hot jolt in my groin.

"I'm Rena."

I love the name, it's so unique and special. "That's a beautiful name."

I wave her goodbye and stroll out of the shop, jumping down the two steps to the sidewalk. Luckily, it has stopped raining and I can forego my hoody. As I walk off, I can feel her eyes burning into my back. Rena really has a lot of potential.

xxxx

I skip my afternoon classes to get ready for my date and stop by the barber to get a haircut and a shave. The whole morning, I have been pondering how to get by her dad but still don't have a solid plan. When I pay the beautician, I have a brilliant idea and call my dad as soon as I step out of the shop.

He is not only thrilled to hear from me but flattered that I would ask him for advice. Since I moved to Chicago the day after my graduation, I have pretty much ignored him. My mother visited me for the first month to get me settled and I think she enjoyed the time away from him. I usually talk to her once a week and he stills beats her as frequently as before. I really had hoped he would ease up after I left since I had often been the cause for his anger but she still must not live up to his expectations. I hope she will get her ducks in order eventually so he wouldn't have to punish her all the time but have very little hope since they are married for almost twenty five years and she should know her place by now.

I rave about Rena and ask him how to approach her father.

"Well, I have never had a daughter so may not be the best person to ask but what you need to remember is that he is very protective of her. Be truthful and don't hold back. You are a man and if she is as young as you think, he will want to make sure you are not intending to force yourself on her. Be open and confirm that you understand his concerns and that you will accept his rules no matter what. That should get you in the door, at least for the first date."

I am glad for his advice. "Thanks dad. Give mom a kiss from me."

He grunts. "Don't even start me on your mother. She tried to open up her own checking account, probably in the hopes to skim some money to go on one of her outrageous spending sprees, but luckily, the bank manager called to confirm whether it was alright with me." He sighs. "I just don't know what to do with her, she seems to be getting worse every day. I mean, what type of wife goes behind her husband's back and does those types of things. She has gone totally mental."

I couldn't agree more, she was way out of line. I could never tolerate a woman betraying me like that. "I don't know, dad, but the belt don't seem to work. Please don't use the poker again - I don't want her back in the hospital."

"Me neither - two trips in a year could lead to uncomfortable questions. Any suggestions what I could do to teach her a lesson?"

I chew my lip, thinking what I would do if I were in his shoes. "Maybe you should show her that all the luxury she lives in is really a privilege and that she should not always thrive for more. Have her sleep outside on the porch for a few days and feed her some grub. I am sure she will get the message."

He chuckles. "That's a good idea, I haven't thought of that. I am proud of you, son, you have really learned how to stand up for yourself. Those bitches should be glad that we provide for them the way we do. I hope this Rena girl won't give you any grief."

A warm, tingling feeling spreads all in my stomach at the mentioning of her name. "She is special, dad. I knew straight away that she wasn't one of those pushy broads. Sweet and innocent, just the way a girl should be. You'll like her."

"Well, I'm happy for you and can't wait to meet her. Maybe you can bring her home for Thanksgiving."

I wasn't planning on going but with Rena, the experience might even be bearable.

"I'll think about it. Thanks for your advice. Catch you later."

When I get home, I take a shower and get dressed, in the best of spirits. I pick up a bouquet of roses on the way to her house and arrive five minutes early. To my surprise, they only live in an apartment in a mediocre part of town - her dad couldn't be that high up in the police force. I assumed they had money since Rena attends a private school.

She opens the door and beams at me, looking absolutely gorgeous in a tight jeans skirt that is luckily not that short and a blouse that falls loosely around her body. It has little flowers and brings out the blue in her eyes. Her hair is pulled up in a rather tidy bun and I admire her smooth milky skin. She is absolutely flawless. Little Brent approves and I am glad I wear some dress pants. It will be hard to keep my hands of her.

I clear my throat and offer my hand to her father. "Good evening, sir. I am Brent Parks."

He glares at me for a moment with a murderous look and it takes quite some effort to keep the smile on my lips. The guy is an asshole but unfortunately, the one thing standing between me and the chosen woman of my heart.

He finally shakes my hand. "I'm Frank Cooper. Come on in."

He ushers me into the living room after I delivered the flowers and offers me a seat. My palms are sweaty and my heart is racing, my throat so dry that I am afraid my voice will fail me. If I can't convince him, I have no chance with Rena.

"Well, sir, thank you so much for agreeing to talk to me to plead my case."

He narrows his eyes. "Rena told me you're already in college?"

I swallow hard, I can tell he will hold me to a much higher standard. "I graduated a year early, sir, but just turned seventeen in March. I can show you my driver's license if you like."

His brows rise up. "Why don't you do that?"

With shaking hands, I pull my license from my wallet and hand it to him. He inspects it closely, scratching across it with the nail of his thumb to make sure it's not faked. I roll my eyes - who in their right mind would make themselves younger?

"Do you mind if I call one of my buddies to make sure you don't have a criminal record."

I almost gasp - now that is paranoia at its best. "Not at all, sir, but I also have the phone number for the police chief from Quantico who is a close friend of my father's and can vouch for my character."

A first smile tucks on his lips. "That's OK. I just wanted to see your reaction to make sure you're not trying to hide something."

"I completely understand, sir. If I had a daughter like Rena, I would be the same."

This seems to score me a few point.

"You do realize that she is only fifteen and has been raised a devoted catholic. There won't be sex before marriage."

I almost laugh, he really hasn't arrived in the twenty first century. Even the biggest prudes today don't wait that long. "My parents both taught me the value of the bible, sir," I answer with a straight face. "I will always respect your daughter's decision and would never rush her."

This time, he actually chuckles. "This was a very diplomatic answer, Brent, and will do for now. Why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself?"

I run him through my standard bio - what my parents do for a living and that I was raised in a loving home but don't reveal anything that could give him an indication about the horrors of my childhood. My father always taught me not to share anything personal with regards to my family with an outsider. I tell Frank about DePaul and that I am thinking about joining the FBI after graduation to follow into my father's footsteps. The last bit is a total lie but is well received.

"Well, Brent, I have to admit, there is truly no reason why I shouldn't allow you to take my daughter to dinner tonight. You seem like an honest and sincere young man. Do you know when my daughter's curfew is?"

"Ten o'clock, sir, and she won't be a minute late."

He gets up and calls Rena into the living room. Her face lights up in utmost joy when he informs her of his decision. My heart is making summersaults when she grabs her jackets and I open the door for her, thanking whoever is in charge up there these days that fate brought us together.

The date is absolutely amazing. She is a pure delight, her intellect far beyond her age. She is interested in art and books and there is nothing artificial about her - she seems to be totally herself. I appreciate her modesty when she voices concerns about the prices on the menu but assure her that it's not a big deal. She still only orders an appetizer in the medium price range. Her appetite is healthy despite her slim frame - there is nothing about her even remotely similar to Ruth and her constant worries about her weight.

As the evening proceeds, I am more and more convinced that Rena is the right girl for me. There are no shrill laughs, no ranting and most importantly, not even one glance at any other guy in the restaurant though there are a twin boys my age who celebrate their parents' birthday. She seems interested in me but doesn't judge when I hold back, respecting that it is still early in our relationship.

She snickers when I start to feed her with little bites of our desert, her eyes full of happiness. Little Brent is going crazy - I want nothing more than pull her into my arms and kiss those little crumbs of the caramel tart off her lips.

When I pay the check, I realize it is already nine thirty and cuss in my mind that she will be late for her curfew. I decide to call Frank to forewarn him and he is actually not upset at all which is a huge relief. We exchange phone numbers in the cab and I walk her to the door.

"I had a wonderful time tonight, Rena. I would really like to see you again."

My heart skips a few beats when she agrees to go out with me on Friday night - there is some popular dystopian movie she wants to see. I hate this genre with a passion but keep my mouth shut - the most important thing is that we will be together.

For a moment, I consider giving her a proper good night kiss but don't want to come across as pushy and only peck her on the cheek. "Good night, Rena."

"Good night, Brent." Her eyes glow with an intense passion and send little tingles down my spine. She is the perfect girl.

I take a cold shower at home to get Little Brent back under control and stretch out on the bed after texting her a quick good night message. My heart is pounding much heavier than usual and I can't get her beautiful face out of my mind. One day, she will be totally mine and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with her.

I know that there was some repetition in this chapter to LWTCWM but I wanted to show you their crucial first encounter from Brent's point of view. I hope you still enjoyed it and did not fall asleep halfway through, LOL.

I would love to hear from you and please don't forget to vote if you liked this chapter. Thanksgiving with Brent's family will be next XD. For all of you who have not entered the pre-launch contest to "Rena's Struggle", it's not too late to answer those challenge questions and secure one of the prizes.