I've waited my entire life for this. Caps of black and gold flutter down from the sky. Rainbow confetti swirls around in the mid-June breeze, gliding gently down onto the neatly trimmed football field. My mood turns dismal when I realize there's no one here to see me graduate. It was inevitable, but it still didn't hurt any less.

Back at home the house is too quiet. I grab some popcorn and m&m's, then settle onto the slate gray sofa. I prepare for the fireworks of sweet and salty in my mouth, when there's a pounding on the door.

The popcorn bucket tumbles, and scatters all over the white carpet at my feet.

"Shit."

"I'm injured."

My heart jumps into hyper drive at the sound of a distinct male voice. Tiptoeing over to the door I peek through the top window.

A handsome, curly raven haired boy sits at my doorstep. Flawless pale skin, not a blemish, but upon further inspection I find he does have one flaw, that I doubt is his fault. From the corner of his eye on an angle that draws down to his jaw is a bright red line.

"I'm injured, please help me. I must return to my Kingdom and save Summer."

With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I open the door. It slams with a loud thud against the wall.

"Summer hangs in the balance."

His brows move frantically as he speaks. He looks around like a baby first learning the world around them. His wide-eyed confused gaze navigates the room behind me.

"Where? What strange town have I come to?"

It's like he was transported from a cosplay convention and landed here on my doorstep. Is there a convention in town?

"You're in New York."

His brow furrows. He tries to back up, but stumbles. I reach out, grabbing his hand. His mouth opens ready to scream when I stop him from his fall.

"How can I ever repay you for saving my life? That was a far -" he turns back to investigate the actual depth he would have fallen and clears his throat. "Are you a doctor?" he asks softly, his body turning to spaghetti in my arms.

"No. No I'm not. But I can get you to one, but I have to get my car keys."

The narrowed gaze and small V between his brows are well defined.

"Have you hit your head sir?"

"I don't think so," he answers.

"Stay here."

A twinge of pain strangles my heart when I check the small bowl to see only my keys. I should be used to my parents not being around, but it will never get easier.

Spinning around I catch his blue eyes focused on me, a hint of gray speckled throughout.

"Hold still," I whisper, reaching my hand out to touch his cheek.

Soft smooth skin tickles my senses as he allows me to run my hand close to the wound. He winces but leans into my touch. His eyes slowly haze over as if I comforted him in some way.

"You're a long way from home, aren't you?"

"Yeah. I am. You don't know how to get back to Ravenwood Forest, do you?"

His lips turn up with a spark of hope radiating a soft pink blush against his injured cheek.

"I'm sorry I don't know where that is. Let's get you fixed up and then we can find out where you belong. I'm Odette," I say, holding out my hand.

I expect a firm shake, but instead with a delicate touch, he takes my hand, lifts it to his lips and kisses the back of it. My body sways.

"Prince Wesley."

I choke. "Okay, Wes. Let's go."

In the car he remains quiet. Every few seconds I look over.

"What type of transportation is this?" he asks.

"It's a car. Are you sure you didn't hit your head? Maybe you have a concussion..."

"I did not. A car, huh?" he asks.

"There!" he yells, pointing to the park on the right.

I step on my break, the tires squealing in pain across the concrete. 'There - what?" I shout. My heart hammers hard against my chest.

He dives out of the car, tripping over his own two feet running for the wooded area behind the park.

"What about your wound?" I yell.

He jumps the chain linked fence. Growling, I pull the car over to the curb and start to go after him. Why I'm following a strange man into the woods is beyond me. Maybe I'm craving adventure and company.

I attempt to hop over the fence, but my muscles fail me. The gate is open a few paces to the right, and I head through and run across the freshly mowed grass towards the woods.

As I reach the tree line Wes - Wesley sits in the grass, legs crossed in front of him. I sit mimicking his position. From this angle the clean-shaven boy looks maybe around my age. No more than twenty for sure.

"Everything okay?"

"When I arrived, I came through these trees. What lies beyond them?"

I shrug. "I don't know. That would be trespassing, and I don't want to get arrested."

"Will you be hung if they arrest you?"

I snort, unable to help myself. "No, but I'd be in deep shit if I did that."

The V between his brows returns as he glances at me. A shiver runs down my spine. There's something about this man that almost reminds me of my favorite movie where the fairy tale characters find themselves in the real world.

"Sorry. I don't have a filter when it comes to -"

I pause. Throwing a full glance in his direction. His blue eyes dance over me and just like that I'm under his hypnotizing spell. For some reason I believe that he's not from our world.

"There's a small pond."

He shifts to his feet, his facial features brightening at the mention of a pond.

"A pond you say? Oh, yes, there was water. Will you show me?" he asks.

Glancing behind me, I take in the children swinging, and the amount of people around. If I scream will anyone hear? I'm not worried, so I stand and hold out my hand.

"Come on," I say, as he slips his fingers between mine.

I inhale deeply unable to ignore the warmth that leaves tingles up my arm. We slink into the tree line. There is a trail back here for walking, but we are going off the grid to get to where we need to go.

"You're really not from this world, are you?" I ask as we fall in line.

He takes a quick look at our hands still together as we trek through the woods, swatting branches out of the way with our free hands.

"I am not. So, you believe me then?" he asks.

I shrug. "Yeah, I think I do. Let's get you home Prince Wesley."

"Thank you," he says, our eyes lingering for a heartbeat or two.

Finally, we come across a clearing. The pond is a few feet away, and it's like I stepped into the fairy tale with him. Armed guards dressed in red with swords stand watch over the pond. My pulse is drumming in my ears.

"What on earth..."

The swish of a blade being pulled out of a holder on his left side makes me jump. I gasp loudly, then cover my mouth as the tall, unhappy looking men standing at the pond's edge glance up in our direction.

"You should go. Save yourself."

I duck as one of the guards inspects the area. He squints into the trees as the prince scoops me up and into his arms. He rests a hand over my mouth and lowers his lips to my ears. "Shh."

I couldn't speak even if I wanted to. Can they hear my heart? Because I do.

"Can you use a sword?"

Scratching the top of my head I contemplate his question. I was a little too obsessed with the ninety's version of The Parent Trap. I loved the fencing scene and took lessons for eight years, but it's been a while. This is different, real swords and everything.

"Maybe."

Silence passes between us.

"How can you save summer?" I whisper, intrigued by his story.

Keeping my line of sight on the guards I wait for his answer.

"I have to marry or else Prince Daemon the destroyer of new life receives my crown."

I almost contemplate heading into this Ravenwood place with him. Running away and getting married. Being the queen of some distant world ignites my senses, but then reality crashes down on me, and I know it's impossible.

"Extra sword? I'll create a diversion. You sneak through."

"A diversion? But what if they..."

"Nah. I'm as quick as lightning."

I hold my hand out. The swoosh of the blade running along the case echoes around us. He hands it to me.

"How can I repay you Ms. Odette?"

"No need. I just want to see you safe."

He hesitates, but it's the wrong move and the guards in red are hot on our tails. I pull away and start running in the opposite direction, shouting as I race through. Branches smack me in the face, but it doesn't stop me.

"Over here!!"

Their attention is on me, as I rush out into the open. Their footsteps stampede close by. I take a quick glance over my shoulder. The prince is running for the water. I swivel my head back and find a bush. I make a zig then a zag before jumping in. Their boots pound on the ground as they rush by me.

When the sound eases, I stick my head out, and everything I just saw has vanished, including the guards. A knot forms in my throat, confusion welling up in my eyes in the form of tears. Did I imagine that whole thing?

Crawling out of the bushes, I check my surroundings. Everything seems clear. I start walking back the way we came. The sky in the distance fills with a light glow of purple as the sun falls over the horizon.

A rustling in the trees catches me off guard. Picking up the pace I force myself forward. Arms grab me in a choke hold. The sword in my hand slips from my grip as another sword presses against my throat.

"Where is he?" A monstrous voice bellows.

"He vanished. I swear."

He growls as the blade presses closer to my throat. I gasp as tiny cuts prick my skin and warm blood cascades down. I don't know how I went from graduation to this, but here I am about to be killed before my life even begins.

Struggling to loosen myself from his grip. I try to remember the year of martial arts I took, but the memory falls short.

I close my eyes and wait for the darkness to consume me when a loud yell races towards us. I'm released from the arms of my capturer and go tumbling through the dirt and leaves.

When I open my eyes, Wesley stands over me, hand outstretched. I reach for him, as the man swings his sword from behind.

"Watch out!" I yelp.

He ducks in time and scoops me up. He starts running back towards the pond.

"I need your help," he says. "Do you trust me?"

"I don't normally trust strange men from other worlds the day I meet them," I grin.

My body bounces against his as he keeps a steady grip on me. His lips tug upward, leaving an amused glare in his eyes.

"Well, you're going to have to. Hold on tight," he says.

He jumps towards the pond, leaping towards whatever is waiting on the other side. Maybe this summer won't be as lonely as I thought it would be.

THE END