Chapter 1 - Prince Not-So Charming

To say that I was shocked would be the understatement of the century. I was downright dumbstruck.

It was as though time stopped as I stood there, staring into the most beautiful pair of gray eyes I'd ever seen.

"Derris saved me! Derris frigging Fox just saved me!" was the only thing I could think.

My waist which he'd held was still buzzing as my eyes alternated between his amazing gray eyes and beautiful pink lips. It seemed as though everything else faded into the background and it was only Derris and I that existed. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world!

"You know, you really should be careful. You could have gotten hurt," Derris said all of a sudden, breaking the spell.

"W-What?" I stuttered, snapping out of my daydream.

"I said you should be more careful. Your shoes are untied so you tripped on it. Lemme help you with it," he said, stooping to help me knot my loose shoelaces.

As he did, his hand brushed against my leg several times causing a shiver to race up my spine every time.

I couldn't get over the shock of it all.

Derris Fox, my crush for as long as I could remember, was actually knotting my shoelaces.

Was I dreaming? Because there was no way in hell or in heaven that Derris Fox could actually be helping me tie my shoe.

"There. All done," he said rising up.

Oh jeepers! It's really happening!

"Come on Allison, say something. This is your chance!" my subconscious prodded me.

"I like your nose," I finally found myself saying before I could stop myself.

Wait what?

"Oh! Uh, thank you?" He answered, staring at me weirdly.

"Gosh! What is wrong with me? Why did I say that?" I said to myself, almost face palming myself right there and then.

"Um I like your nose too," Derris said and I inwardly groaned.

"Thanks," I replied, not having a clue as to what to say again.

What followed afterwards was silence, a silence that stretched on for a long time and eventually became awkward.

"So uh, bye!" I said and basically ran away since I didn't know what else to do.

Now it's official! I'm totally crazy!

I had the opportunity to talk to Derris like actually talk to him and I blew it! No person in their right mind would have done what I just did.

I'm crazy I tell you! CRAZY!

***

Nellie agreed with me, that I was crazy, that is.

"You did what!?" she yelled after I recounted the whole experience to her, later that day.

"I know, I know. It was stupid," I groaned, covering my face in embarrassment.

"More than stupid. It was flat out dumb. Allison, how could you do this to me? To yourself? You've had a crush on this guy since forever and when you finally get the chance to talk to him, you tell him you like his nose!?"

I winced. "When you put it that way, it sounds a lot worse."

"That's because it is. Do you know how many girls would kill to have been in your position?" Nellie yelled.

Wow, she's really taking this really hard! I thought.

"Nellie, don't you think you're taking this a little too hard? I mean, even I'm not as bummed!" I muttered.

"Of course I'm taking it hard. I've always wanted to be the bridesmaid at you and Derris’ wedding but you pretty much just ruined my chance," she answered, flopping on the bed with a smile.

"Wedding? Don't you think that's a little too far?" I asked, arching my eyebrows.

"Uh no! Based on how long you've been crushing on this guy, it's literally impossible for you guys not to end up together," she said with all seriousness.

"Okay. Whatever you say, fortune teller," I murmured rolling my eyes at her.

"Be sarcastic all you want but mark my words, young lady. Now you're going to talk to Derris tomorrow..."

"And why would I do that? He probably already thinks I'm a weirdo," I answered with a pout.

"Well you are but that's beside the point. You'll go to him tomorrow with cookies and yogurt and you'll tell him they're for saving you today."

"Wait, shouldn't that be yesterday if I'm seeing him tomorrow?"

"Whatever. Just give him the cookies and yogurt and start a conversation with him. Also don't mention his nose," she remarked pointedly.

I rolled my eyes at her.

"Whatever you say, Nella. Now go. I have homework."

"Okay. I've gotta go too. But remember, tomorrow!"

"Mm-hmm," I nodded.

***

Ultimately, I didn't speak to Derris until a week after he helped me and you can probably guess why. I chickened out every time but eventually Nellie put her foot down.

"You're going, Allison. Now!"

"B-but but Nellie..." I tried protesting but she gave me a stern look that flushed all my complaints down the drain.

"Allison, you can do this. Just believe in yourself. Hand him the cookies and talk to him. It's not that hard. You're pretty, smart, funny... He would be crazy to laugh at you," Nellie said, placing her hand on my shoulder.

"Okay okay. I can do this. I can do this," I muttered repeatedly to myself as I shakily made my way over to Derris.

"DERRIS! HI! REMEMBER ME?" I yelled as I walked towards him.

Did I mention that I yell when I'm nervous? Well I do. And now that I'm a nervous wreck, I'm literally screaming.

Anyway, just as Derris’ quizzical eyes came to a focus on me, I suddenly stumbled and my yoghurt accidentally spilled on Derris’ pristine white shirt.

Since I'd read online that Derris’ favorite type of yoghurt was chocolate, it ended up leaving a brown stain on his shirt. In short, his shirt was ruined. Well not really ruined but you get the gist.

"Oh my gosh! I am so so sorry! I did not mean for this to happen!" I blabbed as I tried cleaning the stain with my handkerchief.

"Stop! Just stop it!" Derris yelled all of a sudden, startling me.

"This is a fifteen hundred dollars designer shirt and you just ruined it, you clumsy bitch!" He yelled again, pushing me away from him angrily.

My eyes began to water.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to give you the yoghurt to thank you for h-helping me b-but I was nervous so I stumbled and...and..."

"I helped you? I must have been blind because I would never help a stupid bitch like you. By the way, here's what I think of your yoghurt!"

He bent down, picked up the cup of yoghurt and to my surprise, poured what was left on my hair. I gasped instantly, shocked to the core.

It made things worse when everyone started laughing at me. I felt like the ground open and swallow me as I stood there, staring at Derris with tears in my eyes.

Then I did the only thing I could do. I ran...