I was flying on cloud nine. Von and I were exchanging childhood stories and I couldn't help but stare as his eyes lit up with infectious laughter, his breathtaking smiles trained to me. I beamed at him with delight.

This was truly a dream come true.

"You were so fat!" I exclaimed, earning a scowl from him.

"I wasn't fat. I was just a little chubby," he argued.

"Chubby, my ass." I chortled. "Your pants were practically falling off your butt when I first met you."

"It wasn't! Now, you're just making things up."

"I am not. It's true!"

"Hey, they were baby fat. And, I shed them off pretty quick."

"Whatever you say, fatso."

He rolled his eyes exasperatedly at me. I grinned cheekily at him, remembering the times Lance teased him when we were kids and how easy it was to piss him off. He always got all red and puffy and stormed off our lawn with Lance laughingly trailing after him.

"Well, even if I was a fatty, you still had a massive crush on me, didn't you?"

I gasped in outrage. "I did not!"

"Yeah, you sure did." He gave me a wolfish smile. "Prince, oh, prince," he continued in a childlike voice. "I am in peril. Pull out your sword and rescue me, my one true love."

I felt blood rush up to my cheeks. I faintly remembered saying those words.

"That was just a game. We were playing!"

"Sure," he drawled, wagging his brows suggestively. "You calling me prince all the time was just a game. Even when we were eating dinner together at your house and even when we were watching television or walking around the park."

"Yes, a game." I nodded frantically. "Whatever. We were kids. You know how obsessed I was with fairytales. Of course, I had to have a prince."

"But, choosing me means that you find all the qualities of a prince in me," he pointed out matter-of-factly.

I blushed even more. Maybe I did like him when we were kids. So what? At least he didn't know I was practically in love with him now.

"Hey, isn't it a big coincidence that my father is working for your father?" I abruptly changed the topic. "Or, did you have hand on that, too?" I added with suspicion.

"No. I call it God's will. Your dad coincidentally applied for my dad's company and he mentioned that to me because he knew about my summers at your old place. Your dad got the job, you moved, and we met again."

"Huh. What a small world."

"You bet. I'm just happy to see you again."

"Why?" I asked, holding my breath.

He shrugged. "I missed you."

At his words, my heart began to beat erratically, like it was trying to jump out of my chest. Oh, boy.

"Want to dance?"

I burst out laughing. "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Why?"

"Remember the last time you invited me to dance with you?"

His lips widened into a smile. "Hell, yeah. I'll never forget." He stood up, and then extended his hand towards me. "But, I'll try not to get punched this time."

I exhaled a laugh and took the hand he offered. He helped me rise and led me a few distance away. When he found an acceptable spot, he turned around to face me and slipped his arms around my waist while I placed my hands gingerly on his chest once more.

Today was a fairytale
You were the prince
I used to be a damsel in distress
You took me by the hand and you picked me up at six
Today was a fairytale.

We danced under the moonlight, surrounded by the twinkling lights to Taylor Swift's song. Unlike in the gym where there was a little bit of room between us as we danced, his hands pulled me closer until I was intimately pressed against his body. My fantasies came back to me, and just for the moment, everything felt right.

Today was a fairytale
I wore a dress
You wore a dark grey t-shirt
You told me I was pretty when I looked like a mess
Today was a fairytale
Time slows down whenever you're around.

A sigh of contentment escaped from my lips. In his arms, I felt cherished. In his arms, I felt protected and loved. I stopped worrying about anything, treasuring the present.

But can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me
Fell in love when I saw you standing there
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale.

Oh oh oh
Yeah ohooh...
Today was a fairytale.

As the song winded down and another song took place, I thought about Von's confessions and revelations. It must have been tough for Von to hide who he truly was for me.

And, I couldn't believe I fell for it.

Well, I did suppress those awful memories. I was really hurt because I trusted and liked him as a boy, even though he was terrible to me at first. Maybe, it was because my childish heart was broken by him and the betrayal traumatized me.

But, the question was, why? I thought, my curiosity thoroughly piqued. Why did he go through all this trickery? If it was because he thought I couldn't forgive him, why would he care? He was more of Lance's best friend than he was mine, anyway.

And what about that girl he mentioned he liked? I sighed dejectedly, tears springing up in my eyes. Who was this mystery girl anyway?

"Are you crying?"

I started and stopped swaying, my skirts swishing around me. Von was staring down at me with a worried expression on his face.

"No. I just have something in my eye," I responded, my gaze downcast.

He scoffed. "You're the worse liar I've ever met. What's wrong, princess?"

"Nothing!" I insisted, lifting my eyes to him. "I'm just a little touched by this gesture of yours, that's all. Who knew badass Von was such a softie."

He grinned reluctantly at me. "Only for you, princess."

"But, why?" I waved a hand around me. "I mean, if you want forgiveness for the crappy way you treated me before, you didn't have to go this far."

"Rei…"

"And, hey, what about the girl you like?" I asked with false enthusiasm even though my heart was bleeding. "Do I get to know who she is? What does she look like anyway?"

"Well…" A far-away look came upon Von's face. "She's beautiful… but she doesn't even know it."

My heart spasmed painfully.

I just had to fucking ask.

"When she smiles… wow," he chuckled, lost in his thoughts. "I didn't know how a smile can affect me so much but hers did. And the way her eyes sparkle when she's happy… Or when she's pissed of..." he trailed off, shaking his head slowly. "I just knew that she was the one for me."

I should not have asked him, I thought as I tried to maintain a happy expression for him. I should not have asked because it was killing me to hear him describe his mystery girl.

I felt like a total moron.

"So, she's a flawless beauty without any faults?" I questioned, and I winched inwardly when I heard the heartbreak in my voice.

But, he didn't seem to notice. He caught my hand, tracing the lines on my palm with his fingers, eyes downcast. I tried tugging it away but his grasp was tight.

"No, I didn't say she has no faults. She's not perfect."

I stop trying to take my hand away.

"She's not?"

"Yeah." His eyes sliced to mine, his gaze intense and affectionate. "She's stubborn as hell and she likes to argue with me. She's also slow and dense because she doesn't know how I feel for her. I still can't believe she doesn't realize that I'm so into her."

I frowned. "Calling her stubborn because she doesn't cower at you is wrong. It means she's got a backbone. Lord knows she'll need it to put up with you. And, maybe she doesn't want to assume that you like her because she knows you're a player. Maybe she's afraid you're just testing her or something. And maybe, you're feelings are not reaching her because you're not doing it right."

I almost slapped myself on the face when I realized I was defending the girl. I can't believe I was being freaking stupid and masochistic. God, kill me now.

Von scowled. "That's bull."

"What do you mean bull?"

"How can she assume I'm a player when she hasn't even seen me with any other girl?" he shot at me.

I blinked. "How would I know—?"

"And why don't my feelings reach her when I buy her stuff like ice cream, or do crazy shit when she's with another guy, or take her to the ball?"

"I don't know- wait, what?"

"I liked her since we were little, and when I didn't get to see her anymore, I missed her like crazy. When we met again, I fell in love with her more and more each day and I couldn't get enough of her."

I stared at him, wide-eyed and my mouth slack.

What the hell was going on?

"Why can't you see that I like you? Are you really that thick?"

I unfroze and felt anger welling up inside me. "Don't you dare call me thick! How would I know that you like me when you kept dissing me and making me real mad like you're doing now?"

"Because I didn't know how to tell you, princess."

My anger diffused. I blinked at him as he stared at me with his eyes pleading and burning into me. I felt my world tilt.

Was it possible? Was it possible he felt the same way like I did?

"Wait, wait. I'm getting confused." I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. "We were talking about this mystery girl of yours and suddenly, we're talking about me instead. Am I getting high off this tea?"

"I love you, Rei."

My eyes shot to him. His face was gentle and warm. I took a step away from him, my heart thumping wildly.

"You don't love me," I told him empathetically. "I'm just your childhood friend and the victim of a grand scheme you put up with my brother for God-knows-what reason."

"Why do you think I did that?" he answered patiently.

I shrugged. "I don't know."

He rolled his eyes to the sky and sighed exasperatedly. "God, she is so insufferable. Why must things go wrong when I'm trying to confess to this idiot?"

My eyes widened with wonder. "You really love me?"

"I don't even know why I put up with you, you moron," he muttered darkly.

"Well, apparently you're in love with me," I deadpanned.

Von caught me about my waist and began to slowly reel me in against him.

"What are you doing?"

"What I've wanted to do for a long time."

I couldn't move, couldn't think. I got lost in his eyes, and as he slowly lowered his head towards me, I whispered, "Are you going to beat me up, then?"

He was laughing when he kissed me. And God, it felt so surreal, so incredible. His mouth took absolute possession over mine and I began to kiss him back. It was slow and searching. Then, it turned hungry and demanding like we were making up for lost time.

When we pulled away, we were both gasping for air. He leaned his forehead against mine, warmth and love gleaming in his eyes. I slowly smiled at him, elated at the outcome of the night.

"I love you, princess," he said, brushing his thumbs against my cheekbones.

"I love you, too," I whispered before remembering something that made me pull away from his arms and glare at him. "Do you know the grief you caused me, you jerk? You loved me all along but then, you went on saying that there was this girl you liked."

"You didn't let me finish!" he exclaimed, pulling me back. "We really need to talk about how easily you jump into conclusions."

I scoffed. "Says the guy who got jealous over Carl for nothing."

He grinned sheepishly at me. "He kept hovering over you, though."

"So, we're together then?" I asked timidly.

"Yes."

"Cool," I breathed.

He grinned slowly at me and tipped my chin up, his head lowering once more. "Yeah."

I braced myself for another mind-boggling kiss when a new voice entered the meadow.

"Well, this is awkward."

I groaned and dropped my head on Von's chest. Von sighed long and loud.

"Really, Lance?" he growled.

I threw a dark look at Lance who was grinning cheekily at us. "You guys were taking so long. Everyone wants to know what's happening so they sent me. For all we know you were beating each other up."

"As you can see, we're not," Von snapped at him, obviously unhappy we were disturbed. "So, if you can run along now…"

Lance backed away with a laugh. "Fine, fine. Just use protection," he added with a wink at my direction.

I blushed all shades of red.

"Shut up, stupid Lance!" I shot at him.

"I'm not yet ready to be an uncle," he argued comically.

"Lance…" Von looked about ready to explode. "Leave."

Lance grinned wide at us before he waved and walked off.

"Now, where were we?"

When two people were meant for each other, no time is too long, no distance is too great and no one can ever tear them apart. That was what I realized as I was kissing Von. Because even though we were both imperfect, we were perfect for each other. We may or may not have a happy ever after, but we know we have forever to see it through.

My fairy tale fantasy came true after all.

END.

A/N:

*cringing* please don't stab me. I tried, and tried but I couldn't think of anything more to add so I just ended it.

Love it, hate it, it's your choice. Thank you for sticking with this story until the end. *hands out potatoes*

So, go check out my other story, Begin Again. I like to think I'm improving my writing skills but whatever. Thank you, people!^^