The Tales of Princess Ana

"What do you mean, Ana?"
His eyes sparked over mine, searching whatever truth I had to say.
"I saw you, in the corridor."
"Princess, you're gonna have to be a little less cryptic."

~~~~~~~~~~
She swam around the water, continuing to ride her cryptic wave.
"So what did you see?" 
Ana swam back up to the ladder's dock.
She pulled herself up and sat down next to me.
"I saw you and Anastasia together."
I tried recalling back to Wednesday night.
I began to laugh uncontrollably.
"That's what you have been mad about?"
"This is not a laughing matter."
She shoved me.
"No, I'm sorry.  But it wasn't at all what you thought it was."

------------
I walked down the dimly lit corridor by myself.
I was about to retire to my bedroom when I heard heels clicking against the marble floor.
I turned to face the sound that bounced of the walls.
I just assumed it would be Ana.
I was wrong.
"Hello Anastasia."
I faced my bedroom door, I was not in the mood to partake in Anastasia advances.
"Hello Nicholas." 
She ran her hand down my spine, and took a handful of my behind.
"Anastasia, please remove your hand from my bottom."
"Oh Nicholas, don't you want to have fun?"
"No, Anastasia. I'd just like to go to bed."
"You know, the princess has a permanent stick up her ass. She won't give it to you as good as I will."
She ran her fingers over the zipper of my pants.
I placed my hand on the back of her neck, pulling her into me.
"Pull yourself together, you look desperate. I'll have you know that the princess does not have a stick up her ass."
I pulled away from her, she stood there. 
Shock displayed all over her face.
I walked into my room, closing the door on my feminine molester.
-----------------
"She said I had a stick up my ass?"
Ana's eyebrows furrowed together in anger.
"I love how that seems to be all you got from that."
"Oh no, I mean I'm glad it's not what I thought. I still can't believe she said I had a stick in my bum."
"You just said ass, five minutes ago."
"But that was an accident."
"You just have a foul mouth."
"I know, my thoughts are polluted with curse words. It's un- queen like to say them aloud."
"We are in the privacy of our own company."
"So you believe."
Ana looked down into the water.
"What did you think Anastasia and I were doing?"
"Making out."
"Why would it bother you?"
"I'm not saying it did."
"Ohhh but it did, Princess."
"It didn't."
"You were jealous."
"No."
"Yes."
"I was just worried you had caught an STD. I couldn't even sit next to you, highly contagious."
I chuckled.
"Which ever lie gets you to sleep at night."
"It's not a lie."
Ana began to get off the ladder dock.
"You're a fool, Nicholas."
She smiled.
In the next minute all I saw was ocean water.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicholas hoisted himself against the dock and took deep breaths.
"I told you, you're a fool."
He rose up on to the dock, a look of mischief on his face.
"Oh no. Don't do what I think you're about to do."
"What do you think I'm gonna do?"
He slipped a wicked half grin and walked toward me.
"Don't!"
He wrapped his arms around my waist, I reached for the ladder.
"No! No!"
"You're going down, Princess!"
With another tug, he jumped in the water with me in tow.
We sunk down into the water.
The blue of the water sparkled in his eyes.
A little fish soared right between our faces.
I looked in awe of the sea life around us.
We began to trek up the surface.
Nicholas reached out to grab my hand.
He opened my palm and placed something in it.
We rose up to shore catching our breath.
I pulled my palm up to my eyes, and in it sat the most beautiful seafoam green shell I had ever seen.
"Oh my god.."
"I noticed in the room I'm staying in, there's a collection of them."
"If you turn them over, the place where it was found and the people who found it are on the inside."
I smiled. 
He payed so much attention to detail, it was an incredibly cute quality.
He ran his thumb over my cheekbone, as I watched the shell shine in the light.
"Why did you get this?"
"Well, when I'm gone I want to be remembered."
"Are you leaving anytime soon?"
"Not planning too. Oh by the way, you had seaweed on your face."
I knew that I didn't, but which ever lie helped him sleep at night.
"Well thanks for wiping it away."
"Anytime. Anytime."
He cleared his throat.
"So we'll have to mark this one."
"Ana and Nick, Nicholas is far too long to fit."
"Understandable."
"Genovia's beach."
"I like that." 
He grinned, as a little ripple wave came near us.
"Nicholas can you throw me off the dock?"
Marie swam in between Nicholas and I.
"Sure kid! Why not?"

We spent much of our afternoon this way, tossing Marie off the side of the boat. 
Grabbing some fish and releasing them back to the water.
We caught a bite to eat on the deck above.
"So I see you two made up, aye!"
Layla came up to the table.
"Aye love, we did."
I imitated her.
"Aye, you making fun of me?"
"Slightly."
We laughed as Nicholas excused himself.
"I'm gonna shower and change before we hit land."
"Go on, me and this little lady have some catching up to do."
Layla dismissed him and off into girl world we went.
I explained what happened and of course Layla had to boast.
"I told you! You know as Queen you're going to have to learn to not run into conclusions." 
"Oh shut up!"
"So un-princessy."
"You're a glad trash bag."
"Ouch. What an insult."
We docked onto land, just as sun was about to set.
The rest of the late afternoon was spent, with everyone showering and putting there stuff away.
As I walked out of my bath, little footsteps pattered into the room.
"Ana, can you brush my hair?"
Marie walked in, hairbrush in hand.
"Sure, darling."
She sat on my floor, and towel dried her hair.
"Thanks, my mom is helping Carol pick an outfit for dinner."
"It's no problem."
I sat down behind her, back facing the door.
"Ana, can we talk about Nicholas again."
I smiled and just shook my head.
"Go for it."
"He's so dreamy, Ana!"
I laughed and ran the brush through her hair.
"He has eyes like big blue crystal marbles!"
"Oh my, that's a lot of thought you put into that."
I paused.
"You aren't wrong though."
I poked her side as she giggled.
"He's the love of my life, Ana."
"Sweetie, you only just met him."
"So? Your mom and dad fell in love the same day."
This was the love story told all around Genovia. 
Everyone fails to mention the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"He has eyes like big blue crystal marbles!"
I heard from Ana's room.
I leaned up against the door frame, listening to their conversation.
"So? Your mom and dad fell in love in the same day."
"My dad was not nearly twice my mom's age." 
"You and Carol.."
Marie sighed.
"In another life, Marie."
"I hope so."
She wrapped her arms around the little tike. 
"You'll find another love."
Marie buried her face in Ana's hair and hugged her.
"Oh Ana, why is he so dreamy?"
"I don't know. He was born that way?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
I smiled to myself.
"Well I'm gonna go get dressed, thanks again Ana."
She grabbed her towel.
"Oh hi, Nick." 
She said somberly.
Ana turned to face me, her wet hair stuck the side of her cheek.
"Got something on your cheek there."
I whisked off the strands of hair, my palm maybe resting against her face too long.
Her emerald eyes, again locking my gaze.
I pulled my hand away, slipping it into my pocket.
"Ana, it's nearly seven thirty."
"I can tell time."
She laughed and began rummaging her closet.
"So you think I'm dreamy?" 
I said with a sly grin.
"Words of an eight year old. Not mine."
She buried herself in the closet.
"But you didn't disagree."
"I wasn't gonna tell her otherwise."
I could hear a faint laugh in her tone.
"Ouch, Ana. That hurt."
"Sorry, the truth had to come out eventually. Too cocky for your own good."
She emerged from the closet, clutching a sweet and simple black dress adorned in lace.
She patted my chest as she spoke and crossed over into the bathroom.
"Not cocky, Princess. Confident maybe."
"Either way."
She shouted from inside the bathroom.
I sat down on her bed. 
Five minutes later she appeared out of the bathroom.
"Can you zip this for me?"
A smile played in her eyes.
"Sure."
I rose off her bed as she turned her back to me.
"It's just a small one in the mid back, I always forget about it."
I ran my hand against the delicate fabric.
My fingertips grazed the skin of her spine, she burst into goosebumps and shivered.
"God, your hands are freezing."
"I think that's just poppy cock, my hands are not."
"Are too."
"Are not, you just seem to have very sensitive skin."
"Okay, frosty the snow hands."
"That was clever."
"Corny though." 
She laughed as I finished the zipper.
She flipped her hair over to the right, and sprayed herself with a floral scent.
I leaned in close to her.
"You smell divine." 
She caught her breath in a gulp, as mine lingered on the base of her collarbone.
"Well.. Thanks. Oh! Look at the time, we gotta go."
She grabbed my hand and rushed out the door.
We met everyone at the cars that waited outside the country home. 
"I didn't even need to speak to her! Boy, you've got a special gift."
Raul exclaimed as he saw Ana and I emerge from inside the house.
She dropped my hand from hers.
"Oh Raul, don't be foolish. It doesn't take a gift to calm down a girl."
"You're right, unless that girl is you! Remember Tiffany from the third grade? She still holds a grudge till today, Nick."
"She was a bully."
"She only took your pencil."
"A very important pencil."
Ana laughed and embraced her godfather in a hug.
Raul grabbed me and hugged me as well.
"Nicholas is a nice guy, Ana. Don't butt heads anymore."
She laughed.
"Oh, Raul. You never get tired of the same old bit."
She patted his shoulder, and got into the Queen's car.
"What bit?"
I asked.
"Don't worry boy. It's all under control."
He waltzed into Estavaro's car.
I made note to ask Estavaro what was said.
Ana's head popped out of a window.
"There's space for you in this car, Nicholas."
She smiled kindly and opened the door.
We rode off to the restaurant, The Queen and her husband speaking amongst themselves.
Ana and I poked fun at one another along the ride.
"You think you're so handsome, and irresistible." 
She rolled her eyes with a smirk upon her lips.
"You seem to think so."
She scoffed.
"You didn't disagree to that when Marie brought it up."
"You won't let that go? She's eight!"
The Queen chuckled at our bickering.
I faintly heard her say something to her husband.
"Andrew... They... Of.... Them."
"Very similar indeed." 
He kissed her cheek.
"Reminds me! What bit is Raul up too?"
"You don't want to know."
Ana dismissed.
"I do."
"It's silly."
"Tell me."
"Fine. Raul likes to pretend that he is a match maker. He tries to pair everyone up all the time. It's foolish."
She rolled her eyes as she explained.
"Why is that foolish? How wrong can he be, he did move your mother and father's relationship along."
"Yes, but that doesn't make him a match maker."
"So is he trying to do that to you and I?"
Her eyes darted to the blackness outside the window.
"I believe so."
"I think he just wants you to love."
"I do."
Her gaze drifted back to me.
"My country."
"Not like that, I think he means an actual person."
"I can't, not right now. I need to focus on bigger things."
"Like running a country."
"Yes, like running a country."
We reached the restaurant in silence.
I helped Ana out of the car.
I kept her hand in mine, she didn't pull it away.
"Watch your step, the floor is a little bumpy."
"Nicholas, I.."
She began but soon became cut off as the Governor welcomed us all to the restaurant.
It had been rented out by them for the night.
 Ana once more let go of my hand, as she sat down next to Layla.
"You could have taken a bit longer Layla, we totally don't need to be anywhere on time."
She heckled her friend.
I pulled the seat across from her for myself.
Which happened to be right next to Raul.
He leaned into me and whispered.
"I've got your back, Nick."
"Isn't it a young man's game to be reckless?"
"You are a young man, boy!"
Ana's eyes darted in our direction.
"Raul, give the match making a break! At least for the night."
She laughed and returned to her conversation with Layla.
Raul had my back, but I couldn't have his.
The Governor rose from the table, wine glass in hand.
He began a speech.
"Thank you all for clearing your schedules, I know we are all busy.
Tonight marks the start of a lovely weekend and we are just glad to have you all here!"
His rosy cheeks rose as he spoke.
"Nicholas, we realize this is your first time here and we hope we can treat you to a lovely time."
I nodded as a simple reply.
The evening went by smoothly, jokes flooded the restaurant.
Ana even split her dessert with me.
Layla threw her hands up in protest.
"You'll share dessert with him, but not with me?!"
She fought back a smile as she joked.
"I'm sorry Layla, I have to buy my friends some way. I don't want to give Nicholas money so I have to settle for the next best thing. You're already my friend."
Ana and Layla laughed like hyenas.
"Ana, my friendship is gonna cost you at least another brownie."
I interjected, as Ana tossed her head back in laughter.
"Will half a brownie do?" 
She grinned.
"Eh, it will for now."
With a shrug of my shoulders, I grabbed my half a brownie and smiled back at her.
"Raul, can I talk to you outside?"
Layla asked.
A tipsy Raul rose from the table and headed outside.
"I wonder what they are up too."
Ana rose an inquisitive eyebrow.
I shrugged.
"Probably plotting revenge against you for not giving her dessert."
Ana began laughing once more, she had an infectious giggle. 
It would make the sourest person crack a smile.
The Govonor and Estavaro joined Raul's slightly intoxicated state.
"You know Nicholas, you need to just move out to Genovia!"
Raul slapped my back,  apparently Estavaro wasn't drunk enough to let that one slip.
"No, he couldn't. His grandparents would miss him."
"He's a grown man, Estavaro! He's got a whole life ahead of him. He can't be hindered!"
I slipped a nervous chuckle.
"I'll think about it, Raul."
"Good! You do that."
I could have sworn I saw Ana smile.
Maybe I didn't, maybe it was between her and Layla.
The evening closed and we all rode back to the country home.
Ana leaned against the window, and curled up into a tiny ball.
I took off my jacket and draped it over her.
She dozed off until we reached the home.
When we arrived, she handed it back to me.
"Thanks, I was freezing."
"Anytime, Ana."
"Goodnight, Nicholas."
She kissed my cheek.
She then bid everyone else a goodnight and headed upstairs.
In the midst of all the good night hugs and drunken soccer chants, I managed to place a bug in Raul's phone. 
I made my way to my bedroom and I sat down at the desk.
I began listening to tonight's tape.
"Yes, I've got my half ready. Your half better be prepared and on it's way tomorrow, understood chap?"
Raul's voice carried into my earphones.
"Sir, We can't have it done that fast."
An unknown man said.
"You better find a way too, boy. You're not gonna like the odds if you don't."
With that the line went dead.
I buried my head in my hands, furrowing my hair. 
"Jesus Christ, Raul what are you up too?"
I sighed aloud.
"This isn't gonna end well."