Bambina
Stupid Aiden, making my heart jump out of my chest. Its not like I like him in that way.. I can't. Even if I thought I did, I'd have to change it. He likes, maybe even loves, Darcy. She's way more beautiful than I could ever be. I wouldn't be able to compete with her. So, I just wish he wouldn't say things like that to me.
I have to fall in love with someone that will love me back so that I can break this curse and we can live happily ever after. If that's even real.
"You can look now!" Hazel shouts at me in excitement.
I let play with my hair so for the past hour, she's been putting my hair into different hairstyles. She's really talented at it so I don't mind.
I smile and stand up to look in the mirror. My hair was styled into a pigtails like a little child. I couldn't help the giggle that escaped my lips. It was so cute.
"Can you keep it like that today?" She asks with a hopefully look in her eyes.
I pretend to think about it as I examine my hair once again.
"Well... Yeah, I think I love it anyway." I tell her pulling her into a hug.
She jumps and claps repeatedly causing me to chuckle at her excitement.
"Aiden will think you look amazing!" She tells me as she grabs my hand to find him.
I force a smile at her comment but say nothing in response to it. I know she doesn't mean it in any type of way but I still couldn't help my heart skipping a beat at the thought of him actually thinking it could be anymore than just cute.
I follow her down the stairs, not that I had a choice considering she still has my hand, pulling me with her.
When we get downstairs, we heard Aiden in the kitchen so we headed in there. He had two boxes of pizza opened on the counter just tempting me to grab a piece.
"Look, Aiden!" Hazel shouts at her brother who was on the phone.
"Hold on, Darcy, Hazel wants to show me something." He says before turning around with a smile.
My heart drops at the mention of Darcy but I try my hardest not to let it show. She gestures toward me and makes me spin around to show him every inch of my hair.
He winks as I'm once again facing him. "Cute."
I force another smile for him and Hazel before Hazel excitedly runs over to grab her a piece of pizza.
I grab my phone and start playing temple run so that Aiden can return to his call with Darcy.
"Okay. Yeah, we'll meet you there then." Pause. "Sure, that'd be great." Pause. "So, tomorrow night at eight?" Pause. "Kay, see you tomorrow."
He hangs up the phone and I can't help the surge of jealousy that flows through me at the thought of them together tomorrow night. I come out of the water around seven so I'll only get to see him before he leaves and whenever he comes back. And who knows what time that'll be.
Okay, no. Its fine. This is perfect for him. He likes her so I should be happy for him. So I will be.
We both grab a plate of pizza and join Hazel. Hazel then starts getting excited again, talking about her birthday tomorrow.
I chuckle as I lean closer to her. "So, what are you going to wish for when you blow out your candles?"
She smirks as she crosses her arms. "Well, no matter what Aiden says, I believe in mermaids so I'm going to wish to meet a mermaid one day."
I stop chewing as I look up at Aiden. He smiles down at his plate knowing he's guilty of telling his little sister that mermaids aren't real.
I don't know why he's guilty, though. I mean, he didn't know me before and now it has to stay quiet. I know that he wants to tell her. You can see how much love he has for his little sister.
So, I say, "Well, you never know."
She smiles brightly at my words. "See, Aiden? You never know."
I look over at Aiden to see him playfully glaring at me. I smile at him causing him to chuckle.
"I see.. Gang up on me then." Aiden teases.
After we eat, it's almost bedtime for Hazel. I ran her a bath and helped her find her pajamas before tucking her into her bed.
"Bambi?" Hazel's little voice calls out in the darkness.
I walk over to her bed and sir down.
"Yes?"
"Do you think mermaids are real?" She speaks in an unsure voice.
I smile as I nod my head. "I do."
I can see her smile through the darkness at my words. She seemed delighted to have a grown up agree with her over something a normal grown up would see as.. Well crazy.
But, I know better.
"Do you think I will ever get to meet one?" She whispers.
I shrug. "Well, that depends."
She sits up and looks over at me to get a clearer vision, I suppose.
"On what?"
"Can you keep a secret?" I ask her with a wink. "Because humans can't know about mermaids. Who knows what the human race would be capable of doing."
She nods. "Yes! I would keep the mermaid's secret forever!"
I chuckle. "Well, you never know. Maybe you'll get to meet one."
She lays down and I tuck her into her bed. She closes her eyes. I get up and walk over to the door and turn off the light.
"Bambi?" I hear Hazel mumble.
"Yes?"
Will you come to my birthday party tomorrow?" She asks hopefully.
I sigh, knowing it's almost impossible to be at her party unless it were after seven thirty tomorrow night. That's unlikely though. Most birthday party's are early.
So I say the only thing I can, even though it's a lie.
"I'll try."