"Ivaannn!" You called out. The beige haired, violet eyed man turned and smiled. He just thought you were the cutest thing in the world. You and Ivan were best friends and he cared about you very deeply. "Can you dance with me!" You begged. "Anything for you, мой подсолнух." He said, and took you into his big arms and he twirled you around as you giggled. You loved your new dress, it was a green dress with a sunflower pattern.
"I love the dress you!" You smiled brightly.
"You're welcome." He said, as he gazed at you warmly. You both had grown up together, somewhat. He was eight years older than you and even though you were sixteen, yourself, he still thought of you as the little child he had taken care of all these years. You may have been his foster sister, but he loved you to the depths of his heart.
"Dinner is ready!" Toris called. You sat down with Ivan and the rest of your family, and ate your dinner…well Ivan mainly fed you. You loved your 'big brother figure'. He protected you from bullies and he hadn't let anyone date you, because he didn't think anyone was good enough to do so.
Your other three brothers and your two sisters all secretly thought that you both might as well date, but they knew that's not how you saw him. Toris, Ivan's best friend felt bad for Ivan because of the unrequited love that Ivan had for you.
The next morning, Ivan woke you up gently, "Da, _, time to get up and get ready for school мой подсолнух."
You yawned cutely and got up, "Thanks Ivan!" You kissed his cheek and he left to make your breakfast like he did every morning.
You got dressed and Ivan took you, Bella, Eduard and Ravis to school. You met up with your other best friend Gilbert.
Gil and you talked all afternoon, and then he slipped you a note and took off laughing.
You opened the note and read the following:
_! Hey do you like me if so check yes!
You laughed and checked the yes box. How trivial. You thought.
"So how was your day _?" Ivan asked you.
You giggled, "It was great!" You hugged him and he helped you into the mini-van and he drove you and the other's home.
A few days later it was nearing Winter Formal, and Gil came up to you, "Hey _...I was wondering…would you…like to go to the dance with me?"
You blushed deeply, "R-really, you want to take me to Winter Formal?"
He nodded, with a tint of pink coating his cheeks, "J-jah…that is if you want to."
"I would love too."
"Great! I can't wait. Wear red and white, that's what I'm wearing!" He said.
"Okay!" You said.
That afternoon, when Ivan picked you up, you hugged him and said, "Hey, Ivan, can we go get a Winter Formal dress?"
"Uh…Sure…why?" He asked.
"My friend Gilbert asked me to silly."
"Oh…I-I don't understand…so…you're going to this dance with him?"
"Yes, I just said that." You laughed.
"_...but you're my little girl…I can't…you're special to me."
"Ivan, I'm a big girl now, I want to go to dance before I get to old."
Ivan bit the inside of his bottom lip, then smiled lightly, "Sure мой подсолнух, let's go get you a dress."
The others exchanged glances, of worry and sympathy for their 'big brother' figure. Ivan and the others helped you pick out a beautiful princess styled white dress with a red band and lace. "You look gorgeous sweetheart." Ivan said. "Thanks Ivan! You're the best! I love you so much!" Then why do you go with him, when I know you should be with me? He thought.
You talked to Gilbert for the most of the night; you could talk to him for hours and hours without getting bored. You laughed it up with him, and while doing so, you would've never guessed what Ivan was doing.
He walked down the hall looking at all the pictures of him and his family, and him and you. You were so close with him, and you were his little baby. You seemed to really care about this guy, and so he knew he could not say anything that would hurt her feelings. He walked into a room and turned on the music that you usually danced too. He blinked and saw a vision of the little girl you used to be. He pretended to dance with you. He uncorked the vodka and took a swig. After a few hours of dancing, he looked at the clock. It was midnight. He knew it was time for his little Cinderella to return home…But he also knew that Prince Charming would be coming…and he would take his little girl away.
Ivan slammed his left fist against the wall, and collapsed, his knees on the floor, and his head leaning forward so he faced the wall. Tears streamed down his face in hot steaming torrents. If only things could be different…
The following night, Ivan saw you come downstairs in your dress. "You look beautiful мой подсолнух." He said smiling.
"Ivan…would you dance with me before I go?"
"I would dance with you forever, if you'd let me." He chuckled.
He took you into his arms and danced with you for a few long minutes until Gilbert knocked on the door. Toris let him in.
Gilbert and Ivan shook hands firmly, "I'm Gilbert, and I'm here for _."
"I know…I expect her back by midnight."
"Will do." Gilbert promised.
Ivan watched his little girl go. She waved to him, and blew him a kiss good bye, and Ivan returned it.
Gilbert danced with _, swaying gently to the soft parts and then twirled her with ease when the music picked up. After a few hours, he got you a drink and a snack from the refreshment table. "So, Ivan he's like your brother right?"
"Yeah…we are all orphans. We kind of joined together and became our own family. I and Latvia are the babies of the family, but I seem to be Ivan's favorite. I don't like to think that I'm more special, it's just we have a very close bond."
"I can tell, he treats you like his little princess."
"In his eyes I am." You laughed.
"Well…tonight _, you're my princess, and I'm your prince, or even your knight." He chuckled.
He smiled and leaned down holding you close to him and kissed you.
When you got home it was 11:59. "I made sure to get her home early." Gil chuckled before he left. Ivan nodded appreciatively. Gil left and Ivan turned to you, as you swirled and giggled giddily. "Would like to dance before you go to bed?" Ivan asked.
"Nah, but thanks." You said, and went upstairs to bed with the biggest smile on your face. Ivan's own smile fell; he knew what had happened now. Gilbert had given her the kiss. Next thing he knew, he'd be watching Gil give _ the 'glass slipper'. Ivan felt a pang in his heart. He knew he was slowly losing his princess.
_ would never reject his offer of a dance otherwise…That was their special thing, they always danced…How could this have happened? He had been there for _ all her life. The scrapes and bruises he kissed for her. The meal times, the special pancakes he did with the whipped cream, cherries and bacon. He held his stomach as if he took a hit to the gut. He couldn't handle the pressure. He couldn't handle losing his little girl…his little princess his _.
After school Ivan sought Gil out, and put his hands on either side of Gil's shoulders with intimidating force, "Listen boy, you have no idea how much I love _. You may think she is like a daughter to me, and you're right. But I don't just love _, I'm in love with her too. So if I ever find out that you broke her heart, you will wish you hadn't, da?"
"Got it sir." Gil nodded.
Ivan nodded and you walked up, "What's going on Ivan?"
"Nothing…Just talking to your friend here." Ivan said never leaving Gil's eyes. He let up, and smiled at you, "You ready to go home?"
You nodded, and you both got in the car, and he motioned for Gil to come over to him. Gil did so and Ivan whispered ever so quietly, "Remember this Gilbert, she may be your girlfriend now, I loved her first. I held her first and I've always been there for her. If you ever fail, she will return to me, because she knows there's a place in my heart that will always be hers."
"Yes sir." Gil said.
Ivan drove off thinking about the first time he saw _, and the first smile she gave him. It was he who had loved her first.
