he salt spray. The gentle breeze. The scalding sand underfoot. This was my special spot. I sat on the hill overlooking the small portion of Avalor's coastline not used for trade and stared out at the ocean waves sparkling in the fading glow of the sun. This was where I went when the stress of being crown princess got to me. I could lose myself for hours in the familiar feeling of the seaside. Since I was five years old, I had been using this spot as my personal getaway. I had never taken anyone here, and I never planned to. A serene smile crossed my face as I reflected on my parents. The smile faded almost instantly, however, and my thoughts moved to that of Shuriki, and the Delgados, and of Fiero. How was I going to fix this mess?
I forced myself to breathe. I tried to think of my friends. Naomi. She was a real character. Tough and strong, never without a sarcastic comment at the ready, but also gentle and forgiving.
Gabe. He was… protective. He was a great friend, and he was sweet. We were just friends. That's all I wanted to be. But, lately, I had been wondering if maybe he didn't have those same intentions. I hoped he didn't try anything, I didn't want it to drive a wedge in our friendship.
Mateo. I smiled just thinking about his name. He was closer to me than any of my other friends, Naomi and even possibly Isa included. He was so like me, determined, strong, but much less impulsive. He had helped me so much with my scepter, and I had helped him with his lack of confidence about his place in the royal wizard's robe. He felt as if he were merely a stand-in for his grandfather, which I suppose was true in more ways than one.
Part of me suspected I loved Mateo, but I dismissed that easily. I didn't love him. He was a stand-in for the one I truly loved. For the year before Shuriki's invasion, I had been secretly, but incredibly, involved with Alekazer. I missed Alekazer, very much, but Mateo was a sweet and gentle soul. He didn't deserve to be a substitute for his grandfather like that. Also, I was an AWFUL liar. He brought up feeling like his grandfather's substitute every day, I wouldn't be able to reassure him he wasn't anymore if I used him as Alekazer.
The sun was very near gone. Only in the west did any daylight remain, and it was barely enough to determine colour by. I needed to go home, before someone noticed I was missing. I had just stood up and brushed off my skirt before I heard a familiar voice that, however much it startled me, made me smile before turning around.
"Elena? What are you doing here?" I turned around, my hair down, the wind blowing it around in long loose waves. "Mateo! Are they looking for me? Please don't tell them where I was, no one knows I come here. They know, I can't come here anymore." He smiled, that adorable crooked grin of his, so much like his grandfather's. "Don't worry, I won't tell. And Isa just wants to show you an invention. I totally get it, I have a special spot too." I cocked my head. "Where?"
"Maybe someday I'll take you there. But right now, your sister needs you." He offered his arm. "Shall we?" I grinned the way I had so many times when Alekazer had done the same thing, and took his arm. "We shall."
I laughed and skipped along the cobblestones. "Come on, slowpokes!" I hollered over my shoulder. Behind me, Naomi, Mateo, and Gabe ran after me, panting, desperately trying to catch up to me. The council had agreed to let me have one day outside of the palace, and I was going to spend it sailing with Naomi, Gabe, and Mateo. "I just have today, and I don't want to waste it!"
Maybe ten minutes later, the ocean sprayed salt and cool water into my face, and the wind played with my ponytail and my skirt as it did to the sails. I looked over the railing, relishing the feeling of being outside. Suddenly I felt the pressure of a hand on my shoulder, and spun to see Alekazer, I mean, Mateo, standing there, very close to me. My heart started to race the way it had when Alek would lean in closer, his hand on my LOWER back, and his other hand tangling my hair, tormenting me by making me wait for the soft, warm pressure of his lips against mine.
I tried to shake myself out of the memories. Mateo is not Alek. Mateo is not Alek. They are two different people. Mateo is not Alek. "Elena! You okay?" Mateo looked at me, his grandfather's adorable look of concern filling his chocolate eyes. I nodded. "Great! I finally get to be outside! It's the first time since the grand council ruled I had to stay inside!" Alek- shoot, Mateo, grinned crookredly, and cocked an eyebrow. "The first?" He muttered, leaning even closer. Other than Alek, a male had NEVER been this close to me. I honestly didn't know how I felt about it. I tried to force a smile in return. "Maybe more than the first." I admitted with my eyes down. He lofted my chin with his hand. Our faces were a half an inch apart, and my heart was racing more than it even had for Alekazer.
What happened next could change everything. If we kissed, the whole kingdom would know. I would either be towing aside Alekazer for Mateo, or tossing aside Mateo for Alekazer, even though it was the same action. Would it be worth it? Did I want to know if I loved him? Or would I rather just fantasize about Alek? We were getting closer and closer. Another half second and we would kiss. I had to make a desicion. We were so close I wasn't sure if our lips were touching or not, almost. He tried to lean more, and I couldn't. I turned my head to the side and stepped back.
"I can't. I'm sorry, I just can't." Tears started to well in my eyes as I backed away from Mateo. Next thing I knew, I was lost in a flashback. Of Alek and my last kiss. He had been sliding the zipper down my dress, I had slid the belt from it's loops as we kissed more desperately than ever before. I needed that. Naomi and Gabe were turned away from me. I whirled around and kissed Mateo full on the mouth.
A/N- I got the Elena/Alekazer from Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, where Jacob didn't want to date the age preserved Emma because he feared he was a stand-in for his grandfather Abe. They're good, read them!