Chapter 14: Prince Ali

Jas thought a lot about the boy Aladdin as the week turned into the weekend. Unlike most students who looked forward to the weekend, Jas dreaded it. The reason was that her father used this time to arrange meetings with various princes both local and out-of-town in the hopes that Jas would pick one to marry by the time she graduated. Of course, Jas was not the least bit interested in marriage since she was being forced into it.

But if I do marry, I want it to be for love, Jas thought to herself as she approached the door to her father's office which was slightly ajar.

Inside, she heard two voices. One was her father's and the other was a voice that sounded strangely familiar to Jas but she couldn't place it.

"Mr. Sultan," said the strangely familiar voice. "I have journeyed from a faraway land to ask for your daughter's hand-in-marriage."

"Marvelous!" cried Jas' father happily. "And what did you say your name was?"

"Prince Ali Ababwa," replied the familiar voice.

At that instant, Jas turned away from the door and stormed up to her room. Her father's footsteps followed behind and so she locked the door before he could get in.

"Jasmine," Mr. Sultan said. "There's someone I would like you to meet."

"I'm not interested," Jas said bitterly. "I've got a lot of homework to do, and please call me Jas."

"Don't be making excuses with me, young lady," Mr. Sultan replied angrily. "Now come out and greet Prince Ali."

"No!" Jas snapped. "I am not a prize to be won!"

On the other side of the door, Mr. Sultan sighed and muttered to Prince Ali, "Come with me, Prince Ali. Jasmine just needs some time to cool down."

"I understand, sir," Prince Ali replied sounding a little disappointed.

###

Later that night, Jas was standing on the balcony located outside her bedroom which was on the second-floor of the two-story Arabic-style mansion she lived in. Then after a deep sigh, Jas went back inside and flopped down on the queen-sized bed she had that had a thin-blue net over it. Next to her sat a tiger-striped cat she owned named Rajah.

"Rajah," Jas said looking at her cat. "What should I do?"

The sound of footsteps on the balcony startled Rajah and Jas at the same time.

"Who's there?" Jas asked as she looked up and saw a tall stranger standing on the other side of the thin curtains that separated the balcony from the bedroom.

"Prince Ali…Ababwa," replied the stranger with the same strangely familiar voice.

"I do not want to see you," Jas replied heading for the bedroom door. "I'll tell my father that you're here."

"No, please, don't!" Ali cried. "Just give me a chance."

"Just leave me alone."

At that moment, Rajah charged from underneath the bed and attacked Ali's feet. It surprised him to the point of accidentally tearing down the curtains allowing Jas to see Ali fully. He wore a white suit with yellow shoulder pads, a matching turban with a blue jewel, and curved shoes. But as he tried to shoo Rajah away, Ali removed his turban revealing a mop of short black hair similar to—

"Wait," Jas said, picking up Rajah. "Do I…know you?"

"Uh, I don't think so," Ali said putting his turban back on.

"You remind me of someone I…saw at Disney Academy."

"Disney Academy? I-I get private tutoring, so I don't go to any public schools."

"Oh, then I guess not."

"Um, Jasmine, you're very…" A faint buzzing seemed to hover around Ali before he answered. "…Punctual."

"Punctual?" Jas looked at Ali oddly.

"Sorry, I meant to say beautiful," Ali replied sheepishly.

"Hmm," Jas looked down at her cat and put him down. "I'm rich too, you know."

"Huh?"

"The daughter of a billionaire," Jas said approaching Ali. "A fine catch for any prince to marry."

"Y-Yeah, I guess."

"Princes who come here every weekend in fancy suits and ridiculous turbans." Jas pushed Ali toward the balcony. "Just…go jump off the balcony for all I care!"

As Jas turned away from Ali, he suddenly said, "You're right, Jas."

"What did you just call me?" Jas said, looking back at Ali.

"I mean, you're right. You're not a prize to be won, I'm sorry I bothered you. I'll be going."

To Jas' surprise, Ali leapt off the balcony. Jas went to the balcony's edge only to see Ali rising up towards her. He was standing on what looked to be an old carpet that was intricately decorated with oriental designs.

"How did you do that?" Jas asked.

"It's a magic carpet," Ali answered.

"It's…lovely," Jas said reaching out to touch it.

The carpet was soft to the touch though it seemed to purr as if it were alive.

"Do you, um, want to go for a ride?" Ali asked sincerely. "We could leave this town and see the rest of the world."

"Is it safe?"

"Sure," Ali said and held out his hand. "You trust me, right?"

Jas hesitated and then she took his hand while saying, "Strangely, yes."

###

"I can't believe it," Jas said sitting next to Ali on a rooftop watching the fireworks that went off. "I'm in China watching the Chinese New Year begin. It's all so…magical."

"Yeah," Ali said looking at Jas.

"So, Aladdin," Jas said meeting Ali's gaze. "Care to explain the elaborate act?"

Ali was dumbfounded. "How did you—?

"Did you think I was stupid?" Jas said pulling the turban off of Ali's head. "That I wouldn't figure out the guy who has the same face and hair as Aladdin wouldn't be Aladdin though he tries to claim otherwise?"

"Jas, I'm sorry," Ali/Aladdin said apologetically.

"Who are you?" Jas demanded. "Tell me the truth."

"The truth?" Ali paused and said, "The truth is…Aladdin is an alias I use to attend school without drawing attention to the fact that I am a prince, because I want to get away from the pressures of palace life, you know."

At first, Jas didn't say anything and then said, "Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Because I…only just met you a few days ago," Ali replied.

"True," Jas said shrugging her shoulders. "I'm just glad you were honest with me."

###

After a quick ride home, Jas stepped off the carpet and onto the balcony to her bedroom.

"Goodnight, my handsome prince," Jas said looking back down at Ali.

"Sleep well, princess," Ali replied.

Then Ali kissed Jas full on the lips. Jas was initially surprised, but didn't resist. Once they were done, the two parted as the sky turned gray with the coming dawn.

End of Chapter 14