Disclaimer: I do not own fairytales. So don't sue me.

Chapter 4

I sit in the class, my eyes firmly on my own books. I have never liked going to new schools, but Lucy insisted it was best Dad didn't know which school I went to. The class chatter surges and ebbs around me. Someone comes to stand in front of me.

"Abby?" I hear them say incredulously. I look slowly up. My books go flying off my desk.

"Jeremy!" I exclaim, scrabbling to retrieve my books. Yes, I'm pathetic. He smiles at me, and bends down to retrieve my books for me. My heart fluttering, I smile back at him.

"Thank you."

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"How do you know Jeremy Sadler?" Christine, my "buddy', asks me.

"We met… a while back. We're friends." I say quietly.

"I think he likes you!" Christine exclaims. I turn to face her.

"Christine, tell me about him."

"He's cute and popular and every girl in the school loves him."

Christine flares red, as I look up into Jeremy's eyes. They are so intense, and for a moment I cannot read the expression in his eyes.

"Hi Jeremy." I say shyly. Why am I feeling shy? I have never felt shy around Jeremy before! His eyes twinkle. I know I am blushing. He bends down and whispers in my ear.

"Meet me in the school library after school."

"Sure." I say, regaining my composure. He looks at me, and kisses me. Right there. In front of everyone. Forget about what I said about regaining my composure. My cheeks are pink, but I do not push him away. He is so familiar… almost like a bit of my past. He straightens, and smiles, a little secretive smile.

"See you later." He says casually, pushing his hair from his eyes. I lean against the wall, in shock.

"Just friends, huh?" Christine looks at me.

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"Look, I don't know how much you know about Jeremy Sadler, but he's popular, he's hot and he's loyal. He treats all girls with respect and he's still friends with every one of his ex-girlfriends. Every girl wants to go out with him, but for now, he's available. And he likes you." Christine wiggles her eyebrows at me. I blush.

"We're friends." I protest.

"Oh please. No friend kisses another friend like that. Don't be stupid."

"I'm not. I'm being realistic. If he really is all you say he is, why would he like me?"

Christine stares at me incredulously.

"Abby. You're smart and you're pretty. What more could he want?"

"I'm not pretty. And maybe someone who's like him. Popular. You know…" I look away. Christine grabs my shoulders and makes me look at her.

"Do you like him?"

"I like him."

"Then forget all this stupid thoughts. Twit."

The bell rings.

"I've never experienced true romantic love, Chris. I've never seen it, and I've never witnessed it. And what's more, I never will." I gather my books up.

"Rubbish. Your parents?"

"I never saw my father love my mother." It's true. He would get drunk and beat us all up. Never once did I see him say that he loved her – or any of us for that matter. Mother loved us. That was the only thing that kept her going.

Christine is about to reply when I cut her off.

"Let's go. We'll be late for class."

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I walk over to the library, and pull open the doors. I have never been inside this library, and the scents of new books fill my head. I breathe in deeply, smiling.

"Boo!" Someone grabs my waist. I jerk and whirl around.

"Jeremy!" He is giving me is most innocent look.

"As if." I tell him, rolling my eyes.

"Want to talk?" He asks me, leading me away to one of the tables.

"Sure. What about?" I ask, in my most innocent manner.

"Why you're so scared of your father? Why he doesn't approve of me?"

"Firstly, you'd be scared of my father too. Secondly, he doesn't even know you."

"That's not an explanation, Abby." He looks at me. "Come on, out with it."

At this point of time I could tell him everything. "…he's loyal. He treats all girls with respect…" Christine's words echo through my mind. It's not an issue of whether I trust Jeremy or not. Because I do. But then I think back to my father. The times when I was young and he wasn't drunk – which wasn't often. I remember him being a real father. I remember loving him. I still love him. I remember his history. I remember how he lost his job. All these memories cluttering up my head. Then I remember Mother. I remember how she kept loving him – how she never told anyone. Lucy never told anyone either. She remembers way back before I was born. Before he lost his job. Before he took to drinking. She remembers the sober, loving person he was.

Am I about to betray my father to an almost complete stranger?

"I cannot." I say with a finality that is almost overwhelming.

A/N: I hereby present virtual chocolate pudding to embracing… and Becca (thank you. You sound like someone who understands. Thanks for the tips… and the fairytale is in the summary as from now.)

Mango pudding for reviewers!