An ex-boyfriend series? Yes! I never considered Christina having exes but while in the middle of an 'I can't do this' crisis DRAGONDAVE45 suggested it so here we go.

...


The July sun hung bright and hot overhead, shining down on the beach and all its visitors. Monsters splashed and played to forget about the heat and while everyone else wore smiles a certain hybrid was frowning as she spoke on the phone.

"Shaggy, you said you'd meet me here."

"Like, I know, I'm on my way."

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart. Why don't you like, go swimming until I get there?"

"No fun"

"I won't be able to throw you into the water."

"Good point"

"I'll be there in five minutes."

Hanging up the phone, Christina dropped into her beach bag. She slid out of her flip-flops, removed her sunglasses, and shed the black wrap she had been wearing. Once finished she marched toward the water, flicking her hair over her shoulder as she went.

The water was cold but that did not stop her. Surging forward she took a deep breath and dove below.

I can't believe I forgot how beautiful the ocean is.

Once she swam out far enough there was plenty of colorful fish and plants to behold. The sun dancing through the water made her smile even as memories played at the edge of her mind.

Eryx

…...


A year earlier, Ever After.

Christina wandered the shoreline, picking up shells as she went. There was a lot on her mind right now.

"butterfly, we have news."

"Yes, Mom, Dad?"

"Ve're moving to New Salem."

The Monster world.

Christina supposed she should have been thrilled. Closer to her cousins, her uncle. Van Hellscream was officially dead which was the first reason they were moving the second unspoken reason was so that her mother, Queen of the Dark Fae, could stick it to Headmaster Grimm who was ignorantly certain she had to remain in Ever After to rule.

Yet, the young hybrid was conflicted.

"What's on your mind, Nereida?"

"I'm not a sea nymph, Eryx," Christina turned to face the questioning merman.

Eryx, who had hair the color of sand and eyes bluer than the ocean smirked coyly at her.

"I thought you learned I will always call you that. Now, why don't you come into the water and tell me what's bothering you?"

"It pays to always wear my swimsuit," said Christina as she peeled her dress off, revealing the lavender one-piece underneath before charging into the water.

Eryx grabbed her wrist and pulled her under.

Instinctively, Christina struggled only for Eryx to grab and kiss her.

Inhaling sharply, unaffected by the water now, Christina let him have it.

"WHY? Why can't you do that before you yank me under?"

Eryx shrugged, taking both her wrists in his hands, "Let's have a swim," he dodged the question, "And talk."

"Eryx…"

"C'mon"

"Fine," Christina let Eryx pull her along.

...


Present

Christina broke the surface, shaking her head to dispel the memories flooding her brain. The hurt, the sadness in Eryx's face when she broke the news, and what he'd said after.

"Marry me."

"What?"

"Marry me, Christina, then you won't have to go."

"I can't do that, Eryx."

"Why? Why not?"

"It's not fair to you, we're still in high school."

"But I love you."

"Eryx, I'll be gone by the end of the week."

"Then, then here, for you,"

"Christina"

Fully snapping back to the present, Christina realized her hand was resting against where the pearls used to be.

"Christina, you like, in there?"

Shaggy was tapping on her horns, trying to grab her attention.

"Yes, yes, I'm here, promise." she kissed him hello, "It took you long enough,"

"Like, I had to get something," he said, with a lopsided grin, "Come see."

"What hole in the wall diner did you discover this time?"

"Just come see."

Shaggy pulled her from the water, draping the beach towel over her shoulders. Guiding her over to their picnic spot where scooby stood 'guarding' the basket. Shaggy picked it up, opening it just enough to slip his hand in inside. He felt around for a minute before pulling out a red jewelry box which he presented to her.

"Open it."

Resting inside was a necklace with a familiar dragon on the end of the delicate chain.

"This was my drawing," Christina gasped, "How did you even..." she trailed off staring at the dragon in flight, she could see every scale, every detail the same. The barbs on the tail, the color of the eyes.

"Like, all my allowance since April," Shaggy laughed, "May I?"

Christina moved her hair so Shaggy could put the necklace on her.

"I can't believe it's been a year since we met."

"Neither can I," she agreed.

He caught her in a kiss, "The first of many years."

"I can't wait to see what this one brings."

…...


Soon it was August and time to return to school. Christina's alarm did no good as she was already awake. Staring out her window.

"Knock, knock, knock," Alissa opened the door with a smile, "Someone's an early riser. Are you nervous about today?"

"Junior year at Monster High?" Christina laughed tiredly, "Nothing to be nervous about."

"So, you'd rather go back to Ever After High then?" Alissa smirked, "With Grimm on your case?"

"No, no thank you," Christina sighed, "I-I don't know, I didn't fit in there, I don't fit in here."

"Butterfly, you weren't made to fit in."

"I know, can't help thinking about it though."

"Hey, high school's confusing, life is confusing just when you think you've figured it throws you a curveball."

"Not helping, Mother," Christina laughed, finally hugging the older fairy, relaxing in the comfort of her mother's floral smell, the feeling of her much larger, much different wings holding her close.

"It'll be okay."

"Promise?"

"Have I ever steered you long before?"

"No"

"Exactly, now you should get ready, conquer the day with a brave face."

"Yes ma'am"

"That's my girl, now, your father's probably finished his breakfast so I should go make ours."

When Alissa left, Christina made her bed, propping her teddy bear front and center, fixing the ribbon around its neck. After that was done, she dragged her feet through the rug on the way to her closet. She stood, half-hidden in the clothing, wishing to disappear. Wishing her mind wasn't a muddled mess and that her dreams would leave her be.

That's not going to happen, she inwardly sighed before finally selecting a black dress with a purple brocade pattern.

Once cleaned up, appearing ready for the day, she sat on the edge of her bed, piling things into her school bag, whiling eyeing her reflection in the vanity mirror.

You are not a mess. Dreams won't hurt you.

…...


The class schedule was taped into the front of her binder, her current read tucked into the front pocket of her backpack., right under the filmy butterfly wings, a list of songs she was learning to play just behind it.

As put together as Christina looked, she didn't feel it.

Shaggy had slept in, as usual, so he wasn't waiting at her locker. That was a good thing. Stifling a yawn, Christina dumped her textbooks into the locker, tacking up a few pictures.

There was someone behind her now, rolling her eyes, Christina passed it off as someone getting shoved too close. But, a second later there was a hand on her shoulder and Christina found herself spinning around to see someone most unexpected.

"Eryx?"

"Hello, Nerida"

...


So, it's 2:30 in the morning, my recent read gave me an adrenaline rush and left me confused, a little sad, and a bit angry. I can't sleep so I ponded the rest of this out and ran it through the editor. Was it a stellar chapter? No. Was it as long as I hoped? No, but, here it is.

Review!