Edward Part 1

It was Edward, bowing with his hand reached out to me. I looked all around me to see if he actually means someone else. He chuckled as he straightens out.

"Of course I mean you, beautiful rose." he said, smiling. "I invited you here to dance with you. May I?" he asked, bowing again. Oh...my...God...is this a dream? Is this this a dream?! I pinched my arm behind my back. I winced a little but I still found a handsome prince in front of me, asking for a dance.

"I...I...don't know how to dance!" my voice went to different pitches, making me scold myself mentally.

"Then I can teach you." he still gave me a smile that could make ships find their way through misty waters.

"Then I'll be honored." I gave a hesitant smile. My hand trembled as I went to take his hand. My heart raced as I looked at his beautiful porcelain skin. We slowly went to the dance floor and went into a waltz. I stumbled a bit here and there as he counted in a low voice, but he didn't seem bothered by it and helped me back into the counting. We looked into each other's eyes; violets into hazel browns.

"You are very good at this. Are you sure that you don't know how to dance?" he chuckled.

"Well just this one. I don't know the waltz all that well." I smiled. "Thank you for teaching me at such short notice. I wasn't expecting a prince to ask me to dance with him."

"Well I'm sorry for dragging you here just to dance with me. I know you probably had other places to be than here, but…" he was cut off by the stopping of the orchestra. We applauded them and we bowed at each other like everyone else was doing. Be for he could finish his sentence suddenly multiple girls rushed past me, begging for Edward to dance with them next.

"Dance with me!"

"No me!"

"I was here first!"

"Now, now, Pretty roses. I'll dance with you in a minute." he smiled kindly. My heart stopped. ' So… he calls every girl a rose. I am an idiot.' I walked away slowly and disappeared into the crowd.

After an hour or two, I got bored. The drinks are gross and the food had the strangest taste to them. Everyone here is kind of a jerk. I bumped into a guy and I apologized to him and he gave me a look like I have offended him in some way, shape, or form. His female friend did the same so I backed off and walked away. Prince Edward was dancing with the fifteenth girl. I felt sad and alone here. Maybe he brought me here just to make him look good. Inviting a commoner to show that he is with the people or something. I'm tired and I want to go home and sleep.

I walked through the crowd to find the door that I entered through. I've always been bad with directions so I'm not surprised that I ended up on the other side of the room. Cranky and tired, I tried again. Eventually, I found the door and left. When I left, I stood in front of multiple hallways. I cursed at myself and crouched on the floor.

"How I am going to get out of here…" I sighed.

"You want to leave?" a familiar voice asked. I got up quickly and turned around. "I'm sorry that this wasn't fun for you." Edward titled his head and scratched it.

"Oh, no, it was fun!" I retorted. "I just...feel like I overstayed my welcome and just need to go home. I have to go to work in the morning."

"Then, as an apology, let me take you home."

"Well, uh...can I have my clothes back. I am going to be picked on if I go back dressed like this."

"Yes, of course. This way, please." he escorted me to a room. "Your clothes are in here, properly cleaned with every stain gone from existence." he said, me laughing a little. "I'll be waiting out here. You can leave the dress in there. The maids will take care of the rest." I nodded and went in to change.

After changing, I put the dress nicely on the bed. I really liked it and he got it for me to wear. I set it nicely on the bed and went out. When I saw him there, leaning against the wall, I blushed to how cool he looked. I shook my head to snap out of it and called out to him.

"Hey…" I called out. I got his attention and he smiled at me.

"Wow...you look…" he started to say but then he shuts his mouth and shook his head. "Do you like that band?" he asked, pointing at the logo on my white hand shirt.

"Revance is the best." I smiled. "Have you ever heard of them?"

"No. Are they famous?" he asked as we started to walk.

"Very famous. They are from my home country." I explained.

"I can hear a slight accent when you speak that I find very cute. What country, if you don't mind asking?" he asked. Then we went into an unbreakable conversation all the way to the car. I didn't even notice that we were all ready in the city until the driver coughed to get our attention so that I could give him the address.

After a while from talking, we were in front of my apartment complex. I could still see a my landlord, Roger, in his office building with large windows to look through.

"Thank you for having me at the party, and the dress, and the ride home, and for the dry cleaning...oh man, I have a lot to thank you for, but I don't know how to repay you." I said, clutching my bag.

"You have nothing to worry about. You do not owe me anything, beautiful rose." he said kissing my hand. I flushed and nodded my head. "But, maybe one thing."

"Yes?"

"Your name please." he squeezed my hand.

"It's Marika Yoshihara."

"Its beautiful. Just like a rose." he kissed my hand again and then stared into my eyes. I got in his eyes a little until snapped out of it again and pulled away.

"Thank you...for everything. Goodbye." I said, getting out of the car and closing it behind me. Before I reached the door, I heard Roger laughing behind me.

"Well, well, well, who decided to show up!" Roger called out to me with arms crossing over his chest. "You know rent it due today, right!"

"Nah, wah, bah, blah." I mocked him, using my hand as a puppet. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Can't you ever be patient?" I said reaching into my bag. "Didn't I pay anyway?"

"I don't take money from children. Especially, to ones who are rude like you."

"So am I not allowed to pay then?" I said, getting the money out of my bag.

"Oh, you are clever!" he said, taking the money. "Goodnight, Marika." he said, walking away and I entering the building. Before I could enter my apartment, a annoying, familiar, hated voice, echoed through the hall, making me cringe. I have a cringey smile as I turned around to face my noisy neighbor, Marie Saturns.

"You're home late." she said, tapping her high heels on floor. She was still in that trademark blue business suit, black glasses, and brown ponytail higher than needed.

"I was out on business." I said without any emotion.

"What kind of business?"

"Not any of your business. That's for sure." I said turning around, unlocking the door. "If you want more info, get a warrant, arrest me, do something because I don't have to say anything to you."

"Hmm." she stuck up her nose and walked away. I knew she stuck up her nose because when she makes that annoying 'hmm' noise, she literally moves her head ninety degrees and walks away.

Miss Marie Saturns, my neighbor and works with child services. She has the largest justice complex I have ever seen. It's bigger than detectives on television. She thinks I am a bad guardian because she rarely sees me. When she does, she thinks I'm gone for days, no matter how long I was gone. Thirty minutes to an hour, it doesn't matter to her. She's gone longer than I am and thinks she's a saint. Too bad I can't afford a lawyer to get a restraining order. She does this at least thirty times each month. Knocks on the door, stalks me to see if I got to work, anything really. I don't even know what building she works in to complain to her boss.

I hate her with a passion.

I entered my apartment and three kids tackled me to the ground. They are growing way too fast.

"You're late again." Naruki said in a distasteful tone.

"Sorry, I got dragged to a party." I said, scratching my head.

"What kind!?" Haruka asked, happily with stars in her eyes.

"No fun and extremely boring." I said, ruffling her hair. "It's past your bedtime. Let's go!" I said, picking her up, making her squeal.

"Do we have to?" Naru whined.

"School tomorrow. You know that." I said, making them go to the bathroom and brush their teeth. "Did Miss Saturns come here today?"

"She knocked on the door an hour ago." Naru answers as he waited his turn. "We didn't answer. I've seen her around school and on the way home. She scares me." he said.

"Don't worry about her. Anyone else?" I asked.

"Mr. Roger came by for rent. He didn't take the money." Naruki said going to the sink after Kai.

"Alright." I said, picking up Kai and got the kids to follow me to their beds. I tucked them in and kissed their heads, one by one.

"Sweet dreams, darlings." I smiled as I shut off the lights and left the door a little open for light to come in since Kai was still afraid of the dark.

After I showered and got ready for bed, I rolled myself in a blanket and looked up at the ceiling in the dark. I couldn't stop thinking about about Prince Edward. Even though our time was extremely short, I had a fun time with him. I put the hand that he kissed closed to my chest and fell asleep.