Are you ready, Chloe?" 27-year old Mateo De Alva asked his 4-year old daughter. The little girl nodded. God, she looked like her mother. He turned to his two year old son. "Julian?" The little boy nodded eagerly. Together, the three of them held onto the breakfast tray. "One..Two… THREE!" At once, they flung open the door and said "Happy Birthday, Mommy," they chimed in unison.

"Oh, thank you," Queen Elena Castillo Alva gushed. "This all looks amazing, you must be Avalor's best cooks." Elena winked at her husband, who winked back. "What are you all standing around for? Let's eat!"

A few minutes later, the four royals of Avalor were sitting on the king and queen's bed, sharing bacon, pancakes, orange juice, and fruit between them, laughing, snuggled up together under the covers.

Elena groaned slightly as she awoke, alone in bed, still aged 17. It had all been a dream. Probably set about 10 years in the future. Oh, well. Time for breakfast.

"Guess what, Elena?" Mateo asked, his eyes eager stars in the night sky.

"Yes, Mateo?" Elena asked, an amused smile playing about her lips. He's so cute when he gets excited. Wait, what?

"Well, Elena, last night I was reading about the Amulet of Avalor, and apparently, if you have an incredibly strong connection to it, and you wish to know your future, then it will show you the snippet of your life that will occur in exactly ten years! Isn't that amazing?" Mateo told her, his voice getting louder as he became more and more animated as the explanation went on.

"Mateo, that is really…" Elena trailed off as something occurred to her. "How?"

"What do you mean, how?" Mateo questioned.

"How does it show you your future?"

"In a dream format."

Crumbs. Why did he have to say that. Anything but that. ANYTHING. "Oh," Elena said weakly. "I have to… um.. Go… um.. Do… uh...i… um…. Something." And with that, Elena ran off, leaving a puzzled Mateo in her wake.

Elena had a plan. A very flawed plan, but a plan. And though she did not know it, Mateo did too.

Mateo's version of events

Elena's version of events

My conversation with Elena had made me realize: she had clearly seen something bad. Life's too short. I had to talk to the girl I loved.

My dream last night had made me realize: I couldn't hold back on what I wanted, and let someone else decide my future for me.

I looked down at the white roses in my hand. Her favorite flower.

I looked down at the case I had in my hands. His favorite accessory.

I raised my hand to knock, but the door was opened for me.

I saw him coming, and opened the door for him.

"Mateo, come on in," she said.

"Hey, come on in. I was just going to go visit you," I said.

"Thanks for letting me stop by, Naomi."

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure, Gabe?"

"I just wanted to give you these," I said, handing her the flowers.

"I just wanted to ask if you had a sword I could practice with since mine broke." Gabe said tentatively. "Actually, I got yours fixed for you," I said, handing Gabe the case.

"Thank you so much, Mateo," Naomi said, staring into my eyes.

"Thank you so much, Elena," Gabe said, staring into my eyes.

She took a step forward, and so did I. Her hand weaved through my hair, and my hand through hers, my hand on her neck, her hand on mine as we got closer, closer, and...

He took a step forward, and so did I. His hand weaved through my hair, and my hand through his, my hand on his neck, his hand on mine as we got closer, closer, and...

Our lips met. Our heads turned, our lips moved, our eyes shut tight. It wasn't how expected, and then a sudden warmth filled my mind, an image that I had never expected to see, an image that made my blood boil with the barely recognizable emotion of… jealousy?

Our lips met. Our heads turned, our lips moved, our eyes shut tight. It wasn't how expected, and then a sudden warmth filled my mind, an image that I had never expected to see, an image that made my blood boil with the barely recognizable emotion of… jealousy?

The image was of Elena, and Gabe, together, the two of them, doing what Naomi and I were now, and it was the hardest thing I had ever seen. And for some reason, I felt, no it couldn't be, as if… as if I were seeing into her mind, seeing true events, and she was doing the same.

The image was of Mateo, and Naomi, together, the two of them, doing what Gabe and I were now, and it was the hardest thing I had ever seen. And for some reason, I felt, no it couldn't be, as if… as if I were seeing into his mind, seeing true events, and he was doing the same.

I broke away from Naomi. "I have to go." I smiled apologetically, and I ran. Out of the room, out of the house, out of the docks, towards the palace, towards her. And I had the odd feeling that she was running away from the very place that I was trying to go.

I broke away from Gabe. "I have to go." I smiled apologetically, and I ran. Out of the room, out of the doors, out of the palace, towards the docks, towards him. And I had the odd feeling that he was running away from the very place that I was trying to go.

I called her name. And then I froze. I heard my name, in the direction I was running. "ELENA!" I called again. "mateo," I heard back. I ran faster, and harder through the rain, and then I saw her. I ran faster and so did she. We collided. And it was magic. Her hand in my wet hair, her hand on my lower back, my hand playing with her hair, and the belt of her dress. I allowed myself to melt into the kiss, and I wondered why I had always deluded myself into thinking I loved Naomi. This was what I needed. She was what I needed. And it was absolutely perfect.

I called his name. And then I froze. I heard my name, in the direction I was running. "MATEO!" I called again. "elena," I heard back. I ran faster, and harder through the rain, and then I saw him. I ran faster and so did he. We collided. And it was magic. His hand in my wet hair, his hand on my lower back, my hand playing with his hair, and the belt of his robe. I allowed myself to melt into the kiss, and I wondered why I had always deluded myself into thinking I loved Gabe. This was what I was what I needed. And it was absolutely perfect.