t seemed like an ordinary day. It really did. Until Rafa De Alva decided that Mateo was being incredibly secretive and that she needed to read his diary, just to make sure that everything was OK.

It was boring. Potion, spells, magical theories. Nothing of remote interest to her. Rafa was about to give up, when she saw something that caught her eye. On July 15th, 534. That was the date when Mateo had started to act weird. The word love. Rafa went back to the page.

July 15th, 1534

I just realized I love her. I had always thought that we were just best friends, but we were playing hide and seek with the kids at a birthday party, and I chose to hide in a closet. She had already chosen that as her hiding spot though. I apologized, and offered to move, because it was a very small closet. BUt she said it was fine, and teasingly said, "It's not like this is the first time I've ever been in a closet with a boy before." and I felt a little upset, but I didn't know why. Then, she started leaning closer, and so did I, but at the last second turned her head. "Not all of them were winners," she smiled. I mean, I knew she was only joking, but for some reason, I was crestfallen. I kept wondering how to become a winner in her eyes. Then I asked myself why I had that train of thought in my head. My immediate thought was because I want her to kiss me. Of course, that confused the heck out of me, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was right. I loved The crown Princess of Avalor. But it's truly a waste of my time. It's not like she would ever love me back.

So that was it. That was why Mateo had been acting so odd lately. He was in love with Elena! I mean, she had known that, but he had figured it out. And she was willing to bet she had too. So, now all she had to do was show them both that the other loved them, because she was almost positive Elena thought that Mateo would never love her.

"Mateo, hey!" Elena called to him. She was wearing her gold and red shirt with the blue and gold leggings. "Where are we going?"

"My mom said she needed some yarn from Coriza. She asked us to sail and get it. It's weird that she just asked you and me… Are you kidding me?"

"What?"

"My mom read my diary."

"You have a diary? And what's in it? Besides spells, potions, and magical theories."

"Just...Stuff. But still, are you kidding me?"

"Okay, sure. So, do you have a map?"

A few hours later, we had gotten the blue silk yarn in the marché animé in Paniemia city, Coriza, and they were sailing back to Avalor. The sun had been shining all day, and the weather had been beautiful. Then, there was a sudden BOOM! and a blinding flash of light. It was as if the lightning and thunder has been a cover for the storm that was approaching.

The sky was suddenly so dark it might well have been a starless night, the calm waters now a vengeful kraken, determined to destroy the boat, slamming the hull, nearly overturning the boat. The gusts were rough. The wind seemed determined to destroy the ship, blowing so hard would could barely stay standing. The thunder and lightning must have drizzled holes in the clouds, because now, rain was coming down in buckets. The rain and wind combined were enough pressure to pull Elena's long hair from its knot, and it tumbled down her back in long, loose waves that were quickly plastered to her back.

"Lower the sails!" Elena attempted to scream from the floor of the boat, and over the wind and water.

Mateo looked totally lost. Elena started to get up, but the deck tilted, and she fell. Mateo and Elena landed in a tangled heap as a ginormous wave of saltwater overtook them.

"We have to lower the sails!" Elena yelled into Mateo's ear.

She tried to get up, but Mateo held her back, shaking his head. "No use, Elena. We're going to die. So, I'm going to tell you something, something I've been hiding for a long time. Elena, I love you."

Elena was stunned. She had always had feelings for Mateo, but had always assumed that Mateo did not return those.

"I'm sorry, I'm an idiot. I mean, you can totally be mean to me, and yell at me, and tell me that I don't deserve you, and it would all be true. I just… I mea-"

Elena smiled sweetly, and cut Mateo off by leaning in and pressing her lips to his. For a second, he was stunned, and then he put his hand in her wet hair, and his other hand on his lower back. Elena's hand was in his hair, and on his lower back. Their heads turned, lips moved and even in the freezing cold, a surge of warmth swirled around them, and the kiss was perfection.

Almost as if by magic, the storm ended as suddenly as it had began. Elena and Mateo moved apart slightly, still in close proximity, their faces mere inches apart.

"So, you don't hate me?" asked Mateo tentatively.

"I thought you were smarter than that," Elena said, leaning in closer. She was barely speaking now, her voice far below a whisper. "I love you, Mateo De Alva, and I've been a fool to deny it."

And once more, they found their heads pulling together like some sort of magnet, and once more, they were kissing, except for this time, it was so much better.