Edited and rewritten, 2014

Chapter Three

Alex was walking to the school office that sunny Australian day, her mind cluttered with thoughts of things she had to do to prepare for the big day—and the move to Manjipour, which was to become her full-time home. Visits to the Gold Coast would be rare and there was so much to take care of. But first, the one that would probably baffle her parents the most: dropping out of school out of the blue. It'd been a nice experience while it'd lasted—not the math classes, but getting to do what she loved had been worth every dollar. She'd known all along she probably wouldn't make it all the way through—she knew she'd likely be called to her duties. Still, she was grateful. If her mother had never sent her to this world for her own protection in the first place, she never would've picked up a guitar at all. She thought perhaps she'd take her favorite acoustic with her to the palace and maybe she'd introduce Manjipour to a piece of music from her world. Perhaps she'd teach her children to play and the instrument would be a normality in her kingdom. The thought brought her comfort.

She stopped outside the office door, her mind still adrift, and she reached for the door knob. Just as she was about to pull the door open, it was pushed from the other side and someone came recklessly bounding out, knocking into the princess with more force than she'd expected and sending her books and papers flying as gravity took hold of her. The perpetrator stumbled in an attempt to stop himself, but he too fell to the ground. Alex lie on her back on the hard marble floor and groaned, pain radiating through her skull from the spot where it'd hit the ground. She covered her face with her hands for a moment and then she looked at the fluorescent lights above, thinking this was just her luck. With a sigh, she turned over and looked at the mess she had to clean up. The boy had dropped his own books and papers as well and now they were mixed together in a heap on the floor. Other students carefully stepped around the mess, not bothering to help or ask if either of them were okay. A couple of boys even laughed as one of their friends kicked a textbook across the hall.

"Dude, I'm so sorry." the boy apologized, sitting up and holding his head just as she had. "I guess that's what I get for being in a hurry." he smirked, "I'm definitely going to be late to class now." He tried to lighten the mood as Alex crawled around on the floor, collecting her belongings. She refused to meet his eyes. She wanted him to sense her displeasure and she refused to give him the satisfaction of taking more note of his existence than she already had to. Not to sound snobby, but in that moment she was glad that in Manjipour, as a princess, she would not be crawling around on the floor for any reason.

"I'm not your dude." she rolled her eyes and tucked her hair back behind her ears. She didn't even stop to look at him, too busy turning over papers to see if they belonged to him if they were hers. Of course, they were already covered in dirty footprints from her classmates. More his problem than hers, she guessed. She was here to drop out, after all.

The boy ignored her brushoff. "I'm…I'm an exchange student. From the States. I heard they have a great music program here." he explained, crawling up next to her and helping her sort through papers.

"Is that so? Don't they have music schools in America? Like, a lot of them?" she asked without trying to hide her annoyance. She knew a princess should be more patient and that if Kuru were here, he'd remind her of that, but she clearly needed more practice because she was unable to hide her irritation for the careless American boy. Due to the way they'd met and the situation, it was only natural for her reaction to him to be negative and she expected his to be the same towards her, but it seemed he was trying to make friends. Of course, the princess did not have time to make friends. There was no need for it, either. That was just another person she'd have to lie to when she disappeared.

"Yeah, uh…Texas." he added, to which she did not reply. She was clearly not interested. She'd feel bad about her behavior later, but in the moment, it was only displeasure that coursed through her veins. After a few moments of silence, he spoke again, "So where are you from? Did you grow up on the Gold Coast?" he questioned, refusing to leave her be.

"Look, I'd love to talk, but I've got some things," she turned to look at him and froze instantly when her hazel eyes met his icy blue. Her breath caught in her throat and she could hardly look away to notice the shaggy blond hair and his skin tanned by the Texas sun. "…to…take care of." she finished her sentence. He caught her dazzled expression and he was instantly pleased. He was clearly used to this type of reaction and Alex wanted to be angry with him for that stupid smirk, but she was a dear in the headlights.

"Oh, yeah, I guess I should be getting to class. Don't wanna be late on the first day." He was saying. Then the bell rang. "Well, no later than I already am." He grinned.

Alex felt her heart do a flip and she struggled not to panic. Why should she panic? So much for being levelheaded. She was the princess of Manjipour. She did not have to try, she did not have to work at it. She could have her pick of any boy she wanted. But that was in Manjipour. Here in Australia, she had to fight for what she wanted just like any other girl. And at first she'd wanted that, to be a normal girl, but having that royal power would've come in handy right about now. He was certainly pretty enough to be a king. It'd be nice if she could dazzle him as he'd dazzled her and drag him back to Manjipour and get the elders off her back, but unfortunately, it wasn't that easy. That was when a thought popped into her head.

"Here, this is yours." he said, holding out her chemistry book.

She reached out for it and their hands made contact briefly. She felt herself jump ever so slightly and she pulled away a little too quickly. "Thanks." The princess spoke softly, unable to look away from those eyes. She didn't have long. She had less than five months now and the clock just kept ticking. Could this boy possibly be the one she'd been looking for? Could this unsuspecting American be the next king of Manjipour? Five months. Maybe that would be just enough. She'd heard stories of people getting married young in the American south, after all. And this boy appeared to be her age. Yes, surely where he came from, this was plenty old enough. Of course, she'd never been to Texas and she knew it was technically part of the American west, she knew all she knew about the States were the stereotypes, but she hoped that maybe this boy would be her answer.

"I hope I'll see you around sometime." he rose to his feet and then reached down to help her do that same.

"Oh, no." she reemerged from her thoughts and shook her head as remembered the reason she'd come to the office in the first place. "I'll be leaving school soon. I, uh, really can't focus on my classes right now." she explained.

"Oh…" he looked disappointed to hear this. "Are you moving?"

"Not just yet. Why?" she asked, hoping that it was because he had an interest in her and not that he was just nosy or "friendly" as some called it.

"Well, if you'll be spending some time on the Gold Coast, maybe…I was thinking maybe we could get to know each other a little. Maybe we could spend a day on the beach this weekend or…something. My roommate's having a bonfire down on the coast in a couple of weeks. Maybe we could…go together?" he offered. He'd completely shed himself of that boyish demeanor she'd seen the moment they'd collided and suddenly he was as smooth and suave as could be. He asked her out without so much as a break in his voice or a shake in his hand.

"Yeah, sure." she accepted, trying to keep her head above the water. She was completely lost in those cursed eyes and she wasn't sure if she would be able to find her way out. This sudden loss of control made her want to hate him because she knew he was aware of how he had her, but she needed a plan and she needed someone to help her execute that plan and she was closest she'd gotten thus far.

"Could I have your number? You know so I could…contact you?"

"Oh, yeah." Alex shook her head and blushed, then took quickly wrote her number down on a piece of notebook paper before ripping it off and handing it to the boy.

"Great…." he took it and then looked around as the other late students shuffled off to class. "So…" he began to back away. "I guess I'll call you." he said it as if he were unsure, likely just to see her squirm, and then he turned to speed off to class. "See you around, dude."

Alex took in a deep sigh, unable to tell if he acted older or younger than his age. "I'm not your dude." she said too quietly for him to hear. This boy clearly thought he was some sort of player and he had the features to be so, but Alex was levelheaded and she would not be hypnotized by those eyes. No, he would be the one who was hypnotized and would follow her wherever she went rather than the other way around. She was determined to have it that way, even if they had to fight for control. Yet, she found that was not as irritated with him for calling her dude the second time as the first. Yes, the poor girl was getting desperate for a solution as time passed, perhaps that was why she chose him so quickly, but she did love the idea of a child with her hair and his eyes.

The time between then and the date seemed to speed by and at the same time, it felt like a lifetime. Alex told Amanda all she knew about him—which was hardly anything—and she was promptly dragged to the mall to get a new bathing suit and the "perfect" outfit. Alex tried not to worry too much about the fact that if this worked out, she was going to have to tell him the truth. That she was magical princess and she needed a king. What if that freaked him out? That was a lot for a guy to handle. And would he be willing to leave his whole life behind for that? He came all the way from America just to go to school, and for music. He clearly had dreams. Why would he want to leave after showing that much dedication? He didn't owe Manjipour a thing. Staring at herself in the mirror on that fateful night, Alex let out a sigh and reminded herself that if it was meant to be, it'd happen. Maybe they would turn out to be soul mates and he would love her and not be able to resist or deny her. 'Or maybe it will crash and burn,' she thought and then immediately scolded herself.

She had told Kuru of the date on her last visit to Manjipour. Walking alongside Anala in the market, she tried not to talk about his blue eyes too much. Kuru's reaction was exactly what she'd been expecting; cautious as ever and a bit protective. At first he told the princess he was happy for her, but when he thought about the fact that she hardly knew him, he was worried about the princess' safety. He would not be there to protect her. Of course, Alex didn't think she needed protection—or maybe she did and she only refused to accept that. Too proud and too stubborn, but it was all a part of her roots and a no flower has ever survived without her roots.

That night she wore a flowing bohemian-style dress that went down to her knees, where it met her ankle boots. The dress' main color was a light blue with roses of purple and a darker blue at the bottom and at the top along with light green leaves. A thin strip of leather tied at the waist, showing that she actually had one. She wore a modest, vintage-style bikini underneath in case there would be any swimming. If she were a normal girl, perhaps she'd wear a more revealing bathing suit in an attempt to impress her date, but she had to remember that she was a princess. A symbol of grace and class. She needed to act like one. She left her hair down for the occasion, free to blow in the sea wind. She was almost ready when she remembered one last thing; what the elders had given her the last time they'd met. A golden necklace with an elephant pendent. She had two, one to give to her husband, and one for herself. They were a symbol of marriage in Manjipour. Once it was fastened around her neck, she looked at it in the mirror as she toyed with the beautiful piece. The elephant was shaped to resemble Anala and it felt lovely to be able to take her precious friend with her wherever she may go.

That was when there was a knock at the door.

"Coming!" Alex called, turning away from her reflection and walking down the hall of the cozy little flat she shared with Amanda. Her heart thudded like a rabbit's as she unlocked the front door and turned the knob, knowing that he was on the other side. By now she knew that his name was Dustin, he played the electric guitar, and his dream was to of course, to be a famous rock star. This disappointed Alex because he needed this world, not hers, but she'd gotten this far. Maybe she stood a chance. "Hi." she said, rather breathless as she opened the door.

"You look beautiful, birdy." he smiled at her.

"Birdy?" she looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "My name is—" she was going to correct him, but he cut her off.

"Alice, I know. But you're built small and agile. You look like you should have wings." he explained.

"It's Alex, but thanks, I guess." she wanted to appear more annoyed than she did at his lack of focus, but a boy hadn't given her a nickname before and she found herself forgiving his mistake more than she'd intended to so quickly. She did like the name. And she had to agree. She wished she'd been given wings along with her princess powers, though she did have ways of getting herself into the sky.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked, gesturing to his vehicle that idled on the curb.

"On that?" Alex's eyes grew wide as she stared at the motorcycle that she assumed he'd brought with him from America. Her mother never would've allowed it, she thought. Of course, she was fully grown. She could do what she wanted. Her instincts were sending her mixed messages in her head and she wasn't sure which one to trust. He'd never be able to bring that thing to Manjipour. Nor that electric guitar he played. How would he ever survive in such a world?

"What else?" he asked with a smirk as she stepped out the door.

"Uh, I guess so…." The princess trailed off and slowly followed him down the path to where the bike sat.

"I only have one helmet, but I think it's most sensible to protect the driver." he put the helmet on and said it as if he were thinking of her, but she couldn't tell if he was that full of himself or just stupid. She'd met plenty of Americans before and none of them had been this conceded.

Making a face and not quite feeling safe, Alex proceeded to mount the motorcycle behind Dustin and wrap her arms around him, holding on for dear life and for the slight chance that somewhere in this boy she might find something worthy of a king.