"When I was a little girl I used to read fairy tales. In fairy tales you meet Prince Charming and he's everything you ever wanted. In fairy tales the bad guy is very easy to spot. The bad guy is always wearing a black cape so you always know who he is. Then you grow up and you realize that Prince Charming is not as easy to find as you thought. You realize the bad guy is not wearing a black cape and he's not easy to spot; he's really funny, and he makes you laugh, and he has perfect hair."

- Taylor Swift

~*~

“Comment vas-tu, ma belle? [How are you, my beautiful?]” His bright blue eyes glinted in the nightlight. Immediately I was captivated by the intensity. His deep golden hair was messed up perfectly and of course, how could one forget to notice his smirk.

I remembered this one time when my baby cousins came over; they brought their favorite cartoon, 101 Dalmatians.

There was this catchy tune about the mean woman that stole the cute puppies – Cruella DeVil. The moment I heard it, I had rearranged the lyrics to suite Ashton.

Ashton DeVille,

Ashton DeVille,

If he doesn’t hurt you,

No one ever will.

He’ll play you then he’ll break you and boy, will it kill…

He’s Ashton, Ashton DeVille.

“Ma belle? [My beautiful?]” I asked skeptically.

For as long as I remembered, Ashton and I always spoke in French. Although Ashton is only half French, he was born and raised in France. André – his best friend – along with a couple of deadly gangsters formed his clan. Ashton and André had intelligence and power whereas his followers had the strength to kill without hesitation. Overall, they were more than dangerous…they were lethal.

“Amour, tu seras toujours ma belle Chloé. [Love, you will always be my beautiful Chloe.]” he simply responded. I cursed my heart for pounding frantically against my chest.

Stupid, stupid, Chloe. Even after all this time, he can still hurt you.

“Je m'en fiche. [Makes no difference to me.]” I ensured him.

He laughed, “N'arretes pas de te le dire - mais nous savons la vérité les deux, ma belle. [You keep telling yourself that – but we both know the truth, my beautiful.]”

I raised my eyebrows, “Oh? Et c'est quoi ça exactement? [Oh? And what’s that exactly?]”

He took enough steps until he was close enough for me to smell his cologne. Memories flooded back - and it made me want to smile and cry at the same time.

His eyes were fully focused on mine. Locked. Bolted. No way of tearing apart. He smirked again, “C'est que toi et moi, nous nous appartenons les uns aux autres Chloé. [That you and I belong to each other Chloe.]”

At that moment, I couldn’t tell my feelings. I couldn’t just name one of them. I had so many emotions; it may have all formed together to be nothing.

All I knew was that I wanted to get away from him.

“Non, Ashton. Tu as tort. [No, Ashton. You’re wrong.]”

This time, Ashton raised an eyebrow and looked at me cynically, “L'ai-je vraiment, Chloé? [Am I, Chloe?]”

I was getting frustrated. I was determined not to let my guard down. My walls were stoned barriers and there was no way I was letting Ashton break them down again.

“Tout entre nous est fini Ash! Arrete me faire paraitre à un Mec Mal - Je t'aimais et tu m'as fait du mal. [Everything between us is over Ash! Stop making me sound like the Bad Guy - I loved you and you hurt me.]”

His eyes softened a little – almost as if he regretted what he did.

“Je t'aime toujours, Chloé. [I still love you, Chloe.]”

No, no, no...

I felt like screaming, I felt like disappearing from the face of the Earth. Why is he doing this? Why is he trying to play with my feelings again?

Why are you letting him?

“Mais, je ne t'aime plus Ashton. [But, I don’t love you anymore Ashton.]”

Lie, lie, lie.

Yes. I was lying. The truth is; I will never stop loving Ashton Deville.

How can you just forget about someone that gave you so much to remember?

He made me into the person I am today. Cupid’s Assistant wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for him. I think of him every time I give advice to someone – and I give advice to people everyday. I cant lie to myself – he may have hurt me, caused me emotional pain and broke my heart…but he was the first guy I’d fallen in love with. He was perfect. He treated me like a princess. Everything was magical.

It was like I was living in an enchanting fairy tale.

But we all know… fairy tales don’t exist.

“Tu t'en es déjà distancée ma belle? [Moved on already, my beautiful?]” His eyes veered away from mine, to focus on something behind me. He had accusation written all over his face. For the first time, I turned away from him and towards where he was focused on.

Reece Carter.

For the millionth time that night; I cursed myself. How had I managed to forget he was there the entire time?

Throughout my intense conversation with Ashton, Reece had been casually leaning against his bike looking slightly amused.

When his eyes met mine, an instant smile formed onto my lips.

There was something about Reece…that simply made me happy.

“Oui, Ashton. Je t'ai remplacé. [Yes, Ashton. I’ve moved on.]”

“Avec lui? [With him?]” He motioned towards Reece with revulsion rolling off his tongue.

Lie.

“Oui. [Yes.]”

Ashton looked a little taken back. I knew Ash like the back of my hand – I could read him like an open book. His knuckles had gone white because of the fist he had made – this indicated he was angry. His eyebrows furrowed which showed he was confused. Finally, his eyes kept searching into mine – contemplating if I was telling the truth or not.

“Prouve-le moi. [Prove it.]”

“Pardon? [Excuse me?]”

He cocked his head to the side and straightened out his coat. “J'ai dit ‘Prouve-le moi’. [I said, ‘Prove it’.]”

I had to prove to Ashton that I had moved on…with Reece. Somehow I had to show him that Reece is my…boyfriend.

Yay life.

“Sorry to interrupt your delightful conversation, but is there something wrong?” Reece filled in the silence. I almost wanted to laugh. If only he knew what was coming next.

I gave him a sweet smile – but deep inside I was praying that he’d follow the script I’d written in my head, “No, nothing’s wrong babe.” I entwined our fingers together, I tried not to think about the fact that my hand fit perfectly in his…almost like it belonged there…

He looked puzzled and my eyes were begging him to go with the flow.

“Reece, I’d like you to meet Ashton DeVille – my ex,” Ashton’s eyes narrowed the slightest bit at the word ‘Ex’. He was losing his patience but I continued anyway.

“And Ashton, meet Reece Carter…my boyfriend.”

Before Reece could react and possibly ruin everything, I gripped the back of his soft hair and used all my strength as I crashed my lips onto his. While my eyes were closed, I gently bit down on his lower lip. He returned the kiss immediately.

Kissing Reece was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. It seemed like every time I kiss him it’s because I want something out of it – mean, I know, but it also had a risky touch that gave me an adrenaline rush.

It was then when I realized…I want Reece Carter in my life.

We gently parted when I heard the sound of Ashton clearing out his throat.

“Well, I’d say it was a pleasure to meet you, but then I’d be lying.” Ashton told Reece.

Reece smiled – only it wasn’t a very nice one, “Feeling’s mutual.”

Reece walked towards his bike and I watched as it roared to life. He patiently waited while I said my farewell to the guy that had the biggest impact in my life.

“Au revoir, Ashton. [Goodbye, Ashton.]”

He shook his head and let out a small chuckle, “Rappelle-toi, Chloé, tu ne trouveras jamais quelqu'un comme moi. [Just remember, Chloe, you’ll never find someone like me.]”

My lips tugged into a tired smile, “Voilà, c'est ça la pointe. [That’s the point.]”

I got onto the back of Reece’s bike and slid my arms around him. I rested my head against his jacket and breathed in the scent of leather as I closed my eyes.

I could feel my hair dancing wildly in the wind and remembered that I should have worn the extra helmet he’d offered – all well, it didn’t matter anymore now.

“Yo, Chicka, open your eyes.”

“No.” Sure, I was being stubborn – but I just wanted the ride to be over with.

“Chloe, trust me.”

I already do... A lot more than I probably should.

I hesitantly peered through my lashes and was instantly stunned by the city lights. I lifted my head off his back and took a look around me. Everything was mesmeric. Advertisements, signs, and posters hung from almost every building in a dazzling array of colors and they contrasted significantly when compared to the pitch-black sky.

“It’s beautiful,” I whispered.

He turned to our street and decelerated until his bike came to a stop in his driveway. We both got off and stood facing each other for a moment.

“I’m sorry, Reece.”

“Hmm?”

I played with my necklace, “I’m so sorry you had to meet Ash…and I’m sorry for forcing you to…”

“Don’t sweat about it.”

I gave him a sheepish smile, “Okay, Goodnight then…”

“Night.”

I was about to leave – but some force stopped me, instead, I flung my arms around Reece’s neck and hugged him. I felt his body tense in surprise but nevertheless; he returned the hug.

It was moments like this that I guess attracted me most about Reece.

He’s cocky, rude and a total badass jerk…but sometimes...he’s also a sweet, amazing guy. 

“I should go.”

“You have forty-seven seconds until your curfew starts.”

My eyes widened and it took a very long moment for it to register through my head.

“Oh shit!”

“Oooh no, Princess swore again!” Reece teased in his exaggerated girly voice.

I sprinted to my front door and opened the door to reveal two very frustrated parents. After telling them that technically, I hadn’t broken any rules and that I promise it’ll never happen again – I was told to go to my room where I finally collapsed onto my bed.

“Yo, Chloe,”

I sat up straight and walked towards my window. Reece had changed into his pajama pants but he wasn’t wearing a top. My eyes immediately trailed down his chest…

Stop staring at his abs, stop staring at his abs…

“Yeah?”

His eyes narrowed and a mischievous smirk played on his lips, “Stop kissing me.”

My mouth formed a big ‘O’, “What?!”

“I said sto-”

“I heard what you said!” I snapped.

“Then stop. You’re not even a good kisser anyway…” he teased.

Again, I was in too much shock to speak, “What? You-you’re so lying!”

“Whatever.”

“Fine. You know what? I won’t kiss you ever again…unless you ask me to kiss you,” I declared.

Amusement flashed through his eyes, “Do you really think that I’ll ask you to kiss me, Chloe?”

I smirked, “Reece, one day; you’ll be begging me to kiss you.”

“Wanna bet?”

“Oh, it’s on.”

~*~

A/N - One day, I will marry a boy with green eyes and brown hair <3