by N. T. Smith
After that discussion, they went to Cindy’s house, dropping her off. Peter looked at Cindy with a smile, and she smiled back.
“I had a great night. I’ll see you around,” she said.
“I’ll see you too. I love you,” he replied.
Cindy felt happy when he said that, because it seemed like he was almost showing emotion. She thought she might be able to get through to him, hopefully soon. She just wanted Peter to be romantic, and that was the last thought that she had on the subject that night before falling asleep.
Chapter 2
Unfortunately, things did not get better. About a year passed, and during the graduation, Cindy wondered how their relationship would pan out. She tried to think about how to approach Peter about their future. He said that he would still be with her, and that he loves her, but they didn’t really say much more after that.
At the graduation ceremony, Cindy was in the back. She looked over to the side, and immediately she saw a brunette man with a suave look to him. He didn’t seem to be graduating, but he was there for some reason. He was in a suit that looked expensive, like something that her family could afford.
Cindy walked over to him, smiling a coy smile. “Hey there. You here for the graduates?” she asked him.
“Yeah, it’s important to see how the future will pan out. I also want to see the types of people that would be fitting for my business,” he said to her.
“Oh. That’s interesting. Yeah, I’m here for someone, but this is pretty boring,” Cindy admitted. She was surprised that Peter hadn’t come over to speak with her beforehand. It bothered her, but she knew she would survive.
“That’s a shame. I’m Tommy by the way. You’re a very pretty woman,” he said.
“Thanks. I don’t graduate for another year, but I appreciate the compliment. I’m glad someone compliments me,” she said. Peter wasn’t the romantic type still, and after all these months, she still felt like they were at square one. It was strange, because Cindy felt like she was missing something, like the void was only growing larger with time.
“Well my dear, would you perhaps maybe want to get some food or something?” he asked.
“Sure. How about tonight? You seem like a great person,” she admitted. He was handsome, and he did look like he had money.
“Well I’m glad. I can pick you up around seven or so,” he replied.
She nodded, feeling a bit nervous about it all. The two of them went out that night, with Cindy saying that she was going out with a friend. It was strange, because Cindy had never felt this way about someone before, and instead of feeling like it wasn’t going to go anywhere, she felt butterflies in her stomach. Cindy felt strange, like she was experiencing something new and shocking.
About six months had passed, and Peter was off at college. Cindy was in her senior year of high school, and it seemed like Peter was making less and less time for her. He started coming every weekend, but then it turned into every other weekend due to college commitments. After three months though, it turned into once a month. Cindy felt lonely, but Tommy was there to cater to her.
One night, they were over at a fancy restaurant together, out on the terrace. Tommy took her out to a slew of rich places, saying that he took her out as a friend, but she felt like there was something else.
“So Cindy, how are thing with that guy?” he asked her.
“Okay I guess. I wish he would come visit me. Now, I see you more than I see him. It’s weird, but I feel like he doesn’t really care anymore,” she admitted.
“He might not. I’m surprised I haven’t met him yet,” he admitted.
“Same, but I’m worried about what he might think about you. He was okay with me having guy friends, but you feel like something else. You’re a nice man, a rich guy as well, and you cater to me in ways I’ve never thought a person could,” she admitted.
“Well dear, it’s because I want to treat you like a princess. I got you a present actually, if that’s okay with you,” he said.
Cindy looked at him, shock present on her face. He got her a gift? Peter didn’t even do that. She opened it up, and inside was a gorgeous diamond necklace.
“Wow, this is beautiful,” she remarked.
“It’s all for you,” he said.
She slipped it on, and Tommy went over to fasten it. She looked up at him, smiling warmly.
“You know, you’re better than he is,” she said.
“I’m glad. You deserve to be happy, and I think you should contemplate about the future of your relationship. I don’t know about you, but I think it might be best if the two of you ended things off,” he admitted.
She nodded, wondering if it would be best.
“Maybe. I’m still unsure,” she replied.
He then grasped her hand, kissing it softly before looking up at her.
“Then take your time. I will be there for you,” he said.
She nodded, and immediately, she felt guilty. She already felt like she was treated better by Tommy than Peter ever treated her. She wanted to be catered to like a princess, and already Tommy was doing that sort of thing.
It only became progressively more apparent as the months went on. During Christmas, Peter had to see his family and he wasn’t able to come to dinner. However, Tommy did, and he brought her an expensive present. There was a gift certificate to a spa there and also some tickets to a concert in town. They were front-row seats, the best in the auditorium. She was amazed that he got her something so big. Peter gave her a couple of things but they paled in comparison to how Tommy catered to her.
She felt almost bad about how she regarded Tommy in comparison to Peter. She felt like Tommy was the perfect man for her, a guy who got her presents to show that he loved her, a man who seemed to care about her and take care of her. He was rich and handsome too, and he wasn’t shy about hiding his feelings. It was obvious that he was romantic, a complete opposite to how Peter was.
Peter did call her every so often, but their conversations were stringent at best. They never really talked past the superficial stuff, and it made Cindy feel terrible. It was awful to admit that, because she always thought that Peter would be there for her, but it almost seemed like he didn’t care anymore.
When the concert came around, Tommy took her, and they sat in front while the band played. It was beautiful, and when Tommy looked at her, grasping her hand and squeezing it, she felt like she was in love. They then went to a fancy steakhouse after that, and once they were done they went to the pier nearby, standing on the edge of the docks and looking out.
“You know, this is the first time I’ve felt so comfortable around someone,” Cindy admitted.
“I’m glad. I’m surprised that you haven’t broken up with Peter though,” he said.
“Well he’s coming back for spring break. To be honest, it’s been two years. I’m bored of him. I’m sick of the fact that he doesn’t know how to be romantic. He spends only a fraction of his time with me, and I feel like he just doesn’t care. I feel held back by him, and I hate it,” she admitted.
Tommy grasped her hand, kissing it softly before speaking.
“Then choose someone else. You’re better than this, and you don’t need to settle for someone just because the two of you have been together forever. I know that you want to be treated like a princess, and I can give you that. You should listen to what you think is right. If you’re bored of him, then be with someone that marries you. Be with the person that makes you happy,” he told her.
She paused, realizing that he was right.
“You’re right. I do feel that way Tommy. I do feel like I should stand up for what I feel is right, and I want to be with the right person. I know that breaking up with him over spring break will be hard on both of us, but it’s for the best. I know that he’s going to take it harshly, but I’m sorry, I can’t be with someone who doesn’t show romantic feelings towards me. I already feel like he doesn’t love me, so what is the point of staying with him?” sh
e asked him.
“I don’t know babe, but I think it is time for you to make the right choice. I know that you will though,” Tommy replied.
He grasped her hand once again, leaning down to kiss it. He then kissed her on the cheek, smiling.
“When you’re mine, I will make sure to make you happy, and I want to be the one to make you smile. I want you to call me mine, and I want you to be satisfied with the way your life is going. No woman should have to be in a relationship with someone that they feel bored with, or don’t really feel the spark with anymore. You should find the right person for you, and I think it’s time that you start doing that.
“You’re right. Thank you,” she said.
“You’re very welcome. I can see it in your eyes that you’re a lot happier. I’m glad,” he said.
The two of them looked at one another and at this moment, Cindy knew he was right. It was time for her to make a decision. She didn’t want to be stuck in a rut of being with someone that she didn’t like, but rather with the Prince Charming that she had craved from the onset.
She contemplated how to do this. He would be home in about a month or so. That gave her ample time. She started to practice how to do it, because she wanted to make sure that they ended on the most positive note that they could. It probably wasn’t going to end well, but it was worth a try.
The day then came. Peter was back, but he was spending time with family for the first part of the trip. A day later though, he showed up at Cindy’s house, smiling.
“Hey there. I got your message. What’s going on?” he asked her.
“Hey. We need to talk,” Cindy replied.
Peter was a bit nervous about this. Normally, if there was something they needed to talk about, they did it right away. It was obvious however, that she had been bottling something up for a very long time, and this was becoming apparent.
They went to her room, and he sat down on the bed. She sat next to him, looking at him with a sorrowful glance.
“Listen, I’m sorry to have to do this, but I can’t hold it in any longer. I’ve wanted to tell you this since Christmas, but I didn’t want to ruin your holiday. I don’t want to create tension between us, but I can’t do this anymore,” she said.
He looked at her with a worrisome glance. Was this what he thought it was? “What do you mean?”
She sighed, trying to break this to him lightly. It was hard on her as well. She didn’t know how to approach this without sounding like a scumbag, but this was it. This was what needed to be done.
“I want to break up. I can’t be together with you anymore,” she said.
There was a pause, and then Peter spoke.
“It’s because of another guy, isn’t it?” he asked.
“Kind of. It’s more of how you’ve treated me. I’ve been with you for two years, and I feel like we’re still in the stage where we’ve just started dating. I don’t know what to do about it. I’ve told you many times that I wanted to be treated like a princess, to have a handsome man sweep me off my feet and make me smile, but I haven’t felt that with you. I feel like you don’t really want to be with me,” she told him.
“I do Cindy. I really do. I really want to be with you,” he said quietly.
“I know you do, but there is something that others can give me that you won’t. I want to be treated like a princess. I want my love to be alike a fairy tale, where a handsome prince will sweep me off my feet and be romantic with me. I want a guy that will be with me all the time, and I feel like I can’t get that with you,” she said.
He wanted to argue with her, but what she said was right. He sat there quietly, the tears threatening to fall down his face. As much as he wanted to prove her wrong, he knew that she was right.
“I know that I’m not your prince. I’m not a handsome man, nor am I rich and romantic, but I can promise you that I will love you, care for you, and look after you for the rest of my life. Right now I’m in school trying to better myself, and once I’m done with that, I will be able to provide for you. We can meet up, and I will try to be a bit better. Please, just listen to me. I know that I’m not the handsome prince from the stories that you’ve read, but I can take care of you. Just listen to me,” he said.
She looks at him, feeling bad about it. She knew that he did care a whole lot about her.
“I know that you care a lot, and I know that you can do that, but I’m sorry, I don’t want that. I want to be treated like a princess, and there is someone who will treat me like that. He’s my Prince Charming, and I’ve realized that I’ve become bored. It’s not because you’re a bad person, it’s because you’re not the right one for me. I’ve found someone that is more romantic than I’ve ever experienced before. I’m sorry, this is my final decision. I didn’t spend a few minutes thinking about this, but rather I’ve spent months contemplating this. I wanted to do it before, but for the sake of our sanity, I decided to do it now,” she said.
Peter felt like his heart had been ripped out. His lip was trembling, and he didn’t know what to say to her.
“Well, if you’re happy with this person, then be with him. I hope that you have a great life with him, and I hope the two of you are happy together. I guess I wasn’t the right one for you. I still love you Cindy, but I know that right now, I’m not what you want.” he replied.
“Thank you Peter. Good luck to you too,” Cindy said. It hurt her to say this, especially since she felt like she was a bad person for doing this, but deep down Cindy knew what she was getting into. It was going to be hard on both of them, but they would get over it. People change, and Cindy knew that she was making the decision her heart wanted for her.
Peter walked out, feeling numb and unsure of what to do. He was trying to hold back tears, and once he was out of the house, he looked back. He would tell Joe that he would rather not hang out here, simply because of the memories. He lost the woman that he loved here, and that’s that. He would choose to avoid this place, and any place that made him remember her. He wasn’t going to go back to the hill where he shared his first kiss with her, nor would he go to the playground where they decided they wanted to get together. He felt terrible, like he messed up the best chance he ever had with someone. He knew that there was a lot of future for him to see, but he still didn’t like it.
Peter went to his house, heading to his room. He felt numb, and although his parents were there and would probably ask what’s wrong, he didn’t want to see them right now. He needed to be alone, and he needed to have solace to recover from this.
When he got to his room, he locked the door, flopping on the bed and crying. He hugged the pillow, sobbing uncontrollably as he continued to grasp it. He lost his chance, he lost it. He wasn’t able to give the girl that he loved the affection that she craved, and now it was gone.
He spent the next few days holed up in there, and soon he started to get sick. He didn’t care though, he would spend the rest of spring break sick and crying. At that moment, it was better than anything else he could do. He tried to get over it, but he felt like his heart was ripped out of his chest, like he lost the one chance that he had with someone, and that it was all over. It hurt, but he knew that it was going to, at least for a very, very long time.
Chapter 3
Immediately, Cindy felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest. She would finally get to be with Tommy, the man of her dreams and her real Prince Charming. He was the man who would spend money on extravagant dinners and other such things, a contrast to Peter who was stingy and tried not to spend money. Tommy was a man who seemed to know exactly what he was doing, and he was already a successful and rich man. It was the dream that she had been waiting for, and she couldn’t wait for graduation.
Tommy and she immediately agreed to date, and they took things very fast. Tommy gave her a ring, and Cindy immediately said yes. It was a gorgeous diamond ring that would look amazing on her finger, and she was excited about that. She knew that this man would treat her right, that he
would provide for her and sweep her off her feet like a princess.
They then planned their wedding. Cindy’s family was a bit shocked by this, especially since Cindy had only broken up with Peter recently. Cindy told them that she was in love in a demanding manner though, and they nodded in agreement, not going to tell their daughter anything else.
Cindy picked out her wedding dress, and she immediately felt like a princess. The wedding was set for after graduation, and Tommy was in the front row, excited to see her. After their graduation, about a month later, she married him. The ceremony was great, and Cindy felt like she was a princess in a sense. She didn’t feel like anything could bring her down.
She knew that Joe had decided to work for their parent’s company, and although Cindy saw the potential in it, she knew that it wasn’t what she wanted to do. She wanted to be the dedicated wife to her prince, and she didn’t want any other job. She sat at dinner with Tommy one night, the chef bringing them food.
“So dear, have you decided on a job yet? You can always work for me, or if you don’t want to at all, then that’s fine as well,” he said to her.
“I’ve been thinking about that. It’s a bit scary to imagine that I could go to work now. I’ve been thinking about college, which would be pretty amazing, but at the same time, I don’t want to leave you. I want to be the dedicated wife to my prince,” she admitted.
He nodded, eating a piece of steak and smiling. “Well dear, whatever you want I’m fine with. If you want to go to college, I can pay for it all. You don’t have to worry about a thing,” he replied.
“Well I want to cater to you. I want to be the princess that you continue to dote, and I want to be that special someone for you,” she said with a smile.
He nodded, contemplating all of this and then speaking.
“Well, whatever makes you happy. You could always work for your family. They have a very prominent company, and I was thinking about doing a merger with them at some point. I think it would be in your best interests if you decided to go that route,” he said to her.
