Her Runaway Prince

He grinned and looked at the bag of semi-explosives. “Duh. Okay, why not. Let’s set this night aflame. You’ll have to show me the ropes, though. Where are we setting them off?” He pulled her into his lap, and she nestled comfortably into his chest.

“Across the lake is the forest, and a little ways off is this clearing. I always set up there. The trees are low there. It’ll take a canoe ride to get there, though.”

He shrugged. “No problem. Could be romantic. Unless I mess up and we end up falling into the water.”

“You do that, and I’ll pull a Titanic on you and leave you in the water,” she joked, but he tilted his head in confusion. Her face went blank. “You’ve never seen Titanic?” He shook his head. “Okay, New Year’s Resolution: I will show you all the finer parts of the American movie industry. You, sir, have been missing out.”

He huffed. “Different cultures and different movies, okay? Not my fault.”

*****

It was a few hours to midnight when they took the fireworks, along with a picnic basket, to the lake. There was a small canoe service set up for the night, since a lot of couples wanted to row around a bit on New Year’s Eve, so at least some flood lights were set up so their path wouldn’t be completely darkened. Petro hadn’t canoed since he was a child, but he was still adamant on learning. So, under Amanda’s guidance, he quickly learned how to row like a pro.

“This is good cardio,” he noted, and she chuckled.

“And romantic.” She looked up, her breath turned to mist whenever she spoke, creating puffs of white around her face. The lake below them was an inky midnight black, an unknown depth and abyss that set Petro slightly on edge.

“Mostly the cardio,” Petro joked, leaning forward to kiss Amanda sweetly. She smiled and reached her hand out to run her fingers through the icy water. She then splattered some water on Petro’s face, and he looked at her with a blank look. “Not cool.”

But she smiled so beautifully that he found himself unable to remain angry. Instead, he continued rowing with enough strength for the both of them, but she of course helped him. When they reached the other side of the lake, Petro helped Amanda out of the canoe and carried the bags while she took the picnic basket and handled the flashlight. The flood lights were distant from where they were, and the forest ahead of them distorted most of the light. However, Amanda knew the path. Petro followed closely, and the distant noise of the town turned into a low hum as they ventured deeper into the forest.

“I came here a lot as a kid,” Amanda noted, an Petro listened carefully. “My Nana would scold me for being alone, but I always used the argument that the forest fairies were with me,” Amanda giggled, and Petro smiled affectionately. “She would ask me about the fairies, and she encouraged my creativity and my ridiculous fantasies. This forest was my escape, and it sometimes still is.”

“I like your ridiculous fantasies as well. I love hearing you babble.” Petro stood closer to her. “I’ve never met someone like you, Amanda. For someone who gets lost in the fictional a lot, you seem to be the most real person I know. Your mind, it’s a work of art. It’s amazes me sometimes, how it works, and your train of thought always leaves me lost.”

 “Thank you, Petro. You’re… the first man to appreciate me in such a way,” she said softly.

“It’s just the truth,” he remarked.

They were caught in a comfortable silence the rest of the way, until they reached the clearing and Amanda took her backpack off and set the picnic basket down. “Here,” she said. “This is the place. Help me set up the lights, please. Then we can get down to business.”

She and Petro worked together efficiently, and within an hour they’d already set up the lights as well as set the fireworks in place. She checked her watch and smiled widely. “It’s almost time!” She handed him a lighter, instructed him on how to light them correctly, and on her cue they lit the fuzes and ran off, laughing and clinging to each other as they started counting down together.

“Ten!” Amanda started, her arms wrapped around Petro as tightly as his arms were wrapped around her.

“Nine!” he said in response.

“Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two…”

And on one, they kissed.

The fireworks set off a few seconds after that, painting the dark sky in many different colors and they continued kissing. The kiss was passionate, and so many unsaid emotions passed between their lips as the new year came rolling in. They both shared silent vows, promising themselves that they would always love and protect the other no matter what. They were madly in love, and they knew that they were meant for each other.