2 weeks later…
Shhhh-shhh shhhh
The teenage boy and Marlo walked through the forest, walking through thick bushes.
He stared at the wooden case he had in his hands, his mind deep in thought.
'Two weeks, it's been two weeks and I haven't seen Evangeline… I've been wanting to give this to her but she hasn't been coming around… I really hope nothing's happened to her… I hope she's okay.'
They made their way to the forest glade, the sounds of Evangeline's soft sobs filling their ears.
The teenage boy stood behind a tree, seeing Evangeline in the distance sitting on the ground, her back against a tree with her knees propped up.
She covered her eyes with her hands, laying her face on her knees as she sobbed.
He kneeled down to Marlo's level, handing over the wooden case.
"Give this to her," He whispered, putting the case in Marlo's mouth.
Ruff, ruff
Marlo held the case in his mouth and ran over to Evangeline, stopping in front of her, wagging his tail.
She looked up at him, quickly drying her eyes.
"Marlo," She sniffled, hugging his neck, "It's good to see you again."
She let go of his neck and swept her hair behind her ears, revealing a small bump on the side of her forehead.
"I'm really glad you came," She muttered, looking down, "I needed a friend."
Marlo nudged her with the top of his head, wagging his tail. She looked up at him.
"What's this," She uttered, taking the wooden case out of Marlo's mouth.
She unlocked the golden clasp on the side of the case and opened it up, seeing five paint brushes that had gold handles.
Her eyes widened as she gently rubbed the paint brush bristles of each one between her fingers.
'They're all different kinds of bristles so I'm not limited to one kind of style of painting… This is magnificent,' She marvelled, standing to her feet, "Oh Marlo, where'd you get these?"
She looked at Marlo, seeing his blank expression.
"Hmmm," She tapped her chin, looking at the wooden case.
"I got it," She chirped, snapping her fingers, "You went on an adventure to a far off land where you came across a land full of fairies who hand crafted these paintbrushes just for me… No, you went on a journey in the depths of the jungle where you came across jungle friends who speak your language, there they took you to a hidden temple full of treasures where you came across these beautiful paintbrushes and brought them back for me to have… NO, wait, I got a better one! It's my Forest Prince, he saw my painting and it pleased him so much that he brought me new paintbrushes as compensation for taking my last painting. Yes, it has to be, it's the only logical explanation."
The teenage boy covered his mouth, trying to contain his laughter. His laughs caught Evangeline's attention.
She looked around her, searching the area.
"Is someone there," She called out.
He stopped laughing, freezing in place, his face going pale.
She continued looking around her, finally catching a glimpse of the hem of his cape, poking out from behind the tree.
"Hey you," She called out walking towards the tree, "You behind the tree."
He stood frozen, hearing her footsteps growing closer.
"Hey, I'm talking to you, I can see you standing there," She called out once more.
"Don't come any closer," He responded, making her stop in her tracks, "Please keep away from me."
"Why," She inquired, raising an eyebrow, "Have you been watching me this whole time? Why haven't you said anything? Why are you hiding from me?"
He gripped his pants leg, not responding.
"I'll come closer if you don't respond," She hummed, taking a step towards the tree.
"No, no," He exasperated, forcing himself to speak.
"Then tell me why haven't you said anything," She questioned, folding her arms, "Why are you hiding from me? I don't bite."
"Because I… I don't want you to see my face… I don't want you to see what I look like… I… I don't want to scare you off," He revealed, letting out a sigh, "People think I look scary, like I'm a monster and I… I don't want to frighten you."
She looked down, touching the side of her face.
"I understand," She uttered, taking a step back, "I'll respect your privacy and we can still be friends if you want."
"Really," He questioned, his eyes lighting up, "You still want to be friends?"
"Of course," She chirped, walking back over to her easel, "I would love to be friends with you. Besides, how could I not after this wonderful gift you've given me… It's very lovely… I also take it Marlo belongs to you."
"Yes… He's my best friend… I've had him since I was 10, I'm 16 now," He disclosed.
"Oh, so my forest prince is only two years older than me. We're so close in age," She smiled, taking out a paint brush from the case.
"Forest Prince? Why am I a forest prince," He questioned.
"Well because Marlo's collar tells me he's from a noble home, and these paintbrushes are quite expensive so the only explanation is that you're a forest prince," She explained, starting to paint.
"Or maybe I'm just of noble status," He chuckled.
"Hmmm no," She responded, straightening her posture, "My explanation is more realistic, I like mine better than your's."
"Yes, because fairies in magical castles are real," He jibed, chuckling to himself.
"See, now you get it," She beamed, "Finally someone who understands me."
"Oh goodness, your imagination is endless," He breathed.
"It's good to have an imagination, it fuels the paintings you love so much," She smiled, looking towards the tree, "Now my forest prince, what's your name?"
"My name… I… uh… I-I don't h-have one," He stammered.
"You have to have a name, you're a forest prince," She scoffed.
"Well I don't have one," He pushed back.
"Hmph, even I have a name, it's Evangeline… Won't you tell me your's," She probed.
"I-I, I don't want to give you my name… It'll give away who I am and then you'll know what I look like… I don't want to scare you off," He admitted, looking down.
"My goodness it's confirmed, if I would know who you are just by knowing your name then you have to be a forest prince… Hmmm… Since you don't want to tell me your name I'll have to make one up for you… What shall I call you? Jake? No, I hate it. Brandon? No, that doesn't fit. Nicholas? No, I don't like that name either. Hmmm… I got it! I'll call you Cade," She bubbled, "Cade The Forest Prince."
"Cade? I've never heard of someone being called Cade before," He chuckled.
"Yes, it's a one of a kind name for a one of a kind person. It fits you so perfectly," She hummed.
"Alright, Cade it is," He agreed.
"Yes, yes, Cade, we are now officially best friends…"