If my life was a fairytale, I would be one of the talking animals that broke out into song. If this was someone kind of coming age of movie, then I would be the character that only made an appearance when the main character needed help.

I had felt this way most of my life. Like a side character. Someone of unimportance.

Books were my escape from reality. I used them to transport into mystical realities much better than mine.

Although, my view has started to shift as I met the dark pair of eyes. The energy between him and I was enough to make my life more intriguing.

"You were named after the ugly stepsister?" He repeated, his usual deep voice showing a hint of disbelief "You must have been an ugly baby."

I rolled my eyes "I am choosing to see that as a really backwards way of you saying that I am not completely ugly now."

Stone's lip quirked upwards as he let his obsidian irises flick over my face.

There was nothing but honesty in his voice and his expression showed no sign of humour. He said his words like they were the undeniable truth.

"You know that you are stunning." He rasped "You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen."

I blinked twice to make sure that I was no imagining what he had said.

He called me beautiful. He thought I was beautiful.

The heat rose to my cheeks, and I blushed in stunned silence, replaying the words in my head like a broken record.

I hoped with everything in me that this was not his idea of a cruel joke.

Remember his choice of words, I let out a nervous laugh "Creature? Are you insinuating that I am not human."

"There is nobody like you, Ella."

My heart was pounding. It was pounding so much that I could hear it in my ears. Every single syllable he said I focused on just to make sure that it was real and not some kind of dream.

"There is plenty of people like me." I dismissed his idea "I am sure if you went out and did not try to scare everyone away then you would see that. You are just too antisocial to talk to new people."

"I do not want to talk to anyone else."

My hands moved to behind my shoulders so I could move my overly long hair to cover my face. I was hoping that the green would hide my red face.

"I think if you want something then you will get it." Stone spoke, his gravelly voice strong "So what if you are not called Cinderella. She talked to rats all day and was a push over. You on the other hand are a fighter. You will fight for your fairytale. Whatever that is."

I smiled at him, a silent thank you.

"I happen to like Drizella a lot better." He confessed.