Anthony's Angel

I. My Prince Smile

Angelica’s POV:

I was never into older guys or any guy for that matter. My interest in older men began when I was seven. I got lost in an awful neighborhood. Walls painted with random pictures and words. People’s houses and cars blasted with music. I can smell alcohol or drugs on every person as I pass them.

As I continued walking, I avoided making eye contact and ignoring the calls of scary older men. Sniffing my stuff red nose a few times, I tripped on a can.

Rubbing my bruised forehead, I let the tears roll down. Looking up, I saw a guy sitting in a red car with a tattoo running down half of his arm. He was smoking a cigarette and drinking alcohol. With one glance, you can tell he is bad news. He was surrounded by a bunch of other people who were the same, but he was different. Power and authority were radiating off of him.

His electric blues caught mine, and I tightened my arms around my teddy bear. He threw his cigarette on the ground, stepped on it, putting out the fire. Finishing his drink, he gently places his cup down on the hood of the red car.

Hopping off, he paced towards me. My heart started racing as I looked into his hypnotizing blues. Kneeling on one knee, he continues staring at me as my body trembles.

“Hey, kid, you lost?” He said in a deep seductive voice as the smell of alcohol and cigarettes radiates off his warm breath.

Water continues forming in the corner of my eyes, and I nod slowly. Releasing a deep breath, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a lollipop.

“Here. Stop crying. I hate it when kids cry.” He places a red lollipop in front of my face.

Biting my lips, I lean back slightly, “Mommy and daddy said not to take stuff from strangers,” I said quietly, fearing he may hurt me.

He lets out a small chuckle and lowers the red lollipop. Licking his dry lips, he nods in understanding. “You’re a very smart girl for listening to your parents.” Lifting a hand, he patted my head gently. I sat there, and my heart continued to race as he lifted a strand of hair from my face with his warm fingers, tucking it behind my ear.

I thought he was a dangerous man, but for some reason, he’s not so bad.

“Hey, Drew!” He yelled, and a blonde guy in basketball shorts jogged over.

“Yeah?” Drew said in a deep voice, but not as deep as the blue-eyed man.

“Call the police station. See if they are looking for a little girl. Brown eyes. Black hair. Pink dress. Holding a teddy bear. Name-” he trailed off, looking at me.

“Angelica Evans,” I mumble, looking at the cement ground.

“Angelica Evans,” he said my name so naturally, so beautifully.

Looking up, the guy lifted a brow while looking at me. He turns back to the blue-eyed man and nods, then walks away. Looking back at the blue-eyed man, my stomach growled. He snickers, probably hearing the hung beast inside of me.

“Hungry, Angel?” He whispered.

I tilted my head, “Angel?”

Rubbing the back of his neck, his lips tilted up. “Yes. I’m going to call you, Angel. You want some food?” He held out his hand.

Looking at his palm, I debated whether or not I should follow him. My parents did teach me about stranger danger, but I am so hungry from all the walking.

“I won’t bite you,” he whispers as he inches his hand towards me.

I nodded and took his large rough hand. He led me into a house with a bunch of dangerous-looking people. Mommy told me not to trust strangers, but she also told me never to judge a book by its cover. Which one should I listen to? Parents are so confusing sometimes.

My eyes scanned around, landing on this guy, who doesn’t look as good as blue eyes, but he was very handsome. He sat there, a lit cigarette between his fingers. Lifting it, he positions it in his lips and exhales smokes, fogging up his dark brown eyes. Using his free hand, he ran it through his dark hair.

Blue eyes man lifted me and placed me on a table. I watched him as he walked towards a fridge and took out some pizza, warming it up in the microwave.

Walking towards a cabinet, he pulled out a first aid kit. He turned towards me and pulled out a bottle. He squeezes some liquid into a cotton ball and dabs it on my forehead. I couldn’t help but examine his features. I have never met a guy this good-looking before in my life. My heart couldn’t stop beating as I shamelessly stared at him. I squeeze my teddy tighter to make sure no one hears my heartbeats.

When he put the bloody cotton ball down, I looked at it. I didn’t even notice my head was bleeding. He grabs a bandage and sticks it on my forehead. Cleaning up the medical stuff, he walks back to the cabinet.

I watch him as he taps his foot, waiting for the pizza to finish warming up. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a stick of gum and threw it in his mouth. He tilted his head and gave me a small mischievous smile.

“Kid, I’m too old for you,” he teases me, causing everyone to laugh. I sat there clutching my teddy bear tighter, as my cheeks turned red with embarrassment. He places the warm pizza in front of me. I sat there, staring at the visible smoke. “Aren’t you going to eat it?” He tilted his head slightly to face me.

Biting my cheek, I looked at him. “Mommy and Daddy said pizza is bad for me.”

“It’s just one slice. You will be fine,” he said, stroking my cheek delicately.

I welcome his soft touch, “They say one slice leads to two slices, and before I know it. I’ll be addicted to pizza.”

“Just one slice Angel. I won’t tell your parents.”

“Promise?” I manage to squeak out.

He places his forehead on mine. “Promise,” he whispers as his hot minty breath hits my face.

I smiled and took a bite. My eyes widen in the delicious taste. Next thing I know, I was in my fourth slice. My parents are right. It’s an endless addiction. When I finish, a beautiful lady leads me into the bathroom to wash up.

“You are really obedient,” a blonde girl said.

“Thank you?” I said slowly, quite unsure what she meant.

As we walked out, I saw the blue-eyed man standing there talking to several large scary men. His face was red with anger as he pointed towards the door. They bowed and walked out.

I watch him as he scratches his head, shaky hand balled up into a fist. As his eyes met mine, a sad smile crossed his face. I let go of the blonde lady’s hand and ran towards him.

He knelt, and I ran in for a hug. “Don’t be angry,” I muffled into his shirt. He wraps his arms around me and chuckles.

“I’m better now that you’re here, Angel,” he whispered. I looked up and smiled, revealing my missing front tooth.

I sat on the couch next to the blue-eyed man as people started asking me questions. I answer each one very clearly, attempting not to stutter. Sometimes, they start chuckling, and I don’t know why. Mommy and Daddy told me to always be polite even toward strangers.

The brown eye guy from earlier took a seat beside me, dangling his phone between his fingers. My eyes roam down to see a picture of a pretty girl kissing his cheek, who I assume to be his younger sister.

“Who is she?” I ask, pointing at the phone screen while hiding behind the blue eye man.

He looked at the screen and chuckled to himself, “My Angel.”

Everyone continues asking me a question, and I answer every single one of them.

After some time, my eyelids started getting heavy. Rubbing my eyes, I released a loud yawn.

“Tired, Angel?” blue-eyed asks me as he rubs my back slightly.

I nod, and he lifts me onto his comforting lap. Grabbing his shirt, I snuggle farther into him.

“You’re warm,” I mumble as he wraps his massive arms around me.

Hours later, my eyes open slightly when hearing the sound of a police siren.

“Yes. I found her wandering around here. I’m not quite sure what happened.” Opening my eyes, I saw the blue-eyed man was talking to two police officers. I wiggled my way out of a red hair girl’s arm and ran towards him.

Tugging on his pants, he looked down. “Are you okay?” I asked, glancing around. Whenever I see a policeman, it nearly always means terrible things are happening.

Giving me a small smile, he kneels. He patted my head, “These nice men will take you home, Angel.”

I bit my lips as I looked at the police officers. There were a lot of them, a lot of them. Inhaling a deep breath, I held out my hand. Furrowing his brows, he tilts his head and slightly tightening his soft pale lips.

“I’m ready for the red lollipop now,” I whisper, batting my eyes a few times as I clutch to my dress tightly with my other hand.

He chuckles lightly, “I’m not a stranger anymore?”

I shook my head, “No, you aren’t,” I said. He scratched his head and showed me his pearly whites. Reaching into his pocket, a red lollipop appears. As he placed it on my hand, I went on my tippy-toe and kissed him on the lips.

“Thank you, my prince,” I said with a smile as I hugged him.

He wraps his arms around me. “I’m no prince,” I heard him mumble.

I place both hands on his hot cheeks. “Yes, you are. You’re my prince. You rescue me.”

He laughed at my comment as I took a step closer to him. “Wait for me, my prince. I’ll grow up to be a very pretty girl,” I whisper.

“Come on, darling, let’s go,” a police officer said.

I nod as he wipes off the tear from my cheek. With a heavy heart, I grab the police officer’s hand. Turning around, I saw my prince waving at me, giving me another sad smile.

My heels halted and cupped my small hands together. “Smile, my prince!”

The setting sun color the sky a warm red, orange, and yellow; a faded shadow made its appearance behind him. A gentle wind blew across his messy black hair. I couldn’t hear anything except the thumping noise inside my chest. He stood there, biting his dry lips as he stared at me with his alluring electrifying blues. Slowly, his lips’ edge tilted upward as a ray of sunshine sketched itself on his face.

I couldn’t believe my eyes; it was the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen. At that moment, he caught my heart.

My tiny fragile heart.