Towards the middle of the movie, Bria’s door opens, and Nick comes in with popcorn. He sits next to Bria, as far away from me as possible, and leans back, watching the movie with us. I don’t say anything, and neither does he. In fact, I don’t even look at him, and I can tell that he’s not looking at me, either. The only exciting thing that happens is when we both go for the popcorn, and our hands touch briefly. But he pulls his hand back so fast, I wanted to scream at him: I know! I fucking get it!
The movie ends, and Bria stiffens next to me. I look down at her, and her face is scrunched up in confusion.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, concerned I somehow permanently scarred her by showing her the movie. Perhaps it was too scary?
“Do you think I’ll love thomeone thomeday?”
“What do you mean?”
Nick looks down at her, concerned.
“I hope thomeone will love me like the beast loveth Belle,” she says, and her voice is so quiet and tiny, I have to keep from laughing.
“Bria, you’re only five. You have years to fall in love. It’ll happen, and it will be amazing.”
“Will it be like the movie?”
I look at Nick for guidance, but he’s looking down at his hands.
“Yes,” I whisper. “It might even be better.”
She adjusts herself in the bed. “Good.”
“But,” Nick says, speaking up. “Real love doesn’t happen like Beauty and the Beast, sweetie. I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”
“It could,” I add, glaring at Nick. “It’s possible.”
Nick gets up out of the bed abruptly.
“No, it’s not, Evianna. I’d appreciate it if you would stop filling her head with unrealistic fairy tales.”
My mouth hangs open, and a few replies to his rude comment come quickly to mind, though I can’t say them in front of Bria.
“Anything is possible, Nick. God, she’s five. Let her believe in fairytales.”
Nick shoots me a death look. I don’t want to admit it, but it’s kind of hot. He squats down on the edge of the bed and looks Bria in the eyes.
“Real life doesn’t work out like Disney movies, Bria. Real life is hard, and sometimes you lose people, and sometimes you’re really sad. I just don’t want you to get your hopes up.”
Bria’s lip trembles slightly, and I want to punch Nick.
“Nick? Can I talk to you in private?” I can hardly contain my anger.
I’m shaking when I meet him outside of her door. I shut it quickly and spin around.
“What the hell?” I hiss. “She’s five years old, Nick! Let her believe in the goddamn movie!”
“Stay out of it, Evianna. She’s my daughter, and I’ll raise her to believe whatever the hell I want her to believe. I don’t appreciate you spewing romantic, unrealistic ideas for her to latch onto. She’s already had enough grief in her life. She doesn’t need another reason to be disappointed,” he shouts.
“Why can’t you just let her believe? What’s the harm in believing?”
“Because it’s not real! Jesus, Evianna. What are you trying to teach her?”
“I’m trying to teach her to believe in fairytales! I’m trying to teach her to believe in magic, and romance, and happy endings. So what if real life doesn’t work out like that? She’s five, and she deserves to believe that one day she will love someone with all of her heart, and that there’s nothing wrong with that. I was raised to believe that, and I’m glad I was. I’m glad my father didn’t shoot down every single Disney movie that I watched. You should be teaching your daughter that real love is out there. Not Disney love—real love. The kind of love that makes Disney movies a complete joke in comparison. The kind of love that takes over everything. That’s what Bria should believe in. It’s the only thing to believe in. Even if she gets her heart broken one day—it’s worth it. Real love is always worth it.”
I’m out of breath when I finish, and Nick just stares down at me. His nostrils are flaring, and I can tell that he has a thousand retorts for me.
“Never knew you were so optimistic, Evianna,” he says quietly.
“Never knew you were so pessimistic, Nicholas.”
I spin around, ready to leave, but Nick grabs my arm. He pulls me close to him, but not close enough so that we’re touching—though we are only a few inches away. We’re both breathing heavily, and his eyes are slightly dilated. He doesn’t let go of my arm.