Safe Haven

In the world full of turmoil, drama, and pain that is high school, having a safe haven is not just a blessing, it's a necessity.

Mozzie Mousekin
"Hey Mouse, want some cheese?"

You offering?

"Mouse, mousie, little mousie, hurry, hurry do, for the kitty in the housie will be chasing you!"

Very original.

"Can you scare an elephant?"

Well your the closest thing to one I see, and obviously I'm not scaring you.

"Are you always so sarcastic?"

Only on Thursdays.

It was exhausting, being a mouse in Ever After. One would think that none of the students had ever seen a mouse before, which Mozzie knew to be false. She herself knew there was another mouse student besides herself.

People who did talk to her and didn't tease or make stupid assumptions, seemed surprised at how sarcastic she was, thinking that a mouse should be as shy and sweet and docile as the princess she spent so long protecting.

It was, to repeat what she had said earlier, exhausting. Why did people stereotype? And why did they think it was a good thing?

Mozzie's phone rang, making her feel grateful, as it would provide a muting to her thoughts and show others she was not able to be talked to.

And it was her dad!

"Hello Tamryn."

Mozzie tried not to groan at the name. "Hey Dad. How're you, you know, doing?" It was awkward, trying to find out how her father was feeling, while at the same time not making him feel uncomfortable and potentially trigger a panic attack, (the nurses had drilled it in her head that it wasn't a good idea to get him to worked up.)

"Fine." Mozzie would believe it better if he didn't cough as soon as he said that. "How's Ever After going?"

"Stupid stereotyping. But you know I can deal with it." Mozzie knew not to elaborate. She wasn't technically lying to her father, she'd hate it if she ever did, but she was kind of...omitting some of the truth.

"I'm sorry about the stereotypes."

Wrong move. Mozzie hurriedly thought of something else to say. "How's Mom?" She could have smacked herself, that was not the right move. That would get him worked up more than anything.

"Tamryn..."

"What?" Curiosity killed the cat mouse, and Mozzie recognized by the tone that something was wrong.

"Your mother tried to escape by jumping out the window. Thankfully she was in a first story room at the time, so it was a short fall..."

Mozzie nearly dropped the phone. She knew her mother was crazy, that's why she was in a mental hospital, but she didn't know she tried to escape from it. "Does that mean she's getting worse?"

Her father's silence was enough to tell her. She tried to pass it off. "Well, it could have just been a bad day."

"Yeah. Listen Tamryn, I know you won't become like..." Before her father could finish his sentence, Mozzie heard a nurse. "Sorry Tamryn, I have some tests to do, see you later my honey. I love you."

"Love you too Dad." Mozzie just stared at the phone, her mom was getting crazier, her dad was having "tests" done, and she was powerless to change that.

Almost without thinking, she turned and ran. She blinked the hot tears out of her eyes as she moved even faster, no one could see her dissolve. No one.

She would up face planting on a bed, breathing in deep. She didn't care where she was. All she knew was she was safe, no stereotypes, no sick fathers, no insane mothers, nothing could get to her here.

She wasn't sure how long she had her face buried in a soft pillow, but she jumped when she felt a hand run through her hair.

Before she could yell at whoever it was, they spoke. "Your hair would be softer if you didn't gel it so much." Instantly, Mozzie relaxed. Prince Mano Bello-Serpente. Now she was really safe.

All she can manage is a muted grunt, not turning to look. Mano laughed, which made her angry, he was laughing at her, but they stayed where they were.

She doesn't tell him why she's here, and he doesn't ask. All she does is lay on his bed, and he runs his fingers through her hair, getting caught sometimes on the clumps of gel, but even that doesn't bother her.

Safe.