Fifteen-year-old Ella was spending time on the beach nearby during summer vacation. She had gone there with a couple of her friends and one of their parents. Her mom practically had to force her to go, telling her not to worry about anything. Wanting to spend some time alone, she walked off to a secluded part of the beach. She climbed up the rocks to the top of the hill, hoping for a better view.

There, she spotted him. A young boy stood at the edge of the cliff, staring out at the ocean as the wind blew his hair back. Ella couldn't help but notice his feet were slightly off the edge.

That's dangerous... She looked around, but there was no one else in sight. Isn't he a little young to be on his own here? "Hey... Kid! Don't get so close to the edge; it's dangerous!" Ella called out to him, worried he'd either fall or jump in. Crap, I probably shouldn't have yelled.

He tilted his head as he glanced back at her. She halted at his saddened expression, heart-wrenching at merely the sight of him.

What do I do? I can't leave him here alone.

When she didn't say anything more, he went back to looking off into the distance, as far as he could see the water.

Ella inched closer to him, ready to lunge should he choose to jump off. "What's your name?" she asked softly, afraid she'd startle him.

"Hmm?" He glanced at her again.

"I'm Ella." She stood beside him and looked down. Too far down... With shaking hands, she sat down and took a deep breath. "What's your name?" she asked again.

"Why do you want to know? Are you just out for money and things, too?" he grumbled and eyed her suspiciously.

"No... Why in the world would someone talk to a kid for money?" Ella frowned. "I saw a familiar look of loneliness on you... and I got worried."

A light seemed to flicker in his eyes. "You were worried about me?"

"Yes. Can you sit down? It's making me nervous, you standing on the edge like that."

He thought for a moment and nodded before sitting down beside her.

"Can you tell me why you're here on your own? Where are your parents?" He's so young... maybe around eight or nine.

"Ha... My parents? They're around somewhere enjoying themselves..."

"Do they know you're here on your own?"

"As long as I study and get things done, they don't care. No one cares..." He sighed and hung his head. "Not even the one tasked with taking care of me."

Rich boy with a nanny or something? "I know some people aren't good at showing they care, but your parents probably care about you a lot."

"No, they don't! Tch, you're just like the rest of them, aren't you? You think I should quit whining and be quiet? I'm just delusional! I should shut up because I have it better than other people—" Leon went silent when she hugged him.

"I'm sorry. I spoke without knowing enough about the situation. And I should look at things from your point of view, which is obviously one of neglect."

His eyes widened slightly as he looked at her, and he awkwardly wrapped his arms around her in return. He couldn't remember the last time someone gave him a real hug. Tears formed in his eyes as he gripped her shirt and rubbed his face into her shoulder.

"It's never okay to neglect your child. My mom's a single mother, and she makes sure to hug me every day."

"What... what about your dad?"

She stiffened up. "He's... out of the picture, so I can't really tell you anything about him."

"Oh... Sorry..." He swallowed hard, worried she'd back away because he asked the wrong question.

"Don't worry about that; it's in the past." Probably before this kid was even born.

When Leon finally let go, she backed away, and he rubbed the tears from his eyes. "Thank you..."

"Can we move away from this ledge?"

"I like it here."

"Um... What exactly were you planning to do? Or were you just watching the water alone?"

"I..." he trailed off and looked away, gripping his hands tightly in his lap.

"It's okay to tell me, you know? I won't get angry... well, okay, I might get a little angry, but I won't tell anyone."

"You'll keep it a secret?"

Ella nodded.

"I... I thought about jumping... but then I got scared of drowning. I know how to swim, but it's really far down. I know it wouldn't end well for me."

Jumping in? Ella shuddered. Someone so young, and he wants to end it? She felt tears in her eyes and looked up at the sky, hoping he wouldn't see them. "Are you..." She swallowed hard. "So upset and depressed that you're thinking about killing yourself?"

His shoulders curled in a bit. "Yes..."

"Please don't."

"Why not? It's not like anyone cares. I'm just around to take over when my dad's old and doesn't want to work anymore. They don't actually want me..."

"Why do you think that?"

"Think? I know it! I heard them talking before! I know they only had me to have a successor."

"Makes me think of kings in olden times and whatnot... They always had to make sure they had a son to pass their crown to. To them, you're kinda like their little prince, then."

"If I'm so precious, why don't they treat me that way?"

"Do they... hit you or something?"

"No; they just ignore me. They can't be bothered to deal with me at all. Even dinners together are forced, and they'll talk to each other, but not to me. I'm..." His lip quivered.

"Lonely?"

"Yeah."

"Loneliness can be overwhelming. I know we may not see each other after today, because I don't know where you're from and whatnot, but how about we be friends?" She held her hand out to him.

He looked at her hand. "You want to be my friend?"

"Yes, and I'm your friend who cares about you."

He took her hand, shaking it, a slight tint of red on his cheeks. He couldn't help but notice how much bigger her hands were. She definitely had at least a few years on him, but he knew he'd catch up someday.

"Even if we don't meet—"

"We will meet again."

"What? I can't promise you that..." It would be irresponsible.

"I'm promising you that," he said with a serious glint in his eyes.

"Oh?"

"I... may not have power now, because I'm just a kid, but when I'm older, I'll be able to do more; I'll be able to find you."

"By then, you'll probably have forgotten about little old me." She giggled.

"No, that won't happen. I'll never forget you. I'll make sure I find you and make you my wife."

She froze. "Did you just say, wife?" This is a kid, right?

"Yes!" He stood, his chest puffed out, and he held his fist over his heart. "I promise we'll meet again, and when we do, I'll make you my woman!"

Since when do children talk like this? She stared at him, stunned for a while longer, struggling to figure out what to say. "Um... How about we work on being friends right now? My friends aren't too far from here, if you want—"

"No; I only want you." He grabbed her hand. "Even if only for a day right now, I wish to enjoy my time with my future wife." He kissed the back of her hand.

"You can't keep calling me that..."

"Why not?"

"People don't just get married. They date and grow close... and grow to be intimate and whatnot before getting married."

"A date...?" He thought for a moment, remembering what he read in books and saw on TV. He nodded. "A date it is, then. How about a walk along the beach? There's an ice cream stand down the way. I'll buy us some ice cream."

"Um..." The hopeful sparkle in his eyes crushed her. It can't hurt, can it? "O-okay... I could go for some ice cream."

"Let's go." He took her hand again.

They strolled on the beach together. He kept stealing glances at her and smiling.

He seems... totally smitten. Too bad he's way too young for me.

They stood in line together to get ice cream as Beautiful Soul, by Jessie McCartney, played over their speaker. "What flavour do you want?" He pointed to the menu on the side, wanting to decide before they got to the front.

"I like strawberry ice cream the most."

He nodded. "Good to know," he mumbled to himself.

At the front, he ordered strawberry ice cream for her and cookies and cream ice cream for himself.

I can't let a kid pay for me... "Here, I'll pay this time." Ella took her wallet out of her pocket.

"No, no." He pushed her hand with the wallet down. "A man pays on dates." He handed the money over for the ice cream.

Ha... I guess if I go with whoever invites the other, pays, it won't bother me... much. "Thank you," she accepted the ice cream from him.

He automatically took her free hand and started walking along the beach as he ate. "Hmm... How's your taste?"

"Good, yours?"

"Really good. Want to try it?" He held his cone out to her.

"Um... No, I'm good."

"Oh... Okay..."

Damn, is he a puppy or something? "Uh, fine... Sure." It's so hard to say no to him. He'll be dangerous when he's older.

His face lit up, and he held his ice cream up to her face. She took a small bite and nodded. "It is good, thank you." He glanced at hers and she knew right away what he wanted. "Want to try mine?" She held hers out to him, and he took a big bite.

"Yummy." He smiled and continued eating his own. "I've never had anyone to share food with like this. It's so cool. It's hard to choose one flavour sometimes, but if you have someone to trade with, you get to try two!"

"It is nice to share, especially desserts," Ella agreed.

After finishing their ice cream, they spent a while building sandcastles, skipping rocks, and talking about their lives. They sat down outside a little cafe on the edge of the beach drinking fruit smoothies.

Such a heavy life for small shoulders...

"You know, I don't think I've ever had so much fun." Leon happily drank his pineapple mango smoothie.

"Never?"

"Nope." He smiled at her. "I'm definitely in love with you, and I'll marry you someday."

Ha... my first proposal, and it's from a young boy...

"How about we stick to friends for now?" Ella asked.

Leon frowned a bit, but nodded. "I know... Friends now, more than friends later." He winked at her.

"Ha..." He'll definitely turn into a lady-killer.

"Master Leon, where have you been?" An older man dressed in a butler suit approached them, his brows furrowed and veins bulging.

"Tch... What do you care?" Leon glared at him. "The day's not over yet; don't ruin my date."

"Date?" He turned to her. "Aren't you a little old to be dating an eight-year-old? Are you a gold digger? They start young these days, it seems," he scoffed.

"That's not..."

"You'd do well to stay away from the young master. You won't be getting any money from him."

"I'm not after his money..." Ella tried to fight off the tears forming. "We're friends..."

"Friends? I've been with this boy every day, and we've never met you. Besides, how old are you?"

"People can only be friends with other people the same age?"

The man grabbed Leon's arm. "We're leaving this instant!"

"No, let go of me!" Leon pulled back, but was too weak to fight against him.

"What are you doing? He doesn't want to go with you." Ella blocked his way, trembling under his gaze.

"It doesn't matter what he wants. His parents ordered me to return him to the hotel hours ago, and I'm in trouble because this brat chose to run away. Now, get out of my way." When Ella didn't move, he shoved her out of the way.

"Ah," she yelped as she hit the ground hard.

"Ella!" Leon called out to her, still trying to free himself. "How dare you hurt her?! Let me go, Richard! I need to check on her."

"No, you're coming back with me." He tugged hard on Leon's arm, yanking him forward and nearly pulling his arm out of its socket.

"Ah!"

"Leon." Ella struggled to get to her feet, her elbows bleeding from hitting the paved patio area. She watched Richard take Leon away as he reached out to her. She stood there in a daze, tears in her eyes. He's too strong; I can't do anything for him... "Leon..."