Royal Pain in the Ass (29 page)

I can
’
t tell you how happy I was when I saw Xavier sneaking in, Gwen hot on his heels.
 

“
How ready are you?
”
Gwen smirked.

“
More than I can explain,
”
I offered with a smile.
  “Xavier, I can
’
t explain to you how grateful I am.
”

Xavier sighed.
  “
Just don’
t get caught.
”

“Don
’
t worry, I
’
m a ninja!”
I smiled and hugged him.
  “
Well Gwen, let
’
s be off!
”

Gwen led me through the servant passageways, or secret escape routes as we were now calling them and an hour later, Gwen had me in a tight black halter dress and a pair of combat boots and the way she did my make up made me not look like me again.
 
She then straightened my hair within an inch of its life.
 
I couldn
’
t help but laugh.

“
I look like an angsty teen.
”
I chortled.

“
You look hot.
”

“
All I need is a cigarette and a sign that says
‘
you
’
ll never understand me
’ 
and maybe a hoodie and it
’
ll complete the look.
”
I laughed.
  “
Is there more eyeliner on my eyes or on that pencil?
”

“
Shut up, you look unrecognizable.
”
Gwen growled.

“
That
’s true.
”
I laughed.
 

“
Now, shut up, and cooperate.
”
Gwen grabbed my hand and pulled me out of her window.
 
It didn
’
t take us long before we were watching the Flaming Penguins performing.
 
Tracy had found a new boy to try to seduce, Sam was watching the boy from before, and Gwen and I were chatting and drinking.
 
I was so thankful for the drinking tonight.
 
It was helping me not to think.
 
When the boys finished I went up to Harper.

“
Hello you,
”

 “
What
’
s up
,
kid?”

“Packing up. 
You look nice,
”

“
I look like Panic!
 
At the Disco.
”
I laughed.

“
You look fine,
”

“
I go from nice to fine?
  Ouch,”

“
That
’
s not what I meant,
”

“
I know.
  I
’
m only teasing.
 
I have a question for you.
”

“
What
’
s that?
”

“
Can I borrow your guitar?
”

“
Aww you want me to teach you?
”

“
Pshaw, I already know how to play.
”

Harper handed his guitar to me and I plopped myself down on the edge of the stage and it felt good to have an instrument in my hands again.
 
I started absently strumming and carried on our conversation as though nothing was happening.

“You
’
re actually pretty decent at that.
”

“I
’
m not decent, I
’
m amazing,
”
I smiled.
  “
This is nothing.
 
I just needed some kind of music in my life again.
”

“Meaning?”

“
Being who I am, I need music.
 
Music is my life.
  Since I
’
ve been here, I haven
’
t had any sort of musical instrument in my hands, thus I have all this pent up frustration.
”

“
I can help you get out some of that frustration.
”
Harper suggested as he wagged his eyebrows.

I let out a laugh.
  “I
’
m good.
”

“Aww,”
he pouted, sticking out his bottom lip.

“
A little farther, not quite out there far enough.
”
He obliged and I shook my head.
  “
Nope, still not far enough.
  Sorry. 
Guess you lose.
” 
I started actually playing music now and realized Harper and I had accumulated a few stares.
  “
I don’
t think your fan girls like me.
”
I teased, looking at all the women glaring at me.

“
The blokes aren
’
t too happy I
’
m sitting next to the most beautiful girl in the room.
”

“
You are?
 
Where?
”
I asked looking around cheekily.

Harper sighed and gave me a gentle push.
  “
You are going to drive me mad, woman.
”

“I
’
m mad as a hatter.
” I grinned.  “
I need some company.
”

Harper was so easy to talk to.
 
He made me feel like I was back home again.
 
Before I knew I was the daughter of a duke, before Mom was gone.
 
Like I was just a normal twenty-something year old college student who had no idea what they wanted out of life.

“
Juliet,
”
Gwen sang as she pulled the guitar out of my hands and instead handed me a beer.
  “I
’
ll watch Lucy while you drink that.
”

“
Gwen, give me Lucy,
”
Harper warned.

“
Come and get her.
  I
’
m stealing the love of your life!
”
Gwen cheered as she took off to the other side of the bar, dodging in between different groups of people, much to their disapproval.
 
I laughed and enjoyed the show when I felt someone sit next to me.

“
Hello there gorgeous.
”

I looked over and smiled and rolled my eyes.
  “
Would you like to dance?
”

I shook my head.
  “
My dance partner is currently being chased around the bar.
”

“
Would you consider me a place holder?
”

“
I have not had enough to drink to start dancing with strangers.
”

“
Should I buy you another drink then?
”

“No,”

“
Are you hitting on my girlfriend?
”
Gwen asked suddenly on my lap.

I looked up to see Harper now holding Lucy and Gwen
’
s arms went around my neck.
 

“
Baby, I think we need another shot and we need to dance.
”

Gwen took my hand and stood and was dragging me across the bar in all of about two seconds.
  “
That is Parker, stay away from him.
”

“Okay,”

“
Now, dance with me darling.
”
Gwen pulled me out on the floor and we danced and drank when I felt something vibrating in my pocket.
 
I pulled out the phone Xavier had given me.

“
Hello?
 
Hang on, I can
’
t hear!
”
I went into the ladies room.

“
Juliet?
 
Juliet?
 
Where are you ?
”

“
What?
  Hey Xavier!”

“
What time is it?
”
Xavier chided.

“
I don’
t know, I
’
m not wearing a watch.
”

“It
’
s nearly three in the morning.
”

“Oh . . . okay?”

“
The arrangement was for you to be home by two.
”

“
Oh, yeah . . . I might have forgotten that part.
  I
’
m sorry . . . I might be a little drunk.
”

I heard Xavier sigh and grumble something under his breath.
  “
Juliet, where are you?
”

“
Hang on, let me find Gwen and ask.
”

I went back out and Gwen was dancing with some guy with dark hair and a leather jacket.
 

“
Gwen!
”
she looked over and waved me over to her.

“
Gwen, we
’
re running a little late.
”
I whispered to her.

“
Meet Nathan!
”
she indicated the boy she was dancing with.

“
Gwen, we
’
ve got to get going.
”

“
Nonsense the night is still young!
”

“
Gwen, Xavier is on the phone!
”

“
So hang up.
”

“
Gwen!
”

“
Fine, give me the phone.
”

I watched Gwen nodding and mhmming for a few minutes.
  “
Shut up you insensitive prick!
  You
’
ll be lucky if I get her home by noon tomorrow!
”
she screamed and hung up.

“
What just happened?
”

“He
’
s a jerk and you don
’
t need him.
”

“
Gwen, he
’
s my advisor, I kind of do.
”

“
No, what we need is another drink!
”

“
Gwen,
”
I whined as she pulled me over to the bar and ordered two shots.

“
Drink this.
”

“
Gwen, stop it.
  I
’
m not drinking anymore.
”

“
Why not?
”

“
Gwen, Xavier is risking his job, letting me come out like this.
 
I know you don
’
t like him, but come on.
”

“I
’
m too drunk to drive, and Sam isn
’
t ready to leave yet.
”
Gwen sighed.

“
Gwen, this is not cool.
”
I warned and stormed off.
 
I took my phone back and called Xavier back.

“
Juliet?
 
What is going on?
”

“
I don’
t know.
 
My head hurts, and I just, I don
’
t know.
”

“
Where are you?
  I
’
ll come get you.
”