Royal Pain in the Ass (61 page)

Needless to say, I didn
’
t get into the Orlando Philharmonic orchestra.
 
I did, however, manage to get into the London Symphony Orchestra, fifth chair cellist.
 
I love being in an orchestra again and that keeps me pretty busy.
  I
’
m back to taking etiquette classes.
 
James is planning a coming out party for me, and has let Fiore take over planning it.

 
Angelica and I have gotten much closer, and we go out for lunch at least twice a week.
  We
’
ve also gone to a few underground shows, which she actually enjoys.
 
Another shocker.
  She
’
s actually seeing a new boy who I have yet to meet.
 
She met him in Spain and his name is Fernando.
 
I am looking forward to this meeting.
 
Millie hates this idea, although after her last choice, I
’
m not sure I trust her judgment anyway.
 
James is nervous about it, but he hasn
’
t stopped anything.
 

Millie insults me at every turn, and nothing upsets her more than a sweet smile as I take her insult as a compliment.
 
Millie hates me, that
’
s the only way I can see it.
  I
’
m not entirely sure why she hates me so much, but she does.
  Maybe it
’
s because I
’
m the incarnation of her husband
’
s affair, maybe it
’
s because I
’
m my mother
’
s daughter, maybe it
’
s because I
’
ve brought Angelica out of her prim and proper, nose stuck in the air shell, maybe it
’
s just because she has to share James
’
s attention with me.
 
I don’
t know, and honestly, can
’
t be bothered to care.
  I
’
ve tried to be her friend, I
’
ve tried to get along with her, but she doesn
’
t want that.
 
So, things will remain frigid until she gets frostbite from that tongue of hers or she actually decides to warm up a little.
 

 
James and I are getting closer.
 
We go for a daily ride around the grounds every evening.
 
He tells me stories of his past, my favorites are of him and my mo
m.  I
’
ve actually started to call him Dad.
 
It feels kind of weird, but it makes him happy.
  I
’
ll be damned before I call Millie Mom though.
 
Xavier is still my acting advisor, despite our situation; James actually thinks the fact that we
’
re seeing each other might help him out.
 
Apparently, he thinks it will help Xavier to keep me grounded.
 
I guess James forgets how I can be.
 
I don’
t think anyone can keep me grounded for long.

I
’
ve been planning a new tattoo, but I haven
’
t told anyone yet. 
I figure I
’
ll just get it, then show them.
 
James and I have reached an understanding, he knows I can
’
t be like everyone else in this society, I just can
’
t. 
But at the same time, he sees that I am trying to behave myself.
  We
’
re working on how to deal with me, he still hasn
’
t found out about my tattoos yet.
 
I really should tell him soon.
  Maybe I
’
ll just show them.
 
Xavier is going to flip once he sees the new tattoo, he
’
ll probably be the first to see it as he
’
s one of the very few who
’
ve seen all of my tattoos as it is.

Xavier usually drops me off and picks me up from rehearsal at LSO and we usually go get something to eat at some point during this.
 
James has asked me not to randomly go off adventuring like Xavier and I did before, without at least telling him we
’
re leaving.
 
Honestly, you
’
d think he didn
’
t trust me or something.
  I
’
m also thinking about going back to school, but I haven
’
t decided yet.

Senator Evans tried to
“
reason
”
with my father and tell him I was a liability and he shouldn
’
t try to keep me as his ward.
 
When James didn
’
t tell him what he wanted to hear, I heard him shouting, and then James said some colorful words that would make a seasoned sailor blush.
 
I was proud.
 
Chase is still institutionalized so far as I know, and as far as I
’
m concerned, so long as he isn
’
t here, I don
’
t really care where he is.

Gwen and I went out to see Harper play first thing when I got back.
 
James actually lets me go to the shows and such, and he hasn
’
t tried to stop me.
 
He just insists I try to blend in and be careful.
 
Then again, he doesn
’
t know I
’
ve been taking Angelica with me to some of them.
 
Harper has become one of my best friends and he
’
s seeing a new girl.
  She
’
s this gorgeous Indian girl, Katherine.
 
I really like her so far.
 
Gwen is seeing a few someones and can
’
t decide if she actually is interested in any of them, or if she
’
s just having fun, or if she
’
s the relationship type, or if she wants to marry one of them.
 
I love her dearly, but that girl is more confused than me.
 
All the same, I love her, and she still always has cookies.
 
Laurel on the other hand, is engaged.
 
Apparently, she and Ben had been seeing one another for ages in secret and he proposed to her.
  I
’
m so happy for her.

I don’
t know what is going to happen, but with everything working out like it is, I can
’t complain.
 
I have no idea what tomorrow brings, but so long as I have my family, friends, and Xavier by my side, I don
’
t think there
’
s anything I can
’
t handle. 
Until then, I
’
ll just keep calm and carry on
. 
After all, what could really be that bad, right?