Confessions of a Teen Nanny 01 - Confessions of a Teen Nanny (11 page)

queen of france

A drienne squinted into the blazing sunshine on the Warner's private beach. She and Cameron lay side-by-side, stretched out like cats in the sun, carefully covered with heavy sunblock. Adrienne wore a white tankini, while Cameron wore the briefest of scarlet bikinis.

Just behind them, to the left, an enormous cabana contained a bar and a buffet, tended by servants from the house. Hector was there, staring at her. She could feel his beady eyes traveling every inch of her body. How gross!

Graydon lay on a chaise nearby, snoring. Mrs.Warner didn't like to lie out, and she was having lunch at the exclusive Everglades Club with Princess von Fallschirm. Mr.Warner was tucked away in his home office. Emma sat next to Adrienne, underneath a UV-protectant tent, wear- ing a hat, sunglasses, and a towel over her shoulders. For light beach reading, she had a copy of Theories of Social Behavior.

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Adrienne looked out at the turquoise water. She could get used to it here.

From her bag, her phone rang. Maybe Brian? "Hello?" she said cheerfully.

"Adrienne! Have you decided what you are going to wear tonight? My party is going to be tight! Choice crowd, serious music!"

Oh no, thought Adrienne, putting her hand to her sud- denly perspiring forehead. I totally forgot about her party! "Oh, hey!" she said, as calmly as she could. "Listen,Tamara--"

"No way.You are not telling me that you're canceling on me," she said, a hint of anger creeping into her usually warm and friendly voice.

"I'm not canceling," Adrienne said,"but I have a really good excuse."

"And I would love to hear it,"Tamara said tonelessly.

"Well, I had to go down to Florida. It was an emer- gency," she said.

"You serious?" Tamara said. "What's the matter? Your Grandma sick or something? Are you okay?"

"The Warners had to open their house this weekend in Palm Beach, and they needed me there," Adrienne explained.

"So you're telling me that you're in Florida on the beach and not coming to my birthday,"Tamara said.

"It's not like that--" Adrienne began.

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"It's just like that, Adrienne. That's just what it's like, you know? All right. I get it.You have fun. Just hang out with your new friends. If you keep treating me like this, they're going to be the only friends you've got. Later." She hung up.

Adrienne debated calling Tamara back. Just then, a servant came over and handed her, Emma, and Cameron ice-cold bottles of Evian.

"Something wrong, Adrienne?" Cameron asked, con- cerned.

"No. I'm okay. Thanks." Adrienne sighed, closed her phone, turned it off, and tossed it back into her bag. She would deal with Tamara when she got back to school. She didn't want to call with Cameron listening.

I'll make everything right with Tamara, she told herself. Adrienne shut her eyes and soaked in the rays. Lying there, she could hear Cameron dialing her own phone.

"Hey there, baby. How are you?" Cameron said into the phone softly."I know! I don't feel so hot, either. It was crazy, huh? You sure had those girls going! Seriously, I thought that Chloe was going to have an orgasm right there in the pool.You're twisted." She giggled. "Excellent. I'll supply the food and the booze, you bring the rest. You're trouble, you know that? Bye, baby. See you tonight." She hung up the phone.

Adrienne rolled over. "Was that Bandar?" she asked.

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"No," Cameron said, putting on her sunglasses."It was Parker."

Adrienne didn't know what to say. What was Cameron up to? What was Parker up to?

I'd better keep my eyes on Parker tonight, Adrienne thought. And I'd better think of a way to make this up to Tamara when I get back home.

Emma and Adrienne watched the last half hour of a History Channel special on the Vikings.

"Don't you want to go out, Emma?"

"No," Emma said, riveted to the Viking burial process. A flaming arrow arched in the air and lit a Viking ship with a dead body on it.

"It's beautiful outside," Adrienne said, opening the shades.

"It's hot," Emma replied. "Stop bothering me. I'm watching this."

Adrienne picked up her cell. She dialed Brian.

The battery symbol disappeared, and the phone shut down. Always when you need it, Adrienne thought, the dumb thing dies. "Do you mind if I make a phone call from here?" Adrienne asked Emma.

"No," Emma said. "Anything to get you to shut up."

Adrienne stuck out her tongue at Emma, who rolled her eyes. Adrienne picked up the phone and dialed Brian's cell.

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"Cameron?" he said excitedly.

Stunned for a minute, Adrienne paused.

"Hello?" Brian said.

"It's me," Adrienne said flatly.

"Hey! Adrienne! Even better!" he said. "I saw the caller ID. It said, `Warner Palm Beach.' I assumed--"

"That Cameron was calling you? Fine. Just fine," Adrienne said, unable to mask the shock and hurt in her voice."Well, I guess you've figured out I'm in Palm Beach."

"That's so cool! Is Cameron showing you a good time?" he asked.

He's been talking to Cameron! Cameron has been calling him! Adrienne thought. I can't believe this!

"Hello? Adrienne? Are you there?"

"I'm here," Adrienne said flatly.

"Is the house huge?" Brian asked. "Cameron told me about it."

"When?" Adrienne demanded.

"Um . . . at the recording studio."

"You're lying," she said. "I can always tell when you lie." Adrienne could feel her chest tightening. Suddenly, there wasn't enough air in the room.

"Adrienne, okay, she called this morning to say you guys were having a good time and that she was taking care of you. Hey, I'm the one who should be jealous--she told me all about the wild party you threw last night."

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The party I threw? Adrienne thought. He's really got to be kidding!

"You know what?" Adrienne said. "It looks like Emma is about to fall into the pool. I have to go." She hung up on him. She was shaking.

"Hey, I'm right here," Emma said."You didn't need to hang up."

"She totally needed to hang up," Cameron said, walk- ing into the room. "You shouldn't tie yourself down with one guy, Adrienne.You've never looked better, and you've certainly never had access to the guys you'll meet at the party tonight. Listen, Adrienne, my brother is hot for you, and believe it or not, he's really great. Also Jaime--he's the heir to a Venezuelan oil fortune--and Jean-Charles, who is third in line to the French throne--"

"France doesn't have a throne," Adrienne muttered.

"It might again one day--you never know with France.You'd make a really nice queen," Cameron teased. "Listen, it's the opening party of the season here tonight. Let's get you dressed up." Cameron headed toward the French doors.

"Cameron!" Adrienne said sharply. Cameron whirled around.Adrienne was so angry, she wasn't sure if she would make any sense. But she didn't really care. "We have to talk--"

"Not now, Adrienne. I have to get ready for the party

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tonight. I hope you'll be there." With a little wave, Cameron waltzed out the door.

Oh, I'll be there, Adrienne thought. I'm not letting you out of my sight.

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trust me . . .

T he party at the Big House was incredible. The night was so beautiful. Chinese lanterns filled with candles hung on all the trees, and the tables were covered with beautiful bouquets of flowers.This wasn't like a party that kids threw when their parents weren't home--this was like a wedding.

Everyone was either talking or dancing, but Adrienne just stood in a corner, staring into space. A bunch of cute guys came over to meet her, but none of them were as cute as Brian, she thought. Adrienne was torn--she couldn't stop being incredibly angry at him, but she couldn't stop missing him either.

"Isn't this the best?" Cameron said, walking up to her. She looked gorgeous in her patterned pink-and-aqua Versace dress.

"Totally amazing, Cam," Mimi gushed by her side.

"It's great," Adrienne muttered. She was still furious, but she didn't want to get into it in front of Mimi.

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"What is wrong with you?" Cameron whined."You're bringing me down, Adrienne. What's the problem? The night is great, the place is running hot and cold million- aires, and you look amazing!"

Adrienne sighed. She did look good. Cameron's pink organza Dior was gorgeous on her. "I'm just not in the mood."

"Come with Doctors Warner and Fallschirm, Miss Lewis." Cameron and Mimi pulled Adrienne into the house and up the stairs to Mrs.Warner's bathroom.

Adrienne stepped into the bathroom and her mouth dropped open.The huge pink marble room had a Jacuzzi, a steam bath, a sauna, a shower, and a whole dressing area. Cameron opened a mirrored door to reveal an entire phar- macy of pills.

"Does something hurt, or are you just tense?" Cameron asked in a professional tone.

Adrienne's stomach tied up in knots. She was not about to do Mrs. Warner's drugs. "Just tense, Cam. Come on, let's go." Adrienne moved toward the door.

"Here you are," Cameron said, taking a pill from one of the bottles and handing it to Adrienne.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Trust me, you'll be fine. My mother lives on these, and so do I. I'd be a wreck without them. Just take it Adrienne, or go back to your room.You're the only person

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at this party who isn't having fun. Do you want to ruin my reputation for having the best parties in Palm Beach?"

"Really, it's not a big deal . . . ," Mimi said, while inspecting her makeup in the mirror. "Take it."

Adrienne looked at the tiny white pill. How bad could it be? Maybe it would stop her from feeling so lousy.

She placed it on her tongue and swallowed it. It stuck in her throat a little before Cameron handed her a glass of Evian to wash it down.

"Finally," Cameron said. "Now let's get you a glass of champagne."

The girls went back outside.

Adrienne grabbed a drink and followed Mimi to a group of gorgeous guys and girls she didn't know. Listening to them talk, Adrienne started to feel a little better.

Adrienne talked to Jean-Charles, third--or was it fourth?--in line to the French throne, and decided that he was really nice. It was worth all those years of French les- sons. Jaime the Venezuelan was nice, too, and Adrienne started to smile. I should really learn Spanish, she thought.

A calm, warm feeling spread throughout her body. The breeze blew gently against her face, and she looked up at the stars.

I don't feel so bad, she thought. Actually, this is terrific! The music is great! It's a lot better than Tamara's crummy party in Brooklyn! Adrienne giggled at the thought of all her

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friends freezing in line outside some Brooklyn club.

"Are you all right, Adrienne?" Mimi asked. It sounded as if she were talking to her from very far away.

"I'm feeling fine,Your Highness. Fine, fine!"Adrienne said. Her head was starting to feel pleasantly light.

Within half an hour, the edge was off. After an hour, and glass after glass of champagne, Adrienne was over the edge. She was totally enjoying herself. Everyone was so cute and so interesting! Parker looked a little concerned, but screw him! Adrienne thought. He's cheating on Liz! But who cares? Tonight is all about me!

The next morning, Adrienne felt sick. But worse, she had almost no memory of the night before.

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty!" It was Cameron, walking in and sitting on the corner of the bed."How are you feeling?"

"Ugh," Adrienne replied. "Where's the cat?"

"What cat?" Cameron asked.

"The one that crapped in my mouth when I was asleep," Adrienne said, and she and Cameron burst out laughing.Then Adrienne winced. She felt as if a truck had hit her.

"It was fun, wasn't it?" Adrienne asked. She hoped Cam wouldn't find out that she was so fuzzy on the details.

"You, my dear, were the star of Palm Beach. Everyone wanted to know who you were and where you came from.

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I told them you were a distant cousin from Texas. Don't worry, no one knows you're the nanny."

"Thanks, Cameron," Adrienne said, falling back into bed. "Oh." She sat back up. "You said you'd pay me back the five hundred . . . and I really need it."

"Of course," Cameron said."Remind me again when we get home. But then again, you might not still be the nanny when we get back.You were supposed to be with Emma half an hour ago. My stepmother is not happy."

Adrienne looked at the clock. Shit! She raced to get dressed and get to Emma's room.

"Hey!" Emma said, smiling cheerfully, when Adrienne opened her door. Emma sat at the computer. CNN was on. Everything was normal.

"Want to see the pictures I took?" Emma asked.

"Sure," Adrienne said, thrilled that whatever Emma was doing didn't involve noise or a Viking funeral. Though, she thought, a Viking funeral might be preferable to the way I feel. Adrienne crossed over to the computer and sat down.

"Ready?" Emma said."I'm going to start the slideshow."

The pictures appeared one by one:

Adrienne dancing.

Adrienne and Cameron at the karaoke machine.

Adrienne smiled. I look good, she thought. I remember all of this.

Cameron making out with a guy from some WB

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show. Adrienne giggled. Cam is so busted!

Adrienne dancing on a table. Oops. I don't remember that at all, Adrienne thought.

Adrienne in the pool in Cameron's dress. Adrienne gasped.Where was the dress now? She couldn't remember.

Adrienne being dried off by . . . Graydon!

Adrienne making out with Graydon.

Adrienne making out with Graydon--and Cameron standing nearby, laughing at her!

"Stop it, Emma! Turn it off!" Adrienne cried, her eyes filling up with tears. "How could this have happened? I don't remember any of this at all!"

"But there's so much more. . . ." Emma said mischie- viously.

Adrienne raced for the bathroom. "I think I'm going to be sick!"

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