[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
198
I have to.
But she went off with someone else. Face it, Jack.
There s just something about you that makes girls want to
make out with other guys.
I turn back toward Amber. What did you just say?
I didn t mean it that way. I was kidding.
Funny. I laugh. You just think I m some loser, don t
you?
She shrugs, but then she says, Of course not, baby.
You re just being silly. She probably went home with
Robert.
Yeah, that s what I m afraid of, I say. I turn my back
on her and start looking through the crowd.
You re not going to get another chance with me, Jack!
Amber yells.
I don t want one! It s hard for me to say that. I know
it s not about me with her. It s about the conquest, about
winning, about proving to everyone that she can get me
back anytime. And yet part of me really wants to touch her
some more, wants her to be as into me as I am into her.
I m tired of being stupid around you.
Then I hear a scream.
199
Chapter 16:
alia
T
j
ack is not my destiny.
J I came to this party to make Jack happy. It did a bit
too happy, if you ask me, because I drove him straight into
Amber s waiting embrace.
I returned from fetching the drinks (me, fetching drinks
like a common kitchen maid!) to find them locked in a tor-
rid kiss. Jack just kisses anyone and everyone, I now see.
It was not special at all when he kissed me. His lips are
everywhere.
I turned to run away.
That was when I realized I had nowhere to run. I was
in a foreign land, a strange time, alone and friendless, all
because I believed Jack horrible Jack to be my destiny.
But Jack was kissing some trollop named Amber.
Malvolia was right! He is not my true love. I should not
200
even be awake. I should be back in the castle, awaiting a
kiss from a respectable prince!
Is one of those for me? a voice says while I consider
this.
I turn to find myself eye-to-eye with a handsome, dark-
haired young man. I beg your pardon?
He points to the cans I am holding. One for you, and
one for me?
I laugh, for it seems preferable to bursting into tears.
Why not? I hand him Amber s can.
He takes it and drains it down. Can I get you a
refill?
Finally! A young man who knows how to treat prin-
cesses, by fetching and carrying for them. But I say, I have
yet to finish this one.
Then finish it.
This I do, under his watchful eye. It is cold and tart and
fizzy. I still have not worked out how people of this cen-
tury contrive to keep everything so delightfully cold, even
on the hottest of days, but it is lovely, almost worth living
three hundred years.
Then I think of Jack. Almost, but not quite.
Lovely! I say.
He laughs. That s a good girl. He takes the can from
my hand, then steps away to get another. When he comes
back, he says, I saw you come in with O Neill.
There is a question in his voice. I answer it. I am not
with Mr. O Neill.
201
He glances over at where Jack and Evil Amber are still
locked together. Yeah, I can see. Stupid guy. If I d come
with you, I d never have let you get away.
I like the tone of his voice almost as much as the tone
of the conversation. A young woman clad in a scandalous
costume passes by, holding a tray of jewel-colored objects
which look to be some sort of confection.
Want one? the boy says.
What are they?
Jell-O shots.
I have no idea what a Jell-O shot is, but many people
are ingesting them. So, as not to reveal my ignorance, I say,
They look lovely.
Yes, lovely! He takes two. I see other people slurping
theirs out of the cup like a drink, so I do the same. It is
cold, like everything else, and sweet as strawberries.
Delectable! I say.
Delectable! He laughs. Here have mine, too.
I do not argue. I have had little to eat, and my head is
spinning. I hope this Jell-O shot will calm it down.
What s your name, beautiful? he asks.
Talia . . . Talia Brooke.
Well, Talia Talia Brooke, I m Robert, and I think
you re definitely delectable yourself. Did you bring a bath-
ing suit?
I did, of course, with no intention of wearing it. I note
that several other young ladies also appear unable to swim
and are simply standing in the water, talking, almost as if
202
the pool is the dance floor. But I am not about to wear such
an immodest garment.
I do not have one with me, I lie.
He frowns. Sorry to hear that. Don t suppose you want
to go skinny-dipping?
I do not know what this means. Perhaps he can see this
by the expression on my face, for he looks annoyed, then
away. But I cannot let him leave me, for then I would be
all alone while Jack kisses another girl. My head is spin-
ning like a whirligig, I suspect from the beers I drank. I feel
about to cast up my accounts like a common drunkard.
Still, I must keep Robert with me.
It is a lovely night, I say. Perhaps we could go for a
stroll.
He looks back at me, smiling. Someplace dark?
I blink my weary eyes. Dark would be nice, indeed.
As I say it, I stumble upon my own feet. Robert reaches his
hand out to steady me.
You are so kind and helpful. I glance over at Jack. I
have no idea what I would do without you.
That s me Mr. Knight in Shining Armor. He
laughs.
It is true.
We pass the young lady with the Jell-O shots. There
is one remaining on her tray, and Robert picks it up and
hands it to me. For you, milady.
Oh, no, I protest. You have had not even one.
I insist. He holds it out to me. It is as blue as a
203
peacock s feathers. I take it. Thank you. I am excessively
grateful for your help.
Maybe we can figure out a way for you to show your
gratitude later.
I am certain we can.
He looks so happy about that that I begin straightaway
to come up with a plan. Of course, back in Euphrasia,
what he is doing is little more than common civility, but
this seems to be a century completely devoid of manners
and consideration. Therefore, common civility should be
rewarded as heroism. If I return home (for it seems I may
do just that, if Jack is not to be my husband horrid Jack!), [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szkicerysunki.xlx.pl
198
I have to.
But she went off with someone else. Face it, Jack.
There s just something about you that makes girls want to
make out with other guys.
I turn back toward Amber. What did you just say?
I didn t mean it that way. I was kidding.
Funny. I laugh. You just think I m some loser, don t
you?
She shrugs, but then she says, Of course not, baby.
You re just being silly. She probably went home with
Robert.
Yeah, that s what I m afraid of, I say. I turn my back
on her and start looking through the crowd.
You re not going to get another chance with me, Jack!
Amber yells.
I don t want one! It s hard for me to say that. I know
it s not about me with her. It s about the conquest, about
winning, about proving to everyone that she can get me
back anytime. And yet part of me really wants to touch her
some more, wants her to be as into me as I am into her.
I m tired of being stupid around you.
Then I hear a scream.
199
Chapter 16:
alia
T
j
ack is not my destiny.
J I came to this party to make Jack happy. It did a bit
too happy, if you ask me, because I drove him straight into
Amber s waiting embrace.
I returned from fetching the drinks (me, fetching drinks
like a common kitchen maid!) to find them locked in a tor-
rid kiss. Jack just kisses anyone and everyone, I now see.
It was not special at all when he kissed me. His lips are
everywhere.
I turned to run away.
That was when I realized I had nowhere to run. I was
in a foreign land, a strange time, alone and friendless, all
because I believed Jack horrible Jack to be my destiny.
But Jack was kissing some trollop named Amber.
Malvolia was right! He is not my true love. I should not
200
even be awake. I should be back in the castle, awaiting a
kiss from a respectable prince!
Is one of those for me? a voice says while I consider
this.
I turn to find myself eye-to-eye with a handsome, dark-
haired young man. I beg your pardon?
He points to the cans I am holding. One for you, and
one for me?
I laugh, for it seems preferable to bursting into tears.
Why not? I hand him Amber s can.
He takes it and drains it down. Can I get you a
refill?
Finally! A young man who knows how to treat prin-
cesses, by fetching and carrying for them. But I say, I have
yet to finish this one.
Then finish it.
This I do, under his watchful eye. It is cold and tart and
fizzy. I still have not worked out how people of this cen-
tury contrive to keep everything so delightfully cold, even
on the hottest of days, but it is lovely, almost worth living
three hundred years.
Then I think of Jack. Almost, but not quite.
Lovely! I say.
He laughs. That s a good girl. He takes the can from
my hand, then steps away to get another. When he comes
back, he says, I saw you come in with O Neill.
There is a question in his voice. I answer it. I am not
with Mr. O Neill.
201
He glances over at where Jack and Evil Amber are still
locked together. Yeah, I can see. Stupid guy. If I d come
with you, I d never have let you get away.
I like the tone of his voice almost as much as the tone
of the conversation. A young woman clad in a scandalous
costume passes by, holding a tray of jewel-colored objects
which look to be some sort of confection.
Want one? the boy says.
What are they?
Jell-O shots.
I have no idea what a Jell-O shot is, but many people
are ingesting them. So, as not to reveal my ignorance, I say,
They look lovely.
Yes, lovely! He takes two. I see other people slurping
theirs out of the cup like a drink, so I do the same. It is
cold, like everything else, and sweet as strawberries.
Delectable! I say.
Delectable! He laughs. Here have mine, too.
I do not argue. I have had little to eat, and my head is
spinning. I hope this Jell-O shot will calm it down.
What s your name, beautiful? he asks.
Talia . . . Talia Brooke.
Well, Talia Talia Brooke, I m Robert, and I think
you re definitely delectable yourself. Did you bring a bath-
ing suit?
I did, of course, with no intention of wearing it. I note
that several other young ladies also appear unable to swim
and are simply standing in the water, talking, almost as if
202
the pool is the dance floor. But I am not about to wear such
an immodest garment.
I do not have one with me, I lie.
He frowns. Sorry to hear that. Don t suppose you want
to go skinny-dipping?
I do not know what this means. Perhaps he can see this
by the expression on my face, for he looks annoyed, then
away. But I cannot let him leave me, for then I would be
all alone while Jack kisses another girl. My head is spin-
ning like a whirligig, I suspect from the beers I drank. I feel
about to cast up my accounts like a common drunkard.
Still, I must keep Robert with me.
It is a lovely night, I say. Perhaps we could go for a
stroll.
He looks back at me, smiling. Someplace dark?
I blink my weary eyes. Dark would be nice, indeed.
As I say it, I stumble upon my own feet. Robert reaches his
hand out to steady me.
You are so kind and helpful. I glance over at Jack. I
have no idea what I would do without you.
That s me Mr. Knight in Shining Armor. He
laughs.
It is true.
We pass the young lady with the Jell-O shots. There
is one remaining on her tray, and Robert picks it up and
hands it to me. For you, milady.
Oh, no, I protest. You have had not even one.
I insist. He holds it out to me. It is as blue as a
203
peacock s feathers. I take it. Thank you. I am excessively
grateful for your help.
Maybe we can figure out a way for you to show your
gratitude later.
I am certain we can.
He looks so happy about that that I begin straightaway
to come up with a plan. Of course, back in Euphrasia,
what he is doing is little more than common civility, but
this seems to be a century completely devoid of manners
and consideration. Therefore, common civility should be
rewarded as heroism. If I return home (for it seems I may
do just that, if Jack is not to be my husband horrid Jack!), [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]