I made a horrible mistake. I shouldn't have kissed Megan. But what could a man do when a pretty girl, a girl he was nuts about, was that close to his face? She was so doggone adorable, looking like a wet kitten, I just couldn't help myself.
Seemed like she couldn't either.
But it didn't matter anymore. She made herself clear when she said she was only the hired help.
"It's gonna be nothin' but torture from here on out," I muttered as I slipped on my black loafers the morning after that numbing kiss. I left my room and walked down the hallway. I heard piano music. The closer I came to the stairs, the louder the music became. I stepped down the stairs and stopped to see Megan at the piano, playing away as she wore her lavender maid's outfit. Honestly, I didn't care if they wore their normal clothes, but Mrs. Brighten insisted on the outfits - more professional.
That sweet, unfamiliar tune filled my ears as Megan played, and I stayed standing at the foot of the stairs, leaning against the railing. There was a hint of melancholy in the tune as well. Megan was playing this for a reason.
I should talk to her. I was too afraid to even come across her the day before after the pool. I could ask if we were even friends now.
I started walking to her, but the phone rang on the little table that was sitting against the wall just before the entrance to the living room. Megan stopped playing and started into the living room. She halted in the center of it when she saw me. Her face immediately turned a cute deep pink, and her eyes widened.
The phone continued ringing. She hurried to it as I stood at the foot of the stairs. I had been advised by the Colonel not to answer the phone. Only the housekeeper could. It seemed like Mrs. Brighten allowed Megan to take her place when she wasn't around.
"Hello, Graceland Mansion, how can I help you?" Megan answered. She stood there listening, and then her blue eyes went wide again. She looked at me, her mouth opened in surprise. "Um, yes," she said. "Yes, of course. One moment please." She took the phone off her ear and held a hand over the end you speak into. "This young woman says she's Priscilla. She's calling from Germany."
My heart pulsed. Priscilla? I hadn't talked to her since before I left Germany for the filming. We agreed to stay in contact by phone, but it hadn't happened until now. We talked and met when I was filming G.I. Blues.
"Thank you, Megan," I said and came up to her. Not leaving her gaze, and knowing what she was silently telling me about what happened between us, she extended the phone to me. She promptly left into the dining room and then the kitchen. My heart sinking in guilt, I put the phone up to my ear. "Priscilla."
"Oh, Elvis, it's so wonderful to hear your voice again!"
"It's great to hear yours again, too. How have you been?"
"Busy. Well, at least I have been busy because of Daddy. He's been jumping all over Germany, and taking me, my siblings and Mom with him. I'm so sorry I haven't been able to call until now."
"It's alright. I've been pretty busy, too."
"I've missed you, Elvis."
Something squeezed my heart, and that guilty feeling came back. "I missed ya, too, Priscilla. It's really great that you called."
"I couldn't wait another day without calling you. I just wanted to hear your voice and see if you're okay."
She most likely read the news articles about what happened with the Colonel. "Yeah, I'm okay." I paused. "You read the news."
"I read it and heard it on the radio. The Colonel had no right to yell at that poor girl."
She had a similar opinion about the Colonel as Megan, only Megan did something about it. "Yeah, that was pretty horrible for sure. I wasn't happy about it at all."
"I'm just sorry that you had to see that. Um..." I knew she was going to mention next. I could feel it. "Elvis, so... I heard about how you went into a neighborhood and kidnapped two girls. I know you would never ever do that, I just wanted to hear your side of it. That's actually one of the main reasons why I called, other than missing you like crazy."
I leaned against the wall and ran a hand down my face. She deserved to know the whole truth, including what was going on with Megan and me. "Well, what happened is this, Priscilla..."
I commenced telling her everything, about Megan and who she was, what happened with her and the Colonel, and me taking her back here to the mansion as a protest, and because I thought she was wrongfully treated. I left out what happened at the pool. I should save mentioning that accident.
No. What happened at the pool happened on purpose.
"Wow..." Priscilla enthused. "So, she gave the Colonel a piece of her mind and he fired her for it."
"Yeah."
"But you hired her. It's your call whether she goes or not."
"I know."
"Well, I'm glad that all you were doing was rescuing her and righting a wrong, but... she shouldn't have talked to you like that."
"I needed to hear it, though. She was right. She felt badly for sayin' what she did, even though it was true. It got me doin' somethin'."
"I just hope the Colonel wasn't too angry with you about the whole thing."
"He's not happy, but he hasn't blown his top. He's been tryin' to keep things under control."
"That's good. So... the girl who answered the phone... that was her? Megan?"
"Yes, that was her."
"How old is she? Is she pretty?"
Of course she would ask those questions. "She's eighteen, and... yes, she's pretty."
She was silent for a moment, for an obvious reason. "I see. Not as pretty as me, I hope."
What should I say to her? "You both are pretty."
I could see in my mind's eye her playful smile fading. That hurt my heart. "Elvis... what aren't you telling me? Did you do all that for her because you... fell for her?"
I was loony over Priscilla when we were a thing when I was in the army, and it was the same when I was over there for the movie, but... Megan showed up when I came back.
"I feel terrible, Priscilla."
"So you did. You fell for your maid."
My mouth sagged. "I'm sorry."
She didn't say anything right away. "She must be a swell girl if she could steal your heart. It was her musical talent, huh?"
"That played into it."
"Does she know how you feel?"
That wet kiss at the pool came to mind. It pained me to say, "Yes, she does."
She was silent again, but I heard her mutter in a low tone, "I should of just followed him..."
"I'm sorry again, Priscilla. Please know that I'm still crazy about ya."
"But you're in love with her."
I said nothing. She was right.
"Can I ask what happened? Like how she found out?"
Here it goes. He needs to know. "Just little things to begin with, but... I kissed 'er and told 'er everythin'."
Silence. Priscilla most likely had tears in her eyes. She said sadly, and in a thick voice, "Well, she's a lucky girl. So, I should go. These overseas calls are really expensive, and there's a time limit."
My mouth couldn't smile. "I'm sorry. Really sorry."
"Stop saying you're sorry. It's okay."
There wasn't much to say anymore. "Thank you for callin'. It means a lot."
"You're welcome, and... are you a secret couple with Megan now?"
"No."
"No? Why? If you two feel the same about each other?"
"She doesn't want to cause more trouble. It's alright. It's better that way."
"It's gonna be torture for you two, though."
"Yeah, but it's fine. Don't you worry yourself over it."
"But I want you to be happy. I will always want that."
I smirked, finally. "Thank you, Priscilla. I want you to be happy, too."
The song lyric Farewell fraulein, don't you cry, you'll soon get another G.I, suddenly went through my mind. Priscilla said, "Well, I really have to go. Daddy is bugging me to get off the phone."
"Alright. Goodbye, Priscilla."
"Goodbye, Elvis. Good luck with everything."
I knew what she meant by that. "Thanks."
We said one more goodbye, then she hung up first. I set the phone in the jack and stayed leaned against the wall.
Well, Priscilla knew now. She knew that there was another girl in my heart. Did I just break up with her? We weren't really a couple to begin with. We were just sweet on each other - went places and kissed.
Maybe this was the end of me and Priscilla. Or just a pause, depending on what would happen with me and Megan, if anything.
I heard talking from the kitchen. I looked over at the dining room and saw a little bit of light-purple material stick out from behind the wall.
Megan heard the phone conversation.