"Goodbye, Jackie!"
Jacqueline Baker pulled a jumper over her white uniform to keep out the early November chill. "See you Monday!" she called to her coworker.
The 28-year-old accident and emergency nurse walked from Royal London Hospital to her car in the lot. As Jackie pulled her keys from her black handbag, her phone caught her attention. It was vibrating, the screen reading 'Kate.' A old picture of Jackie and her best friend since their days together at St. Andrews University accompanied it. Jackie accepted the call, holding her phone to her ear as she slid into her car.
"Hello?"
"Jackie," Kate's familiar voice breathed. "I need you."
"What's the matter?" Jackie asked, a bit concerned for her friend.
"Will and I are announcing the engagement today and I just can't do it alone. I'm at the Palace."
Jackie raised her brows. "You want me to come to Kensington Palace? For your interview?"
"Of course I do, I need you! You'll be coming quite a bit from now on, I suppose, since Will and I have moved in together."
Jackie smiled to herself. "I'll change at my flat and be right over."
"Great, I'll let them know you're coming."
Jackie tossed her phone on the passenger's seat and hurried to her Central London flat. It was a small thing, packed amongst endless others that looked exactly the same. She let herself inside, rushing to the only bedroom in the entire flat. Jackie stripped herself of her uniform, carefully choosing a simple dress from her closet and throwing on some respectable heels. Jackie's wardrobe was limited, much more casual than the glamorous Kate, who had been slowly immersed in the Royal spotlight as Prince William's longtime girlfriend.
Though Jackie and Will had grown to be close friends over the many years he had been dating Kate, she had managed to stay out of the glaring spotlight that her best friend so often faced. Because Jackie was just a friend of the royals- not a girlfriend- she didn't generate much interest in the tabloids.
After applying some fresh makeup and ruffling her shoulder length hair, Jackie was back out the door. She made the fairly short drive to Kensington Palace, which was absolutely surrounded by a swarm of paparazzi. There were reporters and cameramen and photographers everywhere, filming shots of the Palace, hungry for any glimpse of the Royal Family or their visitors after it had been announced that morning that Prince William Ms. Catherine Middleton were engaged to be married. Jackie gawked at the unbelievable sight as she drove up to the guarded gate.
"I'm here to see Catherine Middleton," Jackie informed the guard.
He pushed a button, opening the gate. "Welcome, Ms. Baker."
Jacqueline drove up to the grand door, leaving the keys to her small Volkswagen Jetta with a royal valet. A stoic-looking man in a suit, presumably a butler, greeted Jackie and led her through the twisting halls of the palace. She had only been inside once before on a tour as a child, but never inside the residential areas. The historic furniture and artwork were so ornate Jackie could hardly believe they were real.
"Ms. Middleton is in here," the man announced finally after a long walk through the halls of the palace, motioning towards a door marked '7'.
"Thank you," Jackie said with a smile as she walked into Will's flat. Kate would be moving in after the engagement was announced. Though William had lived in the flat for quite some time, and they had been friends since Uni, Jackie had never visited him in the Palace. He preferred to visit with friends at their flats, where the air was more casual. Jackie's only trip to a royal household was when she met Prince Charles at Clarence House some years ago.
Immediately, Jackie was greeted by a hug from Kate. "Oh, I'm so glad you're here!" her best friend squealed.
Jackie hugged Kate tightly before grabbing her hand and admiring the large sapphire and diamond ring on her finger. "I can't believe you're wearing Princess Di's ring."
Kate nodded, looking fondly at her gorgeous ring. "It meant so much to William, and it does to me, too."
"I'd glue it to my finger if I were you," Jackie teased. "Have you seen all the people outside? It's a circus!"
"I'm trying to avoid it at all costs," Kate laughed before she led Jackie deeper into the apartment, "I am at an absolute loss over what to wear."
"Something blue," Jackie suggested, flipping through a rack of clothing amongst many others that were lined in a gorgeous closet. "To highlight the ring."
Kate nodded, repeating, "Something blue."
"This!" said Jackie triumphantly, pulling a sapphire blue wrap dress from the rack.
"It's perfect." Kate beamed and took the dress from Jackie's hand. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Neither do I." Jackie laughed. "Every Princess needs her lady in waiting."
Kate scoffed and went to change, calling to Jackie in an overly pompous voice. "Ms. Baker, run down to the Palace kitchen and fetch me a salad, I'm absolutely starved, and I haven't got any food in the flat."
"Of course, m'lady," Jackie shot back, dropping into an unpracticed curtsy before letting herself out of William's flat and heading back the way she had come.
Kitchen, kitchen, she thought to herself, stopping at an elevator and pushing the down button. She had a feeling it was in the basement. The doors slid open, and Jackie immediately walked in, distracted by a cheery painting of the Queen Mother hanging on the wall. She slammed into another body with a thud, stumbling backwards. A hand grabbed her arm, steadying her.
"I'm so sorry," Jackie gushed. She looked up at the person, her eyes widening with recognition. "Oh-"
"I should be the one apologizing, I wasn't paying attention," the man said, the corners of his mouth tugging upwards. He ran a hand through his red hair and narrowed his eyes. "You're Kate's friend, Jessica."
Jackie narrowed her eyes. "Howard, it's been ages since I've seen you."
Harry laughed loudly, shaking his head. "How've you been, Jackie?"
Jackie grinned. "I'm doing well. And you?"
"The usual." Harry's eyes flashed up and down her body, so quickly it was as if it didn't happen. "What brings you to the palace today?"
Jackie smiled slyly. "I'm serving Her Future Royal Highness Catherine, she was so overcome by hunger that I was asked to fetch her a salad from the kitchen."
"Well, you're going in the completely wrong direction," said Harry, his smile growing wider. "Why don't I escort you, so you don't accidentally run into someone else. I'm sure my grandmother wouldn't appreciate it."
Jackie blushed. "Well let's hurry, Catherine's waiting." The pair walked through the Palace, Harry slightly ahead.
Jackie studied his back, thinking back to their past friendship. She hadn't seen him for quite some time, she was busy with work and he was an active member of the Royal Air Force, but Jackie still considered him a great friend. Back in University, she'd been quite close to the wild Prince. He'd often visited St. Andrews and spent hours partying with herself, Kate, and Will. Though Harry was only a year her junior, Jackie had never been able to view him as an adult. He had a wild sense of humor and was always getting himself into trouble- qualities that made a good drinking buddy, not romantic partner. But now, he was taller, more mature, and Jackie couldn't help but to notice.