This is dedicated to my nicola because she is awesome!
Last time I did this wattpad only posted half of it so I hope it works this time. I hope you guys enjoy <3
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Chapter VII: Shopping is an Adventure
"So, you guys are the Prince and Princess?" I asked.
"Yes," Ian looked at me like I was an idiot and that look made me feel like I was.
"Hey, I'm new to the idea that I have a father let alone that I'm related to anyone important, let alone a queen." I looked around. "My cousins are the prince and princess . . ." I let that settle for a moment and sighed. "Nope, it still sounds weird even if I say it out loud."
Christine let out a bubbly laugh. "Relax." She smiled. "We're just like any other family." She assured me as we walked down to the limo.
"Except that my aunt and uncle rule a country, yeah," I shook my head.
"It's only a big deal if you make it one." Ian chided. For some reason, I felt like a toddler around him. I didn't like it.
"Let's go!" Christine grabbed my hand. "Lana, are you coming? Let's go! I need some new shoes anyway!"
"Wait, Christine, these shoes aren't meant to run in!" Lana gasped, breathless.
"Why did I have to come?" Ian groaned.
"Because I can't leave you alone," Lana started, "especially with that Amelia," she continued under her breath. I don't think Ian heard, but I did. We got into the limo and I sat next to Lana.
I nudged her side. "Who's Amelia?"
"What?" Lana asked surprised.
"Who's Amelia?"
Ian looked at me. "My girlfriend."
"Oh, is she nice?"
Ian looked around. "I think so."
Christine made a face. "When she isn't being a brat," Christine offered with a smile.
"She's meeting us there," Ian grumbled hitting Christine across the back of the head.
"Cool," I replied looking around. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to react. These were the royal children. But . . . they were also my cousins? I figured, if nothing else I could ask. "So, I'm kind of new at this . . . what do I do?"
Lana looked at me confused. "What do you mean?"
"How am I supposed to act? I'm kind of used to just saying and doing whatever I feel like. I get the funny feeling that's a bad idea."
"That would be because it is," Lana replied looking at me like I was an idiot. I couldn't argue with her response. "You must be new at this," she offered with a small laugh. "Just play it cool in the beginning. You don't have to change yourself but . . . you can be more discreet. And hold back a little bit."
I nodded. "Um, what if I haven't done so yet?"
"Start."
I nodded again.
We pulled up to the shopping district. "Are you ready?" Christine asked looking to me.
"Nope," I shook my head. "But then again, I never will be,"
"This will be fun," Christine giggled as she pulled me out of the limo. Ian held a hand over his face. I think he was dreading shopping as much as me. We weren't in the store ten minutes before Christine handed me an armload of clothes and pushed me into a dressing room.
I walked back out handing her a pastel pink shirt which had too many holes for me to be comfortable with. "Do I wear it or wrangle tigers with it?" I asked holding it up, to which Ian laughed. Christine let out a bubbly laugh and Ian just shook his head.
"You're so silly," Christine smiled as she pulled me into the dressing room. Before I knew it I didn't recognize myself. Christine had dressed me. To my surprise a pastel purple dress actually didn't look horrible on me. I didn't like it, but I didn't exactly hate it.
"This doesn't suit me," I grumbled.
"It does though, it suits your figure."
"But I hate it,"
"Oh, me too! I hate these kind of clothes, but I have to wear them for events. It's good to have a few in the closet." She beamed.
"But, I hate it."
"No one under fifty likes these kind of clothes,"
"Hey," Lana muttered from somewhere outside.
"Except Lana of course," Christine called. "Carolynn, you'll hardly recognize her!" Christine beamed as she shoved me out.
"Oh my, you look like quite the young lady," Carolynn sighed, a huge smile across her face.
"I feel like an idiot." I grumbled.
"I'll take you to the good shops next," Christine offered with a wink.
I sighed. Somehow the prospect of more shopping didn't enthuse me. I wandered over to Ian. "How do I get out?"
Ian laughed. "You don't."
"What do I do?"
"You deal with it?"
I turned to Carolynn. "Is it too late to go back to America?"
"Yes, darling. I'm afraid it is." Carolynn smiled. "This really isn't your cup of tea, is it dearie?"
"The last time I went shopping for clothes was before I interviewed for a scholarship," I grumbled. "Now I learn I have a duke for a dad. . . this is weird still." I sighed. At the next shop we met up with Amelia. Ian gave her a kiss on the cheek, and they held hands but something wasn't right. "Ian, can I borrow you?"
"Um . . . sure,"
I pulled Ian over to a rack of clothes. "So, who's the girl who broke your heart?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're in love with someone else,"
"I am not! I love Amelia,"
"I never said you didn't. I just said you're in love with someone else."
"I think you've had too much shopping for a day,"
"I think I've had too much of whatever Christine is on," I laughed. "Give me some of that to put in my pipe to smoke and everyone would be happy."
"Lana, let's get some lunch," Ian practically shouted as he stormed back over to Amelia and gave her a long kiss. I noticed Lana was paying exceptional attention to the scarves. Somehow, I just didn't think scarves were what had her attention. I had a funny feeling I shouldn't say anything else, so taking Lana's own advice, for a change, I kept my mouth shut. I meandered over to Christine who was gushing about the new fashions she loved and hated and handed me an armful.
"Want to help me make some outfits?" I offered.
"Sure!" Christine pulled me into a dressing room and I kind of felt like Barbie. She was just dressing me.
"I have a question,"
"What's that?"
"What's going on between Lana and Ian?"
"Um . . . ask them?"
I sighed. "You can't tell me then?"
"It's not really my place."
"Can you tell me anything?"
"You look amazing in red." Christine beamed.
"About them? Like what should I not say?"
Christine looked serious for a moment. "Don't talk about it. They're both in denial. It's cute and sad. Now, let's talk about something happy, like which shoes we're going to get to match that top. It really looks stunning on you."
An hour later we were sitting at a little bistro eating sandwiches the size of my pinky drinking tea. "Anything else, your highnesses?" the waiter asked.
"About fifty more of these?" I asked. The waiter gave me a disgusted look but walked off none the same.
Ian was paying exceptional attention to Amelia who was talking about her cat in great detail. I don't know about him, but I really don't care about her having to clip her Himalayan's claws so he didn't destroy the antique furniture. Call it a hunch, but I also had a funny feeling he was about as interested as I was. I kicked Ian under the table. He scowled at me. "What?"
"Can we run away yet?"
Ian shook his head, but I caught that smile on his face. "No,"
"Christine is in the tinkle palace, Lana is paying everything else attention, Carolynn is arguing with the hostess, and Amelia is so absorbed in herself that if we gave her a mirror I doubt she'd notice if we left."
"No," Ian replied flatly after a moment.
I hung my head. "You were my last hope."
Ian gave me a strange look. "What do you mean?"
"I don't fit in here. I feel trapped." Ian looked at me for a long moment.
"Amelia, darling, Juliet here isn't feeling well, I think I should take her home. Lana, make sure Christine buys lots of nice things." Ian grabbed my hand and dragged me out to the limo.
"What?" Lana cried torn between the leaving Ian and Christine still in the bathroom. I guess she figured Christine was the bigger problem because we managed to get away.
Ian sprawled out in the back of the limo. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-one,"
"How long have you been here?"
"About a week,"
Ian nodded. "I've had twenty-three years to adjust to this sort of thing. It takes time. It's not going to happen overnight. Some of it will be scary. Just go with it."
"Where are we going?"
"To my other little sister's house."
"I thought Christine was your only sister?"
"Let's just say we adopted her, sort of."
We pulled up to a large manor. I thought the Eastgate estate was huge. It was a pebble in comparison.
"IAN!" came a sing-song voice as Ian was tackled as soon as he got out of the limo. "I got your text. We have a new member of the family? You didn't knock someone up did you, you naughty boy?" this girl laughed who seemed right at home atop Ian.
Ian shook his head laughing. "No way Fiore, you're next to bear an heir." His laugh sounded warm, and somehow it didn't seem like something he did often enough.
"Don't jinx me!" Fiore snapped, holding her index fingers up to make a cross. "Hello! I'm Fiore, and you are?" asked this girl. She had dark blonde hair and fair skin.
"I'm Juliet, it's a pleasure." I smiled back.
"Oh, you do look like James." Fiore beamed. She got up off of Ian and circled me as I got out of the limo. I felt like shark bait. "I like you."
"Thanks?"
"It's a compliment. Fiore doesn't like many people off the bat." Ian teased.
"So, you're new to the whole royalty spiel?" Fiore asked, focusing all of her attention to me. "I have just the thing!"
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