Victorie plus N

Chapter 15: Why Didn't...

I'm currently walking with Teddy to the library when I hear the doorbell ring. We both freeze and turn to each other.

"Who's that?" he asks.

"I...don't know," I reply.

We hear the front doors open and Sarah greet whoever it is, but don't hear a reply back.

"Maybe... it's one of the lawyers?" I suggest.

It turns out that Grandfather had a whole team of lawyers, and occasionally they'll come over for dinner to chat, but usually not after...

"But it's after dinner," Teddy states, seemingly reading my mind.

"Yeah, well, maybe they needed to talk to the governesses...alone?" I say, suggesting again.

"Right, maybe."

Teddy continues walking and I follow him until we reach the library. He heads over to a table shaped like the continent of Africa and picks up a stack of old-looking books from on there.

"I wanted to give you these," he says, coming over to me, "They're books about the Victorian Era, I thought you might want to use- I mean, read them."

Victorian Era again. What is with everyone and the Victorian Era, honestly! First the shop worker, now Teddy?! Who's next?!

I muster up a smile anyway. "Thanks, you shouldn't have."

I know, so fake-casual, but he was nice enough to give them to me, so I'll at least be grateful.

"It was no problem. I'm going to head to my room then," he sighs.

"Great, I'll be going back to my room too then," I say, relieved this awkward thing is over.

"I'll see you off, my room is on the second floor."

"Okay."

We walk out together and down the grand staircase.

Then out of nowhere, we run into Lolita.

"OMG, what are you guys doing together?!" she cries.

"We were just at the library," Teddy says hurriedly.

"Doing what?" she asks.

"I wanted to give her some books."

I hold up my stack of books.

"Umm... okay then."

"What are you doing here?" I ask, suspicious.

This is starting to sound like some weird mystery game where everyone's asking each other questions to see where they were when somebody was murdered. I wonder who would be the one murdered in this role-play.

"Ann invited me and the other girls to stay the night," she says smugly.

"A sleepover?," I question. So that's what Ann was talking about when she said she needed to "prepare". Why didn't she tell me? I thought we were best friends or something, but now she's just excluding me?! Normally, I wouldn't go ballistic over these kinds of things, but it's Ann, my, and I will admit, true best friend. And now I hear it from Lolita? What has become of the world?!

"Yes," she replies, a sneer on her face.

"Umm, I got to go," Teddy excuses himself out of the blue.

Hmph. There he goes again, just leaving me in my times of need. Like, come on, why is everyone just...deserting me?!

He leaves, almost running down the rest of the staircase to the second floor.

"Me too," I say, but then Lolita's sneer suddenly falls.

"No, you're not," she says, her tone cold, "I need to tell you something."

I give her a small smile. "Yeah, what?"

"Kelly likes Teddy, unless you were so ignorant and didn't notice all the times you spent with us, she says, "And now you're just going to betray her like that?! You're such a good friend. I don't know why Ann even spends time with you, you're lame, and now you're a traitor."

Wow, harsh sarcasm, okay. But I honestly didn't know Kelly liked Teddy because I've only hung out with them twice. I don't know why Lolita expects these things from me when I barely have any experience in them, it's unrealistic.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know, but Teddy's my cousin," I emphasize, "And he just needed to give me some books about the... Victorian Era. It took only 30 seconds."

"Then I'll believe you," she rolls her eyes, I guess she doesn't believe me, "But don't go breaking Kelly's heart now that you know. You'll regret it."

Sure I will.

"Okay, I won't," I reply.

She gives me a cold smile and flounces away, while I walk to my suite with my head as high as I can muster. I'm not going to give her the satisfaction of putting me down.

When I get to my suite, I see another basket, this time filled with yellow tulips. I look up the meaning- one-sided love. Interesting, why would Ann send me this? Maybe it stands for, like, cousin love, or maybe it stands for friendship and she's not sure if I'm still her friend? Yeah, the latter one must be the interpretation. Well, I'm still her friend, but I'm still kind of upset over her not inviting me.

Oh well, whatever, I'll just binge watch Netflix (yes, I got a Netflix account, finally!) on the T.V. in my room (which I begged Mrs. King to let me have). Maybe I'll ask for some popcorn and candy, that would be ideal.

So I spend the rest of the night pigging out, binge-watching, and not reading the books Teddy gave me.

I'm so over the Victorian Era.

(A/N: I'm so sorry everyone for posting this late, I had so much work to get through and didn't have enough time! Anyways, we've hit 52 votes so far (!), and I wanted to thank everyone who's voted and posted such wonderful comments- I really appreciate it, they make my day! I hope everyone keeps safe and healthy and rocks on! Thank you, readers!)