A Tangled Web of Truth | Complete (ONC 2021 Shortlister)

13. Change of Scenery

The weeks that followed the announcement had been full of news reports on the engagement. Which meant that her mother had learned of the engagement indirectly through the papers. She had called Alicia to complain that she had to learn of her own daughter's engagement through Mrs. Whats-Her-Name next door because Alicia hadn't bothered to call with the news.

Alicia was sitting on her bed listening to her mother ramble about how awful she was as a daughter for not letting her mother be involved. For a woman who hadn't talked to her daughter in nearly a year after a blow-out fight over career choices, she sure was demanding. Always did want more noble connections than she had.

In the middle of some rant about socially acceptable attire, Ailine snatched the phone out of Alicia's hand and hung it up before Alicia had the chance to stop her.

"What are you doing?" Alicia turned to face her friend, snatching her phone back from Ailine's hand.

"I'm hanging up on your mother because she's called seven times a week since this news dropped and we are supposed to be cleaning this room and getting you all moved out today. Which I'm very sad about, by the way. So pay attention to me, your sad friend."

"Sorry." Alicia sighed and looked at the pile of clothes she was folding and putting into her suitcase. "I know she's a lot but she's still my mom. We clash, but she's not mean or anything. I don't want to be mean back for no reason."

"Well, today your reason is you answered her questions already and I believe your Prince's limousine is arriving to collect you and your belongings in mere hours. You do not have time to talk."

"Except to you?"

"Obviously you can talk to me. I'm helping you pack. Talking to you is my payment."

Alicia sighed and looked down at the ring she had barely taken off since she received it. "It's just weird to be moving. I know it makes sense and I was going to have to move eventually but..."

"You thought you had more time?" Ailine was piling Alicia's makeup into a small bag on her dresser, so her back was turned, but Alicia could tell she was forcing a smile onto her face.

"Yes, exactly! I mean, we aren't getting married for what? Seven months or something? I thought I'd fly a little more under the radar, I guess. But they're right. I can't keep living here with no security and I can't put you through that."

"We could have had security here!" Ailine countered.

Alicia stood up and took the few steps to reach her window, sliding the curtains aside. She didn't say anything, instead choosing to sweep her arm across the window to encourage Ailine to look at the clamouring bunch of reporters hiding in her bushes.

"We don't exactly have a gate, either. I think we're starting to really annoy our neighbours. You like our neighbours."

"I like that they leave me alone and never talk to me."

"Yes, and wouldn't it be awful if they move away and the new neighbours bring you a casserole and a cake or something?"

Ailine visibly shuddered and placed Alicia's make up bag into one of the suitcases open on the floor. "Can I steal your bed while you are gone?"

Alicia turned to face her friend. "What's with the sudden change of topic?"

"Want a sudden change of topic? How are you doing with all this media stuff?"

"Subtle." Alicia slid her hair back into a ponytail using the elastic she always kept around her wrist. "I was really hoping it would calm down and give me more time before we had to do the whole 'moving in' thing, but I'll have my own space so I guess it's okay. I don't know, they keep trying to find things about my past so they can turn it into some kind of story."