"So you've got a bodyguard because you got into trouble the most?" Paige bewildered. "Why didn't I get one? I blew up half a school!"
"It's not a competition, Paige." Brooke reminded her little sister.
"And we are still having class staring out that hole you made on the wall." Kendall added.
"Hey! That's my work of art!"
"In my school! Next time do it at your own place!" Kendall said.
With Abby taken her new Mini Elite Team to compete in North Carolina, Kendall finally has her break, meeting old friends at her own time.
"So this Kalani girl follows you wherever you go? Kind of creepy!"
"Better than paparazzi or creepy fans. Boy I'm glad those days are over!" Brooke stretched and yawned, couldn't help checking the surrounding. "Why don't you ask her to join us? No point hiding if we all know she's here."
Chloe thought it was a good idea, picked up the phone and dialed a number, moments later the tall girl showed up.
"I'm not supposed to be doing this." Kalani said, looking around the street uncomfortably.
"You can tell Don Alberto that close proximity will work better on your behalf." Chloe said.
"I would prefer if you don't use his name."
"Relax! Sit down and order a shake!" Brooke being close to her age, slapped a menu in front of her.
"So, what do you know about us?" Paige leaned over and asked the new girl.
"I'm not supposed to talk about that either." Kalani opened the menu but kept her eyes around.
"Come on! You must have done some homework before coming here!"
"All I know is, my boss showed high interest in the safety of you girls."
"How long have you been working for him?"
"I'm not supposed to say that either."
"Fine!" Paige slammed the table and gave up.
"Please forgive my friends." Chloe said. "It raises our concerns on the issue of privacy. We don't like being watch."
"And I was told not to interfere, until you call me out here!" Kalani said, tapping the table in front of her.
Chloe could see that Kalani was hesitating at the menu, she was wearing the same gray sweater and jeans, which appeared faded and worn under the bright daylight.
"Have you anything else to wear?"
"I dress convenient to my work." the tall girl snorted, didn't even look at her.
"What say we get you something more appropriate?"
"I don't need your sympathy!" she said as if offended.
"No you don't. But looking like this would draw attention to the authority. You'll need to blend with your protectee."
So the girls took their new friend shopping. Kalani has never set foot in a branding store before, and was uncomfortable with them picking clothes for her.
"How much do you get paid being here?" Paige asked.
"That's none of your business." Kalani said, then added. "My boss is paying for my expenses here, and my brother's hospital bills."
"You have a brother in the hospital?"
"Yes. My little brother was caught in a drive-by shooting last year. He took a bullet in the head, has been in a coma since."
"I'm so sorry!" Chloe apologized.
"It happens. Like I said, you don't get to survive if you're not smart."
"What happens when he recovers?"
"IF he recovers. That bullet is still in his head, doctors said it's too dangerous to remove it. IF he manage to survive this, then he'll be back on the street again, with lesson learned this time."
The girls have seen the hellish life outside, and all came aware that they were far more fortunate than many children around the world.
Brooke selected some clothes and showed Kalani to the changing room. While waiting, Paige turned to Chloe.
"Where did you say your new friend was from?" Paige began digging into her phone.
"She's from Columbia."
"No. The other one."
"Vicky? She said Neutral Moresnet, somewhere north of Belgium." Chloe recalled.
"She wouldn't happened to look like this, would she?" she raised the phone to Chloe's face, so close she had to back off to get her focus.
It was a picture of a girl, same honey hair, same green eyes, but a lot younger. Below the photo labeled: Princess Victoria of Moresnet.
"That's got to be a coincidence." Chloe shook her head. "What is a princess doing in our school?"
"It's only the SECOND best school in Pittsburgh! Who else can afford Winchester Thurston??" Paige said.
"Of all the school in the country? There's got to be a better reason."
Chloe shook her head once more, being without a clue was more uncomfortable than being pointed by a gun.
"It's a scam." Kalani came out from the changing room.
She was in the clothes they selected, a black sports jacket, crop tank top and tight leggings. The new clothes stuck to her like a second skin, revealing her broad shoulders and firm legs.
"It's probably a front to lure investors using her heritage. We get many of that back home. We practically invented it."
"Look! It says she's the sole heir of her family's fortune! They run a large mining business!" Paige read on.
"It can all be fabricated, or an imposter." Kalani explained.
"She never claimed to be anyone." Chloe defended.
"She will in time, usually presented by some adults claiming to be relatives or guardians."
Brooke came out wearing the same outfit but a different color, stood side by side with her new friend looking at a mirror.
"You look like twins!" Kendall laughed.
"No they don't!" the little sister protested.
"Now that you mention. Yes we do!" Brooke wrapped Kalani into her arm. "Paige, you're out!"
Her little sister made a face and turned to Chloe.
"Hey! Usually these royal families would carry some distinctive birth mark. Maybe it's at her butt!"
"I'm not going to look at her butt!" Chloe blushed. "Besides, she never claimed she was anyone, she's just an exchange student."
YOU ARE READING
Dance Moms Bodyguard (5) Protectee
ActionWhat happens when a protector becomes a protectee? Chloe tangled in duty and friendship as she was caught between the person protecting her, and the person she has to protect.
