Eliot Strange and the Prince of the Resistance

45) Girl Talk

Before they take off, I get a chance to talk to Carli by myself, something we haven't really done since she's come back into my life. We head into my mom's room so Carli can clean up a little. Jack excuses himself to give us girls what he calls some "girl talk" time. Carli is washing up in the sink of my mom's bathroom while I sit on the bed and watch her make herself presentable - something that comes pretty easily to Carli. She can put her hair in a ponytail and brush her teeth and look like a model on the cover of Vogue. Carli is beautiful.

I am soon feeling quite nostalgic because this "girl talk" is something we have done many times before. Sometimes Steven was present, both of us asking questions and getting beauty tips from the expert. Nothing has changed as Carli gives me a quick tutorial on keeping my skin youthful and undamaged.

Just when I think Carli is as carefree and clueless and as boy crazy as she has always been, she says, "You know I've changed."

"You do seem a little different."

"Something happened to me, before Jack found me, but I don't want to talk about it."

I don' t press her because I am not sure I want to hear the details, and she doesn't want to tell me.

"Are you ok?" I ask.

"No, but I will be. I'm strong, Eliot. Stronger than people think I am."

"I thought you were in love with Jack, and he was in love with you."

"We are and I am, but it is not that kind of love. He is not my boyfriend. He is my friend who is a boy, well really a man. He is all man and my friend, not my boyfriend. That is even better. He's like, my Steven."

I hadn't thought about it that way. "Yeah except, you guys seem very affectionate. I would never even think about kissing Steven. Gross."

Carli laughs, "Yeah, Jack is a great kisser and hugger. Best of all, he is strong and able to protect himself, and he is showing me that too. He is teaching me how to kick butt. He makes me feel safe."

"He sounds like the perfect boy friend."

"He is. And Eliot?"

"Yes?"

"One day, I'm gonna tell you what happened. One day when I can talk about it. Not right now, but one day. Is that ok?"

I smile and nod. "I'll be here. When you need me."

"I know you will, little cousin."

Carli comes out of the bathroom with a brush and some hair ties and says, "Now let me help you brush your hair, girl." And then she says something she used to tell me when I was younger, "You gotta be ready, you never know, your prince charming may be just around the corner."

We both laugh at that, and I say, "Well, he's not that charming, but I am quite fond of him."

Carli makes me as beautiful as is possible, which is to say - I'm kind of cute now.

"There," she says as she looks me over. "Quite prince worthy, for sure. Now. if you don't mind, I gotta go poop. My belly hurts bad. Must be those dang cherries."

"Told you," I say. I walk out to the living room where Jack is sitting on the couch like he is watching TV.

I swear he could pass for Torin from a distance if it wasn't for that long hair and that cockiness that is a full degree above Torin. He grins at me and says, "You ladies about ready to depart?"

I nod.

"Thank you again," Jack says, "for helping Tori. For helping the prince, my country."

I shrug.

"You know, he really is quite fond of you."

"Oh yeah? Did he tell you that?" Please, tell me more.

"No."

"Ok."

"But, he calls you - my lady."

"Yeah, he does. He likes to pick with me. It's our thing, what we do."

"I've only ever heard him call one girl - my lady. And, he has had many girlfriends over the years, many women."

Thanks for the reminder.

Jack continues. "His sister, he calls his sister - my lady. He always has, even as a toddler."

So, my prince thinks of me as a sister. Great.

"You know, he probably loves the princess  more than anyone on earth. He is heartbroken. After, you know, what happened, her illness."

I didn't/don't follow the family, but still I know about the princess. Her emotional and mental challenges. It was said she cracked after the death of her aunt and uncle and their family, but that her brother's drowning completely broke her. It was said she was not fit to be the heir to the throne, and so Torin was appointed.

Jack must be reading my mind because he says, "Tori didn't want it. Doesn't. He does not want to be the king. But, he is duty bound. King and country and all."

Before I can say anything back, Carli waltzes in like the breath of fresh air she is, and the conversation is over.

Before Carli and Jack leave, there is some debate about which way to go to find Gus and Torin. I mention the fact that, until I told him, Agent Lancaster did not know about  the  Elkin plan. Carli reminds us of some definite inconsistences in Gus's stories.  We talk about whether Gus is working for or against the prince. I think that Gus is starting to seem like my mother, maybe dirty, maybe not, but definitely suspicious. I don't say this last thought out loud though because I don't want to think about my mama being a bad person. Who does?

 Finally, it is decided to go with the assumption that Gus is a bad guy, and Torin is in danger. So, Jack and Carli decide to head towards the last known location of the One Nation Army - Stuart, Virginia. Stuart is northeast and right across the border about 45 minutes away. We decide that if they went the other direction, towards Dobson or Elkin, then Agent Lancaster will run into them, and Torin is probably safe anyway.

"Look for my dad and Mr. Thomas. They are headed to Stuart too to rescue my mom."

"Well, if anyone can pull that off, Uncle Joe can," says Carli. "Are you going to wait here for us?"

"No, I'm headed back to Dobson to camp. Get ready - like my dad said in his note. I think he is getting ready to poke a bear."

Carli and I laugh at that because we both know my dad has poked a real bear before, and he won't be intimidated by General Nation and his mad army.

"Good luck to you," says Jack and then adds, "We'll find your prince, Eliot. I assure you."

Funny, even Jack thinks Torin is mine. Everybody thinks it but Torin. I just smile and say, "I know you will, Jack. I trust you."

Carli smiles at that and hugs me before she gets on the back of a Harley and grabs hold of Jack.

"Be safe, Elie. It is crazy out there," says Carli.

"Yeah it is," I agree.

I wave them goodbye on their mission to rescue a prince. I send all the positive energy I can muster with them to keep them safe.

That motorcycle is so loud, I can still hear it long after they are out of sight. I hope they don't plan on sneaking up on the enemy.