The Invitation

The Almost Kiss

Alice awoke to the sound of birds singing just outside her window. She stretched with a groan before rolling to the edge to look out the window. Once she was a little more awake, she sat up and stretched her arms overhead. Someone knocked on the door, sharp and hard, and only twice. Assuming it was Maxwell again, she pulled her robe on sluggishly and padded over to the door without even checking her reflection.

She opened the door to see the last face she expected. Dark hooded eyes and that scowl that seemed permanently etched into his face, Drake stared down at her in disapproval.

"Um..."

"You're late," he snapped. "And I've been sent to retrieve you."

"Late for what?" She tightened the robe around her. "Maxwell said there was nothing happening today until the engagement party this evening."

"Late to meet Liam, you ditched him last night and now you owe him a walk-about."

"Excuse me?" She scoffed.

"It's customary, and would be rude to be a no show a second time." He cocked his head just the slightest, "you don't strike me as a rude girl."

"Well, I'm not a girl. I'm a woman."

Drake snorted and turned to face the hallway, "whatever makes you feel better about yourself. He'll be waiting in the green room."

"Green room? I don't know where that is, I never got a tour."

He ran a hand down his face with a low groan, "you would if you hadn't stood Liam up. Just get dressed, I'll take you there. And make sure you brush that disaster on top of your head." He turned and leaned against the opposite wall and crossed his arms. "Gotta do everything my damn self," he muttered not too quietly.

Alice rolled her eyes, "thanks," and shut the door.

Irritated with Drake's attitude, she stalked over to the dresser and snatched up her hair brush. Glaring at her reflection she couldn't help but agree with one thing he said, her hair really was a disaster. Putting the brush down she opted for her pick instead, hoping to be able to scrape up some decent hair style without rewashing it.

Some time later, after managing to wrangle her hair into a dutch braid, Alice slipped into a comfortable top and shorts. Once she had her flats on she opened the door, half expecting Drake to have wandered off. To her surprise there he stood, his arms still crossed and wearing the same scowl as before, as if he hadn't been waiting almost an hour for her. Maybe the scowl was a little deeper over the timeframe.

"Finally," he huffed, pushing himself off the wall. "I was starting to think you fell asleep again."

"Ha ha," she rolled her eyes and pulled the door shut behind her. "So where's this green room?"

"Follow me and find out."

With tight lips, she made a gesture with her hand down the hallway, "after you."

Rolling his eyes, Drake started down the hall, not checking to see if she was following. Alice only barely managed to keep up with his long strides and he made no effort to slow down for her. Though he was hardly the conversationalist, she managed to get some detail out of him about a few of the art pieces they passed along the way.

"So you're like, the errand boy or something?" She asked once they reached the bottom of the stairs.

He cut his eyes at her, "no."

"So you're not the mechanic, you're not a butler, not an errand boy... You're not a Beaumont."

"Hell no."