Princess for Hire

6

It was late when they pulled up to Gigi's apartment building. Crystal knew she couldn't just let her walk up alone. And Jackie wasn't going to let her not accompany the other girl. The two met each other's eyes in the mirror, and Jackie motioned towards the car door while Jan slept with her head against her shoulder.

Crystal nodded, unbuckling herself and following Gigi out of the car. "I-I'm not sure if I want you walking up alone-" She said quickly. "Would you mind if I joined you?"

Gigi thought the gesture was sweet. It wasn't something she was all that used to. "I don't mind." She said, stifling a yawn. It had been a while since she had been out so late. And even longer since someone had offered to walk her to the door of her home.

Crystal smiled, letting her lead the way. She couldn't help but watch as Gigi clutched the stuffed cat she had won for her tightly in her arm. There was something so sweet about her and everything she did that made Crystal's heart melt and try to pull her even closer to the girl. She couldn't really describe the feeling. She had never felt it before.

The apartment building was mostly quiet until they got to Gigi's floor. That's when Crystal heard the loud shouting behind one of the doors and noticed Gigi starting to slow. "Are these the same people from the other day?" Crystal asked quietly, fighting the urge to hold a hand out to help the smaller girl the rest of the way to her apartment.

Gigi nodded a little, taking a shaky breath. "Y-Yeah." She stuttered. "It feels like they do this every night. It's not exactly fun..."

Now that this wasn't just over the phone, Crystal could see how scared of the situation Gigi actually was. She watched the girl unlock her door with shaking hands, unable to control what she said next. "Are you sure you should be staying here then? You seem really shaken up by them."

Gigi looked up at her as she pushed the door open, her eyes wide and a little glossy. "I'll be fine, I've managed every other night with them doing this." Gigi said as she stepped inside, but glancing back at the other girl with an unreadable expression on her face. "I don't really have anywhere else to go, not anymore."

Crystal couldn't stop what came next. She wasn't always the best at controlling what she said. "You can stay with me for the night."

She almost choked over her own words, expecting the door to be slammed in her face at the invitation. But Gigi lit up a little bit, gazing up at her.

"Really?"

Crystal forced herself out of her shock at her own offer to answer her. "Y-Yeah, I have a spare room. And no neighbors who hate each other. I wouldn't mind having you there."

Gigi thought it over, but it didn't take long for her to make her decision after hearing a bang against the wall. She nodded a little, giving Crystal a small smile as the glossiness in her eyes went away. "I'd like that. Just give me a few minutes to get some stuff together?"

Crystal nodded quickly. "Of course-"

She was led into the apartment, taking a seat in the living room as Gigi went to gather her things. She was anxious just sitting there listening to the neighbors. She didn't understand how Gigi dealt with it.

Gigi didn't want to keep her waiting for too long. She grabbed a duffel bag from her closet, placing pajamas and normal clothes into it along with her makeup bag and the toiletries she snatched up quickly. And then the new stuffed animal right on top. With those packed away, she turned to what she'd need for the party she was booked for tomorrow.

She carefully pulled the Rapunzel dress off of one of her mannequins, placing it onto a hanger instead and draping it over her arm. She picked up one of her mannequin heads holding the wig next, taking a deep breath before she left the room. She hoped she wouldn't be too much of a bother to Crystal.