Playing Princess

Playing Princess 2.17

Black tie dinner parties meant I needed to wear some sort of cocktail dresses, according to what Allegra had taught me. I’d hardly been to many formal events during my time at Aldern, apart from that birthday party, right before I left.

I pushed the memory from my mind and wrung my wrists nervously. I wasn’t sure why I was nervous at all though. It was just some stupid socialite party where Mum would be floating around like a social butterfly, trying to make business connections. I couldn’t see why she tried so hard for her job. After finding out about the money that my dad had sent to us secretly, we were pretty well off if Mum didn’t work at all.

Which brought me back to the anger I felt for her. She could more than afford to be around more at home, be a proper mother to us all, including Leonard whose mother had died several years ago. She could have made us a proper family instead of the showcase she was putting on at these stupid dinner parties.

I would never understand my mother.

“I’ve never seen that dress before.”

I whirled around and planted my hands on my hips. “And how would you know?”

Leonard flashed a grin and stuck a hand into his pocket as he strolled in casually. “I went through your clothes while you were gone.”

“You did what?” I hissed, bringing a fist up to his face. “Do you see this?”

“Easy, my lovely cousin. I was just looking for a bra.”

“A what?”

“Well you see, I thought you’d get a little homesick without your clothes so I wanted to send you some. I had this epiphany and –”

“Leonard, you’re a dead man.”

“And my epiphany told me that if I were ever in your place, I’d completely whack out from being apart from my clothes. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a fashion genius. I mean look at me.” He struck a pose and I glowered at him.

“I can’t believe you went through my stuff,” I muttered, flicking his nose. “Just –” I sighed. “Just don’t do it again.”

Leonard opened his mouth to reply, his eyes widening. “You – you didn’t beat me up!”

“Get me my guitar,” I ignored his comment and pointed to the corner of the room.

“You didn’t beat me up!” he exclaimed and did as I commanded.

“Yeah? Well you’re lucky because I learned it’s not a very ladylike thing to do.” I air-quoted my maid with a fond smile and took the guitar from him. “Not the electric, I meant my acoustic you idiot.”

“You’re still hurtful,” Leonard whined, taking it back and brought me the correct one. “What do you want with it?”

I ignored him again and fell back on my bed, unzipping the case. My beauty gazed back at me in all its glossy glory, the red paint shining at me eagerly. I hadn’t touched my acoustic for a while, after having gotten my electric.

“Oh crap,” I mumbled, glancing up to Leonard with a frown.

“What?”

“I left my electrics back in Aldern.” I gave a loud groan and threw myself back onto my bed, arms sprawled out.

“Your electric –”

“I bought like four more when I went shopping there.” I could almost imagine Leonard’s bewildered expression as I closed my eyes. “You should have seen the zeros in Izzy’s bank account.”