Playing Princess

Playing Princess 2.21

Flying business class had come as a surprise. I’d secretly anticipated a ride back into the private royal jet plane. Instead, I was silently disappointed that we would be riding a normal plane to Aldern, only this time I had to keep on a disguise until we got to the Erris manor.

However, what really made this plane trip so strange were the two others seated in the same row as Joe and me. Leonard was fully taking advantage of the perks of the business class while my mother sat beside him, busily tapping away at a tablet in her hands. I sat between her and Joey who’d taken the window seat.

I sat rather stiffly in my seat, unable to enjoy the luxuries of the plane. There was an awkward silence spread among the four of us and the itchy brown wig that lay askew atop of my head wasn’t helping my discomfort at all. Added to that were uncomfortable black contact lenses and a cap that was supposed to hide my face. Apparently this plane travelled frequently through Aldern.

“I can’t believe I agreed to this,” I muttered under my breath.

Joey must have heard because he gave a chuckle. “It’s no private jet but it’ll do.”

“You know what I’m talking about,” I grumbled and leaned away from my mother. I wasn’t entirely on good terms with her just yet but we were getting there.

In the meantime, I much preferred Joey’s company over hers.

“So what happened while I was gone?” I asked in a low tone, careful not to give away our little secret.

“Not much. Everything continued smoothly like you never came and she never left.” There was something in his tone which implied that not everything had gone as smoothly as he claimed.

“What happened?” I murmured, leaning closer to hear him better.

I felt his head brush mine and my cheeks tickled with the familiar blush. “Izzy. And me. She . . .” I heard him swallow nervously. Twisting my neck to look up at him, I was surprised to find his eyes darting about the place, his lips dipped into a frown.

“She what?” I pressed, amused at his sudden change in behaviour.

“Nothing,” he replied and turned to gaze out the window. “Nothing happened.”

“No, come on,” I urged, poking his arm.

“Forget it.”

“Come on,” I hissed in a low droning tone. This was no fun. You couldn’t just start telling someone something then not finish it. “Joey!”

Joey grunted in response but didn’t look back.

“Hey. I’m talking to you.”

He shifted so his back angled towards me. With narrowed eyes, I glanced around and peeked over at the other seats, surprised to find most of the rows quite empty. When I was absolutely certain nobody would be able to hear us, I leaned myself over the armrest between our seats until my cheek brushed his shoulder. I knew that he sensed my presence when his shoulders hunched a little.

“As your princess, I demand you tell me what happened,” I whispered cheekily and drew back with a triumphant smile.

Joey remained in his angled position for a moment longer. He finally gave up with a relenting sigh and ducked his head. A light stain of pink had tinged his cheeks and it took all I had not to burst into laughter.

“She . . .” Joey mumbled the rest of the words. I couldn’t quite catch them and ordered him to speak up. “I said, she . . .”

I sighed in frustration and poked his arm rapidly. “I will not stop this until –”