A Royal Adventure [Ongoing]

Fifteen

It could have been uncomfortable, the four of us out of school together for the first time alone. But it wasn't. My excitement was infectious and even if it wasn't for the same reasons that they all thought, it relaxed everyone else.

We left the train station and walked along the South Bank, passing all the market stalls, the London Eye, the Tate Modern, and the National Theatre, until we came upon the Globe.

It was better than I ever thought it could be. Maybe I was just an English history nerd, but I loved it. In the wake of my enthusiasm, Saunders picked up on the excitement and even Charlie, who had no interest in Shakespeare at all, picked up on the delight. We toured the Globe, getting to stand on the stage as if we were actors, and then finishing in the shop and café, where I stocked up on gifts and a postcard to send back to Henrik and Ana.

We ate lunch overlooking the river, tourists weaving in and out of our sightline as they meandered along the river.

It was one of those magical days where everything seemed perfect and even the presence of Gustave, lingering in the background, didn't bother me. Nobody suspected a thing and I was just a normal teen.

It was perfect.

It was one of the few days I had where nothing threatened to creep in on my new freedom.

I was lucky at the start really. Far luckier than I should have been. Saunders was the only one who became suspicious, and I think even he didn't realise why. In a way, he was the sharpest of them all. The others accepted the persona that I had presented them, and that was that.

Saunders... well, after those first few weeks, he wasn't so sure. And I could tell. It was the way that he watched me, and observed my every move, always wanting to know where I was going when I slipped away.

He asked me about my childhood too, where I'd grown up, and although I gave him the same vague answers that I'd given Pen, he never seemed quite so happy.

Still, despite his doubts, I always found it strange that he was the one that was the most keen to push Charlie and I together. I still don't really know why. But, the fact that we're here, in his car, dashing across Europe, should have said to me that he trusted me. Sort of.

'I didn't know you smoked,' he said, one lunch time. My hands felt like ice and I remembered the disappearing footsteps, the open door, and the conversations I'd had with Gustave.

I smiled at him as I considered my answer. 'From time to time,' I said finally, hoping that the answer would appease him. I shrugged. 'Not anymore.'

Saunders narrowed his eyes at me and I met his gaze, holding it defiantly. It was the only thing to do.

'So how are you going to become a rock star?' I asked, hoping to distract his attention. After all, Pen was giving me a look as if to say, you do? I hadn't heard him play yet and so I didn't know if he was actually any good or if it was all talk.

'Now you're asking,' he says, as Pen groans and puts her head in her arms. I grin and turn my attention to Saunders.

'Well?' I ask.

And he tells me. it seems like it's going to be a complicated process involving someone his dad works with, and his band, which he assured me were well on their way to sounding good.

Charlie didn't say anything, but I did catch him sniggering, and I couldn't help but wonder if Saunders was exaggerating, just a little bit....

Still, the topic fired him up and I hoped that he would forget about my smoking exploits and my chats with Gustave. I didn't know how I'd explain Gustave....