The Masks of Amelia

The Unexpected Interview

Once the interviewers and cameramen arrived, everything started to speed up. I didn't know how to handle this many people in my house, so I just stayed in a corner, quiet and unassuming and watching.

Scarlet, Jake, Grace and the rest had left at the first sign of cars pulling up, and Lillian had found me diligently washing dishes. She scoffed as she came in, and I struggled to not break the plate in my hand over her head.

"Our guests are coming in an hour. I expect you, and this house, to be presentable." She gave me a once over, then a sniff of derision, like she didn't believe looking presentable to the largest news source in the kingdom was possible for me. She may or may not have been correct, depending on how much time I got to prepare myself.

Turned out I got zero time, so I was still covered in dust and smelling like window cleaner when I opened the door to the one and only Zachariah Flannigan, the smiling face of The King's Crown News. It was incredibly startling to see his green eyes and perfectly styled hair in person, though he seemed paler.

I ushered in the celebrity, and continued to hold open the door for five minutes as camera crew, make up crew, sound techs, computer controllers, and a dozen other people holding various pieces of equipment walked into my house. After everyone was inside, I ran to a bathroom to wipe off the dust from my face, and to try tidying up my clothes. End result: I just looked ragged.

Since there was no way in hell I was going to be caught on camera like this, I wedged myself into a corner where I hoped no one could see me, and I could just sit back and watch the show, like the rest of the kingdom would.

While I was standing in my corner, being silent and pretending I didn't exist, I overheard what the hoopla was all about, and how Zachariah Flannigan came to be in my living room. My stepmother apparently goes to the same yoga class as one of Flannigan's secretaries, who happens to be his favorite secretary, on account of her coffee, and Lillian managed to convince her to conveniently mention that she has two stunning daughters, either of whom would be a perfect match for the prince. Flannigan, for some reason, was all on board for interviewing these two lovely ladies and determining the general mood of anticipation for the ball with them in particular, although there were rumors of service exchanges.

Eventually, one of the make up artists noticed where I was hiding, and employed my services in being her assistant. Best three hours of my life. Once she noticed I knew what everything in her kit was, she started praising me and gossiping about all the good stuff. Apparently, everyone hated my two step sisters for being so temperamental about everything. Ava was complaining they were all in her personal space, and Olivia was trying to show everyone her plants, threatening to burn them if they didn't listen. I didn't know how Karen, the make up artist, dealt with it. "I've met with worse, though not in quite such a loud amount," she shared with me conspiratorially.

When the filming started, Karen and I and the rest of the technicians not needed in the room were shooed to the kitchen, where I made them all late night pancakes. We were joking quietly and I even made a few quips. Once Zachariah Flannigan was done interviewing my step mother and sisters, he made to leave. I offered up some of my pancakes, as it only seemed natural, considering the rest of his crew had had some. He regarded me curiously over his plate of breakfast food.

"Who are you?" He inquired. Flannigan's eyes were intent, as though I was a puzzle piece he couldn't quite fit into the picture.

"The step daughter," I replied. I wasn't even bitter about it, just tired. It was getting truly late.

Zachariah Flannigan just sat there, chewing that piece of information along with his pancakes. After swallowing, he asked, "And what is your take on this charming ball for our own Prince Charming?"

I tilted my head to the side and considered Flannigan. I didn't know if he wanted a real answer, or the standard 'Oh I'm just so excited I could throw up!'

"Off the record?" I asked.

Flannigan chuckled. "Off the record," he agreed.

"I really don't care. After three years, you tend to become numb to all the excitement. I'd be ecstatic if one of my sisters met the prince and fell in love and all that, but probably not for the reasons you'd expect." I smiled wryly to myself, and saw a camera flash out of the corner of my eye. I turned, eyes wide, as the photographer checked out the photo he'd just taken. "Please don't put that anywhere," I begged.

Flannigan chuckled again, finishing off his pancakes. "I can't guarantee anything about that, sweetheart. You make for a lovely contrast to your family. Thank you for your time and the pancakes."

He handed me his plate and sauntered out of the room.

I stared after him, plate in hand, as I felt my doom looming over me. If Lillian saw me on the news, she'd flip and I would never get to leave the house again.

As I cleaned the rest of the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen from making pancakes, I put the extras in the fridge. Maybe Ava and Olivia wouldn't notice they were pre-made in the morning.

Glancing at the clock, I saw it turn from 11:59 to midnight. I heard the pealing of the grandfather clock in the foyer start, and realized my twenty four hours were up. If I could just prevent Lillian form seeing me on the news, if I was even on the news, I would be free to go and participate in Scarlet's Plan B. There was a tiny bud of hope blooming in my stomach, but I decided safe was better than sorry and squashed it before it could cause any more damage to my internal organs. Particularly, my heart.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Guys. Guys that was important, so remember that happened.

In other news, my space key keeps sticking, so it's like writing obnoxiously long hashtags.

#Pleasepleaseplease comment and like and all that other lovely stuff.

Anyhitherwho!

~KK