The Queen of England

Chapter 22 Visit

"Oh I can't believe my baby boy is finally getting married!" my mum exclaims. She is having a good day, and I'm glad. Hopefully she'll be able to attend the wedding.

"Mum, I'm not a baby boy anymore." I say.

"I know. But you'll always be my baby. Oh, is Brittany excited?" she asks.

"Very." I say.

"Good. You know, I sometimes wonder if Laila is jealous." She says.

"Laila? Queen Laila?" I ask. Why would Britt's sister be jealous?

"Well, I never said so, but Laila and her parents called me and asked to switch the princesses. As in, send Laila here and Brittany to France. But, as I told you, I saw something in Brittany I didn't see in her sister. And I refused to switch." She says.

I could've married....Laila?!

Oh thank god my mother refused!

I don't know what it is about Brittany's sister that I can't stand, but I hate her. And, by the way Britt talks about her, so does she.

"But, why did they want to switch?" I ask.

"Oh, something about Laila didn't want to go to France and marry an unattractive man or something. It's been two years." Mum says.

Damn. Shallow much, Laila?

I stand up. "Britt loves her ring, by the way." I say.

"Oh, did you give her rubies?" she asks.

I nod. "You were right." I say, smiling.

Mum smiles back. "I always am love. I always am." She says.

I laugh. "I'm going to find Brittany now." I say.

"Alright, my love. I can't wait to see you marry that girl." She says.

"I can't wait to marry her." I say.

***

I walk out of Leila's room, feeling faint. How could she say that and put such a thought in my head?

Maybe you're pregnant.

I feel sick. Literally sick. I'm about to throw up. I stumble, and fall right into someone's arms.

"Whoa, love. You okay?" he asks.

It's Cody. "I...i don't feel good." I say.

"What's wrong?" he asks, his voice worried.

"I think I'm going to be sick." I say, clamping a hand over my mouth and running for the bathroom.

****

I walk towards the bathroom where Brittany just disappeared.

"Britt, are you alright?" I ask.

I am only answered by the sound her retching into the toilet.

"Brittany!" I exclaim, hurrying to her side.

She coughs violently, and I pull her brown hair away from her face. I place my other hand on her back, running soothing circles over it.

Brittany takes deep breaths and falls back slightly.

"Shhh," I say, rubbing her back.

She tries to stand, and wobbles slightly. I help her and she grabs a glass and swishes water in her mouth.

After she spits it out and flushes the toilet, I lead her to my bedroom.

"What made you sick, love?" I ask.

"I don't know." She says.

I stroke her hair gently. "Do you still feel ill? I ask.

She shakes her head. "Just sleepy." She says, leaning her head on my shoulder.

"Go to sleep, love. I'll come wake you up for dinner." I say.

She stretches, and I carefully lay her back on the pillows.

****

I wake up to someone gently knocking on the door.

I sit up and go to open it. Kate stands on the other side of the door, a sweet smile on her face.

"Hey, Kate." I say.

"I heard you weren't feeling well. Is it stress about the wedding?" she asks, coming in uninvited.

"Um...no. Just had a sick feeling. I'm better now." I say.

"Oh." She says. Then her whole face lights up.

"Oh what good news! When do you plan on telling the queen?" She asks.

"Telling the queen what?" I ask.

"That you're pregnant."

I thought I couldn't hate anyone more than Laila.

I was wrong.

"I'm not." I snap.

Kate frowns.

"I thought.."

"You thought wrong."

Before she can say anything, the door opens again. This time it's Cody.

"Brittany love-" he breaks off when he sees Kate sitting on his bed.

"What are you doing in here?" he demands.

"Just talking to Brittany." Kate says kindly.

"You're done talking." He says. But instead of kicking her out, he catches my arm and propels me down the steps and into the garden.

"Cody!" I exclaim.

"I'm sorry. I had to get you out of there." he says.

"Why, Cody? Why do you hate Kate?" I demand. The question has been nagging at me constantly, driving me insane.

"I can't tell you, Brittany. I just can't." He says.

"Why the hell not?" I demand, feeling myself get angrier than I need too.

"Because I need to protect you." He says quietly. It's not what I expected him to say.

"Protect me from what, Cody?" I ask.

"Britt, are you alright?" he asks.

"Of course I'm alright!" I yell.

"You're sweating and it's sixty degrees out here. Britt, settle down." He says.

"Don't tell me to settle down!"

I'm thoroughly pissed off.

"Brittany," Cody says in a warning time.

"I have every right to know!" I cry.

My vision is starting to swim. I'm going to be sick again. I reach out for something-anything-to steady me.

But one, ice cold, sickening voice brings my world to a standstill.

"Trouble in paradise?" she asks.

I turn, and Cody looks up.

Laila.