Five: Fiona Fallon
1053 Words
Five
Fiona Fallon
“You squeezed his shoulder.” This was from Kenna, who had been harping on that moment in the dining hall since this morning. It was now late afternoon, and class had finally let out. “You squeezed it like you were his girlfriend. Like you were supposed ta. Are you or are not datin’ the Prince of Scotland?”
I scowled. “Kenna, can’t you just let this go?”
“No! Absolutely not. I’ve watched him obsess over you for years. I’ve always said that I thought the two of you should be together. So, I deserve an answer. Are ya datin’ Declan?”
I frowned. “No. Absolutely not. He’s worried about people usin’ me ta get ta him---”
“Which is what a boyfriend does,” said Kenna.
“And that’s the only reason that he gave me the necklace was because he wanted people to know I was his.” I listened to the words out loud, and I groaned. “Oh god. Oh god. Am I datin’ him?”
Kenna chuckled. “Yes. He knows yer foods, Fi. He got yer favorite breakfast.”
“Okay, but we live in the same house. My Nan is his family nanny. We practically grew up together. She’s made him Rowie’s before, and she always says, ‘this is Fiona’s favorite’ before she serves it to him. It t’ain’t that big of a deal.”
Kenna looked at me ludicrously. “Yer datin’ the Prince of Scotland. I told ya this was goin’ ta happen! He couldn’t act on his feelin’s as long as yer in the palace, but yer out of the palace now. There’s no parental supervision. Ye can do as ye like.”
I frowned. “This can’t happen. He’s not some boy from school. He’s…. he’s…. my future boss!”
“Who also happens to be a boy at yer school,” said Kenna, “what’s the harm in datin’? It isn’t as if he’s askin’ ya to get married. Besides, Declan is hot.”
I took a deep breath. “That isn’t the point.”
“But you don’t deny that Declan is hot?”
I nudged Kenna. “I can’t…I mean…I haven’t ever…”
“You’ve never thought about if Declan’s cute or not?”
“No,” I replied, “no…. I mean…. he’s…. he’s….”
“Every Scottish Girls fantasy?”
I bit my lip. “Look, I won’t deny that he’s aesthetically pleasing, but I mean….anythin’ with us is completely doomed to fail. Isn’t the point of a relationship for it not to fail?”
“Not when yer sixteen. When yer sixteen, yer supposed to do silly things like date the Prince of Scotland if he’s interested.”
We’d been walking together in the direction of Declan’s apartment.
“What if…what if my Nan finds out? What if the King finds out? I can’t. I can’t be with him.”
“But ye know, he’s not goin’ ta stop until he gets what he wants. He’s made it clear that yer the one that he wants. Unless….”
“Unless what?”
“Watch it, Help,” a voice snarled.
A guy in a leather jacket bumped into me.
“Hey! Who the hell do ya think ya are?” I snarled.
The guy turned around, and I realized that it was Evander Gordon. “Someone that doesn’t serve an arsehole,” he scowled, “tell me, does he pay ye to suck his c**k? Or do ya do it for free?”
“f**k you!” I snarled. “Ye don’t know anythin’ about him or me.”
He laughed. “So, it’s true. The little servant girl services the Prince of Scotland. Well, that’s interestin’.”
“I didn’t…I….”
“Or is he a complete liar?” he asked, his smile widening. “Did the Prince of Scotland lie about datin’ a servant girl?”
I glanced at Kenna.
Kenna stepped forward. “f**k off, Evander. It’s none of yer business.”
“Maybe, but I think the press would be interested to know that the Prince of Scotland makes up stories about fuckin’ the staff. Little bit sexist of him, don’t ya think?” he looked at me, baiting me to answer.
Anything I said was going to get me in trouble. But I couldn’t stay silent, otherwise there’d be rumors about the Prince of Scotland taking advantage of me.
“Declan’s never done anythin’ to hurt me,” I settled on, “he cares for me.”
“And you?” he challenged. “Ye care for him?”
“Yes,” I said, “and that’s all ye need to know about that. Please don’t….”
“Don’t what?” Evander said. “Say anythin’? Does the palace not know?”
“No,” I said, “and I don’t want my Nan ta lose her job. So please, don’t say anythin’.”
He smirked. “Of course, I won’t say anythin’. I’m not a monster. Yer boyfriend might be, but I’m not.”
It took everything in me not to object to Declan being called my boyfriend. But if I didn’t stay consistent, who knew what kind of things Evander would go off to the press about?
“Thank you,” I said.
“Of course. Wouldn’t want to get in the way of young love, after all.” He walked away, whistling as he went.
When he was gone, Kenna and I ran down the street to get as far away as possible.
“Shite, shite, shite!” I exclaimed. “What the hell did I just do?”
Kenna laughed. “I think ye just confirmed to someone that yer datin’ the Prince of Scotland.”
“But ye heard him. If I didn’t say that I was, he was goin’ ta---”
“I know,” said Kenna, “but that’s Evander Gordon! He’s not goin’ ta let this go. There’s no gettin’ out of this now, Fiona. If ye deny that yer with Declan, he’ll start spreadin’ rumors that the Prince is a liar. And that he doesn’t care about women.”
“Oh god, yer right, aren’t ye?” I said. “I’m goin’ ta have ta date him…”
“Yer also goin’ ta have ta tell him,” she said.
“I don’t know if I even like him!” I blurted. “I work for his family. He’s my future employer. I don’t….”
We’d arrived at Declan’s apartment.
“Are ye ready?” Kenna asked.
I took a deep breath. “No,” I said, “Kenna, I think I did somethin’ very, very wrong.”
- Writer
