Free Royal Pain in the Ass by Heather Trudy Page A

listened when you spoke to them.
    I sat on her bed.   “ Mom was sick for a while.   Toward the end she had a lot trouble.   That ’ s why I chose a macaw.   It ’ s free.   And Mom was always a colorful person.   She was always so happy, even when she wasn ’ t she was, if that makes sense. ”  I felt the tears and I stared at the ceiling and took a deep breath.   I realized I hadn ’ t ever explained that one to anyone yet.    It was hard to think that she was really gone.
    “I ’ m sorry,” Gwen pulled me into a hug.  
    I pushed her off.   “It ’ s okay.  It happens.   Everything is temporary. ” I sniffled.   “ Wow, I am such a buzz kill. ”
    Gwen shook her head.   “ No, you aren ’ t, but I do think another outfit would be better. ”  Gwen handed me a bright green dress and shoved me back in.   “ Much better. ”  Gwen did my hair and makeup and I looked into the mirror.   She was right.   I didn ’ t recognize myself.   I still looked like myself, well the Juliet I had come here as, not the Juliet I was being forced to be.   The eye makeup was much darker than I would have applied and my hair was done in a bunch of complicated curls and yet somehow was out of my face.   Gwen was truly an artist.   Ten minutes later she ’ d squeezed into a pair of jeans and the black top she ’ d first handed me and her hair and makeup were done flawlessly.   “ Are you ready for this? ”
    “I ’ m never ready for anything, ” I smiled as she handed me heels and opened her window and started down the trellis.  
    Margaret was waiting for her, leaning against the front doorframe.   “Girls,” she used that tone every mother knows.   Gwen froze and turned around.   “ Where are you going? ”
    “ To see Lee, ”
    “ And how are you getting there? ”
    “ Sam is picking us up. ”
    “ And how are you getting home? ”
    “Sam,”
    “ And do you have money for a cab just in case? ”  Margaret handed Gwen a small black clutch bag.   “ I didn ’ t think so.   Be safe, darling.” She kissed Gwen on the forehead and went back inside.
    “Wow . . .” was all I could manage.
    “Yeah,”
    “You ’ re mom is really cool, ”
    Gwen nodded.   “ I don’ t know what I ’ d do without her. ”  Then she looked at me.   “Oh my god, I ’ m so sorry, I didn ’ t think, I mean, ”
    “It ’ s okay.  Don ’t apologize.   Enjoy your mom.    I miss mine, but I ’ ll be okay.  Don ’ t walk on eggshells because of me. ”
    Gwen nodded.   “ Sam is waiting for us though, so, we have to hurry.   Patience isn ’ t her strong suit.   I should warn you, Sam is sweet as can be most of the time, except when she ’ s behind the wheel of a car.   For some reason, she becomes a maniac.   Just go with it. ”  Gwen led me to a shed and opened a trap door inside.   “ Being a servant has its benefits. ” She smirked as she jumped down.   “ Stealth is one of them! ” she called as I jumped down.   I followed her to a blue car.   She opened the passenger side and crawled in the back and ushered me in behind her.
    “ Who ’ s this? ” the driver, I could only presume was Sam asked.   Sam had dark hair in a pixie cut and it was styled into messy spikes.   Her chocolaty brown eyes watched me like I was something disgusting.
    “ This is Jules, ”
    “ And where do we know Jules from? ”
    “She ’ s new on the grounds. ”
    “ Is she cool? ”
    “ Would I have invited someone lame? ”
    Sam ’ s face brightened.   “ Well then, welcome aboard.   I ’ m Sam and this is Tracy. ”
    Tracy was the girl in the passenger ’ s seat.   She had bright blonde hair that was cut just below her shoulders and was wearing a crimson halter top with black jeans and heels.  
    “ So, tell me everything. ” Tracy smiled.  “ I love to know everything about everyone. ”
    “ Why? ”
    “It ’ s her job to know ” Gwen warned.   “She ’s a journalist.