Of Royal Descent (10 page)

Kicking the covers off, I swung my feet over the side of the bed and
headed toward the air conditioning unit mounted on my side of the room.  I reached down and turned it off. 

I drew back the curtains just enough to take in a view of the rain sheeting down on the parking lot.  A gust of wind kicked up, bowing tree branches and whipping flags around.

"Doyle?" I heard Chuck ask from behind me.  I turned around to find him staring at me warily.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing," Chuck said, obviously relieved.  "Just making sure you didn't go all Mr. Hyde on me while I slept." 

I rolled my eyes.
  "Sleep well?" I asked him.

"Eh," he replied, "I had some bizarre dreams."

My curiosity piqued. 

"Really?
  What about?" I asked.

Chuck looked up at me from where he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Oh, the usual.  I was being chased by a helicopter piloted by Grayson Lee.  I was about to get away when you shape-shifted into a dragon and turned against me.  You know, same old stuff," Chuck said, trying to keep the mood light.

It disturbed me to think that Chuck's subconscious considered me a monster.  I knew there was
n’t anything else I could've said that would’ve reassured him I wasn't biding my time, just waiting to transform into something sinister, that hadn't already been said.  So I decided to keep the mood light too.

"Did I breathe fire?" I asked.

"No," Chuck smiled, "but your eyes shot laser beams.  That was pretty cool."

"Sweet."

I turned to look back through the window.  Rain continued to fall mercilessly against the outside world.

"Well," Chuck said standing, "I'm gonna take a quick shower and grab something to eat before you take off for your date."

My look of confusion made him explain further.

"Y
ou weren't planning on having your entire date at Emily's restaurant, were you?  I imagine you'll need the car," he said.

"Oh, I hadn't actually thought about it.  I've been a little preoccupied," I replied sheepishly. 

"So you don't know where you're going to take her yet?" Chuck asked in disbelief. 

"Well, I was thinking a movie.  And then maybe something to eat," I answered.

"Well, you get zero points for creativity.  But I'm sure she could overlook that, considering you're not from around here."  Chuck looked at me.  "She does know you're not from around here, right?"

"Uh...," I stammered, thinking back to the night I met Addy.  "I don't think it came up."

Chuck rubbed his hand over his forehead.

"Okay, not a problem.  Just make sure it comes up within the first few minutes.  Now, I remember seeing a theater on our tour through town today.  I didn't pay attention to what was playing, but try to pick a scary movie.  Girls lean into you more.  If she's not down with that, you're next best bet is a romantic comedy."

"Gee Chuck, maybe you should come along and tell me every word to say so that I don't embarrass myself," I replied sarcastically.

"Hey, I'm just trying to help you out.  We both know you were a teenager the last time you took a girl out.  Be thankful I'm not giving you the birds and bees talk."

"Ah!" I cried, holding my hands over my ears.  "Go.  Take your shower."

"What about condoms?  Do you have condoms?"  Chuck asked me seriously.

"Chuck!"

"Okay, okay, I'm going," he said, slipping behind the bathroom door.

I waited a moment until I heard the shower turn on before lying back on the bed and clicking on the television. 

I
surfed channels for a while before giving up and turning it back off.

Shortly,
Chuck emerged from the bathroom dressed in a new change of clothes.  He walked to the door to retrieve his Converse sneakers.

"
Wanna ride with?" he asked, working the laces on his shoes.

I rose from the mattress and stood to get a look at myself in the mirror that hung between the two beds.  I ran my hands through my hair.

"You're fine, Princess.  Let's go," said Chuck.

We ran through a McDonald's drive-thru down the road from the hotel.  Chuck ordered and we made our way back to our rented room.  I opened the door and glanced at
the clock.  7:17 p.m.  Chuck sat down and opened his bag of food.  He withdrew his Big Mac and glanced over at me. 

"Nervous?" he asked.

"Nah," I said, pacing over to my bed before reversing my direction and entering the bathroom.  I unwrapped my new toothbrush and applied toothpaste.

"You seem a little nervous," Chuck pressed.

I began vigorously brushing my teeth.

"Nope, I'm good," I slobbered between the toothpaste foam.

"Because if you want to talk about performance anxiety..." Chuck began.

I closed the door in an attempt to cut
him off.

"... it's
nothing to be ashamed of," I heard him finish from the other room.

I turned on the vent and finished brushing my teeth.  When I was convinced they weren't getting any whiter, I rinsed and exited the bathroom.  The clock read 7:23 p.m.

Chuck finished eating in silence, before standing and throwing away the remnants of wrappers.  He took the last drink of his soda, before letting that too, fall into the trash.  Cramming his hand into his pocket, he pulled out the key to the Dodge Charger and offered it to me. 

I extended my hand
, and he let the key drop into it. 

"Thanks," I said, sliding it into my pocket.

"No problem.  Here, take the phone too," Chuck said, picking it up from its resting spot beside the TV.  "I already programmed in our room phone in case you need to get a hold of me," he continued.

"Thanks," I said again, also sliding the phone into my pocket.

"If your parents show up, don't hesitate to call 911," he instructed.  "And try you're very best not to do that black eye thing.  It might leave unwanted, lasting effects on the girl."

"Chuck, at what point during this trip did you turn into my mother?"

"Fine, I'm backing off.  Just call if you need anything, okay?"

An image passed before me of my ex-mother training a gun on Chuck.  I immediately felt sorry for my words.  Chuck was an only child, his mother was dead, and his surrogate parents had betrayed him.  Eliot and I were all he had.

"I will," I assured him.

I looked over at the clock.  7:28 p.m.

"I guess you should go."

"Yeah.
  Take it easy.  I'll see you later."  I turned and picked up one of the key cards off the night stand and made my way to the door.

"Hey Doyle," called Chuck.  I turned to look at him.
  "Good luck."

"Thanks," I said before letting the do
or click softly shut behind me.

10

The rain had slowed to a light sprinkling by the time I pulled into Emily's.  The lights from inside the restaurant reflected off the rain-slicked pavement in the parking lot, casting an element of the fairy tale world onto an otherwise ordinary scene. 

I pulled into a parking space directly in front of the door and was surprised to find Addy exiting the restaurant to meet me.  She wore a powder blue, form-fitting thermal that fell to the waist line of dark blue jeans that were washed out through the thighs.  A flash of brown boots peeked out beneath the hem of her pants.  She smiled at me and my insides went gooey. 

"Hey Doyle, I would have called but I didn't have your number," she began before she reached me.  "I'm so sorry; I have to cancel for tonight.  My friend from Cincinnati drove up today and she's going to be staying with me a couple of days.  Could we please reschedule?"

"Oh," I said, failing to keep the disappointment out of my voice.  "I would Addy, but I can't.  I didn't get a chance to explain the other night, but I'm from out of state, South Portland, Maine.  I don't know how much longer I'll be in town for."

"Oh no.  I was really looking forward to tonight," she said, her mouth pulling down into a frown.

"Wait, I know," I said, possibly a little too energetically.  "We could make it a double date.  My best friend Chuck is in town with me
, and I'm sure he would like to get out of the hotel room."

Addy's face lit up briefly before deflating again.

"That would be an awesome idea, only...," she began, glancing down and nervously twirling a lock of hair around her right index finger.  "Only my friend, she's... well, she's great when you get to know her, but she's a little different."

I smiled broadly down at Addy.  "Trust me,
that's perfect."

Addy smiled warily.
  "Okay, let me go in and tell her there's been a change of plans," she said, sounding unconvinced.

"Sure, I'm just gonna call Chuck and let him know we're coming to pick him up."

Addy smiled again and turned on her heel, walking toward the front door of the restaurant.  I pulled out the cell phone and quickly navigated to the contacts screen.  "Hotel Room" was the only number listed.  I dialed it and waited.

Chuck answered on the first ring.

"You okay?  Is it your parents?" he breathed into the phone.

"No, no, I'm fine. 
Um... There's been a change of plans.  I need you to come out with me and Addy tonight," I answered.

There was a slight pause.

"Hey, I know I said call me if you needed
anything
, but this may be crossing a line - even for me."

"WHAT?!
  No!  God, no!  No, I mean, Addy had a friend drive into town today, and I need you to be her date so Addy doesn't cancel on me."

"Oh.  Sure, why not.  Just curious,
what's she look like?" Chuck asked.

I peered into the large front window and saw Addy talking to an attractive girl of Asian descent.

"Very pretty.  We'll be on our way in a few minutes," I answered.

"Ok.  I'll meet you outside."

I disconnected and smiled at the girls who were approaching the Dodge.  Now that they were outside, I could get a better view of Addy's friend. 

She was petite with dark hair that had a large chunk in the front dyed magenta.  She wore a black, long-sleeved shirt that looked as if it was being held together by leather
, corset-style lacing down the sides and sleeves.  Paired with this was a short, bright red plaid skirt with black tights underneath.  This ensemble was completed by black leather combat boots with four-inch heels that were covered in metallic studs.

I smiled inwardly.  Chuck was going to have a very good night.

They neared me, and I waited, holding open the passenger side door.

"Kai, this is my date Doyle.  Doyle, this is my friend Kai Gibbs," Addy introduced us.

"Nice to meet you," I said, extending my hand.  Kai remained standing with her arms crossed as she looked over the car.

"Not much room in the back
.  I hope we're not going far," she said, huffing out an exasperated sigh.

Addy looked uncomfortable
, and I immediately wanted to alleviate any distress. 

"No, not long at all," I answered, keeping my tone even, lowering my proffered hand, and pretending I hadn't noticed the rude display.  Reluctantly, Kai slid into the back seat
, and Addy followed behind her into the front seat.  I gently closed the door shut and smiled at Addy before making my way around to the driver's side.

I slid in behind the wheel and didn't waste any time turning over the ignition.  The faster Chuck was in the car with us, the better.

I pulled out into light traffic, bearing right toward the hotel.  There was an awkward silence, and I frantically thought of something to say.

"So, Kai, how long have you known Addy?"

"We met in school," she replied.

"Oh, that's nice," I said, not knowing where to go from there.

"Yep," Kai answered curtly in response.

More silence. 
Up ahead, the light turned yellow, and I slightly gunned the engine in order to clear it. 

"So Doyle, I was telling Kai that you're from M
aine," Addy said, taking a turn at establishing pleasant conversation.  "Are you visiting relatives here?"

"Actually, yes
.  My friend and I are going to meet my grandfather for the first time tomorrow."

"Oh, how nice.
  I bet he's looking forward to that," continued Addy, trying to stretch out the subject matter.

"
He doesn't know we're here yet, actually.  It's kind of a surprise."

"
Well I'm sure he'll be happy to meet you."

"How much longer to your hotel?" asked Kai from the backseat.

"Just up the road," I said, pressing a little further on the gas and exceeding the speed limit by five miles.

Within a few minutes
, we swung into the hotel lot, and Chuck ambled out of the lobby doors.  I pulled up to meet him curbside and stepped out to let him into the backseat.  If I'd had any type of privacy whatsoever, I would have warned him.  But as regretful as it was, I threw him to the wolves… Or at least one wolf with personality defects.

He lowered his torso so that he could peer into the car.

"Hi, I'm Chuck, it's nice to meet you both," he said, looking first at Addy and then to Kai.

Addy smiled and said, "Nice to meet you," at the same time that Kai snorted and said, "Seriously?  That's your name?  As in upchuck?"

Chuck took only the most infinitesimal moment to reassess the situation.

"No, as in Grade
A Choice Cut Chuck," he drawled, laying on the charm and beaming a wide grin at her.

Addy smiled a genuine smile and looked at me, as if to let me in on her approval of my friend.  Thank God for Chuck.  He climbed into the back seat alongside Kai
, and I returned to the driver's seat.

"So how old are you guys anyway?  Please tell me you're not in high school," said Kai.

"No, we are not in high school," Chuck responded politely.  "We're in college."

"
Anyone up for a movie?" I asked, changing the subject. 

Addy smiled, Kai groaned, and Chuck said, "Hey, what's that scary movie that's out right now?  That looks awesome."

"Ooh, yeah, the one with the aliens that look like lizards and eat your brains!  That did look good," offered Addy.

"Yeah, I guess the trailer didn't look awful," Kai said.

Chuck winked at me through the rear view mirror.

I pulled onto the main drag and headed in the direction I had remembered the theater
to be.  Soon, and with only a few complaints out of Kai, we arrived at our destination.

Chuck and I bought four tickets and led the girls to the concession stand.

"Wow, popcorn too?" Kai asked with a flat affect.  "I guess he's a keeper."

"You don't have to get popcorn
, Kai," Addy said, with a warning in her voice.

"That's right," Chuck said, stepping in.  "I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to.  You can get whatever you want."

Kai smiled.  "I want all eight collector movie cups."

"Kai," began Addy sternly, but she was interrupted by Chuck.

"No, Addy, that's okay.  I told her she could get whatever she wanted.  What kind of man would I be if I didn't keep my word?"

Addy looked apologetically to me.

"No, really, he knows what he's doing.  It's okay," I said.

"I'd like one each of the eight different collector cups," Chuck said to the boy behind the counter.

"I have to charge you full price for the drink too," stammered the boy.

"Yes, I'm aware," said Chuck, taking out his wallet.

"That'll be $72.08 after tax."

Chuck looked at Kai and smiled.  She smiled in return.

Returning his attention back to the cashier, he said, "And I also need a large soda for me, and we'll take a large popcorn for the lady, just in case she changes her mind."

The cashier altered the total to reflect the changes.

"That'll be $88.09."

Chuck paid in cash and handed seven empty cups and one full cup to Kai before grabbing his own cup and the popcorn.  Then they moved off to the side while Addy and I approached the counter.  We ordered two drinks and
a popcorn to split. 

"I'm sorry about Kai," Addy whispered to me as I paid for the food.  "She really is a good person.  It's just that she has a lot of trust issues."

"It's okay, really.  I'm just glad I got to see you tonight," I said, smiling down at her. 

She leaned up and quickly kissed me on the cheek.  An electric current shot clear to my toes
, and I struggled to keep from spilling my drink.  She gave me a flirty, secretive smile and led me by the arm with her free hand toward our friends, who waited at the entrance into the second theater.

We went in and found seats in the back,
at the top.  The girls sat beside one another, placing Chuck and I at either end. 

After a few minutes of fidg
eting in our seats, Kai said, "This blows.  How early are we?"

Chuck checked his watch.
  "About fifteen minutes before previews start," he answered.

Kai groaned.

"So Doyle, what are you studying at college?" asked Addy, leaning toward me in an attempt to ignore Kai.

"
I'm an undecided major, but I'm considering the engineering field."

"Shocker
.  Let me guess - you're an undecided major too," Kai said, looking at Chuck.

"
I think it's smart not to rush into a major.  Sometimes people think they're going to like something and it doesn't work out that way.  Isn't it better for a person not to waste their time and money pursuing something they might drop later, Kai?" asked Addy before Chuck had a chance to answer.

Kai pursed her lips but didn't reply.

"What do you do, Kai?" asked Chuck.

"I'm a mortuary makeup artist,"
she said flatly.

There was a moment of silence while Chuck and I considered this.

"That's pretty awesome.  What's it like?" asked Chuck.

"It's like putting make up on dead people, duh."

"Addy, how do you like being a nurse?" I chimed in quickly.

"It's good.  I think it fits me well.  I like helping people.  Which reminds me, have you had
any more episodes?"

"Episodes?" asked Chuck, interestedly peering around the girls at me.

"It's nothing.  I just had a dizzy spell right before I met Addy," I said dismissively.

"Oh, I'm sorry, should I not have said anything?" asked Addy.

Chuck raised an eyebrow at me.

"No, no, it's fine.  I guess I just forgot to mention that exact detail of how we met to Chuck.  I'm fine
.  I'm much better now."

"I don't know.  You had quite the episode last night," Chuck added.

"What happened?" asked Addy, concerned.

"Oh it was nothing, passed quickly.  Hey, while we have the opportunity to have a nurse with us, maybe you should ask her to check out that growth on your back, Chuck," I said in a dramatic attempt to
swing the conversation to anything else and take the spotlight off of my “episodes”.

"
Eww. Way gross," said Kai, curling her upper lip.

"It's not a growth;
it's a birthmark," stated Chuck in a volume just loud enough for us all to lean slightly opposite him.

Other people were beginning to file into the theater now.  A few stopped to look our way.