"You can't just say things like that and expect that it is going to be accepted by everyone else," Julie was sitting on the edge of Harriet's bed watching her choose an outfit for the day. "Sure there are some of the guys who are just stuck up because they are snobs, but in some ways you are a snob too. You think you are better than everyone here because you don't come from money. But most of these kids don't have a choice when it comes to who their parents are and what they do for a living."

Harriet knew Julie was right. She was being a snob and she could hear herself saying things she didn't really believe but she couldn't stop herself.

"And just because this festival is going to be a lot of wealthy, elitist types doesn't mean you don't have to play their game. We all know how well you play it." Julie smiled as she folded the jacket Harriet had tried on and then thrown at Julie in frustration. Julie placed it next to her on the bed and leaned back. "You will just have to put up with all the bachelors trying it on for the week and then next week you can go back to your books and films."

"It's not like I want to feel like this but some days it just gets to me. I've been hounded by O'Keefe and Lancaster for the past two weeks about event organisation and the guest list. I have done my job and done it well. There may have been one or two mishaps here or there with out-of-date information but that was hardly my fault. I just feel that what Irvine said was true. I am just a servant here. I don't belong in this world. How am I meant to relate to these people and find a way to make them feel at ease if I don't feel at ease myself? Do I suck it up and pander to them and be their servant for the week?" Harriet replied from the bathroom where she was changing into the sixth outfit she had picked out that morning.

"Mr. Lancaster is mistaken. You may not feel like you belong here but you have made it your own kind of place. Your classes are active and engaged. Your students respect you and where you come from, even though it is different from their own situation. If you ask me we need more people that aren't from this world in Eton."

"Jules, you don't know how the boys are in my classes. Yes, most of them are alright but it's the leaders of the troops who are still trying to break me and the rest of them will follow. I can feel my nerves slipping more and more every day. They're obnoxious, rude, and speak down to me constantly. They have been taught they can treat people who are different in socio-economical status than them with derision and cruelty. They believe they can speak to me with whatever manner they think fitting, which is usually contemptuous! It's humiliating! I came here to try and make a difference but I think I've found a lost cause. I'll just have to stick to teaching and leave the social correction to the true masters like you. I mean, Jules, the elitism just makes me sick. And the way they look at me, I feel gross after most of the senior classes. Why have they started being like this? They were fine a few weeks ago!"

"I may not know from first hand experience what they are like with you but I hear how the boys talk about you and it is not as bad as you may think. You're vision is blurred by one or two of the bullies in the school. They're mean to everyone. The rest of them respect you and where you are from. Just focus on teaching your curriculum for now. Don't let them get away with any of it. Remember sweetie, you can't change everyone's point of view. And maybe team teaching some classes with Hiddles would be a good change for you?" Julie tried to make light of the situation but she did know how the senior boys had been treating her, she had spoken to the headmaster about it and still nothing had changed. But she would never tell Harriet for fear it would make her even more prejudiced against the school. Julie needed a friend at Eton as much as Harriet did and so she protected her friend from the reality once again.

"You can't be serious!" Harriet exclaimed as she opened the bathroom door and present herself to Julie.

"Oh yes, I am serious, and that outfit is seriously good."

Harriet turned around and faced the full length mirror attached to her wardrobe. The simple black dress with a green satin belt revealed the gentle curves of her waist and brought out the green in her hazel eyes. She had matched her shoes to the belt with peep toe green heels that had a black floral design etched in the heel. She smiled at Julie in the mirror.

"Yes, I think this is it. Shoes okay?" She said twisting her feet around so Julie could see the heels.

"Perfect," she smiled. "He'll love it."

"It's not for… oh fine. But I'm telling you it's not going to be the great romance you have been trying to convince me of. He did go to Eton after all. And I can't fall in love with someone from that world. Simply out of principle I reject it. At the heart of the matter I could never love someone that has the basic cores and beliefs that this place has instilled in students for so many years. It would tear the relationship apart. No I am convinced that after all my fantasising I need to move on and leave it all behind. I am done with him. With all of it. From now on I live in reality. The good, the bad, and the very terrible. Julie, I can't keep living in isolation from the reality of relationships. This needs to end. And I'm going to end it fantastically in this very fetching outfit." Harriet was pacing back and forth in her room and finally came to a stop in front of the bed where Julie was still sitting.

"Bravo! I think that is a brave and wonderful idea. You should start living in reality and leave the fantasies behind. Everyone gets hurt in this world, my dear friend, but we can't let that stop us from living our lives!"

"I have lived in fear for far too long. I am taking charge. I will only let people in when I choose to let them in. But I can still protect myself and my heart at the same time. Bitterness and pessimism, be gone! I am now a realist. Bring on the real world."

"And one of those people you might choose to let in might be Mr. Thomas Hiddleston, right?" Julie winked at Harriet and giggled. Harriet threw a scarf at her and glared at her, trying to hide a smile.

"No, he cannot have, all this." Harriet said gesturing to her figure as she let herself smile at Julie.

"Fine, I'll stop pushing. But don't rule it out completely. You can still have fun whilst being professional. It's not against the rules."

"I am a professional. I will be cordial and polite and will give him nothing to fall in love with."

"Apart from all that." Julie replied, gesturing towards Harriet's body.

"Well there are some things a gal can't help." Harriet blushed as she went back into the bathroom to fix her hair and makeup.

"You know there is the chance that you'll just not get along. He might be charming and gentlemanly and all that you've ever wanted but you'll just not connect… I don't think that will happen but there is a slight chance."

"That's an encouraging thought, Jules." Harriet shouted through the doorway to the bathroom as Julie walked into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bath tub.

"I just meant that maybe you have nothing to worry about. The man can't be perfect. He'll have his flaws just like the rest of them."

"But he is an actor and so has had a lot of practice hiding his true flaws from the public eye. And I am part of that public. I'm not going to be that fangirl who blurts out that she loves him the moment she sees him. I may not be British but us Aussies have a lack of enthusiasm for the famous. He's just a guy."

"A very sexy guy." Julie teased.

"Who likes to play villainous characters, he has to be twisted in some way right?"

"I guess you're going to find out. It's time." Julie replied as she showed Harriet her wristwatch.

Harriet slipped into the black gown and adjusted her hair one last time before taking a deep breath and stepping out of her room into the hallway to meet the man and his entourage.