Once Upon A Washcloth

Chapter 5: The Ball Gets Rolling

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, Brooke woke up and dressed quickly. She washed her face and hands, bound her hair into a high ponytail, and bounced into Nick's room. She found him snoring loudly, sprawled in his back, mouth open, with an empty bottle in his left hand. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and went to fill the pitcher by his bed with water. She walked back over to him, and emptied the whole lot of it on his face. She grinned as he sat up quickly, and then broke into laughter as he grabbed his head in pain.

He yelled something at her, but she couldn't hear, as that she was still laughing.

"Stop the noise!" he groaned and rolled over, looking as though he was going to die.

She sobered and walked over to him. "That's what you get for drinking so freaking much!" he glared at her, and she walked away.

"Where are you going?" he asked, and then covered his mouth, feeling sick.

"To get you something for you're headache and stomach ache." He merely nodded, and she left. He sat there, wallowing in self-pity until she returned. He looked like a happy puppy as she walked in. well, a sick happy puppy.

She stopped about a foot from his reach, and made it very clear that she wasn't doing this for him; she was doing it for answers. He groaned and stuck his hand out. She put the remedy in his hand, and he gulped it down quickly. Almost immediately, his headache lessened. He debated asking Brooke what was in the concoction, and then decided he didn't want to know. He still felt like crap, but the blood wasn't pounding in his brain. He sighed and fell back on the bed.

"Now, what did you want again?"

"Well, first, I want to stop serving the Hell Sis- the Princesses, and to come back here. Your room is a mess and you've been late to lunch 3 days in a row."

"Okay, I can handle that, IF you behave and IF you learn how to hold your tongue."

"Yes your highness." Nick grinned at her, feeling powerful over the massive stomachache. "Now, I want answers."

He blinked, urging her to go on.

"You said last night that the cook gave to alcohol to relax you, but you drank to much." he grimaced. "What did you need to relax for?"

"Oh, nothing important. Just that my father is holding a ball for every eligible girl in the kingdom and I have to pick one to marry."

"Oh." Brooke was stunned. Every girl? Well, without the married ones, it wouldn't be that bad, but every girl in the kingdom? "Why are Rox- the Princesses here now instead of coming for the ball?"

"I think my father wants them on the top of my list to be considered."

"What about peasants and maids? Can they come?"

Well, if you're talking about you, you have to come. My mother will give you money for a ball gown, and you'll be there in case I need anything. You know, take my orders and shit." He answered with a shrug.

"No, I meant maids from around the kingdom, but that's cool."

"Oh, well, yes they're invited."

"Okie dokie. Well, how long away is this ball thing?"

"Oh, two weeks."

"TWO WEEKS!" she gaped at him. How could everything be ready it time? That's a good question. I should ask him that. "How can everything be ready in time?"

"Well, you know that large quantity of servants we have? They are actually going to be put to work!"

"Oh wow. I LOVE the sarcasm."

He winked at her. "I figured you would."

She was still confused. "What am I going to do to help to get ready?"

He held up his hands, putting up a finger when he listed items. "you're going to help me get my room clean, get my clothes together, help the princesses while they're getting fitted, help them get dressed, act as a message carrier, run specific errands for me, run messages for the parentals, and many other things. Have fun."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry that this took SO long! I know that it is extremely unsatifying, but school's almost over, so i might be able to update more. i appologize again. i'm thinking about starting a new story though, it wont be up for a long time if i do do it, because i want it typed and finished, tht way if i hat road block, it wont affect your reading! anyways, thanks for sticking with me throught this huge break, and i hope to update more often! Cheers, Spiff