Chapter 8

"Oof! What the…"

"Get up Kit." I heart Tristan say. Groaning, I rolled over so that I wouldn't get hit in the face with another pillow, which put my back to the door. "Get up Kit, or I'll through another pillow." Tristan threatened.

"Go away Tristan, I stayed up late last night. And anyways, it's not even light yet; the sun is still asleep, so I should be as well." I grumbled.

"Your room has thick curtains smarty. It's one p.m., so the sun is definitely up, and has been up without you for quite some time now. And I know that you were up late last night, because I heard you leave your room and go back to the club!" Tristan huffed, throwing another pillow at me, but hitting the back of my head this time, and then another, hitting my butt.

"Okay, okay, I'm up! I said sitting up in my bed, turning around and glaring at him. "I know you came in here last night because I heard you, you idiot! And for your information, I was not at the club, I was wondering around checking the place out, because, first of all, it creeps me out to be in a place that I don't know, so I went exploring. Second, I did this at night because I couldn't sleep because I'm home sick because I have never been allowed away from my parents for more than a weekend retreat with my school, and that was always a few hours away by car! I have never been over seas before, never even out of D.C.! When my father goes campaigning for his elections for senator, my mom orders me to stay home with my brother and Lucy, and when my brother got older, he went with them, so I stayed home by myself with just Lucy and my body guard. When they go away, one or the other of them, usually my mom, is always back within two days to check on me, so I have never gone more than two days without seeing my parents ever since I was born. That is why I was not in my room when you came in, which, by the way, you are not allowed to do! Am I correct Thomas?" I said, finishing my tirade. All of that was true about my never being away from my parents, but the part about me actually missing them wasn't entirely truthful. Yes, I miss them, but hey, I'm not a little girl, I'm not homesick; yet.

"You are entirely correct Miss. Young man, if I ever catch you in this room, ever again, I will do as I said I would do, and will personally kick you out of this house. Do I make myself clear; again?" Thomas said from behind Tristan, who had been smirking, thinking that I was only kidding about Thomas being there. When he heard Thomas speak however, he jumped about a foot in the air, spinning around to face him, and gasping in shock. All in all, he looked incredibly hilarious! "Miss, I was told by your Aunt Sophia that you are to get up and dressed for Dinner. She is expecting you downstairs in the parlor in twenty minutes. If you would like, I will tell her thirty so that you have enough time to shower. Shall I do so?"

"Oh, that would be fantastic, thank you Thomas. Thirty minutes will be perfect." I said, giving him a smile that made Tristan glare at me.

"You, be ready in thirty minutes? I hardly think so. I'd tell your Aunt an hour if I were you. And seriously, you were not in this house, I looked, so obviously you are lying. We'll talk about this later, you can count on it."

"I'll be ready in thirty minutes Thomas. And if you would, please made sure that Tristan does not get invited to lun-dinner?" I asked.

"Absolutely Miss, anything you say." Thomas said, giving me a slight nod. Okay, what has gotten into him? He was acting very rudely to me yesterday, so why the change into Mr. Nice Guy all of a sudden? Whatever, I could make some use of this. Hopping out of bed, I closed the door and ran into my bathroom and took a very quick shower. Hopping back out of the shower, I dried off, put on a little bit of makeup, foundation, blush and eye liner, and then pulled on a pair of hip-hugging jeans with bling on the butt. I also threw on a black top with a deep V-neck with white flowers embroidered around the collar. The neck line was so low that I had to put a wife beater on underneath.

Running out of my room and down the stairs, I dashed into the front parlor which was underneath of my room. As I had expected, my Aunt Sophia was sitting on one of the duvets with a cup of what I'm assuming was tea. To my surprise, Michael was sitting beside her, also with a cup of tea. "Sorry it took me so long, I had trouble figuring out how to work the shower head. Surprisingly, they are very different than the ones we use in the United States." I said apologetically as I skidded into the room.

"Oh, no rush dear. I'm just glad that we were able to get you out of your bed! Michael told me about what happened last night at the club, and I've come to the conclusion that it probably wasn't a good idea for you to go out late on your first night here, so I let you sleep in a little." Aunt Sophia said, smiling into her cup. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm ready for dinner! Michael, would you be a dear and see if the car is out front still?"

"Of course, mother." Michael said as he got up and walked to the front door. "Yes, it's still there. Shall we go?"

"We are going somewhere?" I asked. "I thought we were having lunch, I mean dinner, here."

"Don't be silly! I want to show you the sites! Let you get a feel for London in the daytime while you aren't fighting the airport traffic. Come now, let's get a move on." Aunt Sophia said, hustling us out the door. "Oh, while we are out, I want to take you to a few shops. You need some English clothing in your wardrobe. And a coat I think, since you seem to have left yours back home in the U.S. No bother, we can fix you right up!"

"Mother, don't over do it on the first day now. You need to leave her with some things to do the rest of the summer. She isn't just visiting for a week, remember?" Michael chimed in, climbing into the car after us. All I could do was grin though, because this was already starting out to be a wonderful day.

As the car pulled up to the curb beside a sidewalk café, I saw a man run from the door to the car. When we stopped, he opened our door and helped Aunt Sophia and I out of the car! I felt very important. "Ah, Lady Sophia, we have been expecting you! Welcome to Quake, the finest sidewalk café in all of London. My name is Andrew, I am the manager here, so if you need anything, please, don't hesitate to ask for me, and I will come running."

"Thank you Andrew, but I think that we will be just fine. I have eaten here once before with my mother, but that was a long time ago. I look forwards to tasting your exquisite food once more." Aunt Sophia told the man.

"Ah yes, I have heard about your mother, and your grandmother. Terrible what happened really. Ah, and who are these young people behind you? Are they yours?"

"Well, technically, yes. This is my son Michael, and my niece, Kitiara. She is visiting for the summer from America, so I thought I would take her to all my favorite places from when I was her age. Now, may we find our table please?"

"Oh, yes of course, how rude of me! Please, follow me."

Huh, does she always talk this much? He seems really nice and all, but she doesn't have to tell him everything! I wonder what he meant when he said 'terrible thing that happened.' Oh well, I guess I'll just have to find out later. Man, I'm dying to know what is in all those boxes! I'll just have to go back up tonight and do a little cleaning. Note to self: wear old clothes, sneakers, and a dust mask so I don't choke on all that dust!

"Kit, come back from la-la-land." Michael whispered in my ear. "That guy just asked you where in the U.S. you are from."

"Oh, sorry, my mind was wondering." I apologized. "I'm from D.C. My father in a senator, so naturally, that is where I live."

"Ah, the capital of the free world. I would love to go there some day, but I have not the money to go and to keep my job and home here. You are a very lucky young lady, lady Kitiara. Here we are; your private table." Andrew said, pointing to a table way in the back with a curtain that could be drawn around it.

"Oh, Andrew, I hate to bother you, but the table is lovely and all, but could we get one a little less secluded?" Aunt Sophia asked, ever so sweetly.

"Oh, yes of course, how silly of me. I assumed that such a figure head as yourself would want to have privacy. This way then."

Okay, now my curiosity is really up. What does he mean 'figure head?' I'm going to burst if I don't find out by the end of the day! "Hey, Aunt Sophia, what is he talking about?"

"Keep your voice low!" Michael whispered in my ear. "There are a lot of things that you don't know, because your mother didn't have the heart to tell you. I'll tell you later, but you have to promise not to ask my mother, or anyone else. And if you absolutely have to, don't ask so that the whole world can hear you."

"Hey, what's your problem? I was just curios! I'm a girl, that's what I am." I replied tartly.

"Like I said, I'll tell you later." He told me, as he straitened and put a smile on his face when Aunt Sophia turned around to see what we were doing.