'I think we should do a Christmas party this year,' Anna says. 'We missed out on so many because you disappeared.' We are all sitting in my room, discussing what we should do for Christmas.
'Oh, do you remember the ones we threw while Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector?' Catalina asks Jane. Jane nods and grins.
'We had to keep it quiet because the country was meant to be Puritan, and there we were having fun on Christmas Day.'
'Yeah, we wouldn't let someone like Oliver Cromwell spoil our fun during the first year,' Anne agrees. 'But then someone in our household told him what we were doing! He was furious and banished us from the kingdom!' My head shoots up at that.
'Banished from the kingdom?' I echo. 'Where did we go?'
'We went to Spain, my home country,' Catalina explains. 'They accepted us in the country, and we even have a grand house there, Casa de Reinas.'
'House of Queens,' I say. 'It's fitting, seeing as we were all ex-queens.'
'Yes,' Anna nods. 'I helped build it from the ground-up. We were staying with friends until it was completed.'
'It's still here,' Jane says in surprise. She is on her phone and must have searched Casa de Reinas.
'Of course, it is Janie,' Anne says. 'Our servants do a magnificent job with the houses when we're away. We made it a point to go to them every five years so we can make sure that they are keeping up the standards while we're away.'
'We also do unexpected visits, so we know what they get up to,' Anna adds. 'Maybe we should set up a group chat so we can send you images, Emma.'
'Maybe we should do a Secret Santa,' Kitty suggests. 'It will be something different, and we can give our gifts at the Christmas party.'
'Great idea,' Anna nods. 'But we will also want something entertaining we can do.'
'Who is going to hold it?' I ask. 'Is it rotational, or what happens?'
'Sometimes, it's rotational, but Anne never does it,' Catalina says, turning to glare at Anne. We are standing by our lockers at school. It's lunchtime, so we have time to talk.
'I told you, I can't plan parties well. Besides, no one in my family can cook.'
'I can back that up,' Jane nods. 'Every year, we invite the Boleyns because we know they can't cook!' We all chuckle before turning back to our plans.
'Emma, why don't you and your family host it this year?' Anna asks.
'I'll have to ask first,' I say. 'Besides, I don't know how my mums will react.'
'It'll be fine,' Jane assures me. The bell rings, signalling the end of lunch and the beginning of lessons. We part ways, Anne, Kitty and I to French, Catalina and Jane to Spanish, and Anna to German. 'Tell us how it goes.'
'I will,' I promise, and we begin walking towards our respective classrooms.
Before I plan anything, I must ask my parents if we can hold a party this year. I hope they agree, but if not, I can help someone else plan. As we walk back home, we begin discussing more ideas. 'Just to warn you—'
'Sarah Jane can't cook?' Anna teases. 'We already know. No need to warn us about that, a future version of you told us.' That would explain a lot, like how they know so much about me. I will tell them everything; we would experience almost everything together starting from Henry's death.
When I unlock the door, I have a massive smile on my face. 'Mum! Mummy! You're never going to believe what's happened!' I place my bag down and hang my coat on the coat rack by the front door. 'Mum? Mummy?'
'We're in your room!' Mummy yells down. Eh? Why are they in my room?
I walk upstairs and gasp when I see the state my room is in. 'But it was clean when I left it this morning!'
'Exactly,' Mummy agrees. 'Someone must have tried to find something.'
'But Emma wouldn't have anything of use for thieves,' Mum says. 'Something important must be missing.' I begin looking everywhere for my diary and smile in relief when I find it tucked away in its hiding place.
'Yes, but what could they be looking for?' I begin picking up my books, check the spines to see who wrote them, and start putting them back on my bookshelf. 'As Mum said, I have nothing of use, nothing of value. So, whoever it was, they could be alien, or—' I stop talking. Who else would want to break into my room? I leave the rest of the sentence hanging as I can't think of who else would like to break in here. 'Or Henry.'
'Why Henry?' Mummy asks. 'What makes him suspicious?'
'He's the same Henry I met at nursery and primary school, the same Henry who thinks I met him before. Maybe he's right because my friends recognise him, and when we did our history project, he did it talking about how much his wives loved him—even though they were in love with other people.'
'He was sexist,' Mum growls. 'I hate it when people are like that. Men seem to think they are better than women when they aren't.'
'Oh, I almost forgot. Each year, my friends host a Christmas party, and they want me to host it this year.'
'If that's what you want to do, we can do it,' Mum agrees. 'Have you come up with any ideas yet?'
'Not yet, but I will discuss it with my friends and see what they come up with.'
'That's a good idea,' Mummy nods. 'It will be nice to get to know your friends better.' I'm about to text my friends when I see a link to a group chat.
Emma Smith-White has accepted the invitation to join SIX QUEENS
Smith-White: Who's bright idea was this?
Aragon: Anne's
Seymour: It was Anne's idea.
Cleves: Boloser
Boleyn: STOP CALLING ME THAT
Howard: My cousin
Smith-White: This is getting strange.
Boleyn: NO NOT THE PUNCTUATION
Cleves: Let's change our usernames
Seymour: Great idea, Anna.
Boleyn: STOP USING PUNCTUATION
Aragon has changed her username to NoWayHenry
Boleyn has changed her username to ThatBoleynGirl
Seymour has changed her username to I'mtheirmum
Cleves has changed her username to Queen Castle
Howard has changed her username to Pinkheeleys19
Smith-White has changed her username to LesbianHybrid
LesbianHybrid: Don't tell my mums as they don't know
I'mtheirmum: You have two mums, LesbianHybrid. Why do you not want them to know?
ThatBoleynGirl: LesbianHybrid lost the punctuation
LesbianHybrid: No.
Pinkheeleys19: And its back
LesbianHybrid: Let's stop talking about my punctuation. I have two pieces of news.
Queen Castle: what?
NoWayHenry: Tell us Emma
LesbianHybrid: One- someone broke into my room and messed it up.
I'mtheirmum: OMG! Are you ok?
LesbianHybrid: Nothing missing yet, and it happened while we were at school.
ThatBoleynGirl: What was the second piece of news?
LesbianHybrid: I can host the Christmas party this year!
NoWayHenry: Awesome!
Queen Castle: We'll discuss ideas tomorrow
I turn my phone off before my parents can see what I changed my username to. I won't tell them yet, at least, not until I get a girlfriend. I put my phone on my nightstand before we continue tidying up my bedroom. 'My friends will discuss ideas with me tomorrow, so that's something.' Mum and Mummy continue to help me tidy my room since it wasn't my fault that it was messy in the first place.
The next morning, it's a Saturday. My phone is buzzing with missed messages from the queens, and I go into the group chat.
Pinkheeleys19: Do we want to dress up for our Christmas party?
Queen Castle: LesbianHybrid you planned anything yet?
ThatBoleynGirl: Can we invite our families or is it just us? I don't want to ask my sister to come
I'mtheirmum: We should meet up so we can brainstorm
NoWayHenry: Should I change my username? I hate seeing the name of our ex
I'mtheirmum: Go for it Catalina
NoWayHenry has changed her username to SpanishQueen
ThatBoleynGirl has changed her username to BeheadedBoleyn
I'mtheirmum changed her username to SilverSeymour
SpanishQueen: BeheadedBoleyn, SilverSeymour why have you both changed your usernames, so the words start with the same letters
BeheadedBoleyn: It's more catchy than 'ThatBoleynGirl'
SilverSeymour: And I prefer SilverSeymour to I'mtheirmum because the latter is a mouthful.
LesbianHybrid: I love the new usernames!
BeheadedBoleyn: Why two exclamation marks
LesbianHybrid: It shows how much I love them
I hear a knock at the door and switch my phone off. It's only Mummy. I smile at her and switch my phone on again. 'My friends already started talking without me, asking if we can dress up and who will be invited.'
'I'm glad that they're interested.' Mummy sits down beside me.
'Three of them also changed their usernames since yesterday, but I like the new usernames.' I'm about to say more when my phone beeps.
Queen Castle changed her username to QueenfromCleves
PinkHeeleys19 changed her username to LambethQueen
'Now everyone's changing their usernames,' I giggle.
LesbianHybrid: Loving the new usernames
BeheadedBoleyn: look
QueenfromCleves: No punctuation
LesbianHybrid: It's not that big a deal.
QueenfromCleves: And its back
I giggle, and Mummy looks over at my phone. 'Mind explaining your username?' I yelp in surprise and hide my phone.
'Mummy! You're not meant to do that!'
'Yes, but the username—'
'I thought that would be obvious, but I didn't want this to be my coming out moment.' I get a beep on my phone.
'You should probably check that.' I have a look.
LesbianHybrid: answqwlbfcewjbfejw
LambethQueen: LesbianHybrid, are you ok?
BeheadedBoleyn: what the hell was that?
SpanishQueen: Emma, unless you explain that, we're storming your house!
SilverSeymour: No, don't storm Emma's house
QueenfromCleves: Let's do it
SilverSeymour: I'm in. EMMA IF YOU DON'T RESPOND IN THE NEXT 30 SECONDS, WE'RE STORMING YOUR HOUSE
LesbianHybrid: NOOO! Don't storm my house! I accidentally sent that as I was sitting on my phone.
BeheadedBoleyn: butt texting?
LesbianHybrid: that must've been it
QueenfromCleves: Why were you sitting on your phone?
SpanishQueen: That's what I want to know.
LesbianHybrid: Mummy saw my username
5 people are typing
I put my phone away and turn my attention back to Mummy. 'I won't tell Ruby about this,' she promises me. 'And when you do feel comfortable coming out to us, I'll act surprised.'
'Thanks, Mummy.' I pull her in for a hug.
'Too tight,' she whispers, and I release her.
'Sorry.'
'That's ok,' Mummy stands up. 'I'll leave you to get dressed.' I open my chest of drawers to pick out a t-shirt when my phone beeps again.
SpanishQueen: We're coming over
LesbianHybrid: No, I'm not dressed yet. At least wait a few minutes!
BeheadedBoleyn: We'll wait five minutes before coming over.
I throw on some random clothes before running downstairs to have my breakfast. 'You seem like you're in a hurry,' Mum says.
'Yeah, my friends are coming in five minutes, and I want to be ready for them.'
'Is this about the Christmas party?'
'Yeah,' I nod as I get out a bowl and a spoon. I grab a box of cornflakes and sit at the table. 'We're planning on brainstorming today so we can come up with a couple of ideas of what to do.'
'That sounds like a good idea.' The doorbell starts ringing, and Mum walks out of the kitchen to answer it. 'Hello, Anne, Jane, Kitty. We weren't expecting you for another few minutes.'
'Anne got impatient and dragged us over,' Jane says.
'Emma's having breakfast now; then she'll be ready. You can join her if you like.'
'Thanks, Ruby,' Jane says, and the three of them walk into the kitchen. 'Hey, Emma.' Jane joins me at the table, as does Kitty. Anne pulls herself up onto the counter and helps herself to a banana from the fruit bowl. 'You got any ideas for the Christmas party yet?'
'Not yet. Maybe we should draw inspiration from our previous Christmas parties for ideas.' Jane nods and begins texting on the group chat.
SilverSeymour: SpanishQueen, QueenfromCleves, get here so we can figure out what to do for the Christmas party
QueenfromCleves: I'm on my way
SpanishQueen: I'm outside the door
The doorbell rings, and I go to answer it. Catalina is standing on the doorstep, and Anna is a few paces behind. 'What have we missed?' Catalina asks.
'Nothing much,' I say, moving aside so they can enter. We all move into the kitchen so that I can finish my breakfast. It's then that I realise that Anna is carrying a folder. 'What have you got there, Anna?'
'It's a folder I compiled so we have all of the notes we made from each of our Christmas parties. That way, if we get stuck on ideas, we can refer to the folder for inspiration.'
'That's a great idea.' Anna opens the folder and begins suggesting ideas that we could use. One of them included dressing up, which could be a lot of fun.
'I'll bring some food over,' Jane offers.
'Mummy won't be cooking; Mum already banned her from the kitchen when it comes to that.'
'At least that's something,' Catalina laughs. 'But in all seriousness, do we have any idea what we want to do?' We all sit in silence for a few moments.
It is only days away until Catalina's birthday, and we want to throw a surprise party for her. But how can we do it without Catalina finding out? Anne starts typing on her phone.
BeheadedBoleyn has added SilverSeymour, QueenfromCleves, LambethQueen and LesbianHybrid to the group Lina's Secret Birthday Party 2006
BeheadedBoleyn: We also need to talk about Lina's birthday. Any ideas?
SilverSeymour: You're the closest to her; you should know what she likes.
LesbianHybrid: And I have only known her for a few months. How should I know what Catalina likes?
QueenfromCleves: She likes Spanish music, so maybe we can incorporate that somehow.
SilverSeymour: I found some relaxing Spanish music that Catalina listens to often. We can play that.
LesbianHybrid: Yes, but what about presents? I have no idea what to get her.
'Right, what's going on?' Catalina asks.
'Nothing,' we all say. Catalina rolls her eyes and turns her attention back to her phone.
SilverSeymour: It looks like we need another trip to town.
'Hey, why did you create a group for my secret birthday party?' We all stare at Catalina in shock, who is staring at Anne's phone. 'If you wanted to organise something, you should have told me, and I would've given you plenty of ideas.'
'Fine,' Jane sighs.
SilverSeymour has added SpanishQueen to the group Lina's Secret Birthday Party 2006
SpanishQueen changed the group name to Catalina's Birthday Party 2006
SpanishQueen: It's not so secret now. I like the idea for the music, Jane. But as for gifts, then a trip into town will be needed. I'll point some stuff out so you can pick something.
BeheadedBoleyn: Wait...
SilverSeymour: What?
LambethQueen: Emma's birthday is on Christmas Eve!
LesbianHybrid: I never told you that!
Then, the group chat falls silent. Maybe they created a group to plan my birthday. Well, I won't ask. Whatever they have planned, I want it to be a surprise. I smile and look down at my phone again.
LesbianHybrid: Shall we go into town today?
SilverSeymour: Sounds like a plan.
BeheadedBoleyn: Let's do it!
After I finished my breakfast, I hurry upstairs to get my purse and tell my parents where we are going. 'Make sure to come back before lunch, ok?' Mum asks.
'I will, Mum,' I say before I join my friends. 'I'll need to get back for lunch, but that should be fine.' We head out into town and begin talking about all sorts of things. Jane would occasionally talk about the weather and how it seems overly warm for this time of year. Anne waves it off like it's nothing. Anna says that she's used to it being warm as we just had Summer.
'Yes, but it's now November,' I insist. 'So why does it feel like the middle of summer?' We all stop walking.
Everyone is wandering around town in t-shirts and shorts. They are sitting outside, enjoying the warm weather. The Christmas decorations are starting to come up in shops and across the high street. 'Hmm,' Jane says. 'Yes, it's definitely strange for London.'
'Could it be—' Anne looks around, then drops her voice to a whisper '—aliens?'
'Maybe,' I shrug. 'When we get back, we should ask Mr Smith. Maybe Mum and Mummy already have.'
That's when we notice Henry walking towards us, followed by his friends. Two of Jane's older brothers, Thomas and Edward, started hanging around him a couple of weeks ago. Henry thinks we have it in for him and encourages all his crooks to do the same. Thomas and Edward aren't that bad yet, but things will get worse. The other day, I saw them beating up Maggie and Joan, neither of who would hurt a fly. I rushed into the situation to help while Jane ran to get a teacher. At least Thomas and Edward backed off, but when Mr Blakeman heard what happened, he told Thomas and Edward that if something like that happens again, he will expel them.
But that doesn't change the fact that Henry's still walking over to us. He clearly wants to do something, but what that could be, we don't know—at least, not yet. I recognise a couple of people who are hanging around him today; Henry Fitzroy, his illegitimate son, and Thomas Culpeper. Kitty takes a deep breath when she sees Thomas.
I never liked Thomas. His blue eyes glare right into your soul, and he always scorns at people if he finds something he doesn't like. He joined Park Vale Comprehensive after half term, and he sits next to me in English. I try to keep him away from my friends, but there is no chance of that now. Henry and his friends are approaching us, and unless we go home, we have no way out.
'I see you decided to show your faces at last,' Henry sneers.
'Not now,' I growl back. Henry steps back a few paces, then laughs.
'I used to be so scared of you because of what you are.' I stare at him. What is he talking about? He approaches me. 'I know your little secret, you dirty little hybrid. You wouldn't want that getting to the government. How will they react when they find out you exist, and worse, that you are a soul stealer!'
'Half soul stealer, there's a difference.'
'No, there isn't,' Henry shakes his head as he and his friends start circling us. 'Hybrids are an abomination.'
'Funnily enough, I didn't ask for your opinion. Now, buzz off like the pesky flies you are.' Henry starts laughing.
'You are nothing. You should be asking me what I want since you and your sinful mums don't want your little secret getting out.'
'My mums aren't sinful!' I snarl.
'Last time I checked, one of them wasn't human.'
'That's none of your concern!' I begin to walk away.
'Then how would you and your precious mums feel if I told the world?' I stop walking and turn around.
'Don't you dare,' I growl when I see that Henry has his phone out. 'What my mums and I do is none of your concern, we don't go out of your way to bother you.'
'Oh, but you do bother me. You bothered me since Catalina forced me to make you my ward! I had to fight for you when I was married to Anne Boleyn, and then you disappeared on me when I needed a friend! I trusted you, Emma. You talked to me like I was a person, not a King.'
'I have no idea what you're talking about,' I say with a blank face. 'I'm clearly a past version of your wife, so I don't know what you're talking about.'
'And then, when you came back, you forced me to break up with Anna! I was happy with her, happy to take things slow and help her learn. But you swanned back in and told me that I had to marry someone else. You broke my heart, Emma.'
'But I am a past version of your wife, so surely it is better to confront me about all this once I travelled back in time?'
'And then it turned out that someone was your lover! I turned a blind eye to many things, but then you explained that I couldn't do that when it came to her.' Henry nods to Kitty. 'I was going to divorce her and let her live with you.'
'Emma had her reasons—'
'Shut up, Howard!' Henry continues glowering at me. 'But you weren't at fault for that. My councillors were. They started whispering, telling me that if I didn't order Howard's execution, she would continue to jeopardise the succession. I was foolish enough to listen to them. Then, Culpeper,' Henry rounds angrily on his friend. His blue eyes stare at him wildly, and I see that spit is starting to come out of his mouth. 'You then claimed that you wanted to sleep with Howard and she with you! Katheryn said that was all a lie, and I should have listened to her!' Culpeper stands with his back straight.
'She wanted—'
'Don't you dare say that!' Henry picks Culpeper up. I glance around to see that people are looking.
'People are looking,' I hiss. 'Henry, you need to calm down.'
'I will calm down when he apologises! It's his fault that Katheryn was killed in the first place.'
'At least put Culpeper down.' Henry nods and slowly lowers Culpeper down.
'This isn't over, Culpeper,' Henry growls. He turns back to me. 'But I'm sure you don't want the information about you and your parents getting out.'
I go on my phone and scroll down to the person I'm looking for. I glance around, and then I see him. Well, I wasn't expecting to see him in London. 'Jack!' I call over. Jack turns to me and gives me a huge grin. He starts running over to us and pulls me into a big hug.
'Hello, Emma. It's been a while since I last saw you. How are you doing?'
'Great. Jack, these are my friends; Catalina, Anne, Jane, Anna and Kitty.'
'Pleased to meet you,' Jack says, shaking each of their hands before turning to Henry. 'And who is this?'
'Our ex-husband,' Anne says.
'My future ex-husband,' I say. 'I haven't married him yet.'
'Oh, right.'
'And he's trying to leak stuff out about my mums and me.' Jack continues to stare at Henry.
'You do know that isn't a good idea, right?'
'I was going to give her the option of making things easier for herself.'
'What? Blackmail?' Jack starts laughing. 'You'll be a dead man if you try that. Although,' Jack turns back to me and mouths 'has it started?' I shake my head, and Jack looks slightly disappointed. 'Maybe not a dead man. Not yet, anyway. You will if you try it.' Henry glowers at Jack.
'You are not privy to this conversation. It's between Emma and me.'
'But Emma called me over, meaning I'm privy to the conversation. So, what were you going to make her do so her secret doesn't get out?' I see that Henry is glaring at Jack with a look that could kill him. I shudder when Henry turns his gaze towards me. It is starting to cool down now. Hopefully, tomorrow will have typical weather for November. 'Did you not get that far? Did you not think of a suitable threat?' Jack starts laughing. 'Well, before you start threatening my friends, you better think of a good excuse, and even that won't be enough.'
'Friends?' Anne asks.
'Yeah, you're all my friends now. Any friend of Emma's is a friend of mine.' Jack turns back to Henry. 'Oh, and the gun in my holster? It's a real gun.' Henry is staring at Jack. 'I suggest you start running if you don't want me to use it.'
'Come on, Dad, let's get out of here,' Fitzroy says.
'Fine,' Henry scowls. 'But this isn't the end! You haven't seen the last of me!' Henry, Fitzroy and Culpeper run away before Jack can get his gun out.
Jack turns back to us and smiles. 'Well, Your Majesties, it's an honour and a privilege to meet you.' He bows to us and smiles. 'I worked for Torchwood for a long time, since it began, actually. Since then, I hoped I would get to meet you.'
'You have now,' Jane says when Jack's phone bleeps. He checks it.
'Shoot! I wasn't expecting that!'
'What is it?' I ask.
'Torchwood: London's gone.'
'Gone?'
'Destroyed,' he explains. 'My team are going to shut it down. I should meet them soon. But first, I would like to catch up with you guys.' We sit inside a warm café and start talking. 'You'll be safe from now on,' Jack assures me when our drinks arrive. 'UNIT has already agreed to protect you, and I'll offer you the same.'
'Jack, I don't need protecting.' Jack scoffs.
'Did she tell you the time she almost got killed by a Qetesh?'
'No,' Catalina says. 'What happened?'
'I told her not to go into the woods, as did the people she was living with. What does she do?'
'Did she go into the woods?' Anne guesses.
'Correct. Emma went into the woods, and as soon as she saw the Qetesh, climbed into a tree. From what I know, she jumped from tree to tree until she reached the clearing when she fell. We all thought she broke her leg, but there's no way that someone with a broken leg would be able to limp away, using a stick for support and another one to fight the Qetesh!' Anna snorts.
'To be fair, that sounds like something you would do,' Jane says.
'That was the first time I faced off an alien with a stick,' I agree.
'And the first time you confronted the other half of your species!'
'That was a Qetesh?!' I stare at Jack. 'Are you kidding me?'
'No.' Jack shakes his head and takes another sip at his drink. 'Anyway, I better get going. Oh, if any of you want any work experience or something like that, here's our card.' He hands us a Torchwood business card.
'I thought people weren't meant to know about Torchwood.'
'I thought I would make an exception for you and your friends.' Jack smiles at me. 'Anyway, I better join up with my teammates and make sure no alien technology falls into the wrong hands. If I see anything that could help you out later on, I'll send it to you.'
'Thanks, Jack,' I say. We all stand up and head outside. I pull my coat closer to me. The temperature dropped significantly while we were huddled in the café; it feels more like November now.
'See you around.' Jack walks away.
'We better continue with our shopping,' Anna reminds us.
'Yeah,' we agree and continue walking towards the shops. We all point out different things that we like and note them down on our phones or take pictures.
