6.
Seychelles was bored. She had already unpacked and hung up her clothes, put the banquet in a vase with water on the vanity, and had already practically memorized every little detail in the room. Seychelles got up off the bed and walked out into the hallway. She saw the giant stairwell she and England had been up just a couple of hours ago. She looked at the glossy banister and was tempted to slide down it. Oh why not? Besides, England's not here. Seychelles smiled and got on. She held on tight before letting go. The banister was waxed, so it made Seychelles slide down fast. Seychelles screamed all the way down then with a plop she landed on the floor.
She stood up and almost screamed when an old lady was before her.
"You must be Miss Seychelles." The old lady said. She was dressed in a dark blue velvet dress and wore a white headband.
"Yes."
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Mrs. Peabody. I'm one of the many maids around the house. England had warned me of your nature."
"And exactly what did he say about 'my nature'?" Seychelles raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing, bad I'll warn you that." The maid walked off. "Dinner will be ready at five. If you're not at the table by five I can't guarantee your food to still be there. I got a ring from England, he said he sends his regrets but he won't be here at dinner." She turned and vanished from sight.
Well, since England's gone and Mrs. Peabody seems not like a lot of fun… I guess I have to make my own fun. I'll go exploring! Where first though?
Seychelles walked up the stairs and found England's bedroom door slightly ajar. Seychelles peaked at it amused. England never said I wasn't allowed in his bedroom. Seychelles smiled evilly. Her curiosity got the best of her and she tip-toed over to England's bedroom. Seychelles looked around cautiously before pushing the door open more. She opened it just enough for her to slip in. Seychelles looked around.
England's room was huge! His walls were navy blue, his bed was simple and was the color of golden wood, his comforter was the English flag, and the two pillows on his bed were the union jack flags. Around the room there were many knickknacks. She saw an ancient telescope, a compass, a couple of gold coins, an astrolabe, and an old pirate's hat on his vanity. Seychelles walked to his closet and saw many fine looking clothes, and some military uniforms varying from new to old. Seychelles closed his sliding closet door. Seychelles turned and saw a shiny red electric guitar on its stand. Seychelles walked over to it and bent down. She let her fingers slide down the strings, making twangs sound out from it. The guitar was in such fine condition. I never knew England played. Why didn't he ever tell me? Do others know what I don't? Seychelles stood up. The room didn't seem as Seychelles thought it would. It wasn't showy or ostentatious; it resembled more of a little boy's room. Childlike, a side Seychelles had never thought England had. Seychelles saw another door on the right wall.
"Huh, what's in there?" Seychelles wondered. She walked to it and opened the door. It was unlocked. She turned the handle slowly and stuck her head in. It was dark, no surprise there, so Seychelles ran her hands against the walls inside until she found a light switch. She flicked on the light and found the room to be a long hall. She opened the door all the way and stepped inside. The walls were painted a scarlet red, the carpet was a faded green, and gold chandeliers hung from the white ceiling lit the way.
Seychelles looked around, mouth open. On each wall there hung about two feet high paintings. Each painting seemed to be of an event or a time in his life, spread out in a picture timeline. There was a painting of a young England. Seychelles didn't think it was England at first but the tousled blond hair, the green eyes, and the thick eyebrows gave it away. He would've been cute if he smiled more. Other than that he was absolutely huggable! Seychelles smiled at a painting of young England with bunnies all around him. He was adorned with a black cloak; his expression wasn't open and happy, more reserved, quiet, cautious. The next painting was him as a pirate, on a ship. He looked proud. Funny, I never saw England as a pirate. The next painting was of an older version of him, playing a guitar. The next was a picture of him with a little boy. Seychelles examined it closely and found it to be a baby America. The next seemed to be a war with America and England. Seychelles moved down the line, looking at all the paintings. England fought a lot of wars. Seychelles saw many wartime pictures with many countries. I wonder how England managed to recover from them… maybe his attitude tarnished because of all his hardships in life. I got to remember to give him some slack. Slowly the paintings turned to black and white photographs, then to color photographs. Seychelles was just at the end of the hall when she saw a picture of her. Seychelles never knew he had a picture of her. It was a pretty good picture of her. How did he get this? I remember that day… that was the day when he declared I was his colony! Seychelles moved down to another picture of her, this time she was with England. There were many pictures of her and England; many times they had spent together. The end of the hall was an empty frame. Seychelles walked out of the room. It felt like she had just traveled back to England's past.
It was already past nine at night. Guess I can forget about dinner. Oh well, I wasn't that hungry anyway. Seychelles yawned. She saw England's bed and thought; I'll just rest in his bed a little while. Then I'll get up, make his bed, then leave the room and he'll never know!
Seychelles went to the left of the bed, drawn the covers, and settled herself inside. The bed was soft and comforting, and soon Seychelles fell asleep.
England got home at twelve. It was a really long meeting and it seemed to England that nothing was accomplished. He shut the door behind him and walked up the stairs to his bedroom. He was so tired his vision was blurred and he could barely see anything straight. England opened his bedroom door, and then stepped in. He walked to his closet and yanked open the door so hard it almost fell off its track. England rummaged through his closet until he found his pajamas. He threw off his shirt and pulled the pajama shirt over his head. He removed his belt then took off his pants. England then put on his pajama pants and walked over to the bed. He almost stumbled but he made it there! Then he removed the covers and laid down on the right.
England's eyes opened in the morning. When he opened his eyes enough to see he saw his arm around someone. Seychelles's head was cushioned on England's chest, England had held onto her the whole night. England's eyes shot open in alarm and he screamed. Seychelles in turn, opened her eyes and screamed. England let go of her and in unison they both sat up.
"Bloody hell, Seychelles! You almost gave me a heart attack!" England screamed at her.
"What are you doing in my room!?" Seychelles asked.
"Your room! Seychelles, look around you, this is my room." England moved his hand, palm up, out in a half circle.
Oh merde! Now I remember, I was in England's room when I fell asleep.
"A better question to ask, why are you in my room?"
"Well, um," Seychelles looked down and fiddled nervously with the blanket. England waited and Seychelles sighed in defeat, "I was bored so I was exploring when I came to your room. And I wondered what your room was like, and it wasn't anything I had imagined. So, I looked around at your things. Then I got tired and your bed was right there. So, I figured, I'll just rest a little while, and then before you get home I'll make the bed and leave."
England was quiet a moment. "Well, I'm a little angry that you defied my sanctuary…, but I'm glad you at least told me the truth." He then laughed, "You really can fall asleep anywhere."
Seychelles remembered how Hungary had told her how England carried her to her dorm. "England?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Well, I feel like you never told me the whole truth."
England waited for further explanation.
"I asked you that day in the courtyard if I did anything strange the night before."
England felt a lump wall up in his throat.
Seychelles continued, "I think you knew more than you told me. I would like the full description of what happened that night."
"Ok." England rubbed the back of his neck. "At the end of the meeting, you fell asleep doing homework. I was about to leave when I saw you. I walked over to you and saw your homework unfinished; I took it and finished it for you. Don't worry the answers were right; I copied them from my own papers. Then, I put away your things in your backpack and carried you home. I put you to bed and straightened your room."
Seychelles thought it all over, piecing the pieces together. "Okay."
"Now, I have a question for you."
Seychelles looked at him.
"How much of my room did you see?"
"Well… I saw your closet, your bed, your pirate treasures, and everything in that room there." Seychelles pointed to the room with England's many paintings and pictures.
England bowed his head down. "I was afraid you'd say that."
"Is that really a picture timeline of your life?"
"Is that what you call it? Well, yes it is."
"Were you really a pirate? Did it hurt fighting all those wars? Do you really play guitar?" Seychelles asked.
"Yes, I was a pirate, once many years ago. Those wars did take its toll on me, but in a way they made me stronger. Yes, I play guitar."
"Can you play for me?"
He smiled. "One of these days, maybe."
"England?"
"Yes?"
"You really were cute when you were little."
"I'm not cute." England scowled.
"If you'd smile more you would be. You were so huggable when you were little! Aw I wish I could meet little you and give your younger self a hug!"
"Never going to happen." England smirked.
England and Seychelles got up out of England's bed. Seychelles made England's bed for him as an apology.
"England?"
"Yes?"
England and Seychelles were at the breakfast table eating eggs, bacon, and toast (or scones as England called them).
"Remember how you said to ask you for a tour of England?"
"Yes, I recall."
"How about today?"
