The next morning, sunlight streamed in through the open windows. Heat rushed over Paige's skin, and next to Sienna, her eyelashes fluttered and then opened. For a few minutes, she lay in silence. Curiosity battled inside her for control, but finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay," Paige rolled over on top of her. "Time to tell me everything that happened. Start to finish. I tried to call Camryn, but the girl was locked tighter then a safe."
Sienna groaned. "That girl is your friend?"
Next to her, Paige was quiet. "You mean…you two didn't get along?"
"Of course not," Sienna said. "My one moment last night was interrupted by her. She embarrassed me to death. Next thing I know, I've got a pity-date with Prince Matthew."
"Oh, c'mon," Paige slapped her arm. "I'm sure it wasn't that ba—wait, say that again?"
Under the covers, Sienna's face went a deep shade of red. Bunching the covers up into her fists, she pulled it far over her head and lay face-down in her pillow.
No sooner was the cover over her head that it was snatched away, a cool breeze rushing from her neck down to her toes by the absence.
"I said, say that again?" Paige said, her tone demanding. "What the hell happened last night?"
Sighing, Sienna let her lips move while her brain tried to grasp what she was saying. It was muffled, having being said to a pillow, but Paige got some grasp of it, because by the end, she was up and squealing with delight. She pounded Sienna with her pillow.
"So you scored a second date with Prince Charming!" she cheered. "Wait until I tell Lori, or mom, or Gram—" her whole face lit up. "I'm going to go tell Gram!"
Sienna just stared at her in complete and utter shock.
A frown line appeared on Paige's forehead. "What? Do you not want me to tell her?"
"No, no…" Sienna sat up. "It's just…you called her 'Gram' rather then 'old lady.' It surprised me."
Paige got a smug look on her face. "Don't get the wrong idea, she's still an old lady," she said. "Now…she's just got a little more respect from me. That's why she's Gram."
Getting up, she bottled down the hall to Gram's room. Sienna waited, in silence, for the slam of the door behind her and then the loud, ear-piercing shrieks.
Ten seconds later, Gram swung the door open. By the bang it made, there was probably a good-sized hole in the wall. Her face was wild and pale, without her usual getup or beauty products, and the stony look in her eyes said it all: "Is it true?"
Sienna gave her a slight nod.
Slowly, she grinned. It was a big, stupid grin, one that the maniac serial killer gave his victims right before the final scene came.
"You," she sucked in a deep breath, "Prince. Together?"
Again, all Sienna could do was nod. This time, there was a hint of a smile and a refreshed blush, but she smiled.
Gram shrieked. "My baby girl—and the Prince—are going on a date! Lordy, Lord, Lord, He is watching us!"
Paige was right behind her. "What time is he coming?"
Sienna opened her mouth, but to her surprise, she had no idea. "Um…he didn't say. His exact words were 'until tomorrow' and I guess I followed suit."
Both Gram and Paige groaned. "So…we have to make you perfect and keep you perfect all day?"
"Just let me go natural," Sienna said. "That way, if he has an preset expectations from last night's party, he'll understand that's not an everyday thing."
They simply stared at her.
"Holy hell," was the first thing Paige could say.
Gram's was, "Is she kidding?"
"I don't think so," Paige answered, not even looking at Gram. "It's unfair, isn't it? The one most modest, plain girl in the world gets handed a private date with the Prince Charming of our era, and you know what she says? 'I'll go natural, just to show him this is it. He can have any woman on earth he wants, but I'm offering him me…like this.' It's cruel and unusual, isn't it?"
For the second time in twenty-four hours, Sienna felt her self-confidence sinking lower then it had in a long time. Shuffling uncomfortably, she got up and started making the bed.
"Oh, no, no, no!" Gram pulled her away. "You clean when you get nervous. If you let your nerves fry, you'll be a wreck by tonight. I'll side with you for now, you can go in your normal clothes, but God help us, Sienna, let us at least put a little pink on your lips."
As if on cue, Paige held up a tube of lip gloss. "Cherry or watermelon flavored?"
"You're joking," whispered Sienna.
Paige leaned forward, draping an arm around her shoulder. "You know us too well, Sienna, we never kid."
God help me, was all she could think.
After hours of sitting and staring at nothing, the doorbell rang. Thinking she would look to eager if she went to answer it, Sienna was ushered upstairs by Gram, who, as soon as she turned away from Sienna, promptly barked at Paige to hurry up and get the door.
For once, Paige didn't argue.
"Hello?" Sienna heard her from the stairs.
"I'm here to see Sienna," it was Matt's voice. "Is she home?"
"Why, yes," Paige said dramatically. "How on Earth did you find this address? Little Sienna just moved in with us yesterday."
"Camryn," was Matt's answer.
Upstairs, Sienna's stomach twisted into knots.
"Have you seen her lately?" Paige asked. "She won't return any of my calls, which is unusual since I'm her only friend these days."
Matt coughed. "She's hanging around."
Suspicious tension filled the hallway. "Is that so?" was Paige's answer. "Did she and Lee get in a fight?"
"No, actually," Matt's tone lightened. "It was me. She and I got into it pretty heated last night, but Lee took her side. The guy's blinded by love. I envy him."
Does Camryn have a boyfriend? One of Matt's friends, who is dating her though Matt doesn't approve? Sienna wondered.
"Take care of Sienna," Paige said.
"I will."
Paige's footsteps were heard across the wood. "Sienna!" she called. "Are you up there? There's someone here to see you!"
Swallowing hard, Sienna put one foot in front of the other and started down the hall. She prayed her feet wouldn't betray her. Clinging to the rail, she let the heeled shoes go heel-toe, heel-toe against the stairs so she wouldn't catch them on her jeans.
"Who is it?" she called innocently.
Paige pretended to slap her forehead. "I didn't even ask!" She thundered back down the hall towards the door. "I'm sorry, but I can't let her see you without a name. She has people calling all—the—time you know. I wouldn't want to let any bad apples in."
"Tell her it's Matthew," he said. "Or…just call me Matt."
"He says his name is Matt," Paige called back.
By now, Sienna had reached the end of the stairs. "I heard him," she said. She was in sight of the door. "Sorry, I was helping Gram."
More like Gram was helping me, she said, feeling a tube of lipstick burning a hole in her back pocket. What is that old woman thinking, slipping something like that into my pocket when I'm not looking?
"Can I help you?" she batted her eyes innocently.
"I thought we were on for me escorting on you on a walk through the park," he said.
Once again, he was pretty normal. Black trench coat over jeans with normal hair. Nothing that screamed Prince Charming.
"Ready?" he extended a hand. "I know it's pretty ordinary, but…"
"Ordinary?" Sienna repeated. "I thought it sounded lovely."
Somehow, her sincerity got to him. Smiling, they locked fingers and he led the way. From behind, Paige ran down the steps after them, and cupping her hands around her mouth, yelled,
"Make sure to play safe, OKAY?"
Sienna could feel her blushing face all the way down the street.
Matt led her all around town. No one seemed to glance their way twice—they were perfectly normal and perfectly natural. On occasion, they'd stop at some view or Matt would make some remark, but that was it. It was just a walk.
"Well? How are you holding up?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
He examined her closely. "I'm abusing you, aren't I? Let's stop some place and eat."
Without waiting for her answer, he weaved her through the crowds to a small sit-down café on the side of town. Sitting her down, he went up to the register and purchased them both coffees.
"Want something warm?" he asked, waving it in front of her fair. Chocolate smells sent her mouth watering. Snatching it out of his hands, she took a lengthy, delicious sip. "This place has the best lattes this side of town. I come here all the time."
"I didn't think you got out much," she said.
"I don't come alone," he said, sitting down across from her.
Suddenly, something startled Sienna. Looking at Matt, she noticed his right ear was pierced. In the back of her mind, something clicked. A long time ago, Lori had said something about boys with the right ears pierced. Something very strange….
Pushing it out of her mind, she swore she'd ask Lori about it later.
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