Chapter 15

"You've got to be kidding me!" I heard a loud voice exclaim.

I groaned, rolling over to pull a pillow over my ears.

A smile crossed my face as the pillow smelled like Oliver.

"Scarlett Adeline Lockwood!" My dad yelled, pulling the blankets off of me. "Get out of this bed this instant!"

"What the hell are you doing in my room?" I groaned.

"You are in a boy's bed! Wearing his clothes!" My dad yelled. "I will not tolerate this obscene behavior, young lady. Get up, right now. We're going home."

"Just let me sleep dammit." I whined. "My head hurts."

"You're hungover, of course your head hurts. Get out of bed before I physically remove you. There's a jet waiting for us at the airport. We're meeting Clara and Parker in Castello. I cannot believe the two of you would be so irresponsible."

"What did Parker do?" I asked sleepily, sitting up slightly to squint at my dad. "Where are my glasses?"

"Parker came home at three in the morning, absolutely wasted. His mother is dealing with him." My dad said as he handed me my glasses.

"It's a Sunday. Why are we going to Castello?" I sighed, pushing my hair back from my face.

"Because you and Parker need a stern talking to. Especially since the Windsors are coming this week."

"Like the British Royal Family?" I asked, swinging my legs over the side of Oliver's bed.

I didn't even remember falling asleep here last night...

"Enough, we're leaving." My dad said, turning to walk out of the room.

"Can I at least have some Advil?" I whined, standing up to follow him.

"No." My dad hissed.

Oliver was sitting in the kitchen, drinking a pot of coffee. He stood up when we walked in.

"Mr. Lockwood, I'm so sorry. She said you were out of town so I didn't think it would be a good idea to leave her home alone and I promise I slept in my brother's room last night and nothing happened." Oliver said seriously.

My dad ignored him.

"You have twenty seconds to say goodbye. We're going to be late for our flight." My dad said harshly to me before walking out of the house.

"What the hell happened last night?" I sighed, giving my boyfriend an apologetic look.

"The three of us got so wasted, I don't even remember how we got home. We were going to leave the party, then you fell asleep, then I had one drink, and it turned into two and then three and the next thing I know your dad showed up here at like eight in the morning absolutely raging. You're lucky my parents are at the flower market with my siblings, they don't even know you stayed the night."

I groaned. "I'm in so much trouble." I sighed, wrapping my arms around Oliver. "Thanks for last night... I'm sorry."

"Hopefully your dad will take it easy on you. I'll see you tomorrow at school?" Oliver asked quietly.

"If he even lets me out of the house." I laughed, leaning up to give him a kiss. "I'll call you later."

My dad honked from last night and I jumped slightly.

"I'll see you later." I sighed, walking towards the door.

I suddenly froze.

"Why am I wearing your clothes?" I asked carefully, my heart pounding in my chest.

"I have absolutely no idea." Oliver laughed, shaking his head.

"Bye." I laughed as I left the house.

"Do not speak to me. Words cannot even express how angry I am with you right now." My dad said quietly when I got into the car.

I just nodded, tightly holding my phone in my hands while we drove to the airport.

"Parker and Carla's jet just left, we'll meet them there." My dad told me as we parked in our reserved parking space in long term parking.

"Why didn't we all fly together?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Because you can't have the first and second heir to the throne in the same airplane." My dad replied. "It's never been a problem before now but with the family getting so close, and recent discoveries of the way things are being passed down, we have to take more security precautions. I'll explain everything when we get to Castello."

~*~*~

"I cannot begin to express how utterly disappointed I am in the two of you." My grandmother said harshly, her knuckles white as she held the end of her cane.

She was wearing a nightgown and her hair was in curlers.

If anybody saw the queen like this...

Parker and I exchanged looks.

"I called your mother this morning to inform her that the British Royal Family will be residing with us later this week, and I find out that the two of you were out all night drinking and partying! And you, young lady." My grandmother turned to me, her eyes hard with anger. "Your father found you in another man's bed wearing another man's clothes. That behavior is absolutely unheard of for a queen."

"In my defense nothing happened! The guy wasn't even in his room!" I exclaimed.

"Seriously I can vouch for the guy he's never even seen a girl naked." Parker laughed.

My grandmother closed her eyes, trying to control her anger.

"That is no way to speak to or address your grandmother, Parker Jones." She hissed. "The two of you are lucky nobody knows what you were up to last night. This is a long standing and very highly respected monarchy and I will not have you two hooligans ruining it!" She exclaimed.

"We're not ruining it." I said quietly.

"Hush, girl." My grandmother snapped. "You are going to be queen sooner than you think, it's time the two of you learned some responsibility." She said harshly, her entire body shaking. "Now go get my maid I need help getting ready."

Parker and I got out of the room as fast as we possibly could.

"Is it always this strict here?" Parker whispered to me as we walked past the guards outside of the Queen Chambers.

"No." I shook my head. "We royally messed this up."

"No pun intended." Parker snorted.

"Pun intended." I corrected him.

When we got back to the hall of our bedrooms, my dad and Aunt Clara were waiting in the hallway.

"The two of you are eating dinner in the kitchens, then you are to get dressed in semi-formal business attire. We have a full Table meeting at one this afternoon. Dinner is almost prepared." My dad told us.

They both left without another word.

"Table meeting?" Parker asked curiously, looking down at me.

"With all of my grandma's advisors." I replied, rubbing my temples. "Holy shit I am still hungover." I sighed.

"I talked to Oliver this morning, and he said that you kept going on about how you were going to be queen one day, then I said that I'd have to kill you if I wanted to be king." Parker laughed.

My eyes widened.

"Oh don't worry he totally thinks it was just the alcohol talking." Parker said quickly.

"Come on, let's just go get food and see if I can stomach anything." I sighed.

How the hell could I get so drunk?

I don't remember anything after my third drink...

~*~*~

"There are so many people." Parker whispered to me as we all sat down after our grandmother.

I just nodded, focusing my attention on the Queen.

"Right, let's get to the children first." She said, turning to face us.

Everybody was looking at Parker and me.

"Parker, you should have been informed of this earlier, but it has apparently slipped our minds." She started. "Scarlett, you've spent the last eight years of your life knowing that you were next to take the throne. Parker, you're directly after her."

Parker's eyebrows shot straight up in the air.

"But my mom-"

"Unfortunately, Clara gave up her connections to the family name when she uh, when you became part of the family." Our grandmother explained.

Parker's eyes widened.

"You disowned her? For having a baby?" Parker asked, leaning forwards.

"You must understand, it was a different time, we never thought we'd see her again." The queen sighed, shaking her head. "But your name remained in the family, therefore, you're second to the throne behind Scarlett."

Parker just nodded.

"As for the both of you..." My grandmother said, looking between the two of us. "You both need a major awakening. The behavior that you two exhibited this weekend absolutely cannot go on. Parker, I understand you're new at this, but as a part of the royal family, at eighteen years old, it's time you started taking on some diplomatic responsibilities. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be staying with us later this week and I expect you two to be on your best behavior."

Parker and I nodded.

I knew better than to be spoken to.

"There will be absolutely no partaking in illegal activities, such as underage drinking, which I hear the two of you indulged a bit too much last night."

I winced. I still felt sick.

"Scarlett, now more than ever you need to be on your best behavior. You used to be so good and respectful, the right kind of woman to be a queen. In the past few months..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "You understand that in a few months, you are going to be in my shoes and that means that you no longer get to do what you're doing right now. I understand there might be an explanation for you spending the night in someone else's clothes and bed, but this behavior needs to stop. The two of you cannot be in unapproved relationships." My grandmother said seriously.

Parker shifted uncomfortably.

"Now, Scarlett, if this boy actually means something to you, then by all means, I would love to meet him and introduce him into our country. But a Queen does not simply 'date' for the hell of it."

I nodded, crossing my legs underneath the table.

"Excellent. Now, in the time before the arrival of our lovely guests, over the next few days the two of you will undergo some lessons, refresher for Scarlett and new for Parker, on proper etiquette and formal events. For now, the two of you are dismissed." My grandmother told us.

"Thank you." I said politely before quickly jumping up from the my seat.

Parker was right behind me.

"How do you know your way around so easily?" He laughed as I turned around various corners.

"I grew up in this castle." I explained. "I uh, I have to call Oliver, I'll see you at supper."

Parker nodded with a frown as I disappeared into my room.

I took a deep breath, leaning back against the door as it shut.

My grandmother was right.

This wasn't the time for me to have a relationship.
Especially one where I get so drunk that I can't remember an entire evening.

A Queen doesn't date juvenile high school boys.

A Queen doesn't get drunk and wake up in a guy's bed wearing his clothes.

A Queen doesn't get drunk, period.

A Queen doesn't have a boyfriend.

I felt sick to my stomach as I slowly walked over to the couch and dialed Oliver's number with shaky hands.

"Hello?" He asked nervously.

Could he somehow sense what was about to happen?

"Hey." I said softly.

"What's uh, what's going on?"

"My grandmother was right." I said quietly, shaking my head. "I'm in way too deep."

Oliver was silent.

I bit my lip to hold back a sob as I pulled my knees up to my chest.

I felt sick to my stomach again.

"What are you talking about?" Oliver whispered.

"Oliver this relationship is so bad for both of us... I mean look at you, you're never home anymore, you're skipping football practice, your coach said it himself that you've been slacking, and that's all my fault." I said quietly.

"What are you saying?" Oliver's voice cracked.

"I'm saying that right now, I have a lot of things on my plate, and I need to be responsible. Last night is a perfect example of how much maturing I need to do." I sighed.

"Scarlett, we're in high school. High school students do that, we make mistakes, it's normal." Oliver said nervously, his voice sounding panicked.

"But not me. I can't afford to make mistakes." I shook my head. "Look, I'm not... I'm not going to be at school for the next few days, family stuff, but just, I think we need to cool down for a bit."

"Are you breaking up with me?" Oliver asked quietly.

I squeezed my eyes shut as tears leaked out of my eyes. I turned to my side, resting my head against the back of the couch.

"You're breaking up with me..." Oliver whispered in shock. "Scar, if this is about what happened last night, it's okay, honestly. Everybody gets drunk sometimes, your dad won't be mad forever... Please Scarlett, I've never felt like this about anybody..."

Now it was my turn to stay silent.

"But please, please rethink this. We don't need to break up. We can get through whatever this is together, I promise. I think I... I just... I'm really falling for you." Oliver said quietly.

"I have to go." I whispered, more tears spilling out of my eyes as I hung up the phone.

I felt a sob escape my lips as I laid down on the couch.

With shaky hands, I dialed Jessica's number.

"Hey cutie!" Jessica said happily.

"I need you to come home." I managed. "Please."

"Holy shit Scarlett what's going on?" Jessica asked nervously. "I'm coming home for the week anyways. What's going on? Are you alright?"

"I just... Please come to my room when you get here." I whispered, hanging up the phone.

I pulled the pillow close to me as I started crying.

How did my life get so messed up?