Suddenly Royal! Chapter 2

“Come on Kimmi girl we’re going to be late getting to the party!”

    Ronnie stood near the door of their room and watched her friend put the finishing touches on her outfit. “Seriously? You’re wearing that?”

            Kimmi looked at Ronnie before looking down at her outfit. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing? It’s something simple and comfortable.”

            “We’re going to a mixer,” Ronnie shook her head with a click of her tongue and walked over to her friend looking at her outfit before sighing. “You’re dress like a Mormon’s wife.”

            “Ronnie that’s rude and you shouldn’t say things like that,” Kimmi could feel the analyzing gaze of her friend and felt almost as if she was going to be forced down on a table and cut in half a la James Bond style. “Will you stop staring at me like that? It’s making me feel uncomfortable.”

            “Sorry sorry, but you can’t go anywhere looking like this,” Ronnie grabbed Kimmi’s hand and sat her down on the bed. “We’re going to get you looking hot for this party, no best friend of mine is going to be branded as the geeky church mouse while I’m still alive.”

            “I could make it so you’re not alive anymore,” Kimmi mumbled before yelping out when Ronnie grabbed the bottom of her sweater and took it off her. “IRONA!”

            “What? I’m just helping you,” Ronnie laughed softly as she looked at Kimmi. “Holy shit, did your breasts grow from last year? What are they now Double E’s?”

            “None of your business,” Kimmi made a grab for her sweater only for Ronnie to toss it over her shoulder. She crossed her arms over her chest blushing a hue of red. “I am not going to the party topless!”

            “While I applaud you for thinking that way, I am not that cruel,” Ronnie walked to the closet and opened it, her eyes scanning the countless outfits she had brought with her. “Let’s see you like a red woman…but for the sake of not hearing you bitch all night, I think blue is a nice color for you.”

            “I am not wearing any of your clothes,” Kimmi grumbled. “I mean you’re petite and I doubt you’ll appreciate me stretching any of your clothes.”

            “Oh, sweetie don’t worry about that,” Ronnie cooed and tossed Kimmi a brown mini skirt and a light brown turtleneck top. “Put these on.”

            “Seriously Ronnie?” Kimmi looked at the outfit. “Yeah, I’m not putting this on.”

            “Yes, you are,” Ronnie jumped onto Kimmi and smirked as she began pulling the turtleneck over her friend’s body. She pulled the top down and nodded. “Perfect, now do you want to put the skirt on or do I have to do it?”

            “Fine!” Kimmi stood up as she knocked Ronnie onto the floor, she pulled on the skirt and groaned in annoyance. “Your shirt is showing my stomach.”

            “Good! Good!” Ronnie giggled. “You have a nice shape so showing off your belly won’t be that bad since the guys like that.”

            “Uh-huh, why are you staring at me like that?”

            “Say Kimmi…what happened to your barbell you had in your belly button?” Ronnie asked. “I clearly remember you getting your belly button pierced last year.”

            “That? Well, I decided to let the hole close up because it was a stupid idea to have let you talk me into getting anything on me pierced.” Kimmi said simply. “Why?”

            Ronnie smirked and held up a small belly ring with the Eiffel tower hanging from it above a pink rose in one hand and in the other a piercing gun. “Be still and let me help you reopen old opportunities.”

            “Ronnie, get away from me with that…Ronnie do not touch me…Ronnie…IRONA!!!”

            Outside the room, people that were walking past could hear the screams of a girl being held down by her best friend.

 

            “My man, tonight is going to be great,” Antonio straightened his flannel shirt and looked over his shoulder at Liam, he blinked and looked his steward up and down a few times. “What are you wearing?”

            “My normal clothes,” Liam said simply. “I’m dressed in the standard attire for all members of the royal guard.”

            “You’re in a suit, and a tie, we’re going to a party, not some fancy ball.” Antonio groaned slapping a hand on his forehead. “Seriously man, you don’t see me dressing up like a prince.”

            “That’s because you have no shame,” Liam pointed out. “I’m not setting foot into that cesspool of drunk frat boys and sorority girls, I’m standing outside and watching for anyone that might want to kill you.”

            Antonio walked over to Liam’s side of the room and picked up the Bluetooth from the table. “And what’s this for?”

            “For communication,” Liam explained. “You’re going to have on a microphone, so I can monitor you inside the party and if any sign of trouble happens I can run in and get you out of there.”

            “And then we’ll look like we’re dating,” Antonio grumbled. “Liam, look man you’re my friend but playing this royal guard business is going to make it harder for me to integrate into society for the year if people find out that I am not Anton but rather Prince Antonio of the Aicretis royal family.”

            “That’s exactly why I’m guarding you,” Liam rolled his eyes and went back to straightening his jacket. “You might not want me to act like a guard but if anything happened to you, well I rather not be imprisoned by your grandmother because you decided to kill yourself at a frat party.”

            “It’s a mixer.”

            “Whatever.”

            “We’re going to show the ladies of this campus that men from luxury know how to party.” Antonio chuckled as he ushered Liam to the door. “Come on man, this is what we’re living for!”

            “Idiot.”

 

            “I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Kimmi grumbled as she followed Ronnie into the fraternity house. She gave a soft curse at the idea of being around anyone let alone at the so-called social gathering of that would set the tone for parties during the semester.

            “Will you chill out and relax for once?” Ronnie asked with a giggle as she strutted into the party. “Clear the floor the queen of dance has arrived!”

            “Ronnie, please don’t bring any attention to us.” Kimmi covered her face when a few guys looked in their direction. She let out a silent curse and immediately walked past Ronnie and to the nearest corner.

            “Aww, Kimmi!” Ronnie shook her head as she let out a loud giggle as a few guys began surrounding her asking her to dance. “One at a time fellas, I have to check on my friend.”

            “I can’t believe she’s acting like a high schooler,” Kimmi grumbled crossing her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall as she watched everyone socialize. So far everything wasn’t delving into chaos.

            “Yo yo, what’s up party people!”

    A voice called from the door as it was thrown open, Antonio and a reluctant Liam entered the party. The latter half held a reluctant look on his face while the other was grinning like an idiot.

    “Yo, direct me to the keg!” Antonio called out brightly. “And who’s up for keg stands? I’ll go first of course.”

    “Bro, you know the keg’s in the back full and ready for keg stands.” A tall muscular young man with a tan and blonde hair said with a smile. “But to keg stand with us you need to pledge, you want to pledge?”

    “Pledge?” Antonio thought for a second. “Liam look up what pledging is on Google”

    Liam pulled his phone out and did a quick Google search. He looked over at Antonio and shook his head. “Pledging is a probationary member of a fraternity or sorority, sometimes also called an associate member.”

    “Ah, cool man, yeah I’m going to pledge!” Antonio chuckled. “Alright, Liam back me up and let’s begin the keg stand!”

    “Actually pledge,” The blonde boy said with a small smirk as he held up a garbage bag. “Go around the party and collect the trash that you see on the floor or serve as a walking barf bag for any of the bros that need it.”

    “What?” Antonio stared at the blonde and threw the trash bag down.  “Hell no, you want me to clean up after your guests or…be their personal vomit bin? Yeah, I withdraw my interest.”

    “Fine suit yourself man,” The blonde shrugged and walked off to join his group of friends that seemed to be guarding the keg.

    “That was a really mature way of handling not being able to perform…what was it? A keg stand?” Liam said with a small smile. “I am proud of you your majesty.”

    “Oh, I’m going to keg stand,” Antonio said with a nod. “I just need to distract those boneheads long enough to steal the keg and run.”

    “Steal the keg and run?” Liam groaned in annoyance. “Antonio what the hell?! Why can’t you spend one day without bringing forth chaos?!”

    “I spent all afternoon letting you gripe about being here, so I didn’t have the means to cause chaos.” Antonio pointed out. “Now, cover me and I’ll go grab the keg.”

    “Antonio as your guard and friend I don’t think you sho—and he’s gone.” Liam looked around to find any sign of Antonio. “Antoni—ah I mean Anton come back here!”

    “Ooh did you see that hottie?” Ronnie squealed from her place next to Kimmi. “Hot damn I want a piece of that exotic cake!”

    “Ronnie, can we go now?”

    “What? Aren’t you having fun?” Ronnie asked. “The night is just getting started and we haven’t even gotten the chance to ask a frat boy to dance with us.”

    “I want to go home.”

    “Aww come on let’s stay a little longer please?” Ronnie asked. “They’re going to do karaoke and we can duet your personal theme song.”

    “Ronnie, no.”

    “You’re no fun,” Ronnie pouted. “You can go back to our dorm, I’ll come back when the party’s over.”

    “I don’t feel comfortable leaving you behind,” Kimmi said simply. “I mean it’s part of girl code to stay with their friend and we all leave together.”

    “Then go schmooze!” Ronnie laughed pushing Kimmi over to a crowd of guys standing in the corner on their phones. “These guys look like they don’t party.”

    Kimmi looked at the group of guys and saw they were wearing flannel shirts, high water jeans, their pants tucked into their socks and large glasses. Of course, Ronnie would push her over into the social hub of nerd and geek speak.

    “Say, you like Magic the gathering?” asked one of the boys holding up a deck of cards. “We can play if you want.”

    “Uh, no thanks,” Kimmi said quietly and inched closer to a window in case she needed to escape them.

    “If you’re not into that then we have Yu-Gi-Oh.” Another boy held up a brown pouch with a deck of cards in them. “Got your own deck?”

    “Uh…yeah, I haven’t played Yu-Gi-Oh since I was a kid.” Kimmi said moving away more. “But thanks for asking.” 

    “Ah, you must be one of those girls that like brawn over brains.” One of the boys said pushing his glasses up. “Like all these other plastics.”

    “Excuse me?” Kimmi asked looking at the boy. “I happen to like brains over brawn any day, I just don’t feel like playing children’s card games.”

    “Sure, you are,” the boy said looking Kimmi up and down. “I doubt you even know about the joys of taking over a gym in Pokémon Go.”

    “Yeah, she probably doesn’t play and even if she did she probably has nothing but girly Pokémon.” The other said giving a snorting laugh.

    Kimmi turned around and glared at the boys. “Excuse me, what did you just say about me and Pokémon?”

    “You have nothing but cute Pokémon.” Said the first. “Obviously, you would be that type of trainer if you played the game.”

    Kimmi glared at the boys and pulled out her phone as she unlocked it and opened the Pokémon Go app. She turned the phone to the group of boys that had been making fun of her. “Sorry sweetie, the only cute Pokémon I have on my team is Pikachu and I only have him because I went three counties over to find one.”

    “You have a Charizard?”

    “And a Venussauar?”

    “Yeah, what can I say? Pokémon that are strong are my favorites to whip the daylights out of little nerds like you.” Kimmi then added. “And before you ask I am not on Team Valor or Team Instinct, those teams are for poor little kids who don’t know how to handle themselves in battle.”

    The boys looked at one another before looking back at Kimmi. They all then huddled in a circle and began talking to one another before facing Kimmi again.

    “There is a Pokémon gym near here,” The first boy said. “Want to go overtake it? Some trainer named Aurora Breeze has taken it.”

    “I would but that’s my gym,” Kimmi said with a laugh. “I might’ve spent a few hours taking it from a previous trainer…but to tell the truth, the guy had a lame line up…I mean who goes in with nothing but Pidgeys?”

                “Hey Dan, she took the gym from you.”

                “What are the odds?”

                “Dude that is kind of pathetic that you went in using Pidgeys.”

                The boy addressed as Dan sent a glare at his friends before pointing at Kimmi. “I’ll take that gym from you!”

    Kimmi laughed. “Sorry, but I will just take it back Pidgey boy.” She waved a hand. “Maybe when you get a stronger team you can take it.”

    “I’ll take it!” Dan said with determination. “And then you’ll be eating your words Miss Aurora Breeze.”

    “Sure, you will.” Kimmi laughed softly and left the group of boys as she could hear Dan yelling after her. She turned around and added. “By the way name’s Kimmi, if you ever want to come to my gym and battle I’ll accept it.”

    “Yeah, yeah I’ll remember your name,” Dan called as he turned to his friends who were snickering. “Alright, who wants to face me in Magic? I’ll beat you all for laughing.”

    “Nerds.” Kimmi shook her head and put her phone back in her pocket before going off to find Ronnie. She passed by the back patio and raised an eyebrow at a brown-haired boy trying to lift a keg.

     “What is he doing?” she walked over to the doorway and watched the boy carefully. She held back a small laugh at how he’d get it off the ground before having to set it back in the large washtub of ice.

     

    Antonio had decided to sneak the keg through the party as a grandiose gesture of stealing from the rich or in this case a frat house and give to the poor…or rather himself. He picked up the keg and groaned at how heavy it was. He let out a curse that Liam had decided to excuse himself for a second to patrol the perimeter.

    “How is this thing so heavy?” Antonio mumbled picking up the keg again and wobbled side to side before he fell backward on his butt and the keg landed in the tub of ice. “Damn it!”

    “You’re trying to steal from a frat party?”

    Antonio froze up as he looked up at the sound of a female’s voice, he blinked a few times as if to clear his vision as he stared at the girl.  He smirked and ran a hand through his hair so to appear suave.

    “Yo, how you doing babycakes?” he asked with a smile. “Came to admire me use my guns to bench press this keg.”

    “Yeah no, I am watching you steal something from a party where the house is full of testosterone filled jocks that could hang out of a window…you may have muscles, but you’d be ripped in half.”

    “They won’t touch me, I’m fast.” Antonio chuckled. “Why don’t you give me a hand babycakes?”

    “First of all, my name isn’t babycakes, and second you want a hand?” Kimmi began clapping for him. “There ya go a hand.”

    “Smart ass,” Antonio stood up and walked over to her. “I meant help me lift this thing, so we can give it to the poor.”

    “Yeah, the poor doesn’t need a keg,” Kimmi said. “Unless you mean you’re giving it to yourself.”

    “Come on, help a guy out.”

    Kimmi rolled her eyes. “You’re an idiot, I’m not stealing a keg because you want to get wasted in private, and you wouldn’t make it to the front door because they’d kill you.”

    “Please? We can escape fast.” Antonio grabbed Kimmi’s hands into his. “Please babycakes? I’ll make it worth your wild.”

    “I don’t want you to make anything worth my wild,” Kimmi said. “I don’t want to be a big wheel, I don’t want to dial out for every meal, you aren’t the guy to make it all real.”

    Antonio stared at Kimmi before snorting, he let out a full-blown laugh and held his sides. “Did you just quote a song from Little Shop of Horrors?”

    “So, what if I did?” Kimmi asked. “I know how things like this end, you get what you want, and I am the one who gets screwed over.”

    “Come on, what do you want? Money, boys? One particular boy? How about that Seymore?” Antonio sang as he placed his hands on her shoulders before laughing.

    “Dude, no just now.” Kimmi bucked her shoulders to get his hands off them. “Alright dude, you’re not a frat boy if you know an old music from the 80’s.”

    “Some frat boys would know it,” Antonio said. “Anyway, you gonna help me or not?”

    “How about we forget about stealing a keg and discuss how the ending to Little Shop of Horrors was a huge cop-out.”

    “It wasn’t a cop-out!” Antonio said. “Seymore and Audrey deserved a happy ending after dealing with an alien plant that ate people.”

    “Well, I think the original ending was great because it had the feel of being a cautionary tale of how fame can bring bad things to people who don’t really want it,” Kimmi said folding her arms over her chest. “Not to mention that Audrey should’ve gotten eaten because she could’ve gotten with Seymore when they worked together but no she wanted him after he became famous.”

    “That’s not true, Audrey admitted she always loved Seymore,” Antonio grabbed Kimmi’s hand. “Come on let’s go sit and discuss this.”

    “Yeah sure, you’re just mad because you know I’m right,” Kimmi said allowing Antonio to lead them to a nearby gazebo that no one seemed to occupy. “And another thing, the ending of the plant-eating them was in the original movie from the 1960’s.”

    “There isn’t a movie from the 1960s.”

    “Yes, there is,” Kimmi said. “It wasn’t a musical and it was more of a black comedy if you will.”

    “You’re bullshitting me,” Antonio said before he held out both his hands. “Please sit.”

    Kimmi shook her head and sat down. “Anyway, the original movie was dark, but I really think the 1980’s film was more fun and had great music.”

    “I will agree about the music,” Antonio sat next to her. “So, you say the 60’s movie is darker? Well, I’d like to compare it to the obvious classic.”

    “We’d need a copy of the 60’s film,” Kimmi said thinking for a minute. “I mean it’s probably at a video store or maybe Netflix might have it?”

    “I’ll ask my roommate to find it for me,” Antonio glanced at Kimmi. “Ok this is weird but what other musical movies have you seen?”

    “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Kimmi laughed. “I am crazy about Tim Curry so if any movie he’s in I gotta see it…and trust me seeing him sing about how he’s a sweet transvestite is hilarious.”

    “Tim Curry is a genius,” Antonio said. “Hey, let’s do something.”

    “What?”

    “On the count of three how about we say what our favorite Tim Curry performance?”

    “Ok.”

    “1, 2, 3!”

    “Daniel Rooster Hannigan in Annie!”

    The two stared at one another as they stared at one another. Before they broke out into laughter.

    “I had no idea that there was someone out there that’s seen that version of Annie,” Kimmi said. “Dude, did your parents raise you on musicals?”

    “My mum used to show me and my brother the films,” Antonio said. “She was crazy about showing us musicals and even loved it when we’d act out our favorite scenes.”

    “That is so awesome!” Kimmi laughed. “I got into watching old musicals and films thanks to my grandmother, she used to tell me that musicals are a gateway drug to broader horizons.”

    “That’s cool.”

    “Oh, and check this out.” Kimmi pulled her phone out and played a song that had a cheery melody despite the song’s lyrics.

    Antonio chuckled and stood up. “Son be a dentist, you’ll be a success!” he sung.

    “here he is folks the leader of the plaque,” Kimmi sang as she stood up. “Watch him suck up that gas oh my god!”

    Antonio let out a loud cackling laugh as he joined Kimmi in singing. “He is a dentist and he’ll never ever be any good.”

    “Who wants their teeth done by the Marquis de Sade?” Kimmi finished before laughing. “Dude, you’re so awesome, you know what? I am glad my friend dragged me to this party.”

    “Oh, why?”

    “Because I found someone to at least talk to,” Kimmi admitted. “So, hey do you want to maybe go in and do some karaoke?”

    “That sounds fine since I doubt that I can sneak the keg out now because I wouldn’t want to leave you behind.” Antonio rubbed the back of his neck.

    “Cool, you can be my Danny to my Sandy.” Kimmi laughed. “If I am going to suffer through hearing drunk frat boys sing bad renditions of rap songs then the least we can do is break it up.”

    “Fine fine, but I choose the song,” Antonio said. “How does You’re the One That I Want sound?”

    Kimmi laughed. “Oh, I wouldn’t have it any other way dude!”

    “Come on then my little Audrey 3.”

    “Audrey 3?”

    “Yeah, that’s your new name.” Antonio chuckled and jogged ahead of Kimmi to avoid being hit.

    “You asshole!” Kimmi cried. “I am not some killer plant!”

 

            “Dude, you have to hang out with me again,” Kimmi laughed softly. “I can’t believe you sang more than anyone else did.”

            “What can I say? I only did it, so I wouldn’t hear people sing songs which I believe is what you Americans call Trap music.” Antonio said. “They got a little culture tonight.”

            “You sang Beauty School Dropout though,” Kimmi laughed softly. “And then dared to sing the theme from Pokémon Forever.”

            “Well, it was enough to make the jocks chase me off stage,” Antonio said. “You sure you didn’t mind escaping with me?”

            “Nope, I would’ve left on my own anyway because my friend Ronnie was so busy chatting up some jock.”

            “I probably would’ve stayed because my roommate is missing in action,” Antonio said crossing his arms over his chest. “And he says I’m irresponsible.”

            “Well, what can I say? Roommates and best friends can try to keep us in line or get us out but in the end, they always end up being the ones needing wrangling.” Kimmi looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. “So. Tell me Mr. Music man do I get to finally learn your name?”

            “Only if I get to know yours Audrey 3.”

            “I told you not to call me…ugh fine, my name’s Kimberly but everyone calls me Kimmi.” She looked at him. “So, what’s your name?”

            “It’s Anton, but you can call me anything you want Audrey 3.”

            Kimmi glared and punched him in the shoulder. “You jerk! Fine I’ll let you have that then…umn…Seymore.”

            “I’m no nerd.”

            “What? You want me to call you something else?” Kimmi asked thinking it over. “Well, I’ll just call you Anton until I know a little more about you.”

            “Fine,” Antonio chuckled as he opened the door. “Milady.”

            “Thank you.” Kimmi stepped through the doors of the empty residence hall and saw no one, not even the R.A. was at the front desk. “Thanks for walking me to my dorm building.”

            “No problem, I live in this same building,” Antonio said. “On the third floor.”

            “Shut up no way!” Kimmi cried. “I live on the third floor in Room 305.”

            “I live in 306.”

            “Crazy much!” Kimmi laughed. “Alright since we’re in the same building and on the same floor how about we have musical movie nights? I bring the movie and you bring the popcorn?”

            “Or we both choose the movie and we both bring snacks?” Antonio suggested. “I am thinking of a Stephen King marathon from bad to good.”

            “Oh my gosh that sounds like a scream!” Kimmi laughed softly. “Let’s do it!”

            “Alright, how about after the first round of exams of the new semester?” Antonio asked. “We’ll need a break.”

            “Alright deal.”

 

End Chapter