Flora's World: Love and other stuff Read online

  Saturday 30th March

  11am

  Nan and mum are going shopping to get outfits for the ball and have asked me to go with them, I didn't really see the point as I'm not going to the Ball but mum said we'll be going for a nice lunch and I need some new underwear so I might as well go too. I said ok even though I really can't be bothered, then mum said Nanny is treating us to Maxwell's, well it is my favourite, I mean my bum’s not going to thank me but there is a knickerbocker glory on offer here.

  We ended up going to lunch first as everyone was starving, we'd just ordered and then Nan said she had something exciting to tell me and mum was looking at me smiling with this weird look on her face, and then they both started grinning and I was just looking back at them wondering what on earth was going on when mum said 'Go on June, tell her'

  'What is it?' I asked, I was thinking I bet it's something really rubbish that I won't find exciting at all and will have to humour them both and then Nan said:

  'Flora, you’re coming to the Ball with us!'

  'What?' I said, did Nanny June just say that I was going to the Ball?

  'Flo, dad and I have decided that it would be really selfish of us to go to Scotland to the castle and not take you, I know dad told you he wanted us to have a romantic getaway but I've been feeling ever so bad about it and I know you would love to see your cousins and the horses, it would be so mean of us to go and leave you behind so Nanny has paid for your ticket and your coming too!'

  Well I jumped up and hugged my Nan

  'But what about school? I said, letting go of Nanny June

  'Oh it's only two days Flo and you'll be going on study leave soon anyway'

  That's true, it's all just catching up with coursework now anyway, how exciting, I'm going to Scotland to the Castle, going to the Ball, and getting two days off school, this just couldn't get any better, I sat back down and listened whilst they went on about which dress shops we needed to go and have a look at to find the perfect dresses and then realisation hit......Brad! Our night of passion, the night we have been planning to 'do it' and lose our virginity, oh no damn, damn, damn it!!!! All our plans............ okay look I told myself, there will be another time, plenty of opportunity, and there is no way I can't not go to the ball, what would I say to mum? 'Oh no sorry mum I can't make it to the Ball in Scotland because Bradley and I are losing our virginity that night and we've been planning on 'doing it' for ages! God no way, as if! I hope Bradley isn't going to be cross with me though........I'll speak to him later I'm sure he will be okay about it.......and anyway maybe it’s for the best?

  Sunday 31st March

  Well Bradley was fine but Katie was a pain in the backside about it all. She said I've ruined the one night she was going to be able to sleep over at Danny's, we had a bit of a row and I said what do you expect me to do, tell my parents I can't go to Scotland because I will be too busy having sex for the first time with my boyfriend??!!!!!! She said I was selfish! Is she totally bonkers? I don't understand what she wants me to do. She said I am spoilt and don't know how lucky I am and that I have ruined everything. Bit over dramatic I think, she should be doing Drama A ‘level not Maths. I am going to leave her to calm down and get over it, which she will when she realises there is nothing I can do about the situation.

  Brad was really sweet and said there will be other times and not to worry but he'd already pinched a couple of condoms out of the packet he found in his dad's bed side drawer so they are all ready for when we need them! I am feeling a bit relieved if I’m honest, maybe I was jumping the gun a bit, maybe I’m not as ready to do this as I thought?

  Chapter Nine

  A Scottish Prince

  Wednesday 3rd April

  Katie is still being an absolute cow to me, she is just so annoying!

  Monique came over to touch up mum's roots, she took the stuff from work, a tube of 'Fiery Sunset' and some other stuff and mixed it up in a bowl and applied it to mum's hair in the kitchen.

  I made tea whilst Monique applied the hair dye and her and mum chatted, I was hoping the conversation would get on to the wedding so I could see if I could do some detective work on why Nick is being so shifty lately.

  Monique told us all about the wedding cake that she has ordered, it sounds amazing, five tier with some sort of water feature in the middle of the cake. They are having a balloon arch and her colour scheme is Cerise pink and pearl white, it sounds so nice! She never said anything about Nick except to say that he has been letting her get on with all the preparations and letting her choose whatever she likes!

  Now should this make me suspicious, or is this just Nick or any man for that matter letting his bride pick everything totally normal or does it mean that he just isn't interested? I really want to call Katie and see what she thinks but she is still being a bitch so I'm going to have to save it up for when she has calmed down and is talking to me.

  Friday 5th April

  So Katie and I are speaking again, she 'forgives' me - even though as far as I am concerned there is nothing to forgive as strictly speaking I didn't actually do anything, but no use in arguing over that small fact, just letting Katie 'think' she is forgiving me is a lot easier! I told her what happened when Monique came round the other night and she said that's just a usual man thing to not really be that interested in colour schemes and cakes! She did say though that when she came in from school he was sitting in the lounge on the phone and he went all quiet and finished the call when she walked in and went out a few minutes later without really saying much.

  Thank goodness she decided to drop it as I was dreading working in the Chippy with her in a foul mood.

  A funny thing happened at school today, Kim Chambers and I were partnered in Biology, I was so peed off I had to work with her but she was actually really nice to me (alarm bells were ringing of course) we got on with the task and actually got top marks out of the whole class. There was something weird about her she seemed a bit quiet and sad, I started to feel sorry for her and then I pulled myself together and remembered what a cow she is. She just didn't have the usual high and mighty demeanour about her. I mentioned it to Trisha and Meena on the way home and they said maybe she's on her period and we had a laugh about it but I was a bit taken aback by Kim today, she used to be so lovely when we were little and it reminded me of when we were thick as thieves. Today she seemed like the old Kim, it was weird, but hey ho.

  Monday 8th April

  Mum has started packing for Scotland already, dad said we are only going for a few days and what does she need all this stuff for? Mum says she likes to be organised. I think it's just because she is really excited, I think mum is a bit nervous too about all these posh types that will be at the castle. I can't wait to see the Castle. I wonder what Piers and Portia are like, they were just babies when I last saw them, dad says they are probably posh little gits, mum said not to be so nasty and they are probably just lovely but I agree with dad, I reckon they will be spoilt brats.

  Friday 12th April

  I didn't do my shift in the chippy tonight as we have to be up really early, a cab is coming to collect us in the morning to go to Heathrow Airport to catch our flights.

  I had dinner after school at Bradley's, his mum did pizza and chips for us and then went out to play bingo with her friend Gloria. Bradley says he can't stop thinking about what we were supposed to be doing tomorrow and I say me too but that's actually a lie, I haven't actually thought about it at all, I sort of forgot, what with all the excitement of going to Scotland to an actual real Castle, I feel really bad, especially when Bradley says he is going to be thinking about me all weekend and dreaming about when we can do what we said we were going to do........I haven't even thought about it once this week. Does that mean I don't love Bradley anymore because I am really sure I do but I have just had other more exciting things on my mind.......like a party in a Castle!

  Saturday 13th April

  Nanny June and Grandpa Jeff meet us at the airport, it's less
than a two hour flight from Heathrow to Inverness and it goes so quick. There is a man waiting for us at the other end holding up a name board with Nan and Grandpa's name on it 'Mr and Mrs Cleaver + 3' We follow the driver to his car and it's a big black limousine, Mum is very impressed, Dad tells her to keep her knickers on it's only a car but mum is excited as she has never been in a limo before. Nan says that Uncle Eddie always sends his Limo for her when she comes to visit. I feel a bit like how The Queen must feel, everyone stops to look at us, they must think we are important and I do a little wave like you see the Royals doing and mum and dad laugh and tell me what an idiot I am.

  When we arrive at the Castle it's the most magnificent thing I have ever seen, I can't actually believe that my family live here. I remember going to Windsor with the school on a day trip once and we went to the castle, I swear this one is twice the size. Auntie Anne and Uncle Eddie are waiting for us as we arrive, Dad gives Auntie Anne a big massive hug and she starts crying, then mum joins in and then Nan, everyone is crying and hugging and we get ushered into this big fancy living room area, I say living room but it's about five times bigger than our sitting room. The furniture is very fancy, dark wood and a deep burgundy sort of velvet material. Everything is really plush and expensive looking and there are some very big oil paintings of important looking men hanging on the walls, I guess they are the previous Counts of Dun Lochie, Uncle Eddie's ancestors.

  A maid comes in bringing in the tea and cake and I can tell mum is feeling like she has to act posh, she's even changed the way she is speaking now, it's actually really funny and I'm trying not to laugh. Dad has just given her a strange look but she is pretending she hasn't notice and carries on with her conversation. Two kids around ten years old appear in the door way who I assume to be Piers and Portia and Auntie Anne beckons them over. She introduces them to us and Piers offers to take me to see the horses so I get up and follow them out. Piers has white blonde hair and big blue eyes, he really is actually very cute, Portia has darker blonde hair but the same blue eyes as her brother.

  'Do you have horses at your house Flora?' Piers asks me

  'Erm no Piers' I say, 'I don't even have a dog, but my boyfriend does though'

  'What's his name?' Asks Portia

  'Bradley' I say

  'Bradley is a funny name for a dog' says Piers

  'Oh no, Bradley is my boyfriend’s name, the dog is called Pip' I say laughing

  'What sort of dog is he? Is he a pedigree?' Asks Portia, her face is so serious, she is actually a bit scary, like one of those possessed china dolls

  'Well, I don't really know, I don't know much about dogs to be honest, all I know is that he is really smelly and has bad breath'

  Piers face lights up and he laughs. Portia just looks at me with a very unimpressed look on her face. I am quite quickly learning that out of my two cousins I think I am going to get along with Piers quite well but Portia seems a bit more tricky.

  The twins show me the beautiful horses and I am patting one of them when someone appears in the stable, he is wearing blue jeans and green welly boots and has dark hair and twinkly brown eyes and he is smiling at us

  'Well hello there' he says in this thick Scottish accent

  'Oh hi, I didn't see you there' I say

  'Flora this is Jamie our stableman, Jamie this is our cousin from London, Flora' says Piers

  'Pleased to meet you cousin Flora from London' Jamie says 'Piers makes me sound a lot more important than I am, my Da Hamish is the stableman I just help out on the weekends and the odd day in the week' he says

  'Oh I see' I say

  Jamie is absolutely gorgeous, he looks like a Calvin Klein model. I can feel myself blushing and hoping my hair isn't looking like a frizzy birds nest and am thanking god I have a big jacket on that’s covering up my bum! I guess that Jamie is about 18 or so....

  'So I guess you're here for the Ball then?' he asks

  'Yes, we've come for the Ball, I'm really excited, we've actually not been to the Castle before' I tell him

  'Mummy and Uncle Jim fell out' Portia informs him

  'Okay Portia, I don't think Jamie wants to know all about that' I say trying to change the subject

  Jamie laughs and says 'is that right Portia?' Portia nods her head

  'So Flora, would you like to go for a ride?' Jamie's accent is very strong, but sooooo sexy, my insides tingle when he speaks

  Eeeek I feel a bit weird, Bradley is the only boy that has ever made me feel tingly but this Jamie is something else……

  'Erm, excuse me? ‘I say

  'A ride on the horse?' he says, oh god, did he think I thought he meant the other sort of ride? Oh god I can feel my face burning......

  'I've never ridden a horse before....' I say

  'Well just let me know if you would like to and I'll take you out, it's nay problem' he smiles at me, my face is definitely on fire and I feel like a silly girl with a massive crush. Oh my goodness I can't be having crushes on cute Calvin Klein model Scottish boys! I've got a boyfriend!

  Jamie excuses himself and says he will see us later.....later when??? Soon I hope! Eeek!!! No stop it Flora!

  'Jamie doesn't have a girlfriend you know' says Piers

  'Well that's nice' I say

  'You could be his girlfriend' Piers is beaming and looking very pleased with his suggestion

  'No she can't' says Portia 'She's got a boyfriend and Pip the smelly dog, she can't be Jamie's girlfriend'

  Ohhhh I don't think Portia likes me very much, she seems to be a bit territorial over Jamie!

  When I got back to the house Auntie Anne showed us up to our rooms and said we could have a little rest if we liked before getting ready for the Ball. I got shown to a room in between the room that mum and dad were in and Nanny and Grandpas room. Piers said he would come up with me to show me where everything is. The room was about the size of my room at home but the four poster bed in it practically took up the whole space. The mattress was a bit lumpy, I guess nobody had slept in it for a while. Piers sat on my bed and asked me about a million questions about my house, and Pip the dog and school and my friends and I told him that my Uncle and Aunt own a fish and chip shop and that I work there on Fridays.

  'When I grow up I want to be a train driver' Piers tells me

  'But Piers, when your big, one day you will be Count Dun Lochie' I say

  'No, I don't want to, Portia can be Count Dun Lochie, I want to be a train driver' he says

  Erm…okay…..

  I unpack my small bag and hang up my dress for later and have a little nap.

  I wake up sweating in a panic, I was dreaming of Jamie! Oh my goodness, but what about Bradley? I feel so disloyal, I'm such a bad person. I need to speak to Bradley right now, I need to hear his voice, I know I will feel better if I do so I go downstairs to use the phone in the hallway and dial his number but there is no answer, I really want to talk to Bradley. Calm down, I tell myself, it was just a silly dream......eek. I go back upstairs to have a shower and get ready.

  The grounds of the castle are beautiful at night and lit up with millions of lights, it looks like the lights in the West end at Christmas time. There are waiters walking around with trays of drinks, champagne and cocktails and trays of little fancy little vol au vents, it's so posh. Mum is talking with some ladies in very expensive looking outfits and doing a good job of mingling with the 'hoorays' as dad calls them. Mum looks really beautiful. She is wearing a black taffeta dress and a large diamante choker, her red hair is shining in the light, I spot dad in a crowd of men wearing kilts and see him looking at mum with an adoring look on his face. My mum really is the most beautiful woman here and I can see that dad is so proud she belongs to him. She really does look like a Princess. I'm just daydreaming wondering if Bradley feels that way about me when I feel a tap on my shoulder, I turn and it’s Jamie, smiling at me

  'Well hello again Flora from London' he says

  'Oh Hello' I say, he looks very different from how he
looked earlier, he looks really smart and then I look down and see he is wearing a kilt

  'Oh you’re wearing a kilt!'

  'Aye, I am' he says and winks

  I saw programme on tele once and all the men wearing kilts had nothing on underneath. Apparently it’s a Scottish tradition. I can feel myself blushing again. God I feel so stupid. Why did I just say Oh you’re wearing a kilt. He's Scottish of course he'd be wearing a kilt. What a moron.

  A waiter passes by and Jamie grabs two drinks and hands one to me.

  'What is it?' I ask

  'I have no idea, but it looks good' he says and takes a sip and so do I. Ohh it's really strong, but nice, I like it. I've never really had much alcohol except the time when Trisha and I raided her mums alcohol cabinet when I slept over and her mum went to bed and left us watching a film and we thought we'd try a Vodka an Orange and we put too much Vodka in and it was horrible, oh and when Nick and Monique got engaged and we had real champagne.

  'So Flora, what do you think of your Auntie's castle?' Jamie asks me

  'Oh I think it's amazing, I couldn't imagine living here as my regular house though, it's just mental'

  'Aye it is isn't it' he says

  'So if you just help with the horses on weekends what do you do during the week?' I ask him

  'I'm at college doing Equestrian studies' he tells me 'Horses are my passion, I love helping here when I can, my Da was bringing me along from when I was a young boy.