Another Side of My Life
Chapter 6
by Julie D Cole

I sat on one of the pull down seats and then Laura looked at me and said.
‘Excuse me but are you Jacks girlfriend or are you his boyfriend perhaps?’
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I was surprised for a moment before replying ‘Sorry, what do you mean?’
Laura looked at me and paused herself.

‘Well you look a little boyish and not Jacks type. So I was wondering what the attraction was for him. Usually he goes for the bimbo flashy look with boobs hanging out.’

I thought ‘You madam. That’s a bit rude and uncalled for, especially since you don’t know me from Adam. Or Eve I suppose.’

Jane intervened. ’ Take no notice Julie, she’s just laying a marker down since she has the hots for him.’

‘Do not, don’t be rotten, I’ve known Jack since we were fifteen and we finished a long time ago. I finished with him.’

She looked a little bit embarrassed now and it seemed obvious that she still had a thing for Jack. I thought I’d have been better not to get involved but I found myself automatically responding. I couldn’t stop my mouth.

‘I’m sorry but I hardly know Jack. We only met yesterday and he was sweet enough to help me after my handbag was stolen so I’d panicked and just turned up at the hotel next to his bar.’

‘Well you seem to have already caught his eye and that’s not Jacks style to help ladies in distress. He’s more the type to look the other way.’

‘Really I find that difficult to believe and I found him very charming and courteous.’ I was getting irritated by now and felt like smacking her face.

Jane smiled ‘I think she’s just a bit jealous and she’s just drawing a line in the sand.’
‘Am not. I don’t have a problem if they have something going together’

‘HaHa you should have seen your face then when Debbie told us that Jacks girlfriend would like to take the spare ticket that Maggie had.’

‘I didn’t care since Jack never called me after we split up.’

I thought about what I was about to say since I seemed to be getting innocently being dragged into an argument with one of Jacks ex girlfriends. But I was a boy. Why was I acting so strangely? I needed to shut up and calm down. So I crossed my legs and hung on to the door handle as the driver swung around the corner into Kensington High Street towards the hotel.

That was helpful because we were passing Kensington Palace where Princess Di had lived with Charles. Jane was trying to help and diverted attention saying she wanted to visit since it was close by the hotel and that she wanted to buy something in memory of Di.

I thought about poor Princess Di and how much jealousy she must have had to face. There must have been lot’s of situations like this like I was having now with Laura I suppose, especially when she faced the dragon that had now married Charles.

If ever there was a woman that made me feel I wanted to be beautiful and try to feminise myself it was Di. She was a beautiful butterfly created from an awkward young girl. I’d read all about her in the book ‘Diana’ and cried a lot. How sad she had been trapped in that stupid marriage.

Then I came back to my senses as we approached the Rules Hotel where they were staying and the bar alongside that was Jacks kingdom where we’d laughed together the night before. I decided I should speak again.

‘Look I’m really sorry Laura but rest assured there is nothing to worry about since I’m in a relationship and there’s absolutely nothing between Jack and me.’

I was shocked at these words that seemed to just fall from my tongue. My reaction was who the hell does she think she is to interfere if Jack and I have something going? Then I realised I was acting a bit jealously myself yet I did hardly know Jack. Surely I wasn’t declaring interest in him. What was I doing? What had happened to me?

I nervously adjusted my position on the uncomfortable seat since I was trying to be as feminine as I could after Laura had suggested I might be a boy. Did I look like a boy I needed to look and find out as soon as I could get to a bathroom.

For the journey I had tried to sit properly with my knees together like Laura and Jane did naturally and whilst it wasn’t too difficult I was conscious that I needed to err on the safe side. I was glad the journey from Kings Cross Station had been short because it had been quite an experience and I felt like I was under a spotlight. As the taxi stopped Linda and Jane climbed down out of the cab first.

Then to my surprise Jane reached out and held my hand as I stepped out onto the pavement. It was unusual to be helped like this rather than me helping a girl. Jane smiled and whispered ‘Sorry just ignore her.’

Jack came over with Debbie and Maggie and paid for the cab and we gathered up the bags and suitcases and climbed the steps to enter the hotel to register.

Jack had got a discounted rate for all three rooms without breakfast and I nervously tried to intervene to ensure the rooms had single beds if I was to share. No answer from the bitchy girl who I’d talked to the day before. She just ignored me. I’d have much preferred to stay at Jacks place in the circumstances. I’d already had two scares that day and maybe third time unlucky if my roommate spotted me.

I excused myself to use the bathroom. I needed to check my face to see if I did actually look more boy than girl. Jane came with me and after we relieved ourselves I was first to the mirror. I didn’t look too bad but with hardly any make up it was true that I might have a problem so I dipped into my handbag for my lippy and some eye shadow.

Jane laughed and said ‘Putting on your war paint for Laura or is it for Jack.’
‘No No I just wanted to freshen up and Laura was a bit cruel.’

‘So what she is just jealous of your looks. I can see why Jack might be attracted. He isn’t a bimbo fan at all.’

‘I’m not doing this for Jack it’s just me I don’t like to go out without my face on and I was in a rush this morning.’

‘Oh he kept you up late then?’

‘No no he didn’t. We were just late back to his place and we were chatting for ages.’

‘Ok I believe you although thousands wouldn’t. Come on let’s see what the others are doing.’
As we approached Maggie who was the organiser Laura cut in. ‘Sarah got the short straw and is sharing with you.’

I thought Little Bitch I’m glad it’s not you.

Sarah was a little taller than me and probably the plainest of all of the group freckles so that she did look a bit out of place. She was very slim with hardly any bust and dressed plainly in a jacket with slim fit jeans showing her long legs. No heels and she was still quite tall. At least she was very friendly and I was relieved.

Jack disappeared whilst we went up to the rooms to take a look and settle in. Poor Jane and Laura got a side room that would make Laura even more jealous because Sarah and I got upgraded to a de-luxe room looking out over the street. The rooms were small and aghhh no single beds. OMG dare I share a double with Sarah?

She didn’t give me much choice as she pulled me into the room and dragged me onto the bed with her bouncing up and down. ‘Julie this is a gorgeous room and a comfy bed. Which side do you like to sleep? Do you mind if I sleep window side so you have the door in case of burglars?’

‘Errr, it’s ok no problem. No burglars here in a hotel anyway.’ I thought I need to be bathroom side anyway and even door side in case I had to escape if Sarah found out and started screaming.

So here I was. Another fine mess I got myself into.

‘Do you mind if we meet the others Sarah since I need to see Jack. Are you coming downstairs or staying here.’

‘I’ll stay here for a while if that’s OK. I might show Debbie and Maggie our room and I should show Laura of course. She’ll be dead jealous.’

I found Jack. He was sat reading a newspaper on a sofa in reception. The bar was open but a girl was running it until 4pm when Jack would take over.

He smiled and asked what was wrong since he saw my expression of concern I suppose. Mum says I can’t hide my feelings very well.

‘Jack, I can’t share a bed with a stranger even though it’s a friend of your sister. It’s not right.’

‘Why what’s wrong I thought girls loved slumber parties and liked to share beds.Didn’t you have parties with your friends or share on school trips?’

‘Well that’s not the same thing.’

Why not?’

‘Well at school we all knew each other.’

Mmm I’d shared with boys but always in dormitories. I was always one of the shy ones who changed in the shower rooms or toilets rather than expose myself. I did get teased a lot for this and bullied a bit.

Then Debbie arrived with Maggie.

‘Where’s your case Julie? Aren’t you staying.’

‘Oh it’s at Jacks place and he said he’d go back for it later since he was supposed to bring it for me. I said I’d work in the bar with him anyway.’

‘Yes I’m not surprised he forgot since he is so absent minded. We were hoping you’d like to come with us to look around Kensington Palace and then we could all walk in the park along to the Royal Albert Hall. It’s a great day for photos.’

‘Oh Oh the site seeing would be great but photos might be tricky.’

‘Mmm I’d love to but to be honest I don’t like letting Jack down. You need me to help you set up don’t you Jack?’

‘Err no. You should go enjoy yourself it’s your vacation.’

‘But Jack you have no assistant and I promised.’

‘Hu Hu. Julie it’s fine.’

I wanted him to help me escape but he wouldn’t catch on. Or was he teasing me?” I stuck out my tongue a little bit to him and scrunched my nose because he was smirking. ‘OK what time do you need me back?’

‘Why don’t you all come back about 6pm and then have a few drinks for Happy Hour. It’s buy one get one free.’ I’ll arrange for you all to eat at an Italian restaurant close by.’

I thought. A bit and eventually gave up. He fixed my afternoon for me and as long as he would collect my suitcase I couldn’t really argue. I turned to Debbie and Maggie.

‘OK if you really don’t mind I’d love to go to Kensington Palace but I do need my case later if you don’t mind. Otherwise my feet will be killing me and I’d like to change to flats if I’m helping in the bar after walking around all afternoon.’ That was going to be my biggest challenge walking around Kensington Palace and through Kensington Park in heels.
Jack piped up. ‘OK then go for it girls. Take advantage of the sunshine.’

As we gathered together in reception half an hour later I sat with Debbie. She whispered to me.‘Excuse me Julie. Are you and Jack together?’ Looking at my ring she said ‘He hasn’t secretly proposed has he?’ ‘Sarah says that Laura is worried to death.’

To be continued…………………