No Princess Here

WORK WAS GOOD TODAY. Two of the books I had done reviews on had gotten approved and both authors are new to the writing world. I love new authors. They are fresh and raw. I have seen fame and money ruin a good author. New authors still have that love for their stories that the readers can feel. I let out a small giggle as I walk out of my office building. Now I get to go have a beer and relax.

It only takes me a few minutes to get to Skull’s and as soon as I walk in I feel a peace wash over me. This seedy little bar may not mean a lot to anyone else but to me it is a safe haven. Pete nods at me and reaches into the cooler to get me a Coors Light. Most people would take one look at Pete and turn around and run. He’s right around six foot two, built like a brick house and is covered in tattoos. I’ve never asked his age but I’d put him in his late forties or early fifties. Even though he is no longer a Hell’s Angel he still screams bad boy biker.

I jump up on my bar stool and my eyes go straight to the fifty inch TV in front of me. Tonight UCLA is playing Stanford. Basketball season in is full swing and with March Madness right around the corner every team is out for blood.

I sigh and take a pull off of my beer. I’ve been coming here for almost two years now. Most of the regulars keep to themselves, which is just another thing I love about this bar.

The game had just gone to halftime and I was only half way through with my second beer. Just as I am about to pop my neck the door opens. I glance over and my whole body freezes. What the hell is he doing here? Kyle Grant just walked in. We grew up together and to my Dad he was the son he never had. My sisters were in love with him and I couldn’t stand him. Why the hell was in here?

I take a deep breath and focus my eyes back to the TV and pray he didn’t see me. My hands are shaking so I cross my arms over my chest and act like I’m listening to the halftime report. I can hear Pete talking but I try to block it out. When I feel somebody come to stand beside me I just know it’s Kyle. It takes everything I have in me not to turn and face him.

Sydney? A chill goes through me at the sound of his rough voice. When I don’t answer he moves closer and asks again. Sydney Madison?

When I hear my full name I flinch and turn to face him. My name is Ray. I quietly hiss and turn back to watch the second half of the game start.

"Sydney, what’s going on? Why are you here, in a place like this? The distain in his voice for my beloved bar pisses me off. Does your father know you’re here?" I close my eyes and try to count to ten while taking slow deep breaths.

Is he bothering you Ray? Pete asks from across the bar.

Her name is Sydney! Kyle snaps at Pete.

That’s when I lost it. No jackass my name is Ray! I jump off my bar stool and face him. Not a smart thing to do. Kyle is well over six foot and I’m barely five foot three. I have to crane my neck back to look up at him. I’m sure to others he looks like a model with his naturally sun kissed skin, dark wavy hair, and dark brown eyes that have just a hint of green around the middle, but to me he just enemy number one.

He stares down at me like I have lost my mind. I’m in my standard work outfit. A graphic t-shirt, today’s shirt is black with a white heart on it, a pair of jeans, and my favorite sneakers. My chestnut brown hair is up in a high pony tail and I’m not wearing any make up. I don’t look like daddy’s princess and that’s the way I like it. I only cake on the makeup, slap on the heels, and wear the girly dresses when I’m forced to be Sydney Madison. When I’m Ray, then I can dress anyway I like. Kyle has never seen me without the princess gear on, other than when we were younger and in school. So how the hell did he know it was me?

I think you need to leave. I jump when I hear Pete almost growl at us. I thought he was talking to both of us but when I looked over at him, he is glaring at Kyle. I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling.

Pete could probably kill Kyle in hundred different ways. I would never want to be on Pete’s bad side. He is scary when mad and right now he looks pretty damn mad at Kyle.

Ignoring Pete, Kyle glares at me. Do I need to call your father and let him know about where his youngest daughter is hanging out? Because I know for damn sure he wouldn’t be happy with you in a place like this! Kyle is basically screaming at me right now and before I know what is happening my right fist is making contact with his jaw.

On one hand it felt great to finally get to punch an asshole like him. On the other hand it hurt like hell to punch an asshole like him. I let out a yelp right as I see Pete pull Kyle up off the floor and drag him to the door. Another bar regular already has the door pulled open. Once Pete throws Kyle out, and I mean literally throws him out, he comes over to checks on my hand. There’s no doubt in my mind that I broke my hand. Pete gets me an ice pack as I call Mike and ask him to come get me.

Mike Cullen is my cousin on my mom’s side. Our mothers are sisters. After my mom, Grace, died from breast cancer, when I was ten, Mike became more like a big brother to me. My sisters, Kelly and Vicky, love the life style we grew up in. They are truly daddy’s little princesses. Mike knew I was the black sheep of my family and took me under his wing. He is also one of the few that knows about my double life.

It only took Mike ten minutes to get to Skull’s. When he walked in I could tell he was pissed. A pissed Mike is almost like a pissed Pete just without the criminal record to match. I lay my head against the bar and wait for him to make his way over to me. Mike is a former NFL linebacker who now coaches for a local high school. He had to move the stool beside me to be able to stand next to me. His body looks the same way it did while he was playing pro ball, big as hell and harder than a rock.

Why is Kyle Grant standing outside? The anger in Mike’s voice doesn’t surprise me, it’s his question that does. Kyle is still outside?

Because I broke my hand on his jaw. I softly laugh and take the ice off my hand and hold it up to show Mike.

Let me guess, he called you Sydney? Mike laughs and helps me off my bar stool. I toss a twenty on the bar and wave at Pete with my good hand. He didn’t ask any questions about Kyle or about being called Sydney. I know I’ll have to explain at some point but at least it’s not tonight.

That and he asked if he needed to call Dad and tell him where I was hanging out. I tell Mike before we make it to the door. I stop him before he can open the door. Please don’t fight with him tonight. I need a ride to the ER and back home. I’ll talk to Dad and see if he can talk to Kyle but tonight I need you with me, not in jail.

I gotcha Tinker Bell, no worries. I smile at his nickname for me. It’s the reason that I chose Bell when I was coming up with a new last name. I’ve always loved the Disney character Tinker Bell. I have a small collection of items, mostly silly things like puzzles or stickers, and mostly bought by Mike. When he first started calling me Tinker Bell I thought he was teasing me about it like my sisters always did, but he told me that if it was something that I loved then it didn’t matter what everyone else thought. From then on I would let him call me Tinker Bell but he would chew my sisters out if they tried to do it. Mike was my protector, and still is.

When we walk outside Kyle is standing right there waiting on us. Mike’s truck is parked across the street and my number one goal is to make it to his truck without one of us killing Kyle. I cradle my hurt hand to my chest and grab onto Mike’s arm with the other one. It’s times like these that I’m grateful I don’t carry a purse that often. I have a small wallet that I keep in my back pocket and my phone is in my front pocket. I’ve never been the type of girl that needed a jumbo purse full of crap.

Sydney we need to talk. Kyle says while trying to block me from passing him.

Back off asshole! Mike snarls at him. I’m taking her to the ER. Whatever you have to say can wait. Mike guides me around Kyle and we make it to his truck before Kyle realizes what Mike said.

The ER? Why? Kyle makes it over to us before Mike can get my door shut.

Why? Come on Kyle you can’t be that stupid! I snap at him I broke my hand when I punched you. I roll my eyes and let Mike buckle me in.

Oh shit! I’m so sorry Sydney. I know the panic in his voice is more about his worry over what my Dad is going to do to him then over me actually being hurt.

Mike and Kyle stare at each other for a minute before Mike pushes him out of the way and shuts my door. Mike gets in, starts the truck, and pulls out without saying a word. I lean back and think about who I need to call first. I’ll have to use my real name at the hospital because my insurance is still under Dad’s plan. An ER visit shouldn’t be a big deal but when it’s the Governor’s daughter then everyone wants to know what is going on.

My sister Kelly was rushed to the ER last year with a bad case of the flu. Should have just been a normal visit right? Wrong. By the time she was released there were four news crews waiting in the parking lot. No one knows how they found out but it was a nightmare. They didn’t leave her alone for weeks. She even asked to come stay with me for a while because reporters had camped out at her apartment.

My family may not get along, and yeah there is some hate there but when we need each other everyone is there for each other. Sure there will be some fighting but that’s just how our family is. I call Vicky right as Mike is pulling into the parking lot at the hospital.

What’s wrong? Vicky asks as soon as she picks up the phone. She is straight forward. She knows if I’m calling, not texting her, then something is wrong.

Mike is taking me to the ER. I think I broke my hand while punching the shit out of Kyle Grant. I need you to get a hold of Dad and Kelly. I had to stop Mike from lifting me out of the truck. I’m not that hurt.

Please explain a little more because you know Dad is going to want to know everything and I’m in no mood to fight with him. I smile at this. Vicky is still one of daddy’s princesses but she doesn’t put up with his bullshit like Kelly does. This is the reason I called her not Kelly or Dad.

I ran into Kyle tonight at a bar and he started mouthing off. I hit him then Mike came and got me and now we are at the hospital. Anything else because I need to go sign in? I sigh and drop my head back.

Are you ok? She actually sounds worried.

Yeah, I’ll be fine. Probably will have to get a cast put on.

I can almost hear the wheels working in her head and that’s never a good thing. Maybe now you can take some time off and we can all take a vacation together. I groan and finally let Mike help me out of the truck.

The last thing I need is a family vacation. Mike starts laughing as we walk to the entrance of the hospital. I need to go, please let the others know. I’ll keep you updated. I hang up before she can answer.

A family vacation? Is she crazy? Yeah I have like six or seven weeks of vacation time stored up but I won’t use it to go hang out with my loving family. Hell no! If I use my vacation time I’ll take a private vacation.

I WAKE UP TO SOMEONE pounding on my door. I glance over at the clock and groan. It’s 6am for crying out loud. I got home about three hours ago and only fell asleep two hours ago. The ER was packed but after sitting in the waiting room for about an hour a security guard came and got me. Having your name yelled out in a crowded waiting room by a security guard is not the greatest way to keep a low profile.

When he walked Mike and me up to the third floor of the hospital, which is used for offices, I didn’t know what was going on. Then I saw my father. Apparently Dad had the hospital send one of the ER doctors up here to see me so that no one else would know I was there. If your daughter got into a