Plain Jane

C4 - Julia to Jane

Julia checks around for a pamphlet to see if the Guesthouse makes food and is glad when she finds a little menu.

After calling the number next to the ‘Order’ label she got an answer pretty quick on the other side, “Toasted cheese and tomato with extra black pepper please and an iced coffee please.”

Five minutes later there is a knock on her door, “that was quick.” 

Julia jumps off the bed and opens the door, “crap.”

“Your highness, I have been ordered to take you back home, please don’t make me throw you over my shoulder,”  the security detail says.

Julia quickly tries to shut the door but he already put his foot in the door.  Not giving her the opportunity to make a run for it the security details grabs her and throws her over his shoulder.  Julia is not surprised when she sees a couple more security outside her door.  Outside the guest house, the security carries her to a black limo and another opens the door.  Inside the limo is her mother, “something really bad could have happened you know?!”

Julia sticks out her tongue to her mother.

“What did you do with your hair and eyebrows?”

Julia just takes a deep breath and bites her lip.  Melissa realizes that her daughter must be pretty upset, “well, your father caved.”

Julia’s silver-green eyes lit up, “really?”

“Yes, after this big fright you gave us he realized that if he does not give you, your way he might lose you for real.  I already have all the options for boarding schools ready but there is only one condition and that is that you choose one that is in Europe.”

“Deal,”  Julia says happily.

“Let's go,”  Melissa orders the driver to go.

“Actually can we wait for my toasted sandwich and ice coffee?” Julia asks as she looks in the direction of the guest house.

“They didn’t make it,”  Melissa says as she picks up her phone to call their own staff to make sure they have it ready when they get home.

“Thank you mom,.. and sorry for running away.”

“Don’t ever do that again,”  Melissa says, hugging her daughter.

Julia looked over her option of boarding schools over a toasted sandwich and ice coffee.  As she clicked through one country to the next she finally landed on a mixed boarding school.  Julia realized that all these boarding schools are top-notch and even though she wanted to live a more common life she knew she had to compromise or get nothing.

“I like this one,”  Julia turns her laptop for her mother to see.

“Italy?”

“Yes, I liked it when we were there a year ago,”  Julia thinks about the roundabout she had with the boy that gave her the baseball-cap.

“Italy it is.  Now go get ready for bed, we going shopping tomorrow,”  Melissa kiss Julia on her head before drinking the last of her red wine.

“I rather go do shopping when we get to Italy.  I don’t want to give away my new look.  Also, can we change my identity?”

“Sure.  Sleep on it and let me know in the morning, I am in desperate need of a relaxing bath after this stressful day,”  Melissa says as she walks off.

Julia does a little happy dance before getting ready for bed herself.

The next morning Julia got up early and got dressed in the same jeans as yesterday but cut one of her dress's skirt part off.  After tucking her hair that is now brunette under her baseball-cap she went to the kitchen to grab some breakfast. 

Around about ten a photographer came and took Julia’s photo for her new identification documents.  It was agreed that not even the school headmaster will know her true identity.  After paying a small fortune as a donation and school fees they got her into her desired school. 

Before two in the afternoon her flight arrived in Rome, Italy.  Julia could not believe that her mother let her come alone.  Julia knew that her mother has responsibilities apart from herself, but did not think that she would really put them before her only daughter, not that she minded.  Julia felt a bit naked without her security detail but at the same time, she felt free.  Julia touches the neckless around her neck that her father send over.  At first, she thought that she still won't be entirely free because the neckless is actually a tracking device and has a panic button, but now she kind of feels a bit safer knowing that her security detail will be able to help her at the touch of a button.  Julia knew that there will be eyes on her always but was promised that she will not see them.  After some shopping, she took a taxi to the boarding school that is only a forty-minute drive from Rome city.  She arrived just as dinner is about to be served and is greeted by a fellow student, “welcome to Ostia, Lazio Boarding school.”  Julia looked the prim and proper dressed girl up and down feeling a bit common in her own outfit and wondered if she chose the right kind of clothing that is mostly plain pieces as she didn’t want to stand out.

“I am Lilly Romano, Grade Nine Class captain, and representative,”  the prim and proper girl extends her hand to Julia.  Julia recognizes the clothing label that Lilly is wearing, Burberry slacks, golfer tee and pullover, and on her head a Burberry Alice-band.

“Love Burberry hey?”  Julia shakes Lilly’s hand.

“Good taste never hurt anyone,”  Lilly word slaps Julia back sarcastically looking her up and down making sure she notice the disgust on her face for her appearance and snarky comments.

“I am Jane, by-the-way,”  Julia introduces herself, regretting her big mouth and stupid comment.

“I know.  Follow me. Girls boarding house is this way.  Girls' house is called Ostia and we are on the Eastside and the boys are called Lazio and they are on the South of campus.”

Julia struggles to carry all her shopping bags but manages to keep up with Lilly. 

“First I will take you to your room so that you can put down your things then we can go to the dining hall as dinner has already been served.”

Julia did not expect the dining room to feel so crowded.  Lilly climbs on a chair and whistles really loud and brings the whole dining hall to silence, “good evening everyone.  We have a new student. Allow me to introduce fellow grade nine student, Plain Jane.”  “Hello Plain Jane,”  everyone says together as Julia, now Jane feels her face flushing hot red.