Page 60 of The Prince Falls First
Her mother’s screeching voice made Gen wince. “Where have you been? You’re shameless! Completely shameless! No doubt with some boy. Do you think the prince will have you now?”
He would even if that were true, not that I’m telling you that.She gestured to her bandages. “I was in an accident last night.”
Her mother scoffed as she came down the stairs, Henrietta following and mimicking their mother’s scorn. “A likely story.”
Gen was soooo close to losing it. “Samira Kaur is d-dead.” Her voice choked on the last word. She hadn’t said it out loud and it made everything feel more final.
“What? You killed her?” Her mother’s hand slapped her face hard, Gen’s already bruised body protesting as she tried to shield herself.
“You-how dare you? Do you know what this will do to my social standing?”
“I didn’t kill her! It was a drunk driver! Did you even watch the news today?”
The slaps didn’t stop and finally Gen had had enough. She screamed, which startled her mother into stopping. Gen then shoved her mother back and headed for the stairs.
Her mother chose to—of course—dramatize the situation. “You hit me! You ungrateful, spoiled child!”
Henrietta tried to grab her, but she pushed her back too.
“Mother! She hit me!”
Their mother hugged Henrietta. “Oh my poor baby. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her.”
More chilling words had never been spoken in the house.
Gen watched the scene from the stairs, knowing her life had been in danger last night, that she’d watched two people essentially die in front of her, she was still bruised, and yet her mother had not once asked her how she was doing. Notwhen she’d called from the hospital, and not now. Yet, here was Henrietta not hurt at all being coddled like a child.
Was Gen jealous of it? Did she want to be held like that and told everything would be okay? Yes. Yes, she did. But she knew she’d never get it, not from her mother, not anymore. Whoever her mother had been had died with their father, and this narcissistic, abusive trash that had also just threatened her was all that was left.
“I’ll be expected at the funeral.”
Her mother’s eyes—no, Helen’s eyes; she didn’t deserve the title of mother anymore in her mind, so she’d only use that title in public if she were forced to—darted up to Gen. “You will not attend that funeral. You killed their daughter! They’ll hate you on sight!”
“I was with them at the hospital for hours while we waited for news, and they don’t hate me. If I don’t show up for the funeral, there will be talk andyouwill be at the center of it. So, I’m going.”
Helen paused a moment, considering. “Of course you’re going! I never suggested otherwise. You’d better be dressed appropriately too! I don’t have money for another dress, so you’ll have to make do with what you have.”
Gen had already planned on that. So she nodded once, turned, and continued up the stairs to her room. As soon as she entered and shut the door, Diana threw her arms around her.
“Gen!”
Gen winced. “Easy, Diana. I’m injured.”
She jumped back. “Oh fuck, I’m so sorry!”
Gen smiled, then gently hugged Diana. “It’s not too bad. Did you hear the yelling?”
Diana nodded against Gen’s shoulder, then pulled back. “I’m sorry about Samira. I know how close you two were.”
Gen nodded. “Thank you.” She sighed and sat on the bed. “It’s been a long fucking night…day…whatever.”
Diana sat down next to her. “Mother was apoplectic when you didn’t show up last night. First, she kept going on and on about how great the prince was, and how this picnic will be a turning point. Then she gets a call that you’ll need to stay at the palace and she kept hoping you’d have sex with the prince and trap him with a baby. Then when you don’t come back, she somehow found out you left the palace.”
“She would be more upset I left the prince instead of the fact I was injured in a massive car accident that killed my best friend. What a fucking bitch.”
Diana nodded. “I’m sorry. I wanted to go to the hospital, but mother wouldn’t let me.”
Gen grasped Diana’s hand and squeezed it. “Thank you. I do appreciate it, even if you couldn’t come. But you’ll be off to college soon and you won’t have to worry about her anymore.”
