EVIDENCE OF MY GROWING UP

21 FEBRUARY, SUNDAY, 10AM

I didn't get any time to shower after that, but I changed back into a normal clothes - well, not entirely normal, but it was the closest thing to normal I've been in since coming here.

A solid black skinny jeans, which might have been the reason I felt it was normal, a cream ribbed top, it looked like a t-shirt, but the sleeves were just slightly long, flaring just over my hands so only my fingers peeped out. The collar was unique too, it wasn't a round or v neck. It was like a half turtleneck - which I realised flattered me.

Next was all the not normal things: A longish necklace with a leaf (or was it a feather) pendant, and the same leaf motif rings. It was all topped with the pale pink woolen coat - which wasn't my usual choice of color, but I had worn it out before.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I hadn't even removed my make up yet, but since I was wearing it "natural", it didn't look too weird. In fact, I quite liked the me I saw in the mirror. It was me, but a prettier more grown up version of me. I felt quite surprised to see me like that.

It would be nice, if I could always be this version of me. I took note to tell Ki I didn't want to wear cartoon t-shirts or sweatsuits anymore, but promptly changed my mind when I realized what I would have to give up. Namely, the funny graphics and hoodies... I wasn't quite ready to give all that up just yet.

Maybe I could wear make up with my sweat suit. HAHAHAHAHA...

But as ridiculous the idea was, I was seriously considering it. Maybe I was finally growing up.

I smiled at my reflection. Hello, grown up version of me! Heehee! Just right for a car ride with Bell! I'm so grown up these days!

"Sam!" It was mum, "Oh dear, Sam, I need your help!"

Being the more mature and infinitely more sophisticated version of myself, I popped out of my room in all my teenage coolness, "Yeah, Mum?"

Mum was with Ki. They were both studying a small mountain of pony supplies.

"I can't believe we bought this much!" Mum pressed her lips together.

"I'm sure Luna Bell's boot might be able to accommodate some of the bags." Ki offered.

"Maybe we should take them out of the packaging. They might all fit into the suitcase." Mum suggested.

I belatedly noticed a single large navy blue hard suitcase opened and empty on one side of the living room.

'I don't think we should discard the pony boxes though." Mum picked up one of them up to admire. They were cardboard boxes with clear plastic windows, each with a pony residing within, " Such beautiful boxes! Maybe we could pack the pony accessories into the luggage, and hand carry the boxes."

When Dad brought home our first ponies, they just came in paper bags. I remembered them because they were printed like a colouring sheet, and you could color the paper bag yourself.

I went over to check out the fancy boxes. They even had the pony's info printed on it. I guess it was because we bought collector sets this time round and not the regular build-a-pony.

Even Sir Sparklalot had become a collector set. His box was the biggest and pinkest because it was a special valentine's edition collectors box.

"Alright, Sam can hand-carry her ponies. It's that big pink one, Sam. And one of these Gold City Ambassador Ponies too." Mum decided, "We can open up the rest of the accessories, and put the rest of the ponies in Luna Bell's car, maybe?"

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind." Ki smiled like the flower to the sun at the thought.

If anyone popped open Bell's boot today, they're going to think he really likes them. Actually, if I didn't know better, I would've thought he was definitely smuggling something shady in them. Hahahaha.

I pulled out Sir Sparklalot's box, and then the other box, "Just these? Why do I have two ponies?"

"I know you said you didn't want one, but I was buying ponies for your sisters and I thought it would only be fair to get you one too." Mum smiled, "Even if you don't play with it, it seemed like a special souvenir from Gold City."

I guess... The words "Welcome to Gold City!" were emblazoned in gold across the box.

My Gold City Ambassador Pony was

a light sky blue. Mum had customized it with a yarn-like darker blue mane so it had a rag doll look, "This one's named Cookie Monster."

I brought Sir Sparklalot and Cookie Monster back into my room, catching sight of my reflection when I put the two boxes next to my opened luggage bag.

I stopped and straightened. Oh right. I was the mature and sophisticated version of me now. But I guess it was just the outside that changed. The inside of me... not so much.

I looked at the two pony boxes and wondered if Lily-Butt would be jealous of the fancy boxes the other two had.

Or maybe the other two would be jealous of Lily-Butt's freedom. That was easier to solve. It only took a few minutes to free them.

"Sam... I was just wondering..." Mum entered my room and paused at the sight of me with a pony in each hand, "Oh Sam! We're trying to pack! Don't take them out now!"

Ki appeared smiling at the doorway.

Mum didn't stop scolding, "Really now, Sam! You're no better than a puppy sometimes!"

Ki came in and packed up my bags and things while Mum repacked the ponies into their boxes. She even redid the ribbons, "Sam, your ponies need to stay in their boxes till we get home, okay?"

I think Mum really forgot that I wasn't a puppy anymore. I laughed, "Yeah okay."

If my tail was out, I would wag.

Mum's always funny when she was flustered.

"Okay!" Mum put the pony boxes to the side, "I just need to touch up, and get my purse and coat."

"Your shoes too." I helpfully pointed out. Mum was still in the hotel slippers.

"Yes. That too." Mum agreed with a firm nod, "Sam, I want you to sit on the couch outside and NOT MOVE. Don't open anything, go anywhere, or take off anything. Don't touch anything either."

"Can I touch the air?" I couldn't help it. Sometimes Mum made it too easy to mess with her.

"Y..yes. Just..." Mum flung her hands up, "Sam! Please! Just don't get into any trouble!"

So I was sent out of my own room. Just like that.

"Wow." Ben smirked at me from the front door of the suite.

I plunked myself down on the couch, "Wow, what?"

"Wow, how the mighty alpha has fallen." Ben said.

Who me? Haha, yeah, I guess it was quite funny. I was the alpha - a pretty damn powerful one at that, and here I was sent out to sit on the couch like a naughty pup.

Wait, should I be offended?

Two raps on the front door, this time it was Harvey. He handed Ben a small stack of hotel key cards and a big wad of ten-dollar bills, "Check out and sign these off, get the cars out front in 15. Make sure to tip - even if you don't give a s***, you're in the Alpha Princess colours."

For some reason, even my usually calm Beta was frazzled around the edges.

Ben grinned and lazily kicked the door wider so that Harvey would notice me just sitting not three meters away.

Harvey's face! Hahaha.

But as usual, he recovered quickly enough, "Pardon, Alpha. Please excuse me."

And then he was gone.

"What's happening?" I asked Ben.

It turned out that checking out was quite the logistical nightmare. The original plan had Beta Gerald and Harvey doubling up with hotel management since the new hotel didn't have that many experienced staff. Ben was in charge of our contingent of warriors, which wasn't hard since we had good deltas on board. Inspection and checkouts were done and all the men were on their specific detail, ready for us to leave. Ki was supposed to be dealing with the PR followup and packing for the Alpha family. But anyway, it's all up in the air now and Harvey is juggling most of it.

Mostly because Beta Lucas who was originally supposed to be overseeing our check out was out of action. Ki had to take a nap after the healing session. Mostly Ki had clean passed out for the last half hour. Poor Ki! I guess Beta Lucas must've been really in bad shape.

"How's your dad?" I asked.

Ben shrugged, his attention on counting the number of ten dollar bills, "He'll be okay, as long as Mum doesn't find out."

"I guess we could just not tell her." I said.

"As long as he ups my allowance by another 20%, I won't tell." Ben agreed.

Wait what? "You're blackmailing your dad when he's injured?"

Ben chuckled, "Nah, I'm just negotiating."

Terrible! I shook my head, "Ben, have you ever heard of retribution kids?"

"No, what's that?" Ben finished counting the bills and pocketed them inside his coat.

"Like if you're a bad puppy and make things hard for your parents, the moon goddess will give you a kid whose just as bad so you'd have to suffer the same fate." I explained.

Ben laughed at that, "Sam, I probably AM the retribution kid. I've got to go give out free money now. See you out front."

I don't think Ben had a lot of experience with remorse. If he kept this up, I felt sure he was heading towards a double dose of retribution!

5 minutes later, all our luggage were out the door - even the boxes of ponies. I had to say they looked very funny stacked up on the bell hops trolley.

Another 5 minutes and Mum and Dad emerged from their room, properly dressed in respectable grown up travel clothes. I've never heard of having to dress up to go home, but here we were doing it. Mum allowed me off the couch and as we left the Langston 2.0, I realized why we had to dress up. It wasn't really to go home - I could've worn a sweat suit to do that. It was to walk across the lobby of the Langston and enter our car.

Again the staff at the Langston lined up to see us off, and once outside, the cameras started shooting from behind the barriers. I think the paparazzi camped there - as in literally. I saw a tent and a lot of coffee cups littered in their area. Their collective morning breath mixed with mint gum wafted across to us when the wind blew. Maybe they needed to catch every car that left after Henry's Inauguration ceremony.

The party would continue here at Gold City till tomorrow morning. I'm missing all the party bits because Dad didn't want to waste his time on personal politics, our betas had loads of work to catch up on at home, and Mum said I was too young to be partying anyway.

"It's not the kind of party for young girls to go to." Mum said primly, "Besides, you have exams this week."

I shrugged, I didn't really want to go to the party anyway. I mean, we're already missing Breakfast with the Alpha back home. I didn't get to see my gang even once this weekend. And to make matter worse, I had exams this week - which Mum had just said, but what she didn't know was that I hadn't studied for it AT ALL.

I checked my phone, but it didn't help because it probably wasn't updated yet. My afternoon was still blocked out for "Prince River's Visit". Maybe if I kept really quiet, everyone would be too busy to notice I had nothing to do, and I could just sneak up to my room and study for a few hours.

It's common knowledge that teenagers sneak up to their rooms to do stuff all the time. I just couldn't believe I turned out to be the kind to sneak up to STUDY. Wow, who would have thought that I, Samantha Kingsley, would grow up to be a nerd?