Lilly:Not avoiding you. And just a few more days. Then this will all be over.
Keller:A few more days.
Lilly:Love you.
Keller:Love you, Lilly.
With that, I place my phone in my purse, which I slip on my shoulder, before putting my robe over my entire going-out outfit.
The plan is as follows. I slip out of my room, telling the guards I’m going to Timmy’s room for a quick second so they don’t follow me. Once in his room, we put on the disguise and then head around the hall to the picture. It’s risky, but I’m ready to take a risk.
On a deep breath, I clench my robe together and open my bedroom door. I smile at the guards who are standing off to the side. “Hey, I’m going to go to Timmy’s room. He needs some slippers, his feet are cold.” I hold up a pair of my fuzzy pink slippers.
They just nod, giving me the go-ahead to walk down the hallway to Timmy’s room, which is right past Keller’s. Quietly, I tiptoe across the carpet, and when I reach Timmy’s room, I don’t knock, I just let myself in.
He’s sitting at the vanity near the window, brushing a long brown wig. When he sees me in the reflection of his mirror, he holds up the wig. “For you, my queen.” He stands from the vanity, and I strip out of my robe, revealing a pair of jeans and a thick sweater. My shoes are tucked under one arm, so I let those drop to the floor, then I walk over to Timmy where he puts my wig on.
“Oh girl, you can rock the brown hair.” He adjusts the bangs and picks up a ball cap, shakes it out, and slips it over my head. It’s a plain faded green hat, but it does the trick because when I look in the mirror, it sits low enough on my head so you can’t really see my eyes.
“Perfect,” I say. “What about you?”
He reaches into his suitcase and pulls out a light blond wig that he slips on his head, the style reaching his jawline. He tops it off with a winter hat and then slips on a plaid fleece quarter zip.
My jaw nearly falls to the ground when I take him in. “You look so . . . butch.”
He laughs. “I know. But I pull it off, don’t I?”
“You honestly do,” I answer. “You could fit in nicely here.”
“I would consider it if I wasn’t wearing three pairs of underwear to avoid any frostbite to my nether regions. Don’t think I’ll ever get used to this cold.”
“You’d be surprised. It’s starting to grow on me.”
“Well, if I meet a strapping fisherman ready to rock my boat, maybe I’ll consider it.”
I roll my eyes. “Come on, let’s get out of here before anyone catches on.”
“Aren’t we going to do your makeup?”
I shake my head. “I think it’s best if I go natural. I wear makeup all the time. They won’t be able to recognize me like this.”
“As you wish.” When I raise my brow at him, he says, “What? Not into the wholePrincess Bridething? I think it’s quite fitting.”
I tug on his hand and lead him to his bedroom door. “Be more creative.”
He lightly chuckles and together, we head down the hallway, around the corner, and toward the picture frame.
Whispering, I say, “We have to be quick with the picture, because the guards could catch us if we’re not quiet.”
“I’m nearly shivering out of my boots with nerves at this point. The quicker the better.”
“This was your idea, remember?” I whisper.
“Yes, but you need to remember that I’m all talk most of the time.”
“Oh my God,” I hiss at him. “Don’t chicken out on me now.”
“I’m not,” he says. “But I’m allowed to be nervous.”
