Accidents Happen

Victoria had been attempting to get ahold Joanna for days now, but she wouldn't pick up. Surely she had seen herself on T.V.?

A week after their incident with the Prince of Wales Tori found herself leaving the tenth voicemail for Joanna. "Jesus, Anna, would you just pick up the phone? I know you're mad at me, and I know I was being an arsehole, but this is more than that!" She scolded before hanging up and flung her phone onto the table as she massaged her temples.

When Victoria had seen herself being knocked to the ground by Prince Harry himself displayed on her television, she was more than surprised. Had she suspected people to talk? Yes. Had she thought she would be broadcasted on worldwide television falling flat on her back with the Prince of Wales on top of her over and over? No.

She was stressed, to say the least. Joanna not returning her calls, along with seeing herself on the telly every time she wanted to watch Doctor Who was not something Tori thought a great situation.

Just as she was thinking it couldn't get worse, there was a knock on the door. She sighed and padded lightly on her bare feet toward the sound. Before she could get a word out, she was bombarded with questions from no less than 7 reporters. Victoria let a tiny scream befall her, before she retreated back inside her small home, shaking.

As if that wasn't enough, her mobile phone started vibrating on the table, and she ran to pick it up without checking the caller I.D., hoping it was her best friend. "Look, I'm sorry, I-"

"Sorry for what?" she heard a sonorous voice come from the other end of the line.

"Oh. Who's this exactly?"

"Is your memory really that bad? It's Harry. Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, bloody great. My best friend won't answer my calls and there's about 10 people outside my house with their stupid cameras and their stupid questions and oh my gosh, is this your fault?" She finished, breathing fast.

"Wait, wait, slow down would you? What are you talking about, people outside your house? I think you're going to need to tell me the whole story," Victoria could hear the frown in his voice.

"Right," she took a deep breath and told him the whole story as fast as possible, "Joanna got jealous that you were spending time with me and not her and then she dropped me back home and I turned the telly on and there you and me and Joanna were at the parade and you fell on me and then it showed us walking into the palace and then today I walk outside to see these bloody reporter people invading my doorstep." said Tori in one long breath, feeling a little faint by the end of it.

"She was... jealous... and then... Okay so there are reporters at your house?" Harry stuttered, sounding flustered.

"Yes and yes. Can you help me? I don't know what to do," she pleaded. Victoria never pleaded, her mother told her not to. Her mum always said that no one should ever make you feel low enough to beg for other peoples help; there is always a way to work something out yourself. But this was desperate, and Tori didn't feel like listening to her mothers advice at this precise moment.

"What's your address?"

"What, why?"

"I'm coming to get you. Pack some stuff and you can stay at the palace for a few days, until we can sort this out."

"Oh, come on. I can't do that! It'll start more shit!"

"Victoria. Is there not enough shit as it is? I did say only until it dies down. Me and my family can sort it out, it is after all my fault."

"Don't be daft, I was the one who agreed to let you take me inside," she quavered.

"Look, I'm trying to help. Can I pick you up or not?"

"Yes, all right." She declared her decision before telling Harry her address. "Can I have half an hour?"

"You can. I'll leave in half an hour and be there within 15 minutes."

"Okay. And Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," she smiled to herself, happy that he was making so much effort to keep her safe.

"No problem. Oh, and close your curtains!" He said before he hung up.

Victoria closed her eyes and let out a huge breath she hadn't even realized she was holding inside. "Calm down, you stupid girl." She told herself. "This situation isn't even that bad, you've been through worse." Tori thought of her brother for a brief moment, before tearing up and pushing it out of her mind once more and moving to pack her bags and change into something more appropriate than her pajamas.

***********************

Even before Harry remembered what the number of Victoria's house was, he knew which one was hers. Word had obviously spread, as there were visibly more than 15 reporters on her doorstep just waiting for a glimpse of her. What a surprise they got when they saw Harry step out of the car.

Reporters weren't legally allowed to touch him, so he watched them back up a small amount when they saw him, but their voices escalated to an alarming pitch. This, as Tori had stated, was not going to help any sort of rumors circulating. Oh, well. At least he got to see her again.

***********************

She knew he was there before she saw him. As soon as the reporters' voices rose, it clicked who must be outside. What a fright the prince must have given them! It would have been a long shot for them to assume that he himself would turn up on the girl's doorstep and even they weren't stupid enough to elevate their boss' expectations when they couldn't be met.

It was only a few seconds before he reached the door, and Victoria opened and shut the it as quick as possible to avoid awkward confrontations with the paparazzi.

"Why are they bothering me? I'm nobody important!" Victoria queried as soon as they were far enough from the door to talk.

"Yes, you are." Said Harry, running fingers through his flaming hair. "You're associated with me now. You're important."

Tori sighed, turning away only to remember something she had forgotten to pack. "Ah, fuck. Where did I put them?" she swore, lifting couch pillows and magazines.

"What have you lost?" Harry frowned.

"My bloody cigarettes. I seem to have misplaced the whole packet..."

"I'll buy you some more, and I've got an unopened pack in my room. Let's just get out of here, these people are stressing me out."

"That's how I've been feeling all day."

"Even more reason to leave, yes?" He smiled. "Got everything?"

"I think so."

"Righty-ho! We're off." The prince grinned and opened the door for her, ordering the photographers and reporters to let her through.

This wasn't exactly the day Tori had planned, but it could be worse. Couldn't it?