Marriage by Law (15 page)

"What are you doing?" he asked, placing his hands in his pockets and swinging back on his heel. I held up the tub. Wasn't it obvious?

"Don't judge. I haven't had a proper meal in ages."

He bent down and sat on the ground next to me.

"And this is?" He asked, making a grab for my spoon.

I pulled it away from him. "Hey, get your own."

I worked hard for this ice cream. I had to deal with annoying kids running around everywhere. I love kids, but not spoilt rotten rich kids. They had no discipline and didn't know the good things in life. They aren't kids; they are monsters.

He leaned back against the shelf with his feet stretched out and I stifled a laugh. His legs were so long that his feet had reached the other shelf, and he was awkwardly pushed up against the other shelf. 

"It's melting," he said, motioning to the ice cream carton.

I looked down and saw the ice cream-turned-sludge. I patted my stomach.

"I'm too full to even move," I said, leaning my head back.

"That's why you’ll give it to me," he said and I moved the ice cream away from him. 

"No," I said, taking another spoonful. I'd eat it all before I give it away!

Damn, the ice cream was making me sleepy. 

Darius suddenly leaned forward and I leaned to the side. "What are you doing?" I raised my eyebrows at his outstretched hand.

"You have ice cream on your face," he said. I looked down, but my nose was in the way.

"I can't see any." 

"Stay still, then." He moved closer and I rolled my eyes, finally looking up and meeting his gaze. It was like time had frozen his face close to mine and I couldn't do anything but stare into the depth of his eyes.

It nearly felt like there were invisible strings pulling us closer. But then a loud bang sounded as the door slammed shut. We both jumped apart when we heard footsteps and I could feel my face flaming up like I did something wrong.

"Well, kill me if I found you a day without ice cream."

I looked up to see who it was and squealed and jumped up into the arms of one of my best friends.

"When did you come back?"

Jeremy laughed as he hugged me back, taking all the oxygen out of my chest. I coughed and tried to pulled back.

"Jesus, you still try and squash me with your hugs," I laughed. He ruffled my hair affectionately and wiped my cheek. "You have ice cream all over you."

I wiped my cheek and looked up at Darius who was now on his feet watching us. 

Jeremy looked over and smiled, extending a hand. "Jeremy. And you must be Darius, eh?" he said, winking at me. I rolled my eyes. Darius nodded, and hesitated a bit before shaking Jeremy’s hand. Jeremy leaned against the bench top, placing an arm around my shoulder,

"When did you get back?" I asked again.

"Yesterday and your mother called," he said grimacing. I laughed. Of course she would have. 

"Oh right, we were friends from high school," I told Darius, who nodded quietly.

"Now what did you bring for me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Jeremy laughed and excused us and pulled me with him outside.

He had left a few months ago to his trip to France and I couldn't wait to see what he brought back for me from France. Every time he’s away, he brings me a souvenir from that country and I keep it in a box. Last time, it was a piece of the Berlin Wall!

"Well, he's hot," Jeremy was saying as he walked me to his car. 

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes. I swear Jeremy was gay when we were younger, and I bet one day he still may be. He had the softest blonde hair that was shoulder length. It was silkier than the girls’ in the shampoo ads and he combed it more than three times a day.

"Oh my god! Is that a peacock?"

Jeremy raised an eyebrow with a confused expression as he pulled out a bag. I sighed when I realised what it was. It was a bag that was the same blue color as a peacock. 

"Oh my bad," I said as I opened it and pulled out a small box. It was wrapped in a ribbon of the French colours. Inside was a necklace with the Fleur de Lis pendant. I couldn’t help smiling.

"Here, turn around," Jeremy said as he unclasped the necklace.

I turned around and he secured it. I could feel the cold metal on my skin and laughed. "Thanks, Gwen," I said, using the nickname I called him as a kid.

He ruffled my hair again. "No worries, kiddo."

I saw Darius walking in the garden and called him over.

"Look," I said, showing him the necklace.

Darius smiled and said, "Looks good." 

"I know, right!"

"This girl has a weird fascination with necklaces and lockets," said Jeremy and I rolled my eyes. 

"Anyway, I have to go," said Jeremy.

I looked up from playing with my locket. "Already?" I asked.

"Cathy is back in the hotel. She's got jet lag." He was rolling his eyes. I gave him a hug, yes, another bone crushing one.

"Tell her hi!" I said. He waving and then shook Darius’ hand before leaving.

"Cathy?" asked Darius.

"His girlfriend," I said, trying to see the necklace that sat perfectly between my collarbones.

"He has a girlfriend?"

"Duh." I pouted as I watched. Darius smiled.

"What?" I asked as he stared at me. Did I have more ice cream on me?

"Your mother’s looking for you."

"Oh shit," I said, sighing deeply.  

It was just past midnight when we got home and I groaned when I remembered that our parents were still staying with us.  

"Get a good night’s rest, you two. We have plans for tomorrow," called my mother and I groaned my disapproval. Leave it to my mother to make plans. Darius chuckled but I glared at him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was like this. He wasn't the one wearing a pink cupcake dress. 

"Me first," I said, quickly closing the bedroom door in his face so I could change. I could hear him outside as I pulled my suitcase and opened it. Damn, he brought the wrong suitcase into the room. This one was filled with the soft toys I had won, not my clothes.

I pulled out my smaller bag and pulled out a grey elbow sleeves dress with red and white butterflies on it. I had sometimes worn this as nightwear at home and I might as well tonight. I changed into it quickly and washed my face before opening the door.

"Took your time, huh," he said as he walked in. 

"Took your time," I mocked on my way out. I went downstairs and froze on the steps where my parents were.

"Oh darling, I wan-"

"NO!" I yelled before she could go further. I turned around and ran back to our room. There was no way I was sitting down for another 'talk' with them. I walked in, just as he was getting into bed, and closed the door. 

"It's boiling," I complained as I waved a hand in my face. Yesterday there was no heater, and now it was full on. 

I walked over to turn the fan on and Darius looked at me.

"It's going to get cold with that on," he reminded me. I shrugged, grabbing my pillow and blanket and walking to the floor where I was to sleep.

"What are you doing?"

"Sleeping."  

"There's space on the bed."

"Nah, I like the ground." I lay down on the blanket on the floor.

"You weren't saying that last night." He sounded teasing.

"Shut it," I said, my face reddening. I pulled the blanket higher on my shoulders.

"I bet you, you'll be back in here in no time," he said.

"Deal."

No deal. It was freezing. It had been three hours and I was still awake. Damn it.

I sat up. I had turned the fan off an hour ago but it was absolutely freezing and the cold hard floor wasn't helping either. I looked up at Darius who was sleeping, his breathing steady and calm. 

I grabbed my pillow and slowly walked to the bed. I wickedly thought about suffocating him with my pillow, just for revenge. But then I would get arrested. Not worth the bother. I was too tired anyway.

I crawled in my space on the bed and, just to make sure he was asleep, I poked his cheek with a finger. He stayed still.

"Thank god," I said, turning to my side. He was sleep. Now where are the covers?

I felt around with my hand and grabbed the edge of the cover, slipping under it.

I closed my eyes, ready to go to Dreamland.

"I told you." 

Damn. So he was awake. I felt my cheeks flare up. Good thing he couldn’t see my face.

"Oh, shut up," I snapped in mock annoyance. But I didn’t protest when I felt his arm wrap around my waist. Instead, I leaned back into his chest that was warm and cozy. The warmth made sleep overtake me and the last thing I remembered was the smile on my face.

Chapter nineteen

I love birds, and I'm sure most people do, too. But right now, I feel like throwing rocks at them. They were chirping like the house was on fire or something. They were chirping loudly and it was annoying when all I wanted was to sleep.

"Shut up," I muttered, trying to roll onto my stomach and felt something that I knew wasn't the bed.

Opening my eyes, I stared into a muscular chest. Oh, not again.

I lifted an arm that was somehow draped around his neck. I rubbed my eyes, trying to wake up, and lay back down on the bed. Should I get up? Nah, that took too much effort. Besides, I didn’t even see the sun. I’m going back to bed.

Turning on my side, I snuggled back into my spot and closed my eyes. I mean, he was asleep, right? So maybe he won't mind if I just pretended he was my teddy for a while.

That reminded me. I needed to get my teddies out so I can name them.

"What are you smiling about?"

I looked up to see Darius looking down at me, his eyebrows knotted.

"What to name my teddies," I said and he suddenly broke into laughter. I glared at him. "Hey, what's wrong with having teddy bears? Just ‘cause you have no childhood."

I heard a loud bang downstairs and groaned. The parents were up. But then again they were always up. I don’t want to think about what they had planned for us today.

I closed my eyes to try to get back to sleep and felt something on my cheek. I opened my eyes, frowning at Darius. "I'm trying to sleep." He was trying to get the hair off my face.

Tucking my hair behind my ear, my eyes met his and for the second time in twenty-four hours, I felt the same tug inside me.

That weird feeling you can't quite explain. And just like last time, it ended just as quickly as it began.

The door burst open and we both jumped apart, me going under the covers and Darius sitting up. The smell of something strong and horrible told me it was my mother. As always, she sprayed way too much perfume than needed.