AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE?! good thing you're beautiful | part 24 | Any regrets?

She smiled meekly at Aidan and Niko, and then lost her smile as she turned to you. "Hi guys," she said awkwardly.


When they both said hello, there was silence after. You and Olivia just stared at each other.


She then began to blush prettily and looked around at Niko and Aidan. "Can I, uh, talk to Luce for a minute?"


The guys then bustled to a standing position. "Sure," Niko said. "We'll go tell your fiance that you'll be out in a minute," he said, emphasizing fiance to Olivia.


You grinned and rolled your eyes, but shooed them out the bathroom.


You turned to the girl you had spent the last 7 months and 2 days in a relationship with. "Yes Olivia?" you said, with all the haughtiness that Audrina hated.


"Uhm, I just wanted to talk to you. About how everything is going for you. About how everything's going for me," she said, looking shyly at the floor.


Your gaze softened. You could never be mean to her without reason. You didnt want to be. You knew now that there was no danger to Audrina where your feelings were concerned, so you didnt have a problem with still being kind, maybe even friends, with Olivia.


"We can talk tonight Olivia. Meet me in one of the lounges later. Call my room, all right?" you said softly.


She looked back up at you and smiled weakly, but then turned and walked out of the bathroom.


You sighed.


Nothing.


Thank God.


You walked out of the bathroom, staring thoughtfully at the floor, as you made your way to the table.


When you realized no one was talking, you looked up.


"What's wrong?" you asked.


"For starters, Audrina's angry at us because we had to lie to her about Olivia," Celeste growled at you.


"I never told you to lie, Celeste. I just told you that I wanted to be the one to tell her," you said dangerously.


"Yeah well see, she didnt really lie. She was just kind of mean about the situation," Shayna added in nonchalantly.


"I wasnt mean!" Celeste defended.


"Yes. You kind of were."


Celeste clamped her mouth shut and looked away from you all.


"And then, add that onto the fact that she watched you and Olivia walk out of the bathroom together. . . I'd say your wife-to-be isnt in the best of moods right now. I blame you," Shayna continued, still nonchalantly.


You were loosing patience. "Where is she?" you asked between clamped teeth.


You watched as all your friends pointed somewhere to your left, and you turned to follow the direction with your eyes.


She gave you a haughty look that seemed awfully familiar, and then let the door quietly close behind her.


You watched the door for a few minutes in silence. Part of you was seething with anger. The other part of you wanted to cradle Audrina until she forgave you for all of this.


"...So," Shayna cleared her throat, "This is the part where you go running after her and tell her what's really going on here. You obviously havent been watching enough TV Lucian."


You still stared at the door. "I cant talk to her about it yet," you said quietly.


"And why the hell not Lucian Alicea? While you were in the bathroom gallivanting with your ex-lover, I was out here trying to do what you asked me to and now she thinks I'm a bi-" Celeste began softly, but her voice grew louder as she spoke.


"Celly, you were. The whole social security thing? Unnecessary," Shayna said. Still calm about the situation.


"I dont even want to know," you said before collapsing into the booth. You ran your hands over your face and then through your hair. "Damn it."


"Yeah. I'd say." Shayna again.


"Damn it, damn it damn it," you breathed.


"Well if you want my opinion," Shayna said, twirling a straw absently.


"WE DONT!" Niko growled.


"I think-"


"SHUT UP SHAYNA!"


"That Lucian needs to-"


"WE DONT WANT TO HEAR IT!"


"...Okai. Sure. Just dont come crying to me when Dray starts writing up a pre-nuptial agreement that could make a grown man cry."


You groaned in your chair, but finally got up out of your seat.


You went up to your hallway, and looked at Audrina's door for a few moments before finally entering your own room.


You laid on your bed and stared at the ceiling.


What were you going to tell Audrina?


That you fancied yourself in love with Olivia, but didnt tell your family, so you were forced to marry her, even while you already had plans with Olivia? But not to worry about it now because you were over Oliva?


If you were Dray, you'd kill you.


You ran your fingers through your hair again, and laughed shortly. Audrina's habit is running off on you.


You sat up and stretched your body. You might as well just go in and talk to her. You'd say what you needed to say and answer any questions she asked. Then, you would take it from there.


You knocked on Audrina's door.


You have never been nervous in your life. Why the hell were your hands sweating now?


You knocked again impatiently, and swore in anger as you went back into your room.


You paced the room.


Maybe she was sleeping?


No she wasnt. She was probably up and pacing the room just as you were now.


Maybe you should have waited longer after you knocked the second time.


Well she could have come knocked on your door! It's not like she doesnt have legs!


You fell hard onto your bed.


Look what Audrina's done to you.


You're entirely irrational now. Had she been someone else, you would have calmly followed her, explained the situation, and considered your part done.


With Audrina, you find yourself needing to say the right thing to her, wanting her, needing her, to believe you.


You closed your eyes for a few moments, thinking only of Audrina.

RiR
You heard your phone ring and realized instantly that you had been sleeping. It was about 12:30.


You picked up the phone to your room. "Hello?"


"Lucian?"


It was Olivia. Not Audrina. "Yes. Hi."


"...I called you earlier, but you didnt answer. Is everything all right?"


You closed your eyes tightly. "Yeah. Everything's fine. What do you need?"


"Uhm, meet me in your lounge? If you're not busy or anything like that"


You ran your hands through you hair. And then found yourself smiling. "No. I'll be there in a minute."


You both said goodbye and then you laid back on your bed.


You finally got up and changed to a pair of lounge pants and a wife beater.


When you made your way to your lounge, Olivia was already seated there.


You glanced back at Audrina's door, and briefly considered waking her up now, but decided you needed to talk to Olivia before you talked to Audrina.


You sat down on the couch, facing Olivia. She smiled at you when she realized you hadnt stood her up.


"Hi Luce," she smiled.


"Hi Livi," you said back.


She chewed on the inside of her mouth and sat silently for a few minutes. "Tell me about Audrina," she said finally.


You thought it was an awkward question, but you complied. "She's small. She's very passionate. She makes me laugh so much. She's handling everything better than I could have ever hoped. My family is already fond of her, as are my friends. And I dont want her to get hurt," you said, quietly, but you knew she got your meaning.


She took a deep breath. "Well tell me stuff about her. What's she like? What are her hobbies?"


"Why?" you demanded quietly.


"I just want to know, Lucian."


You stared at her for a few minutes. Why would your ex-girlfriend want to know about your fiancee's attributes? You sighed again, but sat back on the couch and looked away from her.


"I didnt like her when we first met. She was jumping on her bed and seemed utterly childish when I first saw her." You laughed at the memory. "She immediately put me in my place. I had to take her to dinner in the gardens that night and I apologized. And so began our everlasting argument concerning her eating habits.

"She always plays with her hair according to her moods. I can always know what she's feeling by the way her hair is. And she's so expressive. She's the epitome of the expression 'heart on your sleeve.' She hates when I raise my eyebrow.

She's utterly afraid of worms. I've never seen someone so afraid. And of the dark, as well. She's quite small, but she doesnt really let that get in her way. She's made me laugh more than I can ever remember doing. She even made me sing Disney songs," you laughed again.

"She thinks I'm insane. I guess I am now. But it's her fault, I always tell her. She's annoying sometimes. And she knows it. And she's so innocent. Her eyes were so big when we were showing her around the school. I think she was overwhelmed. But she hasnt complained about this arrangement yet. She handled this all better than I could have imagined. She sings beautifully from what I can tell. She loves to read. She's deeper than she seems."


Olivia sniffled and you turned to her, and saw the gleam of tears in her eyes.


You did nothing.


"You care for her?" she asked


You nodded.


She sniffled again. "Thats what I wanted to know. I'm glad you're happy with her."


"And how are you?"


She sighed. "I'm fine. I will be."


When you didnt acknowledge her words, she let out a short laugh. "You've had to grow up so fast Luce. I swear that's the kind of look your kids are going to be afraid of one day." She took a deep breath. "Lucian, you're an amazing guy. Audrina is so lucky to have you. And I'm sure she knows it. I was lucky enough to have you too. I'm glad for that. So dont worry about me," she forced a smile.


You took her hands. "I'm sorry Olivia."


"I know. Any regrets?" she asked, almost hopefully.


You were almost sorry to tell her the truth. "None. She will be my wife, and I couldnt be happier."


It was at that moment that you heard the sharp and very faint creak of a door. You turned in time to see the flash of Audrina's blue eyes, and then nothing.


Your breath caught in your throat. My God. What must she think?


You turned back to Olivia. She hugged you tightly, but then whispered "go get her."


You thanked her and quickly made your way to Audrina's room. You knocked on the door lightly, but no answer. You knocked again, and still no answer.


You started to knock harder, but after about 5 minutes, you realized she wasnt coming.


You went into your room, and proceeded to call her room and her cell.


Still no answer.


You squashed the urge to throw the phone across the room. You had more control than that. You were raised to have the utmost control.


You sat on your bed and held your head between your hands.


Audrina Laurens.


God, how you loved her.