The Mate He Needs

Third Wheel

"Here hold this." Natasha said shoving her bags into her sister's arms. "Don't drop them!" She snapped at her. Ariel juggled the bags so that she could hold them properly. Out of the ten shopping bags that she held only one was hers. Plus it was actual items she needed, unlike Natasha.

"Natasha I don't know about this." Ariel said as she followed her sister and her friend Marie. Marie had darker blonde hair that was straight. She was shorter than the two of them as well, but no less conceded than Natasha. Birds of a feather those two.

"Your opinion wasn't asked for Ariel." Marie reprimanded as they walked out the door. She turned to Natasha to start talking to her. "So you'll be like your parents, rich and married to a very powerful man." She added the last part in a whisper. Ariel suppressed a shudder. The way they talked about it, just didn't sit right with her. Ariel thought her sister was really taking this for granted.

"Yes. But it will be a while yet, but not too long. Not now that I'm eighteen we can be a bit more public. Start outwardly dating, though he hasn't really asked much of me. Kind of questions me a lot about the things that I do. What I would do being his wife, because you know that others will come to me because of it. Have an image to up hold." Ariel frowned. That wasn't how she remembered the conversations she'd been present for. Especially with Malachi, he'd been asking her if she was taking her business classes seriously. Just what she planned on helping run once they had joint accounts. Yeah she was still young and so was he, but clearly Malachi wanted to start thinking about how to run his holdings. Natasha seemed to not care.

"I'm jealous." Marie said. Natasha just had a smug smile.

"Well let's go we are supposed to meet Nick and Dave in a little bit for lunch." Ariel frowned again. That was exactly what she didn't think was smart. She hadn't been talking about the bags shoved at her. She was talking about leaving to meet these other friends.

"Natasha, I don't think that he would like it very much if he knew you were seeing others. Isn't that cheating?" Ariel asked in her quiet voice. Natasha whipped around and narrowed her eyes at her sister.

"Not if someone doesn't go blabbing their mouth to him. Who's side are you onAriel!" She turned and went back to walking toward the red sports car that was there. There were only a couple of cities on this planet. Most places were smaller villages with decent homes, farming families. The cities were where most of the shipping stock came in. The main higher education schools were for those wishing bigger and better things.

"I hate that you have to come with me. Don't see why he requests it." Ever since that first night she was told Ariel would come with her family. She would enter with them as well. They did not want it to appear like there was separation or favoritism. Natasha thought it was all wasted on Ariel.

"Yeah why is that?" Marie asked looking at Ariel. Marie's father had plenty of dealing with Lord Vento. He managed large accounts for him. Plus contacted a great many powerful figures through out the worlds. Helped with shipping.

"I don't know. He just requests it." Ariel said putting the bags in the trunk. Marie waited while Ariel climbed into the back seat which was cramped. She made sure that the skirt of her purple summer dress was tucked nicely around her.

Natasha was wearing a pink and orange summer dress that was rather short. Ariel never commented on her sister's choice of clothing. She always wore better clothing than she did. Always looked better than her. Marie wore a black skirt and a red top. Ariel knew they liked to pick on her, or point out her flaws to make themselves look better. Ariel just sighed inwardly.

"Well just remember that I'm betrothed to him. Not you. So you should keep your eyes to yourself. Just because you play the poor misunderstood little girl doesn't mean anyone really wants you." Natasha said backing up. It was her favorite pastime to tear Ariel down. She was very used to it, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. Besides her gaze rarely left the carpet when they were there. She would never check anyone out.