𝕄𝕪 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖, 𝕄𝕪 𝕃𝕚𝕗𝕖 - Theodore Laurence ✅

11

Catherine and Wayne stood before a carriage. The girl observes as people fill the carriages with their luggage as Wayne sweet-talked to her Aunt March and his parents. They were going away for a few weeks and returning for their marriage, yet she felt a sense of unease that she was leaving something behind. "Are you going to be fine?" Catherine snaps her head to Amy, putting on a wide smile to hide her nervousness but her sister caught on, even Fred who is slowly starting to understand her sister-in-law.

"I'm fine," Those words made Amy believe her at the very least but kept shut especially with many ears on them. "I wish I could go with you. Fred too hasn't seen Marmee, Father, Meg, Jo, Beth and Hannah." Amy whined, pouting her lips as she not so secretly glared at Aunt March, the person who denied her request to follow her sister.

Catherine laughed, reaching out to ruffle her sister's hair. "I know you do and I'm sure they would have loved to see you but it's a long trip and you need to get some rest. You just got here and Beth understands more than anyone."

"That does not help, Cathy", Amy crosses her arm, "I want to see my sister", Fred smiled, hugging Amy as he brought them closer to Catherine, whispering warily, "Don't worry, we might make a little trip without your aunt's knowledge."

Amy squealed noiselessly as she springs on the spot, disembarking her palms around Fred's neck, "And this is why I fell in love with you!" Catherine's smile on her face faltered but she kept it up, hoping to go unnoticed. Her hands fell to her side as she felt the light pinch of jealousy bite at her.

Catherine glance secretly at Wayne, wondering if they would be able to love each other like how genuine Fred and Amy were. She sighed, turning her eyes from him as she faced forward, somehow landing on someone that shouldn't be there.

Amy stopped her lovely moment with Fred to focus on Catherine's stare. Peeking at the corner of her eyes, she dotted Laurie concealing perfectly from Wayne and Aunt March's view, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. Laurie had his eyes draped exclusively on Catherine's while the girl avoided his.

Catherine would look away at first but something in her wanted to linger on him. It was like she was curious but she wasn't sure. It was those eyes, the color of greens with swirls of grey that would take her away. It was a direct challenge. Laurie didn't move, daring her to make a move.

"Ahem!" Catherine cracks her daze first, moving to Fred and Amy who seem to have some tease in them. "Lately, it seems you and Laurie are somehow caught with each other," Amy grinned, moving her eyes between Laurie and Catherine, "Is there something I need to know, sister?" Fred chuckled along with his fiancé's taunting.

Laurie's eyes never strayed from Catherine's and she felt a shiver run up her spine. The corner of his lips tilted up, inwardly happy that he had caught her attention but she shook her head, moving back to Amy, "Nothing. Just catching up like old friends."

Amy wasn't satisfied with that, scrutinizing Laurie with a frown. She was expecting more when she invited Laurie here not merely for a friend reunion. She shook her head, placing a hand on her sister's arm, "Have you two not spoken?"

Fred's chuckle this time was a bit louder, placing his hand around his fiancé in order to calm her eagerness for something, "Amy, it's been a while and you haven't seen them talk before. Let's calm down and let fate take care of them."

"Well, fate is being slow!" Catherine watched in confusion at Amy and Fred's conversation. It seemed like it was an inside joke amongst them but somehow connected to her. But being Amy's sister, she's aware of it is better to ignore it.

Catherine was about to speak back to her sister but she saw Laurie step out of the corner and her eyes widen. Laurie was taking steps closer to them, her eyes panicked to Wayne and Aunt March, remembering the last situation where they were caught almost confessing things.

She bit her lip, not wanting to get back to that again. "No! Step back!" she thought, her eyes darting to Laurie and then back to her sister. Those big eyes are enough for Laurie to understand her panic so he froze on spot but refused to retrieve back to his hiding. He didn't even bother to glance at Aunt March and Wayne, his eyes staying on her.

Laurie's eyes were like a predator, ready to pounce on whatever his prey was. Laurie took another step closer, the space between them was closing by the second, even if Catherine would countlessly warn him with her eyes.

It was soon after that Laurie stood proudly beside Amy and Fred that everyone's attention was drawn to him. Wayne and Aunt March was extremely unpleased and was about to shoo Laurie but Wayne's parents had a keen interest in him; "Who may you be?"

Laurie brought his hands out and introduce himself to the hopeless elders that didn't know the connection between him and Catherine, their soon-to-be daughter-in-law. "Theodore Laurence. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Catherine completely forgot how recognized Laurie was, and a moment like this, when Wayne's parents were enthusiastically introducing themselves, reminded her that Laurie comes from a very famous and rich family. "Are you somehow close with the Marchs'?" With that question, Laurie moved his eyes to Catherine who was beside him, her eyes wide with surprise.

Laurie looked at her and then at Amy and Aunt March, a small smirk on his lips. "We go way back." that was more than enough for the Dunn family to be interested in him.

Aunt March's eyes were narrowed at him, her arms folded across her chest. Laurie didn't miss the warning in her eyes and his lips thinned. It seemed like she was about to say something but before she could, Fred butted in, "I believe Mr Laurence came here to talk with his long-term friend, Cathy. In fact, they have known each other since childhood, Mr Dunn."

Laurie didn't dare to make a sound but he was hoping that Catherine would answer his question. He was waiting for her answer with bated breath. He wanted to hear her voice, wanted to know her response for that he will determine his next move.

Catherine open her mouth slowly, her response come out so softly but everyone heard, "Um, yes. You wouldn't mind a few minutes before we head off? W-Wayne?" Wayne's eyes almost turned red in anger at his fiancé's response.

At a moment like this, he would spit fire at Catherine but they were the center of everyone's eyes at the moment. Laurie was the only one who knew how to play this situation but he was smart enough to keep quiet. If he wants to get close to Catherine, he will have to play by their rules. Right now, both males' focus was Catherine.

So he had no choice but to swallow his wrath and nod. "Of course." Laurie didn't wait for a second as he pulled Catherine tenderly away from everyone. Amy had a winsome look while Fred strained to preoccupy The Dunn with the tension between their son and Laurie.

Aunt March's chest puffed out in fury but held back to smile at Fred's new conversation while Wayne didn't even glance at Laurie, his eyes still on his fiancé's back who would time to time peak at his reaction. He made it clear by a gaze that if she didn't behave, she'll get it from him.