Crescent Moon

23

Marianne Pov

After picking up my outfit I went to the bathroom to take a shower. I turned on some music and started to undress when my eyes caught the crescent that I'd been seeing all over carved into the wall. I walked over to the crescent and touched it. Unlike the last few times, there was no spark, no electric feeling, but the same attraction. I shook my head and turned on the water.

After my shower, I dried myself off and took myself back to my room. It didn't take long for me to get ready because I didn't do my makeup and I heard the doorbell ring when I was done. When I got downstairs I saw my grandma hugging Billy and Jacob before welcoming them in. I smiled at Billy and waved a bit "Hi." I said. Billy looked over to me "Marianne," He said with a smile on his face "It's nice to see you again."

"It's nice to see you too." I looked up at Jacob, this is the part that I was dreading "Hey Jake." I said to him. He looked a bit surprised before he responded "Hey Marianne, you look great." He smiled at me and I gave a small smile back.

After everyone finished with the greetings we made our way to the dining room. I sat down and Jake sat next to me, I'm starting to think that he took my politeness for forgiveness. "Marianne come help me bring the food to the table." My grandma went to the kitchen. I sighed and nodded getting up to help her with the food. Once we both made it to the kitchen she looked at me "I want you to enjoy yourself tonight." I looked at her confused and nodded "Okay..." I said taking the food back to the dining room.

Throughout dinner, Billy and my grandma kept reminiscing about when Jake and I were younger and how we were 'always so cute together'. Every time Billy hinted at how Jacob had a crush on me I saw Jake glance at me from the corner of my eye. By the end of dinner, all four of us were full and I stood up to put the dishes in the sink. Billy looked at Jacob "You should help her Jake." Jacob nodded and helped me take the dishes to the sink.

It was quiet for a few minutes while I washed the dishes and he dried them. "Marianne... I'm sorry, the past few days I have done nothing but regret what I did to you and how I handled the situation... I... I understand if you don't forgive me but I just want to let you know that I'm sorry... and if you did forgive me, it would never ever happen again..." He said with his voice cracking a few times. I looked up at him and smiles "That's all I wanted you, big baby," I hugged him "I missed having you around." I felt him let out a sigh of relief before wrapping his arms around me. "I missed you too." He hugged me tighter.

After we had finished the dishes we went back to my grandma and Billy. The two of them seemed tense. "Marianne, we wanted to talk to you about something..." My grandma motioned for me and Jacob to sit down. "What is it..?" I asked and sat down "You all seem so serious." I chuckled a little trying to ease the situation. "I've been meaning to tell you this..." She started before looking at Billy and Jacob "Well we've been meaning to tell you... you're expected to... how do I put this..? End up with Jacob." She said. I stared at her for a second before starting to laugh "End up with Jacob? What does that mean?" I asked her. "As in... get married." She responded. "Is this an arranged marriage? What is this? The 1900s?" I mocked them then looked at Jacob "You knew?" I asked him. He looked away and nodded. It rook me a few moments to process it but once I did I stood up "And I don't have a choice in this?" I looked around the table waiting for a response. "I promised my first daughter to their family Mari..." My grandmother sighed out. "Well I'm not your daughter." I looked at her. "I had your father and only your father... you're next in line." She looked back at me.