Project Marriage

Chapter 3

(Picture is Kole)

The rest of the day goes extremely slow. Everyone keeps staring at me like I'm a kicked puppy. Hello? I'm fine!

At the end of the day, Marie is waiting for me outside the building. Okay, I'm scared. Marie never waits for me at the door. Then I remember that I'm engaged to Kole. This should be interesting.

Marie looks at me for a moment before speaking, face oddly emotionless, "So I wanted to be a paper wife so bad and you hate the law all together, but somehow, not only are you chosen, but you become engaged to my twin brother whom you've had a crush on since forever, and don't think that I don't notice."

Silence...

More silence...

This is getting awkward...

Oh for the love of God!

"I didn't ask to be chosen. Your brother was only keeping me from ending up with perverted Brian. I'm sorry, but now and until I manage to have a boy and a girl, we're sister-in-laws. Okay Marie?"

That actually felt good. Marie looks shocked at my outburst, and there's that awkward silence again. But other than that, I feel kind of liberated. I'm about to break the silence again, but Marie beats me to it by-

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

-squealing.

"I can't believe that we're going to be sister-in-laws! This is going to be fantastic! And you and Kole are so cute together! You're both so serious and practical, sure I will have to be the fun aunt considering that you two will make them want to rip their ears but yeah, this will be great!" She runs over and hugs me really tight until I start coughing.

"Thanks *cough* I think *cough cough* . Hey *cough* Marie? *cough* will you *cough cough cough* be my maid *cough* of honor *coughing fit*?"

Her grip slacks for a moment then she lets go of me entirely (thankfully), "Y-you mean it? Y-you want m-me to be your maid of honor?"

I nod, "I wouldn't want anyone else to fill the part. What do you say?"

Marie just nods, speechless. I walk up to her and give her a hug. Gently.

Without another word, we start walking home.

*skip walk*

Once I walk in the door my mom runs up to me with an overly cheerful smile and pulls me into a hug, just like every other day, "Hi sweetie, how was school?"

Normally, I would just say 'good' and go get a snack before starting on my homework. Except this time, my homework is planning a wedding and choosing baby names for my children. I never want to worry her, she does this to try to make up for the mornings when I walk out the door while they're fighting. She doesn't think that I know this, but every time I slam the door closed on the mornings when they're fighting they stop and look at each other like they've failed at parenting yet again (which they kind of did).

I sigh in my mom's arms and squeeze harder, "We need to talk when dad gets home." At the word 'dad' she stiffens and pulls away slowly. She looks concerned but nods nonetheless. I smile comfortingly and go to my room to think about how I'm going to tell them that their only daughter is being forced to marry her best friend's twin brother by the government.

--

As soon as my dad walks through the door my mom tells him how I need to speak with them both in a hushed voice. I'm no mind reader, but I can tell that their both assuming the worst.

We sit down to dinner and my parents look at me in silence. There's that awkward moment when people are staring at you as you drink your water very loudly and then my father speaks up, "So. Are you pregnant?" Dead silence. I choke on my spit and look at him incredulously. Seriously? That's his first thoughts?!

"No!" I say forcefully and both my parents breath a sigh of relief. And now for the really hard part. I wait a few seconds before asking, "Did either of you get a chance to watch the marriage choosing today?" They both shake their heads and my mom says, " Was that today?" Before I can answer my dad asks ruefully, "So which school of idiots got picked this year?"

"Mine."

That got both my parents attention. My dad looks interested and mom just looks worried, "Oh God," she says. Okay she's putting the pieces together, "Marie didn't get chosen did she?" Marie?! That just pushed me over the edge.

"No! Marie's fine! I got chosen okay?! And I'm marrying her twin brother! Congratulations, you'll finally get the daughter you always wanted! I just want to let you know that I'll be moving out in a week so you don't have to stay together for the daughter you never act like you have! If I even let you in my children's lives, I ask that you don't screw up so badly with them as you did with me." With that, I storm up to my room and fall asleep crying. They may be my parents but they are not my mom and dad.