Strawberries And Crows (Canceled, For Now)

Part 17- Rollercoaster

I'm so, so embarrassing.

Slap!

The crisp sound rings through the air, and I wipe my hand over my eyes, standing quickly to see over the guest's standing bodies.

Since I'm tall, I can see over them, and see Richard cupping his face. I push forward, through the crowd.

" Elizabeth! " I yell, she's fine though, just scrambling away from Richard, who looks like he's about to erupt. 

He raises his arm, but Elizabeth falls to the ground on the hem of her dress. 

I jump in front of her. " Richard, I'm going to need you to calm down and get away from her. " 

When I look back to see if Elizabeth is a safe distance away, I see that she (And most guests) have evacuated the ballroom. Richard grabs my wrist while I'm distracted, but I push at his chest with my other arm to get him away. 

" All I wanted was a wife! " He screams at me but my mother is behind him holding him back. 

" At least you can have one! " I hiss back, just loud enough for him to hear. 

While shock registers his face, my father pulls me back and stands between us. " Richard. This is not how I raised you. " 

He pulls him away, with the help of a few guards, and I collapse on my knees, my head in my hands as I cry. 

" Kalese? " I hear a voice say behind me, I whip my head around, it's my older, glamourous cousin, Francesca. I don't know much about her, but I know she was married a few years ago, while she was Elizabeth's age. 

She bends down, which she makes look surprisingly easy in her tight, dark red dress. 

" You did well out there, love. " She says, ruffling my hair. " I wish someone would've done that for me when I had to marry John. " 

" Wait, you and John..? " I look up at her, wiping the tears out of my eyes. 

" Yes, love. " She pushes my messed up and frizzy hair out of my face. " I didn't want to marry him. " She smiles, I just look up at her from my tight ball I've wrapped myself in. She's the only woman I know who's taller than me, and so... Glamorous. She has golden glitter on her eyelids, which match with her golden jewellery. 

" Now, " She stands, wiping her hands on her dress, before reaching her hand out for me to take to stand up. " How about you give me a tour of your house? " She says. 

I take her hand, and she pulls me up . " Huh? Why? " I cough then smooth my dress. " Not to sound rude or anything. " She just laughs, a kind hearty chuckle. 

" You didn't sound rude love, and anyway, I understand. I need a tour, because I'll be living here for a while. Needed to get away from John, that cheating prick. " 

" Oh! " I squeak. 

" Come on, Kalese, where's that strong, independent, confident girl I saw up there, huh? " She laughs.

" Oh, I don't know... I need to find Elizabeth. " 

" Okay, I'll help you find her. I need to meet the girl who did what I only dreamed of doing to John on our wedding three years ago. " 

I chuckle. " Okay, follow me. " 

We stroll through the halls, me pointing out any important room's which she may need to know about, all the while looking for Elizabeth. 

" This is our personal nurse. " I say, gesturing inside the door.

" Oh, Isn't that Elizabeth? " Francesca asks, tilting her head and bringing her finger to her lip. 

" Huh? " I hiss, then turn to look in the door, where Elizabeth is sitting on the bed. 

" Elizabeth! " I call . " Aren't people looking for you? Why are you all alone? " I run up to her, and I notice blood on her forehead. 

" Oh- I've hurt myself. " She says matter-of-factly.

" I can see that! " I say, pushing back her bangs to examine the gash on her head. " Richard did this to you? " I ask, grabbing some stuff to clean her wound. 

" No. " She smiles, " I did it. "