Short Stories volume 1

Marriage or Love?

"Will you marry me?"

Words that every girl wants to hear from the one they love, however for me in this moment, it feels like ice water is flowing through my veins. I couldn't breathe. Tristan, my boyfriend of three years now, is looking up at me with a nervous smile. His brown eyes filled with hope. I glanced over to my mother who was smiling with joy nodding yes. I then looked at Belle, my best friend. His face was impassive, which was unusual considering he always wore his heart on his sleeve. His blue eyes were crisp and unrelenting to what he was feeling. I wanted him to step up, say something. I didn't know what I wanted him to say, just something. I looked around at all the guests of my graduation party for NYU before I looked back at Tristan, whose eyes were now filled with worry.

"I..I.." I was panicking. It was a struggle to get the words out, "I need to think"

I barely got the words out before I dashed out of the dining hall. The cool air slammed into me as I exited the hotel. I looked up to see the statue of Wyrd, the norse goddesses of fate, for whom the hotel is named after, stare down at me. Their eyes felt like they were boring down at me mockingly. I shivered. My pale blue lace party dress, that my mother picked out, wasn't enough to protect against the bite of the cold, but I didn't want to go back inside.

The streets of New York City were slightly abandoned since it was cold and dark out. I was grateful for that. I needed some peace and quiet. I couldn't understand why I didn't want to say yes. I mean Tristan was amazing and so caring. He was also someone my mother would definitely approve of, a well todo gentleman.

"Aiden!" I whipped around. There was my answer. All six foot two of him.

"Belle." I breathed. He came over and slipped his jacket over me.

"Are you crazy? It's cold out here. You could get sick." I shrugged at his words. Getting sick was the least of my worries at the moment. A silence hung between us. Each not wanting to bring up what happened inside. I used that time to study him. To see if I could glean whatever he was thinking. His bright blonde hair was messy as usual. A brush couldn't tame that thing. Trust me, I've tried. We sat for hours one Saturday afternoon with a brush and gel. The results were less than satisfactory. His eyes, which were usually bright sky blue were darkened slightly from the pool of emotions he was feeling. He looked so handsome standing there. I couldn't take my eyes off him. I hugged his jacket tighter to my body.

"Why didn't you say yes?" I looked down to the ground. I didn't want to answer. I didn't want to ruin everything, admit everything. I felt tears well up from how emotional I was. Next thing I knew, I was in Belle's arms. He was holding me so tenderly, as if I was made of glass. Belle slowly lead me back inside, but we went into the kitchen. I wasn't ready to face everyone in the dining hall. I relaxed when we settled into the room. The staff gave us weird looks but otherwise didn't pay any attention, too busy preparing the food for my party. I tuned towards Belle to give him my explanation.

"I don't know if I want to say yes." Belle looked at me waiting for me to continue, "I know my mom wants this, but..." I looked at my hands not wanting to reveal anymore.

"Maybe you should say yes." I snapped my head back up feeling like I was slapped. I didn't want Belle, of all people to say that. I opened my mouth but Belle interrupted me, "But if you're unsure then maybe you shouldn't. Truthfully you should do what you want to do, not worry about what anyone, especially, what your mother thinks. Reach for the stars like you always do." Belle and I stared at each other not needing to say anything. Bang! We both jumped. I looked over to see Delia Hart, my mother, look at Belle and I with dagger eyes, her mouth turned down. I felt Belle give my hand a little squeeze.

"I'll leave you two alone." He slipped out of the room. My mother barely glanced at him while he passed. I pressed my lips together and braced myself.

"How dare you do that to Tristan! Do you want to ruin everything? You could finally have the life you always wanted." She glared at me accusingly. I felt anger bubble up inside me.

"The life you always wanted mom! I never wanted this. I wanted to travel before college and go on adventures. Not only that, Tristan isn't..." I stopped myself before I could blurt out Belle's name but from the look on my mother's face, the damage has already been done.

"I'm disappointed in you." It was a blow. Ever since my dad left us, all I've ever wanted was to make my mother happy. I looked at her now, it was like looking in a mirror. Her light brown hair was pulled into a tight bun while mine was down in loose waves. We were both slightly below average height and had flawless slightly dark skin with cupid bow lips. The only difference between us is our eyes. Her's were a light brown while mine were green like my dad's. Looking at how tired and angry she was made me back down from the standoff. I finally made my decision and no one was going to stop me, but I don't want to lose my mother because of it.

"I won't marry Tristan mom. He won't make me happy and I want to be happy with the one I'm in love with. It's time I take control of my own life. I love you, but what you want isn't what's best for me." I started to get excited. I felt such relief with my decision. I bit my lip. I had to tell Belle. My decision...and how I felt. I started to rush out of the room to find him but I turned around at the doorway, "You can tell Tristan that for me." I left the room and didn't look back.

I went back to the statue to see if Belle was there. I was in luck. It was still cold but I had Belle's jacket with me still. The crunch of gravel alerted him to my arrival. His stance was rigid and his hands were in his pockets. I took a deep breath. The earlier excitement was gone, now it was replaced with a buzz of nervousness.

"Aiden?" I squared back my shoulders, straightening my back.

"Belle...I" I stopped for a moment. It was harder than I thought. I was so scared of his answer. Before I could start again Belle jumped in.

"You're going to marry him, aren't you? You're being ridiculous, Aiden, for not fighting for what you want." I felt a flash of anger. How dare he?!?

"Excuse me? What about you? You never fight for what you want Belle! You sacrifice yourself for others all the time." I bit out. His eyes flashed. He swept his hand through his hair making it messier.

"The only reason I didn't fight was because you seemed happy with him, despite the fact that I'm in love with you!" I swear my heart stopped for a moment. His words, music to my ears.

I paused a little too long because Belle said, "Forget it."

He started to turn away when I yelled, "I am madly in love with you Belle Alain Lebeau! I think I have been since I fell out of that tree right on top of you when we were ten." His eyes widened, but then a grin split his face.

"Yeah, I remember that. Here I was minding my own business exploring the woods behind my new home and next thing you know I'm crushed by an annoying girl." I was grinning at the memory as well.

"Hey, I'm sorry I miscalculated the strength of that branch, but it was your fault for being there." We both chuckled with relief and happiness. An idea suddenly struck me.

"Let's get out of here!" Belle raised an eyebrow, "We could go to your home country, France, or Scotland, Korea, wherever. Let's just travel like we talked about." We were soon on our way to JFK with no plan and no idea what was going to happen, but it was finally my happy beginning.

We ended up traveling for a couple years backpacking across Europe after that night, going on many adventures. We've done the cheesy classics like going to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and heading to Verona to see Juliet's house but we also did much more. I haven't seen Tristan since that night though my mother says he's been doing well. My mom and I aren't best friends or anything but we're on our way there. I'm no longer giving up on myself to please her and she isn't as demanding as before. We have our setbacks but we're both trying. I have never been happier. Belle and I have never been happier. We've been dating six years now. We're not married yet, but I'm hoping to change that soon considering the plus signs that are currently staring up at me. Yes I checked..more than once. I can't wait to tell him the news.