Run Away for my Baby

Chapter Five

"What do you mean that we have to be married for six months?" I exclaimed angrily.

"A new law was passed a couple of months ago to reduce the number of divorces," the lawyer said to both of us. "If a couple seeks a divorce within a month of getting married then they must attend weekly couple's therapy and live together for six months. It has proved affective so far. If you two don't want to get divorced then fine you don't have to go through this process." (I made this up, I don't actually know if it is a real law anywhere but for the purpose of this story it is real.)

"What about if we seek a divorce after this month?" Josh asked the lawyer.

"It will be on your record that you both tried to seek a divorce, so you will have to remain married for the full six months at least."

Josh and I had been sitting in the lawyer's office for the last twenty minutes discussing our divorce. I couldn't wait to be away from him. But that was unlikely to happen in the next six months, apparently.

"What are we going to do?" I whispered to Josh who sat next to me in a large leather chair.

"The only thing we can do is remain married until our court date," he replied in frustration.

I thought for a moment about what we were going to do and the only option is to remain married for the next six months. "Fine," I muttered loud enough for Josh and the lawyer to hear.

"Good," the lawyer smiled. "You two will have to move in together as soon as possible, by tomorrow would be good because you have to show that you trying to work on your marriage and living together is part of that."

We both looked at him with our jaws slack in shock at what he had just announced to us, we never realised that we had to move in together. "What?" we both gasped.

"You guys have to live together for the whole six months to show that you are trying to make this work between the two of you."

I groaned in frustration at his words. I thought divorcing Josh would be easy and quick so no one had to know about it but today had proved me wrong.

Beside me Josh ran a hand through his hair, I knew that he was feeling the same as me.

I could I really live with Josh for six months?

---

We had been home from Vegas two days. Josh had organised to meet the lawyer as soon as possible and today was the only time this week he could meet us.

So at nine this morning Josh and I had met up with him. Unfortunately for us we would be married for another six months and during these six months we'd have to live together in Josh's apartment near the local college which we both will be attending come fall.

I had to change my accommodation to where he lived which was really stressful. It was fortunate enough that I did have to move in to my room for another few days so it was easy making the changes.

"You know I thought I was getting rid of you when I started college but you're going to be there every day," I complained to Josh as we stepped out of the office we had been in for the last couple of hours.

"I know you wanted to get rid of me but you probably wouldn't have. I would have found a way to annoy you anyway."

"I hate you," I yelled at him.

"I hate you too babe," he smiled back at me. We were silent for a minute before he spoke again. "So your going to have to move your stuff into my apartment as soon as possible. Why don't I come over later today to collect it?"

"Fine," I sighed in agreement.

We walked towards his car, I couldn't tell you what kind because I have no clue on those types of things. I climbed into the passenger seat and switched on the radio.

"I hate this song," Josh groaned as a Taylor Swift song played. To piss him off even more I started to sing along in my awful singing voice. I'm sure I was one of the worst singers in the world. "Shut it! You have an awful voice," he told me.

"Why thank you," I smiled sweetly.

"You're one strange girl Anna Mickers." I hadn't taken my father's surname after he and my mother got back together.

"Its actually Anna Callaway now," I smirk.

"Oh shit! I actually forgot that we are married for a moment and that you had my last name."

I laughed at his reply, I couldn't believe that he actually forgot. "I can't forget that I'm married to you."

A little while later we arrived at my parents home. "I'll come and get your stuff around four," Josh said.

"Okay," I smiled as I opened the car door.

Josh suddenly called after me, "What are we going to tell people about us?"

I didn't think of that. "I don't want anyone to know that we're married and living together," I sighed.

"Okay," he muttered looking me straight in the eye with his beautiful green eyes. We both thought for a moment about what we could tell people about us. "I guess we could say we're dating, that we got together in Vegas because the hate we had for each other was just attraction."

"That could work," I smiled at his plan. "It would make sense why I'm at your apartment all the time too."

"Good. I'll see you later, Anna Banana," he revved the engine of his car.

"See you later Joshy Washy," I replied slamming the door of his car.

I headed inside to a quiet house my parents were still at work and would be until late. My dad was the coach at the college I was about to attend, Josh's coach specifically. My Mom was an accountant at a local bank. They had late hours but always found time to talk to me. They were great parents to be honest.

I headed up to my bedroom to pack. I was going to be weird living in a new place with someone I hate.

I really hoped I could survive six months with him.