Arranging Alexandria [ON HOLD]

Chapter 16

"And then I was like half asleep when I texted him back, so my text didn't make sense." I finished my story to Jess and Chandler. I told them to get to school early so we could gossip. I told them everything. About how I like Louis now, that he asked me out on a date, and our conversation last night.

"That is so cute!" Jesse exclaimed. "You two are so perfect together!"

"I know." I laughed. "Well, I hope we are. Everybody says so."

"Imagine how cute your kids are gonna be!" Chandler said to me.

"Hey, I'm seventeen. I do not want to think about kids right now." I shook my head rapidly. "I don't even like kids."

"So I have a question for you." Jesse said seriously. "If you had the choice, would you cancel the arranged marriage?"

"Uhm..." I trailed off. Before we could continue, the bell rang for home room to start. I gave him a small wave and went to my home room.

Would I cancel the wedding if I had a choice?

***

"I wonder who that guy is." Chandler said to me after our scrimmage. I shrugged. There was a middle aged man in a suit watching our practice. He was probably somebody's dad or something.

We had to run like a million suicides before practice was finished. Chandler, Jesse, and I were just casually drinking our water in the parking lot when the man approached us.

"Excuse me, girls, but can I have your names?" He inquired.

"Chandler, Alex, and Jesse." Jess told him.

"Chandler Prescott, Alexandria Hayden, and Jesse Walsh?" He questioned. We nodded, curious to how he knew our full names. "I'm from University of Pittsburgh. I'm here to offer you three basketball scholarships."

"Are you for real?" I asked in shock.

"Yes, I'm for real." He nodded, handing us each big orange envelopes. "Show these to your parents and talk about it. We'd love to have you." He said before walking away.

Once he was gone, they both freaked out.

"Holy fuck! We just got offered scholarships!" Chandler yelled.

"Aren't you excited?!" Jesse asked me.

"I can't accept the scholarship." I shook my head.

"What?!" Chandler exclaimed.

"I'm moving to London after we graduate, remember? I can't." I said, trying to hold back tears.

"Oh my God." Jesse mumbled dropping her envelope on the floor. She pulled me into a hug where I finally let my tears fall. I sobbed for a good five minutes before she released me. Chandler was crying too.

"I hate my life so much." I muttered. "Why me? Why does this have to happen to me? Why can't I be a normal teenager who isn't forced to marry a fucking pop star and then have to live in a fucking different continent for the rest of her life?"

"I don't know, Alex. But it'll be alright." Chandler promised me as she pulled me into a hug. "Now go get ready for your date." She smiled at me.

"I don't wanna look at him after what just happened." I muttered stubbornly.

"Alexandria Brielle Hayden, that boy loves you. He's got it bad. You need to go home and get ready for your date with him, because you love him too. Now do what we said." Jesse ordered. I gave in and went on my way home with that stupid big orange envelope in my passenger seat. I threw it on the coffee table without thinking and went upstairs to take a shower.