Heart of Glass [ON HOLD]

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Arielle

For me, you were a pretty recent discovery. My parents told me about you on my sixteenth birthday. Most of my friends got a car for their birthday. I got concert tickets and a fiance. Needless to say, it wasn't one of my better birthdays.

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"Arielle!" my mother called. "Come downstairs!"

I walked down the stairs with my toothbrush hanging out of my mouth. 

"Yeah?" I mumbled, taking care not to spit toothpaste on the carpet.

My mother raised an eyebrow slightly as she took in my disheveled state. "Arielle, why aren't you dressed?" She tsked impatiently. "Anyway, could you make sure Carla set up the guest wing? The Pierces are flying down this afternoon. They'll be here around one." She turned to leave, then turned back and added, "Oh, and make sure Danielle knows about the dress fitting at two. Her dress might need some altering."

I ran to the bathroom again and spit out the toothpaste. Splashing cold water on my face, I changed into a pair of shorts and a sports bra, then texted Dani to let her know that I was on my way. I waited for her reply before I grabbed my iPod. 

"Carla!" I yelled. "Mom wants to make sure the guest wing is ready."

Carla was our housekeeper. It was hard to manage such a huge house, so we had her help. She had been with us for as long as I could remember. She was like a second mother to me. 

"Arielle, what is wrong with you? Stop shouting!" Carla scolded. "It gives me a headache. And yes, I did fix up the guest wing."

I smiled and pushed my earphones into my ears before giving her a small wave and leaving the house. I loved running. It really cleared my mind and left me some time alone to think about things. I didn't know how I was going to go for a jog in New York, but I was sure I'd be able to mange it somehow. 

I kept going at my normal pace for about five more minutes before I saw Danielle waiting for me. She joined me and we ran side-by-side in a comfortable silence.

I was a senior in high school. Because I had taken all of the harder classes in my first three years, my senior classes were super-easy. I was happy because it meant I could spend more time with my friends. For my parents, on the other hand, it meant that I could focus more on the wedding. 

While all my friends were filling out college applications, I was deciding whether the invitation should be white with a cream border or cream with a white border. I had to take a year off from college so that I could focus on starting our life together. I hated that. Indirectly, it was all because of you. Because of this marriage.

You know what's funny? I never believed in love. I always thought that two people married each other because it benefited them in some way. It wasn't until I was a freshman that I realized that people usually fell in love before they got married. Whenever I saw people holding hands, I'd be jealous. I wanted what they had, even if it was a bit superficial. 

I would have loved to hate you the minute I found out about you, but I couldn't. You hadn't done anything wrong. Anyway, I had been taught to make the best out of any situation. So, by the time I said "I do", I would be ready for my new life.