An Arranged Marriage ~Rudy Mancuso~

Chapter 4

~Rudy's POV~

my phone would not shut up. mostly because they were text messages from Vanessa. I felt like a jerk. I wanted to talk to her, see her, be near her. I was going out of my mind. I was basically stalking her Instagram and Twitter. even her tweets were so much like her. I felt like such a weirdo, a jerk. why was I not talking to her? oh that's right, because I smashed lips with her. that's why. I can not believe I did that. why did I do that? oh yeah, because she's freaking beautiful and I couldn't help myself. other then her looks, her personality is...just so unique, unlike anyone I've ever dated. I shook my head, trying to get her out of my mind, but that didn't help. I sighed, taking a sip of my water bottle and went to my intsgram and looked her up again.

Vanessa Ana Gonzales.

immediately, she showed up in my history file. because of course, I looked her up previous times before. I began scrolling through her photos and noticed that she posted another photo. it was a photo of her, her friend, and some guy. anger some how quickly built up inside of me, without even noticing, I was basically strangling my water bottle. water spilled down my hands. I grunted, throwing it at the tree that was near me. I put my phone down beside me and ran my hands through my hair in frustration.

"woah, wha'd the bottle ever do to you?" chuckled a familiar voice from behind me. I turned around and saw that it was Anwar. one of my closest friends, "hey, buddy, what are you doing here?" I exclaimed, jumping to my feet and greeting him with our handshake we made not that long ago, "what? am I not invited to the wedding?" he chuckled.

"no, of course you are, but the wedding isn't for another month." I nodded

"well, now I'm here to get the party started!" he said dancing around. I chuckled, pushing myself off of the ground and made my way to the kitchen with Anwar walking behind me. I opened the refridgerator and took out two bottle waters,  I turned to Anwar who was on his phone, "damn, your girl is smoking." he chuckled.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "she's alright." I shrugged.

he smiled, "you kissed her! didn't you!" I rolled my eyes; he jumps off the counter, "you did!"

"shhh! my mom's in the freaking living room!" I whisper/yelled at him. he pretended to zip his mouth close and throw away the key. I nodded my head, opening my bottle and taking a large sip of water, Anwar did the same.

we talked for a little bit. Anwar said that he's staying with Justin and Christin at their condo until the wedding. after the wedding, he said he'd go back to LA. Anwar and I were currently sitting at my kitchen table, talking about what not. Anwar was telling me about this party he went to a few days ago, but i couldn't really pay attention. I was trying not to be rude, but i couldn't help but think about Ness. What she was doing, thinking about. I just wanted to talk to her about this whole kiss thing and what it meant for us. What we were? Well of course we're getting married, we have to.

You know you wanna get married to her stupid! You know you like her!

My annoying conscience told me.

No I don't.

I lied to myself.

Yeah- you do -if you "don't"  like her. Then why did you kiss her?

Good point. I mentally rolled my eyes. Anwar clapped his hands together in front of my eyes, making me jump, "what the fuck?" i asked with wide eyes; running my hands through my hair and tugging at the ends in frustration.

"Tell me about the kiss." he said.

Did he ask me to tell him about the kiss?

I asked myself

Well obviously stupid, he just gave you the 'I just asked you' tone of voice.

My conscience spoke again. *mentally rolled my eyes again*

I sighed, chuckling, "it was seriously nothing, i don't know why i even did that. "

"Woah, so do you like her?" he asked

I shook my head, "no." i lied.

"Sooo, you wouldn't mind it if i told you i bumped into her the other day and i was kind if staring at her butt." he asked

My eyes shot up at him, i grabbed the hem of his t-shirt, "that's my fiancé!" i growled.

He chuckles, putting his hands up in defense. I shook my head, letting go of his t-shirt and sighed, running my hands through my hair as he laughed, shaking his head, "you lied?" I laughed, but was really annoyed. he was by now, laughing hysterically. I pushed his shoulder, making his laughter soften, "c'mon bro, just admit it, you like her." he tried getting the truth out of me. I pushed his hand that was on my shoulder, off of me.

"whatever man, we have way more important things to talk about other then my stupid arranged marriage, like the fact that i have to share my home with someone else." i sighed, walking up to the refridgerator and pulling out another water. i opened it and quickly took a huge sip out of it, gulping down the substance.

"well, it's not like you've lived alone before, you did share a place with you know who before." he raised his eyebrows, just thinking about her. i raised my eyebrows, inbetween my drink. i put my bottle down and sighed, before making a little burp.

"yeah, yeah, i know, she was..." i paused, remembering how our relatiohship was. it was a good relationship, she wasn't crazy or anything, we were just too bus with our careers, we were growing apart. when finally, we ended things. we're friends, but just friends. we check in on each other here and there, but i still haven't exactly told her about me getting married. which was another reason for us breaking up. she had told me many times that she wanted to get married, settle down. we were twenty, i was just getting into my music, i freaked out and tod her that i never wanted to get married. at the moment and time, i meant that. i did not want to settle down, i did not want to get married. i didn't even know i was in an arranged marriage until just a few weeks ago. after we broe up, i instantly regretted everything i had said to her, i still loved her. but time past and my feelings for her had gone away. Kayna was my second love, my first "love" was Vanessa, but i was a little kid, so i wouldn't really count her. so yeah, Kayna is my first love, but things have changed. we're different now, she's different now. i realized i never finished my sentence and sighed, widening my eyes, "something else." i rolled my eyes.

-----

"So I'm guessing there's a date for your wedding?" asker Anwar. We were currently waiting in line at a food truck that served awesome burritos.

"Yup." i sighed, popping the 'p',"August 21st, a month from now." i sighed; looking at the menu to see if they had an specials.

"You excited?" he asked me.

I turned my attention from the menu and to Anwar, who seemed to be waiting for an answer. Was I excited? - NOT REALLY- but I really don't know exactly how I felt. How are you supposed to feel about an arranged marriage? Well I guess it would be different now especially since I kissed my fiance. But I'm 25 years old, I'm not ready for a marriage. A life-long commitment exclamation point! Maybe I shouldn't have kissed Vanessa? Maybe it was a mistake? Maybe I can still get out of this marriage? But the thing is... I don't think I want to try any of these things. Because I did want to kiss Vanessa. And it was not a mistake. And the marriage... I still don't know about that one. I just wish I could talk to Vanessa. Sort things out. Get an understanding with but she's feeling. Maybe then we can make this work. I just hope she doesn't hate me.

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A/N

Hey everybody!!! Olivia here. Sorry it's been awhile since I've updated I've been really busy with work and volleyball. Offers games today! Anywho thank you so much for all the awesome comments. I seriously I'm so happy that a lot of you like this book! Keep commenting and PS sorry for the short boring chapter. Promise the next one will be more better. Don't forget to

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-Olivia