Vampire Princess

Chapter Thirty-Five: Betrayal

I woke up and the first thought that came inside my mind was that I'm already twenty-four. The next thought was that this was the day when Garret's going to marry Ashley.

I can't say I was excited for it. I got up from my bed and walked down the stairs, not even brushing my hair. Not to my surprise, the house was empty. I'm pretty sure that everybody was already in the wedding. I have a thing for waking up late.

Breathing out a sigh, I turned around to get ready. It would look weird if I don't show up in the wedding. I wouldn't give Ashley the satisfaction if I don't show up. But before I could turn around to leave, something caught my eye.

It was just a simple table. I never paid any attention to it before, but now I suddenly realized that this was the same table I left my anklet - the one Garret gave me six years ago. My heart beating quickly, I opened the drawer and there it was. 

Garret told me that the anklet represents two lovers staying with each other. I can still remember what he said about that anklet.

"Yeah, an anklet. If you want to know why, well, I made a research. People say if a guy ties an anklet on the girl's ankle, it means the guy wants the girl to stay and not to run away from him - ever. I know you love me, Melanie, but sometimes I'm afraid that you're going to run away. I'm afraid that you're going to be like Annie, who would just leave me. I'm not asking much, Melanie. But if you are truly, sincerely, passionately, madly in love with me, please don't run away."

 It's kind of cute, but now that my loved one was going to run away (though he doesn't want to), it doesn't seem cute to me anymore.

Without a second thought, I fastened the anklet on my ankle, and then walked back upstairs. Garret's going to marry someone else now, but that doesn't mean that I'm ready to give up on him.

*** 

Ever since I was little, I was used to having the attention all to myself when it was my birthday. However, this time, their attention wasn’t directed to me. They were much more interested with Garret and Ashley’s wedding.

That didn’t stop Heather from jumping at me and hugging me tightly as soon as we saw each other in the wedding. “Melanie! Happy birthday!” she greeted.

I laughed. “Thanks, Heather, that really means a lot,” I thanked her honestly. She let go of me and I smiled at her. “It’s not really my birthday, though. January eighth was the night Walter – that’s the man who adopted me – found me. But my real birthday is in December.”

“So why don’t you celebrate it during December?” Heather asked curiously.

“I’m just used with January eighth as my birthday,” I said with a shrug. “Just like my name, Melanie Meyer. It’s not really my name. My real name is Felicia Scott. Can you imagine me as a Felicia?”

Heather chuckled. “I guess you’re right.”

“So… there aren’t a lot of people here,” I noticed, looking at the guests. The wedding was held in the Berry’s backyard. It was a garden wedding, which I have to admit was kind of cute. I don’t recognize all the people here, except Flynn and Xayranne (who just got out of the hospital), their children, Philip (who doesn’t look happy, though his son was getting married), my parents, Jerome and Roxanne.

“Well, the ceremony isn’t starting yet,” Heather said.

“So, where’s Stanley?”

Heather seemed uncomfortable. “He’ll… he’ll be here. I know he would be.”

I frowned at Heather. Something’s not right here. She doesn’t normally look like this when we’re talking about Stanley. I shrugged it off. Maybe they had a fight or something.