Denmark's Final Arranged Marriage

Chapter One - Graduation Day

 My name is Levida Wydra and today is the day I along with all eighty-seven students in the senior class have been waiting for, for the past twelve years I sit beside my two best friends and can't believe we've finally made it to our graduation day and without even tripping over the stage when receiving our diploma well the fake one at least.

My best friend Tesla turned to me with her face filled with excitement as the school's headmaster stepped forward onto the stage clearing his throat behind the podium and even I myself could feel the excitement building up within me as I turned to my other best friend Gina who even with her 'I'm too cool for school' attitude held a certain awe on her face as she looked forward at our headmaster as he asked the student body to rise finally announcing the graduation of this year's Senior Class of 2017 and with that said Tesla and Gina's hands unlocked from mine as our hands came up to our caps pulling them off and throwing them as high as we possibly could only to turn to one another with the biggest smiles pulling each other into a hug, a hug so warm and happy that could be felt for hours after it had past. 

The rest of today was a combination of bad pictures sappy goodbye quotes and aching feet but it was in more than one way the best day of my life by far and no matter what anyone said or did there was no way that this day could ever hold a bitter taste in my memory.

"Levida!" I heard my mother shouting my name from afar as she made her way towards me with my younger brother's wrist caught in her grasp of death as she made her way through the crowds.

"Mom, there is a teen after my seven so please let go of my hand it's turning blue!" stated my brother in his naturally light silvery voice as he shook her hand off of his while standing his ground beside me, "Sometimes I really think she believes I'm Seven Levi" he spoke now with a pout while looking down and rubbing his wrist.

"Maybe that's because you act like you're seven, Kevin" I turned to my right to see my best friend Gina standing there with a smug look on her face as she took pleasure in torturing my brother whenever the opportunity arose as well as any other defenseless creature.

"Who asked you fire-crotch!" Shouted Kevin as he snapped back at Gina but before she could leap onto him I extended my arm before the both of them, "Now, now children this can wait until we get out to the playground so, for now, please hush your little asses for a mouth and behave." I stated with a smile as I looked at them both only to feel the force of an open hand smack me upside the head.

"Watch your mouth young lady anyone else could have heard that and then what would they think of you?" stated my mother as she came out from behind Gina she was always big on the 'What would people say?' while I couldn't care less about what anyone had to say but that was who she was and that was who raised me.

"They'd probably think I said it since they know Levi never curses," said Gina as she lifted her face to look at my mother all while turning on her charm.

"Well this is true, I've taught her better after all" agreed my mother with a shockingly bright smile on her face before turning to me, "Now Levida darling don't forget to come straight home after this we have some things to discuss tonight as a family," she said this while her hand stroked my cheek gently which for some reason caught me by surprise.

I mean don't get me wrong I love my mother, flaws and all but caring gestures were never one of her strong points even though she always spoiled both my brother and me with material objects she was never the type of mother to gently stroke back your hair when you cry after your first boyfriend dumps you or after losing a swimming match which made this small and insignificant gesture all that much creepier.

I looked up at my mother and the expression on her face which for some reason frighten me but I just shook my head gently with a smile as I placed my hand over hers and slowly began bringing it down to her side.

"I know mom but we all planned to sleep over at Tesla's tonight," I said as I looked at Gina for support who only rolled her eyes at the idea not because of Tesla she loved her but because of her parents, "I told dad all about this two nights ago," I said but before I could continue mom's expression changed to her usual stone face

"Of course your father would agree without consulting me first." She spoke almost as if it were some sort of deadly sin to make any plans without consulting her first and it was always like this for everything we did it was like dad had no say in my life because it was only with me that this happened there was never a problem with Kevin or whatever he chose to do I'm not saying things were perfect for him because they weren't but it had always felt that for some reason he just had more freedom but he was my brother and no matter what I loved him. 

"I don't see what the problem is mom whatever we have to discuss as a family tonight we can discuss tomorrow afternoon but today is our graduation and I want to be with my friends" I stated as I looked at Kevin to Gina before returning my attention to my mother.

"So you're saying you'd rather be with your friends tonight than your family?" she said turning my own words against me completely, "You do realize that your friends will also be your friends tomorrow and you could do the sleepover then because tonight you and your brother will indeed be home after dinner to discuss what we need to discuss and that is final." With her words said my mother turned her heels and walked away towards the exit door.

I sighed softly as I licked my lips over in an attempt to digest what had just happened as slowly and as calmly as possible, "Have I ever told you how much I hate your mother?" asked Gina not really needing an answer as we all knew she is not my mother's biggest fan but before I could say anything I was interrupted by a hissing sound coming out of Gina's mouth as she quickly turned to look at Tesla while holding the back of her head.

"Hate is a very strong word don't use it so freely" stated Tesla as she appeared out from behind Gina.

"Fine, I really, really, really, dislike your mother," she said exaggerating her words as much as possible, "And what about you. What happened to not using violence to express your opinions?" asked Gina as she now turned to Tesla while still rubbing the back of her head.

"Sometimes some people only understand things one way" grinned Tesla while waving her little hand out before Gina in a teasing motion.

"I wonder what's up with mom today." I heard my brother thinking out loud as he tucked his hands down into his pockets his eyes locked down on the floor beneath his feet you see I may have been the one that was suffocated the most by mother but Kevin was the one that had been pushed aside practically ignored at times except when mom took both of us to social classes as children those were the only times I ever remember mother giving Kevin the same attention she gave me and even then it was awkward.

I smiled softly as I looked up at my brother nudging him gently before turning to look at both Gina and Tesla who seemed to be waiting for something, "So, why don't we just enjoy the next few hours and go get us some burgers?" I suggested with a smile and was happily agreed with.

The day of my graduation went from being a day with zero chances of going bitter to a day that would soon seem like an impossible nightmare but who was to know what my mother had in mind all of these years what she had secretly been preparing me for my whole life.