Tied To You

Hh

Feelings

"Did you enjoy?" He asked her. Nothing but a big smile formed on her face. Her eyes sparkled, showing him that her eyes were doing most of the talking.

"I have to take you home now, it's almost 10." Her beautiful smile and and sparkling eyes vanished as sadness filled her face.

"But my dad said before midnight I have to be home and it's not even 11." She sighed. As much as she wanted to stay longer with Brandon, she had to face reality. Michael was the one she going to be tied to. No matter how much she hated her situation she had to be selfless. She knew her dad would not have made a decision like that if it was not for the best.

"You're deep in thought. Care to explain what's going on in that beautiful mind of yours?" She reverted back to reality at the sound of Brandon's voice. She could sense the worry in his voice. Ava during a deep mental state is very scary. Nobody knows what she's thinking. "I was just thinking about everything that'll happen after this. In six weeks time I'll be marrying your brother and I will no longer have my freedom." A loud sigh came out of her mouth. Thinking about her upcoming marriage.

"Ava you're lucky you're marrying someone you know rather than a complete stranger." The thought of Ava marrying a complete stranger made then cringe. Ava was having weird thoughts of her marrying a middle aged, sex craved man. While Brandon on the other hand was having weird thoughts of Ava marrying a perverted, egotistic bachelor. The two shook their bodies at the thought. They both laughed and the aura became serious as Brandon drove Ava home.

"I'm lucky I know him, but even if I do know him through family functions and political events I feel like we're strangers for the most part unlike you and me. I feel like I've known you since forever." She explained to him. "I feel like it's time to express to you how I have been feeling."
Brandon was touched that Ava was going to express herself because Ava wasn't one to necessarily talk to people about her feelings, usually she would turn to pen and paper when it came to her inner most thoughts and emotions. This was a big step on Ava's part because she finally built the courage to verbally express what's on her mind. He didn't say a thing as he was focusing on the road, but his ears were there to listen to Ava.

She took a big breath, "Why can't I be happy? I smile too much to hide my pain. I read books of fictional realities to keep my in my fantasies and escape the real world. I obey my family to avoid confrontation and conflict. I gave up my own happiness for the sake of others and right when I feel like I want to risk everything is when I have to go back to reality. The feeling of not being able to say what you want and do what you want becomes an everyday struggle. People think that I am perfect, or I am such a good daughter. But the truth is I am not perfect. I have my flaws and one of them is not expressing how I really feel. I don't know how to put to words what I am actually feeling, but I hope my actions will prove it."

The timing for Ava was perfect the light had just turned red and Brandon had made an abrupt stop at the light. The streets were empty and it was just Brandon's Dodge Challenger on the empty controlled intersection. Ava carefully looked at him and saw his beautiful brown eyes. She knew this time she was going to take a risk. She wanted him to know what she was feeling and she did just that by pulling him in for a long passionate kiss. A kiss filled with love. After a few seconds she let go as the light turned green. Brandon was emotionless from the abrupt kiss he received from Ava. He couldn't help but pull over.

"Why'd you pull over? Was I that bad? Please tell me B, your silence is killing me." Her voice was worried.

"No-no you were not bad, I wasn't expecting you to do that. I am in complete shock that you feel this way toward me. I always thought Victor was the one you cared for." The look of surprise was evident all over his face. Ava giggled. "Did you really think I was in love with Victor?" She asked him.

"Yes. Because the way you looked at each other and cared for each other proved just how much you guys love each other." He explained. A pang hit his heart at the thought of remembering Ava and Victor amorously hugging each other under a tree. He had just come home from university when he saw Ava and Victor at the park. At first he didn't recognize her because her back was turned but when she turned to face Victor his heart suddenly dropped. He saw the love they had for each other in that embrace. He never stopped loving Ava, but it had to stop because he was six years older than her and it wouldn't suit well with her family the idea of a 22 year old college graduate would be courting a 16 year old high school student. When she turned 18, he knew this was his shot, but everything changed when she informed about her marriage to his brother.

"We were never in love with each other. Sure we cared about each other but not on a romantic level, he was like a brother to me. He understood what I was feeling at the time. Being with him made me forget about my real feelings for you, but it was only momentarily. I never told you how I felt because at the time I was a minor and I thought it was just a phase and boy I was wrong. You became the reason why I stayed home often. I was embarrassed at myself for loving a man who is way older than me and uneducated. When you came back after graduating university was when I became more distant. The only person I talked too was Victor. At the same time Kuya left home and so Victor became my confidant. Every time I would see you I'd act as if I was never in love with you. It worked but then as soon as I got home, I would drown myself in my own tears thinking about how stupid I was to hide every emotion because I thought you only saw me as your baby sister, nothing more, nothing less." Ava's voice began to crack as she cried. She knew this confession was going to come but she didn't expect what Brandon did next.

"Ava, I promised myself that I would until you turned 18, but it was all too late. When I came back from university I found out from my dad you were to be arranged in marriage. It broke my heart even more to find out it that you were to marry my brother. For days I did nothing but sulk around. I got in trouble with the law, but because I had diplomatic immunity my case was expunged. Also, I got into a little mess and until now I don't know how to fix it. Ava you're worth every risk, but I can't bare to see you like this. I feel the same way, but we can't change what the future has in site for you. You're going to marry my brother soon. You'll be carrying the Solis name, but you won't be carrying his heart cause his heart belongs to someone else."

"But it's also your last name too B, that's why I am happy that I am going to marry your brother because I get to see you more often. I know he's going to too preoccupied with Cora. But at least I know you're going to be there. That's why I am going to take this risk cause I know the only reason why your brother agreed to marry me. He is only marrying me for the money. I understand him. The money he will get from our marriage will be more than enough to pay off his debts and provide for his family."

"How'd you know Cora's pregnant?" He asked out of the blue.

"Despite hating my last name there's a lot of perks. As a Montenegro you automatically know everyone's business. Like, how I know you're the father of Coras unborn child yet Michael doesn't know. How I know this is one of the reasons why I hate being a Montenegro. People see my last name and they're willing to tell you everything. It bothers me how everyone just spills other people's business out there."

"It must suck being a Montenegro."

"It has its perks, but the cons outweigh the pros. So I'm also glad I'm getting married cause as soon as I make out marriage official I can claim my inheritance. I just need to last one year with Michael before I can get my inheritance. After that, we can file for divorce and I'm finally free from my family." If there was one thing Brandon loves about Ava it has to be her optimism shes good at taking negative situations and seeing the positives. She didn't want to be in an arrange marriage but she saw the benefits that come with it and she knew that this marriage was her only ticket to freedom. "I have to ask, do you mind waiting a year?"

"For you I am willing to wait." Brandon said by kissing her hands and forehead.