Bittersweet Endings

Chapter Seven

Scott has been at the house for around ten minutes and I'm still waiting for someone to inform me about what in the world is going on. They have now decided given the time it would be best to wait until after dinner, luckily we were having dinner early. My parents, Scott's parents and Scott himself were involved in some conversation, so when I got up to leave the room it was no wonder that none of them noticed. I walked down the hallway and into my room, locking the door behind me. I grabbed my iPod out of my bag and sat in the window seat, letting the music play I lost myself in deep thought. All I wanted to know is what was going on, was it really too much to ask. Especially considering that Scott knew, why does he get to know before I do.

I was so lost in my deep thought that I didn't hear the person knocking on my door, well until they resorted to shouting at me. I pushed pause on my iPod and pulled the headphones from my ears, trudging over to the door. Opening it quickly, I found mum on the other side of it staring at me. She didn't look impressed with me at all. I didn't say anything, I just walked out the door and headed towards the dining room given that the only reason she would have come to disturb me is if dinner was ready. What can I say, she should have yelled louder.

I took my seat, which was conveniently placed next to Scott. As much as I didn't like him right now, mainly because he hurt me without even knowing about it I was quite happy to be sitting next to him. My mind instantly began to think of the various mischievous things I could get up to during dinner. As if reading my mind, my father sent me a look that implied to not do anything. He still obviously hadn't got the message about me not listening to him.  Taking my seat I started eating. This caused everyone to stop what they were doing and give me strange looks, I'm a fast eater, it's not a crime I just like my food so sue me.

Looking around the table I realised that the only way for them to stop looking at me was if I slowed it down, which I did and it worked they started focusing on their own meals. I was grateful I didn't like been the centre of attention, it always gets you into trouble as I so readily know. I finished my food first which was no surprise, so I took this opportunity to excuse myself from the table and take my plate to the kitchen. Every person I know would be so proud of me, I managed to keep my mouth shut the whole time I was eating. I could hear them talking about something that I paid no interest in, there was a strong chance it was about me anyway. I stopped caring about what people thought of me a long time ago. I walked back into the dining room and saw that as they were conversing they still had food to finish.

"I'll be in my room when you're ready." I said to no one in particular as I again left the room and made my way back to my bedroom.

This time I decided that it would be safer if I didn't lock the door, or listen to my iPod. Instead I simply sat on the window seat and stared out into the sunset. It was beautiful, it still amazed me that there is something so beautiful as a sunset or sunrise and yet the world was also filled with great horror. I wonder if that was just me, after everything that's happened over the last few years it was no surprise that I'm cynical. That however is another story for another time.

The sun had just disappeared behind the horizon when dad appeared in the doorway and informed me it's time for the talk. He sounded so serious. I stood up and followed him into the lounge room where everyone was waiting. My father sat down next to my mother which left the only seat available on the love seat next to Scott, and there was no way I was sitting next to him so I took a seat on the floor. As I sat down everyone's eyes turned to me, way to make a person feel uncomfortable. I just rolled my eyes at them.

"Well honey, you are probably wondering what everyone was talking about this afternoon." My father suddenly said.

"Really? Whatever gave you that idea." I replied, earning a glare from my mother. It's not my fault he asked a stupid question.

"I'm sure you remember when you first met the Latham's. Even though you first met them when you were eight, your mother and I had known them for years, before you were born actually. Mr Latham and I came up with a plan when your mother's were pregnant to ensure financial stability to both of our children and our companies and from there a contract was drawn. The contract stated that if the children were each a boy and a girl that they would be married. Scott had no idea until a few weeks ago when he turned eighteen, we are telling you now as it's only a few week until your birthday and once you turn eighteen you will be married." My father explained.

I just looked at him like he was on some sort of drug, does he seriously believe that I will marry Scott.

"Do you seriously think that I'm going to marry Scott just because you wrote some contract eighteen years ago. This is exactly what I meant when I told you that no one in this room knows me, in fact not a single person in this country knows me. Simply telling me that you have some contract saying I have to marry him means nothing, beyond nothing to me. I'm not some robot that you can make do everything you want. I'm not the same person you all think that I am." I started to shout.

My father went to say something but by this point I was standing and the look I gave him silenced anything that he had to say.

"After we left the city because you cheated on mum, I had to put up with the drinking, the constant stream of 'boyfriends' and when she wasn't drunk and sleeping around she spent the rest of her time at the office. Since I was thirteen I have raised myself with little help from her. The only time she would help me is when I would come home covered in bruises and cuts from fighting. The only reason she did this was she didn’t want someone to see her precious daughter looking terrible as this could ruin her reputation. Then you all come in here pretending like you know me. Like you know anything and everything about me when you don't know the first thing about me. You can shove your stupid contact wherever, because I don't need it and I certainly don't need any of you." I stated calmly reigning in my anger, I then walked out the front door before any of them could say anything in response.

I didn't even stop to put shoes on, get a jacket or my wallet. I had my phone in my pocket, that's all I would need. I started to run, I needed to clear my mind. The concrete stung my feet as I ran but I embraced the pain. I had no idea where I was running to but I continued to run. I could have gone to any of the boy's houses or even Megan or Luke's. I wanted to be on my own, I needed to be by myself right now to process it all. I hadn't even realised where I was running until the concrete became dirt and I rounded the corner to my favourite place by the river. It didn't take me long to reach the trees that I slowed to walk through and once I entered the clearing I collapsed onto the grass, laying on the ground I slowed my breathing back to a regular pace. This place was peaceful during the day but at night it was magical.

I had known all along that whatever reason both of them been in town was bad, but how could he do this. Of all the things my father possibly could have done he had to put me in an arranged marriage. It could have been worse my subconscious piped up, you could be arranged to marry someone you had never met. This was worse I told myself. Deep down the feelings from five years ago were still simmering, the love I held for him. No one but the boys knew of the feelings I held for Scott. Did my parents not care about how I felt, did they not care at all? It certainly felt like they didn't. I walked over to the tree that was by the water, my favourite one and curled up next to it's trunk. This would be the warmest place to lay. I decided that I would stay here until the morning and then head home and tell them how there was no way this was going to happen. I was going to be eighteen, an adult. I could make my own decisions, surely this stupid contract wouldn't hold up after all this time.