Arranged

Chandler and Justin

Chandler's POV

"And there she is." My father explained as I walked into his office where three older men stood beside him. An instant chill just went up my spine and I did not like it one bit. As I walked closer to his desk the shut close and it echoed in my ears. I was very hesitant to take a seat and I knew sitting down my life is changing. The was a man sitting beside me, he was dressed in a tux like the other men in the room, the only thing about this one he seems closer in age than the others. And then he turned around and recognized him instantly.

The last time I saw him was at my sister's graduation they were in the same grade. I don't know if they knew each other or not but he's no stranger. I know his father also.

There are four men in our community, if you're familiar with the FLDS or Warren Jeffs, then you know what an elder is.

Justin, the guy sitting next to me, his father is one of those people. Also, Justin's best friend and mine.

Brother Jeremy, Brother David, Brother Michael Sr., and Brother Simon. They aren't related, thank you, Jesus.

"Chandler nice to see you again." Brother David commented. "You've turned into a fine your lady." He smiled and another chill went up my spine. From the corner of my eye, I heard Justin scoffed and he shook his head.

"Justin." His father said clear his throat. Justin shook his head and sat up straight.

"Chandler this is Justin, maybe you remember him from your older sister's graduation." My father told me. We both turned to each other and nodded slightly to be cordial with one another. The only thing I know about him is his name and that he's good looking.

"There's going to be a party tonight at the Bush Hall, Justin will be your escort." Brother David said as if he were annoyed with the situation.

Escort: in community terms that means new courtship partner with a chaperone even if you're over the age of 18. And after courtship, you enter marriage. Whether you like it or not.

"Escort? As in dropping me off or as in..."

"No." My father answered looking down at his folded hands on his desk. "Sweetheart, it's time." He told me finally looking up and in my father's eyes, although we all knew this was coming, his eyes were just...not there. and I just felt my heart drop.

I got up from my seat and shook my head in disgust. I wanted to yell at my father and be mad, but it wasn't his fault. That just how things are here.

Before I could open the door to leave Brother Michael Sr. opened his mouth, "Be ready by 7 tonight young lady." I nodded and walked out of the room. I quickly walked to our living room picked up my keys and jacket. My brother and sister were sitting on the couch with my mom reading their bibles.

"Sweetheart, you should join us after your good news." My mother spoke with glee and fascinated smile. I shook my head and told her no. I opened the front door and closed it behind me. I put my jacket on and found my bike lying on the ground next to my siblings. I picked it up and hoped on and just started rolling...

Justin's POV

"Justin, can you come in the house please?" My mother asked loudly over my loud music. I was in the garage trying to fix my old car. I got the car when I turned 16, I drive it one before it broke down on me in the middle of the street and had to pay a fortune to get it towed back home. That was eight years ago and since I don't have any real money of my own, I've been trying to fix it myself. For the last eight years. When she wasn't looking, I rolled my eyes and dropped the wrench on the ground next to the toolbox it was supposed to go in. I turned the music off and wiped my hands with a rag to get the grime off.

I walked into the house and my mother was cooking dinner as she usually does and nodded towards my father's office. I can count on one hand how many times I've been in there. once when I was five and I sitting on his lap drawing a picture for him that he, later on, threw away. Then when I was fifteen trying to get my weed back. And now at age twenty-four and only two things can come out of this.

1. I'm being shipped off somewhere to learn my 'lesson' of I don't know what or,

2. It's time for courtship.

Please be number one.

You know I'm not really a romantic type of guy and I don't have much to say, but I would like to have a marriage where I marry my best friend and our marriage is full of laughter dancing joking around fair sharing of cooking and cleaning. Not okay here, your wife let her stay home all day and cook and clean while I work and make a child at some time.

And yes, I said that right, make a child. No fun in it, just there's the baby and there you go to repeat the whole community all over again.

I walked into my father's office and it had a smell of whiskey and something else that bothered my nose and could put my nose on it. "Have a seat." He told me.

I did as I was told and sat down in front of my father, looking around the room. This room hasn't changed at all, everything from the drapes to the carpet was still the same weird shade of green.

"Do you remember Samantha Morton?" He questioned while looking at a picture of him and I, on his desk from when I was baby.

"Samantha left the community two years ago, is she back or something?" I wondered. Samantha was the smarter one of us four.

Me, Samantha, My friend Michael Jr., and a girl named Audrey. All of our fathers were ahead of the church, and leaders of the community. and the four of knew of each other but were never really close except for Mike and I. Boys and Girls can't be friends. You may only speak to the opposite sex if it leads to courtship which 9 out of 10 time leads to successful marriages.

"No, but Brother David wants you to escort her sister to the Bush Hall Formal Event tonight?" He explained to me as he stood and fixed his tie. "I need you to get dressed, were going over now so hurry."

Of course, whatever Brother David wants Brother David gets.

The only Good thing out of this is that its Samantha's sister. And if she's anything like Samantha she'll agree with me about the community its loads of bullshit ideals...

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Hey Lovies hope you liked it and thanks for reading.

If you liked this I will write some more and possibly much longer than this one.

What did you like?

What didnt you like?

Justin?

Chandler?

What happened to Samantha?

How do you think this story will play out?

Thanks for reading lovies and hope you liked it.