I Know Your Scared Of The Unknown

Chapter 2

I looked at Lauren as she stared at me with hesitation. 

"You have got to be kidding me, do you know what they are going to say!?" 

I fumbled with my key fob as I looked past her into the distance. 

"Yeah I know they aren't going to be happy, I get it. But honestly Lauren nothing else was working for me. I have asked people to set me up with their friends, I have tried online dating. I have even let my parents set me up, and nothing." I said feeling lost and exasperated. 

Lauren's look went from concern to being filled with empathy as she walked over and pulled me into a hug. 

"Oh honey, I get it I really do." She pulled away from me as she looked at me. "Listen, I'll come with you if you want." 

I nodded my head. "Yes please" I laughed. 

"When do you plan on doing it?" She asked walking back towards her open car door. 

I scratched my head as I scrunched my nose and looked at her, "tonight at dinner?" 

She laughed, "okay I'll clear my schedule and I'll see you tonight" 

"Thank you so much," I said as I gave her a quick wave and climbed into my car as I headed towards my parents house. 

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"OK, so it isn't like I don't enjoy having my second daughter here for dinner and everything, but what's up?" my Dad asked as he picked up his beer and looked at the both of us. 

I felt Lauren look at me through the corner of her eye as both my parents gazes felt like they were staring holes through my very being. 

"Well I uh, I have some news to tell you" I said. My knees shaking under the table and my heart pounding so hard I would swear it was visible through my chest. 

I looked around the table. My mother had a blank stare, my father had an eyebrow slightly raised and Lauren had an anxious look on her face, almost as if she was feeling my nerves for me. 

"Well I uh," I said as I cleared my throat. "I'm uhm... getting married in two weeks" I blurted out quickly. 

The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. I braced myself for the worst reaction possible while I waited for someone to break the ice. Thankfully it was Lauren who spoke up. 

"Before you start thinking the worst, she isn't knocked up or anything like that." 

I looked over at her giving her a look. She looked at me and shrugged her shoulders. Yes she was sort of helping, but not really helping. I appreciated her speaking up none the less. 

"Excuse me?" my mother asked. 

"I'll be getting married in two weeks." 

My Dad re-positioned himself in his seat as he sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. "You don't even have a boyfriend and you are getting married in two weeks," he chuckled. 

I nodded my head shyly. 

"Then why isn't he here joining us for dinner?" he asked as he picked up his glass of beer and downed more than his normal amount. 

I scratched my head as I cleared my throat and picked up my vodka and orange juice and took a big sip. 

"You see that's the surprise, for all of us." I said as I made eye contact with each and everyone one of them. "I'm getting married and the first time I will meet this person is on my wedding day." 

"Sophia are you sure you want to do this? You are marrying someone you don't even know. What if you don't like them? What if he has a horrible past? What if he isn't a very nice person? What if you are not attracted to this person?"  my Mother blurted out. 

Lauren chimed in noticing how anxious I was becoming. 

"There are a lot of what if's and I asked the same thing to her when she told me earlier today. But Soph hasn't had luck with anyone since Derek. She has exhausted every means of trying to be with someone and nothing else worked. Maybe this will work for her." 

I nodded my head as I added to the explanation. 

"There is a panel of experts who have tirelessly went through and matched me with the most compatible person for me. So it isn't that I am just getting matched up with anyone. I'm matched with someone who is supposed to be very compatible with me." 

My Dad cleared his throat, "supposed to be. What if he isn't?" 

I shrugged my shoulders, "then he isn't. Listen I know it is scary and I know that this totally isn't like me. But you know me. All I have ever wanted my whole life is to find someone who loves me and wants to be with my for the rest of my life. I'm looking for love and I think I have a great chance of finding it through this." 

I could tell my parents were still very skeptical of this whole situation, and I understood because I was skeptical too. But there was no turning back now. 

Lauren looked at me as she nodded her head for me to tell them more. 

"And there is one more thing. My husband isn't going to be your normal average Joe. He's uhm well famous" I said. 

I could tell my mother couldn't hold it in anymore. "You think this is a great idea after what you have been through in the past? How many celebrity relationships work? Not many with them being married to another celebrity, and you think they are going to stay faithful to some normal girl?" 

"You are very easily swayed. What if he gets you involved in drugs and excessive drinking? Now I have to worry about this for the rest of my life?" 

"There is a risk with that with anyone, sure it is higher with a celebrity but she could marry someone right down the road and still have to worry about that. I don't think you should hold that against this person, whoever he ends up being. I think we all need to keep an open mind and support her in this decision." Lauren said. 

My parents just stared at me for what felt like an eternity. I felt my palms shaking and my heart pounding as I stared back at them with a hopeful expression on my face waiting for them to give me their hopeful blessings. 

After what seemed like forever my father was the first to speak up. 

"Okay, if this is what you really want and you feel like this will really work for you then" he started as he let out a long breath "just let me know where I have to be and when and I'll be there" 

I turned and looked at my Mom. 

She sighed, "I'm still a little skeptical about this, but if this is what you want then that's fine by me."

"I won't lie, I am going to be very judgmental and ask this person a ton of questions as soon as I get the chance. He's marrying my little girl and I want nothing but the best for her. So don't think I'm going to be easy" my father said. 

I felt a rush of relief run through me like  a wave washing up on the shore. I know that they really weren't 100% okay with this, but their love for me led to their acceptance. Sure my Dad was going to be as hard as ever, but if that was what I had to deal with for him to accept this I guess I was okay. After all I didn't know this person either, so I guess that would be for the best. 

I looked at both my Mom and Lauren with a huge smile on my face. 

"I hope your both ready to plan the quickest wedding of your life" I laughed.