The Difference

Chapter 40

It's 3:00 when I finally decide to climb out of bed. I laid there for a while, not wanting to face the reality of what had happened. It seems as though I was always waking up irritated with Troy.

I step into the mirror and turn to the side. All the sitting around I'd done for the last two weeks or so had really gotten to me. Though I could hardly notice it from the front, as I turned to the side, I could see the cellulite slowly sneaking up on my thighs I had worked so hard to keep toned. I grunted, changing from my loose-fitting t shirt dress to a pair of leggings and an old baggy college sweatshirt. The only thing I really had going for me right now was spring break starting in a few days. I pondered taking Michael up on his offer to visit him in New York City, but was still up in the air about it. I walked outside, searching the premises for Troy once more before getting in my car. I stopped at the park down the street, thinking a nice walk and some endorphins would do me good. I was wrong, however, as I got bored and exhausted after just a few laps and suddenly realized I hadn't eaten in hours. Getting back in the car, I found myself at the diner I had spent hours and hours at with Eric. Ordering my signature Caesar salad to go, I decided to order Eric's usual burger with fries and swing by his dealership on the way home. I figured if he's going to have to listen to me rant, I better come with sustenance.

"He just makes no sense," I blurt out, angrily eating a crouton. Eric is shoveling fries into his mouth like he hasn't eaten in days, but I don't question it.

"Wait, what exactly did that chick say to you?" he directs the conversation to Isabel

"She said she's going to be the future queen and there's nothing I can do about it," I mock, unamused.

"Damn! Something tells me she doesn't like you," he teases, stopping for a sip of water.

"I was so ready to make amends with him and give us another try, and then all of a sudden she's here and they're in- love?" I question myself.

"Well, a kiss doesn't necessarily mean love," he says and I want to remind him that I know this, first hand, from him, but I decide against it.
"Especially on the cheek," he adds, taking a bite of his burger and relaxing his shoulders, waiting for my response.

"It's just crazy. How does he not see that she's only in this for the royalty? Does he seriously think she's into him? And his stupid haircut?" I add, pushing the other half of my salad away in disgust.

"Hey hey hey, don't take this out on Mel's salad, it's your favorite," he says, pushing the plastic container back toward me. I obediently take another bite and put my fork down.

"So, there's no changing your mind then, huh?" He asks, confused. "You're just going to let him marry the wrong girl next month?"

"I guess so," I say, crossing my arms sadly.

Wait a second.

"Next month?" I blurt out so loudly that Eric jumps back in his fancy office chair. He nearly drops his burger and gives me a nasty look.

"Sorry," I say, half-apologetically. "But what did you mean the wedding is next month?"

"Well, yeah, didn't you read the newspaper? They pushed it up. I'm pretty sure the wedding is the same day you're moving to New York," he adds.

"You're joking," I say, irritated.

"Here," he says, pulling the local newspaper off his desk. The headline reads, "Royal Wedding Rush: Future Mr. and Mrs. King Troy Marigold announce date of royal wedding: April 28th,"
Eric sets the paper down once I'm done reading, and I pick it back up and toss it in the trash, dumping the remainder of my salad on top of it.