The Arrangement

12: Moment of truth. . .

"My make-up isn't done yet,"
"Someone help me with my dress, please!"
"Shut up, you guys, you're stressing her out!"

My head hurt. I'd been dealing with malfunctions all morning. There were people all over the Reed residence preparing for the big day ahead. A lot of mine and Adrian's family from other countries had arrived during the course of the week, while I was relaxing on a yacht. "Drinks ladies?" said a male waiter as he walked in with a tray with exactly four champagne glasses for the four women present in the room I was getting dressed in. I turned from the bay window and rushed to the waiter, named Arnold. I grabbed two glasses off the tray, leaving my cousin, Bethany without one. "Hey! No fair, bitch!" she complained as I emptied the first glass down my throat in an un-ladylike manner. "She needs it way more than you do, Beth," said Ame, rolling her eyes, "she has pre-wedding jitters. Ever had those?" Oh no, not again. "Probably not. . .what happened to your wedding, again?" Wow. That was low. . .even for Amethyst, who was meaner than mean. Bethany huffed and walked out of my room in her champagne bridesmaid dress. "You better not drink another glass after that one. 'Drunk' isn't a good look on any bride."
"Yes, Victoria Weston," I mocked. She rolled her eyes. "You must be drunk already, calling me by that woman's name." I wondered what mom did to make Ame that angry. "Is my dress here yet?" I asked. My other cousin, Brittney (Beth's twin) shook her head no. I sighed deeply and buried my face in my hands. "Hey! Face up. You'll smudge your make-up! Bella, touch ups please!" Betty scurried over to me and started fixing my face without a word of complaint, even though she was obviously annoyed. "Who the hell came up with the idea of delivering the fucking dress in the morning anyway?" Everyone in the room froze. "What?"
"I didn't even think you knew that word." Brittney said, looking stunned. "Why? I can't fucking swear now?"
"It's that asshole she thinks she's marrying. He's changing her," said André, inserting himself into our conversation as if he'd been there the whole time. "And where the fuck have you been?" asked Amethyst. "Somewhere."
"Somewhere? Fucking somewhere,  André? You just left me! A week before my wedding! And all you have to say for yourself is somewhere?"
"Chill, I'm here now. I wouldn't miss my own sister's wedding. . .even if the groom was him."
"You are gonna miss it, André. You're not invited. Get out."
"What?"
"Get the fuck out of my room and my life!" He left without another word. "You must be really drunk, Amelia," said Ame disapprovingly, as she ran after him. Probably to tell him to come to the wedding and ignore what I said. Why was everything going so wrong. Weren't wedding days supposed to be pure bliss? Mine was falling apart. I was feeling dizzy and tipsy, on the bed, in my robe and slippers. No dress, no brother, no luck. My life wasn't made for happiness. Or maybe happiness wasn't made for me.

30 Minutes later

"Baby sister! It's here! They're all here!" Ame walked into the room, followed by someone pushing a clothing rack. From it hung three suit covers of different sizes. The biggest, I assumed, was my dress for the ceremony and the other two were probably my reception dresses. "Amelia! Get up! We're behind schedule!" I rose slowly and walked over to the rack with very little enthusiasm. In all honesty, Amethyst was way more excited than I could ever be. "Molly and Anna are going to come up and help you into the dress. I'd do it, but I don't want to break a nail." Ah. I'd been waiting for the bitch to come back. "Sure."
"You should try putting a smile on your face. . .We don't want Adrian leaving you for someone younger when he sees those wrinkles, now, do we, baby sister?" She said icily with a plastic smile on her face. My family just couldn't be nice. . .even on my wedding day. MY DAY!

~~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~^~~~~~~

"You look good, Mr Reed. Very handsome."
"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself, Miss."
"You do not mean that, Mr Reed."
"Why of course I do. You look good enough to eat. And eat you I will. . .after I put a ring on that snobby pain."
"Do you really have to?"
"I need her. . .the sooner I make this thing official, the sooner you and I can get what's rightfully ours and leave this place."
"She will not know what hit her."