Not So Unfortunate Marriage

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

            I took a deep breath and stretched my arms up over my head. I looked to the side. Alec was still sleeping quietly at my side. I rolled over and put my arm across his chest, snuggling to his side. He was so warm and comfortable it was hard to resist falling back to sleep. I patted his chest. “Wake up,” I said. He groaned and rolled over; his back was now in my face. I poked him. “Wake up.” I repeated. I sat up and grabbed his shoulder rolling him back over and I flipped my leg over him and straddled his hips. I smiled and leaned down so I was against him from our hips to my chest. “Alec, wake up.”

            He opened his eyes to glare at me. “Beautiful, I love you but I’d really appreciate you letting me sleep.”

            I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Please?”

            “Audrey, I’m tired,” he said.

            “Pwease,” I tried again. “I will love you forever and ever and ever.”

            “You already do.”

            “But...Aw come on Alec please,” I kissed his lips. “You can’t kiss me if you’re sleeping.”

            “Then I’ll wake up in like an hour,” he said putting his hands on my hips.

            I leaned back up and crossed my arms.

            “Audrey, beautiful, I really just want to sleep,” he said.

            I slid off of him and walked out of the room. I looked in the fridge and pulled out a cherry Jell-O and a spoon. I ate it in silence as I looked out the window over the sink. I was about to take another bite when two strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind me.

            “Are you mad at me?” Alec asked.

            “No,” I said. “I just wanted you to get up. It doesn’t matter though now. I need to take a shower anyway.” I threw the Jell-O into the trash and the spoon into the sink before walking off towards the back bedroom to get clothes and take a shower.

            “Audrey, you woke me up for nothing?” Alec asked as he followed me.

            I shrugged as I pulled out a pair of jeans. “I guess.” I grabbed my shirt and underclothes before making my way to the bathroom. I placed my clothes on the counter and turned on the water. Then I slipped out of my clothes. I stepped into the warm water.

            When I walked out of the bathroom and into the kitchen Alec was sitting there with an annoyed look on his face.

            “What happened?” I asked walking to him.

            “Nothing,” Alec said wrapping his arms around my waist and bringing me closer to him. “I was just thinking about that idiot, Jace. He shouldn’t have ever touched you.”

            “Hey,” I captured his face in my hands. “He can’t touch me anymore. You’re the only one who can.”

            He gave me one of his sly smiles, only it wasn’t as true this time. “That’s right. I am,” he pulled my face down to his and kissed my lips. “And I will enjoy every moment of it.”

            An idea struck me. “Why don’t we elope?”

            “What?” Alec had a panicked look in his eyes.

            I shook my head. “Nothing I was just thinking and the idea popped into my head. I didn’t think before speaking. I’m sorry. Forget I said that.” I pulled back.

            Alec took my arm and pulled me to him again. “I won’t forget it. Tell me what brought you to that conclusion.”

            “Well…I was thinking about how Jace would probably accuse you of kidnapping me and then he’d take me back to his house. If we were to be married when he found us then…” I trailed off.

            “Then he wouldn’t be able to do that,” Alec finished for me. I nodded.

            “It was stupid. I’m sorry,” I said shaking my head.

            Alec’s grip tightened around me. “It wasn’t stupid. You’re right. It’s a great idea.”

            “Alec, we can’t actually get married…we’re only seventeen years old,” I said shaking his shoulder.

            “Why not?” he asked.

            “B-because we’re seventeen and…it’s…I—“

            “Exactly, there’s no good reason why we shouldn’t. We love each other. You don’t want to go back with him…I can figure out how to give you a life you deserve. Audrey, we really should,” Alec said pulling me down on his lap.

            “Alec, no we can’t. It’s not us. Are you listening to yourself right now? Alec not even a month ago you said you found marriage repulsive and you’d wait until you were like thirty before getting married,” I said patting his chest once.

            “Yeah well that was when Jessica and I were dating and she was talking about her and I married someday with kids. That was before I broke up with her. This is now. It’s with you. You are my future. I absolutely love you. Audrey, we really should think about this. In a couple weeks after—“

            “Alec!” I yelled. “Listen to yourself!”

            “I am, Audrey,” he pushed me off his lap and stood up. “It would be better if we did it this way.”

“Alec, it’s not just that I don’t want to marry him, and I really don’t. But…I’m not ready. I want my wedding to be my wedding. I want to call the shots. But…eloping doesn’t give me that. Alec I love you, I do. But I’m really not ready,” I said putting a hand to my stomach as a sour feeling ran through me.