Only With You [Arranged Marriage] II

I sat on large, plushy bed that the Carlisle's had supplied me as I held my cellphone in my hand. The yelling hadn't stopped since I'd arrived to find my things already unpacked and neatly put away.

I glanced at the vent, filtering bits and pieces of the argument into the room, and sighed. Falling back into the bed, I stared at the light pink canopy covering and then down to my phone still in my hand.

I pursed my lips and then moved to bury myself under the warm covers of the bed before dialing the only number I'd ever needed.

"Abigail Camden speaking."

"Abby..." I said quietly.

"Cami! I thought I'd never hear from you. Hold on, dear," she whispered and I heard some rustling about before I heard, "I'm sorry, ladies, I really must take this call. Can you excuse me?" There were murmured acceptances and then, not too long after, Abigail's voice came across crisp and clear.

"You have impeccable timing, Cam. You just saved me from having to sit through another of those ridiculous gossip sessions Rebecca Walsh hosts."

I giggled and hugged the pillow next to me while correcting my best friend, "You mean that book club your mother so dearly wanted you to join?"

"Ugh. If we ever actually talked about the book in question, I wouldn't have any problem with it. But no. Becky's got to bring all the latest gossip and bore into the equation. And that Patricia Long doesn't help matters. Neverconfide in that swallow, Cami. She'll have it all over the country by the next morning."

I laughed again and said, "i'll be sure to remember that, darling. Thank you for the warning."

"No problem. Now, what's all this ruckus your parents cause whisking you off for months on end?"

I licked my lips and drew circles on the comforter with my finger as I thought about how to tell Abby.

"Camille Lauren Waters. What's going on? I have a distinct right as best friend to know these things."

"Yes, Abs. I know. Well, I have a question for you first."

I was met with a short silence before she asked, "Does it involve me doing something I'm not necessarily going to want to do?"

Pursing my lips, i sighed and swallowed before answering her question. "It'll depend. On how you feel about the situation. But, really, Abby. I need you on this one. I don't think I'll have much choice on anything else."

"I don't like where this is going, Camille, but, alright. What's the big question?"

I pause for a moment, stretching the uncertainty. I didn't know what I was doing.

"Will you please be my maid of honor?"

Dead and complete silence. I heard nothingover the phone for what seemed like hours. Years, even. I desperately wanted my best friend to help me and I needed her support.

"...they've gone and done it, haven't they, Cam? Do you even know the guy? Have you seen him?"

I explained all that had happened and everything I knew about the situation. She expressed her complete dislike for everything and she vehemently told me how utterly submissive I was being but, in the end, she agreed that i couldn't do this alone. And that she would be there to help with anything and everything.

I smiled into the phone and we chatted for a while longer before she admitted she had to put in an appearance for at least a few minutes at her club. I laughed and bid her adieu before hanging up and hugging the pillow closer for comfort.

I now had my rock to keep me steady through the months 'til my special day arrived. With this comforting thought, I slowly drifted off into a wonderful, dreamless sleep...

**********

Tyson's POV

I took another swig of the brandy from my father's study and popped the cork back in it's place before setting it down on the bathroom counter. Gripping the edge with both hands, I stare at myself in the mirror trying to come up with some way this could have happened.

Father was unrelenting and it didn't make sense. He'd always been one for my getting an education and taking over the company before marriage was even a thought. And I couldn't figure out what on God's green earth would change that fact now.

Did the Waters' have blackmail on him? Was this some sort of corporate merger in the form of marriage? No! Those kinds of things were discredited centuries ago. This was the 21st century for heaven's sake. Nothing like this ever happened anymore.

I sighed, glancing at the clock and hearing my father's instructions for the night. Grabbing my blazer, I glanced at the bottle of brandy and shook my head, swiftly moving out the door and up the stairs.

I knocked not once, not twice, but three times on her bedroom door and never got an answer. Looking down at the floor, I noticed there was light pouring out from underneath the door and so I knocked again before opening the door myself. This girl was NOT going to...

At that moment, I saw her. She was half buried under the covers, her golden hair spilled out over the pillows and her dainty hands resting just below her finely structured cheeks. A small Blackberry phone was situated on top of the sheets and was blinking incessantly.

How on earth could she sleep?!He could hardly sit down without thinking about how grim his future had become. But what was it he had heard her tell his mother? That she was bred for it? Ridiculous. No one was bred for an arranged marriage these days.

He sighed and tapped her lightly on her arm. Her eyelids fluttered open to reveal vibrant blue eyes. Innocent eyes. She smiled when as she looked up at me and then...apparently it hit her. She bolted up into a sitting position and whirled around to find the clock. With a panicked glance and a nod from me, she gracefully jumped out of bed and flew into her closet.

Within minutes it seemed, the girl was dressed, her makeup on, and ready.

"I'm so very sorry. Time got away from me. I promise that, in the future, I will be more prompt in my---"

"It's really not that big of a deal. They'll probably think I did it on purpose anyway."

I almost laughed as her gaze jerked up to watch me as we made our way down the corridor to the dining hall. She looked so...yes, well, the girl looked worried about something.

"I'll take the blame. It was all my fault, afterall."

"Oh for God's sake, Miss Waters. Please. I am going to do everything in my power to make them drop this marriage. I have no need nor WANT to get 'hitched' as they say. To you or anyone else. And you, my dear? Their little pawn will not prove to be any temptation for me to stay. Do I make myself clear?"

I instantly began to regret my words as I watched her head drop before returning to meet my gaze with a saddened expression.

"Crystal."

She pursed her lips and looked down the rest of the corridor as she waited for us to begin moving again.

"I didn't mean it tha---"

"Please. Just take me to dinner," she whispered loud enough for me to hear.

I sighed, offered my arm, and continued down the corridor 'til we made it to the dining hall and she pasted on a smile as if nothing had ever happened between us.

I felt like an absolute cad.