Chapter 13: Engaged (Brielle's POV)

My phone is ringing for the third time in the last three minutes and if it doesn't stop, I'm going to throw this nail polish bottle at the wall. I can't even paint my freaking toenails because of him. I answered, putting it on speaker. "What is it, River?" I sang, going back to painting my toenails. 

"What color is the dress, Brielle?" he huffed. 

"I'm not telling you. You can keep asking if you want," I said, smiling to myself. 

He groaned and I heard him shuffling around. "What are you doing?" he asked. 

"Painting my nails." 

"What color?" 

I chuckled, "I'm not telling you anything." 

"Fine," he sighed in defeat. "But black goes with everything, doesn't it?" 

"I don't know, does it? Or does it show that you really don't know me well enough to even guess what color dress I chose?" 

"You chose it? All on your own?" 

"Yes," I said, moving onto my other foot. "And your mom and my mother chose the wedding dress." 

"Can't you just tell me? The engagement is tomorrow night, Bri." 

I froze, staring at the phone. 

"Brielle?" 

"What did you just call me?" 

"Um, Brielle," he cleared his throat. 

"No, before that." 

"Nothing." 

"River," I huffed. 

"Bri." 

I took in a shaky breath. 

"I called you Bri." 

Is he messing with me? Does he think using my nickname that only he would use will make me tell him the color of the dress? 

"What game are you playing at now?" I sighed. 

"I'm not playing any games, what are you talking about?" He clicked his tongue in frustration. 

"Then why are you calling me 'Bri' all of a sudden? You haven't called me that since—" 

"Since we were friends, I know. I just... felt like calling you that," he mumbled. 

"Are you trying to act nice so I tell you the color?" 

"God, not everything I do has a secret agenda or motive, okay? I called you Bri because I wanted to. What about it, Bri?" 

I stared at my phone screen where his name was while the time and duration of our call flashed under it, numbers going up by each second. "You called me to ask the color of the dress and I said I won't tell you. Is there another reason we're still talking?" I questioned. 

"If you don't want to talk to me, can you at least say it? I know you hate me so it won't be a shock," he scoffed in response. 

"I never said I don't want to talk to you," I blurted out, cringing as I processed what I said. 

"Do you want to talk to me then?" 

"No," I said quickly. "I just... want to thank you. You took care of me earlier, before I fell asleep. Thanks." 

"Anytime," he replied. 

Why does it feel like things are already changing between us because of this marriage? 

"River." 

"Yes?" 

"Why do you want me to move in right after the engagement? Why do you suddenly not want to wait until the wedding?" 

"Because I don't believe you when you say he doesn't hurt you. I know you won't admit it, I know I'll have to find out on my own. He was drinking in the middle of the day, and maybe I'm wrong and it was just a glass and it really was just apple juice like he said," he scoffed. "Or maybe I'm right and he isn't the kind of person he makes himself out to be. But if it's the latter, then it doesn't seem like you're safe there. And as your fiance now, officially, it's kind of my job to look out for you. And I would expect you to do the same for me. We don't like each other, we hate each other, but that doesn't mean we can't look out for each other. If and when needed, I have your back. I hope you have mine." 

"I doubt you need me to have your back," I mumbled. 

"No, I do." 

I blinked, staring ahead of me. 

"I do, Brielle." After a long pause, he broke the silence. "There's something I need to ask you." 

"Go ahead," I cleared my throat. 

"Do you want your own room here?" 

"What?" 

"I know everybody expects us to share a room and everything but... if you want, you can get your own room. You don't have to share mine with me. Or even if you choose to share with me, I think having your own room couldn't hurt. We might end up needing space from each other and I'm not very fond of sleeping on couches, neither are you," he chuckled dryly. "So... should I get a room ready for you?" 

"Um, yeah. That makes sense. Which room do I get?" 

"The one right across mine." Wow, what a great distance that puts between us. The hallway is only large enough to fit two or three people, that's the distance between his room and mine. 

"Okay, that's fine," I agreed. I glanced at the clock. It's almost one in the morning, I should really go to sleep. I'm engaged tomorrow, I should at least look excited about it. "I'm going to sleep now, okay? I'll see you tomorrow," I said, closing the nail polish bottle and leaving it on my nightstand. "Bye." 

"Bye," he said. But he still didn't hang up. 

"I'm hanging up, Grimaldi." 

"Okay," he chuckled. 

I hung up, leaving my phone on my nightstand. 

He's changing, right? Is it just me or...? I don't know. 

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

I grab the last bobby pin, holding it between my teeth while I fix that loose strand of hair before pinning it down. I've been shaking this whole time and let me tell you, putting makeup on with shaky hands? Not fun. But I look just fine, so that's fun at least. 

I pull out two small strands from the front and then grab my perfume, spraying it everywhere. I grabbed the engagement ring and put that on too. "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay," I chanted to myself, sitting on the edge of my bed and putting on the matching red heels. With the red dress, red heels, red lipstick, and my red hair pulled back in a sleek low bun, I think I look good. 

Good enough. 

My door opens and Ms. Jenny walks in. "Do you need help zipping yourself up?" she asked. 

"I think I got it," I mumbled, checking my makeup one last time in the mirror. 

She came up behind me, made sure I was zipped up all the way, and then nodded. "You look great," she grinned. "Oh, I wish I could see your engagement tonight." 

"Yeah, why don't you come along?" I asked, pulling on the red ruby earrings. They were simple and elegant with a dainty gold chain letting them dangle. 

"I'm not allowed to," she frowned. "Anyhow, tell me how everything is. My, my, you'll come back as an engaged woman," she squealed, hugging me tightly. "Now come, your parents are waiting." 

I walked downstairs with her, meeting my parents in the foyer. 

"Are you ready?" my father asked. 

I nodded, clenching my hands into fists. 

"You look beautiful," my mother smiled as we walked to the car and then climbed in. 

I was careful of the dress since it flowed down to the floor, even with the slit showing off my left leg, all the way up to my thigh. The car ride, in my opinion, was too short. We got there way too quickly and I don't like that. I'm not ready to become an engaged woman. 

We all filed out and then headed inside. Luckily, none of the guests are here yet. River is still upstairs from what I can gather but his parents are here to greet us. My father walks off with Mr. Grimaldi and then I'm stuck with my mother and my future mother-in-law. "Oh, before we forget. Give me the ring, sweetie," Mrs. Grimaldi smiles. 

I took it off, putting it back in the box River had that day. 

She hands it to Mr. Garry, who goes and puts the box on this small, golden tray that also has another box sitting in it, which I assume has River's ring. Both of them wander off after that and I'm too nervous to follow them anywhere. 

"Mr. Garry, what if I run right now?" I asked, walking to where he stood in front of the table where our rings were. 

"I wouldn't recommend that," he shook his head, smiling. 

"No?" 

"No," he chuckled. 

I looked to the staircase when I heard a door close and then River showed up. He was pulling on his coat while jogging downstairs. 

How in God's name is he wearing the right color? 

His tie is not red. But his entire suit is dark red. And it compliments my dress incredibly. "Mr. Garry, are they—" He stopped talking when he saw me. "They are here then," he smirked, walking over to me. "Hey." 

"Hi," I mumbled. 

He stuck his hand out. "Come on." 

I linked my arm with Mr. Garry's. "No, I'm good here." 

He rolled his eyes while Mr. Garry laughed and took my other hand. "Come on." He pulled me with him and took me upstairs and into his room. "Here. Pace around all you want," he chuckled. 

"Why aren't you even a fraction of how nervous I am?" I huffed, sitting on the foot of his bed. 

"What's there to be nervous about? We'll be fine." He turned to me, sitting beside me. "You look beautiful, by the way." 

I narrowed my eyes on him. "Who told you the color?" 

"Nobody. My mother kept refusing so I just guessed," he shrugged. 

"You're such a liar," I scoffed. 

"I'm not lying, I swear. You can ask her," he laughed, running a hand through his hair, only for one strand to fall over his eyes. And he didn't push it back. 

"When do the guests get here?" I questioned. 

"Any minute now. And the engagement will happen right away so that we don't have to be stressed about it the whole night." 

"That's good but it only stresses me out more right now," I groaned, cracking my knuckles. 

"Bri." 

I looked at him, my eyebrows shooting up. 

"Just relax. We'll be fine. I promise."

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Chapter 13

I'll put the pictures all up in the next chapter cause that chapter will focus entirely on the engagement party

next chapter: storm