I stare at Ally wide eyed, at the sparkling ring on her finger. Diamond shining proudly. My eyes drift back to Ally's face and I can't tell if her face is shining more or the ring. This can't be happening, she can't be serious. Her smile is bigger than I have ever seen in my life. She stare back at me waiting for my reply, waiting for me to get excited and congratulate her. Tell her how happy I am to see her happy.

But I wasn't, I wasn't excited or happy. I was scared and unsure and doubtful for her. I thought this was a bad decision.

"Eva, hello. You can't believe it right? Can you imagine how I was feeling when he asked me to marry him? I was so sure it was a dream, I still think its a dream-"

"This can't be happening" I said my voice so low it could pass as a whisper but she heard it.

She came and sat down next to be, her smile a little smaller but still there, intact.

"What do you mean?" She said looking at me.

"Ally you can't be serious? He asked you to marry him after avoiding you for weeks? And you went ahead and said yes?"

"He said he was conflicted, needed time to realize his feelings. That when I told him I loved him he didn't know how to react. Eva he said he has been in love with me since we were little. Remember when me and Caroline and Drake were friends? He said he liked me since then but didn't know how to tell me. He proposed cause he didn't want me getting away from him ever again. Isn't that just so nice?"

"You've got to be kidding me Ally" I said standing up.

"You don't understand what I'm saying, do you even know what marriage is? Its not like dating okay! Its different, its commitment."

"I know what a marriage is Eva. I don't get why your reacting like this. I'm not that stupid to just agree to something that huge so casually. Its because I love him and see a future with him."

"You are stupid Ally" I said frustrated.

I knew I was being mean and rude and everything that I'm not but I couldn't help it.

"How long have you been dating him? five months? Is that enough to know him completely? Its Drake we are talking about, have you forgotten his reputation in school? New girl every week? How can you be sure he's sincere with you and won't run off to someone else? He left you for Caroline remember? And God how old are you? Just eighteen Ally! Your suppose to be thinking about your future-"

"Drake is my future" She replied all traces of a smile gone and replaced by hurt.

I felt guilt rise inside my body, fast and hot. But I wasn't done it.

"You don't love him Ally, you just love the idea of someone loving you. You were so heartbroken after Mason's rejection that you started dating a guy like Drake. You don't know what love is."

"THAT'S ENOUGH" said Ally standing up, tears running down her face.

"If you can't be happy for me and my decisions that's fine. But you have absolutely no right to insult me, Drake and our love for each other."

She started walking to the door. I wanted to stop her, wanted to apologies for the way I behaved and the words I said but instead I said this:

"Does your parents know about this?"

"Not yet. I wanted you to be the first to know"

"does his parents know?"

"I get that the only example that you have of marriage is a broken one, but remember one thing Eva. Me and Drake, aren't your parents."

And with that said she passed through the door leaving behind the smile she came in with.

I let the stab of her words hurt me, thinking maybe I deserved it. Taking a deep breath I sat down on my bed. Allowing myself to calm down. After a few more moments of complete blankness I grabbed my phone from the side table and dialed Carter's number.

He picked up on third bell.

"Hey" said Carter in his husky deep voice.

"Drake asked Ally to marry him" I replied standing up again.

"I know, I went with Drake to select the ring. It was tiring." came his reply.

"Wait- you knew about this?" I asked surprised at his reply.

"Of course"

"And you didn't tell me about it?"

"Drake asked me not to, he didn't want to risk Ally knowing beforehand" He replied.

I took a deep breath before talking again.

"How long had he been planning this?" I asked.

"He told me last week."

I was getting irritated by his calmness, he seemed okay with this marriage, like it wasn't a big deal.

"Eva? What's wrong" Came Carter's voice.

"You knew about this but didn't stop him?"

He was quite for a few moments. I could feel his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Why would I stop him?"

"God Carter what is wrong with you? What is wrong with everyone here? Why are you all acting like its nothing, marriage is a huge decision, a decision for life, not something you make after few months of being together, just because you feel like getting married."

"Okay, calm down" said Carter, taken aback by my sudden outburst.

"Carter they're so young and foolish. They need to think things through and-"

"Flower, relax. I'll pick you up tomorrow and we'll talk about it okay?" Said Carter cutting in.

"NO Carter you don't get it! wait- did you just call me flower?" I said.

"You don't like it?" 

"I didn't say that" I said, a smile stretching on my face as I felt color raise up my face, painting my cheeks. I could feel my frustration and irritation going away.

"Then what's the matter?"  

I could hear Carter's half smile half smirk from the phone. His voice taking on a teasing turn.

"I said some really mean things to Ally" I said sitting down on the window sill staring outside.

"Its okay, you were just angry, go talk to her tomorrow I'm sure she'll forgive you"

"But I still don't agree with this marriage, I think their going way to fast"

"Can you tell me after how long should a couple get married?"

I rested my head against the wall and closed my eyes, Carter's voice calming me down.

"Three to four years" I replied.

"That's a long time flower" 

I suddenly remembered my talk with dad last night, about the job offer from Canada. My breath got caught my throat at the thought of leaving this place. Of leaving Carter, who's voice was enough to calm me down.

"Eva?" came his voice with hints of worry.

"I need to tell you something tomorrow when we meet"

There was silence on the other end, I knew Carter could sense there was something wrong.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow"

.................................

I went down to grab something to eat late at night and found dad sitting in the living room, staring at the TV screen blankly. I hesitated for a second before turning towards him. He was startled when I sat next to him on the couch.

"You're still up?" He asked recovering.

"Yeah, had some homework left to finish for tomorrow" I replied leaning back. "What about you?"

"Couldn't sleep" He replied leaning back too.

I watched as he closed his eyes, the lines on his face marking his journey. 

"You know I'm really tempted to be selfish for once and take the job"

I rested my head on his shoulder.

"Dad that's not selfish"

"I have been waiting for something like this for a long time, this is a dream come true. The pay is good and I can come home earlier, its-"

He stops talking abruptly, coming out of the world he had made in just a few seconds. I could see that world crumbling down in front of my eyes and thought he doesn't deserve this. He deserves the job of his dreams and so much more. That its wrong for us to hold him back, he has given us his everything, love, time, energy and money. He didn't keep anything for himself. He deserved something back.

I shiver ran through my body as my thoughts intensified,there is a part of me thinking maybe he should do it, get the job and be happy but there was a bigger part stopping me from saying it out loud. 

"You should go to bed, you have school tomorrow" said dad, breaking my train of thoughts.

I nodded and got up.

"Goodnight" I said as I made my way out of the living room.

"Goodnight" came his faint voice.

I climbed the stairs and got to my room suddenly not feeling hungry anymore. I got under my sheets and turned of the lights. Today wasn't a good day and by the end of it I felt, tired, sad and lonely. My thoughts went back to Ally, the diamond ring on her hand. I wondered how angry is she with me? Will she ever talk to me again? And was she really going to do it? Get married to Drake. I still didn't agree with her. She needed to think this through, this was a big decision. I hope her mom would have been able to shake some sense into her. 

I wondered what Carter was doing right now, I was tempted to call him, in need to hear his voice, I needed to see him. He knows how to make me feel better, all these things going on I knew he would have a solution. 

I closed my eyes, ready to drift of to another world when my phone rang from the side table. I sat up  and grabbed it seeing Kaiden's number on the screen. I waited for a second, unsure, before picking the call up.

"Hey" I said, trying to keep my voice normal.

What is wrong with me? Its Kaiden, why am I acting like this?

"Hey" came his voice after awhile. It sounded a little worn out, tired.

"Where are you?" He asked.

"Home" I replied a little confused by his question. "Where else will I be?" 

 "Where's Carter?" 

I stayed silent for a few seconds.

"Why?" I asked.

"Is he with you?" 

"No, its half past midnight Kaiden, everyone is in their homes. Where are you?"

"Can we meet tomorrow?" He asked suddenly, ignoring my first question.

"No" I replied.

Tomorrow I was going to meet Carter, there is no way I'm cancelling it for Kaiden, even though I have tons of questions to ask him.

"Why?"

"I have a date with Carter" 

He didn't say anything. Just silence coming from his side, like he wasn't even there.

"Did Abel reach you?" I asked carefully.

"Listen I have to go, I'll see you later" He said and then the call ended.

I stared at the screen not sure what to take of this abrupt call.

...................................

Hi everyone how are you all doing? I finally finished writing this. I know I've been missing in action for quite awhile now, but I'm back and I would be updating regularly. I  hope you like this chapter, tell me what you think. Things are going to get serious soon and I have exciting news coming for you all. Thankyou for your love and support.
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