CHAPTER FIVE:
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Oh crap, Clara was feeling... something; or there was at least some sort of attraction there. Not good. Not good at all.

A very restless Clara stood and began to pace. Adrian followed her example, but, instead of pacing, he began to look around the room.

"I asked earlier, but we were both a little less calm at that point, so, how are you?" Adrian asked with a kind smile; that was something about him that hadn't changed.

"I'm okay; thank you. Busy... but I'm okay. What about you?" The distinct lack of Aphrodite in the room had helped to reduce Clara's irritation by a substantial amount.

The corner of Adrian's lips curled up into a bigger smile as she asked him how he was as he was expecting a shrug.

"Okay don't look so pleased with yourself for getting me to reply to you, I'm calmer because Aphrodite isn't here, not because of you," Clara told him as she observed his expression.

"I know, I know, I'm just surprised you didn't... you know, kick me in the nuts or something..." Adrian added with a chuckle.

The very mention of that region mortified Clara, and it showed as she recoiled in disgust.

"Eww okay don't call them nuts... or mention them at all in my presence." Adrian laughed harder at her reaction and noticed that her cheeks had a slight tinge of pink to them.

"Okay, okay, sorry. I'm doing okay. I saw you've started printing your newspaper. The Universal Chronicle', right?" Clara's expression changed again at his question, amazed that he had even seen the paper, let alone realised it was hers.

"Yes, I'm surprised you've heard of it."

"Ahh, well, I saw your Facebook post about it and decided to buy your first copy. Then I carried on buying them," Adrian admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand as the tips of his ears went a little pink in embarrassment.

"Oh, well I appreciate that, thank you. Do you enjoy reading the paper?" Clara was flattered that he had bothered to read her first publication and continued to buy any following editions. Much to her irritation, her heartfelt uncomfortable, as it often did when she realised that someone cared about her even the smallest bit.

"I wouldn't continue buying them if I didn't enjoy them. My favourite part of each copy is the short story you include. They're wonderful little snippets into your imagination," he complimented before realising that his words may have sounded a little weird.
However, Clara didn't see it that way at all and flushed in response.

"Thank you," Clara was about to elaborate and tell him a little more about her short stories, like how she observes how people interact in the streets; however, she was cut off by the reappearance of Aphrodite.

Aphrodite was so close to her that she almost went cross-eyed when trying to look at her.

"Oh yay, Aphrodite is back!" Clara exclaimed with an unmistakable hint of sarcasm while stepping away from her.

Aphrodite, not picking up on the sarcasm, smiled at Clara.

"Hello, I'm glad to see you've calmed down."

Just before Clara could step closer to Aphrodite to try and tell her that she had most definitely not calmed down, Adrian put an arm out to stop her and stepped forward instead.

"What did you find out?"

"Well, you'll be removed from the list if you marry tomorrow as planned, and then you can divorce after. But you have to stay married for two months," she told them, hoping that it would cheer Clara up a bit.

"That's good. Thank you, Aphrodite," Adrian said with a smile.

"There are more rules... you will have to live together for the duration of your marriage."

Okay, that wasn't the worst thing in the world? They wouldn't even have to see each other much...

"That's not so bad..." Adrian says in deep thought, thinking through the logistics. Who's house would they live in for those two months?

"There's one more thing..." Aphrodite added shyly, still wary of Clara and her somewhat... unpredictable behaviour.

"What is it?" she asked, impatient for Aphrodite to get to the point.

"You have to act like a couple for those two months..."

Aphrodite took a step away from both of them in concern for how they might react. Adrian looked a little shaken and took a deep breath, then glanced over to Clara, who was staring ahead of her, deep in thought.

"Okay," Clara started after a while, surprising both Aphrodite and Adrian. "Looks like we're stuck with this so we'd better get on with it."

Adrian smiled a little and nodded in agreement. An ecstatic Aphrodite followed suit and smiled as she began to feel comfortable again.

"Oh, good. Okay, I'll leave you two to talk... it's conventional for the man and woman to spend the night before their wedding apart, but I think I'd better let you both sit and get to know each other..."

The Greek Goddess was right; they had to start learning about each other again if they're to live together for two months.

"Well Sunshine, looks like you're going to be stuck with me for the next two months. I should let you know that training me to put the loo seat down won't work." Adrian informed her with a cheeky grin, another thing that hadn't changed since she first met him in Year Seven.

"Oh, that's okay, training you to do anything wouldn't work, you're too stubborn," Clara replied with a cheeky grin of her own. At least they were starting to get along in their very unusual circumstances.

As night fell, they spent the evening catching up and getting to know each other again, reminding each other of embarrassing moments from their time in school together. They rarely spoke apart from occasional small talk, but they shared several classes.

Once they had exhausted any meaningless conversations, they both retired to bed, Clara to her master bedroom and Adrian to the spare room. Neither of them could sleep as their impending wedding made them restless. It was daunting, but at least it wouldn't be forever.

Clara's thoughts were also plagued by thoughts of her RAD. The disorder acted as a barrier preventing her from getting what she needed. She wanted affection and to be loved, but there was an invisible force stopping her from accepting it; the same invisible force that encouraged her to reject affection from her parents when she was younger. Gradually, Clara's eyes grew heavier and, after hours of tossing and turning, sleep took her.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

The next morning, Clara was woken by sharp rays of sunlight hitting the right side of her face as Aphrodite threw the curtains open in excitement.

"It's your wedding day! Time to get ready!" Aphrodite proclaimed, elated to see another couple marry, even if they planned to divorce afterwards, she could live in denial.

"Ugh," came Clara's reply as she pulled the covers over her head in annoyance. Her groan just served to amuse Aphrodite as she pulled the sheet off Clara's body in her haste to begin getting her ready.

"Up, up! Come on, let's go!"

Clara groaned once more before dragging herself out of what was left of her bed, then deciding against it and fell onto her back. Unfazed, Aphrodite pulled her up and sat her down in front of the dressing table.

"Before you start to vandalise my face with whatever makeup you want to put on it, can you at least tell me what the plan for today is? What time are we getting married? Where am I getting married?" Curiosity got the better of Clara as she began to bombard Aphrodite with questions. Then, she eyed the makeup brush in Aphrodite's hand and saw the way she was holding it. Horrified, she pushed her arm away from her face. "Okay, you're going to let me do my makeup. I do not trust you."

Conceding, Aphrodite took a step back to watch Clara work, adding a soft, warm sunset eye with gold glitter to her eyelids that, coincidentally, would be a perfect match with the flowers.

Aphrodite stood in awe of Clara's work as she fixed the finishing touches of her makeup. For the first time since she had arrived, about 24 hours ago, Aphrodite had nothing to say as she watched Clara moved onto her hair, choosing to straighten it and use a clip to hold it half up half down with curled pieces at the front.

"Hold on, I don't have a dress," Clara turned to Aphrodite a little concerned.

"Oh, please, don't be silly. I've bought you one, of course!" Aphrodite pulled a dress out of the wardrobe that had not been in there when Clara had gotten dressed the day before.

It was a delicate fishtail gown with lace, off the shoulder, sleeves and minimal beading on the bodice.

"Wow. You look so elegant," Aphrodite gushed as she admired Clara. She had seen beautiful brides dressed in extravagant up-dos and huge ball gowns, but Clara's beauty was different.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

At long last, and much to Aphrodite's excitement, the time came for the ceremony.

Aphrodite had set up a small archway in Clara's garden with delicate yellow acacias lining the wooden frame and handed Clara a matching bouquet. Adrian was standing tall at the top of the aisle in a dark grey suit with a lapel flower matching the other flowers.

He looked handsome.

Promptly, Aphrodite made her way to the top of the aisle where she would officiate the wedding. Adrian exchanged a few words with her before turning to look at Clara.

She looked stunning.

Clara took a deep breath before beginning to walk up the aisle towards her future husband. It wasn't a big deal; it was just for two months.

Adrian gave her a small and reassuring smile, convinced that she would be as nervous as he was.

As she reached him, Adrian took her hand in his as his smile widened. He wouldn't deny that his smile was to mask his nervousness since vulnerability was not his strong suit, however he also couldn't deny that he was a little excited.

Aphrodite began talking, acting as though she was talking to a large crowd at a typical wedding.

Soon, the very improvised vows came as Adrian began to think on the spot.

"Clara, we've known each other for a while, although it was only in school. But, I promise to not annoy you too much in the following two months. I'll take care of you... apart from if you're sick, then sorry you'll have to hold your own hair." Clara glared at him and he smiled, "I'm joking, don't worry, I'm not that horrible... I promise that I'll be the best husband I can be for the next two months."

Aphrodite smiled a little and shifted her gaze to Clara.

"Adrian, you annoyed me in school, and you'll probably annoy me now, but I'll live with it for two months. You already know I'm not going to be the stereotypical doting housewife, and I know you won't want me to. But I will be good to you and try my hardest not to make these next two months miserable for us both."

They weren't the most romantic of vows. In fact, they were the least romantic vows Aphrodite had ever heard, I mean they mentioned that they'd divorce after two months. Yet, they were vows nevertheless.

As the exchanging of rings began, a reluctant couple finally began to accept that there was no escaping.

"Do you, Adrian Kirkman, take Clara Abbott to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I suppose I do."

"And do you, Clara Abbott, take Adrian Kirkman, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do, but only for two months."

Aphrodite was unimpressed with their replies, but carried on anyway, ignoring their displeasure.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride," Aphrodite announced as the Kirkmans conceded and shared a hesitant kiss after receiving an expectant glare from the Goddess.

If you're thinking that they felt sparks flying or strange tingling sensations, don't get ahead of yourself you cliché loving reader, they didn't.

Aphrodite picked up a camera and began to try and take photos; only she had no idea how to use it and ended up taking selfies instead.

"I, how does this work? What am I doing wrong? Why isn't this working?"

Pro-tip, never give a Goddess any form of technology.

Both Clara and Adrian laughed at her antics as they subconsciously grabbed and held each other's hands.

Wait, they held hands again?!