Th_omas

" How about we help each other?" He says and I look up at him, eyes still wet from the tears streaming down my cheeks, heart freshly broken from the public humiliation and betrayal that was Lucas's breakup. I can faintly make out the first droppings of snow floating magically under the light of the street lamps. It's that time of the year, a time for wool coats, a time for relaxing, none of which I'll be doing. "I'm an orphan with a wicked aunt and a boyfriend who left her because she has nothing to her name, how could I possibly help you?" I say another sob escaping my lips. "Marry me" he replies and my eyes widen in anger. Is he mocking me?. I look into the eyes of this stranger and see he's dead serious. "I need a wife, you need a home, marry me and you'll have all you want". I nod.

A Snowy Marriage (A Christmas agreement)

The green of her dress is fascinating, as it seems to wave in and out of different colours of sea green and the topaz sort.

Unlike mine, her dress is beautifully outrageous. If there was ever something like beautifully outrageous, then it was this dress. It was a short off shoulder gown, that had intricate designs etched with different shades of thread into the fabric.

It was short, barely reaching her knees and coming just short of her laps. She looks like a walking magnet and I can see the attention of half the men in the room snap to her.

I instinctively reach out an arm and use the palm of said arm to cover Adrian's eyes. He shouldn't be looking at someone else when she's dressed like this "I see you're prepared to get the crests of all the guys here?" I ask her, my voice betraying the faint sense of humor I feel at this dress up she has so exquisitely executed. Arden dosen't look like herself, as she sighs heavily and plops down next to me "The things we do for war" she says, and I chortle in laughter.

"I see you are showing me that you have marked your territory" She continues, as she gestures to my hand that is still covering Adrian's eyes. He opens his teeth at this statement and blows a hot stream of breath on it.

I snatch my hand back, like hot water had just been poured on it and it makes both of them start laughing.

The air of merriment and laughter around this place almost makes me feel secure, like I was perfectly safe here and nothing could ever possibly come to harm me here.

For a moment I almost forget everything and drop my guard down, that Is until the memory of Charlotte attempting to poison me from before makes me come back to my senses. Each and every person in this place Is silently fighting a war that only they seem to know the rules to.

The rules differ from person to person, as I can practically see each and every person that smiles at another and invite them over for pleasant conversation has some sort of trump card hidden under thier sleeves.

Everyone is basically on high alert, as the place is definitely too jovial for someone not to be dying without them even realising it. "Are the games always this brutal?" I ask and I can see the glimmer of bitterness in both Adrian and Arden's eyes as they both stare at the table and do not utter a word.

I think we're actually back to silence but I notice something else. The subtle shift of hands under the tables has pieces of paper being exchanged, probably containing important information. Important information that I can't seem to get a hint of what they're probably going to say.

I almost ask to be allowed to see it, but then I remember the words Adrian said to me in the garden this morning. It's best I don't know too much, so I'm not in danger. But I'm not really sure I want to continue being safe like this. I'm developing a penchant for danger. Evil smile right on cue.

Chapter 52