Chapter 6

An hour or two must have passed from the time I was sitting next to the wall waiting to meet the man I was supposed to marry - or at least it felt that long to me.

Knots were continuously tied in my stomach as I every strange face that passed me I expected to be him. It was nauseating and tiring to sit around and wait for him because, in all honesty, I didn't know what to expect. My father had only mentioned once that he was older than me - three years to be exact but that was all I knew.

"Are you the girl who's engaged to Mr. Matthau's son?"

I almost didn't hear the question as a thousand thoughts stirred my head, the nauseating feeling I had worsening.

"Ye-Yes." I stuttered as I looked to my right at the woman in pink who had taken a seat next to me. Her face was plump and pinched but it was cheerful and welcoming, her voice nice and soothing like a mother's.

"I'm surprised that a young lady like you would be getting married so soon. I must say, it's quite admirable that a girl of your age would be settling down so quickly - It's not my place to say but I think a girl as young and as beautiful as you should be enjoying her youth rather than being married so quickly but never mind that from the moment I saw you walk in with Mr. Matthau I knew you were a decent girl. I knew you were the one who was going to marry Kerrick."

"Kerrick?" Even though I didn't know him yet, I felt a strange tinge of emotion just at the mention of his name.

His name sounded so strange yet it stirred a warm feeling inside me.

"Kerrick, what is he like?" The woman narrowed her eyes at me strangely before I moved quickly to clarify my words. "I mean from your perspective."

"Oh, well there's not much I can say about him; he's always so silent and he keeps to himself."

"Oh."

"Well, I'm just glad that he's found someone who can understand him!" She said patting me on the shoulder.

I knew I couldn't say anything and the nauseating feeling I had got worse. At that moment I felt like I needed to get away. I wanted to be alone and lock myself in a room for at least an hour so I could settle my nerves and calm my head. The way I felt made me not want to talk to anyone, I just wanted to gather myself before I met him.

I stood up abruptly and looked around the room for a bathroom where I could go and splash water on my face to wake myself up but much to my dismay I saw my father's friend heading my way. My heart slammed against my chest as he smirked at me from across the room but I relaxed when I saw that he had no one with him.

I took my seat again and waited for him to make his way up to me, the nauseating feeling I had dying down when he approached me.

"It seems that I can't find him anywhere," He said disappointed. "I don't know where he's gone. He doesn't normally move around this much."

Even though I didn't say anything, my heart did a summersault in joy. Relief poured through my body as I let out an unrestrained sigh.

"Oh, are you looking for your son? He's in the room right behind us!"

My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when the lady next to me spoke.

All this time he was in the room behind me.

Although I couldn't see it, I knew my face had paled considerably and my hands were shaking, cold.

All this time he was right behind me.

"Oh," He said a little disdainfully. "Well I guess you can go and meet him now," he said motioning to me.

I silently stood up, the noise and commotion from everything around me seemingly paled as my heart drummed away.

I walked up to the door that was not too far from me and pushed it open, not bothering to pause but instead facing the full force of what was to come.

I walked into the room and scanned it but saw no one.

He wasn't there.

I had to quickly find a chair because my heart felt weak from the continuous summersaults of emotions it was going through.

I wasn't sure if I was supposed to feel relieved or stressed because of the continuous delays in our meeting but I took the opportunity of being in this empty room to draw deep breaths and run my hands through my hair.

I slouched back in my chair and sighed once more before I heard the snap of the lock from the door across the room from me - which I hadn't noticed until that moment open.

I flew up from my seat and instantly glued my eyes on him, the man who was standing in front of me.

He stared back, looking me directly in my eyes as I did the same. In the soft engulfing silence of the room, I knew it was him.

I almost couldn't breathe as I stared at him, my airways feeling like they were closing.

His eyes were so dark and engulfing, they made shivers run up my spine. They were so cold and empty. I couldn't feel anything from them, no warmth, happiness, or even discontent. They were just apathetic to the situation.

I quickly moved to take in the rest of his image, which was thankfully not as I had expected.

He was fairly handsome but not exceedingly gorgeous yet his stature was impressive and his image far from ugliness or even plainness.

His hair was the darkest shade of brown I had ever seen. If it was one shade darker it would've been a stunning black.

I soon had to tear myself away from his image as he continued staring at me. I couldn't feel anything from his obscure gaze and I was unaware of what he was thinking about me.

As the seconds ticked by a growing unease filled the room and all the time his piercing eyes were still on me. The silence began ramming loudly against my eardrums as he made no effort to introduce himself and I was too petrified to do the same.

My legs wobbled away as he took a step towards me and I had to quickly sit back in my chair to prevent myself from faltering.

He continued to walk towards me until he stopped, looked at the door then exited the room.

I practically gasped as I drew in heavy breaths. A surge of heat filled my chest in contrast to my cold hands. The eeriness of our meeting had taken the breath out of me but I was glad that it was over.

***

"Delancy, what's going on?" Daniel asked sheepishly.

When I returned home a swarm of questions awaited me.

"We were supposed to go out today! Where were you!?" Victoria frowned.

"Who was that man that came here?" Samantha relentlessly questioned.

I crumpled the hem of my dress with my clenched hands as I leaned back against the counter. I wasn't sure what to tell them but I knew the only thing I could was the truth.

"Delancy, what's going on?" Daniel repeated.

"I'm getting married," I said slowly causing the three of them to fall silent.

Confusion, surprise, and utter disbelief painted their faces as they stared at me but my head was too clouded for me to say anything else.

"You're joking right?" Daniel asked while Sam and Tori continued gaping at me.

"No, I'm not. I'm getting married at the end of the month." As I went on explaining that the man who had come earlier was the father of the man I was going to marry, it only made things more complicated.

"B-But Delancy, you never told us you liked someone."

"Why didn't you tell us you had a boyfriend?" Samantha practically squealed.

"I forgot," I said sarcastically, even though I wasn't sure they knew it was.

"I don't believe it! We're your best friends and you didn't even tell us you met someone!" Samantha continued.

"The last time you had a crush, you couldn't stop talking about it and now you're getting married and you didn't even tell us!" Victoria ground out angrily but I could only nod in agreement.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but it's complicated."

"Okay all right, we'll let you slide but you better make us bridesmaids or else we'll never forgive you!" Samantha chuckled.

I sighed unable to share in their enthusiasm because I knew the truth of the situation and also the fact I didn't want to get married.

I turned away to revel in my marriage but I noticed Daniel was silent.

"You're getting married?" He asked, his voice still sounding shocked.

I knew Daniel was the type of person who didn't understand change well. It was partly the reason he always acted like a child and a little brother to me but I also knew my situation was beyond explaining to him.

"Don't worry, it's okay I'm not going to change because of this. Even though I'm getting married I'll still come around. I'll still be the same, Delancy." I reassured him even though I wasn't sure if that was true.

As much as I wanted to stay forever with them, I knew I was leaving and my future was uncertain but somehow I hoped that my new life was going to be easier to move on to than I felt.