---13---

ANDY:

Why the Hell I was the one who had to marry him? Why the hell was it Austin who'd to break me when I started liking him? Why the hell things have to be this hard?! As I walked to him, I could see the guilt in his deep piercing blue eyes. My heart ached at every step I took towards him. He was the one to break me into thousand little tiny pieces and he would be the one I would eventually have to marry!

He walked me to the middle of the hall where everyone gathered around us in a circle. I wish I could just run away. Tears were blurring my eyes every time I blink. Austin kept his eyes on me, like looking through my pain and pleading for forgiveness. It was really hard to stand opposite to him. He sighed and took out the ring. My heart flipped and ached. He knelt down, holding my hand.

This wasn't how it should be.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, going numb again 'cause I know what Austin was going to do. He looked directly in my eyes, noticing all the tears and spoke.

"If ever in my life I was happy... it was with you. If ever I felt my life was amazing, it was because of you. Thought I don't know you much... I would want to know you, and only you. Every next moment of happiness in my life, I would want to share it with you. Every beat of my heart, I want it to belong to you... Andy Carter... will you please marry me?"

He held his breath, looking in my intense and hurtful eyes. What could I say? He didn't even say 'I love you.' or even that he likes me!

"Do I have a choice?" I whispered so lightly but he heard me, giving my hand a little squeeze. I don't know what he wanted me to know, but just as he looked hopefully in my eyes, tears rolled down from mine.

I could feel every single eye in the hall looking at me, burning my back, making it more difficult for me to say anything. I wish I could just disappear. I didn't wanna say anything. I inhaled the thin air, gathering my gut to say something... maybe a yes or a no.

As I blow out the breath, everyone started clapping because Austin slipped the ring in my finger. Wait! I didn't even say anything!

What. The. Hell. Is. Wrong. With. This. Bastard!?

He smiled at me, politely and angelically, which to me seemed like a smile of a devil! He stood up and whispered "Thank you." smiling deeply.

"I never said a yes!" I whispered sharply to him. Even if I said it loud, nobody could hear me 'cause it was really noisy with cheers and clapping.

"You didn't even say no..." Austin curled his arm around me, he leaned in and our lips were just an inch away. He looked deeply in my eyes and leaned closer but I turned my face, so his lips landed on my cheek. He chuckled and then pulled away to say something but we were already flooded with people hugging and congratulating us.

Austin eventually had to let me go and I got lost in between people, away from him. I wish I could just scream loud and tell everyone what he did to me!

He'd been a jerk to me every single day and today of all days he broke my heart, slipped the ring without my words and.... A shiver rang through my spine, thinking how my life has totally changed! One moment I'm just me... next I'm a broken hearted and now... I'm Austin Blake's fiancée!

My heart filled with strange emotions. I didn't know whether to cry or be excited. Every time I felt the coldness of platinum diamond ring, Lee's image came flooding into my mind, again pinching my heart to hurt. Tears started welding up again and I had a feeling that if I stayed here any longer, I'd broken into thousand pieces, ruining things for everyone.

AUSTIN:

I could feel every inch of pain Andy was in. She wasn't speaking to anyone and she seemed distant. I knew she'd be damn mad at me for doing this. But I couldn't help it. I felt the intensity and pressure in the hall and a watchful eye of my dad on me.

So without waiting for her to say it I just slipped the ring in her thin delicate finger. She looked at me with wide shocked eyes. I gulped in the angry look she passed me and stood up.

"Thank you." I whispered to her but for what?! Because that moment I truly felt the love I had for her. She was finally mine!

"I never said a yes!" she whispered to me, narrowing her eyes at me.

"You didn't even say no..." I curled my arm around her waist pulling her nearer and leaned in to give her a kiss but she turned her face. My lips landed on her soft cheek.

She'd be Andy! Now my Andy... I pulled back to have a good look at her but everyone started hugging us, congratulating us. It was like a freak show where everyone wanted Andy. She got lost in between people and I stood there thinking how bad I've been to her and still I get to have her all for myself for all of my life.

I kept watching Andy, but even from a distance I could feel the numbness in her. She was like a dead walker. A zombie. She didn't spoke to anyone, just stood there, looking at their faces, nodding to them to make them feel she was listening but she actually was lost in her thoughts. She probably was thinking about Lee.

I wish I never did that to her but I wanted Lee to stay the hell away from her. I don't care if they were ever together or not... I just cared that Andy was going to be my wife. I can't believe she didn't tell him that till today. Though it was so hard to see Andy break like that but what was I suppose to do?

Sit back and watch them both hanging out while she was suppose to be with me? I mean I hate myself for making a stupid deal for letting this thing go because now, I think it the best thing that could ever happen to me. Only if I could tell Andy how I've actually fallen for her maybe then she might also think about it.

But right now to her I'm just an arrogant guy, who broke her heart on her engagement day and always wanting to ruin her life. I've gotta tell her that it's nothing like that. I really ant her now and I've changed.

"Austin! Yo man. Where the hell are you lost?!" Seth startled me.

"What!?"

"You know man you're lookin' like a dead chicken." He made a disgusted face. "What's up with you?"

"Nothing. I'm just thinking."

"Thinking about Andy?"

"Uh, yeah." I sighed.

"Damn you man! You ruined the girl's life and now you're thinking about her?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

He dragged me to the corner. "I can't believe you invited Lee to see all this! What the hell were you thinking man!?"

I looked at his face blankly. I didn't have any answer to this. "I wasn't thinking..." I mumbled.

"Damn you weren't! She's out there crying her eyes out. It's like you've crushed her man!"

"Where is she?"

"In the dressing room with Collie." He let out a big breath. "Look Austin. You've already screwed things up pretty bad for her and now if you wanna make things better, you've gotta tell her how you feel." He paused, looking at me. "You like her right?"

"Yeah I think so..."

"Man if you're still unsure about it... I'm seriously gonna kick you're ass out!" he joke, clapping his hand at my back. "Go and get her for dinner."

Just as I was about to go look for her, my dad stopped me. "Son, I'm really proud of you."

"So am I of myself." I lied.

"We're about to have a toast for you two. Where's Andy?"

"I'm gonna go get her." I withdrew myself from him. He's the one putting me through this.

I looked out for Andy and located her walking with Collie to the corner. Collie handed her some water. She'd freshen her face but I could see the mark of her tears.

I went up to her. "Andy... I wanna-" she looked up at me. Her eyes were red. She really had been crying a lot. I wanted to hug her tell her that I'm really sorry and that I like her but just as I opened my mouth to speak her mom showed up.

C'mon people! Can't you wait for a minute?! I've got a girl to make up with!

"There you are! C'mon you both. Everyone's waiting for you at the dinner." She smiled, but then she noticed Andy's red teary eyes.

"Andy! What happened honey?"

"Um..." she wiped her tears. "Nothing mom. Really." she smiled to her. My heart flipped badly.

"I can feel something's not right. Are you okay?" her mom asked worriedly and Andy looked at me. What if Andy told her? What if she blurted out everything? Please Andy... don't say anything.

I looked at her with guilt-filled eyes. She sighed. "I'm just tired mom. I'll be fine."

Her mom hugged her and walked her out to the dinner table. I followed them, sitting beside Andy. She faked a smile to whoever was looking at her and glimpsed at her ring. She flinched a little and looked away.

I slipped my fingers in her hand, giving her an assuring squeeze. She looked at me for a second and pulled out her hand. I wish I could just tell her how I felt for her. Just now... I've changed.

My mom stood up for the toast. She raised her glass filled with golden vine and smiled to us. "To a beautiful evening and a lovely couple... may the love never die."

I saw Andy's fingers curling into a fist, trying to fight back the tears. I wanted to hug her and kiss her but I couldn't. We raised our glassed just like everyone did, and they all got busy with the dinner. I just kept looking at Andy. She didn't even touch her food.

"Andy."

"Not now Austin." She whispered back.

"At least eat something." I looked at her hopefully.

"Would it change the fact that you're a jerk?"

"Not that I know..." I joked but it was totally stupid. "Look, I know you're mad at me and you should be but don't-"

"Don't bother Austin. You got what you wanted. No Lee in between. Just my whole self to you." she fake a grin at me and stood up. "Excuse me." She excused and started walking.

I stood up behind her. "Uh, she's uh... tired. I'm gonna get her home." I excused and ran after her. She was already half way down. I had to wait for the elevator. Damn elevator! It got stuck on the ground floor. Shit! No staircase on the damn floor!

Damn it Andy! She was holding it. I knew that.

After a while the elevator came up and I got in. I don't know what she's gonna do next. I hope she just don't do anything really stupid. As I walked in the lobby, I looked any sign for her but she wasn't there. I ran out to the parking area and saw a limo ridding away. I ran my hand through my hair in frustration.

Urgh! Why did she have to be so hard?!

'Cause you've been a jerk to her! Right! "Shit!" I said out loud.

"Don't shit yourself... it's bad for you especially on this day..." I turned around and found Paul standing behind me, leaning by the pillar.

"Paul?" I was shocked to see my bother there.

"Surprised to see me brother?" he smirked. "Don't be."

"What are you doing here?" I said in a disgusted tone.

"To congratulate you bro. You've finally filled dad's prophecy. The tradition." He laughed. "Stupid tradition!" he laughed again and then looked at me. "By the way... was it you're bride-to-be who I just saw running away?"

I didn't say anything.

"Poor little Austin. Cant even handle a girl." He looked at me sympathetically. "Didn't got to see her face but she's one heck of a sexy chick you've got. Good going bro. Wish I was here... maybe I would've gotten a piece of her... or whole of her..." He smirked.

I felt the blood rising in me. I stormed to him and gripped his collar. "Another word for her and I swear you'll hate you're face!" I hissed to him.

"Easy bro. That's what I heard. You know Raven, can't keep anything to himself."

I gritted my teeth. I so wanted to beat him but I couldn't! I shrugged him away and turned to leave. "By the way, tell dad I'd be home soon."

"Don't bother. You're already dead to him."

"Well I'm pretty much alive and he better accept that. Just for the record... I'm over with drugs."

"Why'd you come back Paul?" I asked him frustratingly because within a second everything came flooding in my mind from the day he left. It was because of him dad never allowed me to have a say in anything. Because of him I had to marry first! And because of him... my life is a mess... and I made Andy's life a mess too!

"Why'd you run away at the first place? Huh?"

"'Cause I'm no daddy's pet like you! He wanted me to do things that I never wanted! He's an eighteenth century man! Who the hell marry so young today!?"

"I'm!"

"You choose to stay yourself! Only if you'd have run away too..."

"I didn't 'cause I'm no coward like you!"

I stormed in the hotel, leaving Paul out. Where the heck he came from?! And now!! Why!?

ANDY:

I didn't wanna cry anymore. Because I couldn't. I had no more tears left to flow. But every time I closed my eyes I only see one face. Lee. Urgh! I wanted to forget him but I couldn't. He was the best that had ever happened to me and I was the one who'd broken him so bad.

He'd hate me every day.

Only because of Austin! Damn Austin! Why'd you have to do that? Why did you have to do every thing the hard way?

The only time I could feel my eyes burning with tears was when I felt the ring on my finger. I'm engaged to a man who I don't even know if he likes me or not! He didn't say I Love You when he proposed and without my words he slipped the ring!

How could he be so heartless?

So self-centered to only think about himself!?

"Ms. Carter. We're home." The chauffeur startled me, opening the door for me.

I stepped out and ran in the house. Maids looked at me strangely. They were all expecting me to come in with Austin, hands in hands and with a grin on my face but uh no... sorry everyone but your boss is one heck of a jack-ass!

I ignored them all and ran to my room. I'm not in any way shifting in with him in his room.

I locked the door behind me but it wouldn't be of any use. Since Austin's easily gonna break in. he's got a key to my room. Jerk! Still I locked the door and threw myself on the bed.

First off, I was tired and second, I was physically broken. I bet anyone can guess I'd been dumped by my boyfriend on the day of my engagement to another man!

Urgh! I'm so damn messed up.

************

I guess I slept because when I woke up it was dead dark in the room and really quiet out side. I guess everyone was back but nobody disturbed me.

I felt my head heavy as I got up. I need to undo my hair and change, 'cause I was still in my engagement dress. So I got up and walked in the closet, took out my pj and tank top and went to the bathroom.

I washed my face, letting all the make-up wash away revealing real me. I kept looking at myself for a long time. Why would Austin like me? I'm not a beauty queen or anything. Just me. Long brown hair and huge light brown eyes. There's no way he'd ever like me.

I'm not his type.

I shrugged his thought and took a cold shower. After a while I changed and walked out. As I turned on the light I saw Austin sitting on the edge of my bed looking at me and grinning.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Why do you ask when you know I won't go even if you say?" He smirked.

"Okay so what do you want?" I rolled my eyes at him. He stood up and walked to me.

"I wanna apologize for everything I did to you today and before that."

"Save it Austin. I don't care."

"But I do." He put his hands on my shoulder. "I'm uh... I-I like you Andy." He looked deeply in my eyes.

Wait! Did he say he liked me? As in like-like me?!?

"I'm really sorry for-" before he could finish, my hand blew up and landed on his right cheek. It wasn't unexpected. I so badly wanted to beat the shit out of him for doing all that and telling me NOW that he LIKED me!

He slowly turned his titled face to me, his cheek turned light pink. Although I'd slapped him, but I felt the tears cooping in my eyes. He said he liked me!

"I won't ask what that was for... 'cause I think I deserve it." He smiled slightly.

"But I'll tell you." tears rolled down. "That was for inviting Lee and ruining things for me." I choked.

And then raised my hand and slapped on his left cheek. That was totally unexpected for him. He looked at me confused. "And what the hell was that for?"

"For proposing without saying you liked me and then slipping the ring in my finger without hearing my answer!" now I was literally crying.

Instead to shouting at me, Austin pulled me near him and hugged me tightly. I was crying like a baby. He rubbed my back for soothing me.

"Shhh... I'm sorry for all that." He kissed my hair.

"Why Austin? Why'd you not tell me you like me?"

"I wasn't sure if you'd like me back..."

"You're so silly!" I chuckled and choked. He lightly ran his hand through my hair.

"I was stupid." He sighed. "but I'm sure about the fact that I like you more than anything."

I pulled back a little, looking directly in his piercing blue eyes which were soft now. "As in like-love-like?"

He chuckled. "Yea I think that would be applicable."

"You think?" I punched him lightly on his chest. He laughed.

"I wanna take you somewhere Andy." He said looking at me hopefully.

"Now?"

He nodded and curled his arm around my waist and started walking. "But I've to change. I'm in my pj." I protested.

"You're looking perfect." He looked down at me. "Just real Andy." He smiled.

He walked me to the balcony. "Aren't we suppose to use the door?"

"Um nope. The road is from here." He smiled and opened the balcony door. A cold breeze hit my face. We stepped out.

He took my hand looking at me. "I hope you haven't forgotten how to climb down."

"Down? By the tree?" I looked down and damn it was high.

"Yea by the tree. C'mon."

"Are you crazy? It's half broken remember. i think You told me that."

"I think i told you I lied." He smirked and hopped over the grill on the edge. "Now come quick."

"No way. I think I'll use the door." I backed a little but he got my hand and pulled me to him, throwing me over the grill. I let out a little scream.

"Shh... don't scream. I got you."

I opened my eyes and found myself in Austin's arms. He carried me with one hand and gripped the tree from another. "Just hold on to me tightly."

I curled my arms around him tightly and closed my eyes. After a little bumps I finally felt the ground under my feet.

"Don't open your eyes yet. It's a surprise." Austin told me excitingly and put his hands on my eyes. He walked me somewhere.

"Where are you taking me?"

"You'll see." After a little walk he stopped and removed his hand. "Ahem..."

I slowly opened my eyes and they went wide with shock. I grasped. "Austin..." I couldn't find my voice.

I was standing near the pool which was flooded with lights. Decorated beautifully. At the little distance there was a little table with food on it and two poolside seats.

"You brought me on a date..."

"You like it?"

"It's beautiful Austin. You did all this?"

"Yeah. Just wanna make it special." He smiled and wrapped his arm around my waist. "C'mon lets eat. I'm starving."

I didn't notice till he mentioned it, but I was pretty hungry myself.

He'd cooked the whole meal himself. This was the most romantic moment of my life ever, until after the dessert Austin said, "Can I have the ring back Andy?"