┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓ Engaged ┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛ : Engaged (Ava's POV) The rest of the week went by at a snail's pace, in my opinion. It was the same every single day. I would go and teach the kids, I would come home and take a shower then get ready, and then either meet Victoria or just wander around Kilthorne. I would go to our most popular market and buy little things, or I would take Ashton's old bicycle and ride that around town. But today's different because today is the day before Brooke's engagement. The night, actually, the whole day's already gone. I went and bought a dress on my own since I wasn't able to go with them when they bought Brooke's engagement dress. I knocked on her door. "Come in!" I pushed it open and strolled in, finding her sitting on her bed, looking through all the jewelry that she owns. Which is a lot. "Hey," she said, giving me a small smile. "Hey, what are you doing?" I sat on her bed, crossing my legs. "I'm just picking what jewelry to wear tomorrow night. Did you pick everything out already?" "Yeah," I nodded. "The only problem is the ring," she mumbled. "What ring?" "The engagement ring. I was supposed to go pick it out with Rhys but he went on his own. He said that he would be too busy afterward with projects for some schools in Kilthorne. He picked them out, I hope he picked a good ring, that's all." I blinked once. Then twice. "W-wait, wait a minute. He told you that he would buy them on his own? Because he'd be too busy later to go with you?" She nodded. "Why? What's wrong?" I shook my head slowly. "Nothing. He must be real busy then," I mumbled. Brooke never told him she would be late, he just saw me at Aurora and thought it was a good idea to ruin my day and make me cancel all my plans. And like the idiot I am, I listened. She continued picking her jewelry and I fell into thought. For the first time, I was thinking of telling her the truth about Rhys and me. I know it won't really matter because they're not in a real relationship and chances are, she won't care, but she'll ask a lot of questions. I just don't want her to be walking into her marriage blind. He probably won't tell her and I don't think Brooke deserves to be lied to. By anybody. "Ava." "Yeah?" I snapped out my thoughts, looking at her. She sighed, looking as if she wanted to tell me something too and it was on the tip of her tongue but she was biting it down. "What?" I questioned. "I'm sorry," she said softly. I frowned in confusion, "For what?" She leaned back against the headboard, leaving the jewelry on the bed. "For everything that's happened since Griffin left. I've been causing so much trouble and you're the only one who covered for me." I stared at her quietly. "Ashton would yell at me, mom and dad would too, but you never did. When I needed someone to come pick me up in the middle of the night, you made Ashton come get me, and when he refused, you drove yourself there. You're the best sister I could ever ask for, Ava. Really. You've supported me through everything and I don't come remotely close to you. I feel like a very bad sister. For everything I did and… for what I'm about to do." She sniffled a little, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand and going back to picking jewelry. "What are you talking about, Brooke? You're a great sister. And you went through a lot when Griffin left. You love him. You don't have to feel guilty about anything, but… what are you going to do?" "Hmm?" She looked up at me. "You just said you feel bad for what you're about to do. What is that supposed to mean?" "Nothing." "Brooke." I grabbed her hand. "What's going on?" "Nothing," she repeated, clearing her throat. "I'm just now realizing that I'll be engaged tomorrow and married in a week. I'm getting cold feet. I'll be fine," she laughed forcefully. "It's getting late, you should go to sleep." I eyed her for a minute. "Go. I promise I'm fine." "Okay," I said warily, standing up. "Goodnight." "Goodnight," she smiled. I went into my room and shut the door and lights before crawling into bed. I'm… so confused. ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─── "We're going to be late. Again," Ashton huffed. I clicked my tongue in annoyance, looking at him. "She's getting engaged tonight, will you shut up? This is her night, let her get ready in peace." "Since when do you take Brooke's side?" He seemed offended. "Since you complain as much as a toddler would." He narrowed his eyes at me and we remained seated, waiting for Brooke. She's the only one still not ready, even my mom's already done. "Brooke, let's go, honey!" she called out from the bottom of the staircase. There was no response. "Brooke!" After a long silent minute, Brooke replied. "Coming!" The door opened and she came downstairs, carrying the skirts of her gown and walking down the staircase cautiously. I smiled looking at her because she just looks so freaking beautiful. She's getting married, my sister is getting married! To Rhy Archer. Why does it still hurt to think of it like that? Rhys is nothing to me anymore, he shouldn't be anything. This is the right thing to do. Yeah, it is. "Let's go!" Dad announced. Brooke and I trailed behind the others and she grabbed my arm. "Please tell me you're not tipsy," I whispered. "No," she laughed softly. "I'm just nervous." "You look beautiful, Brooke," I replied, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. We climbed into the car with Ashton and then we headed to the palace. We arrived quickly and luckily we weren't late, none of the guests had arrived yet. Our parents got together and started checking all the decorations and made sure everything was ready. Ashton went up to Rhys' room to bring him downstairs and Brooke and I lingered together, talking about the decorations. The palace looked absolutely beautiful tonight. After a while, the guests started coming in and by then, Rhys and Brooke were standing at the entrance with our parents, greeting the guests while Ashton and I stood in the corner watching. "Why do you think she's marrying him?" Ashton questioned. I shrugged softly. "She doesn't really have a choice, does she?" "What about him?" My mind went back to what he told me at the studio that day. I swallowed, folding my arms across my chest. "He always has a choice." Once all the guests were in, we all walked to the backyard where the ceremony would be held. It was decided that they would get the ceremony out of the way first, so that the rest of the night could be spent drinking, chatting, and having fun. "Ava," Brooke said, grabbing me quickly among the crowd. "What happened?" I looked at her, concerned. Did something go wrong? "I need to tell you something. I wasn't going to, but I have to." "You're scaring me. What is it?" "I'm going to-" "Brooke! Honey, come here!" She clicked her tongue in frustration and looked over. She was being called to the gazebo for the ceremony. "I'll tell you at home, okay?" she whispered. She walked away quickly, leaving me to die with my curiosity. Ashton and I met Victoria in the crowd and we stood together, watching the ceremony take place. "When am I going to get engaged like that?" Victoria sighed. Ashton and I looked at her and then at each other. "Aren't you a little young?" he asked. "Well, I'd prefer to be married young rather than unmarried at your age, grandpa," she smirked. They always bicker like this. "Grandpa?" he scoffed, nudging her elbow with his. She clicked her tongue, giving him a push. I rolled my eyes, laughing softly and watching Brooke and Rhys. He slipped the ring onto her finger and she blinked in surprise, looking at the ring. He mumbled something, probably asking if she liked it. She looked at him seeming confused. She asked him something back and before he could answer people began walking over and congratulating them one at a time. They're engaged now. They're officially engaged. Between all the guests congratulating them, Rhys looked at me. I took a deep breath and turned to Ashton. "I'm going to the bathroom, I'll be right back." I turned around and walked back into the palace, heading to the guest bathroom on the ground floor. I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, letting out a heavy breath. I stared at the door, resting one hand on my stomach, feeling nauseous. I closed my eyes and tilted my head back, blinking quickly when my vision blurred from the tears in my eyes. Why does it still hurt so much? After everything Rhys did, how can I still care? How can I still see him as the person he pretended to be for so long? How can I hate him but still not hate him at all for doing what he did? The first time I kissed Rhys, I was fifteen. I fell in love with him when I was seventeen. I lost my virginity to him at eighteen. And a few months after that, he broke my heart. And it was all a secret, which meant I had to suffer in silence too. I composed myself and opened the door, gasping in surprise when I saw Brooke standing there. "Jesus, what are you doing?" She held up her hand, showing off the ring. "Did you pick this ring, Ava?" I stared at her, slowly closing the bathroom door behind me. Rhys appeared a few feet away and spotted us. I glanced at him and then back at Brooke while he walked over. "Why do you think I picked it?" I asked quickly. "Because it's for you. Just look at it." Rhys stood beside her. "The guests are looking for you," he said to her, completely ignoring me. Brooke glanced at him then back at me. "Tell me." "I didn't pick that ring," I lied. "Your fiancé did. Congratulations." I managed to give her a smile but I couldn't even look at him right now. "I have to go." I walked back out, busying myself with the guests. I never want to think about our past again. It's in the past for a reason, it wasn't meant to be. And the faster I get that through my head, the better. . . . . . Chapter 7