Chapter 48 The Spiral

Chapter 48 The Spiral
NOVA'S POV

"I didn't expect you to come." Fabio says settling in the passenger seat.

The manor looks quiet.

But I can feel eyes on us despite the empty front yard.

I may have borrowed one of dad's cars...or is it family cars?

"It was this or playing puppet...I prefer self torture."

He chuckles.

He's not cold anymore.

Maybe because we finally have something in common.

Love.

It sounds ironic.

Because that's what lacking in this arrangement.

"Where are we going again?"

I drive off the spacious yard.

He sighs.

"An all white picnic."

I look over to him.

I'm not dressed for one.

He's already judging my choice of clothing.

"A picnic?"

"We could both use one...after whatever storm is coming."

That lands.

He knows something.

"What storm?"

He pauses.

"The wedding."

My face softens.

I thought it was something I wasn't already aware of.

"Oh." I say simply.

"You need to change."

"I know. We'll stop by my house."

He nods.

I turn the aux on.

A song plays.

One I've heard before.

Then he changes it abruptly.

What is his problem?

I cut the engine outside my house forgetting about the car I took.

Dad's car isn't here so he's probably fixing his image somewhere.

Mom isn't in the lobby when I get in so I eush to my room to make a quick change.

The only other white I have that doesn't look liberal is a short white dress.

It covers enough yet displays my long legs.

It'll do.

"Nova? When did you get back?" Mom calls out as I open the front door.

"Just now...I'm actually leaving."

She eyes my dress along with my sneakers.

"You look...nice."

I pause.

"Thank you...Fabio–"

"Caruso? Nova–"

I scoff.

"It's...not what you think."

She sighs.

"Please be careful." She warns before going up the stairs.

I'm confused.

Why are they forcing me to marry him but keep warning me?

They wouldn't out me in danger for their own benefit would they?

I walk down to the car catching Fabio's gaze on my legs.

That makes me uncomfortable.

"You look nice."

"Let's just get this over with. It's already working on my parents."

"I told you it would. Just a matter of time before my parents call it off."

I nod.

The drive to the destination is queit.

The house looks familiar.

It's bigger than mine and quite frankly more modern and posh.

"Who's house is this?"

"Let's find out shall we?" He says getting out of the car and I follow, cutting the engine.

I grab my phone and take out the car keys following behind him.

There's alot of sports cars parked upfront.

Maybe it's no ordinary picnic..because he insisted on not getting anything.

The door opens when he rings the door bell like he was expected.

"Fabio...good to see you."

The girl is a spitting image of someone I know.

She pulls him inside not caring that I'm next to him.

He looks over his shoulders and i just send him a sympathetic smile.

Have I been here before?

I follow them to the back yard and it lands.

From the young people my age in all white this...is a party.

Why would he bring me to a party knowing my history?

"It's amazing isn't it?"

He leans over my shoulder.

I didn't notice him slip away from the girl.

My eyebrows furrow.

"You know i shouldn't be drinking...or partying."

He sighs.

"I thought you'd rather be around people than alone."

He does have a point.

"I'm driving you."

"Suit yourself." He says before walking away to a group of familiar faces.

His friends.

How comes I've never been to this house in all th3 parties I've been to?

I walk around cautiously because usually my bestfriend is around at parties.

He isn't in this one.

I spot a group of people sticking out from the rest.

I don't think alcohol can get them to whatever level of excitement that is.

Is this what mom meant earlier.

But they're okay with marrying me off to him.

To his family.

"Hey."

A short girl stands in front of me with a smile.

"Hey."

"You're Fabio's fiancée right?"

"Why else would you ask?"

She rolls her eyes.

"No reason...you're just way out of his league."

She winks in my direction before walking past me with a glass in her hand.

It's getting dark and I still can't seem to spot Fabio anywhere.

I think it's the first time I haven't drank at a party this big.

I head inside feeling a little chilly.

The house is quieter.

Like no one would willingly be inside.

I decide to walk around and stumble into an art filled hamlway.

There's muffled sounds coming from fhe far end of it.

I walk cautiously towards that direction.

"Can't believe your parents actually got you engaged to her."

"Shut up."

"What? You used to talk about her all the time."

"That doesn't mean I wanted this."

"I heard she only sleeps with women."

"She'll come around once she's married."

"Drop it both of you."

My heart sinks.

He doesn’t want this.

Then why didn't he stop it before it became...this big?

Why wasn't "no" enough?

"Are you looking for something?"

I jump at the sudden voice behind me.

My posture straightens.

"The kitchen."

She gestures away from the end we're on and i nod gratefully.

He's still leaning on both sides of the outcome.

So why is he even trying to help me?

I check for a liquor cabinet and find one.

This will do.

I almost hoped again.

I almost trusted him.

"There you are." Fabio appears with a neutral face.

"Done having fun?"

My tone is blunt.

I hate hypocrites.

He hums in response.

"Why did you bring me here?"

"I told you–"

"Don't do that."

He sighs.

"I thought it'd help....both of us. What's the point of loving someone if all you do I hurt them?"

I pause.

He's drunk.

But that made sense.

"You're hopless. I don't need your help anymore."

I open the bottle chugging it on my way out of the kitchen and house.

I should have known.

No one is ever that nice. Especially when they're on the winning side.

I dial my cousin and he picks up on the first ring.

"I don't trust myself to drive home. Please come get me." I say and hear a sigh on his end.

I tried.

I thought Fabio would be my way out.

But he's a hopless cause.

What the fuck was I thinking?

That after he gets dumped he'd still have some fight left in him?

"Okay. Send me your location."

I hang up and send it to him.

I walk to the car settling inside because I'm as disappointing as my parents expected.

Who even befriends their arranged fiancé?

The alcohol settles in my body sending a wave of adrenaline and heat over my body.

Sofia would scold me if she saw me like this.

No.

She'd be hurt because she'd sound like my mom when she warned me earlier.

I bring my phone to my face again.

I should call her.

My thumb hovers over her contact before I press the call button.

It goes straight to voicemail.

So I decide to leave one.

This might be the closest thing to daring right now.

"Hey. It's me...Nova."

I chuckle.

"You already know that. I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth...about the dare. But I'm slowly realising that maybe me hurting you was inevitable. I've never been that happy. I've never...wanted to fight for a chance at love before. The way your hate softened around someone like me gave me hope. I think I l–"

I'm interrupted by a beeping sound.

"The mailbox you are trying to reach is full..."

I stared at the screen.

My reflection looked back at me through the dark glass of the windshield.

For the first time...

I have nowhere left to run.