Marriage by Law

by N. K. Pockett

  I patted my hair back into place as he gave Darius a 'man hug' and I tried not to laugh at Darius's face.

  Henry, Jeffrey and Kyle rushed toward us, screaming like girls when they saw us which made me raise an eyebrow.

  "We should have brought Adrian," Darius whispered in my ear and I laughed my agreement. Adrian would have fit in perfectly with these boys.

  The party was great as we talked to the guys who stayed by our side most of the time, making us feel welcome since we didn't know anyone else.

  "You ok?" I asked Darius as they rushed away to bring the birthday cake, which was a surprise. Darius nodded, wrapping his arms around me from behind and resting his chin on my shoulder. He had been standing behind me the whole time, barely talking and just looking around.

  He looked tired but he didn't say it. He had left at a rush as soon as we had finished playing monopoly, which went past midnight, as he got a business call and then came back at lunch time. Did he even sleep?

  I told him, "It's okay. We can go after the cake."

  Darius chuckled behind me and I could feel the vibrations on my back. "What?"

  "Trust you to want to eat the cake."

  I felt my face go red and warm. "Kyle said the cake is delicious."

  Who goes to a birthday party and leaves without eating the cake? I pulled Darius close to the crowd as the birthday cake came out and I was impressed. It tasted even better as slices were given out in throwaway cups and I sighed with pleasure. It was a raspberry and white chocolate cake and it was amazing.

  "What?" I asked as Darius stared at me and he shook his head.

  "Do you want my slice?"

  Do I?

  He laughed when he saw my face and gave me his cup, taking mine as I finished and I smiled. "Thank you," I said, kissing his cheek.

  I sighed, leaning against my seat as I melted. This cake was delicious. I had to ask them where they got it from. Darius beamed as he also leaned back in his chair and took out his phone from his pocket.

  "Rewy?" The word 'really' getting jumbled as my mouth was full of cake. Maybe not the best table manner.

  "Just a quick email," he said, his fingers tapping away. I shook my head. Well, I can't blame him. He must be bored in a party without anyone he knows.

  I looked around to see other people either talking or dancing on the dance floor. Placing my half finished cake on the table, I stood up. "Come on, let's dance." Maybe that would make him less bored.

  I dragged him to the dance floor as he reluctantly put away him phone and smiled, pulling me into his arms. "You want to dance to this music?"

  I shrugged. Maybe it wasn't the most perfect music to dance to, but it was still possible. After a few more songs, the music finally slowed down and matched our pace. It was quiet and relaxing. I looked around the room, seeing all the balloons with the number 21 on them. That made me think.

  "How old are you?" I asked Darius.

  This got his attention. He looked at me with a questioning look on his face and I felt my cheeks go warm again. What, am I not allowed to ask?

  "You don't know how old I am?"

  I shrugged, looking out the window at the lights of the harbour. "My father may have told me."

  "May?"

  I blushed even more. "They gave me your picture and details," I said as I met his eyes.

  "And?"

  "I might have burnt them?"

  Darius looked amused and I could see the corner of his lips twitch. "You burned a photo of me?"

  I bit my lip, looking over his shoulder instead. "Well, it wasn't exactly how it sounds. I was just angry at my mother and I might have dropped it and it ended up in the fireplace?"

  "Of course."

  I rolled my eyes as he laughed. It wasn't my fault. I was really angry that time and when I am really angry, I don’t think I am overacting. It was only afterwards when I thought about it that there was always a better way to approach it.

  After a few more songs, we decided it was time to leave. Darius has work in the morning and I will be job hunting with Adrian. There was always the option of working for my father or even Darius but after the disaster with spreadsheets with father, I don't think I'll ever go near business stuff.

  "I'll see you soon," said Daniel as we gave him a goodbye hug.

  "Yes. Come visit!" I told them. That would be great. They can meet Adrian, and I knew they would get along perfectly.

  "Good luck," he told Darius and I looked at them. Good luck for what?

  "What did he mean?" I asked as we walked out of the venue toward the car.

  "Business stuff," Darius replied, rubbing the back of his neck and saying nothing more. I raised an eyebrow in question. What business stuff? Was this some other deal?

  I climbed in after him as the driver took us back home. The moon was bright tonight and it made the city look stunning. The car ride was fairly quiet and I looked at Darius from the corner of my eyes a few times. I felt like something was wrong.

  He was quiet. He always was quiet but he seemed to be deep in thought about something that made me anxious. It felt like it was bothering him.

  Maybe later.

  "Twenty-four," he said as the car came to a stop.

  "What?"

  He got out and held the door open as I stepped out. The lights were on in the house, which got me thinking. I was sure they were off when we left.

  "I'm twenty-four, twenty five in another month," Darius was saying while closing the door and turning around. I smiled. That made him four years older than I was. Somehow I liked that age gap. I nodded and turned around to hurry out of the cold when he grabbed my arm, pulling me back.

  "Do you regret it?"

  I stared up at him. "Regret what?" The moon was behind him and I couldn't see his face very well but his eyes looked grim as he looked at me.

  It took me a moment to realise his fingers were stroking my finger, where my ring should have been if Adrian hadn't stolen it, or if I hadn't dropped it down the sink.

  "Marrying me."

  His eyes were staring deep into mine, like he was making sure I wasn't lying. I tried not to double over laughing. Is he really asking me this?

  I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Well, to be honest," I joked, trying to lighten the mood, but then realised this was Darius.

  "No," I said in a more serious voice. Even if I was in heels, I still had to go on my tippy toes so I could meet his eye level. "I don't," I continued, letting my lips meet his and whispered, "…because I love you."

  He stiffened.

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  And before he could reply, if he was going to reply, and whatever he was going to reply, I wrapped my arms around him tighter and sealed it with a kiss. I didn't want him to say it back to me now. Maybe someday, maybe even today, but not thirty milliseconds after I said it.

  That wasn't how I wanted to hear it because I didn't say it for him to just repeat it. I said it because I wanted to. And because I meant it. I was in love with him, and I didn't realise till I said it out loud myself.

  Even though he was a complete jerk when I first met him - completely hated his guts then – and the fact that he couldn't even remember my simple name… But now I love it every time he called me Aluminium, even though I was far prettier than aluminum foil, and not even that delicate.

  His hands wrapped around my waist and I could feel the warmth from his jacket as he rested his head on my head. I really should bring my own jacket. We rested for a moment before I pulled away, needing fresh air and not his intoxicating scent.

  "So why are the lights switched on inside?" I asked as I saw him open his mouth, changing the topic before he could bring up the confession I had just made. At least I beat him at something. I was positive he cheated in monopoly.

  Especially since he "accidentally" found an extra card he was "sitting on” which made me give up my last one hundred dollars and declaring me a loser. And I hated losing.

  "Lights?" he asked in confusion, look
ing up at the house. And then realisation hit him. "Oh, lights."

  And then it hit me. The last time there were lights in the house, our parents were here. Don't tell me the devils living on earth were back.

  But Darius said, "That would be Adrian."

  "Adrian's here?" I asked, excited. Even if he was just gone for a day, I missed his crazy presence, and he can probably cook me some more dinner.

  I turned around, moving out of his grip and rushing up the stairs. "Adrian! Can he bake?"

  I turned around to see Darius still standing there. "Are you coming?"

  He rubbed the back of his neck, shifting his weight on his other foot, a gesture I was becoming familiar with. "I need to go do something. I'll be back soon."

  I raised an eyebrow. Does he even know what time it was?

  "Okay?" I asked. It wasn't like I was going to say, ‘get in the house and stay there, it's nearly midnight’. Maybe it was work. I scoffed. Of course it was work, what else would it be? He did mention some business deal, and he was pretty down all day. Maybe it was another deal.

  "I'll see you later." He turned around and I walked up the stairs and stopped on the landing and turned back.

  "Hey, Dairy?"

  "Hmm?" He asked as he opened the door, looking over his shoulder.

  "Did you tell Adrian to come babysit me?"

  "Of course not," he said with an amused expression, but something told me Adrian was there to babysit me. I huffed. I do not need a baby sitter. I am twenty-one and I can handle myself.

  I climbed the rest of the stairs and opened the door, grateful that Adrian had at least turned the ducted heater on. I looked around. Lights were switched on everywhere. Was it really necessary to have every single light switched on in the house?

  Closing the door behind me, I kicked my shoes off. "Adrian?" I called out.

  Silence.

  Where was this boy?

  I stepped out of the room and walked up the stairs to the next floor, looking around.

  "Adrian?" I called out louder. It felt like a horror movie, waiting for him to pop out of one of the doors. At least I can kick him in the face using the excuse "You scared me".

  I thought that maybe he came and then left. That would sound like him. I smiled. I didn't need a baby sitter anyway.

  I walked back to our room, kicking the half-open door and walking in. And, of course, there he was sprawled on the bed with packets of junk food watching TV.

  I raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing in our room?"

  He looked up, and smiled, showing a gummy worm hanging between his teeth. "Oh, hi."

  I walked over, jumping onto the bed and bouncing. I kicked my feet up and grabbed the packet from him. "You do realise you've left sour crumbs all over the bed?"

  "You did say it was our room," he said, playing with the words I said.

  "Good, then you can clean it up before I go to sleep."

  Adrian scoffed as he grabbed the packet out of my hand and I popped a sour worm into my mouth. Where did he even get all this candy from? Did Darius have a candy stash and left me out?

  "Why do I have to do it?"

  "Because you said it was ours. We share. Are those marshmallows there?" I pointed to the packet he tucked behind his hand.

  "Where did Darius go?" I asked a few minutes later, feeling incredibly bored at the movie he was watching. Adrian shrugged and I raised an eyebrow. "C'mon. You know, since you're here and all."

  "I'm always here."

  I nodded. True, he was here a lot. And that reminded me. "Yes," I snapped and he looked at me, shocked at my change of tone. The sudden bitterness sweeping through.

  "I didn't eat it all, there's still more left?" Adrian said hesitantly, handing me the marshmallow packet. I grabbed it and sat back against the bed.

  "No, you're allergic to dogs and now I can't have one. Darius said he didn't want you to blow up, go red, burst and die."

  A bit exaggerated, but well worth it.

  "He said that?"

  I nodded. Maybe I can get an allergy-free dog. There are plenty of those around.

  Adrian spoke and said, "I knew he loved me. Good thing I still have your ring. We can get married."

  I looked sideways at him as I asked, "You still have my ring?" I was shaking my head as I searched the bed for something else to eat. Where are the chocolate buttons?

  And I decided to leave out the part that was disgusting. Since they are cousins, I was positive that came under some sort of incest.

  Adrian had to go to the doctors to get the ring off and I was expecting him to chuck that disgusted mouldy ring away.

  "What are you going to do with a ring?"

  "Wear it, duh. I'm trying to watch the movie, Aluminium. Shut up."

  My jaw dropped as I stared at him. Ok, he was serious. He grabbed a packet of chicken chips off the bed and munched, loudly.

  You know, just sit on my bed and eat, not like I want to sleep or anything. I got up and walked into the walk-in closet and grabbed some clothes. I left Adrian to watch his movie and found myself one of the other rooms.

  Changing out of this dress never felt better and when I felt the soft mattress, I was in love. It hadn't even been five minutes before the door burst open and a huffed and puffed Adrian was standing in the doorway.

  I opened one eye to try to shield out the light. Did he really have to switch that on?

  "What?" I grumbled as I pulled the blanket higher.

  "You can't sleep!"

  "What?"

  Was he crazy? He had to be. The clock said it was quarter to midnight and there was no way I was staying one second past midnight.

  "Darius will be coming home," he announced in his attempt to keep me awake.

  "So? He can go to sleep as well." I peeked through the blanket, making myself a safe hole to look from. He didn't need my permission to go to bed. "And you go sleep as well, and turn the lights off, will you?"

  I ducked back under the blankets, safe and sound in my favourite haven. Silence followed, making me think he had left. But there was always silence before a storm and the next minute, the blanket that was wrapped around me was pulled and I rolled off the bed, landing hard on the floor.

  "Jesus!"

  The thud that vibrated through the room made me think I had knocked over the cabinet on my way down. I stared up at the bright light before Adrian's face came into view.

  "Yes, one must pray before bed. Now get up, and get ready."

  "For what?!"

  Adrian just shook his head in surrender, throwing his hands in the air and walking out while yelling, "I tried." He even took my blanket with him.

  Tried with what?

  With a sigh, I got off the floor to chase him down. Can someone just clarify what the hell is happening?

  "Adrian?" I went back in the room, but he was gone. But the mess he left on the bed was pretty much still there. I shook my head. He better clean this up. I liked that bed.

  When I trudged back downstairs, the lights were off. It was dark that I almost fell down the last stair. Great, now Adrian listens.

  "Adrian, this is not funny," I called out at the same time I felt a cold breeze. Did he just open the main door? What if someone came in? Do the guards work through the night as well?

  I rushed over, expecting him to jump out of the closet. Nothing.

  I peeked out from behind the door. Wait, did he just leave? Just like that, in his pink-striped pajamas, walk out of the house barefoot?

  And sure enough I heard the sound of a car on the road. Where was he going? Who was going to babysit me?

  "Annoying man-child," I muttered in frustration as I slammed the door shut. Now I have to clean the room myself. I was about to go back inside when I felt like someone, or something, was watching me and I paused. Maybe I shouldn't have thought about horror movies. I felt my blood run cold as I leaned over, plucking the umbrella from the stand.

  "Who's there?"

  I switched on the light. No one.


  Silly, Ivory. There is no one here. I switched the light off, shaking my head as I walked to the kitchen for a glass of water to calm me down. Maybe living in this big house by myself most of the time was a bad idea.