6

Ever since the day Elliot's friends came over, something between them changed. Elliot was like a new person, it was obvious he was avoiding her and trying to set boundaries between them. Wanda couldn't understand what went wrong between them, the way he treated her hurt because she was beginning to like him. She thought she did something wrong but every time she tried to talk about it he would change the subject. He went to work more often than usual and stayed out later than he normally would and although she was dying to confront him about it, she knew she couldn't. He wasn't her real fiancee so he didn't owe her any explanation. It was his house so he could do whatever he wanted.

His parent's charity ball was coming up soon and Wanda doubted they would be able to convince people they were a real couple if things were this unsettled between them. Determined to make things work, she told herself she would talk to Elliot about what was going on and try to solve it when he returned home from work, but day turned to night and he hadn't returned home, she looked at the time and it was 10:37 pm, no call or text from him. Wanda was worried. She picked up her phone and dialed his number and after a few rings he picked up.

"Hey Elliot are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm not coming home tonight, I'm sleeping over at Toby's."

She was relieved that he was okay but she was upset. "You should have at least called or texted me. I've been worried sick."

"Well you don't have to worry anymore. Goodnight." He hung up.

Wanda stared at her phone in disbelief, she wasn't even sad anymore, she was just mad. She had done nothing wrong to be treated the way he was treating her and she would not sit back and do nothing. Whenever he returned home, they would talk, whether Elliot liked it or not.

~~~~~

Toby shook his head as Elliot got off the phone, he knew exactly what was wrong with him and he thought he was being stupid and childish.

"You're being mean to her because you have feelings for her. You're acting like a kid Elliot."

He didn't say anything.

"Don't push it, I don't think she's the kind that'll take it lying down. And don't forget you need her more than she needs you."

"I can't have feelings for her, I just can't." He finally spoke.

"Why can't you?" Toby asked. "Tell me, why can't you?"

"Because of Tara."

Toby cussed loudly, it was getting out of hand. "What the hell is wrong with you? I can't believe this girl is still messing with your head even when she isn't here."

"We were together for so long Toby, you can't just expect me to move on in just six, seven months. I love her."

"I understand you, but do you have to make an innocent person suffer because of someone who dumped you?"

Elliot was quiet again. Toby was right, Wanda didn't deserve to be treated the way he was treating her.

"Why don't you just let yourself be free." Toby said. "Accept that Tara is gone and move on."

He shook his head, "I won't. I love Tara and I will wait for her. I know she'll return."

"You seem more obsessed than in love Elliot because you're not making sense anymore." Toby gave up. "I just hope you don't hurt yourself or the nice woman you have now."

Fed up, Toby left him and went to bed. Alone, Elliot brooded over his friend's words. Was he really just obsessed? He dismissed the thought, but he would go home tomorrow and apologize to Wanda and silently wait for Tara to return.

~~~~~

Elliot pulled into the driveway and sat in his car for five minutes thinking of what he would say to Wanda once got in. When he gathered his thoughts, he got out of the car and let himself into the house.

Wanda was in the kitchen when Elliot came in. She heard him but didn't look at him, she continued to focus on the cherry tomatoes she was rinsing in vinegar.

"Wanda." His voice was low. "Can we talk?"

She dropped the bottle of vinegar and rinsed her hands. With a straight face, she rested on the fridge and looked at him.

"I'm really sorry for my actions the past few days."

"What happened?"

"I can't really explain it but I was going through something." He sighed. "I'm really sorry. It'd never happen again."

Wanda's anger melted immediately, she saw sadness on Elliot's face and couldn't be upset again. She didn't know what he was going through but she decided to understand and forgive him. She left where she was standing and walked to him. She looked at him and hugged him. Elliot was taken aback by her action but he didn't push her away. He hugged her back and relaxed.

They pulled away from each other and Elliot cleared his throat, there was an awkward silence between them but Wanda spoke to ease the tension.

"Oh I was making a veggie salad to have with some apple juice. Would you like some?"

"Yeah sure but coffee for me."

Wanda scrunched her nose in disgust. "How do you drink coffee? That shit's bitter."

Elliot laughed at her. "You know nothing. Coffee is life."

"Apple juice is life." She replied.

After their little meal, Wanda talked about the ball and asked about details.

"It's something my parents host every two years." He told her, "All the proceeds from the ball go to children's hospitals and orphanages."

Wanda was impressed. "That's lovely. I didn't know rich people still cared."

"It's something my grandfather started when he was alive. He loved children a lot."

"That's a wonderful thing. I'm honoured to attend something like that."

"Have you tried the dresses on? He asked.

She nodded. "I still haven't chosen one though."

"Should I help you decide?"

Happy, she jumped and hurried off to her room to try the dresses. Wanda returned wearing a black dress.

"It's beautiful. Try the other one so I can choose."

She went back up and returned shortly wearing the blue dress. When he saw it, he decided that was the right one.

"Yes. This is the one."

"Really?" She thought the black suited her better.

"Yeah? Blue looks good on you."

She agreed to wear the blue and thanked him. "Let me change out of this. I'll be back."

Elliot watched her go. Both dresses were beautiful but Tara's favorite colour was blue. If it were her, she'd have gone with the blue dress without hesitation.

~~~~~

Time flew and there were only three days left to the ball and they were busy. Elliot took Wanda to shop for jewelry. There were so many pretty designs she couldn't decide. He showed her his mother's designs and she was even more indecisive. After spending a good amount of time considering, she picked the cheapest of his mother's designs. She loved the style but she was more conscious of the price tag. After leaving the jewelry store, they went to pick Elliot's suit from its designers, she had picked his suit and he got a blue tie to go with her dress. He got a hair cut and they also bought cosmetics and hair products she would need.

The day before the ball, Wanda went to the spa, then the hair salon to trim and straighten her hair and her last stop before heading home was the nail studio to get her manicure and pedicure done.

When she got home that evening, Elliot noticed some changes in her look. He scanned her and realized there was something different about her hair.

"You did something to your hair. Didn't you?"

She smiled cutely and played with her hair. "You noticed."

"Of course I did. It's obvious and it's beautiful."

"Thank you. I just trimmed it a bit and straightened it."

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" He asked her.

She nodded. "I'm nervous too."

"Don't be." He put his hands on both her shoulders. "You've got me."

"What if your family figures this whole thing out?"

"They won't if we just do what we've been practising."

"Okay." She relaxed. "I've got to go to bed early."

"Don't you want to have something before sleeping?"

She was already going up. "No!" She yelled. "I don't want to gain any extra weight."

Elliot laughed at her and yelled. "Okay. Goodnight."

In bed, Wanda called Cherry, Cherry switched to video call.

"Why'd you switch to video?"

"I want to see your ring again."

Wanda shook her head. She put her hand to the camera. When Cherry saw her ring for the first time, her mouth was open for ten seconds if not more.

"It's huge." She had said.

"I know right?" Wanda had replied

And now, she was saying the same thing.

"Wanda it's huge and beautiful."

"Yeah, yeah." Wanda rolled her eyes. "Cherry pay attention now."

"Okay yes sorry."

"I'm worried about tomorrow."

Cherry reassured her. "Don't be. Trust me everything will be okay."

"Okay." Wanda yawned. "I'm sleepy.

"Goodnight baby girl."

"Night."

After ending the call, she dropped her phone on her dresser and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.