03. Decision

"Never to suffer would never to have been blessed"

~ Edgar Allan Poe

"TINA!!''

"Look this..."

"I can explain!"

I smirk, I just caught my best friends kissing each other seconds ago and now they are blabbering in front of me. I narrow my eyes, "You sneaky bastards." I say shaking my head with an evil grin.

"Oh! I'm late for our class." Sam says as he glances towards his wrist at his non-existing watch. He rushes his way past me with reddened cheeks and disappears around the corner.

Chicken.

Olive on the other hand has a bewildered expression on her face, "Don't.. Don't look at me like that. I'll tell you everything later. We're already late, come on." She somehow manages to speak up, she hastily grabs my hand and drags me towards the direction of our class.

~~~~~~~

School is finally over, Sammy offered Olive and I a ride but I refused it. I could sense the tension between them and decided to give the new love birds some privacy.

A new love story is brewing.

I take the bus home, as I near our front porch I notice Everett's car parked in the driveway. I can't hold back my smile, looks like Everett is really missing us. I hurriedly make my way to the front door, just as I push open the door, I am drenched with chilling cold water. I gasp, I am aware who the culprit is without an ounce of doubt, "WILLIAMMM!!'' I shriek loudly.

He gives me an evil look, "Gotcha!" He fist bumps in the air before running away with his water gun in hand.  That little devil is so dead.

William is a very naughty boy, his living agenda is to make Rose and my every living minute hell. He is sweet on rare occasions but overall is a little devil in human skin.  "William you better get rid of that gun or I'm telling your dad." Comes Bridget's stern voice as she makes her way towards me looking embarrassed. "Tina, I'm sorry, you know how William is", she smiles apologetically. Bridget is a petite woman with brown eyes and medium length black hair, she is 5'4 and is very sweet. She is like an older sister that I never had.

"It's ok. You know I don't mind it, I'm used to this little devil." I chuckle easing the atmosphere.

"Arggghh... WILLIAM!! MOM, WILLIAM RUINED MY NEW DRESS!" Rose's loud voice booms throughout the entire house.

"This boy!" Bridget sighs heavily, she and I make our way towards the living room where the whole commotion was going on. My eyes settle on Rose, she is completely drenched in water from head to toe, I am unable to contain my laughter, she resembles a wet kitten right now. Rose glares at me.

"Tina stop!" She huffs folding her hands on her chest.  She is 8 months older than me, she has an angular face with sharp blue eyes and shiny mid length brown hair, her bottom lip is a bit plumper. She has her mother's height, and a model-like figure. She is interested in modeling and is trying to get some projects while continuing school as well. In simple words, Rose is beautiful just like her name.

"Girls, dry yourselves and change into some fresh clothes, and you young man are coming with me." Says Bridget, she takes hold of his left ear and drags him out of the room all the while he tries hard to give her his best puppy eyes.

"Come on Rose, I'll give you something to wear." I say to her and turn around to make my way upstairs.

"Nah, I'm good. I have my bag." She waves off while tying her wet hairs.

"Bag?'' I question confused.

"Yeah, we're staying here for a couple of days. Dad says he misses you guys." She shrugs her shoulders.

"Really? wow, that's great!" I say enthusiastically with a big grin which she returns.

This is a first, sure Everett visits with his family and stays with us but only on special occasions such as Christmas, Thanksgiving or sometimes over the weekends. Well, I don't mind, I'm happy that Rose and I can spend some time together and have fun, I get lonely some days so it's going to be good.

~~~~~~~

The upcoming days are joyful, it is always good to have the whole family under the same roof. Rose and I especially enjoy these times the most. But there is something up with Everett, he is acting strange. He seems lost and if I dare say, depressed. It is quite evident as there is also some kind of tension between him and Dad. They try not to show it but I can sense it. Everyone can sense it. I heard them arguing last night in dad's office which confirmed my suspicions. Bridget was also unusually quiet, no one was telling us kids anything, it was better if we didn't pry in their business they said.

3 days later, when I return back home from school, I hear dad's shouts from our main door. I discard my bag at the door and run towards the living room where the voices are coming from. As I enter the room, I see mom and Bridget sitting on one of the sofa that is opposite to the fireplace, they both are sobbing silently. Everett is standing beside them with his head hung low. At the other corner of the room, dad is standing with Rose in his arms, she is crying hysterically. Dad is as red as a tomato, he is shaking and shouting at Everett, I can see his nerve popping from the side of his forehead.

"HOW DARE YOU DECIDE...."

He is really angry. In my 17 years of life, I have never seen dad this angry, this fact scared me for some reason. Rose must have noticed me because the next thing I know is that she comes running towards me and hugs me as tightly as possible. I stagger back a few steps by the sudden force but manage to balance myself. I hold her back tightly. Everyone present in the room turns towards me.

"Tii... Tina... tell them please!" Rose cries out loudly while trying to form words "please Tina... I... I can't do thi... thiss... you know m... my Dreams." She hiccups, I look at her confused not able to understand her.

What is going on in here? what is she saying?

"Calm down Rose, I can't understand you." I say soothingly while rubbing my palm on her back to calm her breathing, after a brief moment she is calm but her breaths are shaky.

"Tina, I don't want to get married!!'' She starts crying yet again.

"What? Who said you are getting married?" I question baffled, "Can someone explain it to me, what is going on??'' I stare at everyone in the room. Everett averts his eyes away, looking defeated. Mom and Bridget are staring at me with red puffy eyes.

"Everett here has fixed my granddaughter's marriage with someone!" At last, someone decides to speak up, and that someone is dad, he doesn't seem too pleased. "I'm not going to let Rose pay for your dumb mistake Everett!!'' Dad shouts again while glaring at him.

"What!?'' I whisper mostly to myself, not believing what I just heard.

"I'm sorry Dad.. b-but there is no other way. They will kill us all." Everett whispers lowly as a lone tear escapes his left eye.

"GET LOST WITH YOUR SORRY, GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!!" Dad Screams, startling us all, he rarely raised his voice at any of us in the past, this was unlike of him, he has always been the cool parent. This made me realise the severity of the situation.

"I'm not getting married! Either you guys cut this crap or you'll all regret forcing me!" Rose warns, she glares at Everett for a brief moment then runs back upstairs to the guest bedroom where she and William are staying.

"Baby, go back to your room." Mom who was quiet the entire time speaks. I don't argue because of the tension. I silently make my way to my room, I pass by the guest bedroom and hear Rose crying which makes my heart clench. I can't do anything, hell I don't even know what is actually happening.

Rose getting married? Us getting killed? What was Everett talking about? I knew there was something bothering Everett but this is unexpected. As the day passed, everyone remained quiet, no one spoke to each other, even William was quiet. During dinner mom gathers us all. Everyone is present at the table except for Rose, no one asked of her, we know she needs her space.

We silently eat our food.

In between dinner I hear the sound of footsteps. We all turn our gaze towards the dinning rooms entrance where Rose stands in a disheveled state. Her eyes are red and puffy from all the crying, her hair is sticking around as if she has pulled them quite a few times.

"Come, sit honey. I'll fix you a plate.'' Mom says while getting up. 

"Nah gram, it's fine. I'm not hungry." She answers in a monotone voice. She inhales a deep breath, "I'm ready.'' We all looked at her confused.

"What are you talking about dear?'' Dad questions.

"I'm ready– I'll get married to whoever dad has chosen for me." with that said she turns around and marches away to her room.

Bridget and mom tear up instantly. Everett sits in his place, motionless. Dad is unable to hold on to his frustration, he stands up with force knocking his chair down in the process, he throws his napkin on the plate and marches outside to God knows where. And me? I just sit there in my seat, too shocked to move, thinking about how did we all got caught up in this situation.

_________________

What did Everett do that is forcing him to marry his daughter to an unknown man?

Who is that unknown man?