Arranged

VI

"And just like that, everything you've ever said to me disappeared after those words left your lips."
- Unknown

Watching my house get smaller and smaller as we drove away somehow didn't affect me as much as I thought it would.

Maybe it was my nerves, my denial of the situation, or just the fact that I was getting away from my mother. All of those possibilities lumped together kept me from getting overly emotional, which, in my case was probably for the better.

There was one emotion however, that I felt shining through the small hole in the wall which I had built with mirrors deflecting any feeling I could harbor for this day, and it was anger.

Why was I given no choice for my future? Why was I the one who had to give up their life?  Why was I the one being punished? Why did Kai hate me? Why did no one stick up for me? Why, why, why?

Every so often, George would glance at me through the rear view mirror of the suv.

"You alright back there miss Rowan?" He asked. He must've saw the inner battle I had been having all over my face

I gave him a small smile, "yes George, I'm fine. Thank you." There was no way he'd understand.

George gave me a half hearted nod and returned his focus onto the road.

He always looked out for me. If I was to be upset about leaving, it would be leaving him.

Neither of my parents came to help me move in and for that I was extremely thankful. Surprised, but thankful.

Kai lived alone. I wasn't surprised, but I was thankful I wouldn't have to live with his parents so they could meddle in our relationship as much as mine had. If there's even a small chance Kai and I could at least become friends, our families wouldn't be able to be involved with us.

Friends. Was that really what I wanted? Would I even be able to be friends with someone like him?

We were two totally different people.

He shares everything he thinks, while I keep my thoughts to myself.

I rubbed my eyes and tried to focus on the present before me. There was plenty of time to stress over that bridge when I had to cross it. For now, I needed to focus on the "now."

The ride was peaceful and I felt the most relaxed I had felt in a while. Contrary to where I was going, I began to feel slightly hopeful about the future. Without our parents involved in every single conversation and plan, we might be able to at least tolerate each other. Hopefully.

~

The house was far too large for a single family to occupy, let alone one person. I wasn't surprised at how lavish Kai Parker lived. He fit the classic billionaire's bachelor son stereotype so perfectly it was almost comical.

George opened my car door and I grabbed his hand as I stepped out. The entire yard itself was perfectly cut and edged. Not a blade of grass was out of place.

I tried my best not to gawk at everything, while George got a few of my bags out of the trunk before the u-haul arrived with the rest of my stuff.

A tall woman approached us. She was in all black and her hair was neatly pinned back against her head, "hello, you must be Miss Rowan?" She asked holding out her hand.

I took it gently and smiled, "yes that's me, and this is George," I said motioning to George's large frame beside mine.

She smiled back, her teeth in a perfect straight row, "perfect! I'm Delia, the head attendant here and will be your personal guide around the house for the next few weeks."