✔️ The Unwanted Bride (Book One) **UNDER EDITING**

A Smug Brunch

I gently touch the jeans as they hang off the back of the desk's chair. For the entire weekend, I wore the jeans that Charles had sent me. The stiff denim fabric has already loosened a bit over the two days of wearing them. The blueish color of the jeans reminds me of the ocean below. The rising sun peeks over the waves, causing a vast illuminating of the blue water. I stare at it, the light yellow not burning my eyes nearly as much as it will the higher it goes up. There are no sounds of waves crashing, and the curtains do not lift up on a breeze, which feels rather strange.

I unwrap myself from my sheet on the floor and stand, walking onto the balcony. Peering below, I watch as the waves, not crash, but lap against the jagged rocks. The sharp, black points of the rocks below, glimmer ever so slightly with the orange and yellow light from the rising sun. Leaning over the rail a little bit, I throw a glance to my left, peering at the shore as it stretches into the beyond. The particles of sand shimmer like glass as the sun also reaches its hand to warm it.

That's strange, I never realized how much the sand looks like Jason's hair. I mean, it is that dusty yellowish tint like his... maybe I realize it now because I have my first date with him in only a few hours. I feel lurches and squeezes; a small burning feeling lingers in my throat. Only a few hours? Oh gosh. I quickly step back into the room, closing the doors just in time to hear a knock.

"Come in." I call as I lock the doors and quickly kick the sheets away as the door opens. Sicily walks in, her smile beaming, with Charles and Cora quickly sneaking in behind. They do their normal bow and curtesy as I return the gesture. "Good morning you guys."

"Good morning Miss Burks." Charles says as his eyes cast a quick glance to the floor,  to the bed, the quickly resting his gaze back on me. "I hope you have had a spendid weekend!"

"It was a rather nice weekend." I give him my best smile as I step forward, pushing the sheet farther so they woudln't see as I take a step. "I mainly just lounged around in the jeans you made." I look towards the blue pants hanging off the chair, and turn back to see his face beaming. "Thank you for them by the way."

"I am so happy you enjoyed them!" He briskly walks to me gently placing his hands on my shoulder and lowering his head to peer at me. His breath smells bracing cool, so much so that when I breath in, my nose burns a bit. "Denium is rather hard to find these days! Thankfully I have great connections."

"Chalres, dear, get out of her face." His eyes are glassy and wet as he continues to stare at my face, as if Sicilys voice did not register in his brain. "Charles..." Her sweet singing voice has a slight chill to it as his cheerful eyes seem to dampen, his lip forms a line, and his hands tightly on my shoulders. "CHARLES." Like he was struck by something, his body bolts up and his normal charasmatic aura is back.

"I am very sorry Miss Burks." He takes a deep bow, his head nearly dangling by his ankles. "I do not know what came over me at all." His voice still has a bit of a sad sound to it as he stays bowed.

"Cora, why don't you start on her makeup while I help your father get the outfit for today." Sicily walks over, gentle placing a hand onto Charles's shoulder, who is still bowing. Though she is wearing a smile, her eyes flicker to Chalres with streaks of worry.

"Of course." Cora says and nods at me to follow her to her normal corner.

As I turn to go to the corner, I see Sicily bend over and speak in Charles's ear. I catch the beginning of him rising, and see a droplet of water fall from his face. Perhaps he was sweating from his head hanging so low? I hope that wasn't a tear. I'm sure it wasn't a tear, why would he cry over me? It wasn't a tear... Was it ? I glance back only to see the door closing behind them as they step into the hall.