Standing up, I made my way out of the school, hands around my books with my eyes straight ahead ignoring the chaos around me. I was ready to shower the day away and curl up in bed early tonight. Anything to make this day end faster, I was willing to do at this point. When I was about to trudge through the gates a voice snapped me out of my daydreaming.
"Stop!" a rough voice ordered in the booth. "You can't get back into the gates without scanning your school identification. It wasn't running this morning, but from now on you must scan each time you come and go from the area."
I just nodded my head scanning my school id which I thankfully left in my purse. The first scan the light was red, so I turned the card around and tried again, this time I was granted entrance. As I passed each house I saw cardboard boxes sat outside the front doors. My eyes narrowed wondering what each of the boxes was filled with. When I reached our house I leered over the pile to see what they were, Nick's name or mine were written on the tops in thick marker. Hopping between the boxes I opened the door, throwing my books onto the floor. Pushing the big boxes into the main room in an attempt to get them into the house, I then sorted the boxes into two groups. I only had one extra box compared to Nick. Taking my coat off, I put it on one of the chairs as I shoved my mystery items into my room.
The boxes were sealed pretty tight, searching around the room for something sharp to reveal what was inside even though I had a feeling that these were from our parents. Leaving the room for a knife, which once found I brought it back into the room. The blade went into the cardboard making the sawing sound to only slowly let me peek at the bright colors of my wardrobe. Putting the knife down, I ripped the last bit of the box open. My fingers ran over the fabrics of my shirts that were on the top. Glancing at the other boxes it was a comfort to have clean clothes, but a rock sank in my stomach, we were really staying here longer. My throat tightened as I sat on the bed. I was seriously stuck living with Nick in this sham of a marriage as someone's experiment. I was freaking fifteen years old and I had no idea what the hell I was doing. My sister and I could barely share a bathroom together, she says it's because I'm controlling. How the hell was I going to share a home with a husband? Were we supposed to make meals together and nest in these homes?
Part of me always thought that I would meet my husband in college. Maybe I'd be studying in the library while he was sitting at another table. While looking over my books I would notice that I needed another book. So I would get up, fingers caressing across book spines, their titles are worn against the old clothed covers. Reaching for a book, my hand would clash against another hand only to meet eyes, and we would play argue over the book. Then the rest would be history. I might not be the girlie, savvy girl, but even I would have liked to have been given the chance to at least plan my own wedding.
Now though…I was tricked into my marriage and during the actual wedding I was scared out of my mind. Nick was pretty much baiting the man marrying us. My family and close friends weren't there. There were no flowers, or cheers or even the experience of finding that white gown. Then there was also the factor that I never picked the guy, or fell in love over the course of dating. We won't have those stories to tell our kids about how we went on a date and he spilt his drink on my dress and I wasn't sure if there would be another date. Nick and I never had that first magical kiss which gave me chills and butterflies knowing that he was the love of my life and I knew that I would spend the rest of my days with him.
Taking a deep breath, I stood back up and unpacked all three boxes, putting my jeans, shirts, coats, couple of dresses, and my band uniform all in the one dresser I had and in the closet. My cell phone was sitting between some clothes, but the battery was dead so I plugged the charger into the wall. As I was putting away my bras and underwear the heat rose to my face; none of these were the type for a husband to see. What was I thinking, there wasn't a chance in hell Nick was seeing me like that!
The front door opened then shut, causing me to jump. Peeking out of my room I saw Nick. He scanned the boxes.
"They're from our parents, I opened mine."
Nick just nodded his head before turning into the kitchen. I narrowed my eyes. I might not have been the biggest supporter of love, not really enabling myself to open up to get into the dating field, but damn it if I was going to be married to him I was not going to tolerate being shut out! Nick started to go through the fridge, still not glimpsing in my direction.
"I don't know about you, but I'm excited about clean clothes. My parents even sent me a couple of books even though I already read most of them."
Still Nick was hushed. His lack of any communication was irritating my nerves. I hated silence.
Pursing my lips I tried to think of something else I could try to grab Nick into a conversation.
"Do you think that our
