"Bridget," Willow and Holly muttered harshly.
After they left, I meandered into the room and Rachel was sitting on the chair reading something.
"What are you reading?"
"Julius Caesar; we have to read it for homework, but I'm way ahead of the class."
"Oh."
I didn't know what to do now. I shoved my hands in my pockets gazing out the window behind Rachel.
"Nick you don't have to worry about what Bridget said. It's just-"
"Don't worry about it."
My palms felt moist and my throat was drying.
"I'll read in my room so this might be goodnight, Nick."
She got up and went to her room and closed the door quietly behind her. I needed her in my arms, it felt like she was slipping away from me.
21
Rachel
"Argh, Nick midterms are going to get in the way of making plans." I was practically fuming as I was glaring at some notes that just weren't getting absorbed by my brain anymore.
"You'll do fine, Rachel."
"No I will not." Each of my words was pronounced with pure frustration. "There's schoolwork, and trying to figure out how to get rid of the marriages. God, all this stress is insane."
"Either you're too stressed out or you're pms-ing."
"Why do you guys always say that we're always pms-ing when we're a little stressed out like that's the only reason for us to act a little off? Have you guys ever thought it was you males that made us that way instead?"
I was sitting on my floor with every book and binder from all my classes opened with my legs crossed in Indian style. I didn't have as much room in my bedroom. Nick was against my door frame with his hair starting to cover a good portion of his eyes from needing a haircut. Or in his case a hair trim since he liked long hair, not that I complained about him, preferring the longer hair on him. However he needed to be able to see and his beautiful cobalt eyes were now hidden. What can I say, his eyes fascinate me.
"You need your hair trimmed."
"Fine, then you cut it."
I narrowed my eyes. "No way in hell. Do I look like your slave?" I didn't trust myself in not ruining his hair. I looked down at the books again and turned a page in my Science binder. "I can't take this anymore." I took out a binder out from underneath of my mattress and opened it. I turned to the page about the plans to free us. The page was blank except for the title Ways to freedom and several doodles. "I think it's time we had a meeting."
"What?" he asked, sounding confused.
"Is your hair clogging your ears or something? We should have a meeting for everyone that will come in secret to discuss ideas for our plan." Or help us make a plan.
"Okay."
"Nick you're going to have support me on this. You honestly don't want to be married by force from age sixteen to the day you or I die. A lot of us are miserable. Come on, Nick you can't honestly want this?" As much as I hated it, emotion was leaking out with each word as my arms were open wide imploringly.
He was slightly turned away from me now making my heart race by this.
"Nick, you can't honestly want this to be the rest of our lives. I know you want more than this. We deserve better than this," my voice sounded panicky.
"I'm fine with this," his voice was soft, barely heard.
"How could you stand there and say that? You must be lying. You're lying."
Nick walked into my room and bent down to my level. His hand pulled my face to gaze at him gently as if he was dealing with porcelain, slowly his hand tenderly glided down my cheek.
"No, I'm not lying. I think we could live together forever. We would be perfectly fine," his voice was just as caring as his hand.
"Nick." I paused to find my voice. "You have to support me on this. I really need some support. Please Nick," my voice sounded less tough, as my eyes were wide and locked on his. Come on Rachel, keep this up, you can do this!
"I just don't think I could do that, Rachel."
"Nick!"
He strolled out of my room and into his. I started to follow him until he closed the door. My heart started to feel heavy, falling into my stomach.
"Nick, come on. In a few years if they let us go to college, you'll find some perfect girl. Then you two will fall in love and you want to know what, you'll not be able to marry her because you're married to me."
Of course where was that girl now? Does she know her future love was married before he got his permit?
"That won't happen."
"Yes, it will."
Please don't cry now. Just keep lying to win and get his support. I will not be able to speak in front of the crowd or get them here. I need Nick to help me on this. He got up and headed to his room.
"Fine, Nick, be a jerk."
He opened his door and stared at me. His sapphire eyes had the sad, gentle touch to them as he stared down at me. His eyes seemed to brighten a room, even when they were such a deep blue, they just stood out. They sent my heart racing, making it hard for me to speak which wasn't exactly normal for me.
"Do you know how hard this is going to be? Do you have any idea on what you're getting yourself into?"
"Yes I do, Nick and that's why I need your support."
Of course I know what I'm getting myself into. How dare he second guess me.
"Fine I'll get people together for a meeting, but that's all."
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I got up and went over to him.
I hugged Nick tightly.
"Whatever makes you happy," Nick spoke, sounding a little bitter yet there was something sad about his voice.
Nick never put
