CHAPTER 8

I can't sleep. I keep thinking of the fact that my wedding (just thinking about it makes me want to throw up) is next week. I don't know how Carmen is going to figure something out before then. I was pacing around the room when I heard a soft but urgent knock on my door, I paused mid-step to make sure I wasn't hearing things. I heard the knock again; more urgent this time and I slowly made my way over to the door. I opened it slightly to figure out who was there when the door was pushed open and Carmen rushed in. I looked out to make sure no one followed her then quickly locked the door. 'How long does it take for you to open a door?" she whisper yelled but I was still staring at her in shock and wondering what she was doing in my room. 'Stop staring at me like you've seen a ghost." 'I- I'm just wondering why you're here?" I mumbled and she rolled her eyes. 'It seems you don't need my advice on how you're going to avoid this wedding after all." She tried to walk away but I grabbed her arm and pulled her back to me. 'I'm sorry." I said and she just hummed in response. 'You need to leave tomorrow," she said and I raised a brow at her in confusion, 'The house will be at its busiest tomorrow because your father is trying to get everything ready for the wedding last minute." 'I can't just walk out of the house; I'm sure the guards would still be in place." 'Of course you won't just strut out of the house." She said as if it was the most stupid thing I've ever said, 'I have a plan." ***************** The house is a flurry of activities and I have chewed up all my nails to the skin because of anxiety. I couldn't sleep last night; first from anxiety and then from excitement. Carmen's plan is absolutely crazy but it is my only hope of getting out of this and I'm going to take it. I was already dressed and sitting cross-legged on the bed when father knocked and announced that I had to get ready because we were going to have a lot of guests around. I hummed a response through the door because I didn't want to see him and he obviously wasn't in the mood to bother me either because he just left without a fuss. About thirty minutes after he left I exited my room and I could have sworn that my room and the rest of the house were two different worlds. It was such a flurry of people and activities. There were people carrying baking ingredients and different dishes, people with clothes in their arms, magazines for different wedding decorations as well as different colors of fabrics littered all around the hallway and as far as the eyes can see. It looks like a rainbow threw up in here. 'What are you still doing here?" Carmen asked as she walked over to me. 'We have a lot of things to do today; come on." She didn't give me a chance to reply; she just grabbed my arm and pulled me into the direction of the kitchen. From the door I could already smell the mini-haven that was going on in there. There was everything from lemon cakes to red velvet and even carrot cakes. 'Not that I'm complaining that we have so many cakes but what am I doing here?" I asked and she looked just about ready to murder me. 'Do you know nothing?" she asked but I still looked at her confused, 'Don't you ever watch bridal movies or something?" 'Don't be so surprised Carmen," I heard Liana say from behind me. She gave me a once over before taking her time to walk over to us, 'She's just extra slow some days." Then she turned to me, 'You're supposed to do a cake tasting." My eyes widened as I took in all the different cakes in front of me. There are at least fifty here. 'I'm supposed to taste all of them?" I asked and I literally saw Carmen fist the table cloth in her hands before replying. 'Yes you are; now hurry up because we have a lot to do." I never even knew how stressful wedding planning was until today. Those bridal movies always make it look so fun but it is absolutely horrible. It's even worse when you don't want the wedding like me. It got so bad I yelled at Liana until she left. I absolutely love cakes but if I never see another cake for the next five months I will be very grateful. My taste buds feel like they've done enough work for a year, they need a vacation. And who knew that there were over ten different shades of blue? Blue is a color, any is fine but Carmen kept on saying that royal blue wouldn't go with bubblegum pink and fire truck red. Who names colors like that? I thought I had seen all the people in the house but I knew I was wrong when I walked into the room for my dress fitting. It seems like a lot more people are in here than out there. I didn't even know the house could fit this many people in one room especially when there is a huge rack of clothes and another huge rack of shoes. 'You can't possibly expect me to try all these dresses," I mumbled, 'I'm tired." 'You'll try on as many as you need until we find the perfect one." I let out a very loud groan. We finally found a dress and they were looking for heels to match when I saw Carmen shoot me a small nod. I quietly exited the room and made my way to the side of the house where the truck was packed just like Carmen said it would be. She made sure I picked the color scheme for the decorations before the dress fitting so the decorators would leave early. I snuck into the back of the truck and hid behind all the fabrics. Shortly after I heard someone come in and shut the back of the truck and then the car started. I could feel my freedom in my fingertips and I almost squealed out loud. I waited in patience as the car moved and bumped around. I didn't even care that poles were digging into my body. I was just happy that I was leaving. After half an hour; yes I was counting, the car stopped and I heard the driver get out. I looked around and saw that there was nothing but empty road and a gas station and I quickly pushed all the things off my body. I pushed open the partition and climbed into the driver's seat. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath to enjoy my freedom. I couldn't help the smile on my face as I felt the sun against my skin. I turned on the car's ignition and was about to set it into drive when I noticed something in front of me and I couldn't help the gasp that came out of me.