Chapter 8.4 - The Gravity of the Situation Sinks in

Luna yanked at the top collar button and as his shirt collar popped open he leaned forward and clasped his hands together in a loose fist.

"There must be some way out of this. I didn't work this hard, avoid those bloodsucking assholes, and study my ass off, just to get married off like some trophy wife, no offense" Luna said, flashing an apologetic look at Ryan.

"None taken. They are all assholes as they run in the same circles. Growing up I'm sure you must have heard of these arrangements happening all the time from your parents. At the end of the day, this is a business transaction to them. I marry you, you bring in dowry, your family gets the prestige of being "invested" in the Lovewin shares, and any money made stays within the family. As a business student, I thought you would recognise this sort of opportunity a mile away" Ryan said disgruntled.

"I might be studying business, but I'm not studying the art of how to ruin lives!" Luna exclaimed running his hand through his hair nervously "This is madness. And no, I didn't know that this was a thing because, I didn't grow up here. I grew up in Manhattan and my parents never talked about my uncle ever. In fact I only knew about my aunt and uncle after my parents died. I feel like if my trust fund wasn't locked until my 21st birthday, they would never have taken me in."

Luna threw his arm back over the bench and crossed his legs, propping his head up with his other hand as he stared out into the garden, trying to make sense of the situation he was in.

Ryan felt his flush deepen into a blush. Even freaked out, Luna's intense stare made Ryan's heart skip a beat. All he wanted to do was reach out and push those soft curls away from his eyes and caress his cheek.

Ryan wanted to tell him that things were going to be alright, that they'll figure this out together…but he couldn't. He had to be girl Ryan right now, so Ryan balled his hands into a fist and looked away into the garden, trying to keep himself together.

"Ah well, then I guess I should mention that legally, they can't do anything until we turn 21, which might be what the entire contract is based on. They want you to marry into the family, when your wealth is released to you. That makes you a highly valued commodity, and an effective bargaining chip" Ryan replied.

"So I have like, two years" Luna sighed and leaned back into the bench.

"Oh, you're 19? Lol that makes me your senior" Ryan smirked under his mask.

"Yeah, as if that matters, we are literally in the same year at college" Luna laughed and turned his body so that he was fully facing Ryan " How old are you then?"

"20"

"And when's your birthday?"

"December 3rd"

"Rachel…."

"I know I know! Technically I'm the same age, but, when is your birthday?"

"January 3rd"

Ryan blushed even deeper. How is it that they are born the same day a month apart?

"So you were held back and had to do a make up year to get into college didn't you" Luna said rather deadpan.

Ryan gasped and turned to face Luna " How did you know?"

Luna smirked "It's actually a lot more common than you think. It happened with some friends of mine so, I figured the same must have happened to you"

"Oh~! That makes sense, anyway we are getting off topic! You're the smart one, figure out how to get us out of this situation" Ryan pouted, feeling increasingly more flustered as he sat next to Luna. The closeness of their bodies was making his mind wander and not in the way that it should in this sort of situation.

"Well maybe we can start with being friends, because it seems that now we have two projects we need to solve before graduation" Luna said with a half-smile.

Ryan turned in the seat so that he too was now sitting face to face with Luna.

"Two projects?"

"Yeah. Project Exhibition, and Project Escape" Luna smiled and reached out his hand "Agreed?" Luna asked

"Agreed" Ryan replied and accepted the hand.

As they shook hands, a strange expression passed across Luna's face. It was as if he was trying to recall something.

Ryan quickly snatched back his hand and his blush deepened. The memory of the kiss, and holding Luna's hand after that for a lingering moment came rushing back to him. He couldn't be thinking of such things right now!

"Hey, I think we should head back soon. You're face looks really flushed, I don't want you getting sick on me because I kept you out here in the cold" Luna sighed as he looked at Ryan closely.

"Stop, I'm fine, you're getting too close again" Ryan said, swatting away at Luna as if he was a fly.

"Jeez sorry, just trying to be a good friend and all" Luna sighed and stood up, stretching out his back from sitting for a while.

"Hey, worst case scenario, if we do get married, we can always get divorced after a couple of years. I'm totally gay, so you don't have to worry about me coming on to you" Luna said and then, in a sudden turn, he stood facing Ryan and leaned forward, his hand going over Ryan's shoulder to brace the back of the bench behind him.

Ryan leaned back in shock, his heart beating a million times a second. He found himself sucking in his breath as he was completely caught off guard.

Luna reached out with his other hand and held Ryan's jaw in his hand. Tilting up Ryan's face, Luna said with a smile " Unless you want me to"

Ryan's eyes went wide as saucers. He sat there ridged, frozen in place.

Ryan shakily raised his hand and grabbed Luna's arm.

"S-Stop it" Ryan stuttered out.

Luna laughed and released Ryan, moving away from the bench and backing up all the way to the entrance of the gazebo.

"I'm kidding, glad to see you are as horrified at the prospect of marrying me as I am. I'm going to call a cab and head back to the dorm. I think I've had more than enough of tonight. See you in school, fiancée" Luna said and stretched like a tired cat, and then made a small wave and walked down the stairs, into the garden, leaving Ryan behind speechless.

Horrified? Yes Ryan was horrified, but not in the way Luna thought. For a moment there he almost pulled down his mask just to dragged Luna closer right there and then. He could still smell Luna's cologne lingering in the air and felt his presence all around him.

This entire situation was maddening indeed!