CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THIRD PERSON'S POV

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Scarlett moved a little closer to him and put her hands on his hair ruffling them.

His hair had a silky texture to them. They were so soft and tender. They felt so good and smooth in her hands.

She wondered how did he even has such beautiful hair.

It's so unfair boys have so smooth and silky hair. They don't even do much for it.

She thought about her hair, how they always get frizzy if she doesn't shampoo them on time. She pouted a bit.

Xander's eyes found her pout. She looked like so cute like that, like a little bird. He was enjoying the feeling of her soft and slender fingers in his hair.

Scarlett's eyes moved down towards Xanders lips which showed a small amused smile on his face. His smile was really beautiful. As if god himself carved it by his own hands.

She didn't realize when her hand went from his hair towards his neck. Her both hands now rested on his cheeks. They both looked at each other.

Xander's full attention was on her now. He didn't see the car coming their way.

Scarlett was also unaware of it.

It was only when it honked and Xander ,in a hurry, jerked the wheel around. Their car turned towards the left making Scarlett fall towards Xander.

After a few seconds, they both opened their eyes and realized something soft was touching Xander's face. A sensation went through his whole body when he realised what was touching more like kissed him.

Accidentally, Scarlett's lips landed on the corner of Xander's mouth, really close to it.

She got up hurriedly and in this hurry, her bracelet got entangled with his shirt.

Her breath increased a notch. Her lips parted a bit. She quickly tried to pull her bracelet back with force but not much force so that the beads of the bracelet wouldn't come out.

Xander noticed her restlessness. He put his on hers. A sensous wave passed over them both.

Scarlett took her hand back.

Xander with much ease untangled the bracelet from his shirt.

He looked at her. But she was still looking out of the window.

He sighed and then again started the car.

After a few minutes, both said at the same time, "you know..."

"Look, I ..."

Then both looked towards each other. This time, Xander was the one to first turn his head as he didn't want to repeat the previous mistake of not watching while driving which brought them to this silence in the car.

He was a person who lived in silence.

But right now, for some reason this silence was annoying him, frustrating him. He wanted her to speak, anything. Anything, just speak.

But looks like his prayers were answered as she did speak but for departing,

"Thanks for the ride. Bye. Take care."

Xander was so lost in her and his want of her speaking, he didn't notice that they already reached her apartment building.

He didn't want her to go like this.

He just didn't.

He also came out of the car along with her.

Scarlett was a few steps away when she heard her name being called by a deep baritone behind her.

"From which angle do I look old by the way, Miss Williams?" Xander couldn't think of anything to speak do he asked this only.

He felt so stupid a second after these words came out of his mouth.

Scarlett was surprised. She didn't think he would ask this. She smiled a bit.

The tension around them was slowly fading away.

She came a bit forward.

"Umm...90 degree?" She tilted her head a bit.

Xander was relieved looking at her smile.

"Ohh, I'll make sure to work on that angle." He answered gleefully.

"Great! But how you plan to work on that?" She asked smiling widely.

She couldn't help but feel happy about this.

"I... I'll.. it's a secret."

"What? " Now she laughed fully at him.

"It's a secret. Why would I tell my secret to you?"

"Because..."

She was going to answer with, " because I'm going to be your wife. You should tell your wife everything."

But the thought of marriage saddened her a bit. She felt conflicted about it.

Xander noticed the sudden change in her mood.

He moved a bit closer to her.

Putting his hands on her shoulders, he whispered in a low voice.

"I will use makeup."

And then watched her reaction closely.

She burst out laughing at this. His grip on her shoulders loosened.

Clutching her stomach, she said"you ....you would use...haha ..mak..haha... makeup..oh my god.."

She kept on laughing.

"Why didn't you apply it before then?" She asked.

He thought about it for a minute.

"Because you weren't there."

And then just a slight whisper, "with me"

She didn't seem to hear the last part.

"But now I am here, so whenever you need to apply makeup, call me, Okay?"

Smiling widely, she turned around but stopped, looked at him,

"Take care, Xander"

He felt relief on seeing her smile.

Few Days later

Scarlett's pov

Light was shining in the room through the window on the left side. The curtains were drawn out. Sitting on my bed,I was thinking about telling my parents everything or not.

I'm sure they'll understand. But I also know that they won't agree with me. They'll do one or the other thing to make me say yes to the marriage. They'll try their best to convince me. They might even emotional blackmail me and that's the worst part. I always end up crying when they unnecessarily accuse me of things. When they say I don't care about them. I do, I really do care for them but that doesn't mean I need to show my care for them by doing things I don't want to.

To be honest, I'm scared to tell them anything. They are great parents but they never understand me,never even try to.

I don't know what to do....

I went to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water when I heard my phone ringing.

I'm sure it was my phone as Kat was out for running. But who the hell changed my ringtone to " I choo choo choo cuz they hope I chug I'm a bitch I'm a boss I'm a bitch and a boss Imma shine like gloss"

It definitely was Kat. I like this song but the thing is I don't like songs or lyrics of the songs as my ringtone. I had a simple tone and she changed it. Must be wondering how can she change it without knowing my password, well,I don't have a lock on my phone. I know I should have one, many advice me to put a lock but I don't feel like it.

Besides, I read somewhere that if I ever get into an accident and someone needs to call from my phone, they should be able to open it.

I know, I know, we can always speed dial and all but I just...I guess it just stuck with me as I read it when I was young.

Also, it's not like I have anything to hide , right?

Mia told me someone can misuse my phone but I don't think so anyone would do that. And why would they even do that? Without any reason?

Anyhow I swiped right and pick up the call without reading the caller's id.

"Hello" I groggily said.

"Good morning, dear. How are you?" It was Maria on the other side.

"Good morning, Maria. I'm... I'm good

How's you doing?"

"I'm doing great dear. I'm so happy and glad. I have to do so many things for your marriage. Do you like blue colour? As I saw these really pretty blue table cloth and I thought of using this colour as one of the theme colours. Also, I have thought of bridal shower too. Do you think you can...."

I cut her off in between.

"Maria, you called me for something?"

"Oh yes, yes dear. I called you to get ready as Xander is coming to pick you up."

Wait.. Xander? Why ?

Am I forgetting something? Is something today?

"Scar, you still there?"

"Yeah, yeah I am"

"Okay, so quickly get ready. I know you must have just woken up, right?"

"Yeah, right."

"Umm... why should I get ready, Maria?"

I asked nervously.

"Because you can't go for ring shopping in pyjamas, right? Or are you planning to?"

She asked with a laugh at the end.

Ohh..

Now I get it. Wait, what day is today? My eyes glanced towards the calendar hanging on the wall.

Oh, shit!!

It was that day today.

The day I was dreading, SUNDAY!!!

RING shopping day!

Geez!!!

"Scarlett, you there? Are you okay dear?" Her sweet voice sounded from the other side.

"Yes, yes, I'm okay. Maria, at what time we are supposed to go?" I asked.

"At 11:00. It's 9 right now. Xander will come around 10:30 to pick you up." She answered.

"Oh. Okay. I'll be ready."

"Okay, dear. Byee. Take care."

"You too Maria." I sighed.

I got up and wore a T- shirt and skinny jeans. And then walked towards that place.

I found this place when I first moved here. It always calmed me down. I had a tiring and exhausting day that day. I just needed some peace and quiet, alone time. I kept on walking, didn't know where but then I found this place. It has been there for me since then.

The stairs led up to a beautiful place over there having wild roses grown on it.

And the interesting part was these roses were almost all red in colour. As wild roses mostly are pink coloured but here mostly were red in colour with a few whites among them.

I loved caressing their petals. Their soft petals felt so good in my hands. Whenever I needed to think about something or make any decision, I would come here and close my eyes and pick one rose among them. Many times, I accidentally touched the thorns too and my hands would start to bleed too.

But nevertheless, I would pluck the petals one by one and whatever option is left with the last petal, I would choose that only.

This time too I did the same.

I closed my eyes and felt the petals.

Then I plucked one. Slowly and steadily I started plucking the petals.

"Marriage" I plucked one petal.

"Or not" I plucked another.

Saying, "marriage or not" I eventually was left with only one.

And the option left with the last one was

"Marriage"

I was too lost in my thoughts I didn't hear that person approaching.

A voice sounded, "go with it,my child."

I turned around. I found the person I was looking for. That person always answered all my questions, whenever I was worried or anxious, this person helped me.

"You're here." I said with a soft smile on my face.

"I had to be."

I stepped forward a bit.

"You know what you have to do" This person said again.

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I was back at my apartment now.

I had made my decision.

I'll go for it. I'll marry.

And besides, all this overthinking from the past few days gave me a huge headache.

So from now on, no overthinking.

I'll leave whatever happens to destiny.

I don't want to think about anything right now. I don't want to think what will happen after marriage? Will we ever be a normal couple? How will I handle all the responsibilities? I know nothing and don't want to know anything.

It all is just gonna give me unwanted stress and tension. No answers would come from overthinking. So better let the things be as they are.

The bell rung of my apartment. It must be Xander. Always on time, sharp 10:30.

I opened the door for him.

He was wearing a three piece suite in as usual black colour. How can someone wear black all the time? All black.

He looked at me. More like he was downwards on my body.

What he might be looking at?

"You plan to go like this ?" He asked sternly. It was almost as if he was angry on me.

I looked down. Oh shit!

I forgot to change into my dress. I was still wearing booty shorts which I changed into after I came back. I liked wearing them at times when I was all alone.

He came closer to me. His face was a few inches away from me. His deep, dark sea eyes looked into my brown ones.

I could always easily get lost into his eyes.

"Or is this show just for me?" He whispered coming close to my ear.