Page 7 of Chasing Clouds

“Get out!” The voice is low, feminine, and packed with a rage I wouldn’t want directed at me. I’m assuming this voice is from the person who just entered the room. What a dumbass this guy is to go somewhere and get caught.

“Camille,” says the other girl with desperation and panic.

Camille?

“Now!”

There’s some mumbling, some shuffling, and then the door slams shut.

Peeking out from behind the curtain, I can’t not watch, even though it’s dark. It’s like riding in a car you know is about to crash, and my emotions just elevated along with hers in anticipation.

“How could you? My cousin, and tonight of all nights.” Her words are slow, her voice is thick, and my chest suddenly fills with fury for this poor girl.

“Oh, come on!” says the guy. “You know all of this is for show. I don’t love you. You don’t love me. You shouldn’t be so surprised.”

What a dick!

“I know you don’t love me, but what about loyalty? Faithfulness? Family? Doesn’t that mean anything to you?” Her voice is strained, an odd mixture of anger and betrayal.

“Why should it? We both know why we’re here, and it’s not because of me,” he snaps.

What’s that supposed to mean?

She gasps. “Wrong! All of this is for you! It always has been. Please, please tell me what part of this situation is for me. What do I get out of this?”

Movement comes from her darkened image—she’s thrown her arms out, and I watch as she edges closer to him.

The guy chuckles lowly. “Oh, Camille, there’s the girl with the fire—and here I thought she died, too.”

The sharp sound of Camille’s hand hitting this guy’s face reverberates around the room. Silence stretches between them, and then she whimpers as he jerks her toward him. My hands tighten into fists and I stand from the window seat.

“That is the one and only time I will ever allow you to hit me. Do it again and you’ll regret it.” He shoves her backward and she stumbles, reaching for an end table.

“I can’t marry you.” She shakes her head, breathing hard between each word.

“Yes, you can, and you will.” He steps forward, crowding her aggressively.

“No.” She tilts her head up, the motion just barely noticeable in the darkness.

“Camille, I’m warning you. Think long and hard before you open that pretty little mouth of yours and say something you can’t take back,” he threatens.

“Are there others?” she asks.

Silence follows as he thinks about his answer, relaxes his posture, and steps back.

“Does it matter? Look, come tomorrow, it’s all over, all of them. I know what the stakes are and what the end goal is. You don’t need to worry about this.”

She doesn’t answer him, just wraps her arms around her middle.

Moving away from her, he walks to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob.

“Just stick to the plan and remember your family. You’re a smart girl, so you’ll do your duty. You owe them, and besides, it’s not like you’re the one getting the raw deal here—you’re getting me, whereas I’m only getting you.”

What!

This guy is delusional, and my anger for this girl pulses through me. What could possibly be so bad that someone feels obligated to marry someone else? And someone like him, too?

He opens the door and her head jerks to the side at the onslaught of light.