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BRIELLE
I’m still in shock.The story that Valen told me has been bothering me since yesterday. The moment I step into class, I’m bombarded with the scent of cologne. In the front of the class is Professor Toscano who started a few months ago.
He’s still getting all the attention from the handful of female students who attend the school. There are rules in place to ensure that he’s not allowed to date any of them, but I still wonder if he’s been tempted by someone.
“Hey, girl,” Emilia says as she slides into the chair beside me. I haven’t seen her in a while, and I wonder why.
“What had you away from school for so long?” I ask as I arch a brow.
This time, she giggles in response. “I may have met someone. But I can’t talk about it,” she says quickly. “Maybe we can have a girls’ night after your big day. I mean, once you’re back from the honeymoon.”
“Oh, I don’t think we’re going away for that,” I tell her. The idea of being whisked off the island, and taken somewhere exotic has crossed my mind, but Judah doesn’t strike me as someone who would do that.
“Oh please,” Emilia says with a wave of her hand. “There is a chance you may never come back. I mean, with the money and connections Jude has, I’m pretty sure he’ll be the one to sweep you off your feet.”
She sure has a different view of the man I’m about to marry.
“Maybe.”
We’re interrupted by class starting, and I turn to face the front. I’m going to have to pass if I’m going to graduate. Even though I’ll be working alongside Judah, I want him to see me as an equal, not just a girl who’s around the house all day doing nothing.
My dream has always been to be independent. I didn’t want my father to be taking care of me all my life, but I also didn’t expect to be getting married while still at university. We can’t plan our lives, not in the world of family obligations and organisations. But I’m thankful Judah hasn’t set any rules out for me. He hasn’t forbidden me to study, or to graduate, and I can’t deny that it made me look at him differently. I was convinced he would try to lock me in the fucking basement if he had to.
Granted, he has done it a couple of times. But, I’m sure we’ve moved past that stage of our relationship. The distrust must have dissipated by now. He has to realise I’m not running, and I’m not going to do anything to put them in any danger.
“Hey,” Emilia’s voice draws me back to class and I realise I’d drifted off with thoughts of weddings and the boys. “You haven’t made any notes.”
I glance down at my notebook and sigh. “Shit. Can I copy from yours?”
She giggles at me once more, and nods. “Of course. I can’t deny, if I were you I would have taken some time off school to prepare for the wedding.”
“It didn’t even cross my mind,” I tell her earnestly, the idea of not coming to class doesn’t sit well with me. But the countdown is over, and the wedding coming up tomorrow is an event in my life I can’t change.
“Shouldn’t you be home right now making sure your dress fits?” It makes her laugh when I roll my eyes in response.
“Oh please, I haven’t changed much in the past few weeks. I don’t know,” I finally say. “I’m just not one of those girls who had laser-focused plans for her wedding. To be honest, I didn’t think I would ever get married.”
Emilia’s eyes widen in surprise at my comment. “Really?”
I nod.
“I was the girl with the scrapbook of photos and dried flowers, and bits of fabric pinned to every page. I planned everything.” There’s both excitement and embarrassment in her voice, and I wonder why I never thought about things the same way she did.
“I suppose I grew up with my father, and it was definitely not something I had anyone to talk about with.” I shrug it off. “But I knew a lot of girls at school who did. So, I think we’re all unique in our own ways.”
For a moment, she ponders this and then nods with a smile. “You’re right. I mean, if we weren’t all so different, the world would be a much more boring place to live.”
I want to agree with her, but then I remember Valen’s story. My chest tightens and my lungs struggle to pull in air when I imagine what he felt that night. At times, being different is good, but then there are those moments when it can be detrimental to all those involved.
“Yeah,” I say absent-mindedly.
“Don’t forget to send me photos when you’re back,” Emilia says as we leave class, but before we step outside, she glances back and I notice the look between her and the professor. I wonder if he’s the person she mentioned earlier. He’s so much older than us.
But I’m not one to judge. As long as they’re both happy and consenting, there isn’t anything wrong with dating someone who isn’t exactlyperfect.I’ve learned that over the time I’ve been on the island.
We can’t choose who we love, the heart has a mind of its own and fighting it only hurts in the end. And the most difficult thing I’ve learned is that judgement kills.
“I’ll bring them all over on a drive so you can watch them on a loop,” I tease her as we make our way to the parking lot. The deep rumble of engines captures my attention, and I notice Judah and Kai both here in their racing cars.
