Do You Know?: Chapter 1 What?

Chapter 1

What?

Do you know what it’s like to be in an arranged marriage? Well I do. Why don’t I tell you about it? I’ll start at the beginning when I meet my two best friends Ree and Taylor….
Flashback
A chubby girl with black pigtails sat down next to me on the sandbox.
“Hi. My name is Taylor. Taylor Cage. What’s yours?” the girl asked politely.
“Alassandra. Alassandra Tomblin. But everyone calls me Lexi.” I replied.
“Wanna be my friend?” we both asked at the same time.
“Sure.” we both replied, laughing.
The school bell rang signaling the end of recess.
“Let’s go bestie. Then you can meet my other bestie named Ree Maloney.” The next thing she did surprised me. She looped our arms together. With that said and done, we skipped back in the classroom to meet Ree Maloney.
End Flashback
　
That was in second grade. Now Ree, Taylor, and I are going to go to eleventh grade in three and a half weeks. Or so I thought. When I meet Cole and Asilinn for the first time and find out about the arranged marriage, things get a little bit … hectic and crazy. Now I’ll think I’ll get back to the story…
“Ready Ree?..1..2..3.. WAKE UP SLEEPYHEAD!!” Taylor and Ree screamed in my ear.
“WHAT THE HELL?!?!?” I screamed sitting straight up.
“Get up Lexi it’s your birthday!” Taylor said.
“I could care less right now. Plus the best present you could give me is two extra hours of sleep.” I whined while laying back down and pulling the covers over my head.
“You said that two hours ago!” Ree said.
“But it is!” I whined again. They tried to take my covers away but failed.
“We don’t care!” Taylor and Ree screamed yet again in my ear. This time though they were smart yet stupid when they finally took my covers. They know the consequences.
“You stupid idiotic bitch!” I screamed automatically at the girl who took my covers away. This was becoming a routine. They would try to wake me up by screaming in my ear, I would duck under the covers, they would try to take them (always succeeding on the third try), I scream, and Ree drags me out of bed.
Ree and Taylor are used to me saying that so often that it unfazed them.
“Shut up! Do you want to wake up the neighbor?” Ree screamed while I was literally getting dragged out of bed by her and her midget hands. Maybe I screamed a little too loud for her to scream at me because that never happens. She never screams. At me at least.
“Ompf!” I said when I hit the ground.
“Wait a minute.” I said confused, “Did you say ‘neighbor’ or ‘neighbors’?”
“She said ‘neighbor’. As in Nick is the only one home.” Taylor replied with a dreamy looking smile on her face. Maybe I have to play Cupid again. that’s always fun getting cute couples together.
Well, I guess you might be confused? I might as well explain. We grew up. All of us. Plain and simple. I have brown hair, that until yesterday, was down to the middle of my back. Now it’s chin length. I wanted it shoulder length but Justin can’t cut so I got what I got. I have light blue eyes and as my boyfriend, Jake, loves to point out, a smile that lights up a room.
Ree…What should I say about her? Well for starters she doesn’t have shoulder length brown hair anymore. She let it grow out to the middle of her back like mine was. She also dyed her roots black and the tips cherry red. The only thing that didn’t change is her hyper attitude. Well now that I think about it there are more changes. When she was six she witnessed her dad kill her mom. He beat her to death because she tried to protect Ree. He tried to make it look accidental. It didn’t work because Delaina saw and called the police. He is in jail right now doing life. Oh I almost forgot. Before the police came Mr. Maloney beat her so bad she almost died on the way to the hospital when Justin, Taylor and I took her. Mr. Maloney only beat her so bad was because she witnessed her mother’s death, which she wasn‘t supposed to. Opps that slipped I swear! I wasn’t supposed to say that.
Last but not least Taylor. Taylor isn’t that sweet little girl with pigtails anymore. She grew up. She grew into a exact replica of Taylor Swift but with jet black hair. I guess you could say she is still sweet. That is until you piss her off or mess with me or Ree. Or Nick, her crush, or soon-to-be boyfriend if I have anything to do with it(which I will). Then she is on to you like flies to poop.
Also I guess I should mention who Nick is too, right? Well Nick is my neighbor and Taylor’s crush. He has a crop cut hair style because he is in J.R.O.T.C.. He also has a cocky and jerk-like attitude. But with Taylor she doesn’t care. I bet she would still love him if he was the only boy on Earth. I would have said man but with Nick he doesn’t act like it. Let alone qualify. But that’s only in my eyes.
I might as well describe Jake. Well for starters he’s my boyfriend. He looks like Nick Jonas but with straight hair that Joe Jonas sometimes has. He is also my neighbor. He is always so funny and kind but lately he has changed drastically. Now he’s angry at me and the world. Plus he never talks to me except when he is asking for sex. I don’t see why he’s asking because he knows about my purity ring. He was there along with Taylor and Ree when me and Justin took our purity pledges and got our purity rings. It’s really starting to get annoying. Anyways, our purity rings look cool. Mine is a golden band with the word ‘PONED’ on it but turned sideways and repeated. On the inside is my favorite saying “Never Let The Fear of Striking Out, Keep You From Playing The Game.” from A Cinderella Story, and my initials, L.J.T. (I don’t go by Alassandra. Ever.). Justin’s has “Some Friends Last For A Few Years, Family Lasts Forever”, and my initials. On the inside is his name. Now I think I should get back to the story….
“Wait a minute.” I said getting really confused, “ Where’s Jake?”
“He’s probably getting ready for your’s and his’ date that’s in an hour.” Justin said while coming in my room.
“What?!? An HOUR?!?!? What the hell?!?” I screamed while panicking. I could have sworn that he also muttered “Or sucking face with Destiny.”
“I gotta go get ready!” I said while getting up and heading to my closet.
“Lex.” Justin said while coming in my closet.
“Yeah.” I said while looking for the perfect outfit. I know I should have dropped everything I was doing to listen to Justin because he only calls me Lex when something bad happens. For example, he called me Lex when he first told me that mom and dad abandoned us. I barely heard him but I caught bits like ‘Lex’, ’Jake’, ‘Destiny’, and ‘cheating’. My blood ran cold. Had I really heard Justin right?
“Justin.” I whispered.
“Justin.” I croaked out.
“Justin. All I heard was bits like ‘Lex’, ’Jake’, ‘Destiny’, and ‘cheating’. Tell me that your either lying to me or I’m going deaf. Please?” I said barely above a whisper.
“Lex your not going deaf and I’m not lying to you.” Justin said.
“Lex, Jake is cheating on you with Destiny.” he repeated. This time I heard every word. Crystal clear.
Wait a minute. . . . . .Destiny.
“Justin. Do you mean your girlfriend, Destiny?” I said as calm as I could.
“Yes.” he replied.
“I’m gonna kick her ass!” I screamed. Justin actually flinched because I was so loud.
“Lexi don’t!” Justin said panicking, “I know you. If you say your gonna kick someone’s ass you usually end up putting them in the hospital!”
“What the hell is going on in here?!?” Ree screamed as her and Taylor barged in the closet.
“All we heard was Lexi scream ‘I’m gonna kick her ass!’. Who and why?” Taylor asked.
“Justin just told me that Jake is cheating on me with Destiny and I’m going to kick her ass.” I answered them.
I grabbed random undergarments, tank top, and jeans and pushed past them and to the bathroom. I turned on the hot water and let it warm up.
“Lexi what are you doing?” Justin asked.
“What does it look like?” I replied.
“Your gonna shower then go over to Jake’s house?” Justin guessed even though he knew he guessed wrong.
“Destiny’s house.” I corrected. Justin turned ghostly pale. I pushed passed him to the linen closet down the hall to get a towel and washcloth. When I went back I saw that Justin was still there. I dragged him out of the bathroom then locked the door. I checked the water and found it was hot. I stripped and got in. As soon as I stepped in all my tension washed away.