Arrangements

Arrangements

Arabella

OVER THE LAST week I've been thinking about everything going on and weighing all of my options. At the end of the day, I can take the money I now have and leave High Point behind without a second thought. There's nothing keeping me here. I can take Vinnie and get the fuck out of here to get away from everyone who's bullied me over the years and continues to do so now. The only thing stopping me is the fact that if I leave now, Karmen and everyone else wins. They accomplish their goal of getting rid of me and I don't know that I can accept that outcome. While I may not be able to fight back and win against my bullies, I know that my being here means that I'm winning because I haven't given up and given them all what they want. I show up every single day and that's more important than tucking my tail and running away because of what they've done to me over the years. While life would be easier to start over where no one knows me, I feel like it will cement in my mind that I just roll over and accept defeat over doing what I truly want. Getting the best education I can is what I want. High Point University gives me that.

So, my thoughts have been on the will and what it means to me. I can stay in High Point and get everything I thought I've always wanted by accepting the terms of everything. Or, I can take the money and forge my own path. Either way I'll be forging my own path because at the end of the day, the decision is mine to make. The major downfall for me is knowing that if I remain in High Point and accept my full role in The Faction that I'll have to marry one of the guys. I don't know if I can tie myself to one of them after everything that's been done. If I had to make a decision about them though, I would marry Kash. He's the best one of the group and I know he would respect what I have to say when it comes to the marriage and me not wanting to have anything to do with them.

I did break down and talked to Brock about everything. He understands where I'm coming from and talks to me about everything. He feels I should go through with the wedding, accepting my role in The Faction, and making everyone who has hurt me over the years pay for what they've done. A deep part of me wants to make that happen. Because once I accept my role, it means Karmen loses. I can change things and there's nothing she can do to stand in my way of making it happen. She'll be the one who grovels and pleads for what she truly wants. It might be nice to see that happen. For now, I guess I need to talk to Kash and see what he has to say about what I want and how that would work moving forward.

Since I don't have a phone that anyone knows about and I wouldn't even know how to get in touch with the guys, Brock assured me that he'd let Kash know I want to sit down and talk to him. I want to meet in the library instead of out in the open. So, Brock will bring him to the room we usually use for our tutoring sessions and make sure no one gets close to the room once we're inside. Yeah, I can lock the door so no one else can get inside, but it wouldn't prevent anyone from eavesdropping on our conversation. Brock will stand outside and not let anyone get too close to the door to hear what's being said. He even reserved the rooms on either side of the one we'll be in so no one can listen in that way. My friend has thought of everything because I'm still so confused and my mind has been stuck in a fog since I learned all of this new information. I don't like this feeling and have a feeling it won't go away until I make concrete plans and realize what I'm going to do moving forward.

After my last class of the day, I make my way to the library so I can wait for Kash and Brock to get here. Nerves fill me as I walk quickly across campus and try to avoid everyone. Karmen has been keeping a low profile since she helped two of my professors try to get me expelled for cheating. I know it's just a matter of time before she shows her face and does more than plaster the walls of the buildings on campus with posters filled with nothing but lies about me. Karmen isn't happy if she's not making everyone around her miserable. That's her role in life and she excels at it. Girls like Karmen won't ever be happy because every single other woman they see is nothing more than competition they have to put down and get rid of so they can feel superior and on top of the world.

Instead of sitting at the table I normally sit at to wait, I bypass it and head straight for the room where this conversation will be taking place. I close the door behind me and make sure it's left unlocked before walking around the table in the room and taking a seat. While I wait, I pull out my math book and finish working on the last assignment I have to finish for the class. I'm already done with every single assignment that's been listed in the syllabus. The only reason I have to keep attending the class is for the tests, quizzes, midterms, and then the final. Professor Rollins hates that he doesn't get to grade my work any longer. With Mr. Hayden grading everything, I'm at the top of the class and no one can get close to my grade. It's almost perfect and that's something I love seeing. It helps me make the decision to stay in High Point even though I've said so many times that I wanted to leave here and get away from everything.

As I finish up the last problem of my work, there's a knock on the door and I know immediately it's Brock. He doesn't just knock on a door. The man pounds on it as if he's going to break it down. I'd laugh, but the nerves are ramping up even more. I start to sweat and my heart races while my entire body shakes in the chair. I can't even tell them to come in because my mouth is suddenly drier than a desert. The door opens and my heart drops. Kash is here with Brock, but so are Fallon and Dash. The three of them step in the room and take seats at the table without hesitation. Brock looks at me from the doorway and gives me a nod of his head to let me know it's okay. He gently closes the door behind him and I can see his shadow remaining right in front of the door.

"I'm glad that you're willin' to talk to us," Fallon says, his smooth, deep voice washing over me like a blanket as I look at the table in front of me and nowhere else. I can't look at any of them.

"I agreed to talk to Kash. That didn't include either one of you," I say, my voice wavering with the nervousness consuming me as I don't look at anyone still. "Kash, I think this is between the two of us because you're the one who brought me this information."

"I agree," Kash says, his warm breath ticking the hair on the side of my neck since he's sitting right next to me.

Our knees touch under the table because the chairs we're in are so close. Part of me wants to steal the strength I feel coming from him, but I know I can't do that. Kash is no better than the other guys at the end of the day. He never once stepped in to help me and the only reason he's talking to me now is for his own personal gain. It doesn't take a genius to understand that by marrying me, the guy gains the head seat at the table. I do know how to read between the lines and understand that concept. Women aren't really anything when it comes to this group. It's ruled by men and they make all the decisions with no input from anyone else.

"We're here to make sure that you understand everythin' and can answer any questions you might have that Kash can't help out with," Dash informs me as I let myself look at him from beneath my lashes.

Dash has always been good looking. Not many people can tell the difference between Dante and him, but I've never had that problem. The brothers aren't similar at all. Where Dante is hard and cold, Dash is warm and open. Dante is slightly built bigger and has more muscles than his twin as well. He prefers to wear sweats and hoodies over jeans and other clothes. I guess it makes sense when he's always going from one kind of training to the next. Dash is always in jeans and the only time you'll ever see him in anything else is when he's working out. That's the only time he wears shorts or sweats. When it comes to his body, he's got a leaner build that's more like a swimmer than a gym rat. Their eyes are slightly different too. I've always been able to tell them apart without trying or putting any effort in. The twins seemed to really like that when we were younger and friends because even Braxtyn, Fallon, and Kash sometimes had trouble telling them apart.

"Kash, I want to know what you get out of this. If I were to agree to this shit, what's your endgame?" I question him, finally picking my head up and turning to look at him where he sits next to me.

"Honestly, it would help me ensure that my father can't get his hands on the trust funds that Luke and I were left. Luke obviously can't do anything with his money since he's no longer alive. That's somewhat protected and I know that it's going to come to me. I already know what's gonna be done with my brother's money. Not many people know that he has a daughter he left behind. His entire trust fund is gonna go to her and her mom to ensure she's taken care of in the best way possible.

"My father is also tryin' to get his hands on my trust fund. At least once a week I'm alerted that he's tried somethin' different to get my money. No, I don't need it right now, but the point is that he doesn't deserve to have what was left to me. So, if you were to marry me, I would make you the beneficiary of both trust funds and that eliminates him from bein' able to get the money if somethin' were to happen to me. Nothin' has changed when it comes to my father. He's still demandin' and tryin' to control me anyway he can. Marryin' you would allow me to get away from him once and for all. I'm over the age of eighteen and still feel trapped when I'm in that house with him. It doesn't just stop there either. He's constantly callin' me and tellin' me how things are gonna be. I just want it to stop. I want to feel a second of peace without the fear of what he'll do next coursin' through me," Kash answers me with a frown on his face.

I can feel the pain radiating through him. It fills the room around us and my heart breaks for this man. I don't believe he'll ever get over the death of his brother. If something were to ever happen to Vinnie, I know I'd never get over it. Not to mention that I'm still not over the death of my dad. So, I can understand how he feels.

The need to reach out and offer some kind of comfort to Kash overwhelms me. I can't let myself become attached to Kash or any of the other guys. I'm not dumb enough to believe that if I accept this situation that they won't constantly be around me. Where one of them goes, the others follow. So, that's another thing I have to accept and get used to. This is going to be my downfall if there ever was one. Anyway, I want to say something to make Kash realize that he's not alone in this situation, but there's really nothing I can say. Not without making him feel like there's more between us than what there actually is—nothing.

"Do you have any questions about the will or anythin' about The Faction?" Fallon questions me, trying to get me to face him as I talk to him. It's not going to happen, but he can try.

"Well, I know nothing about The Faction. How am I supposed to learn anything about it? I'm going to guess that you've been getting taught things over the years and know the basics of everything. It's going to take a lot for me to catch up and I want to know how that's going to work," I say, looking at Kash and only him so I can try to pretend the other two aren't in the room with us.

"My parents are willin' to be your guides," Dash speaks up as I turn abruptly to face him as shock fills me. "They still love you and while they don't know about the will or anythin' else, I know they'll guide you and teach you everythin' you have to know about The Faction. We can also answer any questions you have if you let us. But, each new member of the group has a guide. Dante and I have our dad, Kash has his father, Fallon's is his father, and Braxtyn's is also Mr. Richardson since his parents are gone for the most part. They only truly return when there's a big meeting or he has to put in an appearance. There are galas and other events you'll have to attend as well. All that will be gone over by your guide though."

I simply nod my head because there's nothing to say. If Dash's parents still loved me, they wouldn't have turned their backs on me with the guys and everyone else in town. That's not something I want to get into right now though. It's not worth it and doesn't matter at the end of the day. I'm not ready to open that can of worms yet because it's too much to think about with everything else going on.

"Where would we live once we got married?" I question Kash, turning back to him and forcing other thoughts out of my mind.

"Well, we'd kick Collette out of the mansion that belonged to your grandparents. That's where we'd live. If you want to change anythin' about it, we can figure somethin' out until the changes are finished. Have you talked to Mrs. Donovan?" Kash returns, his voice smooth as I listen to his words.

"I've met with her and taken care of all the paperwork. Everything is now in my name and I can do as I please with it all. Including selling it off to the highest bidder and getting the hell out of this town that's brought me nothing but pain for half of my life," I answer him as I look at the table in front of me again.

"That's good, Song Bird. Collette isn't gonna leave the mansion easily. We'll have to kick her out and I can guarantee it's gonna get nasty. She's not a good person at all," Kash states as if I don't already know this information. "I'll do whatever you need me to in order to get rid of her and keep her away."

"I don't need any help. Brock is usually at my side and he doesn't let Collette or anyone else get close to me when he's around," I state, not thinking about how that will make the guys feel because it truly doesn't matter.

"Brock can't always be around you. There's times he has classes or will be away from campus because of an away game. You'll have a security detail and I would prefer them to come with you to school so no one can get close to you. It's the only way Collette and Karmen will leave you alone," Fallon states, his voice hard and cold as he speaks to me. It's not anything I've ever heard from him before and it sends a chill through me with how evil it makes him seem.

"I've been dealing with everything just fine on my own for almost nine years now. I don't need a security team to follow me around campus or anywhere else. I'll pass," I state, turning my attention to Kash once again. "I will marry you, Kash. I understand that our wedding has to be consummated and that there has to be a witness when that happens. That will be the only time we ever touch one another. After that, our marriage will be in name only because I don't want anything to do with you or the rest of the guys. The only reason I'm doing this is to protect my baby brother and make sure he doesn't ever have to suffer the same way I have. Yes, Vinnie will be coming with me and I don't give a crap what any of you think about that. No one will get close to him and I'll do whatever it takes to protect him from anyone who's not me."

"Okay. I'll put together all of the arrangements and let you know when things are ready. Do you have a preference for anythin'?" Kash questions me, excitement lighting up his eyes and making him give me a real smile. "I understand this is in name only, Song Bird. We'll figure everythin' out and make it work. And I wouldn't expect anythin' else to happen but for you to bring your brother with you if that's what you feel needs to happen."

"We can get married at the courthouse and there's no need for a reception or any kind of fanfare, Kash. Neither one of us truly wants to be married to one another and we just need things to be legal. The only thing we need to figure out is our beneficiaries and all that other legal crap. I would prefer to meet with Mrs. Donovan since I've met her and have the slightest bit of trust in her. There will be no happily ever after for us and if you ever decide you need more, I expect you to tell me instead of going out and cheating on me. That's not something I'll ever tolerate for any reason. Even if we're married in name only," I inform him, worry filling me because I don't know how Kash will react to what I've just told him.

"Okay. Can we go to the next town over though? Our fathers have the judges here in their pockets. We want to keep this a secret for as long as possible. In order to make sure no one interferes or tries to prevent things from takin' place, we can't reveal this until we're ready and everythin' has been taken care of. I don't have a problem usin' the lawyer you want either. Make sure she can draw up a prenuptial agreement that works for you. I don't have any reason to get one drawn up. I'll still get the judge ready and make sure he's not affiliated in any way to any of our fathers," he says, his voice wavering as his knee presses harder against mine.

"That sounds okay. You can choose who is our witness for the wedding and afterwards. I know we'll need two for the wedding. I only want one person to be there with us when we, um, consummate the marriage. Since I don't trust a single one of you and won't ever let you get close to me again, I don't really care who your choice is," I state as I stand from the table and leave the room.

I need to get away from the guys. They're larger than life when I'm at a distance from them. Put them in the same room as me and it's more than a little overwhelming. So, after opening the door, I motion for Brock to get me the hell out of the library. It's time for me to get off campus and away from everyone. I need some down time to process everything and do that on my own. Brock doesn't even try to talk to me as he leads me to the gate so I can get away from here. He knows I'm lost in my head and that it's not a time to push me for answers or anything else. I appreciate that about him and will hopefully be able to tell him that one day.