Arranged

Contract: Read

I hurriedly made my way to my bedroom, heart pounding. I closed the door and leant back against it, clutching the contract to my chest as I tried to regulate my breathing. This still felt like a surreal dream.

I had to gather my thoughts. I needed to make a list. Staying organised always helped my scatterbrain mind, I had developed a habit of creating lists for even the most mundane of tasks, to help me feel accomplished and motivate me to keep going. I was always so forgetful and very easily distracted. I sat at the desk in the corner of my room, grabbed a notepad and pen and began to scribble.

1. Read EVERY WORD of the contract.

2. Shower

3. Sleep.

My parents had always taught me not to make rash or impulsive decisions. I knew getting a good night's sleep after what had happened today would help me think better tomorrow.

4. Write a list of pros and cons of the contract. Mention any possible changes to the contract.

5. Speak to Brody and Professor Meowkins about it.

6.

I put the pen down. I couldn't think of more things for the list just yet. I picked up the contract and settled into my comfy desk chair and began to read.

An hour later, I was almost done. Whoever had written it had done a terrible job. It was so repetitive, boring, and obscure, that I'd made my way over to my bed and lay there lazily reading through it with my lamp on beside me.

I had almost drifted off to sleep when my bedroom door burst open and a tall dark figure came barrelling towards me. It launched itself onto the bed, straight on top of me.

"OW. BRODY. GET. OFF." I yelled, my voice muffled by the pile of bricks that was my baby brother.

"Only if you can make me, fartface," he retorted, and began to tickle me. I snorted with laughter and tried to use the karate skills he'd taught me to flip him off me, but it was no use. Brody was a gym freak that was pretty much twice my height and weight. He was all muscle and strength, and had the same thick wavy midnight black hair that I did, except he had his pride and joy, a luscious beard, to match.

I pinched his arm and used the moment of surprise to roll out from under him. Brody took it as a win and spread out on my bed with a smug grin.

"Thanks for the bed. Exactly what I was after."

I rolled my eyes at my i***t little brother and picked up the contract from beside him. His smile faded as he glanced at it. He knew what it was about. Our moment of fun dissipated, and a gloomy silence filled the room.

My brother was my best friend. We were the usual bickering siblings as children, and while that hadn't stopped, it was more playful now. We spent a lot of time together growing up, especially when I finished school and he was still a teenager. With our parents working and travelling so often, we had to make do with each other's company, and this had over the years evolved to becoming each other's closest confidants. We always came to each other for advice, and had even helped each other through relationship troubles. I couldn't imagine a life without him.

Brody had heard about the contract and offer, but had been at uni till late today and missed the meeting. I told him everything I could recall about what our parents had said to me, and also provided a rundown on what the contract entailed.

He was silent for a while, contemplating everything I had told him. Despite being the younger sibling, Brody was the more rational thinker of us two. He took his time and responded to things with logic and reason rather than emotion. This made winning arguments against him very difficult. I usually resorted to trying to bribe my way out of things with his favourite weakness: chocolate milkshakes.

I was just about to break the silence with a silly joke when he spoke.

"I don't want you to leave me. However, I know that you have to do what's best for you, mentally. The Alexander's are essentially requesting that you continue your life as is, but with a public acknowledgement that you are married to their son, and, well, move to another country. I know that's a huge step, but I know you long for more than the life you are stuck with here. You'd get to experience something new, and you'd get to fulfil your travel dreams. You've always wanted to explore Europe, right? Now you can catch a train from London to just about anywhere in Europe, or even flights since all those countries are so close to each other."

He'd said a lot of words, but they all made sense. How did he even know about this inner desire for something more? Despite our closeness, it's not something I'd ever said aloud.

Before I could respond, he continued, giving me a look. "I know you, sis, and I'd never want you to be held back, thinking of me or our parents or family. You've drifted away from your friends here, your job isn't as exciting as it used to be. Why not go for something new? It'd probably only be for a couple of years, right? How long does the contract say?"

"Two years," I sighed. "And you're right, of course you are. There is so much to consider but really I'm sure Zac would hardly be around, I'd probably not even have to interact with him much."

"Exactly. Think of it as a two year vacation. What more could a girl want?" Brody grinned.

I threw a pillow at him. "Alright, I have the rest of the week to think about it. Now get out so I can shower and go to bed. Oh and if you see Professor Meowkins, send him to me. I'll need the comfort cuddles tonight."

Brody chuckled and ruffled my hair on his way out of my room. Any outsider would have thought he was the older brother, but at least that made people think I was young.

By the time I got out of the shower and readied myself for bed, Professor Meowkins had already made himself comfortable on my pillow. I guess that was his side of the bed now. I got under the covers and pulled the pillow closer to me to cuddle. My favourite creature in the entire world gave a relaxed little purr and curled his tail into my side. I drifted off to a troubled sleep.

*** 6 DAYS LATER ***

After almost a week of nightmares about failed weddings, I woke up feeling as unsure as ever. I'd read and re-read the contract countless times, making pen mark changes along the paper, teacher-style. It really felt like marking a terrible assessment.

I walked into the kitchen to the smell of eggs and coffee, with my family at the dining table already digging in.

"Good morning, thanks for waiting for me," I grumbled as I popped some bread into the toaster.

"Early bird gets all the pancakes. Thanks for letting me have them all, it's great for me that you love sleeping in," my brother dearest retorted.

I sat down and began to eat, purposely ignoring the expected glances my way. Everyone was waiting to hear my decision. I slowly made my way through breakfast, finishing my plate and savouring my coffee. When I'd finally finished, I set down my mug and looked father in the eye, who sat directly opposite me.

"Okay. I'll do it."