Loveless Arrangement

I went to conduct a last minute check of the wedding hall just as Blair had instructed me to do. Everything had to be perfect. If anything was out of place, Blair would never let me live it down. She'd go on and on about how I was trying to destroy her perfect day, even though I was nothing but happy for her. She was my only sister and my twin too, I didn't think she had accepted me as hers yet, but I would continue to support her in everything. I was more than happy to help too. I was still examining the flower arrangements and taking pictures of the hall when the large doors leading to the ballroom opened and hit the wall with a large thud. I turned around and watched as one of Blair's bridesmaid ran in, looking around the room frantically. She came charging at me the moment her eyes landed on me. "Blair's sister!" She yelled out. I had told Blair's friends countless number of times that my name was Isabel but they never listened, to them, I was just another human being lucky enough to share DNA with Blair. She was a little out of breath by the time she reached me, so she had to press her hand to my shoulders to support herself while she took deep breaths. I immediately sensed something was up and asked, "What's wrong?" I asked hesitantly. This was always bound to happen, something was always going to go wrong on a wedding day, it was inevitable, but I was here to do damage control, no matter what it was. "Blair! Blair!" She continued to chant Blair's name, my heart dropped to my stomach at the mention of Blair's name. "What's wrong Summer? What's wrong with Blair?" I shook her and forced her to look at me. "She's gone." Was all the explanation she gave me. It felt like the rug was pulled out from under me the moment those words left her mouth. I felt cold all over, like a bucket of ice cold water was dumped on me. "What do you mean she's gone?" I asked Summer, a crazed look taking over my face, but she didn't answer, she couldn't look at me, she was still trying to regulate her breathing. I was frustrated at this point so I harshly gripped her elbow and forced her to look at me, "Talk to me Summer, where's my sister?" "She disappeared." Was the only explanation I could get out of her. "What do you mean she disappeared? We all saw her last night." I commented, referring to the wild and extravagant bridal shower Blair's friends had thrown her last night, I wasn't invited but I saw all the craziness they engaged in on their i********: stories. There had been lots of alcohol and widely inappropriate things her future husband must never hear about. I was surprised by how none of them woke up with an hangover this morning, probably because I had forced them to take some hangover cure before they even got the hangover. I'm sure Blair wouldn't want to have hangover bridesmaids stumbling down the aisle. I imagined how hilarious it'd be if one of her bridesmaids stumbled down aisle because they were still hangover. "This isn't making any sense." I said to Summer and stormed out of the ballroom. I dialled Blair's number and pressed the phone to my ear. I knew I was the last person she'd want to talk to, but I still had to try and I continued trying. I went into what was supposed to be Blair's dressing room and there I found the rest of her bridesmaids, all six of them, dressed and ready to walk down the aisle, the only thing or person missing in this case was the bride herself. "Where is Blair?" I asked no one in particular. They all just turned and stared at me, no one wanting to offer an explanation. "And you are?" One of them asked. I knew she was doing it on purpose, Blair and I were identical twins, so it was obvious who I was. I decided not to comment, we had more important things to settle at the moment, "I am Isabel, Blair's sister. Can someone please explain to me what's going on? Where is Blair please?" One of them finally stepped forward to answer the question I asked earlier. "We don't know what's going on too. All we know is that we woke up this morning, dressed and ready for the wedding. When we checked on Blair, the door was locked but we managed to get a spare key and when we opened the door, her room was empty and we found this sitting on her bed." She outstretched her hands and there was a pink envelope sitting in her hands. I snatched the envelope from her and hastily opened it, it was still sealed, so I knew they hadn't opened it yet. I found a handwritten letter inside, I unfolded it and it was written in Blair's writing, I started reading: Mum and dad, I'm sorry, but I can't marry Xavier. I really hope you'll understand why I had to do this. And don't look for me please, I'm fine. I'll come back when I want to. She hadn't even mentioned me in her letter. Of all the things I expected to go wrong today, a missing bride was not one the things I planned for. I left the dressing room and ran to where our parents room was. I knocked gently on their door before entering. Mum was sitting at a vanity table, applying makeup to her face whilst dad was sitting in one of the chairs, reading a newspaper. "Mum? Dad?" I called out to them and they turned to me. "What do you want Isabel? Today is an important day for this family, there's no time to accommodate your dramatics at the moment." Mum fired at me, giving me no room to say anything. "I'm sorry," I started, casting my eyes down, "but something has happened." "What did you do Isabel? James, I told you we should have left her at home." Mum snarled at me before turning to dad. "What happened?" Dad finally addressed me. "Um-um-I didn't do-do any-any-any-thing…." I was still trying to put my words together before mum interrupted me harshly, "Will you just open your mouth and speak? This is why Blair is better than you and this is why she's the one making us proud today, not you." I had heard this all my life, being told of how Blair was better than I was and how she was the perfect daughter, it didn't make it hurt less still but there was nothing I could do. They were still my family, no matter how harsly they treated me. I pulled myself together and spoke, "Blair isn't here and I don't think she's coming." Mum was in my face immediately, "What do you mean she's not coming? What did you do to her?" "I didn't do anything to her mum. I'd never hurt Blair." "Liar!!! Why isn't she here then?" "I don't know mum. Her bridesmaids came to give me this." I pulled the letter out and showed it to them. Mum snatched it out of my hands immediately and read it. "James, you have to see this." She called out to dad and passed him the letter. He sighed heavily after reading the letter, "What are we going to do James? What if the Kingston's change their minds? This wedding is part of the contract." Mum lamented. "What contract?" I asked, but they just ignored me. "That's not going to happen. They want a wedding right? They'll get one." Dad said firmly and turned to me, "Get dressed. You're getting married." "What?" Mum and I asked in disbelief at the same time. "Did I stutter? I said get dressed!!!" "I can't marry Blair's husband dad." I argued, hoping he'd hear how ridiculous this idea of his was. "You ungrateful rat! Is this how you want to repay us? After everything we've done for you?" Dad suddenly yelled at me. "I'm sorry dad, but I can't marry Blair's husband. Let's just call the wedding off, I'm sure Blair will come back." "Call the wedding off? Are you insane? I'll drag you to that alter if I must, but this wedding will happen." Dad sneered and grabbed my wrist, pulling me in the direction of Blair's room. "Dad! Please wait! You're hurting me please." I cried but he didn't listen. He pushed me into the room and all the bridesmaids turned around and looked at us, "Everyone out!!" He yelled and they all scurried out of the room. "Now listen. You are Blair Connel and you are getting married to Xavier Kingston today. Do I make myself clear?" I nodded timidly and he left me in the room. I tried my hardest not to cry and sat there as I got dolled up and before I knew what was happening, I was standing in front of the doors that led to the wedding hall, in a white wedding gown, about to walk the aisle and get married. The music started playing and I looped my hand through dad's own, "Make sure this is perfect. From this moment henceforth, you're Blair Connel, Isabel doesn't exist anymore." He told me. I nodded and gulped harshly, the doors opened and we walked inside. I kept my eyes down the entire time we were walking the aisle, I was scared that if I made eye contact with anyone, they'd know I wasn't Blair and I'd just run out of the hall. As soon as we reached the end of the aisle, Xavier outstretched his hands to me and I looked at him about to take his hands but he looked into my eyes and said, "You're not Blair." He dropped his hand and stepped away from me. I looked at him with wide eyes. How did he figure it out? And most importantly, what's going to happen now?