Deep Down (UNEDITED)

Save me

AMARA P.O.V.

“Amara!” A shrill scream rang through the cottage and I shot right out of my deep sleep and sighed when I saw Rosaline standing in my doorway. Last night Max bombarded us with questions and walked away angrily when we arrived at the cottage. Why, if only I knew the answer myself.

Rose approached me with a weak smile and plopped down next to me on the bed. “You look like a zombie.” I rolled my eyes. No s**t, Sherlock. I almost didn’t sleep a wink last night because of four words. I’ll see you tomorrow Amara.

“Thanks, Rosie” I gave her a punch to her arm “Is Max back yet?” I asked. Rosaline shook her head.

“No, just give him some time to cool off. It’s not nothing we told him, we’re switching identities and you’re engaged.” Rosaline bit her lip for a moment “I shouldn’t say this, but you knew Max has always had feelings for you. I think that’s why he’s so angry”

I looked at her with wide eyes for a moment. Max, feelings for me? Looking back deeper into the past, I now see that it makes sense. Those strange looks he gave me full of admiration were they love looks? Or all those times he helped me with my homework. I shook my head. That’s absurd. Or you’re just blind, said the little voice in my head.

“I called my father to get some information out about the wedding. he hadn’t passed on any info about me, nor a picture. That I was his daughter was enough” Rosaline fidgeted a bit with her fingers.

“That’s splendid news, right,” I said with a fake smile on my face and wrapped my arm around Rosaline. For her it was fantastic, yes, but for me. How on earth was I going to last with Vladimir?

Rosaline her eyes sparkled, and she smiled at me “Thank you Amara, for everything, for this” a tear dangled down her cheek.

“You have helped me so many times and if I can save you from your father, I am happy to do so.” we stayed like that on the bed for a while before Rosaline cried out.

+***+

The view of the sea from the veranda of the cottage here was fantastic. It was still early, the sun’s rays of the rising sun caressing my face as I breathed in the salty scent of the sea. I took a big sip of my coffee. The peace and serenity were blissful, but it only lasted for a little when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I spun around and looked straight into two blue eyes. Max. A lump formed in my throat. His brown hair was lying wild, and he had bags under his eyes. The tuxedo from yesterday he still had on, but was now smeared with something I couldn’t place.

“Max,” I said under my breath. Before he answered, I flew around his neck and wrapped my arms around his hard chest. “I was worried to death, you i***t,” I muttered. Max hesitantly wrapped his arms around me. I sniffed his sweet scent, which smelled like home. I pulled back from the hug and looked at him. Max turned his gaze to the ground. His eyes were dull.

“We need to talk,” was all he said. I frowned, but finally gestured to the chairs on the porch where I plopped down. Max took a seat in the chair right over me. He finally looked up and folded his hands.

“Let Rosaline solve her own problems, Amara. There’s no point in helping her escape from a marriage that was going to end up on the rocks, anyway.” I looked at him confused. Was this my Max saying this?

“What, how are those her own problems, it’s her father’s fault? You talk like it’s all Rosaline’s fault. She didn’t choose to marry a stranger.” I snarled. Max’s eyes stung hard.

“And you did?” Max asked mockingly. “This is not a game Amara there is no escape button, this is reality. What are you going to do when Rosaline’s father wants to have a family dinner with his daughter and son-in-law?” I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I looked at my lap because I knew he was right about something. I heard murmurs and saw that Max had gotten up from his seat and was walking toward me before he crouched down in front of me.

I felt warm hands closing around my chin “Look at me Amara” He lifted my chin and looked straight back at me. All kinds of emotions raced past in his eyes, even pain. “I’m not saying this to make fun of you but because I care about you”

“If you care, you support my choices,” I whispered softly our heads were only inches apart, and I felt the tension in the air.

“Am I interrupting?” I was pulled out of my little trance with max and immediately took some distance from him and looked from where the voice was coming. To my surprise, Vladimir was tapping a few feet away from us. I saw someone come stumbling up behind him and recognized Rosaline. 

“Am I interrupting something?” It jerked me out of my little trance with max and immediately took some distance from Max and looked where the voice was coming from. To my surprise, Vladimir was standing a few meters away from us. I saw someone come stumbling up behind him and recognized Rosaline.

“I told him to come back later, but he just ran me over” Rosaline gave Vladimir a murderous look. Vladimir shrugged his shoulders.

“What are you doing here?” Max was ahead of me in asking what I wanted to ask. Max stood up and straightened his shoulders so he looked taller, but even then he was a head shorter than Vladimir.

Vladimir rolled his eyes and didn’t even give Max a look “Shut up pretty boy I’m here for Amara” an amused look played on his face. And the words from yesterday played again in my head. I’ll see you tomorrow Amara. “We need to take care of some things,” he said not much later in an uninterested tone.

“Things like?” I asked now as I stood up and came to stand next to Max. Vladimir only now looked at me, a grim look on his face.

“We are going to pick out a wedding gown, my dear fiancé”