Chapter 2.
1408 Words
Emma's POV
By the time my parents and I arrive, the Town Hall is already packed.
The entire pack is here.
I start to feel nervous again and the knot in my stomach is back.
My father smiles at me before opening the door.
The driver has already come round to open the door for my mother. She also smiles at me before getting out.
There was a whole lot of smiling going on tonight.
My father holds the door open for me and helps me out.
The few pack members still gathered outside, all look at me and start to whisper among each other.
I hate this. I really hate being the centre of attention. I would much rather blend into the backround.
My mother joins us and we start walking to the hall together.
The place looks amazing. My mother has really outdone herself this time.
The hall looks elegant in white, Ivory and Crystal. The huge flower arrangements give the place a sweet smell and the soft candle light, along with the hundreds of fairy lights create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Everybody turns to look at us the moment we walk in.
Well actually, they're really only looking at me.
I want to turn around and leave. My room looks like a pretty good place to be right now.
Luckily I see Shaun standing across the room.
He looks incredibly handsome in his black tuxedo with his long, wavey blonde hair tied back. I can see his brilliant blue eyes all the way from here.
Shaun is a year older than me and we have always been friends. Not the hang out type of friends, more the say hello and chat for a bit friends but he is a pretty solid guy and has always been kind to me.
I smile at him and wave. He smiles back.
I want to go over and say hi, but before I can, my mother ushers me away.
She wants to take me over to Joseph.
I know Joseph and I have spoken to him a few times, but really, he is a stranger to me.
A stranger that is about to become my fiance.
Joseph is a handsome man, with dark hair and the same brilliant blue eyes as his son, Shaun. He is tall and muscular and the only things that really show his age are the fine lines next to his eyes and the grey hair growing from his side burns.
Joseph is also very charming and very charismatic.
The butterflies are back.
As my mother and I walk up to him, he flashes a gorgeous smile. He takes my hand in his and kisses it softly.
"Good evening Emma. You look stunnig."
I can feel my face flush and all I can manage is a sort of stupid grin.
"Hi. You look pretty good yourself."
My mother bumps me with her elbow, but Joseph just laughs.
"I'm really glad that this day has finally come."
I flush even more.
Where are my words? What has happened to them?
"But where are my manners Emma? Happy birthday."
"Thanks."
This time, I atleast manage a propper smile.
My mother sees one of her friends and excuses herself from our company, leaving me alone with Joseph.
I don't know what to say to him. I feel awkward and stupid. My stomach starts to turn.
Joseph smiles at me and has a mischeveous look in his eyes.
"How about some Champange Emma?"
Yes. Alcohol will help.
"Yes, please."
He is still smiling at me.
"I'll be right back."
What's with all the smiling? I wonder to myself as someone hugs me from behind.
It's my best friend Amanda.
"Hi Em."
Amanda is a stunningly beautiful girl, with short, brown hair and big, round brown eyes. She always reminds me of a pixie.
Amanda is also very fiesty and witty and always says what's on her mind. It's one of the things I love most about her.
"Hi Amanda. You look really pretty."
"Thanks Em. So do you."
Amanda looks around the room and whistles.
"Quite the crowd hey."
I nod my head and smile. Amanda knows how uncomfortable I am in crowds and she also knows that I don't really like people all that much.
"This is weird right?"
"Sure is Em." She answers with a small chuckle.
At that moment, Joseph returns with our drinks.
"Oh, hello Amanda."
He smiles at her but it isn't a real smile. It doesn't reach his eyes.
Weird.
Amanda doesn't respond, she only returns his fake smile.
"Unfortunately, I only brought two glasses."
I look up at Joseph with confusion.
Rude much.
"Well, I guess that's my queue to leave. Enjoy the rest of your evening Em and happy birthday."
Amanda hands me a small black box and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek before turning around and walking away.
"What was that Joseph? She's my friend."
He looks a little shocked and then ashamed. He looks down.
"I'm sorry Emma. It's just, that I know that Amanda doesn't really like me all that much and I really want us to spend some time together, alone."
I immediatly feel bad for the way I acted.
Maybe I was over reacting.
"I'll invite her back if you want. We have plenty of time to spend together and it is your birthday."
He looks at me with an innocent look on his face and for some reason I feel a little sorry for him.
I take one of the glasses of Champange from him.
"No. You don't have too. It's also OUR engagement party and I want to spend time with you as well."
His expression immediatly changes to that of a child that just got his way and something in the back of my mind tells me that something is a little off here.
I tend to be a little paranoid and because of my dislike of people I tend to look for things that aren't there, so I put it out of my mind. I don't want to ruin this before it even starts.
Joseph raises his glass, so I raise mine.
"To us Emma."
I smile at him.
"To us."
Joseph and I spend the rest of the evening talking and dancing and I have to admit that I actually had a good time.
He really was very charming and he had a way of making me feel wanted.
Who doesn't want to feel wanted?
I don't see Amanda for the rest of the night. She must have left.
I wish she would have said goodbye.
A few hours later Joseph excuses himself and walks up to the mic.
"If I could have your attention for just a moment please?"
The entire hall goes quiet and everybody turns to face him.
"I would like to ask my beautiful Emma to join me?"
He holds out his hand for me and everybody turns to look at me.
Oh no.
I swallow hard and walk up to join him.
When I reach him, he takes my hand in his and gets down on one knee.
Oh boy. This is a little too much spotlight for me. I can feel my face turning red.
"Emma. I know that you are promised to me, but I would still like to ask for your hand in marriage. Would you please do me the great honor of saying yes."
Joseph presents me with an exquisite diamond ring. All eyes are on me.
"Yes."
I whisper the word and he gets up from the floor, he takes my face in his hands and kisses me hard.
The pack all clap and cheer.
I feel a little off balance.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Shaun storming out of the hall.
I wonder what that's all about? Maybe he doesn't like the idea of having a stepmother that's younger than him.
My train of thought is interupted by my parents coming up to congradulate me. They both look very happy and very proud.
They aren't the only ones coming up to me and by the time Joseph puts me in the town car to go home, I am properly exhausted.
I can't wait to be back in the privacy of my own room.
I also seem to have misplaced the gift that Amanda gave me. I wonder what I did with it?
- Writer
