"We got that Bonnie-and-Clyde love
They say it's wrong, But that's the way you turn me on... Boy, you make me make bad decisions..."
~ Ariana Grande

...♛...

"Yeah, this one's it," I tell Amelia.

"You said that to every single dress you've tried on, Summer. You're only gonna have this day once in your life, and you couldn't be any less interested."

"I told you, Amelia. I don't care what I'm wearing or how lavish everything is, my family needs the business."

"Fine. But, if you had to choose one out of the seven, which one would you choose?"

"The fourth one. The train wasn't long and I like the net embroidery and that it's backless, I can show off my tattoo."

"Okay, I'm confirming that one. The red ink will stand out so elegantly," she replies.

"I know," I reply as she exits the dressing room. Once she does, I strip out of the dress and change into my clothes. I exit the change room and head to the front.

"So we come back to try it on in three days, to make sure that the fitting is proper and then we're set for the wedding. You are, but I still have to confirm the guest list, catering and make sure you get a pastor for the wedding as well."

"Hey, you still have three weeks," I try to lesson her tension.

"That's only a quarter of the stress, I still have exams, graduation, and prom to worry about," she groans as we take a seat in our car and the driver starts to drive home.

"Oh, yeah, but no one has even asked you to prom yet."

"So?"

"Isn't a big thing for girls to go with someone to prom?"

"Well, I thought I'd go with you but if you're not up for it, then I guess I'll just go alone," she rolls her eyes.

"No, that's not what I meant. What I mean is, so many girls hype the fact that they need a date, I thought you would too," I explain.

"Nah, it'll be more fun going with your friends."

"True," I laugh. We talk the rest of the way until we arrive at our house a few minutes later.

"You're not coming?" Amelia questions.

"No, I have to go to the library for the psychology research project," I inform.

"Oh, okay. Bye," she waves.

"Bye," I reply.

Once she leaves, the driver takes me to the library.

"I need a couple of hours, I'll call you when I need you."

"Alright, ma'am," the driver nods before leaving.

Once he departs, I head inside the library where I print a few papers off my USB. I  review them quickly before grabbing two files from the front and organize the papers in the two files for safe keeping.

After I'm done in the library, I head out and walk a few blocks down to a small cafe and choose to sit at the back, where I can see everyone else.

"I didn't think you'd show up," Mrs.Maxwell comments as she takes the seat across from me. "How are you doing?"

"Not well," I admit.

"Hi ladies, anything I can get for you?" A waitress interrupts us.

"Yes, a medium cinnamon macchiato," I order.

"I'll take a medium black coffee."

"Alright, I'll be right back with those," the waitress smiles before leaving.

"So, what can I help you with?" Maxwell smiles. "You haven't been in school lately. Noticing the bandage on your arm and the stitches, I see why."

"I thought your job is to make me feel better about myself, not worse," I state lightheartedly.

"It was lighthearted, please don't take it offensively."

"It's okay. I've actually been having a rough time with everything lately."

"Yeah, anything in specific?" She questions, just as our drinks arrive.

"Kai, he's in my class. You know him, right?"

"Yes, I do," she says.

"Yeah, I think... I think we should cut the bullshit. I know you're working with my dad," I try to lie at first, but I choose to get straight to the point instead. Her face drops and she tries to cover it up, but her facade is now blown.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she lies smoothly. Even an expert might have trouble figuring if it were true or not.

The two files on my lap, I pick them up and lie them down on the table. Slowly, I lean in making sure that no one around us can hear what I'm about to say.

"In here, are pictures of you from the past numerous weekends fucking different men. All of which are not your husband and if that's not enough, there's also history as far back as your great great great grandmother, but in here," - I point to the other file - "is an opportunity I'm giving you to live your life just the way you want and all you have to do, is make sure that when it's time to play your part, you use these papers and destroy the others."

Her body stiff, her lips become thin as she grabs her file and flips through it. I watch as her pupils dilate in fear. Sitting back, she throws the file back on the table grabbing the second file.

"Your father's gonna kill me if he finds these papers instead of the original and they're not even signed!" she argues harshly.

"No, these are the originals now. Do you understand? And as far as the signature goes, you figure that out. You only need one and it shouldn't be hard considering how much he trusts you."

"How'd you find out? Xavier said he wasn't gonna tell you about me."

"He didn't have to. You spent the last three years with your husband tracking my every move for my father, you really think I wouldn't know who you are? You weren't as far ahead of me as you thought."

I fib. The truth is, I only recently learned about her working my father.

"Well, I'm sorry I can't help you. Your father and I have worked way too hard to let a fool like you ruin everything," she replies.

"Nobody is losing anything, Sarah but if you're still persistent on not helping, I'll make known that you don't have any kids, but I know your sister in New Jersey does. She has three, doesn't she? Caroline, Micheal and Katya? And what about youe brother in Florida? Didn't his wife just give birth to a pair of girls two weeks ago? It'd really be a shame to see something happen to any of them."

I wait for her to reply, but with her glare and thin lips, I know she has nothing to say.

"What's wrong? You have nothing to say?"

"It'll be done," she speaks forcefully.

"I know it will be and until then, my people will be around everyone you love twenty four seven waiting for a green light from me. Try to do anything or tell my father about what I'm doing, their blood will be on your hands. I also have no room for mistakes, if anything goes wrong, then you know the consequences. Is there anything you need me to clear out?"

"No," she replies with gritted teeth.

"Good, and when my father calls, tell him I was talking about the wedding and how nervous I am about it. Now, enjoy your coffee," I comment as I get up and leave.

I walk down a few blocks before I stop in an alley and lean on the building taking a deep breath. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I mentally tick this task off my to do list.

Then, I pull out my phone and call Kai.

"Hey," I'm the first to say. "I need a ride home."

"Summer," he sighs heavily. "You know you can call the driver for that."

"I do, but I called you."

"I'll tell the driver-"

"No, I need you to pick me up. That day, we told each other that we'd be okay once it ended, that we wouldn't be cold, but it's been three weeks since then, and that's all we've done. Please Kai, I'm just asking you to put down your work for half an hour and give me a ride home."

"Okay," he gives in after taking his time to contemplate.

"I'm at the corner of Leo's street."

"Okay," he says ending the call.

I wait for about twenty minutes before his car pulls up and I climb in.

A few silent minutes later, I ask, "So? Are you not gonna say anything? Are you not gonna ask if I'm okay?"

"You're alive, aren't you?"

"Is that what you'll say if Nick ever took me? It's alright, because I'll be alive, right?"

"Summer."

"What?" I speak angrily.

"I'm sorry."

"Good, you should be. Have you found him yet?"

"No."

"Well, it's hard to find a man who doesn't want to be found, isn't it?"

"We're close."

"Excuses."

"Then what else do you want me to say? That all the time I've spent on trying to find Nick was useless? That I have no fucking clue where he is or what he's up to?"

"Yeah, maybe if you admit that, then you'll realize that you're approaching this wrong. Maybe you should try another way to find him."

"At least I'm trying to do something and not worried about my own shit twenty four seven," Kai retorts.

"The wedding is a business deal. How many fucking times do I have to tell you?" I groan loudly.

"Yeah, fucking him must've been part of the deal too, right?"

"Pull over, Kai."

"What?"

"Pull over!"

"Summer."

"Pull over!"

"Fine," Kai groans, pulling over.

I climb out of the car and start walking into a children's waterpark full of people.

"Can we ever have a car ride where you don't ask me to pull over?"

"No."

"Summer, come on. Stop."

"No," I reply walking further away.

"Summer," he grabs my elbow pulling me to a stop and turning me around. "Can you stop acting like a kid?"

"After you stop making me feel like it's my fault that we can't be together. Maybe it is, but you can't tell me that I didn't offer you to run away with me. We could've left, you chose not to. Okay? You chose this, so live with it."

"Summer," Kai sighs heavily. His hand runs through his disheveled hair and he looks around trying understand his own feelings. "I know, okay? I know. But I just thought it'd be easier if I stayed away from you and it's not. It's fucking torture. I know I'll learn to stay away from you and not feel all of this pain, and so will you."

"I'm not going to learn anything until it's necessary," I protest. "You have the right to be cold, just not with me. Not until I'm officially someone else's."

"Fine, okay? We'll talk."

"Okay, good. We better."

"Now, can we get back to the car?"

"Yeah, right after I play in the park."

"What?" Kai groans and I run under one of the sprinklers soaking myself. "Summer, come on, we have to go."

"You have to catch me."

"Just come," he pleads. I cup my hands catching water in them and throw it towards Kai but he dodges.

"Whoa, Summer!" As he yells, a couple of kids sneak up behind him and ask me for permission . I secretly give them a small nod of approval.

Almost right then, using their water guns, they spray Kai from the behind and Kai turns around startled.

"Oh, no you don't!" Kai yells as he walks towards one of the in ground hoses. He turns the nozzle pointing at the kids. Protecting themselves, the kids let out various screams before scattering into different directions making it difficult for Kai to get everyone. "What are you laughing at?"

"Oh f-fudge cakes!" Kai points the nozzle at me soaking me in fricken ice cold water. I run away far enough for the water not to reach me.

"Fudge cakes? Really, Summer?"

"There's kids around. What do you expect?" I argue.

Kai walks away from the water gun and slowly creeps towards me.

"Kai, you won't catch me."

"Just run," his eyes dark with devilish intent, I takes his advice and run.

Dodging kids, toddlers and their parents, I run through the waterpark leaving behind a trail of laughter.

Running around, I almost slip on what I think is a kid's flip flop, but Kai's arms wrap around me catching me in a bear hug. We both almost fall, but he's strong enough to hold both of us up and steady.

"Okay, okay, okay, I'm sorry! Just let me go," I beg.

"Yeah, no chance," he says. He lets go of me for a mere second just so that he could bow down and grab me bridal style.

"Let me go Kai, the kids are staring."

"Let them," a mischievous smirk displays on his face. His eyes light, they glisten in the sunlight.

"I'll pay you a hundred bucks," I bargain.

"These shoes are a thousand dollars and there's no way in hell I'm chasing you through the park again, I'm soaking wet right now."

"Shouldn't it be the other way around?" I question, innocently.

"Really, Summer? We're surrounded by a bunch of kids," he shakes his head disappointed.

"Relax, I was joking," I laugh.

When he reaches the car, he lets me down in front of the passengers side.

I look up at him and I notice him smiling. His body stood in front of me, I know he's trying to imprint an image of me in his mind.

Heat rushes to my face and I know I must be blushing. Nervously, I look down.

"Ar-"

"Mommy, what's that?" I hear a kid ask loudly behind me causing me to turn around.

"Scott, you don't say that. That's rude," his mom scolds him.

"But-"

"Scott," his mom gives him a stern look before getting up. "I'm sorry about my son, he gets carried away sometimes."

"It's alright, he's learning."

"Ma'am, do you mind if I talk to him?" Kai comes from behind me.

"Uh- sure," the woman answers.

We both watch as Kai squats down to Scott's level.

"Scott, have you ever been hurt before?" Kai asks. I really don't know where he's going with this, but I watch carefully.

"I have."

"Me too. We all get hurt, right?" Scott nods answering Kai's question. "But sometimes, some people get hurt worse than others and it leaves a scar. The truth is, it's not always pretty. But I'll let you in on a secret, man to man. You can't tell anyone else, alright?"

"Okay," Scott seems excited.

"When you get older and the girl you like has scars, and she will because everyone does, your job will be to ask her where she got them from. You know why?"

"No."

"Because if she tells you, then that means that she trusts and or loves you. Those stories will stick in your mind forever. No matter how unrealistic, foolish or dramatic they might sound, they will stick in your mind and that day, you'll see those scars not as ugly, but as something better, because those are a part of her and have made her, in one way or another, into who she is. So to you, her scars – " Kai looks back at me then at Scott – "don't look so nice, but to me, they're a reason why I love her. So remember this the next time you see someone with scars, they're that person's story. It's a part of who they are and we should make them feel proud of them instead of making them feel bad, because not everyone is proud of them, okay?"

"Okay, I'll remember that," Scott smiles.

"You promise?"

"I promise," Scott says as his pinkie wraps around Kai's.

"That's a good boy," Kai says as he gets up patting Scott's back.

"Thank you, you've got a good one," the mom thanks Kai then indicates the last part towards me.

"Thank you," I reply as she leaves.

"Are you crying?" Kai questions teasingly.

"What? No?" I turn around and wipe my eyes. "I'm wet."

"Oh, I know you are."

"Oh, just shut up and get in the car," I laugh.

"Whatever you say," Kai chuckles. "You're lucky he didn't ask about your bra. Neon orange suits you."

"We both know it looks better off," I tease.

"Don't tempt me," Kai warns.

"Okay," I speak with an annoying preppy voice making Kai's face drop for second before we both start laughing.

Note to self: don't go to waterparks wearing a white shirt.

A/N:

Ivy: The ending is SOOOOOOOOO close!!!
The wedding is most likely next chapter SOOO EXCITED TO SEE ALL YOUR REACTIONS!

Comment what you think so far, I love reading your predictions and or thoughts!

& share this story with your friends and family, I wanna see if we can get this book to at least 300K views before the last chapter!