Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue! . . . well, I do own Alexandra and a few other OC's . . . but Justin and some of the other characters belong to the always ever so talented Miss CP Coulter . . .

A/N: okay so this is just a random new bunny idea that popped into my head the other night while I was at work . . . it got stuck there and wouldn't go away so I decided I should write it out before the bunny started to eat my others . . . so here it is, let me know what you guys think . . .

"Alexandra! Come here, your father and I have something to talk to you about!" Alex knew that this meant trouble. Most likely they had heard about the latest incident with her best friend, Maggie, at school. They hadn't meant to get into that much trouble. In fact, they hadn't even meant to get caught. But sometimes Maggie got a little too excited and would accidentally mess up and get them caught. But Mags was Alex's best friend, so she couldn't be mad. But the tone of her mother's voice made Alex wonder what had happened now. She debated just heading on up to her room, but she knew that wouldn't work, so she frowned and turned before heading into the family sitting room.

Gwendolen Haverleigh sat primly on one of the sofas, already dressed in the expensive evening gown she would be wearing to the gala tonight. Alex's father, Lord Harrison Haverleigh, stood by the fireplace already drinking his first spirit of the night, dressed in the tuxedo he would be wearing. Alex stopped in the doorway, not wanting to go completely into the room. "Come in and shut the door, Alexandra. We need to talk to you in private, and that new maid girl seems too eager for gossiping." Alex scoffed before shutting the door and moving to sit on the chaise across from her mother, not wanting to hear the tirade that was sure to come, but knowing that if she didn't at least pretend to listen, then she would be in even more trouble. Plus she wanted to get this fuss over with because she still had to get ready for the gala, and she knew that her mother would expect nothing less than perfection from her tonight in front of the rest of proper society.

Before Gwendolen could get too far into her tirade, Alex had already tuned her voice out, trying to think of just how she would do her hair for the gala. But at the sound of her dad's deep voice, she blinked and raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, zoned out. What was that, mum?" Alex could tell that her mother was upset with having to repeat herself, just by the thin-lipped frown. "Alexandra, you must get your head out from the clouds. Especially now. So as I was saying it is far past time for you to grow up and start acting like the proper young lady that is expected from this family. You are nearly seventeen and it is time for you to stop with those silly girlish shenanigans with those common friends you've acquired at school." Alex frowned at the jab at her best friend, who was at the expensive boarding school on a scholarship for music. "That is why your father and I have arranged for you to become betrothed."

"WHAT?" Alex didn't even attempt to contain the outburst at the news. But she was quickly silenced by her father's voice. "Alexandra, enough. The arrangement is made, and you will obey. And if you in any way bring shame on our family . . ." Her father trailed off and Alex sighed, staring at her feet before nodding slightly. "Yes sir. May I ask who my betrothed is to be?" Alex secretly prayed that it wasn't the Duke of Pembroke's son. He was hideous. Not to mention a pervert and completely sexist. Her father seemed about to answer, but her mother cut him off with an undignified scoff. "What does it matter who he is, Alexandra? He is your betrothed and you will be wed. He is coming to escort you to the gala tonight, so go get ready. And don't even think about wearing that hideous red dress. Wear the blue one with the jewels. Go on, Alexandra. And do try to do something with your hair, and a little makeup." Alex managed to keep from saying something scathing back to her mother, but instead merely nodded and stood and headed up to her room.

There was a soft knock on the door of the library before the door opened and Laura's head popped around the corner, before smiling at her brother. "Hey, Justin. Mom and Dad are looking for you. They said if I found you to tell you they wanted to talk to you. They're in Dad's study. I think it's serious." Justin could tell that his sister was worried, but he smiled and tried to just push it off so not to worry her. "Thanks, Laura. I'll go see what they want. You going to the gala tonight too?" She rolled her eyes before nodding. "Of course. Do you think they would let me miss it?" Justin chuckled before nodding and standing, putting the ribbon bookmark in the book so he wouldn't lose his spot before sitting it down on the desk and heading down to his father's study.

Justin knocked on the door to the study and heard his father's warm voice before opening the door and stepping into the study. He could remember when he would come here as a kid, and sit with his dad, just watching as he would go over any of the paperwork that he was doing. That was, until Justin hit the rebellious stage. Then the meetings in his father's study were always bad news, because they meant trouble. He was guessing that whatever his parents wanted to talk to him about today was trouble again. His mother smiled at him before walking out of the room, lightly giving his arm a small squeeze. He turned back to his father, who motioned for him to sit down across the desk from him, and Justin nervously sat down, trying to remain calm.

"Justin, I have something to tell you. I know you might not agree with it, but your mother and I are worried about you. We tried to grant you the leeway to tell us if there was anything to stop us, but you graduated a month ago. We've entered into an agreement with Lord and Lady Haverleigh on your behalf, and they've accepted. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, but Alexandra is a good girl. I'm sure you'll be happy. You are to escort her to the gala tonight, and next week we are holding a dinner party to announce the betrothal. She's younger than you, so you will have time before you are married, but Justin you need to settle down."

Justin couldn't believe it. His parents had seemed understanding at graduation when he had asked them to give him a little more time. He had been at a ruddy all boys school, for Christs sake! But now they had already arranged an engagement to a girl he had only seen a few times at these society functions before he had started at Dalton? He wanted to voice every objection that was swirling through his head right now, but he knew that it wouldn't matter. His father was very particular about the family image and their name. And since they had already made an agreement . . . well Justin was stuck. So he just kept his mouth shut and nodded, wanting his father to dismiss him so that he could go do whatever he wanted for a while, before he would have to get ready for a gala with a stranger who was now going to be his wife. A quick call to Charlie would definitely be in order. Even though his best friend was likely to just say 'told you so' and then Justin would just proceed to tease Charlie about Hope and they would be back on the same page.

"Haverleigh? I only ask so I can try to see about the family and the girl. What's her name? So I won't embarrass myself by having to ask her." Justin really just wanted to get out of here. Maybe go to the pool and swim for a little while. "Alexandra Haverleigh. She goes to school with Laura, perhaps they know each other. I know how close you are to your sister. You can go. Don't forget that you're to escort Alexandra to the gala tonight. I told her parents you would be over just after dinner, so don't be late." Justin nodded before standing. "Of course not."

Justin carefully opened the door to the study, and just as he had expected, Laura was standing there listening. He raised an eyebrow before she straightened and gave a sort of pretentious huff. He took her by the arm and led her back to the library where she pulled away from him with a self-righteous string of curses that made him raise an eyebrow. "Laura! Where did you learn those words and why are they coming from your mouth?" He could tell Laura was not concerned but she merely shook her head. "You're not my father, Justin! Now why did you drag me up here? Going to interrogate me about the girl they chained you to? Well, if that's what you're wanting, I don't know her. She's ahead of me at school. But she seems nice, maybe a bit of a troublemaker at times, but she's not pompous or pretentious. She's in the orchestra and choir, and she's in the honors clubs. Other than that, I really don't know her. She's always seen hanging out with a scholarship girl, art I think, so she's obviously not half as pompous as some." Justin listened, trying to memorize all the details about his now fiancee that Laura was saying. He moved to sit down in the chair he had been sitting in before getting the news, but ignoring the book he had been previously reading. He nodded absently, trying to memorize every detail his sister was giving him. "So Justin, what time did they say you have to go pick her up for the gala? Because you might want to go get dressed." That was when Justin really looked at his sister and noticed the curlers she had pulled in her hair and the light makeup on her face, as she had obviously already started getting ready. He pulled out his watch before cursing under his breath and standing before starting for his room, leaning over and kissing Laura on the cheek. "Thanks, Laura. See you at the gala."