FSG Belongs To ELJames.
Apov
I wake up with a ach in my head and pain in the pit of my stomach.
I try to sit but the pain is too much, I have to slump back on the pillow.
Gosh!
What happened?
With the throbbing head I sit up and look around. At least I'm in my room.
Than what did you wish, huh? To be downstairs? In Christians room? Jeez, Ana, shut up!
Oh, gosh! What happened? What did I do last night? And then it comes, rushing back to me and hits me deep within. Oh, no! Why did I say that to Christian? Couldn't I just keep my mouth shut! It really doesn't matters if believes me or not. I am leaving anyway.
I surge to feet and almost trip. Regaining balance I walk into bathroom, clumsily. My vision blurry.
Later, as I walk into the living, I think I'm sensing a slight different air. Empty. Now whats this?
"Ana?"
I jump at Gails voice, turn around and find her staring at me. She's always behind me.
"Would you like some breakfast?"
"Uh... yes, absolutely."
She beams and I follow her to the kitchen.
"Where is everyone?" I ask as she passes me a yellow drink and makes sure I finish it with her hazel eyes sharp on me. Yuck! This stuff sucks.
"Everyone...?" She takes the glass away and I find there's a edge in her voice.
"You know, Mr. Taylor and Christian..."
"Ah. Mr. Grey had gone office to clear his schedule for the rehearsal dinner..."
"Rehearsal dinner?" I batter on the toast and then with a jolt realise. "Shit! Its today!! I gotta go." I most made to stairs when Gail calls.
"But Ana breakfast ..." I rush back, grab a banana from the plate and fly upstairs.
Ah! Kate is going to kill me.
*
When I arrive at Grey Mansion the scene is slightly different then that of I have presumed.
Everyone is hung up.
Mia, Kate, Elliot. Even Mrs. Grey. I mean mom. Jesus. This is so Alien to me.
I do an act of rolling up my sleep and get Kate out of bed. Her room is mess. As if after everyone gone to bed she had a self party last night.
"Okay, Katherine, its your rehearsal dinner. Get a grip." The word rehearsal dinner seems to wake something in her.
she peeks at me through one eye. "Is it?"
"Yes."
"Shit!" She groans and slumps back onto the couch.
I pull her up. "Come on, Katherina! Get your shaggy self in the shower right now. God! You look awful."
"Ahhh!" She graons and slippers to the bathroom.
I sigh. One down, three to go.
When I reach Mia's bedroom. I'm shocked. The pretty perfect Giselle room is a bloody mess. And Mia, well...she is out in her closet.
This is going to be difficult.
Why the hell am I doing thit!!
God!
"Mia!" I shout. "God! You look awful. Your hair, you face and your clothes..." Her face paler then ever and makeup mashed all over the face. Now, what did she do last night? If young one gets down like this, I am never letting Alice drink. Ever.
"What happened to my clothes??" And she is up and, well, about? I'll get to it.
"Mia. Come on. Wash up." I drag her to the bathroom and push her inside.
"Ahh! My head hurts." I heard the shower before I exit the room. I hope she doesn't passes out in the shower. That would be...well, anyway.
Mrs. Grey, um, Mom is more subtle that others. Why am I calling her mom when I'm only here for...few days? And that send a dagger down my heart. Urgh. This hurts. Well, uh...I can get to that later.
Rigt now, she extricating everything from her system as Mr. Grey hold her hair up and looks up at me with his suspicious eyes as I enter. "Is she all right?"
"Yes, Ana, I'll be fine." She answers.
"Well, okay." I give a wary smile and stumble out. Good thing Mr. Grey is not a heavy drinker, other wise...whatever.
Now! Elliot! Who is well, passed out in one of the spare guest room. So much for a bachelor party.
And how am I sober and them not?
Shaking my head I grab a jug full of water and throw it at him.
"Fuck! Shit! What the fuck!" He groans and sits up.
"Language, Elliot, and get up. Its mid afternoon."
"Banana..." He reaches out for me but I step back and he lands on the floor.
Sorry.
"Elliot, now!" I glare at him.
He peeks through his eyes and give me a thumbs up and I run before he can stripes out in front of me.
Jeez, brothers and sister all the same.
*
Two hours later when everyone is sober up and fresh I hand them lemonade. If I could just make them have the yellow drink Gail made for me. So much better. But I don't know the recipe.
"I hope you are feeling all right."
"Hmmm," Kate says through her drink. "We are, now."
"How are you all so...you know, knocked out when I'm so sober?" I ask the questing gagging me all morning.
"We were." Elliot corrects.
"Yeah, well, how?"
"Well," Mia looks at me mischievously. Now what? "After you left, we didnt ended the party..."
Thar explains.
I sigh and rub my head.
"Well, we are having a rehearsal dinner..."
"Yes, Ana, don't worry," Mom says and gets up. "We are fine." But slumps back again out of balance.
So much of fine. And I remember the first time I drank. Back in Alaska. What agony afterwards! And my head, jeez! I had to crawl through the house to get anything done all while Gran and Alice laughing and I sweared I wouldn't be drinking, ever.
*
I have been taking peeks at everyone since the afternoon.
Stumbling and tumbling they did made to their chorus and within hours, I hope, they are as sober as they appear.
"Mrs. Grey? Wine."
I turn to the houskeeper and motion to trolly by the table and as the table is set, awaiting is only for the family members.
Where are they now?
One by one everyone joins in. I've met Kates parents once and twice, though, they are sweatest creatures after Greys and her brother is always here.
kates mother engulfs me in a hasty hug. "Oh, dear, Ani, thank you so much. You did a great job. Its so lovely round here." She surveys everything and admires every tiny thing.
Kates comes behind me grab me from my stomach and murmurs into my ear.
"Thank you Ani, this is so wonderful."
"You do know your husband to be is scowling." I gesture to an eyeing Elliot.
"Yeah, wherever." She sticks a tongue at him and duck as he throws a cusion at her.
Grandmother Phobie hugs me and then grandfather Theo. "Your husband is late, you must give him a scolding." He winks at me before his wife drags him to his seat.
"Okay, every one, please settle down."
I've assessed the dinner in the backyard under a beautiful shelter. It was tough job, but well done.
"Where is Chrissy?" Mia asks sipping her wine.
I open my mouth. What to say? I find myself thinking of last night. Why did I say that to him? "He'll be here." I manage a smile.
"Don't tell me you haven't heard of him all day?" Mom asks, her voice edged with irk. Oh man, is she angry.
As I am about to reply as voice travels through the dark. "Who hasn't heard of whom?" Christian Grey. Finaly!
"You, Christian," Mother Grace scolds. "No contacts?"
He looks at me and I manage yet another fake smile, well, its not really fake, what I'm trying to do is suppress my beaming face at his arrival.
He slowly walks to me handing the wine bottle and flowers to Kate and plants and kiss on my temple. Jitters. "Sorry. I was in meeting all day." He sits down.
"Couldn't make enough time to talk to your wife??" Mom eyes him.
"Mom, I..."
"I am fine." I interrupt. It is a good day, we are suppose to be celebrating. "Really. Now, the drinks, please." I motion to the houskeeper and settle beside Christian.
Please let this end well. I silently pray.
"So where are you going for honeymoon?" Ethan asks after few minutes of here and there talk.
Elliot looks at him, then at Kate and then back at him. Now, does he not want to disclose?? "Ah, well..."
"Come on, young man, don't be shy?" Mr. Kavanagh chides and a ripple of laugh follows.
Elliot hesitates. "The Bahamas."
"Well, that place is somehting." Mr. Grey comments and smiles at him. Its rare to see him smile.
"And some other place from there, but he's not telling me where." Kate gives a pleading look to Elliot who just brushes it away.
"That must be a surprise..." Mia trails swirling her wine.
"Well, I wanted to give your mother a surprise as well, though her bride of honour, who was it honey," Mr. Grey looks a his wife who just tilts her head and as if remembering exclaims, "Mila! Yes. She happened to hear me and my friend discussing and there goes everything." While everyone laughs, Christian smiles and mom only shakes her head and I am left thinking that Mr. Grey can be such a story teller!
I smile. So far so good.
"Well, I would like to travel the world in my honeymoon." Mia gushes excitedly and both Elliot and Christian gives each other a look.
"For that you have to get a man." Christian says.
"Not to mention, you keeps dropping and picking one each month." Elliot says and burst out.
Mia bangs her hand on the table and more cracking follows. "You two, stop it!"
Even her eyes sends draggers at both her brother to no avail.
"Okay, okay," Mom interupts. "That is enough."
"Yeah, enough," Mia says and flicks her hair over her shoulder. "I will get a man good enough, before time, anyway. Come to think of it, Ana and Christian where did you..." She suddenly stops. "No, you two never went to a honeymoon." Silence fills the table.
I try to think of something and feel Christian get tense beside me. Oh, no!
"Mia..." I begin.
But suddenly Kate claps her hand. "Brilliant then, we could go on the honeymoon together. Elliot?"
Shit!
Elliot titls his head. "Well, that, indeed is a good idea. We could..."
"No!" Christian interupts and I am sensing the worst coming. Oh God! "That is not a good idea."
"But why not?" Mia sits up straight. "You didn't went to one. You should go. Even I should tag along..."
"No!" Everyone at the table shouts simultaneously.
Mia sloaches down. "Okay, but Ana, Christian you should go."
"No! We are not going." Christian states firmly.
"But why not?" Mom speaks up. "And I don't understand, you didn't even went to one, why? Surely you two love each other..."
"No!" Christians voice silence even tiniest of clattering of forks. He gazes at me for a moment then back at his mother. "We are not going. End of the topic." He drops his napkin on the table ands huries inside.
I scramble to my feet. "I'll get him." And follow him inside.
Christian is striding so fast I have to run to reach him and finally in the great room I seize his hand. "Christian, wait, you cannot leave."
He shakes me off. "What?"
I stagger back catching my breath. "In the middle of the dinner, I don't think you should..."
"I don't care what you think, Anastasia!"
"But everyone..."
"They are my family! I can take care of them."
Now, I'm getting annoyed. Why does he always have to be an ass and a fucking boss!! "Yeah? Leaving them in the middle is taking care of them? Wonderful Christian Grey."
He takes a deep breath runs his hand through his hair. "You, go. I'll be back."
"No! You have to come with me."
"Why are you so stubborn, Anastasia!!"
"Why don't you listen to me!!"
"Because I don't want to."
I face him. "I don't understand why are you exaggerating?"
He tilts his head. "What? You wanna go on a honeymoon then?"
I open my mouth then close and open again. "No, its..."
"Have you forgotten that this a fake." He points at my ring. "Everything is. Fake marriage!!"
"Christian, I..."
" 'Fake Marriage'." From behind us comes the voice of his mother . I turn around and find everyone staring at us. Scandalized.
"What are you talking about?" Mia asks, stepping forth.
"Mia, its..." I begin but mom stops me and turns to Christian.
"Is it true?" She asks, firmly. Angry. I never saw her this way. "I'm asking something Christian!!"
"Yes, mom...its true."
She stumbles back. Christian reach to steady her but she swats his hand away and stares at him. Shocked. "Why? Christian, why?"
Christian doesn't says anyhting just looks away.
"I'm asking something? Answer me!!" She yells at him. "Why?"
Then, very quietly he says. "For Hope."
"What?" His mom slumps on the chair and I look at him. Who is Hope now? No, no. Ana. There is bigger problem.
I turn to his mom. "Mom, there's a reason for this..."
"I know very well, what reason there could be Ana. Tell me, did he offer you a deal? Did he force you?"
She gazes at me pleadingly and when I don't reply she wispers. "Tell me." And slowly, I nod.
She stands, walks past me to Christian and slaps him hard across the face. The vibration echoing through the walls.
"You destroyed her life." She says.
I walk up to her. "Mom, its not..."
She whips around, her eyes sharp at me. "You think you know better. Well, you don't. I'm afraid to say you are indeed a foolish girl."
She shakes her head. Her one hand clutching onto Christian's shirt. He extricates himself from her and leaves the room.
His mother stumbles. I reach for her just as Mr. Grey does and practically snatches her from me.
I am aware I don't have anything to do here now. I take my bag muttering an apology for everything to Kate and Elliot who tries to stop me but I am already walking through the gallery and into the autumn air.
*
Late in the night my phone buzzes. I ignore it. My eyes fix on the lighting of Escala across the road. Will he be there? Should I go in? Perhaps there is no reason to.
I sigh.
The phone again.
Annoyed I go power off but then stop.
Mr. Taylor.
"Yes?"
"Mrs..." He stops. "Miss. Steele." Thats sounds...not satisfying. Perhaps...I shake my head.
"Yes?" I repeat. Just speak up fast. Are you calling clear up my room. I will. Relax.
"Mr. Grey is missing." Again.
I sigh and know he can hear it on the other side. "He'll be back. I mean, he did last time."
"Miss. Steele, this time its different." Oh, yeah, ofcourse. This time slightly everything is different. "We have a thorough report as to where he had been till nine thirty but he he's gone. Every oen in his family is looking for him." Oh, no. This is Serious. "I'll send a location, please do come."
Twenty minutes later I am in the crowded part of Seattle. Why would Christian be here, now? And cannot he be, a little, responsible??
"Ana!!" Faraway, Elliot comes running towards me with Kate catching up behind. "Thank, god, you are here."
"Why are you here?" I ask. Its too much noise here.
He points towards a bridge. "Whenever he gets like this, he comes here or...there," He gesture to a cafe across road.
"You go to the cafe and we will to the brigde. Mom is really upset but is worried for Christian. We have find him and he has to talk mom. For goodness sake, its my marriage tomorrow. He bloody had to get his shit together." Right. I nod. And walk past him towards the cafe.
I realise Elliot and Kate is not a little bit not indifferent to me. Thank god. His mother would be angry with me, I know, I should have known better to give in to Christian. Then, non of this would have happened. Nothing. I would've have gone back to Alaska. To my sister.
But sometimes, not everything is in our hands. Sometimes, we have to give in.
I look up and see Christian across the road staring at me.
Christian!
Elliot was right, he is here.
I raise my hand but he keeps staring at me.
I start walking towards him and as I close the distance slowly he eyes widens. He's saying...no shouting something but its to much noise I can't comprehend it. Suddenly he starts running towards me. I stop. A strong ray of light falls on him. Somehting hits me and I am flying and everything is black. The noise clamouring out of my ears.
*
Thank You for reading
I hope you liked it.
And no, I am not busy. I am just, lets say, lazy.
Sorry for the delay.
Beverly (Terrible Writer)!