Update from last chapter:
Rory was too shocked to speak. This has to be a joke. Her father would never… what was so bad that he had to sign away his daughter? What was so bad that would result in their family on the streets? And why hasn't he told her?
"See you soon, Rory. I suggest you visit Victoria's Secret and prepare for our honeymoon. Remember – my favorite color is red," said Dean with a smug smirk and walked out of Rory's dorm.
Alone, Rory finally let her body collapse to the floor. The first sob escaped, and soon Rory was crumpled on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 6: Doofus to the Rescue
RJ burst into Rory's dorm, tripping over the shoes that were lying by the door. The room was a mess. Books and papers were thrown anywhere, glasses were broken, and Rory was in the middle of the floor in a shaking heap. Running up to her, RJ screamed, "Where is he? Where is the bastard? Did he do this to you?"
"No," sobbed Rory. Lying in RJ's arms, she gathered herself. Once she was able to talk, she said, "I just… I needed to take it out on something. He didn't touch me, don't worry. At least not physically," Rory whispered the last part.
"I'm going to kill that bastard. What was he doing here?"
"He… we're engaged?"
"WHAT!" screamed RJ, jumping up. "Are you kidding me? Am I on 'Punked'?"
Gathering her courage, Rory relayed the whole story to her brother. Sitting there, huddled together, the Hayden siblings raided their minds for the possible reasons why this was happening.
"He couldn't have arranged your marriage, Rory. It's… it's not done these days. Is it even legal?"
"Apparently. I mean, I'm sure that the papers are all valid and everything…"
"But you didn't sign anything. They can't just give you away without your consent."
"I'm not eighteen yet, doofus. They can do whatever to me. What am I going to do, RJ?"
Shutting his eyes tightly, RJ tried to think of a solution.
"I want to see the contract before I can think of anything. There's got to be a loophole. There is always one," he said in a hopeful voice.
"Thanks, RJ. I don't know what I would do without you. How did you even know that Dean was here?"
"Steph came to our dorm and said that some tall, shaggy-haired guy was here. I only know one tall guy who needs a haircut. Then I raced over here, praying that he didn't try the same thing again…"
"I don't want to think about that night. God, I just wish he'd go away!"
"Do you think it's smart to talk to dad?" asked RJ.
"Ugh. I mean, honestly, don't you think that a father would tell his daughter when he signed her body away to a scumbag like that?"
"Do you want me to call him?"
"No, I think I should do it myself. I promised to call tonight anyways…"
"Do you want to postpone the movie night for a later date? I'm sure the guys will understand."
"No, it's ok. I need to wallow."
"Wallowing it is, then. I'm going to go back to my dorm because the guys are going to be worried after the way I ran out. Will you be okay here by yourself?"
"I'll be fine, father."
"I'm just watching out for you, princess!"
"I'm fine, really."
"Ok. Lock the door when I'm gone. I'll send Steph over, but I'll tell her not to come into your room in case you are talking to dad…"
"Thanks."
"Good luck, Ror."
When RJ left, Rory sat on the floor for a little while longer. She really had made a mess. In her fit of anger, she had thrown all her homework around the room, and dropped a few glasses from the kitchen counter. I should probably clean that up before Stephanie comes. Grabbing the phone and a mop, Rory dialed her house phone and started cleaning up. The cleaning would keep her mind a little bit off of killing her dad.
"Hello?"
"Well, hello, daddy dearest."
"Rory! How are you, sweetheart?"
"Just peachy. As a matter of fact, do you know what I'm doing right now?"
"Huh?"
"I'm cleaning up all the glass from when I trashed the room just an hour ago."
"What? What happened, Rory?"
"Oh, I just had a surprise visit from someone I really didn't want to see. And that someone made me really angry. Dad, why do you think Dean would come over suddenly?"
"Oh… honey, I really would have told you, but…"
"There are no buts here, dad! You arranged a marriage for me! You arranged a marriage for me to a boy I despise! You arranged a marriage without telling me!"
"I thought you loved that boy!"
"I never loved him, dad! I never even liked him!"
"Then why were you with him, Rory? Why were you with him if you didn't like him?"
"I… I had my reasons, ok? Just drop it. I hate Dean. I will not marry him."
"Honey, I promise you that I never wanted to hurt you. I never meant to hurt you. I always want the best for you. But if I didn't make the deal, you would be far worse of than how you are now. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I wish I could explain it to you, but I can't. Not yet at least."
"Dad, what did Vice President Forester have on you that could cause so much damage? Why can't you just tell me."
"Look, honey, I will tell you when the time is right."
"I hate that phrase!" yelled Rory, throwing the phone against a wall. Watching it fall in numerous little pieces, Rory cringed. It wasn't fair. She came here to escape him, to escape it all. Instead, she ended up being forced closer to him than before.
Stupid politics.
AN: I decided to spoil you guys with another update today. I don't think I'll be able to update much after this, though. I have a few final projects and then finals starting tomorrow. I hate junior year of high school!
But thanks immensely for the reviews. They keep me going.
