Libba Bray is awesome. So, so great. I am not Libba Bray. So therefore I am not awesome. Or so, so great. I realize that I messed up on somethings in the last chapter. Don't Shoot! comes out from behind a tree I'm having a writers block. I may go on hiatus. Not sure. Bear with me if this chapter sucks butt. (I would use another word but I'm not into cussing that much)

I watch the opera with as much enthusiasm as a fly about to be eaten. I glance over at Father, who's fiddling with his gloves. He still has troubles sitting still. This is my last outing not being a, I shudder, married woman. Since I told my father my feelings as regards to Simon, he has been very soft spoken. I bite my lip, still wondering if it was the right thing to do, telling him about Kartik. He understood, but like a father should, he reminded gently that I had accepted Simon, and had had the chance to refuse it. I laughed inwardly. Refuse Simon? HA! Accept Kartik? Bigger HA. I can just imagine it now, announcing that I decided to get married to an Indian and had turned down Simon Middleton's offer.

"Gemma?" I look up to see Simon hovering above me, offering his hand.

"Oh, yes." (A/N: if you didn't get that she didn't realize that the opera was over.)

As Simon and I make our way toward his, I mean our carriage; I feel his hand through the satin of the glove. I'd savor every moment of it, except it's the wrong hand. The hand I want to hold is Kartik's, brown and calloused, from all the years of working. His hand is so skilled at horses, climbing, and other things. I blush, feeling the redness creep up my cheeks. Simon looks over at my face, furrowing his brow slightly.

"Are you alright?"

His words make me do a double take.

"Quite." I reply curtly.

Kartik's POV

I watch her from the bushes and as Mr. Mud takes her hand rather forcefully. Tomorrow will be her wedding. Her father came to me yesterday. Apparently Gemma had said something about us. Us…those words echo in the back of my head. Is there an "us"? Or maybe it's just my imagination. Maybe I'm just her boy to play with until she gets married. These thought hang heavy in my head until I banish them. "She loves me! I know she does. Everything we do together." Then the over side starts in. "Loves you? You're insane!!" He said something that made her blush. I steam inside, knowing that he probably said something to anger her. I stare at them, wishing I could be in his place. Next to her. Holding her hand. Having everything go right.

Gemma's POV

I feel as if I am being watched. Kartik told me he would be nearby, but honestly? He still insists on watching me from bushes? I make my way into the carriage, when suddenly everything goes dark.

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I'm sooooo sorry it took me this long to update. And that this chapter sucks donkey butt and everything. I'm horrible I know. But please forgive me. I had to train for westworld. Aka horse show. School sucks. I'm way behind. I have to go to St. Louis to meet my grandparents, whom I've never met. I am sorry. But I am going on hiatus for a little while. Reviews make me happy. If I get more then 5 I'll post the other half of this chapter. I swear

-emily