Okay, before this story continues I got to clear a few things up. This story is in the present, or past I guess since Gabriella is remembering everything but it is placed in the '21st century'. Many people do not know this but arranged marriages still exist this very day. There not as common as back in the past but I know they still exist. My parents got an arranged marriage and so did my cousin. I am supposed to get one but I am able to have a love marriage, as long as my parents approve the person and he is of the same religion as me. Many don't have that decision and if you go against an arranged marriage you are considered a 'disgrace' and you family will disown you. it's a very messy thing.

I also know that my brother is friends with someone that is 17 and has had or is just about to get an arranged marriage. Though she is a different religion as me, it proves that they exist in many cultures, as sad as it may be. Just wanted to clear things up. Now enjoy!

Chapter 8

"Are you nervous?" Alexander asked, glancing over at me. I fidgeted in the passengers seat of his car and a guilty look crept across my face.

"Well I don't get why you're not?" I exclaimed as I turned to look at the person driving the car next to me. With a careless shrug he continued to look out upon the road. He seemed quite distance and wasn't talking much. Something was defiantly up but I didn't want to ask. I had problems of my own to deal with.

"You wanted to meet her, didn't you?" He slipped on some sunglasses as he continued to drive.

I gave an uneasy chuckle. "Yah, about that…" I trailed off as I heaved back in my seat and looked out the window, wishing I could be out there.

"Relax, aren't I supposed to be the one to be freaking out?" He cocked an eyebrow and glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes, though I didn't notice as they were hidden behind the glasses, as if I was acting crazy.

"Which brings me back to my point, why are you so calm?" I ask frustrated but he only shrugged once more causing my frustration to increase. "Calm little brat," I muttered under my breath causing a chuckle to escape from the occupant in the seat beside mine.

"Just because I'm calm doesn't mean I'm not nervous too. I'm just better at hiding it then some people." He looked pointedly at me just as we reached a stop light and in the twitch of his mouth it was easy to tell he was secretly laughing at me but trying hard to keep it inside. I glared at him before pouting and looking out the window once more.

"Just drive and don't talk. I don't know how Casey put up with you." My anger radiated off my voice and I silently question why I was getting so mad. Maybe because I was scared and nervous that I was about to meet Casey and Alexander was not helping at all.

"Sorry, can't drive when it's a red light," he told me in a know-it-all way which made me bite my lip from releasing a retort and waited for him to continue. "And Casey received my wonderful kisses so she was fine with putting up with me."

I rolled my eyes as I listened to him chuckle. I guess all, well most guys were like this. And I thought he was nice. Well doesn't this just suck.

The remainder of the car ride was silent and before I knew it we were arriving upon a nice and quite peaceful looking house. I took a hesitant look over at the house before turning towards Alexander who remand staring at the house for quite sometime. After a moment he turned back to me sadly, slipping off his sunglasses.

"Do we really have to go in?" He let his defences down and I could see he really didn't want to go. I almost said that we didn't have to go in. Almost.

"Come on Alexander, you have to talk to her some time." I tried reassuring him in an attempt to meet her, my own discomfort with the matter forgotten.

He sighed in defeat. "Lets just get this over with." He opened the door and got out in a hurry causing me to fumble with my seat belt. It took me a minute before I could step out of the car completely and I stared at the house in front of us for a moment. Alexander and I made our way up the small walkway and once we reached the front doors Alexander knocked on the door firmly before stepping back beside me.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I watched Alexander sway back and forth on his heals beside me, silently wishing he would put his defences back up because his nervousness was not helping mine, seeming to reappear suddenly.

"I'm fine," he muttered angrily as he looked in the opposite direction as me.

"Sorry," I mumbled as I castled my eyes to the floor, quite upset for making him do this. Maybe we should turn back before its to late.

Alexander turned towards me apologetically. "Gabriella-"

He was cut off just as the doors opened and there stood a girl taller than me but not as tall as Alexander. She was smiling politely at us and she seemed like a nice enough girl. She had straight brown hair, just short of reaching her mid back and her bright blue eyes we a stunning colour that strangely reminded me of Alexander's piercing green one. Their eyes would quite a compliment to each others rather nicely in my opinion. Such beautiful eyes and my dull brown ones. I knew one thing though, looking at Alexander and Casey, they were perfect for each other. And I didn't dare miss the love that was radiating off of Casey. It was too intense.

"Hello Casey," Alexander greeted tensely, his poster becoming stiff and rigid. Casey's smile dimmed for a moment as her eyes met Alexander's before brightening up again, which I felt was quite forced.

"Hey Alexander," she said softly and smiled reassuringly at him, for what exactly, I did not know. "And you must be Gabriella." I smiled at her as she reached out her hand. "I'm Casey. It's nice to meet you."

I reached out to shake her hand loosely. "It's nice to meet you too. I've heard a lot from Alexander here." Alexander shot me a look but I simply smiled it off and gave him a careless shrug.

"Come in," she said after a moment of silence and moved out of the way so me and Alexander could step inside. All three of us made our way to the living room and I gave Alexander a look telling him to relax but he simply stayed the same. I sighed in defeat as Casey sat us on one couch before leaving to get us some drinks.

"This was a bad idea," Alexander told me the second that Casey left the room and was out of hearing distance.

"And how exactly? Casey seems fine with this," I asked, confused.

"Well shes not," Alexander told me angrily and shoved his hands through his hair that faintly reminded me of Troy. I shook my head trying to get rid of thoughts of Troy. I zoned in just as Alexander spoke again. "Look I can't do this. And I don't think Casey can either. She's had a lot to deal with in the past month with this whole arranged marriage deal and this is just adding on to that."

I sighed and made Alexander look at me before I spoke. "Look, I know this is hard. But me and you both need to talk to Casey and Troy, you know, for closure purposes. Do you know that Troy just found out about us getting married and now he thinks that throughout our whole relationship I had been cheating on him with you? And now I have to talk to him? I know how hard this is but you told me you were going to help me through my encounter with Troy and I'm going to do the same with you. You need to talk to Casey. And I need to talk to Troy. We're going to get through this okay? So calm down and stop acting so tense. Before Casey notices. Which I think she already has so stop it because your just going to keep hurting her more."

Just as I stopped speaking Casey entered the room with drinks for us. Me and Alexander separated in out distance not wanting to get Casey thinking there was something going on between us other that the arranged marriage deal and end up getting her upset.

"I was actually surprised when Alex called me. Knowing him, he would probably avoided me like the plague and then he just calls? Something had to be up," she told me with a slight laugh and handed us our drinks before sitting across from us. Whatever the drink was it tasted quite good.

"Yah well Gabriella wanted to meet you," he clarified for her as he stared down at his drink and avoiding eye contact with her. He twiddled with his thumbs and I tried to keep things going.

"Yah well I had heard so much about you from Alexander. I was intrigued." I glanced at Alexander who leaned back and looked in the opposite direction of me and Casey. I looked over at Casey as she stared at him sadly and I knew they had to talk. Somehow. I just had to figure out a plan.

Distantly I could hear a baby crying which made Casey look over at the door on the other side of the living room and stand up with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, that would be my brother. I'll be right back." And with that she was gone.

I turned my head to Alexander and gave him a questioning look.

He put his glass on the table and stood up. "We have to go."

I shot out of my seat. "What?! No! First of all, can you talk about rude? And secondly, not until you talk to Casey."

"Will you just give it up Gabriella? We're over, it's over. There is nothing left to talk about!" He angrily paced the length of the room as my eyes trailed along with him.

"It's not over. Believe me, I know what you're going through," I whispered.

He scoffed. "Believe me when I say my relationship with Casey is a little bit different than yours and Troy's okay? Not that I can call either of them a relationship. Not a good one anyways."

I felt myself saddened and suddenly very weak at the knees. I fell back onto the couch and looked at Alexander. "Why are you being like this?"

He came back over to the couches and sat in the one that Casey just vacated. "I don't know." He sighed.

We lapsed in a dull silence. Alexander was getting eaten up by this and he had to do what was inevitably coming. "Alexander, go talk to her. You know you want to so just pluck up the courage and go and talk to her. If then not for yourself, than for her. She needs it just as much as you."

Alexander stared at me uncertainly for a moment before nodding and getting up and walking out the door that Casey had walked out just moments ago. Like I was going to stay here? I got up and curiosity getting the better of me followed behind him and against my better judgement, eavesdropped.

Alexander Point-Of-View

My nerves had been getting the better of me as the inevitable moment of the confrontation of me and Casey would occur. And the more nervous I got, the more I took it out on Gabriella and even Casey. As much as I hated it, I couldn't help it.

And here I was, plucking up all my courage just like Gabriella told me to do and taking the walk towards Casey and the nursery I knew she would be in, tending to her little one year old brother.

I had been distant, and maybe a little bit cold towards Casey. I knew I had been hurting her when I wouldn't look her in the eyes but that was too hard for me to do. Now I regretted it because I knew I hurt her. And for someone like me who would go out of my way to protect her it is the worst when I'm the one causing her pain. Time to put everything behind. To hell with my pride, I was going to talk to her as just Alex. Alexander is thrown out the window and I was simply her Alex. I needed this. We needed this.

The nursery doors came ahead and I sucked in a deep breath before pushing open the door.

Casey swung around with the small toddler, Noah, in her arms to come face to face with me.

"Hi," she breathed out, staring at me in awe as I walked up closer to her.

"Hi."

We shared a moment of silence, strangely not awkward, as she sifted the toddler to rest his head on her shoulder as she patted his back gently, trying to lull him to sleep.

"I think we need to talk," I told her breaking the silence and, surprise, she motioned for me to sit on the couch at the side of the room. I made my way to it as she followed silently behind.

"Gabriella seems nice. Really sweet," Casey told me sincerely as she sifted Noah in her arms trying to get comfortable.

"Yah." I didn't know what to say. "Casey-"

"Alux!" I heard Noah squeal excitedly when he noticed me and I forced a smile when he put his arms out, squirming, trying to get to me.

"Hey buddy," I said as I put my arms out as Casey gently handed him over to me. "Long time since I've seen you, huh?"

He gurgled happily as I rested him in my lap and once he snuggled in comfortably I looked up at Casey again.

"Casey-"

"Do you love her?" Casey looked on at me desperately, awaiting a answer.

"Casey," I began shaking my head at her question as I look at her sadly.

"Please Alex, I just need to know. Tell me the truth. I can handle it."

"Case, of course not. It hasn't even been long. But maybe with time…" I trailed off and silently waited for her to respond but when her eyes seemed to sail off to the one year old in my arms and remain locked there I sighed in defeat and looked down. It was not more than a second later that she finally spoke up.

"It's funny, isn't it?" she asked bitterly.

"What is?"

She sighed sadly as she cast her eyes back up to me then Noah who seemed to have fallen asleep. "Me and you planned our whole life together. And now you're about to go off and marry someone else."

"Casey," I began, shaking my head but she simply continued.

"It's not fair." She looked at me with watery eyes before closing them tightly in pain and I knew its wasn't caused by anything physical. "This isn't fair! You promised me! You promised me that you would get out of this marriage, one way or another! What happened to that promise?"

Tears fell freely from her eyes now. I reached out desperately to wipe them away but she moved out of my reach and across the room, Noah halting me from trying again, knowing if I moved farther I would wake him up.

"Casey, you have to understand!" Though I kept my voice faint enough so not to disturb the baby, even if I knew he was immune to waking up no matter how loud. I could detect a desperate tone in my voice.

"Understand? Oh I understand clearly. You do love her don't you? Well maybe not love but like her enough not to leave her?"

"Casey, stop thinking crazy," I told her angrily. I got up and made my way to crib, resting Eddie in it before turning to Casey. "You know I love you and only you."

"Do I?" She stared at me questioningly with angry tears spilling from her eyes.

I shook my head at her behaviour. "What do you want from me?" I asked her quietly.

"I want you not to marry her!" she told me.

I shook my head once more. "You know I can't do that."

She choked out a sob and turned her head away from me. My heart broke at the sight causing me to rush over to her and wrap my arms around her.

"Come on Case, babe, don't cry." I smoothed her hair down as she grasped desperately at my shirt. I tried calming her down. "I love you Casey, remember that okay? Nothing can change the way I feel about you. Nothing."

"Don't leave me Alex. Please don't leave me," she whispered into my chest but I only tightened my arms around her in response. She moved her head to look at me with her blood shot eyes.

"Please don't make me do that. Casey, just don't." I looked at her pleadingly.

She nodded her head sadly and pulled away, wiping her tears, becoming distant. "Gabriella's probably waiting for you. You should go."

But I stayed in place. "I don't want things to end the way they did last time. I don't want you to hate me."

She smiled sadly. I could remember our final goodbye last time.

---

"Get out!" Casey screamed at me angrily as she stomped over to the door and opened it, the doorknob slamming against the wall with its force.

"Casey, you knew this could happen!" I stayed staring at her angrily. It wouldn't be later till everything would set in and would be taken into my mind, and only then would a deep depression set into its newfound place. Radiating pain yet numbing me at the same time.

"Out! I want you out! I hate you! Leave!" Tears of anger rushed out her eyes and my heart broke at her words.

"Casey, don't say that," I whispered, my world crashing around me as the words whirled around me dangerously.

"I hate you! I want you out! I never want to see you again!"

And I made my way out without a backwards glance. My head bowed, ashamed that I was weak enough to let all this happen and pain from knowing that this was the end and her words proved it. Her deep breaths and choked sobs were the last thing I heard as I closed the door.

---

She glanced away from my eyes, ashamed as she remember our last goodbye also.

"You know I never meant what I said."

I shook my head. "That's the thing, I didn't know. You don't know how much of a nightmare the last month had been. I lied to Gabriella, saying that you were understanding about the whole situation and that it was impossible for you to hate anyone, but I think I was trying to convince myself more than her."

Casey looked at me sadly and took a step closer to me. "You know that wasn't the case. I love you. I was angry and I said things I didn't mean. And have you known me to hate anyone before? Never. Not even you."

I nodded my head not so sure myself even as she told me she didn't mean it. Why would she say it if she didn't mean it?

"Maybe it would be best if we didn't see each other for awhile." I closed my eyes but knew it had to be done. We couldn't see each other. Not until we both healed.

"Can we still be friends?" she whispered and I restrained from going over there and hugging her once more.

I decided I could give her that much. I nodded. "After some time has past, once we both can move on from this. When feelings won't get in the way of living our lives."

"I don't want to lose you Alex."

I looked away from her heartbroken expression, not being able to withstand seeing her like this. "I don't want to lose you either." I glanced to the door which was slightly ajar but thought nothing of it. It was simply a reminder that it was time to leave and move on.

I walked up to her and opened my arms. It was no more than a second that see flew into my embrace and buried her head into my chest.

"Bye Case. Call me when you need to. And please, try to move on. I don't want to hurt you anymore."

After a moment, due to hesitation, I felt her nod and pull out of my arms.

"Remember, I'm just a phone call away." And with that I turned and walked out the door, this time with nothing holding me back. She was trying her hardest not to cry and I was fighting the lump that had formed in my throat. This was not the time.

I went to go meet Gabriella. She was my future, and I couldn't change that.

Gabriella's Point-Of-View

As I heard Alexander's footsteps approaching the door I jumped up and trying to make as little noise as possible scurried down the stairs and sat in the living room waiting for him.

Was that how me and Troy were going to be like when we talked? I don't know but then again, I really didn't want to find out. This whole situation made me dread even more the encounter I would eventually have with Troy.

I could tell Alexander and Casey loved each other, and though Alexander didn't believe it as I heard the uncertainty in his voice, she was madly in love with him.

I had to admit I was a little bit hurt about Alexander lying to me, though I didn't blame him or want to accuse him of it. He was hurt and he had lied to himself also. AI really didn't blame him and I may have done the same thing if put into his situation.

It broke my heart that I was the reason they couldn't be together. Even if I couldn't prevent it, it still didn't help with the increasing guilt I felt with the whole situation.

The image of Troy clouded my thoughts and made me want to run and crawl into a hole until everything was better. I didn't care if it was being a coward, I couldn't face Troy. I didn't want to face him. Not from what Chad had told me, not from what I had seen - the progression of Troy's change in the last few days - and certainly not from the fallout I had just witnessed between Casey and Alexander. All in all it was sorted out in the end but at what cost? Two heartbroken teenagers? Was it worth it?

I was snapped out of my thoughts as Alexander walked into the room in a hurry, his demeanour quite distant.

"Come on Gabriella. It's time to go."

I made no move to protest knowing what kind of state he would be in. I prayed he had no clue I had been eavesdropping on the private conversation. I already felt sick to the stomach.

I went over to the passengers seat of the car as Alexander went to the drivers but as he closed the door the minutes past and he made no move to drive, though he had already started the engine. He simply gripped the wheel and rested his head on top.

"Alexander?" I asked cautiously. "Are you okay?"

He sighed as he scrunched his face up in emotional agony. "I've lied to you a lot Gabriella and I'm not going to do it anymore. We're getting married and I think its time we let that fact settle in."

I decided to play the part of the naïve little girl so he didn't suspect I had been listening to him and Casey.

"What have you lied to me about?" I asked, scrunching my face in confusion just to play my part right.

"Let's just say me and Casey didn't end so much on good terms," he stated simply as he turned his head that still rested on the steering wheel to look me in the eyes. "I lied when I said she was okay with it. She wasn't and I couldn't blame her. I can't blame her. She was the one willing to fight, it was just that I wasn't. I didn't fight," he told me as sadness flashed across his face.

I felt guilt as I thought of Troy whelm up inside of me for the exact reason that I knew exactly what kind of pain he was in. His pain was for Casey than anyone. Like mine was more for Troy than myself. "I didn't fight either," I whispered and I detected the pain in my voice as it shook.

He sighed and remained silent, going into thought before he looked back at me. "Why didn't we?" he asked, utterly confused but sadness lingered in his voice, in his face.

"I don't know Alexander. But I wish we had." I though of Troy in this moment. I though of everything with him I was losing and I knew losing him wasn't worth everything in the world. More than anything I wanted him back. I needed him back. But the decision was final and the choice couldn't be changed now. What I wouldn't give to change how things were.

Everything remained silent for a moment once more. Alexander was the one to whisper, his voice blending with the quiet and the gentle hum of the engine. "Me too Gabriella. Me too."

A/N: Sorry for the long wait. Once I came back home form the road trip my stomach had been hurting for most the trip and turns out I had a kidney infection. I was hooked up to an IV and I had a high fever, I couldn't stand up let alone write another chapter. And I just had surgery in my mouth so this month has been pretty crummy so far. Enough with my excuses, just wanted to let you know why the long wait. Now worries, I am, for most the part, better now. Still does not excuse the past days when I could have written but her it is.

Oh and watched High School Musical 2. I don't know but I got mixed feelings but I still love it. And for people who can't see it just yet, believe me when it comes on it doesn't even feel like any time has passed. It weird but yah. Loved the movie. Watched it about seven times already. LOL. Okay I'm done! And next I will try to update 'Butterflies Don't Lie'. Review!