A/N: Hello and Welcome to chapter 14 of Turning Pages. So I would just like to thank you guys again for reading and also thanks to my new reviewer who goes by the name Alex Wolf. Your reviews have definitely put a smile on my face and as always thanks to my Special Reviewer as I like to call you because you have been with me from the beginning. You guys rock! Without further ado here is chapter 14 *sings ridiculously high note as curtain opens*
"Is there another way out?" I ask running through every idea possible and coming up with nothing.
"Not that I can see, Page. You can't run and we can't call it off so, our only option is to assassinate him but I don't feel like killing a Prince and then having his death start a war. That would be just too much work. He didn't fall for our girl like we'd hoped so…I don't know, Page," says Sage sitting down beside me.
I plop down in my seat in utter defeat but my mind can't help but race at the possibility that there could be something I'm missing; something I haven't thought of yet. What I need is a plan so fool proof that even Queen Mab can't deny it. But where do we find a plan like that? It certainly isn't available in the mind of a very troubled Princess.
"We could try Melissa again. They were together so he must feel something for her," Ash says as he leans against my desk.
"I know he does. She likes him too but he's so caught up in getting me to love him that he can't see someone who already does."
"I don't know. It's been a few days since the party and you two's argument so, he's probably still really fragile right now. I say we give it a shot. If she goes now and says her words right then maybe he'll fall for her."
"Wait. You and Aaron had an argument?" Sage asks looking at me quizzically.
"Oh, looks like the favorite doesn't know everything, eh?" Ash says grinning which causes Sage to stare daggers into him.
I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. "For right now just assume that when I tell one of you something it's okay to go and tell the other unless otherwise stated. Okay?" They nod in agreement and the rest of the time is spent coming up with a plan B (redo) and then trying to find a plan C. Plan C is hard to find and eventually we realize that there is no other way out.
"Ash, I need you to go and talk with Melissa. I need you to get her and to the best of your abilities explain exactly how important it is that she gets him to notice her. I don't think you'll have a hard time convincing her but still do your best, please."
"Of course I can. I'll go see her now," he says as get gets up and leaves.
Sage and I just sit in silence for a moment until he says "What will you do?"
"What do you mean? We're executing plan B of operation Black Veil. Weren't you listening Sage?" I say.
"I know that but I mean what will you do if this doesn't work?"
I think for a moment and realize that I hadn't really thought about it. I had always hoped these plans would work out. None of them ever did but yet I still hoped. I still choose to believe that I could have my happy ending and that everything would be okay. I had never stopped to think that maybe my world will crumble.
"I don't know." I say simply. Maybe everything I dreamed about will just fade away. I could get used to Aaron but I couldn't love him. His problem is that he wants me to forget about the love I already have. But when love is true you don't forget. Even when everything seems impossible you don't forget. One day, you may be separated by forces that you can't control but the love you share should live on for as long as you do. I made a promise and so did he. I could never do as Aaron would like. I can't break my promise. In this world promises are kept and even if I could break it I wouldn't. I've never felt the way I do before. Nothing, not even this impossible wedding, is going to make me give it up. I wouldn't give it up for anything in this world or the next. "I love him, Sage. I'm going to fight for as long as I have to."
"I understand," he says finally. "Is there something you need me to do?"
I think for a moment and say "If you want to follow Ash you can. It's up to Melissa's love and Aaron's fragility to help us now. If you want to help him out that would be great. I think this is our end game," I say with a sigh and a heavy heart.
"Okay, I'll follow him," he says as he kisses my forehead and goes after his brother.
I lean back in my chair to think for a few moments. What do I do?
Several books and a snack later I find myself feeling very tired. My chair suddenly becomes very comfortable as I curl up and begin to drift off into another world.
Then, I find myself on a hill. I look out and there is nothing but open field of flowers blooming there for miles. I see a tree above me and feel a pair of arms around me. I turn around and smile to see the person I had been wanted to see for some time. I stare up ay him as he sits with me leaning against him and his back against the lone tree on our hill.
"Did you make this up or did I?" I ask snuggling closer so him.
He smiles and says "I always let you make it up."
"Oh. Well, it's beautiful. I love how bright it is here. How did I do this?"
"I 'm unsure. I guess this is what you would have dreamt anyway but now we're just in it."
"I'm glad I get to be here with you Vincent," I say reaching up and kissing him deeply.
When we let go he smiles and says "I've missed you. It's been a while."
"Yeah I haven't been able to see you in person because Aaron and I aren't on good terms right now."
"Did he hurt you again?" Vincent asks his tone growing serious. I begin to see dark clouds forming in what was once a clear sky.
"No, but how did you know about the first time," I say staring at him. I make a motion with my hand and the clouds pass letting out the sun again.
"Ash told me. I was going to do something about it, trust me but he highly suggested I stay out of it. He said you wanted to handle it so I couldn't do anything." He's silent for a moment before he says "Forgive me, Page. I should have been there for you."
I smile and say, "It's not your fault there was nothing you could have done."
"I know but I..." he stops there and I turn to hold his face in my hands then stare him deep in his dark grey eyes.
"Listen to me, Vincent. You couldn't do anything about that night. Not then, when it happened and not now that it's over. He just roughed me up but I took care of it. Okay?"
"Okay," he says with a smile.
"We're friends now, Aaron and I. At least we were, anyway. He still thinks he can get me to love him. H even has another girl who loves him but he won't pay attention to her because of me. Gosh, he's actually a nice guy, sometimes, he used me but he's a nice guy. I honestly want him to be happy but I just don't think he can be happy with me. That's why I can't marry him," I say with conviction.
"Is that the only reason you can't marry him," He says grinning happily.
"I swear you always look for an excuse," I say laughing as I stand up and stretch my hands to the sky. He faces me and takes my hands in his.
"I just like hearing you say it."
"I know. I'll say it as many times as you like." Then I close my eyes and think the words as loud as I can. "I love you Vincent!" I think them so that they echo all throughout our little world inside my head. It was worth it when I see the smile on his face.
"I love you too, Page," he thinks to me also but his is just a whisper. I like it that way. I like its intimacy. We stare at each other for a moment. I take in this moment because now more than ever I wonder how long I'll have moments like this with him. It is then that I remember I have news for him. He notices my change in mood and asks "What is it?"
"They moved my wedding date. We have four days."
He stands there stunned for a moment. Then as he runs a hand through his hair and gives a sigh.
"Page…I…" Suddenly the ground begins to shake.
"Vincent, what's happening?" I ask as I fall to the ground and feel to rumble beneath me.
"You're waking up."
"What?! I don't want to wake up. How do I make it stop?"
"Come and see me when you can. Okay, Page?" he says calmly.
I can never understand his calm. "But wait…Vincent! How do I make it stop?" I ask frantically.
He smiles and shakes his head at me. It is then that I watch as the ground falls from beneath me and I am plunged into the darkness.
o.0.o
My eyes open to Aaron shaking me awake. I now know where the rumbling came from. I push him away and lean back into my chair disappointed.
"I'm glad to see you too, Page," he says sarcastically.
"Why did you wake me?" I ask annoyed.
"We need to talk," he says simply.
"I don't want to talk."
"I don't care. We need to."
I sigh and ask, "About what?"
"We get married in four days. Obviously, I want to talk about that. Page, I know you sent Melissa to me," he says looking very hurt.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." I might as well deny it until the end which I can feel coming soon.
"Don't play dumb. She told me everything."
I silently curse her in my head and then say, "I'm sorry. She really does like you though. No strings attached."
"I know she does. I like her too but not to the same degree. I mean, she's nice and we had fun together but that's all. I don't love her. I love you, Page."
"I keep telling you that you don't and I don't understand why you refuse to believe me."
"Because I'm telling the truth. How can you tell me about how I feel?"
"Because I know you. Yes, we've spent time together but I was being nothing but friendly towards you. That's all I want to be, Aaron. I want to be your friend. Anything more will just be too complicated. Besides, I love Vincent. He's the only one I love. He makes me happy," I say pleading with him now. I don't know what else to do now that my plans have failed. I have absolutely no idea how else to convince him than with my words.
"I could make you happy, Page. Give me a chance, please Princess," he says kneeling next to my chair and taking my hand.
I shake my hand and say, "No, you can't, Aaron. I don't think about you that way."
"Could you learn to? We've had such fun together."
"Yeah but it was all fake. You weren't reading because you actually liked it."
"I was doing it for you! I'd do anything for you," he says growing more frustrated. I shrug my shoulders feeling completely at a loss for words. We sit there in silence for a few moments before he says, "You know I finished The Great Gatsby." I roll my eyes and he says, "No, believe me, I did it because I wanted to. It was a good book. You make me think of Daisy."
I gasp and say, "Daisy was an idiot. I knew it from the second she spoke. She didn't deserve Gatsby. He gave her all his love and she just ended up with another guy. It wasn't fair." Daisy never loved Gatsby from the beginning. I don't think so anyway. I think if she really loved him she would have stayed with him. He would've done anything for her and she left him alone. I'm highly offended that he compares me to her.
"Yeah, I agree. Tom didn't even love her and yet she still chose him," he staring me deeply in my eyes and then I understand what he's trying to tell me.
"You're ridiculous! I am not doing to you what Daisy did to Gatsby," I say outraged. "Here's the difference between me and Daisy. I never had any interest in you. I never once told you that I did or hinted that I did. I was completely indifferent to you from the beginning. Daisy led him on and then their whole little world came crashing down. Tom isn't Vincent. Tom cheated on Daisy repeatedly and only seemed faithful when he found out about her affair with Gatsby. Vincent, actually loves me and I know will always be faithful to me. This whole extremely messed up situation is most definitely not The Great Gatsby." I finish almost yelling near the end.
"What about the time you kissed me goodnight?" he almost whispers.
"What are you talking abou…" It was then that I remembered. There was one night I had come back from a date with him and I thought he could be useful so I kissed his cheek goodnight. I realized he wasn't and that is when my forced affection stopped. "That was one time, Aaron and…" I hated to say it but I had to. "I was using you. I knew that was what you wanted and I thought I could get more information from you. You didn't know anything so that's why I stopped. Like I said, I never had any affection for you." I finish and I have to look away from him. I haven't touched him and yet he looks like a just struck him across the face.
"Page…how could you?" he says sounding broken.
"I'm sorry," is all I can manage to say.
"I'm sorry doesn't make it any better, Page! You used me that night. I thought that…it doesn't even matter now does it? You're so cruel to me."
"Listen to me, I don't mean to hurt you but I want you to forget about me and this insane dream that you have of me loving you back and of us being together because it's not going to happen. Aaron, I don't think of you that way and I never will. I just want to be your friend."
He goes silent for a moment and I see his expression fall. I didn't mean to hurt him but I see that I already have. It had to be done. I feel a pang of guilt somewhere inside of me. I wish then I hadn't been so hard on him. I reach my hand out to put it on his shoulder but he catches it by the wrist and roughly pulls me closer to him. He's unreadable then and I realize that I'm getting the side of him I have gotten many times the before. The cruel and dark side. Aaron, I'm realizing is a Fey of many personalities and this is the one I dislike the most. This is the one that came for me in the middle of the night and the one that I had to freeze because he got into a fight. I flinch under his gaze. I try to squirm away but he holds me tighter causing me to whimper under the pain.
"Page, tomorrow we're going out. I'll meet you here," he says firmly as he lets me go and walks away.
I rub my wrist and say, "Aaron, did you not here any of what I just said? I'm not going with you."
He whirls around to face me and yells "Page, I don't believe I gave you another choice! Be here tomorrow and we can walk out together or don't and I can drag you out." He leaves with those words just hanging in the air. I stare at my wrist and I have a mark from where his hand was. I think back to the first time there were marks there and realize that it's the same Aaron that gave them to me.
At first I wasn't going to take his threat seriously but then I thought that maybe I could get to him one last time before I have to use drastic measures.
I'm walking to the library, however with Sage when he asks "Why are you even bothering yourself with this? You're asking to get hurt, Page."
"I'm not going to get hurt, Sage. I have this perfectly under control."
"Did you try today?" he asks still looking a little angry at my decision to go today.
I look down at the silver dress with long lace sleeves. I wore my hair straight and put on no make-up besides some silver eye-shadow. "I don't think so. This took me five maybe even three minutes. I just picked the first dress I saw."
"Well unfortunately, you actually look nice today."
"Shut up," I say punching him lightly in the arm. "I'll be fine. If you want you could stalk me like I'm sure Ash is going to do, but please don't get involved. I can do this on my own. I can control my Glamour somewhat now. If anything goes wrong I can fend for myself," I say doing my best to reassure him.
"Okay. I trust you. You're right though, if Ash is going to stalk you then yes, I'll be joining him."
"Very well. Now, go I'll see you soon," I say as he nods and starts to walk in the other direction. I take a deep breath and enter the library. I sigh when I think of all the stories this place could tell. It could not only hold the ones on its wall but it could hold all of the things that have happened here. Now, this library that was once my sanctuary, has become much more than that. It can tell so many more stories now that I am not the only one who has changed within its walls. I smile and pick up the first book I see. I curl up in my favorite chair and read. Soon, I grow fatigued and drift to sleep.
I feel a pair of hands shaking me awake. I open my brown eyes to see Aaron's blue ones staring into me.
"Do you not know of a gentler way to wake people up?" I ask wiping the sleep from my eyes.
He smiles and says, "Nope. Are you ready to go?"
I nod when I suddenly feel like something is missing. I check all around until I hear him say "You're looking for this right?" he says holding up my ring.
"Give it back, Aaron," I say reaching out for it but he yanks it back out of my reach.
"I would but I need insurance," he says as he puts the ring in his pocket.
"I had full intentions of going with you today," I state firmly.
"Maybe, but I like to sure. C'mon lets go, Page," he says offering me his hand. Reluctantly, I take it and we walk out into the cold together.
A/N: So, that was good. Right? Tell me what you think by leaving a review. Please, I want to know you are totally lovin' or hatin' on this story right here. I wonder what you guys are thinking of Aaron and if you think that I exaggerating his relationship with Page. I also would like to know how you guys think this will end. Will it be a happy ending or nah? I know you're anxiously awaiting the end and I promise it's on its way. Chapter 15 is in progress. I decided to give you guys a medium sized chapter since I have been busy and my sis has been hogging the laptop so I haven't been able to write as much as I would like to. So tell me what you think and please go to my profile and check out my other stories and review on those as well. Thank you all again for reading and reviewing, especially to those of you who have been with me since the beginning I appreciate it more than I can say. Thanks from Maria and Page.