Reasons for no updates: 1. Out of town. 2. Computer overheated and shut off. 3. The stories I was working on were erased. I'm sorry! But please review and enjoy! Love you guys!
I put on my clothes quickly. I can't afford to leave Ciel unsupervised. I don't want him to find out what I am hiding, nor do I want him to take notice of the abnormalities that are open in my room. I have good reason to be on guard because when I step out of my closet, his hand is on the handle of the drawer.
"Ciel." I call warningly, and he turns to look at me. He chews on his lips before apologizing. I smile, letting him know that I am not mad…yet. "Let's go down for breakfast. You need something to cure that hangover." I wave him over, and he gets up from the floor.
"Now that you mention it, my head does hurt a little."
"I bet it does." We start heading out, and I walk a little bit ahead of him so his lips are visible to me. "You should really control your drinking, Ciel. One day you are going to regret getting so drunk." I try to make it sound like I am not reprimanding his habit, but he bristles.
"Shut it. You are not my mom." No. Just the guy that loves you.
"I'm worried. You are the type to have a loose tongue when you are not sober. And loose mouth, now that I think about it." His face reddens.
"Keep up your remarks, and you won't have a tongue to talk," he threatens, and I sigh in relief. It seems yesterday's sympathy is all forgotten. He is treating me like he always does.
"What? You are going to kiss me again?" I tease, and he stops walking and raises his hand to hit me.
Ciel's POV
"Again? Ooh! Do tell!" I drop my arm as I hear Serena. I look at her, and then quickly look away from her. She is still in her pajamas, if you could call them that. A large over shirt that barely passed her hips and underwear doesn't seem like appropriate sleepwear to me.
"Hey, go put some clothes on. We have a guest today," Sebastian scolds, and I am thankful as I hear a resigned 'fine'. "You can look straight now. She's gone." I do as we start walking to the dining room. "I must say I am a little surprised that you didn't stare. It's almost as if you have a crush on her." I know he is trying to get a rise out of me, but his tone is miffed like he somehow managed to anger himself. "I'm not giving her to you. Just so you know."
"First of all, if I wanted her, I would have her. Just so you know. Second of all, don't you tell me what to do. Lastly, ew! She is like a sister to me." By this time, we are sitting across from each other. When I am talking, I watch his expression, and it is fascinating to see him go from angry to a reserved happy. Very fascinating.
"So if she is like your sister, does that make me your brother?" He asks. I purse my lips, trying to decide if I should be an ass so early in the morning or tell him the truth.
"Again, ew! If we are anything, we are acquaintances, at best. I do not, I repeat, do not, want to be related to you. That is just gross." Truth it is.
Sebastian POV
I should feel offended, but I don't. In fact, I have to fight with myself to not smile at his comments. I wouldn't want him to think of me as family. That would mean I would be having incestuous thoughts which doesn't sit well with me. A little part of me stings a bit from him saying that we were just acquaintances, though. Why couldn't he at least say that we are friends? It is not that hard. It is one syllable. One!
"I am hurt that my fiancée would say such cold words to me. We are more than just random associates, Ciel," I tell him, which makes him scowl.
"Stop calling me that! We are going to release an article stating that we are business partners and not 'partners in each other's business'." He clarifies.
Ciel's POV
"I am afraid that is a no-go." Dimitri's voice booms out as he sits at the head of the table. I glance at him, and though it is early in the morning, he looks as dignified as he usually does. Claire, who sits adjacent to him, is sweet and kind as ever. They remind me over my own parents.
"What do you mean?" I ask back, confused with his expression. His face is authoritative, but his eyes have a weird shine to them.
"Well, since the announcement of the engagement, profits of both our companies have nearly tripled. People are buying more stock." I give him a blank look, for I don't know how that stops me from telling everyone of the fake engagement. He continues. "You see, Vincent and I planned to play this as a joke, but it seems that the public loves the idea of the two of you being couple, which is astonishing because we thought it might have the adverse effect." I nod, not seeing where he is going with his point. "Your dad and I had a morning conference call, and we came to a decision." His eyes stays to Sebastian. "Since business is thriving, and with the new merger, we thought it best if you two keep up the appearance that you two are an item."
"What? No. Absolutely no way!" I interject.
"To excel in something, sacrifices need to be made. In your case, this is your sacrifice."
"But do you think this is too much? We are fooling people for their money! And what do you think will happen when we actually tell the truth?" I try to convince him, knowing that I am probably just wasting my breath.
"We will deal with that bridge when we come to it, but for now, you two will have to keep up this charade." I shake my head. He sighs. "Vincent said you would decline." He rubs his chin briefly. "Fine. You and Sebastian can tell the press about the situation; however, the public does want one of you to be married." My heart stills as I begin to understand. "Due to your opposition on the idea of marriage, Sebastian will be the one to be wedded."
I hold my breath while I wait for Sebastian to speak up, but I gulp down air as the seconds pass by in silence. "Aren't you going to say something?" I turn to him, upset that he is willingly giving in to his dad's absurd command.
"What is there to say, Ciel? If I must marry someone for the company, I will. I owe my family my life, and doing this for them is nothing to me." But as he says this, I can detect the hollowness in him. He is lying.
"Then it is settled! I'll alert the media, and deny that Ciel is Sebastian's fiancée and…" When he talks, I am beaten with vivid images of Sebastian in someone else's arm. A man holding his hand. A woman draped over his arm. Hips smashed together. Lips pressed against lips. Cameras catching each date until the big date.
"I'll do it." Dimitri stops speaking. "It makes more sense if we just continue this farce than add people into the mix. It will be easier if Sebastian and I just pretend." It will be easier for my heart as well.
Sebastian's POV
I don't say no to my dad's request. I really have no reason to do it. If I couldn't marry Ciel, then what difference does it make who I marry? No one will make me happy like he does, and I am resigned to that fact, so I might as well help the company if I can. I know my dad will pick a suitable partner for me, so I shouldn't feel sad. I don't. I do feel empty, though, but it is a feeling that I am used to so it doesn't bother as much.
A touch on my hand wakens me from my daze. I move my head and see Serena with a smile on her face. She is excited and happy, and I try to reciprocate her glee, but I fail. She pouts and points in our dad's direction. I look at him and watch his lips as they form words.
"Are you sure, Ciel? Sebastian doesn't mind like you do. He won't have a problem." I turn to see Ciel's response.
"It's fine. But this does not mean anything besides what it is actually is: a business deal. Got that, Sebastian?" He addresses me suddenly. It takes me a while to process what had transpired, but when I do, I am quick to reply.
"Well, if we really are doing this, then we should do it right." I get up from my chair and race to my room. I open the drawer, take out one item, and close it. I hold it in my hand and walk back to the dining area, then to Ciel. I drop to one knee, and his eyebrows shoot up, disappearing behind his fringe. I clear my throat before I begin. "It has been fourteen years since we have met. We started as enemies, and after a while, we became classmates that could tolerate each other. We soon became friends and shortly after, we became best friends. And though we had our downs, we ended up here, and I couldn't be happier. I couldn't imagine marrying someone else other than you." I pry the lid open, revealing a ring with a blue gem. I smile up at him. "Ciel Phantomhive, I love you as much as you think you hate me. So will you please marry me?"