Chapter 3

All I could do was to stare as my little sister approached me, her eyes, with its twinkling glint gone. Something was up.

"Kei." I got down on my knees to hug my little but precious sister; she also matters to me like my mom; and I don't like her being upset about something. I let go of her and walked over to my Dad, his eyes scrutinizing me and to my Mom, her eyes still on my form.

"Dad, Mom" I acknowledge my parents and I turned to the Darcys.

"Ciao sig. Darcy, Darcy. Spero che siete tutto nella buona salute? "

("Hello Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy. I trust you are all in good health?")

I asked him with great formality I had been thought all over the years and curtsey slightly; he bowed as a response.

"Siamo bene quanto a be siamo preveduti, Clearwater; Lo ringrazio, ma abbastanza con la formalità, se potete, questo è 2008; non dovremmo conversare in questo tipo di manner."

("We are well as to be expected, Miss Clearwater; I thank you, but enough with the formality, if you may, this is 2008; we should not be conversing in this type of manner.")

He answered in his Italian fluency; he had been living for 425 years, so I hope he must have learned many languages already.

" Yeah, penso così. Credo che dovremmo andare all'interno, a destra, papà? "

("Yeah, I think so. I believe we should go inside, right, Dad?")

I turned to my Dad, his eyes on me again and he nodded. Vernei rushed on to me, so she could hold my hand and gave me a sweet smile which I grinned as an answer to her sweet smile. I led the party over to the living room and told Leslie, the housekeeper, to get us some couple of drinks; I smiled my thanks and I sat down beside my family. It was when I turned to the Darcys, that I didn't notice that they were three. OMG! I didn't acknowledge my so-called fiancé?

I bit my lip, that's why my Dad was sending me the glares now; the silence was annoying me, I was about to break it off when Mr. Darcy did it for me by asking me.

" Così, how' scuola di s? È alright tutto con you' re gradi? Insegnanti? Qualche cosa? "

("So, how's school? Is everything alright with you're grades? Teachers? Anything?")

"They are alright." I answered with flourish; I darted my eyes over to him and I found myself staring right into him – there was something in his stare that I couldn't guess and I can't read his mind like Alec. Uh! That name again!

"Valter, maybe you and Beatrice can accompany the two of us in touring over you're home."

I was stunned, Uncle Darcy can speak English and its better than me – but then, I gasped a little when I know why they were leaving. Before I could protest, my Dad stood up and lead them outside, Vernei gave me a kiss on the cheek and I gave her a kiss too; she waved goodbye at me and Mr. Darcy II (duh, I don't even know his name!) I try to start a conversation so the silence wouldn't be awkward.

"We haven't been introduced. Uhmm, I mean, I don't –"

"It's Lord William Marco Boleyn Darcy" I was interrupted by his husky and deep voice – but I sensed an ill tempered voice beneath it. I rested my eyes on my hands; I can't even look at him.

"Look, I know you have an idea why we are here, right?" I glanced up at him and he only nod as a response and gave me a stare again.

"So, uhm, based on you're looks, I think you are not really up for this –"

"Wait, hold on. What did you say?"

"About what – you're looks or this problem?"

"My looks – what about my looks?" He crossed his arms on his chest and stared adamantly at me, I broke the gaze and tried to formulate a response for that.

"Well, you don't look as if you're interested." I responded ironically and well, he was kind of mad because of the look in his face.

"I am not really interested." He shot at me and I have to restrain myself from saying something.

Do you think that I am also, interested? Damn no! But instead, I answered: "I am merely stating that since the two of us, were practically concerned about this whole shit thing, I might as well tell you that I am not up for this marriage or even hoping for this!" I exploded and frustrated enough; I stood up and start pacing at the small living room.

I know it wasn't a reasonable excuse to do that (and I truly miss the opportunity of being a candidate in the Miss Vampire Role Model). Well, I was a coward, that I was not really hoping that I'll get to be in any contest – though the title of being one of the beautiful, smart and popular vampire girl in you're school, wasn't really a happy thing for me. Honestly, if other vampires can read and see through my life, they'll shrug me off for some other vampire girls.

And for saying those unkind words to the guy, my parents want me to marry. So I turned to look at him and was not really surprised to see him standing and looking at me.

"I'm sorry, uhmm, I shouldn't have said that. I just lose my temper, I –"I couldn't continue, for the first time in my life, I feel speechless and humiliated by my actions. The room became much smaller than I thought and the dead silence was really making me feel guilty and I hate it! Before I could even make myself a fool again, he was standing near at me and he puts his hand on my right shoulder and his face was solemn; and he opened his mouth to speak.

"I am sorry, I should not make you disappointed or something like that. I am not just … well, as you can see … in a rather ….good, pleasing mood today."

He seemed to be sincere though. Then, realizing that he still had his hand on my right shoulder; I looked up at him and was intimidated by his brown eyes that was intensely staring at me; I held my breath and at an instant, I was imagining myself leaning in to brush my lips against his!

Oh my gosh!

And I was gone in a daze, keeping my pace fast because I walked out the door of my own house; mortified and embarrassed at what was to occur or what did occur? I can't tell – OMG! One minute, I was absorbing in the relief that fall through me as his hand was resting on my shoulder; the surprise I felt when I gaze into his menacingly, magnificent brown eyes and the last, ohhh!

"OUCH!" I shrieked when I fell on the hard floor of the path I entered – my ankle was twist in some kind of a vine root and as I know I needed to get up; he came over me, helping me to my side.

"Are you alright, Keishia?" His voice quipped as I still lay there on the hard floor of the path I entered – my ankle was twist in some kind of a vine root and I know I needed to get up; he came over me, helping me to my side.

"Are you alright, Keishia?" He repeated again and when I didn't respond, his arms were snaking on my neck and waist. My head had a bruise in it, because a splitting headache was over turning me; soon, darkness followed and I was in the solitude of my dreams.