I’ve always had an idea of how secluded I am. I don’t regret it. It’s just the way I am. You can appreciate things as they are when you are alone. Even simple stuff seems different when in solitude. Sitting in my couch in the balcony, I’m watching the stars shine bright. It’s a new moon day. Dark yet serene. Sitting up, I see my gardens sprawling like a maze with a lighted pond at its centre. I used to play there with my grandmother until... Don’t let the past ruin your present Addams. Sighing, I get up deciding to take a stroll.

The hallways look empty. Lifeless. It’s as though the house is reflecting its inhabitants. Getting down the stairs I hear footsteps as I reach the main door.

“Mr. Addams.” Our butler Robert asks, peering over his round spectacles.

“Out for a walk.” I say to him as I step out on the granite flooring of our porch. Pulling my jacket closer I walk along the dimly lit path to the centre pond.

It’s beautiful, as always. The water being illuminated by the lights at the rim of the pond. I look in to water, but don’t see my reflection, it’s just the transparent water. I walk over to the benches and switch off the lights. Now it’s just the darkness and me. I see my faint reflection in the water. It’s a quiet night except for the....

A soft humming. It’s coming from my right. I heard faint humming when I walked to the pond but now, they are slightly louder. I strain to see what it is and that is when I spot a white silhouette moving through the hedges.

I slowly rise up from the elevated rim of the pond and take tentative steps to the right wing. I’ve got two options, rise an alarm and call the guards or walk up there and see it myself. Maybe it’s just a bird.... but don’t they go home before sunset? Man up, Addams. It is your garden after all. Don’t be a chicken. Yeah. I’ve got this. I’ll see what’s that myself. I steady my strides and walk through the hedges confidently.

As I near the figure, I can make out that it’s a girl with long dark hair in a light blue dress.

“Who are you?” I ask as boldly I can, half-expecting to see a faceless ghost.

The girl whips around startled, eyes wide in alarm. And I am stunned momentarily. Her raven hair framing her round face, her blue eyes dilated in caution, her mouth slightly agape and her light blue dress lighting up her face in the dark, she looks beautiful. Like the moon, shining in the darkness.

“I asked, who – “

“Mr. Addams.” She curtsies to me.

Huh?

Before I ask again, she says “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Avery Thompson.”

Okay...

“I can’t say the same but what are you doing here?” I say furrowing my brows. I’m shocked.

How the hell did she enter?

Her face falls. “I’ll be staying here.” She says softly.

What?? Does she even speak?

“You need to be more specific than that.” I try to say without showing my frustration.

“Mr. Addams!” I hear a shout from a distance. Now what?

I turn my head towards the shout and can barely see anything as I switched off all the lights. But I’m sure it’s Robert. Hmm. She did say she’s staying here and I heard Robert has a granddaughter. So, she could be her. I’ve always liked to mess with Robert. What would happen if I whisk away his granddaughter?

I turn to her with a grin.” Come on!” I hold her wrist and pull her along with me as I run deeper into the garden. Moving swiftly along the hedges, I secure her hand firmly in mine and peek over my shoulder and see her trying to keep up with me. Trying not to laugh aloud, I run faster dragging her along with me.

Halfway through to our outer garden I stop and pull her down with me, hiding behind a group of dandelions.

I missed this kind of adrenaline rush. It makes me feel in control of myself. I turn to her and find her panting for breath. Smirking I ask,” Can’t handle a little bit of running?”

She looks at me, raising her eyebrows and says” A little heads up next time would be appreciated.”

“So, you do look forward to spend your time with me.” I say, giving her a sideways glance.

“That’s not what I meant!” She exclaims, flabbergasted. Her cheeks are flushed from the run. She looks pretty.

Smiling to myself by the direction of my thoughts, I sit down properly on the soft grass and pat down next to me. She sits down beside me but puts a considerable distance between us. Do I make you uncomfortable miss?

She catches me staring at her and asks, “What are you looking at?” almost irritably.

Her light blue eyes pierce mine. Her entire demeanour has changed. She looks at me coldly, with hostility I can’t understand why. It’s like I’m in the company of another person.

"Just appreciating the beauty." I say feigning nonchalanty.

Her eyes soften, being caught off guard. She looks away, unable to bear the intense turn of events. Pulling my legs to myself and hugging my knees, I let the silence stretch on.

"You're not bad yourself." She says after a moment, sneaking a glance at me.

"Well, if you look closer you would be willing to reconsider your words." I say, swaying a little to her side.

"Don't let it go to your head, Addams" She warns but I could see her lips quirking up, trying not to smile.

“So much for curtsying me.” I say, looking at her, amused.

“Duh. What can I do? My father was watching us like a hawk.” She says dismissively.

“What?”

She throws her leg forward, kicking out her heels. She relaxes a little as she looks heavenward. Where did the girl who was all ‘Mr. Addams’ go?

“Though I’m glad you brought us here. I don’t have to ‘act like a lady’ here.”

“Hold on. I don’t understand. Why was your father watching us?”

She rolls her eyes. At me! How dare she?

“You are dumb, even for a spoiled rich brat.” She says.

“Excuse me!?. You’re the one who’s behaving like an insolent brat!” I say, glaring at her.

She glares back with equal anger. No one’s ever behaved like this to me before. She narrows her eyes at me and leans closer to me. Whoa there, this is too close. I can see the tiny flecks of gold near iris. And her face is very distracting.

“Listen, I didn’t choose to be here and I certainly didn’t know you’d be this stupid.” She says jabbing a finger at me.

“I don’t know who the hell you are but you have no right to say that to me.” I say frostily. Can anyone be this unpleasant to someone they’ve just met?

..... And our faces are just inches apart and I can see her parting her lips to say the words which brought my world shattering. And at that moment if I had let my concentration to her words waver by the cackle of energy building around us, things would have gotten less despairing and more entertaining.

“Well, since you are getting engaged to me better get used to this.” She shrugs.

Why is he looking as though he’s seen a ghost?

“What??!” he asks, horrified. Does he not know? His emerald green eyes bulging and his dark brown hair tousled from the run, he still manages to look very attractive. Not that I’ve been staring. Maybe, just a little.

“You didn’t know that you were supposed to meet your going- to-be fiancée tomorrow?” I ask, quizzically, pointing at me.

He shakes his head, speechless, I think. Oh, poor boy, must come as a hell of a shock. It did for me. I remember my conversation with my father a two days ago.

Two days ago:

“Avery” My father called out as I entered his enormous study. “Yes, Father.” I said as I stood before his desk. He removed his glasses and stirred his whiskey.

“Do you remember The Addams?” He asked. The Addams? “I’m afraid not, father.” I said.

“Of course, I thought so.” He said, chuckling. Then why did you ask me, huh? I thought. Of course, I can’t speak my mind. ‘Behave ladylike’ That’s what they always say.

“You were both kids when we agreed.” He continued, taking a sip. Sighing, he kept his square glass down and looked at me with a dead serious look.

“You’re getting engaged next week.” He said. I stared, eyes wide at him for a spilt second before almost screaming, “WHAT!!?”

“Avery!” He said sternly. “Behave – “

“Oh, shut up with that nonsense for once! This is my life we are talking here!” I holler at him. What the hell does he think he's doing?!

"Damn Right and you will listen to your father and get out of the study before something happens which we both will regret!” He shouts at me, standing up, slamming his glass on the desk. I glare at him with so much anger and he gives a deathly look. “Go.” He says slowly with menace. I storm out of the room, slamming the door shut.

And then my mother comes to my room, seeing me curled up in the bed, weeping. She tries to comfort me and hands me a file named Jaden Addams.

Now:

“So, you’re my fiancée?” Jaden almost chokes out the words, pulling me out of my reverie. “Do you have a weird habit of repeating everything?” I ask, smirking. He just stares. Okay, that was rude. He’s in a shock. And I’m not helping.

“Hey. It’s hard I know. I got to know this only two days ago. Just breathe. In and Out.” I say, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

“I know how to handle myself!” He snaps at me, brushing out of my hold. He gives me a cold stare and gets up and starts walking away.

“Hey. Wait up!” I shout at him as he pulls up the hoodie of his dark blue jacket and walks away in brisk strides. I fumble for my heels in the dark and race after his direction until I have no idea where I am.

I look around, trying to find my way in the dark. And anger boils in my veins. What does he think of himself!? Bringing me to the middle of nowhere and running away like that? He’s nothing like the guy I read about in his file.

Yesterday:

Kind, Smart and a True Gentleman? Who wrote this patronizing bull? I snort and throw the file across the room umpteenth time. I clutch my forehead in exasperation. This is my life now. No. This has been my life for 19 years. But this takes it to a whole new level. But maybe this won’t be so bad…

Now:

This. Is. Horrendous. Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I walk towards the hedges. We definitely crossed those while we ran away like little children up to some mischief. It’s been a long time since I’ve let loose like that. I liked it. He kept glancing over his shoulder to check on me and it was…. considerate of him.

And now, he behaved just like the jerk I thought he would be. Or… Sighing, I decide It’s no reason blaming him for his behaviour. Hugging myself to bring warmth to my chilling bones, I curse at myself for not thinking of the cold before getting out alone. And to see my father on his balcony before I came face to face with Jaden and acting like that ideal perfect lady, It really is a lot to handle for me too.

The lights turn on suddenly all around me. And I can see the pond I looked into. I’m quite closer to the main door than I thought. As I walk as fast as I can in the shivering cold, I see a man jogging up to me.

"Ms. Thompson!” A young man in a servant attire, rushes up to me and hands me a jacket.

“Mr. Addams told me to give you this as soon as possible.” It’s the same one he was wearing. Dark blue with his initials J.R.A carved in silver with a stylish font. Jaden Ronald Addams.

“I don’t need these.” I say as I walk past the servant. “I’ve almost reached the door.”

“But Miss, Mr. Addams said – “

“I don’t care what he said, okay?” I call to him as I walk faster. He jogs to catch up with me. “Ms. Thompson, he’s in a bad mood now. You’d like him better at the engagement.”

I come to a halt. Of course, the servant knows, he’s going to be decorating the estate. But apparently, they thought, the groom didn’t need to know about his own engagement.

“Does everyone else in this freaking mansion know about the engagement except the groom?” I ask him, shrilly. He shuffles on his foot, clearly uncomfortable with my outburst.

“That is quite enough, Avery.” I hear my father’s voice, cold and dead serious. I turn around and see my father with another tall brunet man with face closely resembling Jaden.

Does Jaden too live a life similar to mine? Empathy grips my heart. I stare at my father, bleakly. And walk the rest of the way to the main door, and the servant with Jaden’s jacket comes up. He holds out the jacket and I take it wordlessly. Wrapping it around me, I get through the door and climb the stairs.

I open my room in the 2nd floor and fall onto the comfy bed, pulling the jacket closer. It has a scent combination of leather, musk and something exotic. It’s a welcome distraction to my whirlwind of thoughts.

Far away, I hear piano notes drifting through the house. It’s distant with each note distinct. A melody so sad, moving around the estate lonely. As my eyes droop sleepily, last I hear is faint even tapping in the wood.

Closing the door and leaving the piano behind me, I walk out slowly, my thoughts all scrambled. I can’t believe that this has become my life. I believed that my parents always knew what’s best for me, but now I want take decisions on my own. And their decision on my marriage is huge. I can’t help but question their motive. Why do they want to bring her into this mess?

On the way back to my room, I see the door of the guest room slightly open. I guess it’s hers. If so, I want to apologize to her about my immature detour with her and for ditching her and for being a jerk. I walk to the door and lightly knock. No response. So, is this just a spare room? I push open a door further and see the lights out except for a nightlamp and see a small figure curled on the bed.

The amber lights softly illuminate her peaceful face. I stand rooted near the door and keep looking at and I can’t help but wonder whether she knows about me. About the risk she’s taking. I don’t think she knows because she said she only heard about me 2 days ago. We’ll see tomorrow at breakfast.

Her shivering brings me back from my thoughts. I walk closer to her cautiously, not wanting to wake her. I see the blanket, folded and never used. I wrap the blanket delicately around her and take a seat on the beige sofa next to the bed.

In a year or so, she will be married to me. And she already dislikes me.

Sighing quietly, I keep looking at her and thinking of how she had to put up an act because her dad was watching us. I think she wanted to convince her dad and not me. She knew she had to be real with me. Though I’m not ever used to be treated like this, people usually hate me or suck up to me of which I’m tired of. But this is different and infuriating. Even I didn’t exactly sign up for marrying her. And right now, I can’t stay angry at her because she looks so innocent and naïve, sleeping. Almost like a – Ugh, this is ridiculous. I should get back to my room.

I get ready for the breakfast and my mom enters room.

“Jaden, it’s been a while we talked.” She says sitting at the edge of my bed. I nod, adjusting my tie in the wardrobe mirror and avoiding looking at her.

“I see that you already got to know about the arrangement.” I say nothing.

“You look dashing"

“Mom, stop with the small talk. Why did you do this? Why bring her into this?” I turn to her at last and she stares at me in confusion.

“Bring her into what Jaden? You do know our family tradition.” She speaks.

I stare at her. “But Mom this is different. My situation is different. Do you not know what's at stake - "

“Jaden! Nothing is at stake! Everything is fine, dear. Nothing will ever happen.” She stands up and walks up to me.

“But you don't know that Mom! I cannot bring another person into this.” I say to her and the all too familiar fear rises through me.

My mom cups my cheek, recognising the panic in my eyes. God, I hate this. Feeling this vulnerable. Damn.

I move out of her hold, anger and shame flaming in me.

“I'll come down in a few minutes, Mom. Close the door on your way out.” I say walking away to arrange my pillows – lets be real, pretending to arrange.

I hear the door click. And I thump down on the bed, running a hand through my hair.

I walk down the stairs and into the dining room. Mom and Dad are already seated on the huge 16-seater white marble dining table. We don’t usually have breakfast together. But today was a special occasion, I’ll be meeting my fiancé whom I didn’t know existed till yesterday, and right now she’s sitting across the table with a bright smile. Too bright, if you ask me. It’s like seeing the witch waiting for Snow white to bite the apple.

I pull up the closest chair when my dad calls my name. I straighten my stance and look at him, trying my best not to glare.

“Jaden, you’re late. And it seems like, you know the reason of the breakfast.” He says, levelling his stare at me and contemplating the effect of his words.

“I met her already, Dad. Seems like you had quite the surprise for me. And I’m glad I got to know earlier than now. Or we would have started our day with regrets.” I say, taking my seat.

And there is silence. I turn over my plate and help myself with the food, with all the eyes on me. Stare all you want people, I regret nothing.

“Jaden.”

“What, mom?” I ask her sharply, meeting her concerned expression.

“We know this is sudden but- “

“Mom, I’d rather not have this conversation now” I say, turning back to my plate. More silence. Yep, that’s one of the many charming things about this house.

I finish my breakfast, ignoring the whispered conversation of my mother and her.

“Since you and Avery haven’t had a proper conversation, we have arranged a dinner at a restaurant so that you both can be acquainted.” I hear my dad speak as I get up.

I nod and walk out. Yes, now we have to bond over a dinner date. How does she put up with all of this? And where’s her father? I thought I’d be meeting that guy. A guy who is willing to risk his daughter’s life over wealth and reputation.

“Jaden!” I turn around, already done with all the reception I’m getting. And its her. She’s in an emerald green dress today. Her hair braided and she stopped a few feet from me.

Okay Jaden, apologising time. “Ms. Thompson, excuse my behaviour at the gardens yesterday. It was thoughtless of me.” I see confusion flash in her face and I continue,” We can discuss about our...er..situation tonight.” I find her looking at me rather amusingly.

“Very well Mr. Addams. I look forward to our date tonight.” She winks and walks past me to her room. It might as well be our last time we meet Ms. Thompson.