Fragile (Always Be My Never)

Chapter 1 | New York and Wedding Stuffs

October 31, 2007

Twelve-year-old Rossie Miller couldn't have been any happier when her parents had finally agreed to drive her to her casting audition in New York. Her mother, Camilla Miller, smiled as she remembered how she had seen her daughter often dancing and smiling. She thought that telling Ross that the acting world wasn't as fun as it seemed would make Ross stop asking for an audition. But Ross was not the type of girl who would easily give up on things she was determined to do. She had spent two years begging her parents to let her try it, at least once.

So, here they were, squished in a very long line for the Home Alone casting audition.

Camilla bent down to whisper in Rossie's right ear. "Now, remember, if they ask 'Why do you want this role'ㅡ"

"Just say, 'Because it's my biggest dream ever.'" Ross looked up with her pale blue eyes and smiled at Camilla. "I've memorized it well enough, Mom, don't worry."

But her heart sang a very different tune. She was very nervous, but she wouldn't let Camilla know. She didn't want her mother to know that she was afraid of failing too, not when she had seen how her mother had struggled to make her dreams come true.

The winter had came earlier that year, and by the time Rossie was about to be called, two young men in security uniforms shouted over the loudspeaker. They told Ross and everyone behind her that the audition was done for today.

Ross turned her head to see Camilla's expression, but got nothing, "Mom, can we stay here until tomorrow? I promise I'll pay it all back to you once I've become a great actress."

Camilla forced a smile as she nodded. Soon after, she called a taxi and asked the driver to drop them at the nearest hotel. But New York was a big city and traffic was inevitable, so it took forty-five minutes for them to arrive at an old and dark motel.

"Ten dollars, ma'am," the driver said when they arrived.

Ross snuck a glance at her mother as Camilla pulled out her wallet. She could see that there were only one hundred dollars in her mother's wallet, which she gave to the driver.

As soon as she got her change, they got out from the taxi and walked into the motel. And it turned out, the motel wasn't as cheap as Ross had imagined and the room was a little too small for the two of them.

"Mom, do you think it's gonna be worth it?" she asked while Camilla was busy with her phone.

Without glancing in her direction, Camilla smiled. "It will, Ross, if you don't give up easily."

***

The Present

"You know, Del, I still need time for pursuing my dreams, andㅡ"

"And I'll be turning twenty-four in two months and it means," she pauses, slipping her hair behind her ears. "We have to get married next year, maximum."

Michael turns his body completely to her instantly. "You know, it's not like I don't want to marry you, but the thing isㅡ"

"Isn't twelve monthsㅡor thirteen at worstㅡenough for you? And besides, it's not like you can't pursue your dream anymore after you're married."

Michael goes silent for a while. He knows that there's nothing he can do to make Delancy understand that everything will not be the same the moment he's married to her. In the deepest part of his heart, he doesn't want to get married any time soon.

He still wants his freedom.

But on the other hand, he doesn't want to lose her either. Delancy is too perfect for a man like him. She's a brunette with beautiful wide green eyes, and most importantly, she's the runner-up winner of America's Next Top Model 2015. In contrast, Michael may be rich, but not handsome.

All these years of their relationship, Michael always lets her decide what to do on their dates, but when it comes to marriage, he's afraid he can't go easy on her.

It's always been his dreamㅡmuch more his mother's, who had passed awayㅡto be a prosecutor.

So, he tells her, "Okay, let's wait for two more months and see how things work."

In front of him, Delancy pulls a face and crosses her arms over her chest. "See how things work? You crazy, Mich? Planning a wedding is not as simple as it seems. You'll need at least a year to prepare a decent wedding. And what are you talking about just now? Wait two months and see how things work? Are you playing with me, Mich?"

"Hey, there's no need to be emotional, you know." His hand is now lingering on her cheek. "I'm gonna marry you anyway." When the time is right, he continues on his heart.

Instantly, her mood changes as she smiles at him. "But not now," she says just when his lips are about to meet hers and quickly pulls herself away. "Anyway, I have a photoshoot tomorrow, you want to come?" She remembers that last time, he asked her to tell him if she had a photoshoot, so that they could confirm their relationship there.

Their relationship had once been a hot rumour, published in New York Times, but they never once showed up together at any event. Michael is an extremely busy business man, because he is the son who will take over his father's company.

"What time?" he asks.

"Half past four at Central Park."

He raises an eyebrow. "What? You're doing outdoor photoshoots too now?"

"In fact, they pay more for outdoors, so of course I take the opportunities."

After a brief silence, he says, "I'll come, but I'm afraid I can't make it at half past four because I have an important meeting tomorrow. I think you should go ahead and I'll catch you up later there."

"What?" Her tone increased. "No way! They'd think you're forced to come because I'm desperately seeking for attention, but I'm never gonna let that happen. What time do you finish tomorrow?"

His forehead crinkles as he thinks, just as she loves to seeㅡshe thinks it makes him look sexier. "Four, I guess. Maybe I can pick you up here at a quarter to five."

She smiles. "Great! I'll text Daniel to rearrange the schedule." She fishes out her phone, but before she can write Daniel's name, she sees another chat.

Delancy sweats out when she reads the message. Her hands are trembling, and before she can hide it from Michael, he notices it.

"What's wrong, Del?" His eyebrows curl up like they always do when he is confused. "You okay? You look so pale."

She gulps and clears her throat before she forces her lips to curl into a little smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."

***

a/n All right so this is it. Your comments and votes are highly expected here, and if you want to share thoughts about this novel, feel free to hear it from you all!

Wednesday, December 6 2017. 6.21 p.m.
Edited July 8 2018. 3.04 p.m.

Copyright © 2017 by whippedheart.