Waking up around my usual time this morning I get ready to go for my jog. I put on my sports bra and joggers. I pull on socks and then lace up my running shoes. Sense it's still kinda dark out I know it's gonna be chilly so I pull on a light sweatshirt and zip it up. I'm going to be running so I didn't want something too heavy.
Stepping outside I head down the street at a slow pace. Instead of turning left like I usually did I turn right. I'm not sure why. It felt like something was pulling me in this direction.
I jog across the street towards the woods. Normally I wouldn't go near the woods. Especially when it's dark but I could feel that same pull. It was like it was leading me somewhere. I just didn't know where.
I found a jogging path and pick up my pace. I was running for maybe six miles when I came to a huge house in the woods. Almost as big as a mansion. I paused to look at it. The way the moonlight was hitting it, it made the house look really beautiful. Beyond the house was a huge field of wild flowers.
Feeling that same pull I look back up towards the house. I see a figure of a man on the balcony. His back was to me so I couldn't see his face but with only the moonlight I wasn't sure if I'd see it anyways. I was pretty sure he was naked.
A woman steps out of the opened balcony doors. Her face shone in the moonlight and I gasp. Starla. The woman from the store. She was definitely naked too. I really wanted to look away but I couldn't. Something was keeping my attention captured.
As I'm watching, she steps right into the man's arms. Lifting her face up she starts kissing him passionately. His arms wrap around her and he lifts her up. She wraps her legs around his waist while he turns them around to set her on the balcony railing. She throws her head back and I finally see his face. Marcellus.
Finally being able to tear my eyes away I take off the same way I came. Anger fueling me to run faster and harder. I was filled with so much anger and hurt. It was the stranger from my dreams. I wasn't even sure what he was to me besides a stranger but seeing him with her felt like a betrayal. My heart felt like it was breaking.
Unwanted tears gathered in my eyes. What the fuck is wrong with me? Blindly running up to my apartment I swipe the tears out of my eyes and unlock my door. I slam the door shut and relock it.
Walking into my room I grab a pair of black sweats and a black hoodie and clean undergarments. I walk into the bathroom. I reach into the shower and turn the hot water on. Letting it heat up before adjusting the temperature. I strip out of my jogging clothes and step into the steamy water.
I couldn't understand why I was so angry and hurt by two complete strangers. The sense of betrayal wouldn't go away either.
Shutting the shower off after I was done I step out of the shower stall and dry off. I put my clothes on and wrap a towel around my hair. I leave the bathroom and go to the kitchen to make coffee and something to eat.
I start sketching the bridesmaids dresses as I eat. I even sketch Quichea and Starla's. Seeing as they were both disappointed for not being in the wedding I designed their dresses to still fit the theme of the other dresses. This way they'll still feel apart of it even if they aren't in it. I don't know why I cared to be nice enough to do it. Quichea was a stuck up bitch and Starla unknowingly betrayed me.
I glance at the clock to see it's already one in the afternoon. I pick up my cell and dial Harper's number.
"Hello?" A voice answers breathlessly.
"Oh God. Please tell me I didn't just interrupt you and Zyair having sex!" I say mortified. Was I cursed to catch everyone in the act today? First strangers, now Harper and Zyair? Maybe it was a sign I needed to get laid too. It has been awhile now anyways.
"What?" She asks with a giggle. "No you didn't. I just forgot my phone upstairs in the bedroom so I had to run up here to grab it." She laughs again. "If we were having sex I would of let you go to voicemail. I don't care, no one is more important than sex with Zyair."
"TMI Harper. TMI." I tell her laughing too. "I was just calling to let you know I was heading over now but gonna stop and grab a late lunch. I should still be there around 3 though."
"Sounds good. Zyair isn't here right now but I'm sure he'll be back by the time you get here." She reassures me.
"See you in a bit." I tell her and hang up.
I grab my sketch book, purse, and keys and head out the door. I was going to stop at a fast food place on my way there.
Arriving at her house at exactly 3, I finish up my burger and fries before getting out of my car. I lock it up and walk up her steps.
They live in a mansion. It almost had a creepy feel to it too but it was beautiful. It fit the pair of them to perfection.
Knocking on the door I wait for someone to answer. However I was not expecting the person who did answer the door. "What are you doing here?" Quichea sneers at me. Wow this day just kept getting better.
"Is that Cora?" Harper yells from somewhere in the house.
"Yup. It's me." I yell back to her while giving Quichea a smile. Just because she chose to be a bitch didn't mean I had to be one. If she kept pushing me though I'd show her what a real bitch looked like.
She snubs her nose at me. I wonder what her problem was with me. Because I'm human or because I'm friends with Harper too? Time would tell I'm sure.
"Q, move and let Cora in." Harper laughs at her friend. When she finally rolls her eyes and steps back I step inside.
Harper and Zyair's house was definitely more beautiful on the inside. Huge paintings hung on the walls. It was spacious and grand. There were two cupid's with bows and arrows at the bottom of the staircase. The place screamed rich.
"How was your drive? Are you still hungry? I can have Mrs. Greene fix up some sandwiches or snacks?" Harper tells me giving me a hug.
Seeing Quichea's look of disgust when she runs her eyes up and down my body I cringe inside and shook my head.
"Nah I'm good but thank you. Is Zyair here? I just wanna go over some of my sketches and get going if that's okay?"
She gives me a look of concern and pulls me into her living room. This room was just as grand as the rest of the house. She pulls me down onto the couch to sit next to her. Quichea followed us in and sat in one of the chairs.
"Not having a good day? Want to talk about it?" She asks me still holding my hand.
"Nah I'm fine. No worries okay?" I tell her.
Completely ignoring Quichea I open up my sketch book. If Quichea wasn't there I would of told her about the dreams I was having and what happened when I went on my run this morning.
"So these are the bridesmaids dresses." I show her and watch her eyes light up. That warms my heart and I finally give her a genuine smile since entering her house.
"These are Quichea and Starla's dresses too." I show her. If Quichea wanted to look she could but I wasn't going out of my way to show her myself. I see her lean over to see the sketches too.
"Oh wow those are actually really good." Quichea says, voice full of shocked surprise. I roll my eyes and Harper laughs.
"I told you she was the best Q. You thought I was lying?" Harper says to her friend.
"Yeah well no offense but look at her. She doesn't look the part for being a designer. Can you really blame me for doubting her?" She scuffs and my face goes bright red.
I forgot I was in my sweats but I wouldn't apologize for how I looked. It was my day off and I was having a shitty day. Besides I can dress however I liked. I stopped letting people's words get to me a long time ago. I like who I was and how I looked. Fuck everyone else and their opinions. Only mine matter when it came to myself.
"Watch yourself, Q." Harper warns her. It warmed my heart more that she was willing to stick up for me.
"Hello Cora. It's good to see you again." Greets Zyair coming into the room. He gives me a warm smile.
"Hi Zyair. It's good to see you again too. How are you today?" I ask returning his smile. Before he can answer though his phone rings.
"Hey Marc, what's up?" He says as he answers. The voice on the other end of the line gives me chills. He sounded a lot like Marcellus.
"We have some business to discuss." The guy tells him.
"Hey Harper, Marc's whole name wouldn't happen to be Marcellus, would it?" I should of known better and just kept my mouth shut because of course he heard me even though I whispered it.
Harper answers "yes" while giving me a puzzled look at the same time he asks Zyair "who is that?"
"That's my bride's friend Cora. She's the one planning our wedding." Zyair says to him while studying my face. Wait his bride? Did he mean his soon to be wife bride or something else?
"Have I met her before? She sounds familiar." Marc asks Zyair.
"Maybe, you do live in the same town after all and she seems to know your name too." He reasons but I shake my head. I only knew him in my dreams and from this mornings incident.
"No, he doesn't know me." I say a little breathlessly.
"Anyways what's this business you need to discuss?" Zyair asks him while walking out of the room. I didn't hear what Marcellus said but I heard Zyair sigh.
"You'll meet her soon enough at the wedding if you don't run into her beforehand, so no I'm not going to describe what she looks like to you." Zyair says sounding a little irritated. "Focus Marc. What business?"
I couldn't hear him after that. He must of gone upstairs or into another room.
"So how do you know Marc's name but not him?" Harper asks with a raised eyebrow. I couldn't help but blush.
"Long story. I'll tell you later." I say glancing in Quichea's direction. She took the hint and nodded her head.
We call some catering place but seemed to have bad luck in finding a place available for her wedding day. After the 5th place turned us down I finally found a place available for that night. They decided they wanted a sunset wedding so the reception would be later that night.
"We need catering for roughly 150 people. I can give you the exact amount when we get closer to the date. Can we set up a meeting to go over the menus for the evening?"
"Of course, would tomorrow around 10am work for you?" The lady asks. I check with Harper who nods her head yes.
"Yes tomorrow at 10 works perfect. I'll give you the address."
After I hung up the phone Mrs. Greene, their cook comes into the living room. "Dinner is ready." She tells us. Thank God I was starving.
We go into the dining room to see Zyair is the only one at the table.
"Where's Quichea?" Harper asks him.
"She had a date so it'll just be us tonight." He says with a smile.
Harper takes the seat to his left and I take the seat to his right. It was a huge dining room table with lots of seats. The food was already spread out on the table.
Corn beef, mashed potatoes, boiled carrots and onions that were cooked in with the corn beef. Gravy for the potatoes and homemade biscuits. My stomach growls.
Fixing myself a plate of all this yummy goodness, I look between them and say as nonchalantly as possible. "So what does 'my bride' mean?"
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