Chapter 4 4.

FRED'S POV(cont...)

"What's up my man? You look worked up."

"Seriously Kyle. Is that a question to be asking me right now? I'm about to get married to a stranger here."

"Oh please. Don't stress about your future bride."

"I'm not worried about her obviously. It's just that I-I I....."

"Fred you know I have your back bro. I know Karen is your major concern right now. I already did the job for you."

I shot my head back up and opened my eyes.

"You did? How so? Did you see her? Is she okay? Was she crying?"

"Woah woah bro. Damn you are so freaked out right now. Don't worry your bestie is right here. So, your dad came to her apartment last night," he began playing with the ring on his finger.

"What were you doing there?"

"I drove her home from her shoot. You weren't answering your phone so she called me and I saved the day," he looked proud of himself. He just had to make me feel it with his dreamy tone.

"When will you get into the details?"

"Right. Your dad came around 8 and laid out the issue at hand. I won't lie to you Fred. Karen was shattered but she was strong enough to pull through the conversation."

"She cried a lot right?" I asked the obvious. I could see her beautiful face in my head, tearstained.

"Yup buddie but after your dad left. He's really a nice man you know. He was good with her and assured her you'd always love her. After he left she broke down and cried her eyeballs out. Man she loves you a lot. I held her hand through it all, comforted her and told her words I knew you'd say. I then ordered her favourite pizza, ate some ice cream, watched a movie then she fell asleep comfortably in her bed. She was good this morning and left for another shoot out of town. She said she'd call you and made me promise I would see to it that you were okay and coping well. Confirm I'm doing a great job."

What would I ever do without this psycho.

I took a deep breath as Kyle poured a glass of wine. He handed me one and poured one for himself.

"You are amazing Kyle. Thanks. For everything," I really meant it.

"Don't embarrass me like this, Fred. What are friends for anyway."

"Yeah right."

"But hey you still have to pay me back for all the times I've covered up for you plus writing your homework in high school."

"Well hello. Who helped you get through all your break ups back then and survive through your nightmares. Not to mention holding your hand in the dark in case there was a monster somewhere out there?"

"Going back to kindergarten now are we?Should I start."

"Save me please. Some memories are way too embarrassing," I chuckled thinking of our crazy memories. We had come a long way.

"Now that you are in a better mood let's address the elephant in the room."

"Right. Let's get it over and done with. Who is this Arnold bride?Tell me you did some research."

"Ummm yup. I spent my entire night looking into the Arnold family. You know Isabella, Tony and Becky right?"

Of course I knew them all especially Tony. We had worked on some projects together plus we were in the same class in high school.

As for Becky she happened to be friends with Karen. We were together in high school plus now they were both signed under the same modelling agency. We'd met a couple of times before .

One awkward thing would be having Karen's best friend as my wife.

"Allow me to read your thoughts. It'd be awkward marrying your girlfriend's bestie."

"Bingo," I replied snapping my fingers.

"Awkward is fortunately out of the picture although in your case I'd prefer the awkward."

"Enlighten me."

"It's not Becky you'll marry. It's the youngest Arnold. Joana Emily Arnold," he filled me in refilling his glass.

"Who's that? I've never heard of any other Arnold apart from Tony and Becky."

"Right. I was shocked too. Well she exists and she'll be your bride."

"Well since she is a Arnold at least I won't get stuck with some socially awkward freak who has to be taught how this world works."

At least right?

"Eh, I wouldn't be so sure. She's the unpopular one. According to some sources she barely speaks."

"That's a good thing for me."

"She has no social life. She's been described as boring, plain, Arnold unworthy etcetera etcetera. Some sources give positive remarks too."

"Don't tell me I'm about to get stuck in some boring marriage. She doesn't sound like my type at all. I bet we can't even pass for friendship."

"Wait until you meet her then judge later."

"Is she cute?" I asked making us both laugh. It was like our cliché phrase from high school.

"See for yourself, Fred. Personally I think she's fine."

Kyle said handing me his cellphone. If she was just fine then it meant she wasn't anything close to Karen.

The girl in the photo was sad. She looked young and innocent. She wasn't my type. I had no hopes of us ever getting along.

Everything came crashing back. All the stress and depression of this unwanted marriage. My mood changed.

"That's an old photo Fred so don't judge using that one. There isn't much about her on the internet. Maybe she is better in person. Give her a chance."

"We just can't be."

"If that's what you want fine. You can always change your mind. Time's ticking buddy. Let's go."

I hated this. I hated her. Why did she have to come into my life. She was an unwelcome change in my life.