treize

A/N Hello fellow Wattpadians!

First of all, I would like to thank the most amazing lolnopenadanah for the incredible cover. I fell in love with it the moment I laid eyes on it so I really hope you guys like it as much as I do!

Secondly, a big shout out to Robin_Greiss for her wonderful comments on the last chapter. I cannot express enough how much I adored your comments so thank you for taking the time to write them.

Lastly, please don't forget to vote and comment! Every vote is important and I do my best to read every single comment as well ❤

Have a safe and fantastic day!

Percy

"It's not like they want us to get married any time soon, but that doesn't mean that I'm not pissed about the whole idea. I mean, I went to medical school, I've dated every girl my mum has thrown my way, I visit my parents every fortnight. I've done everything she's ever wanted me to do, but this..." Rebekah had already begun to zone out as Robin rambled on.

Arranged marriage? What in the world was her mother thinking? She'd always known that her mother was conservative but this... this had still come as a surprise. When had her mother planned on telling her this? Didn't she deserve a say in who she wants to marry?

A splitting headache had begun at the back of her skull and pain now throbbed in her temples, making her wince. All earlier hunger pangs were now forgotten, replaced, instead, with the acrid taste of betrayal.

"Oh shit, Rebekah. Are you alright?" Robin had stopped speaking and was looking at her with concern. Rebekah frowned as she leaned against the wall for support, massaging her temples carefully.

"I-uh I'm fine," she replied.

Robin blinked several times. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry? What for?"

"For springing this whole 'getting married' business on you two seconds after we just met." Robin looked as upset as Rebekah felt. "It's like going, 'Hey! Nice to see you again! Now let's discuss spending the rest of our lives together!'."

Despite how strange the situation felt, Rebekah felt a watery smile make its away across her lips. "There's no need to apologize. It isn't your fault."

Robin pinched the bridge of his nose and blew out a long breath. "Yeah, my girlfriend says I'm too apologetic."

Rebekah felt her interest pique.

"You have a girlfriend?"

"Yup," Robin replied. His eyes seemed to lose its focus and he swayed on his feet a little. "She's... she's beautiful. A beautiful person, both inside and out.

"What's her name?"

"Mikayla."

"Well, I'm sure that Mikayla is one very lucky girl."

Robin was already shaking his head before Rebekah had even finished her sentence.

"No." He smiled- a gentle wispy smile of someone who was in love. "You've got it backwards. I'm the lucky one."

For a few seconds, Rebekah fell silent as a couple of nurses walked past. Robin greeted them cheerily and they responded in kind, wishing him a good morning. Rebekah smiled as she watched him interact with them. He seemed like a really great guy; in an alternate universe, she might have even dated him.

But this wasn't an alternate universe. And unknowingly, she'd already begun to fall in love.

It just wasn't with the man her mum wanted her to.

*

It was nighttime before the four of them set off back to campus. Rebekah had volunteered to drive but Danny and Elise were having none of it. Being outvoted by a count of two to one, Rebekah found herself in the backseat with Sebastian again.

"I'd let you sit in the front," Danny said to Sebastian as the car sped along the highway. "But you'd be a pretty shit navigator and an even worse driver."

Sebastian groaned, mumbled something about cutting off certain body parts related to reproduction and kicked the back of the front seat playfully.

"I wish we could've taken your puppy with us, Beck," Elise said. "Charky is the cutest damn thing. I would've kidnapped him if your mum hadn't been watching us."

"I should warn you- puppy-napping is a very serious crime," Rebekah joked. "But in all seriousness, he is a real sweetheart, isn't he? I don't know how my mum manages to disciplines him. I wouldn't be able to say no to that face, much less punish him when he takes a wee on the carpet."

Danny turned around in the front seat so that he could see Rebekah and Sebastian. "Oh, I bet she's had plenty of practice with you and your sister."

Rebekah grinned. "I can't argue with that." She leaned forward in her seat. "Listen guys," she said. "I just want to say thank you again for taking the time and effort and petrol to drive me all the way to see Finn. I owe you guys."

"It was nothing," Danny reassured her. "Honestly. You'd have done it if it were Elise or Sebastian in your shoes, right? I know, I know. I mean, you don't really know me, but any friend of Seb is a friend of mine."

Rebekah wasn't convinced. Her friends had done so much for her and she hadn't even known them for very long. "I know but I-"

"Hey Seb?" Elise interrupted Rebekah. Her blue eyes were dancing with mischief as she caught Rebekah's bewildered gaze in the rear view mirror. "Do Danny and me a favour; convince your girlfriend that she doesn't need to keep thanking us. We're her friends; it's what friends do."

"Although some of us wish that we could be more than just friends, hmm?" Danny quipped, winking at Rebekah.

Rebekah leaned back in her seat, feeling her face grow hot as blood rushed into her cheeks and ears. She was sure that if she looked in the mirror, the tips of her ears would be as red as her face.

"Hey Danny?"

"Yes, Seb, my dear old friend?"

"Shut the fuck up."

"Of course, Seb. Of course. Anything you want, I'm at your service." Danny put on a mock serious tone.

"Danny, you absolute twat," Elise scolded lightheartedly. "Enough with your shitty hints. Let's just listen to the radio for the rest of the trip."

"I love it when you're bossy." Danny waggled his eyebrows outrageously.

Elise glanced at him as she turned on the radio and started switching radio stations. "Danny?"

"Hm?"

"Move your eyebrows in my direction again and I'll shave one off the next time you fall asleep. Capiche?"

Danny made a face. "You wouldn't dare."

"Test me. I dare you."

Danny stared at Elise for a few long moments before relenting.  "Fine."

Elise smiled in satisfaction. "Good. Now shut the hell up."

*

The rest of the trip passed uneventfully. While Danny and Elise switched driving and navigating duties, Rebekah found herself staring blankly out the window. It was so dark outside that she couldn't see anything other than pitch blackness, but she wasn't concerned with the scenery. Her mind was too actively focused on something else altogether.

She hadn't told any of friends about her mum's plan to get her married to Robin yet; she'd considered telling Elise back at the house but the words had never managed to form. She knew that she needed to have a talk with her mum about this whole arranged marriage business, but how the hell was she going to broach the topic? All her life, her mum had only ever wanted the best for her daughter and once she'd decided on what that best thing was, it was hard to change her mind.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Sebastian's mouth was suddenly right next to her face, his breath tickling the outer shell of her ear as she jerked backwards in surprise. She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn't realized that Sebastian had been sliding closer to her. Now they sat next to each other, thighs pressed tightly against one another and arms clashing with every movement.

"It's nothing," Rebekah replied distractedly.

"But you sound upset." His hand patted her thigh before slowly meandering its way towards her arm. When he found her hand, he wrapped his fingers around hers and squeezed gently.

Rebekah didn't say a word. Her throat was too clogged up. She knew that she should probably tell Sebastian about her mum's stupid life plan for her, but she didn't know how.

Noticing her painful silence and rapid heartbeat, Sebastian murmured, "Hey Beck?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you call a stag who can't see?"

"I don't know. What do you call a blind stag?"

"No eye deer." Sebastian chuckled at his own joke.

Rebekah snorted, choking back a laugh that had involuntarily wormed its way up from the base of her throat. "That's very eye-ronic coming from you," she responded.

Sebastian's eyebrows shot up his forehead and his lips parted to form a small 'o'. "Did you just make a pun?" Without warning, he leaned closer and accidentally pressed his lips against the side of her cheek. The unexpected gentle contact burned her skin and caused tingles to spiral down her spine. "Well, blow me away. I never thought I'd see the day when my bad influence rubbed off on you." He sounded extremely pleased with himself.

"It's not something to be proud of, Seb." Rebekah hit his arm playfully.

"Why not? There's nothing wrong with me influencing you. It's only fair. After all, you've changed me as well."

Rebekah narrowed her eyes. "Really." Her tone was flat and unbelieving.

"I don't expect you to believe me now, but I've become a better person because of you." Sebastian smiled a tiny chewed off smile that bordered on earnest. "You're the reason I look forward to going to class. Actually, you're pretty much the main reason I want to get up in the morning." Sebastian leaned closer. "And I will prove it to you, one day at a time. As long as it takes for you to believe me."

His breath kissed her nose and lips like a sensuous caress. He was so close. She could smell his cologne on his clothes and she realized that she loved it.

"Now please let me kiss you."

Rebekah couldn't help her sharp intake of breath. Almost as a reflex, she glanced at the rear view mirror; Danny had his eyes fixed on the road and Elise was sleeping in the front seat. Neither seemed likely to catch them if they had a quick kiss right now.

But, for some reason, Rebekah found herself holding back. It wasn't that she didn't want to kiss him. Her hormones were going off the chart, for goodness' sake. She'd never wanted to kiss a boy as much as she wanted Seb. But she didn't want to do it now. Not when she was still holding some things back from him.

"Seb," she mumbled. "Danny can see us."

Sebastian hovered for a long second more before retreating to a safer distance. When his lips were no longer within distance of hers, Rebekah let out a breath she hadn't realised that she'd been holding.

"Okay. Okay for now," Sebastian's voice was low. Husky. "But I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere."