11| Rush

┏━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┓

Rush

┗━━━✦❘༻༺❘✦━━━┛

Chapter 11: Rush (Delilah's POV)

"Spencer!" I hissed, hoping Ms. Sunny wasn't eavesdropping.

The party ended at midnight but now he's saying it would be easier if instead of him dropping me home, I just stayed here. "Daisy," he smiled, leaning against the pillar.

"You promised to drop me home. I have work tomorrow morning, you know. My uncle and aunt... probably not my aunt, but my uncle is waiting for me at home. I need to go."

He watched me quietly, observing. He pushed himself off the wall, sighing in defeat. "Fine. I'll drop you home."

"Thank God," I breathed out.

"No, thank Spencer," he smirked, leading the way.

"You're so arrogant, that's your fatal flaw," I said as we walked to his car.

He opened the passenger door for me and I climbed, looking out for my dress. He walked to his side and climbed in, starting the car and swiftly backing out of the parking spot, putting one hand behind my seat as he looked back while I stared at him, shamelessly so, and I saw him smirking as he felt my eyes on him. "What are you looking at, Delilah?"

"You. And I'm thinking what an idiot you are," I deadpanned. That is so not what I was thinking. I was just thinking that he's deviously handsome.

He looked at me, shifting gears. "I think we both know that is not what you were thinking." He winked. He actually winked. And then drove out of the estate. And his wink strangely came off as... charming and flirty. Not weird and disturbing like Prince Nico's had.

I looked away from him and tipped my head back, staring at the night sky as we drove right under the stars, each of them whizzing by like little flickers of light. The sky looks pretty. I turned my head a little and saw the moon through the trees. "It's a full moon," I pointed out.

He glanced over, humming. "Hmm, it is. You know, full moons are great times for a fresh start."

I looked over at him, surprised. "You believe in that kind of stuff?"

He nodded. "My mum was very deeply involved with it all. The moon cycle, crystals, tarot cards, spirits too. I think that's why staying in a haunted castle doesn't bother me. I also spent a lot of time there growing up while my mum would do moon rituals. So I'm used to it all." He glanced over at me. "She wasn't a witch."

I frowned, "Why would I think she's a witch?"

He sent me an amused look.

"My mom was involved with all that too. I grew up watching her do moon rituals to clean the house, keep our lives on the right path. So I know what you're talking about. That doesn't make them witches," I chuckled, glancing over at the moon. I looked back at him. "Do you still want flower deliveries every single day? My legs hurt every single day when I get back."

"It's important for you to come to the castle," he replied.

I fell into thought. I understand that he wants me to come to the castle for people to believe our relationship a little more. But how does that make sense, especially if his castle is all the way up here? Nobody even sees us after I turn that right cut. "You should come into town," I suggested.

"Should I?"

"You want people to see us together, don't you?"

He glanced at me.

"Instead of making me come up here every day and leaving them in mystery and wondering, why don't you just come into town? You can come see me instead and that way everybody there at the time will see us together and talk about it more. But I don't get it." I turned in my seat a little to face him.

"What?"

"Who are you trying to convince of our relationship? We're not together but it's obvious you want people to think that we are. Why?"

"Do you know why my father was so determined to make sure I get married so quickly, Delilah?"

I blinked and then swallowed, hesitating. "No," I lied.

"My castle was my mum's. It's been passed on from her side of the family for generations. And as per her will, it's mine to keep now. But in that will it says I'm free to live in it with my wife and children once I am married. My father is claiming that means I cannot stay in it unless I have a wife. So, he told me to get married if I wanted to keep that castle, or he would bring the court and a lawyer into it, who he would undoubtedly pay off and bribe. That's why I need to get married. To keep my house."

"He threatened you?" I asked. I knew it, but I don't know why it surprised me to hear it from Spencer, especially with how calmly and nonchalantly he explained it.

"That shouldn't surprise you. It wouldn't if you knew the kind of relationship we have," he muttered, turning the right cut and finally entering town.

I don't know how his mother actually died. Nobody in this town really knows, it's another thing about his family which is kept hush-hush, understandably so. From what I've heard, she was found dead in the palace, in her own room.

"Daisy."

I sighed, looking at him. "Yes?"

"Can I ask what happened to your parents?" I watched him quietly for a moment. He asked so genuinely, it confused me.

"They both died in a house fire," I replied, looking around to avoid his eyes and reaction.

"In Everton?" he asked softly.

"No. I was born in Zariya. It's really far, but it's where my mother was from. We moved here very briefly because my dad was from Everton, but my mom didn't like it here, so we moved back. I wasn't home that night, I was out on my friend's birthday. I was ten at the time. And when I came back home, I found a huge crowd gathered in front of our house."

"You don't have to tell me."

"It's okay. I've had thirteen years to come to terms with it and move past it as best as I can," I cleared my throat, shifting a little. "The house caught on fire from a candle and a curtain. It was really windy that day, so once the fire started it just spread and my parents didn't realize until it got to the room they were in. They didn't have a way out after that, the whole house was made of oak and wood, it burnt up easily." I paused for a minute, taking a breath to keep myself together.

"And nobody around helped. They all just stood there and wasted a lot of time. It was only when I got back that people tried putting it out with buckets of water but it wasn't enough. The house burnt down too fast and they died in it. My uncle heard the next day and came over. I was staying with the neighbors and he just took me and brought me here, told me I still had him. I had to listen, I don't have any other family. No grandparents, no aunts from my mom's side, nothing."

We stayed quiet for the rest of the drive until he slowed down to a stop in front of my house. "You didn't deserve what happened to you," he said, turning the car off and facing me.

"You didn't either." I stared back at him.

"Your aunt just seems horrible. Why don't you move out?"

"I don't have enough money to buy a loft, let alone a house. I can't even rent one out," I chuckled dryly. He watched me as I let out a sigh, leaning my head back. "I should get inside, my uncle is probably still waiting."

He nodded.

I climbed out and shut the door, leaning down and resting my arms on it. "I won't deliver flowers tomorrow. Drop by the shop yourself, you'll probably run into me at some point," I smiled. "But you might have to wait a little if I'm out delivering."

He chuckled, starting the car again. "I'd wait a lifetime to meet you, Daisy," he smirked.

"Get out of here," I laughed, turning around and walking up the porch steps, ringing the doorbell. I didn't hear his car leave, which meant he was waiting for me to get in. The door opened and my aunt pulled me inside quickly. "What are you doing?" I pulled my arm out of hers, staring at her in confusion and irritation.

"Pack your bags."

"What?"

"I said, pack your bags. You're getting married now, that too to Prince Spencer! You have no reason to stay here anymore. Pack your bags now!"

"Rosy, what are you doing?" Uncle Felix came in, looking between us in confusion.

I didn't want to rush things. The last thing I wanted was to rush things with Spencer. I wanted to take my time packing here and move in after the wedding, if that was too long, at least after the engagement. But none of that has even been decided yet and my aunt is already eager to get me out of here.

"I already packed up your clothes. So take what's important from the room and go back out. Tell him to wait for you."

"Have you lost your mind?!" Uncle Felix pulled her away from me.

"What?" she spat out in frustration. "He's going to be her husband soon, the least he could do for his lovely wife is let her live with him a little earlier than planned." She glared at me. "You should feel ashamed. You had a prince wrapped around your finger all this time and you still leeched off of us when we were in a time of need."

"Time of need?" I asked. I rolled my eyes. "Uncle Felix makes more than enough money from Mirage. Especially for you two, considering I never take any of it," I scoffed. I just hope he's still out there right now. Otherwise, I'll have to bike all the way there, but I have no idea how to do that with bags and a suitcase.

"Delilah, just wait till tomorrow morning. You can move out then," my uncle sighed sadly.

I glared at his wife. "It's fine. I'll leave now. I'll come back tomorrow to get some more stuff." I walked upstairs and saw my suitcase packed up and standing on the floor. She probably just threw all my clothes in there, fucking bitch. I grabbed a backpack and put some stuff in there. Toiletries, a few things that meant the world to me which I brought from Zariya, some pictures and then I grabbed the suitcase too. I still had so much stuff left here. I'll have to come back a few times to take it. Not to mention, my bike. I need that too. I shut the bedroom door while cursing under my breath and as I turned to pick up the suitcase, I let out a small gasp, seeing Spencer standing right there.

"Your aunt's a bitch," he whispered, taking my backpack from my hands and picking up the suitcase. "I'll send someone to bring the rest of your stuff tomorrow, don't worry. You can come with them if you'd like."

I stared at him, blinking in surprise. He set the suitcase and backpack down and peeked downstairs before stepping closer. I leaned into the door and he got even closer, his body pressing against mine.

"I didn't leave because of the way she pulled you in. Then I heard them yelling, so I rang the doorbell. Your aunt thanked me for letting you move in early, so I figured it out. You didn't kick yourself out this time, did you?" He lifted a brow at me, talking sternly.

"No," I mumbled. "I can carry the—"

He put his hands on the doorframe, caging me in and I stopped talking, my breath getting caught in my throat. "I didn't think we would have to rush this after the announcement," he sighed, lowering his head. He's too close, so close I'm having a hard time breathing.

I put a hand to his chest and pushed him away. "Let's go, please. I want to leave."

His eyes lingered on mine for a moment before he grabbed my bags and walked downstairs. I followed him down, not bothering to say bye to them. We got to the car and he put the bags in the trunk. "You should say bye to your uncle at least," he mumbled, holding the passenger door open for me.

I looked at the door where only my uncle was standing watching. I sent him a wave. I'm not in a mood to be respectful and say bye. I looked up at Spencer blankly. "There. I did. Can we go now?"

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter 11

you guys have been commenting so much and you have no idea how thankful I am because it's such a huge motivation to keep writing often, it means a lot you guysss <3

next chapter: creeks

*spooky creeks*