Engaged to a Jerkface...and I have no say in it!, Icicles [read books for money .TXT] 📗

that had a beautiful chocolate imprint.

"Wash it under warm water when you get home...it should get most of the brown out," I told her, while Drake rolled his eyes at my knowledge.

"Or just toss it to your mom," Misty said, while my eyes widened.

What? All girls should know their cleaning stuff, because in a few years, there won't be your mom that'll wash your laundry!

We all piled into Cole's dirty, mud-splattered Mustang. Misty sat shotgun, while Sophie and I jumped into the middle seats. Shawna and Drake sat in the back. Drake was listening to his I-pod Touch, while Shawna was repeatedly looking at her watch and saying, "Does this car go any faster?" Sophie, Misty and I were cracking up over some stupid Twilight jokes, and Cole was as quiet as night.

Finally, we reached Shawna's house, where her mom was waiting at the door with a very stern face. Shawna gulped, as we reassured that it would be alright. But her mother is a very uptight woman...or so it seemed.

We were dropped off one by one: Shawna, Drake, Sophie, Misty, and me. As Misty shut the car door and ran into the lighted house, I jumped into her seat. Cole looked at me, and smiled his crooked smile. He was actually quite cute...if you think about it. J We talked a bit about his job; he works as a model for Abercrombie and Fitch, which is funny since he isn't a preppy. But I'm glad he's not, otherwise I would have never met him. We talked some about his family and mine...and about my stupid arranged marriage. I know, it's odd, since I barely know this kid, but I feel like I can trust him...it's just this inner feeling, you know?

We reached me house, right in the middle of a story about his sisters, which are those stupid twin bitches, I learned. Ew, I cannot believe he is related to them. They have nothing in common, as far as I'm concerned.

I invited him to come inside, assuming Jake wouldn't mind.

It wasn't a date after all.
Chapter Six

The door creaked open as we stepped inside. I asked him what he wanted to do and he suggested watching a movie. I thought it was a pretty good idea, since we (Jake and I) have a 90 inch Plasma screen TV. Pretty awesome? Tell me about it.

I walked into the living room where the TV was…then wished I hadn’t. On the couch was Naomi, Brita’s equally-bitchy twin and Jake. They were right in between a make-out session, where Naomi was straddling him from on top with their mouths glued to each other. The sight made me want to upchuck.

“Knock, knock!” I raised my voice as I rapped my knuckles against the white wall. They jumped and sprang apart. Cole chuckled softly somewhere behind me. Naomi looked at me with a look of disgust and anger.

“What do you want? Are you that fucking poor girl that’s Jake’s sex maid?” WHAT? Sex maid, puh-leez! Give me a break! Jake smirked under his stupid, soft, blond hair. That freak-o!

“Well, JAKE. Cole and I want to watch TV. Maybe you guys should go get a freaking room, before you get STDs on the couch!” I remarked. Jake’s eyes narrowed as he digested my words.

“Cole? Who’s Cole?” He questioned. Naomi gave him a what-she-thought was a flirty smile and answered him.

“Cole’s my stupid brother. Remember?” His face cleared of all confusion. He looked at me expectantly. I rolled my eyes and waved Cole in. Cole gave a wry smile and raised one hand to wave. Jake just looked at Naomi and together, they descended up the stairs into his room. Wait, OUR room. Ew, remind me to change the sheets before I go to bed tonight!

I opened the DVD cabinet and took out Spy Next Door. (A/N: That is like the FUNNIEST MOVIE EVA!!! You guys should totally watch it! LOL.) Cole looked at the title as I turned on the TV and slid the DVD in.

“Aw, come on Tori! I’ve watched this movie like a hundred damn times!” He faked a frown. I smiled.

“Well, maybe you should have waited all those hundred times to watch it with me!” He pretended to be annoyed and blew a gust of air out of his mouth. I laughed as the commercials on the disk started. It was about Space Monkeys!

“OMG, freaking Space Monkeys! I love them!” Cole looked at me like I was crazy. I looked skeptical at him, “You have got to be kidding me! Everyone’s watch Space Monkeys! They’re so fudging cute!” Cole chuckled at me as I freaked out.

“Relax Tortia! I’ve watched Space Monkeys before, and yes, they are super cute, but please…don’t pee your pants before the actual movie starts!” I punched him in the shoulder gently and we both laughed.

“I’m not going to pee my pants, doofus! And don’t call me Tortia!”

“TORTIA! TORTIA, TOOORRRRRRRTTTTTIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAA!!!” He mock-sang. I clapped my hand over his mouth as the commercials ended. He pulled my hand off and his hand enveloped mine as I started the movie.

It was hilarious, especially the part where Ian feeds the pig bacon, and Farren’s all “That’s so wrong!” and they tell Nora why (‘cuz she’s only 5), who quickly spits her half-chewed bacon back onto her plate. Cole and I laughed so hard, I think I might have unset the coffee table.

It was about the half the movie, when the phone rang from the kitchen. I raced to get it, while Cole continued to watch the movie.

“Hello?”

There was a silence, before an operator began speaking, “This is Merit Care Hospital. Is Victoria Cormela available?”

“That’s me.”

“You need to come to Merit Care Hospital immediately. Your mother was in an accident—”

“What? There was be a mistake—”

“Do not delay. She is in critical condition and does not have much time.”

The phone buzzed once, and then went dead.

My world fell, right there and then. This was my mother, the one who had sold me into an arranged marriage…the one that had held me when father died, the one that kissed my tears away when I fell off my bike, the one that had lived to her potential to raise me as a single mother for as long as she could. Deep inside, I knew I couldn’t hate her. She was my mother, for god’s sake!

Now my fury turned to God. He had taken away my father. Had he come to take my mother away from me as well? Did he want me to be miserable and parentless? Was that it? Had I done something so bad, that I deserved a severe punishment and this was it?

I stood still for who knows how long. Long enough, however, to draw attention from Cole. He walked into the kitchen, after a few minutes of silence.

“What’s wrong, Tori? Bob just fought the blond Russian dude with a chair at that Chinese restaurant,” He attempted to make me crack a smile. Not likely. I slowly unfroze from my rigid position. He looked at my cold, dazed face and his smile etched off his face. “Tori? Victoria? Look at me,” He grabbed my chin and made me turn to face him, “Tell me, who was on the phone?” I couldn’t speak, my throat had clogged up. Tears burned around my eyes as I tried to hold them back.

“Cole…” I started, but broke down as warm tears exploded from my eyes and dribbled down my cheeks, “It was the hospital. Mom’s been in an accident.” He looked astonished for a moment, and then raced to get his keys.

“What the hell Tori? Why didn’t you say so? Let’s go and see her!” God bless him. I hurried after him, before remembering Jake. I’d have to tell him, since he would wonder where I am if I wasn’t back by nightfall.

“One sec, Cole! I have to tell Jake!” I yelled over my shoulder as I raced up the stairs 3 at a time. I quickly grasped the doorknob of our room and turned it. Damn it, it was locked! I knocked the door loudly. There was a thump of a solid object hitting the floor and a groan that followed. If I weren’t in such a bad circumstance, I might have laughed.

Jake opened the door in only his boxers. He was sweating and Naomi was breathing heavily on the bed behind him. I curled my upper lip in disgust but held back any revolting comments.

“Jake, my mom’s at the hospital and I have to go see her. Cole’s taking me, but I thought you should be informed in case I don’t make it back tonight.” I said this fast, then whipped around to run back downstairs. I was in mid-step when Jake called after me.

“Wait, Tori! The hospital? What happened? Wait for me! I’ve just got to put on a shirt and pants. I’ll be right down. Tell your boyfriend to go home. I’ll drive you!” The last thing I heard before I flew down the stairs was him rummaging for clothing. And Naomi, who was pouting madly, like a little girl who had her lollipop taken away, was puffing like a mad cat.

Chapter Seven

I ran out of the house and climbed into Cole’s mini van in less than 3 minutes, after grabbing my purse and a few hair-bands. That’s a new record, since he parked outside of the huge white gate that surrounded our mansion. That’s quite a ways away, you know! I scrambled to buckle my seatbelt as Cole backed the van onto the driveway.

I jiggled the tuner until it played soft country music. It settled my nerves a little, but I was still scared about my mother. Was she going to recognize me? Would she still love me? Would she completely be covered in tubes, until she wasn’t even recognizable anymore?

I played with the cute little charm that hung above