Copper Stepping out the school doors felt like tasting freedom for the first time. “Are you really transferring me to that fancy school?” I asked. Sylvester smiled. “I don’t see any reason why I would lie.” Then it’s decided. I’ll be leaving here for the last time. I couldn’t help but smile. It was so crazy, yet, I knew I wanted to let go of this place. So many lovely memories. Both good and bad. But not enough to make me want to stay. We walked down the steps. No one was outside except for the gardening trimming the hedges near the gates. Maybe after today, I could finally take school seriously enough to graduate, go to college, make my parents happy. It was pretty late to start applying but never say never. I might just make it. “Are the folks there as insane as this school?” He stopped. His hand went up to my ponytail and lifted it in the air. The blonde strands fell from his grip hair by hair. “Certainly. However, we have to do something about this hair.” I raised my eyebrow
Kenny Sylvester was the first to speak. “It’s good seeing you again, Mr. and Mrs. Greenland, the Allisons, Georgina, Kenny and little Maria.” Mr. Harmony exchanged pleasantries with everyone present. I shook his hand and returned the greeting, but from the corner of my eyes, I observed her. She didn’t introduce herself right away. She stood silently with her hands resting gracefully below her stomach. That smile didn’t move from her face. After Georgina gave him a hug, Master stepped back and placed his palm on her shoulder. “Ah, what nice music. I would like to introduce you to Copper Harmony, my only grandchild.” So that’s her name. She shared the same one as her grandmother. Copper stepped forward, but instead of coming to me, she approached my father’s wife. “Nice to meet you,” there was a slight pep in her voice. “I presume you’re Caroline, right? I am Copper, and might I say I love your dress!” She blushed and pushed a stray platinum blonde hair out of her vision. “Why
Kenny I was more than prepared for her outburst. But instead, I got her pity. “OMG, Kenny, are you alright?” Copper shot out of her seat and held me up by the shoulders. “Are you hurt anywhere?” “The sauce…” I blinked. She shook her head. “Don’t you worry about it! It’s only food. You’re more important.” I heard my father’s voice. He sounded pissed. “Boy, what’s wrong with you?!” Dad shouted. “Are your eyes for show? Did you fall asleep while standing up? Huh?!” “I-I… It was an accident. I swear. I’m sorry Miss Harmony.” “Please, call me Copper.” At the same time, Dad’s wife held Copper from the side. “Come with me. Let’s get you changed.” She nodded and allowed herself to be led away from the table. I looked back at everyone. As a butler removed the bowl from my hand, I gulped. Mom’s glare pierced my flesh like icicles. But, since frowning would give her wrinkles, she sat up and took a deep breath. “Son,” she spoke through clenched teeth. “Apologize to Mr. Harmony, and take
Copper “There they are!” Someone exclaimed. Kenny and I slowly strode down the stairs. Not only that, but my arm wrapped around his. Both of us smiled as if nothing was wrong. However, while we walked together, we didn’t hesitate to whisper our raw, and honest thoughts. “Marrying me won’t give you a better life,” Kenny said, nodding at his mother. “You’ll be in the center of the public eye and sooner or later they’ll make you a spectacle.” “I appreciate looking out for me,” I grinned at everyone. “But Mr. Harmony, you might know him, he’s your mentor, will teach me how to react if such an event were to arise.” “Mr. Harmony, can’t say I ever heard of him. Is he the reason you can act so well?” “Oh my, so you don’t know him. My bad, honey~ I don’t know how I could have mistaken you for one of his educated and well-mannered disciples.” Kenny sat in his chair and I did the same. Mr. Greenland spoke to me. “Did that boy apologize to you, yet?” “Yes, Mr. Greenland. He was a perfect g
Copper This woman stayed there, crying on the floor as if the world were about to end. Maybe to her, it was. While I froze up like a dumbass, Kenny took me by the arm and ran down the steps, along the maroon carpet, and out the door. While passing by that woman, I couldn’t help but gaze at her form. She stared at us in disbelief. I picked up the skirt of my wedding dress and tried to keep up with Kenny’s pace. Outside, many reporters flashed their cameras. Tons of security guards brushed past me and filed inside the church. The noise, the voices, the flashes. It was all so dizzying. “Kenny-” I began, shielding my face. Kenny already knew what to do. With quick movements, his jacket disappeared from his outfit and landed on my head. Thanks to that my eyes were completely protected. Several guards kept the paparazzi at bay. One called Kenny by his last name. Kenny nodded. His arm held my waist as he made us follow the guard through the parted crowd. As much as I wanted to focus on
CopperI walked downstairs after my nap with the intent of going to the kitchen. Hopefully, there would be something I could drink. Kenny wasn't here. Sylvester had yet to come back, and I had no interest in creating small talk with the maid whose name I had yet to remember.Not that I had an issue with her per se. We haven't even talked. Maybe we should. Maybe that would help put my mind at ease.When I arrived at the last step, the front doors swung open and four men dressed similarly to my grandfather's butler marched inside. My jaw dropped. They strode by both sides of a large trolley stacked high with gifts of all colours and sizes. They stopped in the middle of the foyer. I blinked. "Um...""Is something wrong, Miss?"I jumped and held my arms up defensively. After seeing it was the maid from earlier, they went down. "Oh, nothing. But what is this?"She stood close to me as her blue eyes took in the gifts. "These are the presents given by the guests at your wedding, Miss.""Wow.
CopperI stared at him for what must have been seconds before responding. "Yes. I figured you wouldn't want to be stuck with me on a tropical island. Do you mind?""Nah. Too busy for that, anyway." Kenny set the sandwich on the table and sat on the other end of the sofa with a sigh. He nodded to the colorful pile. "I see that you've already started sorting through the goods.""No, I was waiting for you.""Really?" He raised one eyebrow, an amused smile on his face. "How sweet of you."I shrugged, pretending to be oblivious to the sarcasm in his tone. "And since you're here, do you want to start?"By the time night fell, the room was littered with expensive colognes, bags, men's shoes, spy invites, and… two smartphones with a brand I never heard of. They came with a black card congratulating us and placed a request for us to review the product."What's this?" I turned to Kenny and showed him the card. He read it then smirked. "What, you've never seen shameless self-promotion before?"I
KennyWhat was wrong with me? What was wrong with her?Sleep eluded me, and for good reason. I still had no intention of getting close to her, not even a little. But it seems that she felt the same. That filled me with an unknown emotion that was hard to describe. While sitting there with her, I expected to be annoyed with her presence alone. Yet each time she unwrapped a gift, each little comment she made wasn't enough to make me feel that way. Her eyes brightened when she smelled something she liked and narrowed when confronted with something she didn't understand.It might just be all in my head, but I saw what looked like disdain when she realized the truth about our wedding "gifts". I took off my T-shirt and resigned to sleeping half-naked. Mother and Father got what they wanted, I'm married now. When will they get it that what people think of me is none of my concern? People should be looking up to me for my intelligence, not looking down on me because of some stupid rumours.