The Deal by Gabriella Counou, Jennifer Allen (libby ebook reader txt) 📕

Summers Over

Summer was officially over and I was ready to begin my senior year at Mangum High School. I jumped off my bed like a little girl and looked into the mirror.

“I, Quinn solemnly swear to be confident and beat up any girl who ticks me off or makes my day horrible,” I said holding up my right hand.

I practically ran over to my closet searching for the perfect ensemble. My eyes glowed as I saw my favorite yellow blouse and got out a snug pair white skinny jeans. I went through my jewelry box and saw pretty silver accessories. All were delicately used silver earrings, bracelets, and headbands.

I looked through my closet for my ballet flats that were studded with a silver rose petal on the tip. Finally after about 5 minutes I found them. I raced as fast as my long legs could carry me to the bathroom. Living in a house with only two bathrooms, only one was available because one was our parents. If I didn’t get there first I’d be late for school.

I opened the door and quickly locked it. “Quinn!” My younger sister Heather shouted. Angry, I had gotten there first. I made sure to take my good old time in time in the shower. Then I got out applied a little lip gloss and got dressed. All together it took me about 20 minutes.

When I was finally done I opened the door and found that Heather had been lying against the door and had fallen in the bathroom back first. “Finally,” She groaned sleepily. Heather had gone into the bathroom and locked the door. Maybe I could get away with not driving her to school. I went to the garage grabbed my yellow and silver purse and hopped in my car.

I cranked up my old car slowly and the garage doors sensing the car opened up. I drove the street way instead of taking the highway. As soon as I was five minutes away from the school I heard my phone ring. I looked at the caller id and saw it was my sister. I declined the call and parked my car.

Serves her right for eating my sausage and biscuits I made yesterday. I made them so I could warm them up today for breakfast. I got out of my car locked it. And saw my friend, Sera standing on the curb by herself. I walked up to the curb and joined. I gave Sera a quick hug. While we waited for Jennifer aka Jenna had to ride with her boyfriend Robert wanted to drop her off. He was secretly arranged to marry her she had only told me when she first got here. She only moved here because his family lived here. I thought that arranged marriages were limiting your heart to just one person. I didn’t like the idea of my parents making me get married to some guy.

Man that would suck!

Jenna and Robbie finally arrived and Robbie being a gentleman as always opened the door for her and took her bag.

Jenna and Robbie made the cutest couple everyone thought that they would get married one day. If only they knew what I knew they wouldn’t always be saying that. Oh and there the lovebirds were matching. Robbie wore blue and white polo shirt with khaki pants and she wore a white shirt with a blue handbag and a khaki mini skirt. They were a match made in heaven.

He had black hair and blue eyes and she had blonde hair and hazel eyes. He had pale skin and she had nice toned olive skin. If my parents set me up with my perfect match I’d marry him no questions asked.

It was crazy how the only person that knew of there arrangement was me. At first, Jenna was unsure about having to marry a strange boy. But then she got to know him and had found herself falling for him.

Jenna and Robbie had finally reached us.

“Hey girl,” She said to me.

“Hey,” I said side hugging her.

“Do you know I’m here too?” Sera asked in mock-jealousy.

“I can’t forget you chatterbox,” She said laughing and hugging her too.

“Hello Quinn, so nice to see you,” He said bowing his head in my direction he still hadn’t gotten used to shaking my hand.

“It’s nice seeing you too,” I said holding out my hand for a shake. He took it bowed and kissed my hand. I looked up to Jenna who to my surprise smiled.

“Hello Serend-,” He started.

“Oh, no you don’t Sera… I’m Sera,” She said holding out her hand for a kiss but he shook it instead.

I chuckled and looked at Jenna who shrugged her shoulders. The morning bell rung which meant we had10 minutes until we were officially late. I checked my phone 9:05 I decided it would be a better idea to check out of our little ‘Hi nice to see you again’ sermon Robbie had prepared.

“Guys… I got to run,” I shouted as I ran off. I knew how upset Mrs. Flores got when I was late. She was my aunt by marriage. I put on my student id badge and opened the front door. I ran to make locker and got my binder then I rushed to class. I heard the bell ring as soon as I reached the main hall. “No!” I cried. The door to my Spanish class closed and I had been locked out.

I ran to the door. But Mrs. Flores couldn’t see me. I couldn’t knock on the door she would have a fit. I sunk against the floor. I heard the snitch Mr. Gary the janitor the one who would snitch on anybody “skipping”. I felt my heart thud and I hoped he wouldn’t see me.

Unfortunately, he looked in my direction not letting me explain he yelled, “Skipper, we got ourselves a skipper,” He said into his wireless radio. I walked away maybe I could get away before the principal got here.

Sadly, I was caught now I had OSS for the week and given detention for next week and. I thought that was ridiculous for such a measly thing. And that’s exactly what I told Principal Earl more or less so. Eventually he got tired of my mouth running and called my parents who weren’t exactly happy to see me at the moment. The whole car ride was silent.

“Go to your room,” My father said angrily. And I went with no argument.

After being trapped in my room for two hours I took a quick nap. I could smell dinner and my mouth watered eagerly.

“Dinner’s ready,” Mom said. I rushed downstairs.

“Thank you, that was delicious,” I said thankful for the food. I smiled at her and she smiled back at me. My dad glared at me. My sister wasn’t home yet, so I wondered about her.

“Mom, Where’s Heather?” I asked her curiously.

“Wait honey where’s Heather?” She asked hoping that dad knew.

Mom said she didn’t know because they were so worried about me she forgot about her.

“She skipped school today she’s in her room,” He said gesturing to her bedroom.

Great! Just what I needed-NOT

The phone rang which broke the silence. Dad picked it up.

“Hello?” He asked.

Silence.

“Oh. Hi Onslow, what led you to call?”

Long silence.

“You can’t possibly be serious,” He said alarmed. He looked at me alarmed.

Another long silence.

“She’s not going to be happy about this. I promise you. You will pay for this,” His eyes watered. “I didn’t have any intention of giving her up right now and now you bring up a stupid deal I made years ago. She wants to go to college. It won’t be a problem… will it?”

More silence longer this time.

“Ok. Let me speak to her about it. How about you come over tomorrow?”

Mini silence.

Dad walked up to my mom and whispered barely audibly, “Remember what I told you.”

Mom gasped hugging dad. “Tell her now!” She shrieked walking away as tears welled in her eyes.

Dad looked at me sadly.

“Dad, what’s wrong?” I asked quietly.

“I’m so sorry. There’s this man. He’s about my age and he has a son. Me and Onslow thought it would be a great deal to keep us at peace.” My dad said. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry. You’re sorry. Is that all you can say? I can’t believe this. Don’t you think I should have a say in this? You know how badly I wanted to go to college, what now? I mean with a freaking arranged marriage I won’t ever get a chance to fall in love. How could you?” I asked so many questions I knew I wouldn’t get all the answers.

So I was to be wed to some guy over a deal. I couldn’t believe it.

My dad looked at the ground. He picked up the phone and dialed some numbers.

“Hey Onslow, my daughter is not taking this well I don’t think-,” He started. I used sign language to tell him to stop. I don’t know why I did this but I did.

I grabbed the phone from my shocked dad.

“Hello?” I said.

“Hello?” He repeated.

“You’re Onslow? Um- hi I’m Quinn,”

“Yes I’m Onslow,” He asked. “I mean I am kind of forcing it upon you but-“

“Perfect. Sure I would like to meet him. But just because we meet doesn’t mean we’ll marry,” I said amiably.

“We’ll be there tomorrow; may I speak with your ba?” He asked.

“My… what?” I asked thinking I had heard him wrong.

“Oh I forgot you’re not from here, I mean your father,” He said catching the difference in country.

“Oh where is ‘here’?” I asked curiously.

“You will find out soon enough,” He said gently. I blushed. Well, he wouldn’t be a bad father in law.

I gave the phone to my “ba” and went to my room to call my Jenna.

“Hello?” She answered.

“Guess what?” I asked her.

“What?” She asked her curiosity wading fast.

I heard a mumble of Roberts’s voice in the background.

“You busy?” I asked her.

“A little Robert is getting agitated yet I haven’t a clue why,” She said. “So… what’s happening?”

“I’m getting an arranged marriage,” I said nervously.

“Oh my gawd. That is so great. I have to be your maiden of honor,” She bubbled excitedly.

At least she could be excited.

“I have yet to meet him so I’ll meet him tomorrow,” I said plainly.

“Well you don’t sound excited about it,” She said.

“Thanks for stating the obvious,” I snapped.

“Well what a way to treat a friend,” She said hurt.

“I’m sorry Jenna I just have a lot of stress,” I said sadly.

“Well… that’s nothing new. It’s always about you. Have you ever thought about my marriage? How I feel about it?” She asked angrily. “I have to marry some guy I just met in what a month then move in with him back to wherever the heck he came from and have his children in the future.

“And you know what’s even worse my best friend can have one problem in comparison to my whole freaking messed up life and think it’s life ending. You don’t know how it feels to be cherished, and loved by another person unconditionally. But I do