Signed and Delivered

“I can’t even begin to tell you how long I’ve known whom I’m going to marry. I’m not like everyone else who dreams about their future partner and how in love they’ll be. Or will I even get to experience love at all? My name has been signed and delivered to the Odin family since I was five years old. We used to be friends, and he used to be nice until he found out that we were being forced to wed, and then everything changed.

We used to visit their house every summer until things got bad. I remember playing with Finn and Hero, going to theme parks, hanging out in the backyard, and telling each other funny stories. We did all the silly things kids do together. Then, at dinner when I was seven and Finn was nine, our parents informed us that we would be getting married in the future. My innocent self thought it wouldn’t be too bad because Finn was my friend. He was sweet, laughed with me, and was always nice to me. I thought that’s what a good husband was supposed to do, being so young and naive. However, I saw his face change and felt and saw his rage. He started yelling in French at his parents, and I couldn’t understand until he turned to me and said, “I will never marry an ugly fat girl like you.” I didn’t understand why he was saying this to me. It’s like he blamed me when I never set this up. He thinks I wanted this. Hello, I’m young and don’t understand. Dad, if he doesn’t want to marry me, we don’t have to. I’m too young anyway,” I say, looking at all the adults. Mr. Odin turns to me and answers.

“Elise sweetie, I’m sorry for my son’s outburst. You both will marry when you’re older,” he says.

“Why, if he doesn’t want to and thinks I’m ugly?” I start crying.

“Baby Girl, you’re beautiful, and Finn is just confused,” my mom says, trying to soothe the situation.

“Honey, Finn is just in a bad mood. Don’t believe him,” Mrs. Odin joins in, and I just put my head down. Finn’s father says my name, and I look up.

“Elise honey, why don’t you go clean up and talk to your sisters while the grown-ups clean up?” I nod my head and head upstairs and see my siblings sitting with Hero just playing a game with each other, but I have tears streaming down my face, and they all look at me.

“Sis, why are you crying?” my little sister Lilo asks.

“Finn said something mean to me,” I explain.

“He is always upsetting people. What did he say to you?” Hero asks.

“That I’m fat and ugly and he would never marry me because of that,” I tell them, “but you are not ugly. Remember, Jensen says you’re pretty all the time, and so do a lot of people,” my sister says.

“I know, but Finn is supposed to be my friend, and if he thinks I am, maybe he’s right,” I say, doubting everything.

“He’s just being stupid today. Don’t listen to him; that’s what is best and is what I usually do,” Hero says and puts his hand on my shoulder. Then the door opens, and mom comes in, and we all look and stop our conversation.

“Girls, come on. Time for bed. We leave early tomorrow,” my mom says. Hero gets up and waves at us and speaks, “Okay, goodnight guys. See you tomorrow,” he says.

We went to sleep, and I still started to cry, so my sisters jumped on the bed with me and hugged me, and we all fell asleep.

In the morning, Mama came to our room to wake us up, and we got ready to go. Our 3 months in France were over, and we were heading home. After finishing packing, we headed towards Odin’s plane, where the boys and their parents were waiting for us outside. The maids had packed our bags for the plane. Hero and I hugged each other, and the rest of my sisters and I said goodbye to Finn. However, he glared at me and then insulted me by saying “You’re the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen, Elise. I will never see you as my bride,” taunting me. I hit him, and he pushed me to the ground. His father then grabbed him and yelled at him in French, and Finn apologized. My mom made me say sorry to him, and we all headed home.

Once home, I was relieved to be away from Finn. It seemed like our friendship was over, and I didn’t think he would ever be like he once was. So, I hoped we would stop going to each other’s homes. We could all move past this and marry whomever we choose when we are older.

Fifteen years later

“We leave tomorrow. The party will be a nice party by the pool, very calm and relaxing, and then we stay the week,” mom explains.

“At least it’s a pool party, right? That will make the time go by,” Lilo says.

“Well, I’m not wearing a bathing suit, and honestly, that still doesn’t make it good since the boys will be around, and we’ll be stuck there for a week,” I say.

“Why not? You’ll look good in a bathing suit,” Leila says.

“I don’t need him calling me fat or listening to what other stupid comments he could come up with. I don’t want to hear them at all,” I say.

“Oh well, I think he deserves to be cursed at and punched for all those mean letters he sends you,” Lilo says. “Ugh yeah, don’t remind me. I don’t even open those letters anymore,” I say.

“Leila, aren’t you excited to see Hero?” Lilo says with a wink, and I laugh.

“Why would you say that? I hope if you do have to marry into the Odin family, you should definitely be with Hero,” Leila comments.

“I’m sure Hero would rather have you, Leila, but yes, we are all on terms with Finn being the worst,” Then mama joins us, and we all look at her, and she says, “all right, girls, time for bed.”

We all walk to our rooms and say good night. I get dressed in my PJs, brush my teeth, and tuck myself into bed because I have to wake up in 4 hours to go to hell. At least Baylee will be there. My alarm blares off at 4 in the morning, but through it all, I can still hear my mother screaming at the top of her lungs for everybody to get up because it’s time to go to France. So I drag myself out of bed and into the shower really quickly. I packed last night before bed, so I’m ready to go. Once downstairs, I see Baylee. I run and hug her, and we start screaming because it’s been so long.

“Oh my bestie, I missed you, and I can’t believe we’re going to France,” Baylee says, hugging me and jumping up and down.

“While I love the idea of traveling together, I hate where we are going and who we will be around for the next week,” I explain.

“It’s okay, operation avoids Finn is All Aboard. Now we have to pay attention to all the other hotties going there. College French boys, what could be better?” she says, laughing.

“Bailey, if they’re friends with Finn Odin, I doubt they will be my type because they will be similar, and that is a big no for me,” I say.

“I honestly can’t believe they’re already graduating college. I felt like we saw them two days ago, but then again, we were like 6 to 7, so that was a long time ago, and honestly, I really wish Jensen was going. Now everyone will have someone, and I’ll be alone,” Lilo says.

“You are a ditz sometimes. Nobody has a boyfriend. Nobody wants to go, and we’re all going to support Elise that, so we will be together,” Leila tells Lilo.

“Exactly, but for real, is the kid named Hero? What kind of name is that? It’s very out there if you ask me,” Baylee says.

“From what Mama says, it’s a name that the father had always loved, so when they had a second son, that’s what they decided on, and yeah, very strange, but it really does weirdly fit him,” I say.

“Here’s the real question: Are they good-looking? They have money, travel worldwide, are known in various countries by name, and speak many languages. I’m inquisitive,” Baylee asks.

“I mean, if we’re not Liars, since I’m the nosy one of the family, every time they send a family Christmas photo every year, I would look, and I’m not going to lie, both Finn and Hero are pretty good-looking if you like white guys, I guess,” Lilo says.

“It’s simple to know the difference between them. Hero is the nice one, and Finn is the asshole, but that was when we were younger. I don’t know for now,” Leila says, and my parents finally join us by the door.

“Alright, girls, let’s pack up and leave now if we want to make it to the pool party on time,” Dad says as he picks up the suitcases from the floor. We all get into the car and head towards the private plane. The Odins flew us out because they love to throw money around. I hope this challenging week ahead passes quickly.