Darcy

Leo’s family was still processing Sarah’s news, and with Dylan now out of town, it wasn't pretty. It was starting to put a bit of a strain on our relationship if I was being honest with myself. I was trying to be there for them as much as I could, but I felt as though I was getting in the way. That's when I came up with the idea to go see Dylan myself and try to make him come around.

The next morning, I ventured out in search of Dylan. It turned out I didn't have to venture far. I looked him up on Facebook first to see what he looked like, so I knew who I was approaching... I then headed out the door and down the large stone steps toward the city of Athens.

On my way, I thought I would stop by the bakery and get something for breakfast. And that is where I spotted him. His brown hair had an orange tinge, and his jawline was chiselled as was his frame. He was an attractive guy, and I wouldn't have expected Sarah to be with anyone less. Not because she was shallow, but because she was just such a breathtaking person herself. I carefully observed him, wondering how he could run out on Sarah at this time. I continued to watch as he purchased a few croissants and some Danishes.

Once he had paid and began to walk away, I pulled him aside. “Hi, Dylan, you don't know me, but my name is Darcy and I'm a friend of Sarah’s. I just wanted to say how appalled I am that you have left her in this condition.” I spoke sternly, intending to get my point across and make him realize the severity of his actions. After pausing for effect, I went to speak again, but he spoke first.

“I know who you are.” He looked relieved in some way. “I'm on my way to see Sarah now.” He held up the pastries he had just bought. “Peace offering,” he said, smiling. “I know I made a mistake and I want to be there for her through it all. I was just scared.”

Relieved and happy for Sarah, I hugged him. He was taken aback at first but then returned the gesture. That’s when I remembered Sarah’s father. I was unsure about how to fix that one. He somehow needed to see what a good guy Dylan was. Sarah was one of the purest people I had ever met. She was so good with the judgment of what kind of person someone was.

I headed to the office and was greeted by Rita at reception. I awkwardly asked to make an appointment with Christos. She kept the same straight face the whole time, acting with pure professionalism. Although, when I looked behind me as I walked away, I could have sworn I noticed her cussing me out.

I reached Christos’ office and he smiled when he saw me, standing up and signalling for me to come in. “What a nice surprise,” he said as I entered.

“Hi, Christos,” I replied, and proceeded through his large office and to his desk where he sat. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

I walked up to him so that I could make eye contact. From experience, I found this made a more convincing case. I leaned against his desk. “Well, why I am here is really to talk to you about Sarah,” I said, not breaking our gaze, even for a moment.

“Sarah?” he asked in surprise.

“Yes,” I replied.

“Go on,” he prompted, intrigued.

“well,” I went on, “it has come to my attention that Sarah is pregnant.”

He interrupted me. “This, I don't want to talk about.” He walked toward his door and held it open for me to leave.

“Please listen,” I said, “I went to see Dylan today.”

This piqued his interest. “You did what?” He sounded angry now. “You should not have done that. I am handling this.”

“I know you are, Christos, but I just wanted to help. Sarah is going through a hard time right now. She is very upset.” I tried to make him see her side.

“You don't think we’re all upset? This has given our family a bad reputation. She is selfish and she has been sleeping around, and it is not okay!” He looked so stressed and worked up, yet this gave him no excuse to talk about Sarah that way.

“Christos! She did not sleep around. Dylan and Sarah are in love!” Now I was getting worked up.

“Darcy, you do not have a child. You will never understand until you do!” He signalled for me to get out. I went to speak again, but he interjected. “I do not wish to speak about this any further, please leave.”

Shocked and confused by his outburst, I left. I really thought this would work, but now I had probably made things far worse than they had to be. God, why was I so stupid...

Two days later, I was relaxing by the seaside on my favourite cliff, still pondering over Sarah’s predicament. I still hadn't heard anything from Sarah, and Leo had only texted me once or twice to let me know how things were progressing. Not well. Apparently Dylan had been going to their place each day to try to sort things out with the family. Sarah had forgiven him, as had Leo, but Christos? Not so much.

I decided to go for a swim. It was such a nice day, after all, and I wouldn't mind floating in the beautiful blue-green ocean. I stood up and peeled my light-blue top over my arms and my head. I placed it on the ground beside me and reached up to the sky to stretch, bending over into a forward fold. As I stood up, I breathed in all the fresh air, inhaling it and exhaling positivity. I slid off my pants and got into a diving position. Each day I had practised diving from a different height, each day higher than the last. This time, I was diving from the top of the cliff. As I dove, my body soared in perfect form through the air. I hit the water, pointed arms first, gliding into the clear abis in one perfect motion. I opened my eyes to the unimaginable blue that I was immersed in, fish swimming below me, my hair floating seamlessly amongst the ripples.

Immersing from the water, I set my eyes on Leo, “What are you doing here?” I asked as he smiled, grabbing my freakishly white legs under the water.

“I thought I would come and see you, and when you weren't home, I thought I would check the beach, and here you are.”

“How is everything at home?” I asked.

“That's actually what I came here to talk to you about. Everything is fine, all back to normal. Dad has come to terms with it, and best of all, the most exciting news, Dylan proposed to Sarah!” The smile on his face said it all, he was thrilled.

“Wait!” I interjected. “He didn't just propose to her because of the baby, did he?” I furrowed my brow.

“Dylan was going to propose to her, he had planned it all along. He asked me a while back for my permission. He was planning to ask Dad, and then he found out about the pregnancy.” He smiled and then spoke again, “She is so happy, Darce.” He couldn't keep from smiling.

All this talk about marriage pushed the thought back in my mind that I was meant to be leaving in two weeks. All the commotion had wiped my memory of those details. I looked at Leo.

“What is it, babe?” he asked, sudden curiosity spreading across his face.

I looked him in the eye and placed my hand on his arm. “Leo, I’m leaving in two weeks.”

He laughed. “I know.”

His calmness about the predicament annoyed me. “Do you care that I’m leaving? Long-distance doesn't always work, you know.” I could hear my voice shaking like I was about to cry.

“I wasn't expecting to do long distance.” He had his hand on my shoulder.

“Wait what?” I paused, “So you don't want to stay together? You expect to break up?” Now the tears were streaming like rain down my face.

His expression turned from humour to sadness. “I don't want to break up.” He wiped the tears from my face. “I want to marry you. I want you to move here and live with me.” He held my hands.

Now I was crying again, this time from happiness. Leo continued to hold my hands and kiss them. “Wait, so Sarah and Dylan are engaged and now, so are we?” Happiness overtook me. I fell backward into the water, a large grin spread across my freckled cheeks.

He pulled me back up and kissed me. “We will have to go and tell our families the good news! Come on, my love, let’s go shower and head over. They have invited us all for lunch. Your dad will be there too.”

“Does my dad know?”

“Of course, I asked his permission,” his unexpected words just made his face way more attractive, if that was possible.

We headed to my place to shower and I put on a girly floral dress; I figured it was fitting for the occasion. After that, we headed to his house, hand in hand. I was stuck in this blissful happiness, still not believing it was happening to me.

Our families were equally as thrilled as us at the news. His Mum, Dad, Sarah, Dylan, and my Father were all there. We sat in his garden, a space of his house I had not seen before. The space was large, the grass cut to a very neat length, and a table placed in the middle of the flowering trees. The garden itself was encased in beautiful hedges, closing us in. Flowers decorated the vines and hedges, and the flowers smelt delightful.

We sat at the table with our families laughing and living in the moment. Leo lifted my hand and kissed it. Sarah who stood with Dylan by her side had just walked over from a secret talk they seemed to be having under the cherry blossom trees. They came to join us and the parents all watched in interest.

Sarah spoke, “The two of us have an announcement.”

Christos nodded for her to go on. “As you know, Dad and Leo; Mum, you don't know this, but Dylan and I are engaged, and we are having a baby.”

The family stood and her mum squeezed her hand with excitement, continuing the gesture to Dylan.

Leo looked at his parents. “We also have an announcement.” He squeezed my hand. “Darcy and I are engaged, also. We are not, however, having a baby.”

They all laughed and his mum hugged us both. I looked at my father who got up to congratulate me.

“I'm so happy for you, darling. I am sad that you won't be joining me back home, though.” said my father.

“I know, Dad, but I am really happy.” I hugged him as Leo's mum suggested we all go on a tour of the gardens.

“This is simply such a lovely afternoon with such good news!” she said.

Leo pulled on my hand and we went ahead of the others. “See, I told you they would all be thrilled.” He whispered in my ear as he kissed me on the cheek.

“We are going to be so happy.” I kissed him back.

Suddenly, I felt faint. I fell to the ground as my family rushed to my side. I could hear them talking to me as my happy world faded around me as if a dream.