The Little Bride

**Luna is soon going to celebrate her 18th birthday. Male lead and her has 7 years of age gap. Both thire fathers are not related. She grow up in his family and they love her like thire daughter.

I dangled my legs in excitement as I was sitting on the bench in the garden of my all girl's Catholic schools hostel with a big smile on my face. I stared at the garden which was filled with so many different kinds of roses. Closing my eyes I took a deep breath in the alluring scent of roses as the morning sun beamed on me making me feel the warmness of summer. I love roses. I come to this garden whenever I am sad or happy because looking at roses gives me calmness whereas summer.

They gave me peace because I get to see him only this time of year. Today I was happy as this day had finally arrived. I have been waiting for five years for this day and I can't express my emotions anymore. I don't know how to express it. On one hand, I feel all the excitement and on the other hand, I feel a sweet fear slowly spreading in my limbs somehow making them feel the rush of my emotions. I pulled the straps of my bag full of my clothes back on my shoulder which had fallen from my shoulder as I was lost in my dream world with a big smile on my face. In the past five years, I have planned so many things a fifteen-year-old could think of. My thoughts were interpreted as I heard a shilling voice calling me.

"Luna---Luna" I heard my name being called continuously. I turned my head to find my best friend Ella who was running towards me as if a ghost of the old building was behind her. She slowed her pace only when she was only a few steps away from me so she could stop herself from falling on me with a force. I looked at her with a big frown on my face as her chest heaved due to the lack of oxygen in her lungs. She was breathing heavily as she rested her hands on her knees to take deep heavy breaths to even her breathing. Her face flushed all because of running with her long black hair slipping out of her ponytail as sweat beats were raining from her forehead on her face making her milky white skin gland in the sun. She is the prettiest girl I know with her long hair and milky skin whereas I was more like a tomboy with my short brown hair.

"What happened Ella," I asked with a frown on my face as I looked at her while adjusting my bag's strap again on my shoulder, securing them there again.

"Luna, we need you," she said in between heavy breaths as she tried to control her breath as she still supported her weary body on her knees with the support of her hands.

"Now what happened. You know I won't come, I'm going back today," I said, refusing her as I looked at the big gates. I don't want to be late when my dad comes to take me.

"B--but the C wing team of girls has declared a match on us and if we lose they will tag us losers for the whole year," she said in her horrified voice, getting my attention for a split of seconds.

"Did they forget how we defeated them last week?" I said in a mocking tone as I looked at the long road from where all the cars enter the school premises.

"They didn't! That's the reason they choose today to take their revenge when you are leaving," she said in her controlled voice as she straightened her body to face me.

"I know you can define them so go back," I said in my agitated voice as I tap my feet on the ground while biting my lower lip knowing they need me but dad will be here anytime to take me.

"Come on Luna, if we lose we will be losers for the whole year," she said in her pleading voice making me avert my eyes from the road to her as she pleaded to me with her puppy eyes. I exhaled loudly knowing I won't be able to live the whole year with a tag of a loser. I looked at the road and then back to her as I had made up my mind. I can't let my team down.

"Let's go and teach them less for messing with me at the wrong time," I said as I stood up from my seat as a bolt of anger ran in me. They purposely chose this time so they could win against us thinking I will leave my team behind just like that. I couldn't never in my nightmare let my team be a loser for a whole year. Listing to my words Ella gave me her big smile as she did her little happy dance as she was successful in convincing me. In no time I was standing on the football ground with a ball in my hand dressed in my football spandex and jersey on which my name was written in bold letters. Beside me was standing Ella and the rest of the team members.

"What is this you gave me the information that A-wings captain was going home today then why the hell she hears" I heard a C wings captain asking her team member as she looked at me with narrowed eyes. I moved my hand in my short ear-length hair and to my lips blowing her a flying kiss as a greeting making her face twitch in anger. She still has grudges against me because I beat her very badly in our last match. I didn't even let her score a single goal.

"Ready for a rematch," I asked with a smirk, making her curl her fingers in a fist.

"Be ready to lose, losers" she said in anger as she saw me smirking in her direction.

"We will see," I said with the same smirk, making her grind her teeth.

"Let's start the match," Ella said in her loud voice as I heard wise being blown. And like that our match of pride started.

"I won't let you win this time" the C wing football team captain yelled as she ran towards me to kick the ball which was placed on the center. Like she said she played dirty like always trying to win the match but my team didn't let their dirty trick pass. We won the match as Ella scored two goals with a ruptured elbow and I scored four goals in the process of rupturing my knees. My other team members too had bruises on their legs and arms. On another hand, C wing teams' girls were limping as they walked in defeat out of the ground.

"See you at next match losses until then practice how to play football," I said in a mocking tone as she was limping towards her Wing with the support of her team members.

"Yes we did it guys," Ella said in victory followed by a groan as her arm hurt as she tried to dance, making me and my team laugh at her enthusiasm. We rounded up together jumping at our victory.

"Luna Davis, your dad is here to take you." I heard one of the sisters calling my name as I was laughing with Ella still enjoying our victory.

"Coming sister" I yelled back, making her go back in and I looked at Ella who had a sad expression on her face.

"I will miss you," Ella said as she hugged me.

"You know you can come with me. You are always welcome" I said in my soft voice as I broke the hug and tugged her long stray hair behind her ear. I feel bad for her knowing she had no one to spend her summer vacation with. Even though I had not seen my mother I have dad beside me in this big world but Ella has only me as she was an orphan.

"I know but you know I'm going to go and help in an old age home for the rest of my summer vacation," she said with a big smile on her face as she masked her pain behind her happy eyes. This is one of the best qualities of Ella. She is always happy even if she is hurting inside. She was so mature for a fifteen-year-old unlike me.

"Call me every day when you return from old age house," I said in my same soft voice as I nodded my head in understanding.

"Bring me chocolates when you come back. I hope this time you will share your special chocolate with me" she said with a mischievous smile on her face, making me blush. She knows I never share them with anyone and that's why she enjoys teasing me.

"I need to go, I will see you as soon as our break is over," I said, still blushing while running towards the tree where my bag was laying, not promising if I would share my special chocolates with her. Securing my bag on my shoulders I ran to the office where my dad would be waiting for me not before waving bye to Ella behind my back.

"Dad" I squealed as soon as his tall frame appeared in my vision as I ran towards him.

"Oh, my football champion is finally here," dad said in his happy voice as he lifted me in his arms and hugged me as he was whirling both of us.

"Did you win again?" he asked me in his proud voice.

"Yes I scored the winning goal," I said happily as I nodded in yes with a big smile on my face.

"I'm proud of you," he said with a big smile on his face.

"Dad let me down, I'm too old for you to carry me to the car," I said while laughing as he started to walk towards the door with me still in his arms.

"You are still my baby so let me carry you," he said in his protesting voice as he carried me towards the car adjusting my five-four frame in his arms. I tried to slip down but he didn't let me down until we reached the car. Soon we were on our way to our home which I missed so much. Once the car was near our destination the excitement and the giddiness I was feeling since morning was back.

"Dad, are we going to go to the Riviera Mansion first?" I asked with raised eyes as I tried to mask my excitement.

"Not today love, we will go there tomorrow everyone is eager to meet you," he said with a smile while looking at me but then he averted his eyes back on the road.

"Really," I asked even though I know they miss me. He nodded, still focusing on the road.

"Yesterday Grandma was asking me when were you coming back," he said with a smile on his face as he read my hidden emotions before I could mask them properly. I was never good at hiding anything from dad.

"Hmmm" I hummed in response as I nodded at him. I bit my lower lip, stopping myself from asking what I was dying to ask as soon he said everyone missed me. That question was on the tip of my tongue so I pressed my lips together as I rested my head on my seat while turning my head to look out of the window to distract myself. But the question which I couldn't utter out of my mouth kept repeating in my mind.

Is he eager to meet me too?

Does he remember the promise he made me five years ago?