Distant future America

"He was serious about that? The good-guy routine? It's hard to believe what's real and what's not." she said in a huff. Shelby laughed at her next comment but then quickly stopped. The girl was serious but it had a mocking edge to it. "there's no way I want some wealthy pretty boy rolling around on top of me without my full consent" "I've got to say, I have no desire to consummate at all..." she paused momentarily, wondering if she should continue. "But at this point I really have no choice in the matter unless Governor Decker is serious about his offer."

Shelby thought about her sister and wondered how she was actually doing. Was her father paid the right amount of money? Were her medical expenses being taken care of? Was she happy right now? 'Does she miss me?' she thought sadly. Late at night when she couldn't sleep, either from pain or nightmares, Shelby would sneak into her bedroom and sing her a lullaby. Something soft and cheerful. Sometimes she would fall asleep with her sister and her father would make her pay for it the next morning. He always told her to stay out of Cassidy's room at night, because "If she was having a nightmare she can grow up and deal with it". Just item on the long list of things her father didn't understand. In fact, one night he caught Shelby sneaking into Cassidy's room, and the smell of southern comfort was oozing out of his pores. Shelby tried to run but he caught her by the arm and wouldn't let go. The rest of the night seemed to be in a haze but she remembered waking up on her bedroom floor with a bleeding welt on her head, a cigarette burn on her temple, and a sprained arm. The memory made shelby shudder but she never regretted trying to sneak into Cassidy's room. She would do anything for her sister.

Decker smiled. "I could never forget about you." He said. He felt a little refreshed. He'd been denied twice but it wasn't the rejection that bothered him. It was why. Something seemed off with these girls. "Raven. Can I ask you a question? I need an honest answer." He said, he wasn't implying that she'd lie to him but he couldn't shake the feeling like she and the two others had something to hid.

Decker nodded. She seemed afriad as well. He was good at reading people. He was raised to be a politician. Body language was his first language. He took a breath. "Did you...Where you forced to become my wife?" He asked. It all made sense to him. They acted just like his Mothers did. Timid, Nervous, afriad to say the wrong thing. And there smiles were pratictist. The idea of that made his head swim and his stomach turn. He looked her deep in her eyes. Praying she wouldn't lie to him but also praying she'd say no.

Decker rubbed the bridge of his nose. Every once of him wanted to believe her but he just couldn't. "If you weren't, perhaps the other girls have. I've seen that same look in their eyes. My Mothers had them. This look of distain. Abuse. Fear. I could not live with myself, if I made you to do something you didn't want to do. I need to know the truth. If you-they were forced, Raven I-" He stopped, shaking his head. This was all just too much to fathom. He did not want to be known in the same context as the other Governors. He did not want to be anything like his father. The pain in his head grew worse. "Maybe you want to be here now and that is great but you have to tell me if you were Gathered." He said looking at her. Scanning her face for anything sign that she maybe hiding something.

Decker knew she was lying and that hurt but she seemed so adamant about this so -much to his own dismay- he decided to find out for himself. Something was scaring her into lying about it. And Shelby, she said to come back as if it was something she had to do and as if she wanted. What did they was going to happen if they told him the truth. Did they think he'd force them out. Scream at them? Hit them? Then a darker thought crossed his mind. Lacey. She was so young and she'd been Gathered. Forced into this marriage. He winced as the thought made his head hurt. He gripped Raven's hand ignoring the pain. "Well, If you ever want to talk about your past. You can talk to me." He said and stood up. "If you don't mind, I have to talk to Shelby. If you weren't forced, I have a feeling she was."

(( I expected them to continued to lie to him. I had no plans on him finding out. He'll let it go in a little bit especially if Shelby's gonna do what I think she's gonna do lol. However it'll make him terribly naive to ignore those signs that are very obvious. especially to someone who's seen those same signs before. Once the girls convince him that they wanna be there he'll let it go. Lol, Raven could also distract him from all that too.)

Decker frowned, Raven was not happy he was leaving. "Raven..." He said not sure what to say. She was crying. Perhaps she wasn't lying after all. He sat back down quickly, grabbing her hands. "I'm sorry for not trusting you. It's just you were so nervous. The same way my mother always was. It scared me because I don't want that for you -any of you." He said in a panic and kissed her hands repeatedly."Please, don't cry."

(It's all good XD)
Decker sighed in relief. "Alright. I just I a bit of a worry wort myself." He said with a chuckle. The pain in his head lessened some. He still had his worries for the other girls but he was glad Raven was alright. "How can I help you relax?" He asked her with a small smile.

"Um...well, yeah...he seemed serious enough..." Valentina said. Shelby could tell she had more to say and she was about to ask her what else she knew when she started talking again. "I don't think he even knows, you know...about the Gatherers kidnapping us all...I mean...when I was talking to him earlier, he...well...he told me he could see something between us...in...that...sense...and when I rejected him, he seemed...well...puzzled, y'know? Like...like he thought we'd all come here willingly, and that we'd all want him." Shelby nodded, she could see that being a possibility, considering the ladies in waiting did NOT want her revealing anything personal to him. "I won't tell anyone. But I can see where you're coming from. When I came here I was forced to keep my personal life to myself, and I was told to behave and act womanly." she paused. "One of my family member's life hangs in the balance. If I mess up she's dead." she said softly, almost inaudibly. She was relieved that she could tell someone. 'Hey maybe talking to Valentina will help me get through the night with Decker...or at least part of the night...until he moves on to his other brides...' she thought. "Someone here DEFINITELY knows about everything, and it seems as though someone is purposely lying to Decker."

Decker smiled. "Well..." He paused looking for something "I also enjoy Fencing. Have you heard of it?" He asked her. It was then a thought of Shelby crossed his mind. Maybe she'd like to fence, maybe that'll make her happy. He abandoned the thought and immediately felt guilty. It was then he understood what Valentina meant by how it was like being cheated on. He should not have thought of Shelby when he was with Raven. He made a mental note that he would keep his mimd focused on one girl at a time. He kept his face even during his thoughts as he waited for Raven's response.

Decker nodded. "Ah, well it's alot of fun and can be theraputic." He stopped and laughed out. "Well. Depending on who you are sparring with." He said and looked up at the night sky then a thought struck him. "Why don't I show you my study. I would love for you to see the gardan at night." He said and stood up and held out his hand to her like a perfect gentleman.

"Thanks" Shelby said quietly, though she didn't hold the woman to it. "I never planned on being in the forefront anyway. I don't want to be seen or heard. I fear that if I speak i'll say something wrong and my family will pay for it." she said even more quietly than before.

Shelby paused at her next question. "...You don't...like him, do you? You know...as far as romance goes?" Shelby almost laughed. "No, I'd rather have nothing to do with the man, but now that i'm here I have to act like he's my everything and I don't know how to do that." she said, speaking her mind. Valentina went on to ask if she wanted to be friends. "Sure" Shelby smiled awkwardly. "I guess one can never have too many friends. Besides, it's nice to have someone to talk to about this stuff. Maybe who ever is running the show is okay with us talking about it together so we don't explode one of these days" she smirked at the idea. If her sister wasn't hanging in the balance she would've decked someone and tried to escape a multitude of times by now.