Life Is Good, I Can't Complain (c)

[Specs]

"Oh, are we forgetting what happened just a couple of minutes earlier?" said Ryan, feeling his irritation rise. "If it weren't for me, you'd still be stuck in there, princess."

[Tag Along]

She whirled around to face him, not realizing how close she actually was.

"And for that I'm grateful. But I'd rather us never speak of it." She said, gritting her teeth to keep quiet.

[Specs]

"You're out and free," he said, confused as to why she was making such a fuss over it. "Don't fret. As if I have someone to tell about your little adventures."

[Tag Along]

"What are you talking about? You have friends, don't you?" She could have sworn she'd seen him around with some of the rich businessmen and even a few of the lower aristocrats.

[Specs]

"Your adventures that consist of getting trapped in the pantry is nothing compared to any of ours," he quipped, recalling the night outs he had with the his friends in the area.

[Tag Along]

"...Right." Lillian replied, rolling her eyes. Boys.

Just then, her father came walking toward them. She instantly froze, her limbs going rigid.

"Ah, my dear Lillian." Oh no. It's never good when he calls me 'my dear Lillian.' "And just the man I was looking for, too. Come. Come into the library to have a chat."

Lillian wasn't brave enough to look at Ryan, but she was sure his expression was as confused as hers. She slowly followed her father to the library.

[Specs]

Ryan stared at Lillian's father, wondering whether he saw correctly. He couldn't have meant him, could he? Confused, Ryan simply followed them to the library, wondering where his family was and whether they knew what was going on.

[Tag Along]

Lillian stepped into the library only to be greeted with the sight of her mother as well as Ryan's family.

What the actual fuck.

She eyed her mother warily, suspicious of this whole thing. "Come, come!" Boomed her father, in unusually high spirits. "We have something we'd like to discuss with you."

[Specs]

Ryan's eyes widened once he saw his family. His feet froze and he actually had to force himself to move once he realized that he wasn't moving in sync with Lillian and her father. He glanced at his father, who gave him a supportive smile.

What the fuck.

[Tag Along]

"Since Rafe will be taking over my title in the distant future," Lillian's father began with a chuckle, referring to her older brother, "We know that our dear Lillian (oh, there's that phrase again) would basically have free reign over her choice of husband."

He looked over at his wife and Ryan's mother and father, winking.

"But we think it would be advantageous for both sides if the two of you announced your engagement sometime during this house party."

Lillian was speechless.

[Specs]

Ryan was ready to keel over. Actually, he was sure he almost did save for the chair that he grabbed that was near him. He felt like someone socked him in the stomach and threw cold water at him at the same time.

He looked over at his family who was exceptionally happy and Lilian's parents. He stood there, dumbfounded and speechless. "E-engagement?"

[Tag Along]

"WHAT?!" Lillian suddenly - almost as if by a miracle - found her voice.

"Now, sweetheart, don't sound so shocked! Surely, you saw this coming!"

"THE HELL I DID!" Lillian's mother gasped.

[Specs]

Ryan searched the room, already ready to make an exit. He wasn't going to stand there and argue, that was Lillian's job. Realizing that no one followed them from the hallway they came from, Ryan tiptoed backwards, letting people fuss over Lillian and hoping that no one would see him.

[Tag Along]

Lillian saw him out of the corner of her eye.

"OH NO YOU DON'T. Don't you DARE leave me alone in here!" But instead of pulling him back into the library, she made a run for it. She closed the door behind her and took off for anywhere but that library.

[Specs]

"HEY!" he finally shouted. "You can't leave me HERE!" He took off in a sprint, following Lillian close behind.