Chapter 5

Brianna's point of view

I was standing with a glass of wine by the window when Brenda walked in. She looked quite calm and composed, unlike the uproarious state that she was in a little while ago.

I moved towards her, and with anxious curiosity, I asked, "Hey, how do you feel now?" as she hugged me.

Brenda replied with a smile. "I'm good. I just needed to get away from here for sort of a breather."

I nodded, a little relieved. She was a friend, and it was a relief that she was feeling better. Yet I wasn't able to shake off a feeling that had been bubbling in me since the encounter with Logan.

As we talked, all I could think about was Logan. Did he really get that little secret that I had slept with him that night? And what on earth was he planning to do about that?

So I turned to her and asked, "So where have you gone to cool off? You said you needed a little fresh air?" while continuing the conversation between us.

Brenda smiled. "Yeah, I just walked around the block a few times. I needed to clear my head and get some perspective."

I nodded in curiosity. "And did you manage to calm down? You were pretty upset earlier."

Brenda nodded. "Yeah, I'm feeling better now. I just needed to take a step back and remind myself that this is all just part of the plan."

I smiled and felt lucky to have Brenda feeling better. I turned my thoughts to Logan and couldn't shake off my uneasiness.

"Brenda, can I ask you something?" I said, my voice a little hesitant.

Brenda looked at me in wonder. "What?"

I sighed. "I was just talking to Logan, and he could tell us apart."

Brenda's eyes puffed up with disbelief, "What? How's that possible?”

I shook my head. "I don't know. I was pretending to be you, and he just...knew. He called me out on it, and...it was pretty awkward."

Brenda looked stunned. "I had no idea. I've never met anyone who could tell us apart before."

I nodded. "I know; it's strange, but...I don't know; he just feels like he could see through me or something."

Brenda: "That isn't good at all! Keep your eye on him. We can't let him figure this whole thing out."

I nodded. "I know. I'll be careful. But...I don't know, Brenda. There's just something about him that makes me feel...off."

Brenda looked at me asking. "What do you mean?"

I hesitated, trying to analyze. "I don't know. Just looks...intense. And somehow...always stares at me, as if figuring out me or so."

Brenda frowned. "That's scary. But we can't let him win. We must keep our eyes from being distracted by him."

I nodded as I took a deep breath. "You're right. I'll keep it safe. And we'll get through this, together."

And she smiled, and we hugged, both prisoners to solidarity and determination. Because we were in this together, and we'd come out on top.

But as I broke our hug, the thought lingers in my mind that maybe Brenda might be hiding something from me. We were the closest of friends, sharing everything, every secret and thought flowed from one to another. But for a while now, it seems Brenda is just acting a little...off.

I had initially thought it might be the stress of all the wedding planning but now, I doubt it. It seemed more like there was something in her eyes, a little flicker of secrecy that I just couldn't catch.

So, I guess it was time to confront her and get to the bottom of whatever it was. "Brenda, can we talk?" I asked, hoping my tone conveyed it was serious.

She eyed me warily, but nodded. "What's the matter?" she asked, trying not to sound too casual about it.

I took a deep breath trying to think through what I would say first. "I don't know but it just feels like you are hiding something from me," my eyes pierced hers. "Is everything all right?"

Brenda shifted again, unwilling to look at me. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her voice a little too defensive.

I sighed, irritated. "Brenda, come on. put it on the table for me. I know you have something to say."

"Fine," said Brenda after a pause and an air of deflation set in. "I don't like Logan."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. "What do you mean? You've always seemed so...into the idea of marrying him."

"Yeah, I know," said Brenda, shaking her head in frustration. "But the truth is, I have never really liked the guy. I've just been trying to make the best of it, for Dad's sake."

I felt the wave of understanding wash over me. "Oh, Brenda. Why didn't you say something?"

Brenda shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I just felt that I had to go through it anyway. But seeing you with him, pretending to be me...well, it's just hitting me right now how much I really don't want to marry him."

Nodding my head, I felt somewhat alongside my sister. "I'm glad you told me," I said. "We'll figure something out, together."

Brenda smiled, looking relieved. "Thanks, Bri. Just knowing that you're on my side makes me feel better."

And I smiled back at her, feeling determined. We would meet this challenge together and make sure Brenda never had to marry anyone she did not love.

As Brenda and I parted ways after another round of chatter, I found myself thinking of Logan-again. I guess I've been trying to live with these feelings for what seems like forever, but they keep resurfacing. Alone.

Brenda had just disclosed that she actually didn't love Logan. While part of me felt relieved that my sister wasn't going to live in a loveless marriage, another part...felt something different. Something that I just didn't care to acknowledge.

I tried to push them aside, to drown myself with the days' demands. However, those thoughts still kept trailing back to Logan. Those penetrating blue eyes, that perfectly sculpted jaw, that irresistibly charming smile... Ugh! Why couldn't I just get him out of my mind?!

I knew it was wrong; I knew that these feelings should never happen at all. After all, Logan was my sister's fiancé, for goodness' sake. But try as I might, I couldn't seem to shake off this...this...infatuation.

It felt like my mind was going haywire. One moment, I kept saying I would hate Logan, I would make him a villain in my eyes who was trying to ruin my sister's life. And the very next moment...it was him whom I imagined. About his touch, his kiss, his...

No, no, no. I couldn't allow myself to think that way. I had to be strong for Brenda. I had to keep all my feelings bottled up inside; closed to the world.

But lying in bed that night, I couldn't help but feel like I was fighting a losing cause. My feelings for Logan were growing stronger every day, and I knew I couldn't keep them a secret forever.