Post by Martina on Jun 20, 2005 12:45:17 GMT -5
There. She had said it and it was finally out in the open. True, she had sent enough signals, but some men were less perceptive to her charms than others. Not many, but some. Why was it that nearly every man in Clayton County fell to the ground to worship the ground she walked on, but the one she loved the most? Well, there would be no excuses now. Ashley Wilkes knew that she, Katie Scarlett O'Hara loved him and all was right with the world. And now, here in the Wilkes' library, their new life together would start. Wouldn't everyone be so shocked when they heard? She smiled prettily up at him, her dimples much more pronounced than usual as she waited for him to say the words she'd been longing to hear--"I love you, Scarlett."
But, he didn't smile, nor had he taken her into his arms and thanked her for saving him from a life with his boring and dowdy cousin, Melanie Hamilton. Her own dimpled smile faded and she began to chew on her bottom lip. He had the strangest look on his face and his eyes were void of any comprehension. Perhaps he didn't understand her admission. "Ashley, darling," she said, her voice soft. "Didn't you hear me? I said I love you. Not only do I love you, but I'm in love with you." There couldn't be any doubt now.
Ashley was speechless and could only stare at the pretty Scarlett O'Hara for a moment, tilting his head slowly from side to side as he studied her. "But, Scarlett. You know I'm going to marry Melanie. It's been planned for months now." He tried to pull his hand away, but she squeezed it tighter.
"I'm telling you that you don't have to marry her now. You'll marry me. We love each other. I've known it for so long but have been too afraid to tell you," she admitted.
He smiled at that. "You? Afraid?" He shook his head. "That's not possible. You are the strongest person I know, Scarlett. Nothing has ever frightened you in all the time I've known you. I've always loved that about you. But..."
She didn't let him finish, instead pulled him into a tight embrace. "I knew it! I knew you loved me, too!" Her face took on a smug look as she thought of Melly Hamilton wailing like the baby she was when she learned that there would be no wedding. Well, there would be a wedding, but Melanie wouldn't be invited.
Ashley took hold of Scarlett's arms and pushed her back, gently, but with a firmness she couldn't deny. "Scarlett. You misunderstood. I care for you deeply and admire you greatly. But, I'm in love with Melly. We're cut from the same cloth, she and I. She's the woman God intended me to be with. I feel that in my very soul."
She wouldn't have been more shocked if he'd hit her. It was as if all the air had been driven from her lungs and for the first time, she felt as if she might faint. That look in his eyes--how could she have missed it? Every time he said her name, something happened to his gray eyes. They seems to soften, yet sparkle at the same time. "I..I need to sit down," she stammered, reaching blindly for something to hold onto.
Ashley took her arm and helped her to a chair and knelt beside her. "Are you alright? Scarlett, I didn't mean to hurt you, but you needed to know the truth."
"The truth?" she spat. "You loving that sickly, boring girl is far from the truth. I know you love me and I wish you'd stop trying to deny it. You are just afraid, Ashley Wilkes. Afraid of going against your family to marry the person you really love. Me! Don't be so weak."
"Don't speak of Melly that way," Ashley shot back, oblivious to anything she'd said after her comment about the woman he was going to marry. "Melly is the kindest, sweetest, gentlest creature alive and I won't allow anyone to speak ill of her."
"Allow?" Scarlett glared at him. "You might be able to tell HER what to do, but you won't tell me what to do. I do and say as I please."
Ashley sighed and stood, a sad look on his face. "I'm sorry about all this, Scarlett, truly I am. I want nothing more then for you to be happy for me and for you to be happy in your own life." He tilted her face up by placing his finger under her chin. "You'd never be happy with me."
"But, I would," she persisted. "And you'd be happy with me, Ashley, I know you would. All I need is a chance to prove it to you." She cast him an imploring look, watching him carefully for even a small flicker that he might, somewhere deep inside, feel the same. But, she never saw it. "You really love her, don't you." It was more a statement, than a question, as she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer.
"I do," he whispered. And she knew it was true by the way his eyes lit up when he said it and she nearly cringed visibly. It broke her heart.
Standing, she smoothed her dressed and moved across the room. Standing by the window, she looked out to see the festivities still in full swing. "I apologize for being so silly. I'm afraid my emotions got the better of me today." And, it wouldn't happen again. "I must wish you and Melanie a long and happy life. Now, I think I'd like to be alone."
He nodded and silently left the room, wanting to give her time to think about what had just transpired. He was convinced that once it sank in, she'd be just fine. He could only stand for several moments, still stunned by the events himself--until he saw the most beautiful face coming toward him. He held out his hand and Melanie took it, smiling up at him as though he were the only man who existed in the world. Scarlett and her admission of love were quickly forgotten....
Back inside the library, a very flushed Scarlett leaned her head against the wall beside the large open window. She had failed miserably and it was something she wasn't accustomed to. "I just don't understand him," she said aloud to herself. "How could he possibly want that pale faced ninny and not me? He must be truly insane."
"I believe the problem lies not in Mr. Wilkes, but perhaps in yourself," a low voice said, seemingly out of nowhere.
Her green eyes widened and she poked her head out the window, only to see a handsome man leaning against the house, enjoying the last of his cigar. "Sir!," she said indignantly, "How dare you listen in on a private conversation!"
The man laughed loudly and shook his head. "Private conversations are best suited to rooms without open windows, Miss...."
"None of your business," she snapped, moving away from the window, only to catch her sleeve on a metal clasp on the wall.
He laughed again and, after aiding in her release, tipped his hat and said, "Name's Captain Rhett Butler." He leaned his elbows on the window sill and looked at her with a crooked smile. When she didn't speak and only continued to frown at him, he said, "You know, the polite thing to say would be 'pleased to meet you, Captain Butler'."
"But, I'm not pleased to meet you, nor do I care who you are," she retorted. Still, she continued in a soft voice, "I'm Scarlett. Scarlett O'Hara." She turned, the skirt of her pretty white and green dress flouncing around her, and fully intended on leaving the room--except that he suddenly laughed again--and she couldn't bear it when people laughed at her. "And just what exactly are you laughing at, sir?" she asked peevishly. When he continued to grin at her from the other side of the window, her frown deepened and she stamped her kid leather clad foot. "Stop that! Someone might hear you and I might be ruined forever if someone were to see me talking to someone so ill-mannered and crude."
"Miss O'Hara, I hardly doubt that you need me, nor my bad manners to ruin yourself. I get the feeling that you will take care of that task on your own over time. I, aaa....hope to be around to see it. Perhaps aid in picking up the pieces that are falling in your wake."
"That, Captain Butler, will never happen," she predicted with a smirk. "I happen to know that after today, I'll never set eyes on you again. And you have no idea how happy I am for that. You have none of the class that Ashley Wilkes possesses, nor any of his kindness, gentleness and breeding." Her eyes took on a dreamy look and it seemed she'd already forgotten what had transpired between herself and Mr. Wilkes. "But, I don't suppose many men do have his attributes," she said with a small shrug of her milky white shoulders.
"No, I don't suppose they do," Rhett said slowly, nodding his head. "Miss O'Hara, it was a pleasure meeting you. Quite enlightening, I'd say. And regardless of what you think, we will see each other again. Mark my words." He winked and then resumed. "When I see something I want, I don't give up on it easily." She opened her mouth to remark on his boldness, but, without giving her a chance to speak, he tipped his hat and strolled away as he whistled.
"Of all the nerve," she said, hurrying over to the window to watch his retreating form. "If I never see you again, Captain Rhett Butler, it'll be too soon," she said, loud enough for him to hear. She closed the window in one quick motion and clapped her hands together as if wiping dust from them, thinking that in doing so, she'd gotten rid of Rhett Butler for good. If only it was that easy to forget that laugh, she thought as she exited the library and re-joined the party....
But, he didn't smile, nor had he taken her into his arms and thanked her for saving him from a life with his boring and dowdy cousin, Melanie Hamilton. Her own dimpled smile faded and she began to chew on her bottom lip. He had the strangest look on his face and his eyes were void of any comprehension. Perhaps he didn't understand her admission. "Ashley, darling," she said, her voice soft. "Didn't you hear me? I said I love you. Not only do I love you, but I'm in love with you." There couldn't be any doubt now.
Ashley was speechless and could only stare at the pretty Scarlett O'Hara for a moment, tilting his head slowly from side to side as he studied her. "But, Scarlett. You know I'm going to marry Melanie. It's been planned for months now." He tried to pull his hand away, but she squeezed it tighter.
"I'm telling you that you don't have to marry her now. You'll marry me. We love each other. I've known it for so long but have been too afraid to tell you," she admitted.
He smiled at that. "You? Afraid?" He shook his head. "That's not possible. You are the strongest person I know, Scarlett. Nothing has ever frightened you in all the time I've known you. I've always loved that about you. But..."
She didn't let him finish, instead pulled him into a tight embrace. "I knew it! I knew you loved me, too!" Her face took on a smug look as she thought of Melly Hamilton wailing like the baby she was when she learned that there would be no wedding. Well, there would be a wedding, but Melanie wouldn't be invited.
Ashley took hold of Scarlett's arms and pushed her back, gently, but with a firmness she couldn't deny. "Scarlett. You misunderstood. I care for you deeply and admire you greatly. But, I'm in love with Melly. We're cut from the same cloth, she and I. She's the woman God intended me to be with. I feel that in my very soul."
She wouldn't have been more shocked if he'd hit her. It was as if all the air had been driven from her lungs and for the first time, she felt as if she might faint. That look in his eyes--how could she have missed it? Every time he said her name, something happened to his gray eyes. They seems to soften, yet sparkle at the same time. "I..I need to sit down," she stammered, reaching blindly for something to hold onto.
Ashley took her arm and helped her to a chair and knelt beside her. "Are you alright? Scarlett, I didn't mean to hurt you, but you needed to know the truth."
"The truth?" she spat. "You loving that sickly, boring girl is far from the truth. I know you love me and I wish you'd stop trying to deny it. You are just afraid, Ashley Wilkes. Afraid of going against your family to marry the person you really love. Me! Don't be so weak."
"Don't speak of Melly that way," Ashley shot back, oblivious to anything she'd said after her comment about the woman he was going to marry. "Melly is the kindest, sweetest, gentlest creature alive and I won't allow anyone to speak ill of her."
"Allow?" Scarlett glared at him. "You might be able to tell HER what to do, but you won't tell me what to do. I do and say as I please."
Ashley sighed and stood, a sad look on his face. "I'm sorry about all this, Scarlett, truly I am. I want nothing more then for you to be happy for me and for you to be happy in your own life." He tilted her face up by placing his finger under her chin. "You'd never be happy with me."
"But, I would," she persisted. "And you'd be happy with me, Ashley, I know you would. All I need is a chance to prove it to you." She cast him an imploring look, watching him carefully for even a small flicker that he might, somewhere deep inside, feel the same. But, she never saw it. "You really love her, don't you." It was more a statement, than a question, as she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer.
"I do," he whispered. And she knew it was true by the way his eyes lit up when he said it and she nearly cringed visibly. It broke her heart.
Standing, she smoothed her dressed and moved across the room. Standing by the window, she looked out to see the festivities still in full swing. "I apologize for being so silly. I'm afraid my emotions got the better of me today." And, it wouldn't happen again. "I must wish you and Melanie a long and happy life. Now, I think I'd like to be alone."
He nodded and silently left the room, wanting to give her time to think about what had just transpired. He was convinced that once it sank in, she'd be just fine. He could only stand for several moments, still stunned by the events himself--until he saw the most beautiful face coming toward him. He held out his hand and Melanie took it, smiling up at him as though he were the only man who existed in the world. Scarlett and her admission of love were quickly forgotten....
Back inside the library, a very flushed Scarlett leaned her head against the wall beside the large open window. She had failed miserably and it was something she wasn't accustomed to. "I just don't understand him," she said aloud to herself. "How could he possibly want that pale faced ninny and not me? He must be truly insane."
"I believe the problem lies not in Mr. Wilkes, but perhaps in yourself," a low voice said, seemingly out of nowhere.
Her green eyes widened and she poked her head out the window, only to see a handsome man leaning against the house, enjoying the last of his cigar. "Sir!," she said indignantly, "How dare you listen in on a private conversation!"
The man laughed loudly and shook his head. "Private conversations are best suited to rooms without open windows, Miss...."
"None of your business," she snapped, moving away from the window, only to catch her sleeve on a metal clasp on the wall.
He laughed again and, after aiding in her release, tipped his hat and said, "Name's Captain Rhett Butler." He leaned his elbows on the window sill and looked at her with a crooked smile. When she didn't speak and only continued to frown at him, he said, "You know, the polite thing to say would be 'pleased to meet you, Captain Butler'."
"But, I'm not pleased to meet you, nor do I care who you are," she retorted. Still, she continued in a soft voice, "I'm Scarlett. Scarlett O'Hara." She turned, the skirt of her pretty white and green dress flouncing around her, and fully intended on leaving the room--except that he suddenly laughed again--and she couldn't bear it when people laughed at her. "And just what exactly are you laughing at, sir?" she asked peevishly. When he continued to grin at her from the other side of the window, her frown deepened and she stamped her kid leather clad foot. "Stop that! Someone might hear you and I might be ruined forever if someone were to see me talking to someone so ill-mannered and crude."
"Miss O'Hara, I hardly doubt that you need me, nor my bad manners to ruin yourself. I get the feeling that you will take care of that task on your own over time. I, aaa....hope to be around to see it. Perhaps aid in picking up the pieces that are falling in your wake."
"That, Captain Butler, will never happen," she predicted with a smirk. "I happen to know that after today, I'll never set eyes on you again. And you have no idea how happy I am for that. You have none of the class that Ashley Wilkes possesses, nor any of his kindness, gentleness and breeding." Her eyes took on a dreamy look and it seemed she'd already forgotten what had transpired between herself and Mr. Wilkes. "But, I don't suppose many men do have his attributes," she said with a small shrug of her milky white shoulders.
"No, I don't suppose they do," Rhett said slowly, nodding his head. "Miss O'Hara, it was a pleasure meeting you. Quite enlightening, I'd say. And regardless of what you think, we will see each other again. Mark my words." He winked and then resumed. "When I see something I want, I don't give up on it easily." She opened her mouth to remark on his boldness, but, without giving her a chance to speak, he tipped his hat and strolled away as he whistled.
"Of all the nerve," she said, hurrying over to the window to watch his retreating form. "If I never see you again, Captain Rhett Butler, it'll be too soon," she said, loud enough for him to hear. She closed the window in one quick motion and clapped her hands together as if wiping dust from them, thinking that in doing so, she'd gotten rid of Rhett Butler for good. If only it was that easy to forget that laugh, she thought as she exited the library and re-joined the party....
What a great story to start of the contest board! ;D 
I have been thinking about continuing this...there is, as with all GWTW fanfic, so much potential! 