Writing an email in bold letters doesn’t make it urgent.

IT JUST MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO READ.

There’s silence for only a handful of minutes before my phone vibrates once again.

From: autumnthefallqueen

To: lukasspencer

Dear Mr. Spencer,

Are you not the Lukas Spencer who grew up in Spring Falls?

If not, I sincerely apologize.

If yes, DON’T YOU DARE LECTURE ME!

I HOPE YOUR HEAD EXPLODES AS YOU READ MY CAPS AND SEE MY EXCLAMATIONS!!!

~ Autumn

Who the fuck is this?

My hackles rise at the mention of a place I spent my teenage years, but also a time of my life that is unknown to most people.

From: lukasspencer

To: autumnthefallqueen

Who are you?

From: autumnthefallqueen

To: lukasspencer

I’M THE ONE YOU AGREED TO MARRY, CRADLE ROBBER!

Holy fuck! How the hell did she find me?

From: lukasspencer

To: autumnthefallqueen

Listen, kid! I agreed to nothing. Don’t email me ever again.

But the next day, when the initial shock has worn off, I scroll through her emails once again.

Autumnthefallqueen. What sort of email address is that?

My lips twitch. As much as I don’t like the sass of this girl, I can relate to the confusion she might be going through.

Before I change my mind, I type out a reply.

From: lukasspencer

To: autumnthefallqueen

Hi, Autumn,

I think we got off on the wrong foot yesterday. Let me start by saying I understand the confusion and anxiety you must be feeling right now. I felt like I was in some badly written movie when my grandparents first told me about it. But there’s nothing to worry about.

I’m not interested in marrying you. At all.

Heck, if I remember right, you’re twelve years younger than me.

Why the hell did your family even tell you now?

From what I understood, according to the rules of this insane promise, you’re not supposed to find out about it until you’re eighteen.

- Lukas

Her reply is immediate.

From: autumnthefallqueen

To: lukasspencer

Hi, Mr. Spencer,

My grandmother told me you agreed to the wedding. Didn’t you?

To answer your question…I sneaked out last night to watch a local band play and everything hit the fan. :/

~ Autumn

From: lukasspencer

To: autumnthefallqueen

Hi, Autumn,

I did say yes, but only to appease my grandmother. She was very lonely after my grandfather’s passing, and my marriage to you was one of the things he made Grandma promise to fulfill. I didn’t want her to worry that she wasn’t doing enough for him.

- Lukas

P.S. How is it sneaking, if you were caught? Next time, be better prepared.

From: autumnthefallqueen

To: lukasspencer

Hi, Mr. Spencer,

I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather.

Is your grandmother okay?

My mom told me there was some paper our elders signed stating they would make sure the marriage took place.

~ Autumn