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Jane was walking slowly down the aisle to the mellifluous strains of ?The Wedding March', and she knew she had to make a decision fast. The guests were waiting expectantly in the pews as she reached the altar. Inexorable panic, slowly rising into the back of her throat, threatened to choke her. She felt hot; the palms of her hands were sweating as they clutched her bouquet. It was made up of her favourite flowers, roses and carnations, and she lifted it now to her nose to smell their heady perfume; then saw in horror that she had plucked all the petals off, one by one, and had scattered them over the floor.
Even Mark and Peter, usually so familiar, now seemed alien as they stood before her, resplendent in their suits and buttonholes. The organ suddenly stopped playing and the vicar's voice boomed.
?Do you Jane, take Peter or Mark for better or worse?Jane? Jane??
?JANE!?
Peter's voice jerked her from her nightmare, and she sat bolt upright in the taxi, trying to force her eyelids open. Her neck hurt and as she rubbed at it she became aware of her surroundings. The taxi had stopped. They had arrived at the hotel at last.
I'm not going to have much fun this holiday, that's for sure, she thought, bitterly. What on earth should I do? Stay with Peter? Or return to Mark?
She wished she could decide.
Peter took her arm as they walked into the cool, tiled foyer. This annoyed her, as did almost everything about him these days, though most of the time she didn't even know why.
?What's wrong, love?? Peter said, as she snatched her arm away. ?Are you feeling okay??
?I'm fine!? Jane answered huffily, and was immediately ashamed when she saw his hurt expression. Peter was a kind person, but just at the moment, kind equalled boring. It wasn't his fault, she knew. But Mark, with his dark, good looks and his live for today attitude - well! It all made for such heady excitement. She remembered an episode during their relationship when he had met her outside her office and whisked her off to Paris for an expensive champagne-fuelled weekend. That was Mark; so impulsive and romantic. And though Peter had his moments, his natural cautiousness usually prevailed, and excitement took a back seat.
Jane was aware that this break in Spain would be a milestone in her life. She had been seeing Peter for a year now, and knew he was keen to take things further. And she liked him too Or was it just the companionship and the way she could rely on him for everything that she liked, and not Peter for who he really was? Now that Mark had demanded she went back to him, it was time to find out.
?You must tell Peter it?s over between you, Jane!? he had said, authoritatively. ?Tell him you belong to me. You know you always have?
But could she? Would it be the biggest mistake she would ever make?
?Jane, come out here and look at this!?
It's paradise, thought Jane, sadly. I just wish I could enjoy it.
?Come on, let's get changed. Race you to the pool!?
?No!? Jane snapped. ?You go down. I'm not ready yet.?
Peter changed and left without speaking, and Jane knew he was upset. She glared at her reflection in the mirror. Her beautiful face stared back in defiance at her outburst. She gave a deep sigh and, putting on a miniscule bikini, she followed Peter downstairs.
As she stretched luxuriously on the sun-lounger, it was hard to push away thoughts of Mark. Was it really only two weeks ago that she had bumped into him as she was going shopping?
?How about a drink?? he'd said. ?For old times' sake.?
The ?drink' had turned into several. Jane knew she shouldn't have gone with him, but she was having a bad day. Peter had been talking of marriage, but when she had asked for more time to think, he had spent the day ignoring her, preferring to flop in front of the telly to watch snooker. She reflected that he never really seemed to look at her these days - not like Mark, who seemed to gaze into the depths of her soul, and revel in what he saw there.
Her body wriggled sensuously. Peter sat up, seemingly misinterpreting the action.
?What's up? Burning already? Do you want some sun cream??
?No, I'm alright.? Jane snapped, ungraciously. She was anxious to get back to her thoughts.
Mark. He was so vibrant and full of energy. As well as being devilishly handsome. Jane smiled seductively, then she frowned. Devilish, yes. It was much the best way to describe him. She forced herself to remember the other side of Mark's nature. It was one which used to appear all too often towards the end of their relationship. There were, inevitably, other women. She knew, deep down, they meant nothing to him. But did that mean she didn't, either? She remembered his words as he stared deep into her eyes.
?I swear that you're the one I really care for.?
Could she truly believe him?
Now, of course, she had foolishly let him back into her life, and she continuously played out a battle scene in her mind's eye; Peter's tawny head facing Mark's dark one, eyes glaring belligerently at each other. Her own mop of auburn curls in the middle, as she turned to look at one and then the other. Yes, it would be all-out war, in more ways than one.
Peter's voice sliced through the turmoil in her brain.
?Come on, we'll get heatstroke if we lay here too long. Let's go for a walk along the beach.?
Sailing on the water, like a cup and saucer,
?You're very quiet.? ventured Peter. ?Don't you like it here, Jane??
?I haven't been here a day yet. Give me a chance!? snapped Jane.
Suddenly Peter stopped in his tracks and turned and confronted her.
?Look, this isn't working, is it? I think you had better go to Mark, that's obviously what you want.?
The abruptness of this revelation seemed to make time stand still for Jane.
?So you knew that Mark was back!? She was gasping with astonishment.
?Of course I knew! I'm not as stupid as you make out. I just didn't want to lose you, that's all. I actually thought you were worth fighting for!?
Jane felt shell-shocked as Peter continued,
?And what did you think you were going to do, enjoy this holiday at my expense, then swan off with Mark as soon as we got home? Oh, no, I forgot, you weren't even enjoying the holiday, were you? Well, at least you spared me the pretence of that!? His voice was as bitter as cactus-juice.
Jane had the grace to look ashamed.
?But?but Peter, I've just realised that Mark doesn't want me back. He never did. He was just using me, laughing at me. I don't think he even likes me, he doesn't really like any woman. And I know I've been a fool. I'd much rather have you. You're the one person I can really rely on. You're my friend, as well as my lover, and I know you?d never hurt me like he would.?
?It's too late to say that now.?
?No, you're right. I'm sorry. I just let Mark?intoxicate me, I suppose. I should never have arranged to meet him in the first place.?
?No, you shouldn't? Peter's voice was ominously quiet.
?How did you know, anyway??
?Well, unfortunately, Jane, neither do I - now!?
Like everyday, on the streets of Cianna, 14 year old Clancy who was a zealous skater was skating towards her house. On the street she was halted by her nana who conveyed to Clancy that there was something peculiar going inside her house, which can't be explained. ?Ok fine, I will be visiting you for a sleepover to see what's going on,? said Clancy.
After reaching her house , her dad asked her to get ready for the bakery Drive .
During the drive Clancy accidentally dropped an expensive Flower vase.
?Oh my god! Clancy, what have you done! It was such an expensive flower vase.? shouted Clancy's dad. ?I am so sorry ,it was by mistake. I had no intention of doing so.? said Clancy sorrowfully.
She was extremely embarrassed by her dad's behaviour . She went crying back to her house and she texted her dad for the sleepover with Nana.
On the way she almost had an accident with a black car. The person sitting inside the car said ?tell your father ,his loan of 25000$ is pending or else.. .? She went back running to nana's house.
After reaching her house, Nana and Clancy were eating dinner and then the light started blinking, music started playing on speakers, the drawers were continuously opening and closing in the kitchen. "What in the world is happening here!!!Oh my god! My house is haunted!? said Nana. She was shaking like a leaf.
Then smoke diffused in the whole house , Nana and Clancy collapsed in a minute.
After an hour of that chaos, Clancy slowly opened her eyes, she was terrified and Nana was still feeling dizzy and was in a huge dilemma.
She had texted her friends to meet her in the garden's clubhouse
After reaching her home, she quickly took her skateboard and went to her friend's house.
?There is something strange going on in Nana's house and I have no idea what it is,'' said Clancy.
"Ok then we all will go to your Nana's house at night to see what's happening? said Ronald.
They all had arrived at Nana's house. In a warm room Kaylie, Ronald, Alexa, Clancy and Harry were sitting on a cozy brown couch and discussing their school assemblies when the same incidents happened which were seen yesterday. All of them were horrified and scared .They were confused about how could this happen.
The next day, they all came to Ronald's house to find the solution to these strange activities. All of them were confused towards these activities. Everyone except Clancy believed that ghosts are behind all these things and the house is haunted. Clancy was curious to find the reason behind all this, so they all went to their school's chemistry lab , by taking permission from there chemistry teacher and experimented with anything which was related to that smoke.
By mistake Harry smelled the oil of nutmeg which caused him the same dizziness which was caused by that smoke in Nana's home.
?There is no ghost, somebody has put nutmeg oil which contains myristicin which causes dizziness,? said Clancy. She smiled and laughed as she had cracked the mystery of the smoke.
?Why did you acted as a ghost in Nana's house?? asked Kaylie
?I wanted to take revenge for my brother. He was also with me during the robbery , he suicided in the prison.? said the frustrated prisoner.
The police and the prisoner went back to the police station.
They took the money and went to the location and got Clancy's dad back.
?I am also so sorry for acting that way.? said Clancy's dad
They all went back to their daily routine...
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