Chapter 27

Selene:

I gulped in the bottle of beer and surprisingly, it tasted wonderful. I was sitting on the island with my legs wiggling down and the beer playing a role on me. Maybe I was going to be a lightweight. Who knew? I chuckled, drinking more and reading the label on the green bottle.

"Enie-" Someone started but gasped midway. I turned on my butt and pulled my legs to a cross under me. Bethany stared at me with a hand on her chest and eyes widen.

"Did you pop?" I gulped the sip in my mouth and she shook her head.

"Then what?" I waved my hand at her for some response.

"Thats- beer." She pointed with disgust towards the drink in my hand.

"I know. Tastes so good." I hipped and her face went blank for a second. Boy, only three quarters of a bottle and I was feeling the kick.

"You sure you should be-" she seemed scared.

"Yeah. I mean what's the worst that could happen? Cancer? Death? Been there, done that." I laughed, taking in more beer.

"Jesus, Enie, drop it." She plucked the beer from my hand and settled it on the island, by the far end, away from me. I whined like a child and she raised a finger.

"What is with you?" She castigated me by draining my beer in the sink.

"Oh come on." I couldnt control my extra childish behaviour.

"Everything alright in here?" Jace came in with a worried Allan behind him.

"Look at that, our men!" I sang and hicupped. Wow, I really was a light weight drunk head.

"Are you drunk?" Allan came to Bethany. They seemed worried. I wanted to stop. Jace just stood behind them with fists in his pockets, eyes squinting watching my every move and jaw ticking. He looked sexy.

"No." I swung and almost fell of the island but balanced myself by my hands.

"Enie, why would you drink alcohol?" Allan hissed.

"My name is Selene." I pointed and he shut his eyes in defeat, "And I would like to drink now. Please." I giggled, jumping off the island in one fell swoop. My feet landed flat on the marble and nerve tugging pains shot up my legs. I would've cried if I wasnt laughing already. It felt as though different emotion related hormones in my body fought to reach the target that was my face. I didnt know anatomy but that's what it felt like.

I laughed some more.

"I got her." I heard a male voice. It pushed me to twirl on my toes and face the crowd.

"Who said that?" Another hiccup.

Allan sighed, nodding and taking Bethany away with him. Have walked to me slowly with disappointment in his eyes.

"You're pretty." I tapped his nose, once he was close to me.

"I know." He smirked and I held my breath.

"I... I like you." I tittered and he licked his lip in a grin.

"Good. That's necessary." He placed his hand on the island behind me, leaning against my body that was pressed between him and the island.

"Why?" I crossed my arms across my chest. I couldnt control any behaviours coming out of me, despite knowing how stupid I looked.

"Because I'm going to marry your cute ass." He whispered, fanning his breath over my lips. My eyes felt like they rolled in my sockets before opening and finding him again.

"But I dont want to." I pouted and he moved further in, leaving a peck on my mouth.

"Why?" He huskily responded and I felt my legs turn jelly.

"Because you are scary." I finally answered. He didnt say anything and held my waist in his finger, sitting me up on the island. His hands pulled me to him and his body between my legs.

"Damn right I am." He muttered and i placed my hands on his shoulders.

"And you are mean." I continued and he placed a kiss on my cheek. I inhaled his sweet scent.

"That's for the world baby." he muttered near my face.

"You hurt me." I bit my lip and they wobbled, nearing tears.

"And I will spend my life repenting that." He sighed.

"I'm sorry I hurt you too." I felt shy at my own words.

"You didnt mean to." He pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear, "I did." He finished. I let my head drop on his shoulder and he hummed near my ear.

"Selene?" We heard a call and it suddenly woke me up. I jerked up and looked by the kitchen door to find Aaron standing with curious eyes. I let go of Jace and fixed myself.

Why did I do that?

Even Jace looked at me with the same question in his eyes.

"Are you okay? Bethany said you drank, apparently." He walked to us and stood beside Jace, close to me. I pulled my legs up and crossed them on the counter. Jace stood with arms crossed and I bit my lip.

"It was just one beer." I shrugged and Aaron enveloped me in a strong hug. I sighed and placed my arms around his big shoulders.

"Don't do that. You know we didn't know what it would do to you." He moved away, cupping my face.

"She's fine." Jace interrupted with a loud voice but a stern face. His arms were crossed and he was staring at us disbelieving the situation.

"Yeah. I know." Aaron released me and I pushed myself to jump off the counter. Before Jace could reach me, Aaron took my waist in his large hands and carried me down. I gulped loudly and looked between the two men who stared at me anger raging in their orbs.

Why were they mad at me?

I bowed my head and moved out from between them. I was met by dad at the door and sighed in relief.

"There you are." He pressed my shoulder and I wrapped an arm around his torso, resting my head on his shoulder. He staggered slightly and squeezed me in his large arm.

"She okay?" He asked and I realized, Allan and Bethany didnt tell him.

"Yeah. I'm just tired dad." I sighed and he brought his other arm around me as well.

"Why?" He sounded concerned.

"Dad, I'm just tired." I laughed and he nodded. He was cute for being so cautious all the time.

"You should get some rest then." He kissed the top of my head. I nodded in him and opened my eyes slightly to find Jace smiling at us. I felt like I was dreaming.

***

The room was dark and it smelled of medicine. I felt like throwing up so I tried sitting up. My body though, it wouldnt accommodate and I felt like screaming.

"Dad!" I yelled out but nothing.

"Mom!" Nothing.

I tried moving my arms but everything felt like it wasnt there. Suddenly, I felt my nose dropping and I wanted to clean it out instinctively. I just couldnt move. I lifted my head a bit and found blood pooling up on the neckline of the blue gown I wore.

"What? No! No! Not again!" I cried trying to love but no help came.

"Please, no!" I looked around in the black blank space. Nothing came.

"Jace!" I cried out loud.

"Selene!" I heard him call back and instead of the darkened room, I found my own bedroom around us. He was sitting on the bed beside me, face all pale and fearful.

"Wait, you're here." I held his face.

"Yeah." He breathed.

"What happened?" He grazed a thimb on my cheek. I felt my head pounding so I brought my knees up to support my elbows and arms up. My hands massaged my forehead and he rubbed my feet.

"Bad dream." I took in a deep breath. He placed a kiss on my head.

"Why are you being so nice?" I snapped, moving away.

"I'm not being nice. I'm being normal." He cocked his brow.

"No, no. There is nothing normal about a man changing his entire personality in a couple of hours." I argued, sliding off the bed.

"Listen to me." He brought himself to his feet, aggressively and took my arm in his tense fingers, "We are getting married by the end of this week. Get ready. I've tried being nice but you wont take it. So just let things go the way they are." He released me and advanced out of the room.

Grunting in anger, I picked up a pillow and threw it at the closed door.

"Damn it!" I stomped my foot.

***

When you get married, you have dreams, perspective and an imagination of what you wished your day to look like. You decide the flowers, the catering, the music, even how many people you would like to see on your day.

You pick out a wonderful dress and pair it with gentle maids' dresses. You choose a ring and write many promises to wish to vow to your partner.

Your cakes are designed and baked the way you like it and every person involved in the ceremony dances on your orders. You get your father to prepare his speech and your mother to find the perfect dress.

But not with me. Not with my family. And not with my significant to-go other.

My dress was chosen in one day from an expensive company I didnt know about. I didnt choose the dress. It was chosen for me. Yeah, imagine that.

My bridesmaid's dresses were selected by my sister and Bethany. The cake and food was planned by Bethany and Allan. Security and the set up of the place was arranged by Jace and Carlisle,  Sydney's husband. The guest list was prepared by mom, dad and Jace. And the set up of the entire reception and alter was under the observation of my beloved jackass.

What was I doing?

Making sure to show up in the right dress on the day.

My wedding was the next day and instead of having Turkey and pumpkin pies, my family was busy setting up the marriage. I'd baked the pies, cooked the stuffing and the Turkey. Set up the table and readied the chairs. No one came. I was sitting on my chair alone around the eight seater dining table for an hour. The dining room was openly connected to the lounge so practically everyone saw me but no one cared to join.

"I'm not marrying anyone if you all dont show up at the table in the next two minutes." I'd yelled, causing Eddie and Callie to giggle who sat beside me on their chairs. They were Sydney's three years old twins. They both had her wavy brown hair, with Eddie having ear length long hair and Callie having shoulder length. Their eyes were a beautiful sea blue like their father and both were barely two feet tall. They were my little angels and I loved them to death.

Sydney and Carlisle sat beside their kids on one side, dad took the other end chair, with mom on the closest one near him. Allan and Bethany sat after her and Jace took the seat closest to my end. They were all dressed in casual clothing. No special dinner preparations from their side and I felt like choking myself.

"Dear Lord." I started with my hands spread in the table for a prayer. Eddie took one hand and Jace took my other. Everyone looked at me like I was about to give a speech.

"Dear Lord..." I started again, "On this day, I beg of you to bless my family with some sense and care for the art of holiday." They all snickered quietly, "I also pray for them to not have a baby shower on Christmas-" I glared at Sydney and she pursed her lips to hold her laughter, "...and a delivery in the hospital on New Year." I sighed and heard both Bethany and Sydney giggle.

"Also..." I spoke loudly for everyone to stop, "... I pray for dad and mom to stay happy and joyous, forever. Amen." I finished and mom blew a kiss at me.

"That was beautiful, Enie." Sydney fished some stuffing and pulled her kids' plates.

"I know." I mocked her and she chuckled, moving back to Carlisle.

Jace was just sitting with his empty plate, with his hands on his mouth. He wasnt saying anything and his eyes were at me.

"I'm not serving you." I shrugged and he gave a sad smile with a nod. Something was wrong. He wanted to share but our difference stopped him. Feeling guilty, I put some Turkey, and stuffing on his plate. Passing him the cranberry sauce, I watched a small smile play on his lips.

Just at that, I remembered something got up to run to the kitchen. Everyone stopped and stared at me.

"Just going for ice." I pointed and they all nodded. Man, they were all occupied badly by my wedding.

I pulled out the small bowl of macaroni and cheese, mixed with potatoes, chopped onions and sour cream, from the oven. I'd made it for Jace when Mrs. Anderson couldnt come over. I pulled out my phone and texted his number to come to me. He saw the text but didnt respond. I twisted my mouth in anger and dipped a fork in the white small bowl.

"What?" A voice echoed in the room and he stood at his full height. He seemed agitated but the black tee and grey sweats looked so good on him. I turned the bowl over to him and his eyes widened, staring at it and then me.

"Cobie told me Mr. Anderson made this for you and him on Thanksgiving." I tapped the island and he made a loud gulp before nodding. He was holding back tears.

I thought about what to do. Hug him? Feed him? Tell him everything is okay?

I couldnt figure.

I walked up to him and took a bite in the fork, I raised it up to his mouth and slowly licked the first bite off.

"Well?" I questioned.

"Its delicious." He responded after swallowing the bite.

"Good." I smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek.

"Happy Thanksgiving." I tried to put a smo on his solemn face.

"Smile." I suggested and his eyes pooled with water.

"Give me that beautiful smile." I pushed and he broke into a soft smile. A tear slipped from his eye in the overwhelming emotion around us and I pushed it away.

He looked better smiling because that's how he took my heart in the first place.