Jace:
She wasn't up for it. Her face literally said the words.
"I can't do this, Jace." She'd said after feeding me the thanksgiving special she made for me. She was so promising in her kind gestures. I felt like I was falling in love with the woman, all over again. She was so beautiful, so elegant and caring.
I had to show her that this was good. That her and I could make something like this work. I'd started seeing Selene as my forever when I fell for her in high school. Whenever she would call me in the middle fo night, weeping for some soothe, I would jump in through her window just to hug her to sleep. I still remembered how she would keep her window open and disarm the alarms for me. It was tough for her but we would play this game of hide and seek, just to be by each other. Those nights, that she would spend in the hospital, I made sure to have dad get me a spot outside her room, since anyone except immediate family wasn't allowed over night with the patients.
It saddened me how the one night I didn't do so... That one night, we failed ourselves. She couldn't believe in my strength and I couldn't see her will power. She used it to make us both who we are. She wasn't wrong when she cried about giving me her best chance, but I wasn't either when I mentioned that I'd still be happiest man alive.
Our lives had one mistake and we made it together.
I thought for a second about knocking on her door, but then an idea popped in my head. I ran out to the backyard and found the old stair case, tucked by the fence. Setting it up to what I calculated as the right window, I climbed up and smiled at what I saw. She was sitting on the futon by the foot of her bed, reading a novel under a clip on light that was hooked on her hoodie's hood. She was so indulged by it that if I wasn't scared of falling and breaking something, I would've spent all night staring at her. I gently tapped the window and she panicked, falling off the futon. I held my laughter and spread my hands on the window so as to not fall with jerk of surprise. She looked around frantically in the dark room and crawled up to her window. Her jaw tightened and I was holding my breath so as to not laugh. Sydney's kids were asleep on her bed, so she was finding any spot on the room.
When she jerked her head, I waved my hand and crunched my fingers, signaling her to come out. She shook her head at first and I glared at her, nodding my head in response. She shook her head again. I nodded again. She shook her head and then I shook my head quickly, causing her to nod her head.
I smirked and she silently clenched her fists.
"I won." I mouthed and she clawed the air to show strangulation against what seemed like my throat in her imagination. I cocked my head for her to come down and without looking, took the steps down. I thought she was going to come from the backyard door, but then I heard windows opening. I looked up to find her carefully closing the window and taking steps down the ladder.
"What?" She murmured. jumping down from the last step. I didn't have to answer because her wide eyes told me she understood. The gazebo that was in the back corner of their backyard was draped in white chiffon curtains and the frame itself was painted white, by myself. The moonlight showed whatever it could and I was glad she could barely see that alter of ours. Yeah, I was showing her a glimpse of what awaited her.
"What..." She started again, turning to me.
"You like it?" I breathed.
"Is this..." She whispered and I nodded.
"Jace..." She held both my hands, "...why are you doing this?"
"Hold on." I left her hands and turned the flashlight on, on the red carpet I'd set in a corner of the garden, farthest from the gazebo. She really wasn't allowed to see it clearly. I didn't have to ask her anything, she followed me.
"Midnight snacks?" I pointed at the lasagna on a paper plate and two bottles of grape juice. She looked at it and then at me with a shocked smile. I snickered and she jumped on me. She jumped on me! Yes!
"Our date..."
"Every single night you had me." I finished for her and she moved her face out my neck. She leapt up and planted a small kiss on my lips. We both froze. She'd never done that. Heck I'd only done that due to pressure of hiding something.
"Did we just..." I squinted my eyes.
"...kiss?" She finished my question. I laughed and dipped in for another kiss.
Thats it.
That is literally all it took for us, Selene and Jace to be and whole again. Yes, we fought and we had our own wars but once we found each other through the fog, nothing could keep us apart.
I hugged her and sighed in relief.
I was going to love this girl to death.
Selene:
Jace and I spent the whole night, laughing at ourselves and our stories. We talked about our present and how our past dangled in our sleeves.
I had a goodnight. He held the ladder when I climbed up and I could feel his eyes on me. For some reason, I felt giddy but the intensity in his love was so much more stronger than mine. I felt like a link was missing. I didnt know what it was but there was something holding me to a root where I couldnt see myself happily walking down the isle.
I felt bad but I knew Jace was enough to ignite something in me again.
The morning was alive and everyone ran around with the arrangements. The hairdresser and the make up artist arrived at our place by nine in the morning. Bethany had me crammed in Sydney's room and I wasnt allowed to take a step out. I once heard Jace asking for me by the door but Bethany kicked him away. She literally scolded him and I prayed for her unborn child.
The woman in the extra elegant bottle green chiffon dress, had her hair in a forehead stretching bun and her make up was on point. When it came to my head, she ran a comb through my short hair and asked to pin my hair tightly back. I apologized, discouraging that look. I was that person who thought she had too big of a forehead to get off with that look.
Bethany suggested something to her by the side and I had to say, the woman was not pleased by my rejection. Good start to the day. She ended up giving me a half up, loosely pinned hair look. Curls dropped by my cheeks as my front locks ran pinned to the back of my head. She fit the veil there and I gulped loudly at the look. Every change of the day was throwing fear in me.
The make up woman in the black jumpsuit and bob cut gave me a nude make up look. I loved it. She ran a gentle black eye liner on my lids and perfectly drenched my lashes in mascara. The gentle bronze and golden smokey look she gave my lids settled well with my eyes. I loved the way I looked but fear only crippled my heart more.
Could I do it?
Marry Jace with a full heart?
In two hours?
"Oh, Enie." Bethany held her chest staring at me through the mirror. I wasnt in my dress yet. Just the white underlying slip I was to wear. My white stockings were up too and I kept thinking of the moments going further.
"Hey, Bethany." I smiled softly and she instantly fell into concern.
"What is it?" She walked up to me and I was looking at my skin nail colour coated nails.
"Nervous." I lied.
"Happens." She giggled, sitting on the maroon dresser seat. She took my hand ran a thumb on the back of it.
"When I was marrying your brother, I was so scared. I thought he was arrogant and that he only needed me for business."
I never knew that. What?
"Seriously?" I sat on my toes and she nodded with a grin on her lips.
"But then, we just sort of started focusing on what was between us rather than what we felt around. And Enie, we just fit." She spoke like she was the most satisfied woman in the world. I was happy for her.
"You know my history with Jace." I pointed out and she nodded, "What if something goes wrong?" I held both her hands and she inhaled a deep breath after bobbing her head to the question.
"Well, then you work it out." She suggested and I cocked my brow at her, waiting for an elaboration, "That's the best thing about marriage. It's one binding commitment and it makes you want to work it out with your partner." She squeezed my hand.
"Really?" I stood up.
"Yeah. Anything comes your way, marriage is something that tells you to give each other atleast one more chance." She kissed my cheek and I sighed.
"Now dress up!" She pointed at the the dress hanging in the cloth hanging bag.
"You got this." She shook me by the shoulders and left me laughing alone in the room.
"I do..." I started and my eyes widened, "I... yeah. Okay."
***
The dress was extravagant. The flared skirt was polyester under with chiffon layers dropping on it making it look like a puff gown, while the torso was a hard polyester material with a sweetheart neckline. A net designed in a floral white lace ran over my shoulders and tight full sleeves, giving the floral embroidery a floaty look around my neck. The dress fit so perfectly around my body, I felt like a princess.
"Woah." I heard a gasp and twirled, purposefully floating the skirt around me to face the source. My dad stood in his black tuxedo. He looked so cute with the white button shirt tied around his neck with a perfect bow. His hair were gelled and he wasnt wearing his glasses.
"Dad..." I smiled.
"You look wonderful."
"You look wonderful."
We both said it together and broke into a small laughing spell.
"The bride is the one who owns all the compliments today." He walked to me carefully and kissed my cheek, "And may I say, Jace has a wonderful taste."
"What?" My heart picked up pace.
"Yeah. He chose it. Told everyone else to forget about even trying to find you a dress." He grinned and I put my head on his shoulder.
"Enie?"
"Am I right for him?" I asked and he tapped a kiss on my forehead.
"Depends."
"On what?"
"On how much you are willing to put in this relationship." He raised my face with his finger under my chin, "Relationships are about knowing what's best for each other and working toward it together. Now, you dont run honey. You stay and you win this war you've been in with yourself for the past ten years." He grazed a finger on my cheek, moving a thin strand away from my eye. A laughing chuckle broke out of my face and I hugged him.
"Thank you." I muttered.
"You ready?" He raised his right arm for me. I hooked my left one in it and bit my lip.
When we exited from the front door of the silent house, there was a red carpet running around the side of the house which I understood was to the backyard. I picked my skirt with one hand and took one step after the other, trying not to think too ahead of myself.
"Ease up the tension." Dad tapped my hand crushing his bicep. I apologized and dropped my hand down to his forearm. He placed his free hand on top of mine and I relaxed.
When the backyard came to my view, I felt stunned. A white carpet started that parted town rows of five white cloth chairs. People I recognized from our family stood there. All the aunts i hadn't met in years, cousins, children. I felt oblivious to their idea but then my eyes found mom standing by the front row with her lips wobbling and eyes smiling. She looked beautiful in her silver satin gown. From her, my eyes followed the the background I felt tears pool in my eyes at the sight of the white painted gazebo. Dad used to make barbecue in there when we were kids. A smiling sob broke from me when I found Jace standing with his mouth slightly open and eyes barely blinking. He looked so handsome in his black three piece suit and white shirt under. His dark blonde hair were gelled into spikes and those brown eyes glistened like the stars. Behind him, stood Sean with a large smile on his face and I felt a rumble in my chest with the huge smile on my face. He was also in a black tuxedo like dad's, looking dashing as ever.
The bridesmaids who waited by my side were dressed in metallic pink satin gowns, with off shoulder straps and lose hair. Sydney, Bethany and Jelly stood. I was so happy to see her there. She waved at me with tears streaming down her cheeks and I cried more, holding my tears back.
The gazebo was designed in a flowing net curtains and white roses spiralling down the four pillars of it. A priest stood with the bible in his hand and I held my breath when neared the platform. Dad kissed my cheek and gave my hand into Jace's forwarded one. He helped me step up on the gazebo's white fur carpeted floor. I chuckled.
"I'm not wearing shoes." I murmured to him and he bit his bottom lip.
"Why do you think I had the carpet set?" He winked and I felt warmth in my chest, "Dont smile." His smile faded.
"Why?"
"I'll start crying." He bit his upper lip and I broke into a light laughter with everyone around us giggling. Jace placed a kiss on my forehead and the priest coughed before beginning.
I didnt remember much of the next few minutes until the priest announced for the vows.
"I, uh,..." I felt a tear run down my cheek at the first word. Jace wiped it away and I cleared my throat, "I dont know what's going to happen next." I shook my head and squeezed his hands, "But you were the guy who got me through some of the worst moments of my life. You were the person I called for in my times of dismay and the first person I'd started hugging in moments of joy. You held my hand in days when I wasn't aware of who I was. So, as thankful as I am for all of that, I will learn to love you more everyday. I will work to your grace and fall in your heaven. You built it for me and I'll make sure I get in it there. Thank you for loving me. Even when I couldn't do it myself." He cleared another tear off my cheek, holding his own back. I could tell by the pools collected by the brim of his lashes.
"Uh, ha." He laughed, "I dont know how to top that, honestly." He snickered and I guffawed.
"Selene." He pulled me close and held my waist, "I'm not perfect. I'm crazy and bad tempered. I can be impossible to handle and very ill mannered when pushed to an edge." He shook his head, keeping his eyes steady with mine, "But the moment you walked into my life and took a second to know my dismay, I knew you were special. I don't even remember when I fell for you, but I do remember the first time I saw you and I could've sworn that my heart skipped a beat in that moment. Through the times I was alone in my life, the dreams of your smile woke me up to another day. You were my motivation and my life's dedication. I promise to love you beyond your imagination, scare you when you read, and to forget every Thanksgiving so you spoon feed me my mac n' cheese." He kissed my forehead and I let more tears fall. I was the bride so I didn't care for how much I spilled.
"Rings?" The priest announced and we did that faster than needed.
"Jace Anderson. Selene Arly. I now pronounce you..." he paused, "...man..." I felt my heart quicken again, "... and wife." Jace's eyes widened and his hold on my waist grew stronger.
"You may kiss the bride." He announced and I bit my lip.
We didn't care for much thought and fell into our deep trance of a sweet kiss.