Chapter 30

                                Aerial’s Point of View

                “The zipper won’t go up!” Aubrey cried, as she tugged on the zipper that was stuck on the back of Clarice’s wedding dress.

                Clarice’s eyes widened, as all of us bridesmaids began to rush over to where Aubrey was kneeling down. We all tried to pull the zipper up, but it wouldn’t budge, at all.

                “Are you kidding me?” Clarice panicked, as she glanced over her shoulder at the back of her dress. “I didn’t gain any weight! I made sure that I kept a perfect figure for this day!”

                One of Clarice’s other bridesmaids, Alice, who was one of her close friends from college, pulled out a package of pins. “We’ll have to use this, for now. The guests are already arriving!” Alice said, as she hurried over to Clarice, as she carefully clipped the pins on the back of her dress, until it looked zipped up.

                Clarice sighed with relief, as she stared up at the clock above us. “Crap, crap, crap! It starts in fifteen minutes.” She gasped, as she looked over at her three bridesmaids. “Can you guys go check to see if the guy’s are ready yet?”

                Alice, Aubrey and Clarice’s closest cousin, Brennan, all rushed out of the room. I was about to go leave with them to find the guys, but Clarice stopped me. “Aerial, can you stay behind?” Clarice asked hopefully.

                I smiled, as I nodded. “It’s your wedding day, Clarice. You don’t need to ask me for anything.” I teased, as I reached over to wipe away a small smudge of rosy red lipstick that was on the corner of her lips.

                Clarice rolled her eyes, as she spun around in her chair, facing the mirror. She studied herself for a long time, before she let out a deep breath of air. “I can’t believe I’m actually getting married today.” She paused, before glancing over at me in the mirror. “Thanks for being my maid of honor, Aerial.”

                I let out a soft laugh, as I smiled. “We’ve been through a lot together, haven’t we?”

                Clarice nodded, as her eyes began to get watery. I gave her a warning look, as I reached over to hand her a tissue. “Clarice, no tears, okay?” I laughed, as Clarice gently dabbed her eyes. “You didn’t pay that makeup artist a hundred bucks for nothing.”

                The blonde chuckled, as she shook her head. “Sorry, Aerial. I was just thinking about how hard it was to get to where I am today.”

                I smiled, opening my mouth to tell her how much she meant to me, but before a word escaped my lips, the girls came running back into the dressing room. “The guys are all ready!” Brennan smiled.

                “And may I add, Hayden looks hot in a tuxedo.” Aubrey smiled dreamily, twirling a piece of her red curls.

                We all laughed, as a small figure suddenly appeared from behind Aubrey’s legs. I grinned, kneeling down, as Aiden came running into my arms.

                “Auntie Aerial!” Aiden squealed, as I picked him up.

                “Aiden!” I smiled, fixing his short, tousled blonde hair that he managed to get messy. “You look so handsome in a suit!” Aiden looked like the cutest boy alive in his little black tuxedo. He had a single red bow that was a bit lopsided, as I straightened it out for him.

                Aiden’s eyes suddenly became wide, as he stared at Clarice with glossy green eyes. “Mommy, you look like a princess.” He gawked.

                All of us girls laughed, as I passed Aiden over to Clarice. Clarice took her baby boy into her arms, as she grinned down at him. “Thank you, baby.” She giggled. “Are you excited to be the ring bearer?”

                Aiden nodded eagerly, as Clarice’s wedding planner suddenly came into the dressing room. She had a clipboard and pen in her hands, and she had a headpiece around her ears. “Girls, I need you to get ready! You girls are going out first with the groomsmen.” she called us bridesmaids out. “Clarice, your father is waiting in the lobby to escort you down the aisle.”

                We all gave Clarice one final hug, before we all scattered out to the lobby, where all the guy’s were standing in their tuxedos. I smoothed out red bridesmaid dress that was strapless with a sweetheart neckline, and had a flare bottom that reached just at the knees.

                “I would’ve gone for more of a cocktail dress for you guys, but I don’t think it would’ve been appropriate for church.” Clarice simple shrugged, while I laughed.

                All of us bridesmaids had a bouquet for red and white roses in our hands, as we laced our arms around the groomsmen. I wasn’t quite sure who I would’ve walked down the aisle with, but Alex smiled own at me, holding his arm out for me to take.

                I blushed, as I bit my lower lip, lacing my arm around his. Brennan and Alice took the other two groomsmen’s arms, as the doors opened.

                All of the guests were standing up from their seats in formal attire, as Hayden and Aubrey were the first to make their way down the aisle.

                “You look beautiful.” Alex whispered in my ear, just as it was out turn to walk down the aisle. I couldn’t help but smile, as flashes went off of people taking our pictures. I wasn’t thinking about tripping or how I looked. All I was thinking about was how I wished that one day, I would be walking down this aisle with Alex, again, except, I wanted to be wearing a white dress the next time around.

                As Alex and I reached the end of the aisle, we parted away, as I went over to stand by the bridesmaids, and he went over to stand with the groomsmen.

                After all of us came out, it was time for the ring bearer and flower girl. Aiden looked so cute, grinning like a pro as he walked down the aisle. The little girl who was the flower girl was one of Damian’s little cousins, and she looked a shy as she tossed rose petals.

                Finally, everyone went silent, as Clarice and her father stepped onto the aisle. She looked a bit timid at first, but she smiled when her eyes met Damian’s. Mrs. Adams began to cry when Mr. Adams escorted Clarice down the aisle.

                “Dearly beloved, we gather here today…”

*

                After the ceremony was over, we all went to the back of the church, where there was a garden. Tables and refreshments were set up, and music began to play as people all gathered to the center of the rose garden to dance.

                “Wait!” Clarice settled everyone down, as they all turned to look at her. Clarice grinned, as she held up her bouquet of flowers. “Are you all ready for this?” she asked, turning around, as she closed her eyes.

                All of the women and girls gathered behind her, opening their arms to catch the bouquet of flowers. In one swift motion, Clarice tossed it behind her, towards us, as girls started to jump for it.

                I hadn’t even noticed that I was the one to catch it until Clarice let out a squeal, running up to me while holding her dress up. “Aerial! You caught it!” she gushed, as I stared down at the bouquet that had coincidentally fallen into my arms.

                I stared at it with a blank expression, as I looked up to catch the eye of Alex. He had his hands in his trouser’s pockets, as he smiled back at me.

                I bit my lower lip, staring down at the bouquet, as Clarice giggled beside me. “I guess you’re the next to get married, huh?” she poked my shoulder, before Damian pulled her away to dance.

                I placed the bouquet down on a table, as I went over to get a glass of cranberry juice from the refreshments table. As I filled it with ice and juice, I felt a light tap on my shoulders. I turned around, as Alex smiled down at me, picking up the bottle of cranberry juice I had just poured.

                “Still don’t drink, huh?” he asked, pouring himself a glass, as well.

                I smiled softly, secretly satisfied that that he remembered all this time. “Nope. I don’t planning on soon, either.”

                Alex smiled down at me, revealing that one dimple on his left cheek. “That’s good.”

                A slow beat song suddenly blasted through the speakers, as all of the couples gathered on the dance floor. I immediately recognized the song as Lego House by Ed Sheeran. I smiled at the song choice, as I peered over to watch the couples dance. In the center were Clarice and Damian, having their first dance together as a wedded couple. I stared at how the two moved swiftly yet slowly to the soft beat of the tune.

                I suddenly felt a hand cupping over mine, as a soft gasp escaped my lips. I stared up at Alex, feeling a familiar tingle at our hands touching, as he offered me a gentle smile. “Do you want to dance with me?”

                I blinked up at him, trying to figure out if I had heard him correctly or not. When Alex suddenly frowned, waiting for my response, I snapped out of my thoughts. Clearing my throat as a hot blush crept up my neck, I nodded.

                Alex’s warm hand held me protectively yet gently towards the dance floor, as he placed his both hands firmly around my waist. I felt stiff and tense at first, but as soon as Alex got me to loosen up, I laced my arms around his neck.

                I closed my eyes, humming to the song, as I swayed my hips back and forth slowly. I could feel Alex pulling me closer to him, as if I would fall and break if he didn’t hold me tightly enough.

                “I love this song.” I whispered.

                Alex smiled softly down at me, as his blue eyes got lost into mine.

                I'm out of touch, I'm out of love, I'll pick you up when you're getting down. And out of all these things I’ve done, I think I love you better now.

                He stared at me for a long moment, as his eyes intensely bored into mine. I held in my breath the entire time, until I casted my gaze over to the ground. “So, uh, are you just here to visit, or are you staying for good?”

                He licked his lips, and I could slowly feel his weight being pressed against me, as he leaned closer. I gulped nervously when our faces were just inches from each other. “I don’t know, Mason.” He whispered, calling me by my last name, like he used to four years ago. “Do you want me to stay?”

                I bit on my lower lips, as Alex’s eyes shifted down towards them. My cheeks turned crimson red, as I pursed my lips. “Would it really make a difference if I stated my opinion?”

                “Yes.” Alex’s breath tickled my upper lip.

                I gulped. There was no point in back up now. “But, you did promise me four years ago that you would come back and stay.”

                “I said I would come back for you.” Alex paused, as the grip of his hands around my waist suddenly tightened. “Let’s say you were to not want me anymore. Would I have a reason to stay?”

                “Yeah.” I leaned into him boldly. I’ve never felt so brave and courageous around Alex before, and I could almost feel my heart beating out of my chest. “You could fight for me.”

                He looked at me with intense blue eyes, but he didn’t say a word. I knew he wanted to, because I could read it all in his eyes.

                I closed my eyes, as I felt my heart sink to the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t believe that I was saying this, but I wanted him to tell me that he was going to always going to try to fight for me, no matter what. I dug my fingernails in my palms, wishing that he would love me as much as I loved him.

                “Unless,” I suddenly whispered, as my eyes stared up pitifully up towards his, “you don’t think I’m worth fighting for.”

                Alex bit his lips, as his eyes suddenly hardened. I gulped, holding my breath, not ever taking my eyes ever away from his. Because I knew that if I looked away, I would lose him, forever.

                “Is that what you really think?” Alex asked, his fingers suddenly flying up to my cheeks as he lightly traced figures onto my crimson red temples.

                My heart was racing against my chest, as I stared down at the green grass below my feet. “I don’t know.” I whispered. “You aren’t exactly giving me an answer right now.”

                Alex clenched his jaw, as I finally got a close look of how much he had grown throughout the years. His jaw muscles have gotten more prominent and defined. I licked my lips, as I resisted the urge to just press my lips against his.

                “I liked you ever since I met you.” He leaned in close to my ear, his hot breath whispering against my earlobe. I shuddered, as Alex continued to intimidate me. “And I have loved you since I first realized that I could’ve lost you. What makes you think that I would stop fighting for you now?”

                My breathing became slow and heavy, as I closed my eyes. I pressed my head against Alex’s shoulder, as I slowly felt myself going weak.

                “I waited four years, Aerial Mason.” His lips brushed against my earlobe, snapping me awake. “I’m not usually a patient person. I don’t want to wait anymore.”

                “A-Alex.” My voice came out staggered and breathless.

                Alex suddenly pulled me away from him, tilting my chin up with his fingertips. He made me look into those ocean blue eyes of his, as he stared at me intently. “Tell me that you love me, Aerial.” He said lowly. “I waited too long for this. I don’t care if you’re lying or not, just tell me that you love me.”

                Alex was holding my hands, as I squeezed my palms against his. I let out a low laugh, dropping my head to the ground. “You’re insane, Alex.” I whispered.

                “Just say it.” He demanded.

                I closed my eyes, and in a voice so low, I wasn’t sure if he could hear, I told him. “I love you, Alex Montgomery.”

                And I wasn’t lying.

This is the last official chapter! I'm thinking of doing an epilogue before the deadline for the watty awards? Vote if you want one! :)