Chapter Forty;
Diamond
Kalea 'Ruth' Smith
Unknown Area
Ten years later...
Kalea checked her make up on her compact mirror before rushing around the venue to ensure that everything was perfect. This wedding had to be the best of the best, Michaela was the biggest bridezilla in the entire state, she could already see the woman having a mental breakdown.
She watched as the ocean remained a stunning blue and checked the weather forecast to ensure that there were no unexpected things before she placed the guides which would allow people to know where to sit.
The guests of the bride would sit on the left and the guests of the groom would sit on the right, Kalea ensured that the aisle was perfect before she dragged her heels through the sand, attempting to get to where the reception would be. She talked to the staff to see how the setting up and the food was coming along before she headed off to where Michaela was getting ready.
As the maid of honour, she had to make sure everything was up to her close friend's standard.
-XX-
Kalea watched as Jeremiah walked up the aisle, she clutched the bouquet in her hands tightly, feeling her palms start to become wet. Her stain, rich purple dress hugged all her curves tightly as she waited. Her dress was a darker purple than the bridesmaids to signify her position as maid-of-honour (Michaela's idea of course), she had a slit on her left side which revealed her sparkly heels that wrapped around her ankle.
Once it was her turn, Kalea took a deep breath before the doors opened and began her walk along the beach and when she finally reached the aisle, she felt all the eyes on her. She looked straight ahead until she felt that oh so familiar rush down her spine, causing her to turn to her left to see that Sky was staring directly at her.
She could only look for a second but she was sure. She could recognise those warm eyes anywhere.
-XX-
Kalea sipped the champagne idly, she stood at the very back of the hall and took a second to enjoy the alone time. She's spent the entire day running around making sure everything ran smoothly for Michaela and she wouldn't change that for the world but she was exhausted.
Speeches were done and dusted, meaning that the newlywed couple danced at the centre of the hall while everyone celebrated the union.
Kalea did feel somewhat jealous, she was a 36- year old woman, nowhere near marriage. She hadn't been in a long-term relationship in a while because she'd become obsessed with travelling and rescuing as many pets as she could afford.
This was her 3rd glass of champagne and it showed by how she stood, leaning against the wall, hidden in the dark since all the lighting was on the bride, thankfully so.
"Kalea Smith now?" A voice pulled her out of her thought, Kalea turned her head to see Sky walking up to her.
She could definitely stare at her now, she was 100% Sky. Although the decade showed itself on her face, she still looked as beautiful as she was before. She wore a beautiful, reddish suit but the tux was gone and stood in a white shirt with the red suit bottoms. Her hair was still untamed, thicker and longer than before but the sides were trimmed down to nothing and Sky kept her hair in a neat ponytail that rested on her back. She had the same small diamond studs in her ear but that was it.
She'd put on some muscle, it was slight but noticeable. Kalea could also see the maturity in her gaze, though she still had that playful smile tugging at her lips.
"Long time no see." Kalea grinned widely, pulling her arms apart to embrace the much taller Sky, she enjoyed the feeling although it didn't feel as familiar as before.
After all, it had been a whole 10 years since the women had last seen each other.
Sky held a beer bottle by the neck before she took a sip, slipping her freehand in her pocket and standing beside Kalea. She tried to keep her eyes off Kalea's face, she didn't want to stop looking at the older woman. The woman that had taken Sky's heart for herself and she'd never forgotten.
"So...you're married now?" Sky spoke up, sipping the beer as she felt it run down her throat before she sought out the courage to make eye-contact with a very confused Kalea.
"Your last name, you're Smith now." She pointed out.
"Ah." Kalea realised before she chuckled quietly to herself, "That's my mother's maiden name. My love life is as you see me right now. Alone." She shrugged, looking through the crowd to se did she'd catch a glimpse of her best friend during her Cinderella night.
She wasn't sure why she'd gone out of her way to tell Sky that she was completely single but Kalea had done so.
"Same here." Sky nodded. She didn't know how else to fill the silence, she had so much that she wanted to ask, her heart raced in her chest and she felt as if she was still that 21 year old nervous wreck around Kalea.
Kalea placed the glass on one of the tables after she'd downed it before she walked out of the hall, she knew Sky would follow and the two women walked towards the ocean. She eventually stood right in-front of the water before slumping down onto the light beige sand, Sky sitting down beside her.
She undid her heels and placed them beside her before she pulled out a cigarette and placed it between her lips, surprising Sky.
"You hang around brits long enough, their habits catch up to you." She explained before she lit the cigarette and took a deep drag, blowing it out as she watched the sun set.
"How've you been?" Sky asked, reaching over to take the cigarette and take in a drag for herself. Kalea stared at her with a smile, she still couldn't believe that's she was sitting next to Sky.
It felt unreal.
"England has been good to me. I teach at an all girls boarding school as the head of Religious Studies." Kalea explained, "The town is slow and right on the coast and the people make everyday feel amazing."
She sighed, even though she'd arrived to England ten years ago as a mess, she'd built herself up steadily to the woman she is now.
"How've you been?" She asked, her British accent peeking through as she glanced at Sky.
"I teach Sculpture and Fine Art in Columbia." She confessed, making Kalea gasp as Sky laughed at her reaction.
"Who would've known?" Kalea teased, "I didn't expect you to become a teacher, nonetheless a professor."
"Yeah..a lot has changed." Sky shrugged, gazing at Kalea, even after ten years, the pull was still as active as ever. "I'd like to visit England, would you show me around if I came along?"
Feeling her heart do a backflip in her chest, Kalea smiled at Sky, "Of course, whenever you're ready."
When Sky visited, she brought a lot more than just her bags. She brought a hope for a rekindled relationship.
And her hope wasn't one-sided.
-XX-
Route n.2 done!!!
🥳🥳
Song of the Chapter; Thousand Years- Christina Perri