Song of the Chapter Hallelujah by Panic! at the Disco
The room was engulfed by silence. Nobody said a word, nobody moved, everyone and everything was still. A few questioning stares thrown at each other once in a while, but mostly we held our heads in our hands and stared at our feet, only feeling guilt and shame. Its been almost half an hour of this going on, and I can't take it anymore, so I stand up and I start to speak with an edge to my tone, "Listen, guys we screwed up big time but the wedding is in 4 hours. I don't have any idea how we are going to even sort this out but you need to make a decision right now. Are you going to have this wedding or not?" After an eternity (really just 64 seconds) of waiting for a response, I take it as a no and walk away to my room and slam the door shut shaking the walls and sending echoes throughout the entire apartment. I fall into my bed, wishing it would swallow me into a deep abyss and take me somewhere far away from this screwed up situation, or here. Wherever that is. I let out a long exasperated sigh and close my eyes for a few minutes, when I hear soft knocks on my bedroom door. I open it to find a tearful Sienna in a wrinkled wedding dress standing in front of me.
" What do you want?" I spit out in an angered tone. Sienna wrings her hands together and quietly says, "I decided to have the wedding. I understand that you guys made a mistake, and I was raised to believe in forgiveness and second chances. We can talk about it post-wedding but bottom line is I love you guys and I'm getting married today." I stand in shock.
"A-alright then let's go.... Get married!" I say, still rattled by her decision to forgive and forget as quickly as that. Not that I wasn't grateful but I would not do the same if I were in her position.
~
My heart beat quickens, and I shuffle my feet nervously as the doors to the church open, and music fills the room. Everyone turns and stares at the bride in awe as I awkwardly stand next to the groom playing the roll of the maid of honor. I look around at the ensemble of people in the room, probably close to 600 people, each playing their own important role, and contributing to the event. The best man on the other side of Dylan, bridesmaids holding their bouquets, with ear to ear smiles, the flower girl trailing behind Sienna throwing petals, four girls dressed in pastel pink, holding her dress up, the many many many friends and family sitting in the benches among us, etc.
Sienna reaches the end of the very long, white covered aisle and lets Dylan take her hands. The pastor begins his usual speech,
"Dear Beloved we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses to join Sienna Frayer, and Dylan O'Brien in holy matrimony..."
As the Pastor continues his speech which will probably take eons to finish, I scan the crowd for any familiar faces. I see my parents, Dylan's family, Sienna's family, the bridesmaids' [Jen, Lucy, Katy, etc.] family, but there is one face that sends a stabbing sensation of confusion and fear through my mind.
Noah?
*refer to chapter 8*
I look at Sienna and back at my brother but none of them seem to notice me.
"Do you, Sienna Frayer take Dylan O'Brien to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The Pastor asks.
With no hesitation and a lovestruck stare in Dylan's direction she responds with, "I do."
"And do you, Dylan O'Brien take Sienna Frayer to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
Dylan looks at Sienna and smiles, "I do."
"You may kiss the bride." The Pastor says, closing the book he was reading his speech from.
The sea of people stand up and clap loudly and cheer as Dylan and Sienna kiss. I clap too but I am dazed with confusion, and I do not know whether to feel betrayed, angry, or both.
~
I sit quietly, tapping my foot nervously as the reception proceeds and most people are either quietly conversing and eating their meals with other people at their tables or dancing on the dance floor as the music plays loudly. I fit into none of those categories. I just sit and watch as I build up the courage to go talk to my brother who I have not seen or spoken to for 4 years.
"Ah fuck it," I mutter under my breath as I stand up and walk over, approaching him at his table. I tap him lightly on the shoulder and wait for him to turn around.
"Um, can I t-talk to you for a second?" I sputter as I stare at him with wide eyes. I see the look of surprise on his face change to angry, and from angry it changes to... happy? Surprised?
"Kiara?" Is all he says in a questioning tone. "Um, I'm not really sure this is an appropriate time to have a conversation. I really-"
"Noah." I cut him off, this time saying his name with a sharp edge to my voice. "I have not seen or heard from you in the last four years, I'm pretty damn sure it's an 'appropriate time.' Now follow me."
He reluctantly stands up and looks at the table of guests, which include my parents, he will be leaving behind for a brief moment. They give him an approving nod and he follows me out of the room which the reception is taking place in, and into a quiet hall.
"What do you want?"
"I don't know what the hell you are doing here and I'm not even going to worry about that right now, but I just wanted to have a normal conversation with you. It's been a long time and I have questions." I look up at him and see guilt in his eyes.
"I'm sorry. I was absent for a long time and I wasn't myself for a few years especially after Kayla died, and I was angry. At you."
"Noah it's been long enough. I gave you space, I gave you time to heal, I-I gave you time to heal but four years is a lot. Why weren't you at the funeral?"
"If you were in my situation you would need more than four years." After a long pause he speaks up once again, "I didn't come to the funeral, because I knew you would be there."
"Noah it was a mistake. It happened a long time ago, I was a different person back then, I was irresponsible and I know the word 'sorry' won't help one bit, but I can't change the past. I would do anything to, but I can't." A hot tear rolls down my cheek leaving a wet sticky trail behind. He looks at me and I see pain in his eyes.
"Please." i whisper.
"I-I can't." He says, looking away. Once again, he walks away quietly leaving me alone with my thoughts, as I let out more tears, and collapse to the ground.
"Hey." I hear Sienna's voice echo in the quiet hallway. "What happened?" I let out a few shaky breaths and begin to explain as she takes a seat next to me.
"Let him go. He's been in pain for so many years, and I know and have seen the guilt bringing you down all of this time. You're both finally starting to be happy. Don't throw that all away. He'll come through some time. And it may not be now, but I promise he'll come back to you." I wipe my tears as I nod and stand up with Sienna. We walk into the loud room and she leads me to the dance floor to dance with Jen and Lucy. I give my body up to the music, and dance, laughing and singing along to the song, plastering an artificial smile on my face just long enough to fool people that I'm ok.
A slow song starts to play and everyone with a partner comes to the dance floor. I start to head to the table to sit down and watch Dylan and Sienna dance together and live their own happily ever after.
I feel a tap on my shoulder and I spin around, and almost fall over in shock.
"Logan?" I say breathlessly.
"You came back."
"May I have this dance?" He outstretches his hand.
I nod my head vigorously and take his hand as he leads my to the dance floor.
"It's been a while." I remark, laying my head on his shoulder as he leads the dance.
"What made you come back for me?" I ask as he spins me around and enfolds me once again in his arms.
"I've done a lot of thinking, and I realized, a golden boy cannot live without his golden girl."
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Okay guys this is the chapter you have been waiting for/dreading. I hereby declare this the end of this story. I love all of you guys and thanks for the support. There will be no sequel but I will be writing other books. Thanks for this amazing journey, once again I love you and thank you to my main supporters __perspective , Nicosgirl, and _XxFireflyxX_