Annabelle’s POV

“Oh my god, Michelle… you look amazing” Gena says, making me turn from where I’ve been standing, looking outside the window, for the last 30 minutes. She looks beyond amazing. Her hair is down in waves, while her long veil cascades down upon her back. Her makeup is done naturally & she just looks perfect with her flawless dress. & her flawless smile is the best accessory she can wear. An honest smile that makes my heart cringes. She doesn’t know what happened. She’s so oblivious to the betrayal Brian & I did behind her back. She’s oblivious to the fact that her soon-to-be husband was fucking one of her bridesmaid just hours ago. The simple thought makes me sick to my stomach. It’s like a scene taken from a bad movie. & I guess I’m the villain in this whole story. “Doesn’t she, Anna?” Gena says looking at me while I’m fighting back the tears. I simply nod, making a couple of tears to run down my cheek.

“Oh… Anna, don’t cry. You’re gonna make me cry” Michelle says, walking towards me & embracing me in a hug. “I didn’t thought you would be so happy that you were gonna cry. You're such a sweetheart. I'm gonna miss you so much” She mutters, letting go of me & wiping the tears from my face. “I promise you that you’re gonna see Brian as much as you want. I’m not stealing him from you” She says that last part, earning laughter from the rest of the girls. I fake a smile. If only she knew… that she is stealing him from me. That I should be the one wearing a nice fancy white dress. That I should be the one to be walking down the aisle to say ‘I do’ to him. That everything she’s getting, should be mine.

“You…” I start, getting choked with tears. “He’s a very lucky man” I mutter, gazing down, hoping she doesn’t sense the lie that just escape my mouth.

“Aww… thanks, babe” She says, kissing my cheek, before turning around to look at herself in the mirror. I take this chance to slip out of the room. I need air. I need to clear my head. I need to start forgetting about Brian. I need to pull myself together. I walk to the small balcony & take out a cigarette from the stupid little purse that I’m holding. I start searching for a lighter but I guess I didn’t have one.

“FUCK” I scream, throwing the small purse on the table & grabbing the rail, bowing my head down in defeat, the cigarette still lingering from my lips. A small flame appears before me, making me snap my head back & I turn to see a pair of hazelnut eyes looking at me.

“I thought you didn’t smoke anymore” She says & I let out a big breath. I lean lighting the cigarette, before taking a long drag & letting the nicotine fill my lungs & relax me. “It doesn’t suit you” She says, leaning on the rail & staring at me.

“I don’t give a fuck. I wanted a fucking cigarette, I’m gonna smoke a fucking cigarette” I say, taking another drag, not minding how rude I’m being. She just nods & stays silent, making me feel guilty. “I’m sorry, Leana. I’m just-”

“No, I get it” She says, cutting me off. “You need to blow off steam” She says & I sigh again. “Jim told me, Anna” She mutters & I turn to look at her, lowering my gaze in shame. I should’ve know Jimmy was gonna tell her. “I’m not here to judge you. I’m not gonna scold you for what you did, for what you both did. I’m pretty sure you already feel like shit for it” She says & I nod, feeling tears welling up in my eyes again.

“I don’t how it all got to this point” I mutter, flicking the excess of ash from the cigarette. "And the worst is... that I didn't tried to stop it. I didn't even felt the slight remorse for my actions. I didn't event thought about her until Jimmy mentioned her"

“It would’ve happened eventually. Don't beat yourself up for that. You guys just chose the worst timing” She says & I turn to look at her. What does she mean with ‘it would’ve happened eventually’? “Don’t give me that look. Everyone can see that you guys are meant for each other. You guys know each other inside out. I can’t think about a better couple than you guys. Michelle...” She starts & I just stare at the white tent that is sheltering friends & family of the couple & mine too. “Brian is making a huge mistake by marrying Michelle. Don’t get me wrong, I love that girl to death, but she’s just gonna make him so unhappy. He’s so miserable with just knowing you’re moving to New York. I can’t imagine how he’s gonna be married to someone he doesn’t love” She says, taking what’s left from my cigarette & taking a drag.

“He does love her” I say, picking at my nails. "He has to love her since he proposed. Since he pictured his forever with her" I say, trying to find any excuse for my actions. To shrug it off as a one night stand, as something that didn't meant anything. But honestly... it meant the wold to me.

“Not like he loves you” She says, stepping on the cigarette. “I’m not the only one who thinks so” She says, twirling a lock of her hair.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, my brows furrowed in confusion.

“It doesn’t matter. What matters is… what you’re gonna do about it. This doesn’t end until he says ‘I do’, Annabelle. Are you ready to lose him forever?” She says, giving my hand a squeeze before walking away. I stay there, shocked.

Am I really ready to lose him forever? Am I really ready to live a life where he’s married to someone else & I’m a thousand miles away?

“No” I answer to myself. “I’m not ready” I say, turning around to search for Brian. As I was walking through the hallway, knowing the guys where getting ready at the last room, Val comes out of the bride’s room.

“There you are. You have to get ready” She says, pulling me towards the room.

“I just need to find Brian & tell him something” I say, trying to stand when she made me sit down so I can get my makeup redone. I kinda messed it up when I started crying.

“Tell him after you finish getting ready. This is a fucking wedding, Annabelle. We can’t wait for you” She says in a harsh tone. A tone she’s never used before, not when it came to me.

“She’s in her Maid of Honor mode” Lacey mutters from where she’s sitting. I nod & let Gena start fixing my makeup. I guess I’ll have to wait til the ceremony to speak to Brian.

“Why are you grinning like a fool?” Gena asks me. I didn’t even notice I was grinning. Brian makes me do that... Brian makes me happy.

“It’s… nothing” I say, looking at her. She shakes her head.

“You have the weirdest mood changes ever. If I didn’t know you haven’t had any sex in months, I would say you’re pregnant” She says & everyone laughs.

*~*~*

“Where the fuck is he?” I mutter to myself, pacing back & forth. All the girls were ready & set to start this thing, but the guys are nowhere to be seen. I gotta admit, we all looked great in red.

Gena had an intricate dress that only she could pull off. Lacey was wearing a bubble up dress with a bow in the front, accentuating her voluptuous chest… in a good way of course. Leana was wearing this tight one shoulder dress, showing off her new figure. She loves the curves her pregnancy left her. Val was wearing a simple yet elegant long red dress that made her now blonde hair again pop. Me… well, I was wearing this one shoulder tight dress that had this modern waves thingy on the shoulder. We seriously looked great & accordingly to Michelle's order.

“Oh, good Lord… please don’t make me be the one that has to interrupt the wedding. That’s tacky” I mutter lowly to myself. I started panting, about to have a fucking heart attack, when I heard a sweet voice call me.

“Auntie Annie” I turn & see Jeremy, London & the boys walking in. They all look so pretty.

“Hey, sweetie” I say, scooping Kevin in my arms. He wraps his tiny arms around me & hugs me tight, avoiding crushing my dress. Neil hugs my legs.

“You look really pretty, Auntie” Neil says.

“You look really handsome too” I say, placing Kevin back on the ground & kissing Neil’s cheek, leaving a big red stain in the form of my lips on his cheek.

“Hey, sis” Jeremy says, walking to me & giving me a hug. “I can’t believe your leaving in 4 hours” He says, hugging me again. I let out a small chuckle. I f only he knew that I’m not going anywhere. That I’m staying put… that I’m staying with Brian.

“THERE YOU GUYS ARE” Val screams & I turn to see the guys walking down the corridor. All of them look really handsome. Even Jimmy tamed his wild hair. He gives me this look of disappointment, but all I’m focusing right now is Brian. He looks great. The tux fits him to the T. He slows down when he sees me & starts walking towards me, stopping when he’s right in front of me. We stay silent, just looking into each other eyes, the noise & the crowd around us fading & disappearing. A small smile forms on his face & I feel my cheeks flush. My whole body started getting hot.

“You look beautiful” He says, his hand slowly & discretely caressing my arm. I opened my mouth to say what I wanted, but Jimmy interrupted me.

“Are you guys seriously gonna do this right now? Wasn’t yesterday enough?” He says & I feel anger boil in my veins.

“Why don’t you fuck off, Jimmy?” I say, snapping at him. “I need to talk to Brian alone” I say, looking at him. He looks taken back from the harshness of my response. “Do you mind?” I say in an irritated voice when he didn’t move. He nods & walks away where everyone else is.

“Wow… I’ve never seen you talk like that to him. It’s was kinda hot” He says, smirking at me & making me melt inside. I laugh & look at him again.

“Brian, I…” I start but stop to get air... more like balls to do this. How do you tell a man not to get married on his wedding day? Is there a proper way to tell him? “I-”

“What the fuck are you doing, man? The wedding is starting” Jason says, pulling Brian towards the entrance of one of the tents, where the ceremony is taking place. Brian turns to look at me helplessly, before her mother grabs his arm, ready to start the walk down the aisle.

“Fuck” I mutter, frustrated that I couldn’t tell him to not go through with this. I start walking towards where the bridal party is, taking my place next to Matt. “Ok… all I gotta is breathe. Everything is gonna be fine” I think to myself, while Brian starts walking down the aisle, followed by Val & Jimmy. “You can do this. You can do this” I keep telling myself in my head as Matt & myself start walking, followed by Jason & Leana. Zacky & Gena were next, followed by Johnny & Lacey & Val’s & Michelle’s brother & his wife. I took my place, next to Val & I turn to see that Brian is looking at me. “I gotta do this” I say & before I have the opportunity to even blink, ‘Here comes the Bride’ starts playing. Everyone stands & stare at where Michelle is entering. She looks so beautiful that it looks like she’s floating, not walking. I lower my gaze, my intention slowly fading.

Am I that horrible of a person? Am I that selfish that I rather ruin one of my best friends more important day just because I love the man she’s marrying? Who am I to ruin her life? It’s not her fault that I love him. It’s not her fault that I was so stupid & blind not to notice it earlier. & it’s definitely not her fault that I think I’m the shit & that I can just claim Brian as my own. All this mess... its not her fault.

“Hey, are you ok?” Val asks, next to me. I nod, wiping a tear. I keep looking down but I can feel Brian’s eyes on me. But I just don’t move & it’s then that I hear Michelle starting to say her vows.

“Many people spend their lives searching for their soul mate… their one true love” It’s then that I look up & see her gaze fixated on Brian... her eyes filled with love & devotion for the man that she truly loves. “Some people are lucky to find the person they can truly call the better half of themselves, while others spend the rest of their lives searching and never finding” She continues & I feel my heart slowly dying. I feel that I’m about to start sobbing any minute, so I start taking deep breaths.

“Are you sure you’re ok?” Val whispers again, but I just ignore her, turning my attention to Michelle’s words again.

“I am happy to count myself among the lucky ones, because I certainly found you. I love you, Brian. I know that you are the only one for me… my one true love” & it’s then that Brian’s eyes lock with mine. “I am happy and I am grateful that you came into my life, that where others have spent their entire lives looking for the one, I have found you. And now that I have found you, I will never let you go” I start crying even harder with every single word that comes out of her mouth. I can’t do this. I can’t do this to her. “I promise you, that I will hold you and cherish you and give you my heart, that I will support you and care for you. Faithfully, I shall always stand committed at your side with your hand in mine, regardless of what life would bring to us. I take you now as my husband and I will remain so for the rest of my life” She finishes & I hear some sobbing from the audience, making me not the only one to cry. But it’s a different cry. Their cry is of excitement & happiness… mine is from pain & heart break.

“Brian?” The minister says, gaining Brian’s attention. “Do you want to say something?” He inquires, & Brian looks at me. He shakes his head no. “Ok, then. Since the groom doesn’t have anything to add, we shall continue. If anyone knows of an impediment for this marriage to take place, speak now or forever hold their peace” He says, scanning over the crowd. I feel this tight knot in my throat. Leana elbows me, but I just turn to look back down, ashamed that I even considered ruining this day. “Since it’s your intention to marry, join your right hand & declare your consent. Do you, Michelle, take Brian to be your lawful wedded husband, to have & behold from this day on, for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness & in health as long as you both shall live?” He asks Michelle.

“I do” I hear Michelle reply. He starts reciting the same to Brian.

“Anna, do something” Leana mutters next to me. But I shake my head no. “Come on, Anna. Are you seriously gonna let him do this?” She kept pushing but I just blocked her out.

“Brian?” I hear Michelle’s worried voice after a long silence that I haven't noticed. I look up & I see Brian staring at me. I hear her give out a nervous chuckle. “Brian, are you ok?” & I could hear her desperation & scariness. But Brian just kept looking at me, not saying a word. A smirk formed on his face & the next 2 words that came out of his mouth, made my world stop.

Notes

THE END

Sequel will be up any day now!!!