Before
Vic was fairly certain that he was the happiest man alive. How could he not be? He was about to be married to the most beautiful women in the universe. After a few heated high school years and college ones to match, Vic had racked up the guts to ask her to marry him. Of course, she had accepted. And there they were now. Vic, dressed in a crisp and rather itchy tuxedo. His hair was slicked back, which also bothered him, but who was he to complain? He couldn't wait to see her beautiful smile, her sparkling eyes, and her perfect body. He hadn't seen her all day because of the stupid superstition of the groom not seeing the bride in her wedding dress before they were married. Vic thought it was stupid, but as soon as Lacey suggested it, he was all for it. She was the only reason that he would actually be dressed up at all. Usually it's a snapback, skinny jeans, and whatever shirt he can find in his closet, brought together with vans. It was always comfortable, and that was what Vic liked. Being comfortable was his main priority. Being calm and relaxed. He had a comfortable income. A comfortable job. A comfortable house. A comfortable relationship. Vic Fuentes had a laid back life, and for that, he was grateful.
Andy Biersack poked his head through the door that had opened a crack, to Vic's surprise. He was only thirteen years old and almost as tall as Vic himself. Vic had taken a liking to Andy as soon as they met, a few years ago, and they had become almost inseparable. The kid was smart for his age, a little too smart, but they never really talked about that kind of stuff. The age difference of eight years was nonexistent between them. Andy would still go out drinking with the group of guys they hung out with; using his fake I.D. that Mike had made them all.
"Hey Vic, man, it's almost time. Mike told me to come get you." His childish voice spoke. Vic found it funny that Andy was so tall already, and yet his voice hadn't matured along with his body just yet. Of course, Andy didn't find it as funny.
"Okay. Tell him that I'll be there in a minute." Vic said, running his hands over his face, through his hair, effectively messing it up. Andy stood in the door, a small smirk gracing his face.
"You messed your hair up, jackass." Andy said with a laugh, clearing the space in between them and smoothing his hair back down. Vic flashed a grateful smile.
"Nerves. Have you seen her yet?" Vic asked shortly, refraining from pushing his hand through his hair again. Instead, he started to pace, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Nope. Anna is an absolute Nazi when it comes to letting people in there. She said that she'll be done soon, though. Which is why you have to get your ass out there." Andy said, returning to his position of leaning against the wall by the door.
"Are you sure that everything is prepared? I mean, is everyone here? How do I look? Oh my God… Am I ready to get married?" Vic asked question after question rapidly, his panic building a knot in his chest. Everyone knew that he had severe anxiety, but Andy knew exactly what to do to fix it, since they had been together for so long. He slapped Vic across the face. Sure, that wasn't exactly the best thing to do for people with anxiety, but he found that it worked as a good distraction for Vic. It always got him to stop thinking about whatever was troubling him at the time. Of course, it only worked when it was a small case of it. Vic stumbled back, holding his reddening face, but he was smiling, on the verge of laughing.
"Andy, my face is going to have a handprint on it for the wedding pictures!" Vic shrieked, but he was laughing now as he flung himself at Andy's lanky form. They both tumbled down, rolling on the ground, laughing hysterically.
"Fuck you, Fuentes!"
"I know you want to."
"Ewe, gross."
"Get off of each other! Victor Vincent Fuentes, Andrew Dennis Biersack, seriously!" A stern voice piped in from the doorway. They stopped rolling around on the ground, breathing heavily. Vic was on top of Andy, pinning his wrists to the ground. Their hair was disheveled, their tuxes ruffled and wrinkled. Oops.
"Andy started it." Vic whined, getting up from the ground and brushing himself off. Andy followed, plopping himself down on the couch. The voice belonged to Anna. Anyone who had seen her had to admit, she was good looking. With eyes so blue that they looked unreal, hair so black it looked like night itself, skin as pale as the moon, she was quite stunning. She was only sixteen, close to Andy's age, but was more responsible than anyone Vic had known. It was quite hilarious, watching the skinny, tall girl boss people around. It was also funny watching Andy struggling to come up with something to say in her presence. It was more entertaining when the whole group of friends went out and teased him about it.
"You two are so stupid; you're supposed to be ready by now." She chided, grabbing both of them by the ears and dragging them to the connecting bathroom. It was a small space, and she was pressed up against Andy and Vic. She didn't seem to notice, or at least she didn't particularly care. But Andy? He looked just about ready to pass out from happiness. Vic mouthed, 'creep' to him, watching as Andy flipped him off while Anna wasn't looking.
"Hold still, Vic." She commanded, fixing his hair. Andy directed his gaze to the pair, shooting Vic a glare from behind her back. She turned around, fixing Andy's as well.
Her bracelets jangled as she tried to tame his hair again. Andy gulped.
"Why do you wear so many bracelets all the time?" Andy asked curiously, obviously trying to get a conversation out of her. Her face flushed red and she turned away, her face shutting down to an emotionless mask.
"None of your business." She shot back angrily, making both Andy and Vic glance at each other. They would definitely have to talk about that little outburst later. Maybe Lacey would know. Lacey. Just her name made Vic want to cry with joy. His fiancé. The woman who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He couldn't wait.
Mike poked his head in the door, yelling for them to hurry up and get in their places.
*
After what seemed like forever, he could finally hear the piano playing the song that signified the coming of his beautiful wife. He was practically bouncing on his heels, excitement pouring from every bone and blood vessel in his body. He couldn't contain the smile that was on his face. Everyone was watching him or the spot where she would be coming out, smiles bright.
Vic started to get nervous. After a few minutes, Liv, Andy's sister, went to go see what was wrong. There were hushed whispers throughout the crowd, rolling like a tidal wave, collecting more and more water until the sound was roaring in his ears.
Liv walked into the room a few seconds after her departure, her demeanor subdued. All color was drained from her face as she walked down the aisle that his Lacey was supposed to be walking down. The roaring in his ears got louder, but everyone was dead silent, paused. No one moved a muscle, no one dared to. The tension was so thick that someone could reach out and grab it.
Vic wished that someone would do something, say something as Liv walked toward him. He felt his heart leap up into his throat, choking him. Everything was spinning. Was she okay? Did she get sick? Maybe she spilled something on her dress? Nothing made sense as Liv stood in front of him, holding out a piece of paper to him. Vic took the piece of paper, he couldn't read a word it said, the words blurred together. Maybe it was because his whole body was shaking, from head to toe, shudder after shudder. His whole body shook and trembled, sparks of color bloomed over his vision.
"I… I c-can't read it." Vic said quietly, but everyone could hear him. He felt like his quiet voice was a scream in the deadly silent room.
"Vic, I'm sorry." Liv said apologetically, tears forming in her green eyes, but Vic didn't know why she was sorry. She took the note back and held it, her lips trying to form words, but nothing came out.
"I… Please, I don't understand, read it, Olivia." He murmured, swaying slightly. He reached out to the podium and held on for dear life.
"I… I can't, Vic." She said softly. She shot Andy a look over her shoulder, and Andy was up in a flash, behind Vic, supporting him, keeping him from tumbling down. Mike snatched the note from Olivia and shoved her away, softly. Everyone seemed to know what was happening, besides Vic.
"Is… Is she hurt? Please, please tell me she's okay. Mike, tell me she's okay. Tell me she's okay!" Vic's voice rose to a hysterical scream, he couldn't seem to catch his breath.
"Vic…" Mike trailed off, knowing that the news would shatter his brother's heart. He wouldn't be the same again. He didn't want to do this to his older brother.
"Read it." Vic said shakily. Even though he was naturally tan, right now he looked paler than the white carpet.
"Vic, I can't be with you anymore. It just wasn't working out." Mike read the hastily scrawled note out loud. There was a moment where the whole world seemed to stop spinning, stop revolving. Everything stopped, and in that moment, something broke that wouldn't be able to be fixed.
Chaos erupted as Vic took off, sprinting at full speed down the aisle and out of the church. Andy, Mike, and Anna followed after him, into the dark woods.
