"I love you, Monster Girl." His breath is warm against my ear; and his arms, wrapped firmly around my waist are warm, I'd forgotten how good it feels to be surrounded by warmth. We are dancing, and it's one of those really slow songs about love and general sappiness, the kind that you only hear at weddings or really bad dances. Normally I would hate this kind of music, or use it to get a good laugh, but right now it feels right. Of course, with my arms around his neck and his hands at my waist how could it not feel right?
People are clapping around us, and I'm distantly aware of my mother crying, but only distantly. I can't concentrate on anything, not when his eyes, those beautiful green eyes, are staring into mine. Slowly we continue to sway back and forth to the music, we wouldn't win a dance contest, but then again, we're not trying to. I can't believe that I ever resisted this, ever resisted him.
"I love you, too, Trevor Mitchell." Somewhere in the background there is Alexander, I'm sure of it, he wouldn't miss my wedding, not Alexander. Slowly more people filter out onto the dance floor, Matt and Becky are dancing next to us, and I grin. I always thought that I would be dancing with Alexander on my wedding day, I never even considered an alternative, and it's always been him. I never saw other guys, at least not really, but I'm glad that we took that year off, glad that he gave me this opportunity, glad that I gave Trevor a chance. Very glad that I'm now Mrs. Trevor Mitchell, very glad that I said yes, that I gave myself that break.
Trevor's hands tighten at my waist and I look up, Alexander is there, he wants to dance, Trevor will let him. Suddenly his warmth is replaced by a cool iciness, and I am no longer looking into cool green eyes, in their place are a beautiful blue. It's like stepping into the past, it's not exactly pleasant, but it's not unwelcome either.
"I'm glad you came." I'm surprised at how honest the words are, how much I mean them. Sure, I don't fantasize about marrying Alexander anymore; I gave that up three years ago, but, that doesn't mean that I don't still care about him. It doesn't mean that somewhere deep inside I don't still love him, because I have a feeling I do, the only thing that has really changed since then is my love for Trevor. It's stronger than anything I have ever felt before, and it's amazing, truly amazing, but still there is love for Alexander, he's my first love, and I'm sure that somewhere deep down he'll always be there.
"I'm glad I came too," His eyes bore into mine, "I have to ask you, are you happy? Does he make you happy?"
I nod, I don't even have to think, "He does, and I am, I really am, Alexander. This is the happiest I've been in a long time." I smile, "How about you? How have you been?"
"I've been good, I'd be better if we were still together, but I'm okay. I've been taking care of Stormy a lot lately, hanging with her, and then there's Luna, she's not like you." His bluntness surprises me, "She's nothing like you, I still love you, Raven."
I swallow, "Alexander, we can't, I love Trevor, I'm married to him now, you have to say goodbye." I didn't want it to come to that, but there are no other options, I have to let go of the past, make way for the future. "Maybe you'd better go."
"Why? Because I still love you?" He is somewhere between confusion and anger, it is breaking my heart, but he's not my Alexander anymore, he's with Luna and I'm with Trevor, and he has to accept that. He just has to. "Is it really so wrong of me to still be in love with you? Raven, you're the only girl that I've ever loved, I'm sorry if I have difficulties letting go of that."
"Alexander, I think you need to leave, this goes beyond all of us, I've moved on, and you need to do the same." I pull away but he grabs my wrist too tightly to get more than few steps back. "You're hurting me, let go."
Trevor steps in, "Let go of her, Sterling." He makes a move to slap away his hand, but Alexander lets go of me just before it hits him. Trevor moves to stand beside me. "You okay?"
"Yeah," I shake my head, "Just startled, that's all."
"You need to get out of here, Sterling." Trevor's arm is around me now, and I can't help but lean into it, somehow I feel protected when I'm in his arms. It doesn't matter that Alexander is a vampire who could kill Trevor with a flick of his wrist, Trevor's arms are the ultimate safe haven, as long as they are around me I am untouchable.
"This has nothing to do with you, Trevor." Alexander isn't trying to be calm now, he's all but yelling, "Just stay out of it!"
I flinch in Trevor's arms, put up a finger to shush him, if I don't then he'll create even more of a scene than Alexander already has, and he has more to lose than Alexander will ever have. "Alexander, stop it! Just leave, okay? Just go."
"Why, Raven? Why do you want to be with him so much, what is it that you're not telling me?" Everybody is staring now, and I know that Trevor is about to snap, I do not need this right now. I really don't, I want him out of here.
"I'm pregnant. Okay, Alexander Sterling? Is that a good enough answer for you? I'm pregnant, and it's Trevor's, and I love him more than I ever loved you. Is that a good enough answer for you?" Everyone in the building is staring, and Alexander's expression is grief stricken as he turns to leave. "That's what I thought." I mutter.
