Chapter 2:
[Lightning's POV]
When I woke, Fang was already gone. I washed the tired away with a shower, and proceeded to the kitchen for my daily coffee. A note tacked on the refrigerator caught my attention before I could finish making my coffee.
'Claire,
Didn't want to wake you, you were so cute sleeping. Anyways, off at work, and I swear I'll be home tonight. We'll talk later. I love you.
Fang'
A smile broke out, and I finished making my coffee. It was Saturday, which meant it was my day off. I felt the cat brush up on my leg. Lifting her up, I hugged her tightly. "I betcha you want some food, huh?" She meowed in response, almost like she actually knew what I was saying. I fed her, then retreated back to the bedroom to get ready. After all, I had promised I'd go with Serah to the church today.
I hated churches. I was never a very religious person to begin with, and those crazy people who would force their religion upon you made me like it even less.
"Okay, Father! Thank you!" I could hear Serah's squealing from inside as I stood on the top of the steps, waiting for her to come out. When she exited, we trailed down the front steps, Serah squealing the entire walk to the car.
"Oooh, only one more week left, Claire! I can't believe I'm actually getting married!" She closely resembled a child on Halloween night, the excitement practically seeping through her pores.
I still hadn't really come to terms with this yet. Serah was my delicate baby sister barely reaching five feet tall. And then Snow was this monstrous thing about six and a half feet tall. He was loud, obnoxious, arrogant and over-confident. I hated him, but there was no denying how happy he made Serah, and how happy he was with her. Though I'd never consider him a brother, if Serah was happy, then I was happy. And that was all that mattered.
I swear to God, she must have been reading my thoughts.
"Aww, Claire, you still hate him don't you?" I could feel her puppy-dog eyes boring holes into my back.
"Serah, I'm sorry. He's just….annoying. But he makes you happy, and if you're happy, then I'm happy."
She smiled broadly. "Heh, I know Claire. And I love you for being the best big sister in the world!" She quickly put herself in the passenger seat, and I copied.
"Serah, I love you too." The church began slowly fading from view through the mirror, and soon it was gone completely.
-Serah's wedding day-
Serah's wedding had come way too quickly. The morning of her big day, I trudged through the house feeling particularly angry. I slowly took myself to the kitchen. So much was going through my mind. 'Today's the big day; I'm practically giving Serah away to that- that giant THING.' I stopped for a moment. 'No, she's being taken away from me.' I felt the anger and hatred coming back up. It must have shown through my face, because when I entered the kitchen, the first words out of Fang's mouth weren't even 'hello', or 'good morning'.
"Claire, are you still upset because you hate him?" Her hair was already done, but she was still in a bath robe, sipping coffee delicately.
"I don't hate him—Okay, well, maybe I do. But she's happy, and I know that. And that makes me happy. But, I just can't accept that it's him that makes her so happy. Out of all the people in the world, HIM." I began to make myself coffee to try and get all this off of my mind.
"Keep goin', sunshine. I know ya got more on your mind than that."
'What the fuck? How does she always know? Am I the only one who can't read minds or something?'
"I know you got more on ya mind, cause' I can read you like a book."
'Damn, she's good.'
"Yep, I'm good at this." She let out a soft chuckle and sipped her coffee. "Now, keep goin'."
I picked up my finished coffee and sat next to her, placing my head on her shoulder.
"Fang, I'm just…afraid."
"Of what, exactly?"
"Afraid…of losing Serah. She's my baby sister, and I feel like I'm giving her away like some doll. Worse, like she's being taken from me."
Fang placed her strong arm around me, rubbing my arm.
"Now Claire, you're never going to lose her, she's your sister. She's just grown up, and isn't going to need to depend on you anymore now that she's got Snow. Now come on, we gotta start getting' ready. It's almost ten o' clock."
Feeling a bit alarmed at how late I was, I rushed to get ready. Serah had asked me to come with her early to wait for all of the guests to arrive, and the church was almost a half an hour away. The wedding didn't start until 12 pm, but we had to be there by 11:30. That left me only an hour to get ready.
Taking one last look into the mirror looking for anything wrong, I turned to leave the bedroom, but Fang's silhouette startled me. She was standing in the doorway, wearing not a dress, but a loosely fitting white-collared shirt with a sleek tie, dark slacks, and nice black shoes.
"Claire, you look…fantastic."
I gave a badly hidden smile.
"So do you, Fang."
She pulled me into her and planted a strong firm kiss on my lips, and I gratefully returned it.
"Alright, Claire. We gotta head out. If I'm gonna come back for Vanille after I drop you off, we gotta leave soon." I gave her one last, tight hug.
"Okay, let's go."
We pulled into the church, and already Snow was outside, being his arrogant self, talking loudly with Gadot, his best man. His flailing arms were clearly depicting some sort of 'epic battle' he had engaged in. However, he was clean-shaven. It was honestly quite impressing. His long hair was also tied back into a tight pony tail, and his raggedy black cap was missing.
Turning to Fang, I gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "I'll see you in a little bit, when you get back?"
"Sure thing, sunshine."
Stepping out of the car and proceeding up the steps, Serah came running from the church will Snow on her trail.
"Sis! You're here!" It took every bit of restraint I had to not kick him in the kneecaps. Instead, I tossed a quick, simple glance at him.
"Hmm, you clean up well." I quickly turned my attention to Serah, grasping her shoulders gently but firmly. "Serah, you know that when things down work out here—"
"Claire! Can you stop with that stuff already? Please?" The look on her face was stone, and I knew she was serious. But I couldn't help but giggle.
"Right, if things don't work out here, you know you're more than welcome back to Fang and I's apartment. Got it?"
"Claire, I know. Trust me, everything will be fine. Great, actually."
She looked up with me with her crystal blue eyes that were so similar to mine, I felt like I was looking into a mirror. I could see inside of her through her eyes. They told me everything I needed to know, and at that moment it was that she knew what she was doing. She knew she wanted to be with Snow, and I was just going to have to accept that. They showed her slight annoyance as well. We'd had this conversation several times already.
"Serah, I know. But you're still my baby sister, and you always will be. It's hard, giving you away like this. You're the only family I have left and the same goes for you. I care about you Serah, more than anything. I'd tear down the sky for you if I had to." The tension eased up a bit.
"Claire, I know, and I appreciate it greatly. But you don't need to worry so much anymore, Snow will be there for me now, too. And you'll always be my big sister. I love you, Claire."
I pulled her into a tight hug. I couldn't let go, I was still afraid of losing her to Snow, even though I knew she wouldn't be gone completely. "Serah, congratulations. I really am happy for you." I lightened my grip around her and released her. "I just wish Mom and Dad could be here for it."
Serah's head dipped slightly. "Yeah, me too." After that, not a single word was spoken as well entered the church to await the rest of the guests.
I had never been through a longer day. They ceremony had ended only an hour or so ago, but it was already darkening as the sun lowered itself between the trees, turning the sky from pure blue to a deep orange, with hints of pink and purple. The view from the balcony was soothing, and I found myself dozing off a couple of times as my head rested in my hands, perched up by my arms resting on the railing. Before I became too tired to resist the sleep, I felt her longs arms as they made their way around my stomach.
"Ahh, here ya are. I've been lookin' for ya for most of the day, Claire." Fang's voice was suave, and it danced into my ears in sync with the birds' chirps. I leaned back into her, feeling her rock hard, toned body.
"Sorry, I've been out here all day. Just really tired." A relieved sigh found its way out, and I was hoping the wedding would soon end. All I could think about was my nice, comfortable bed back at home.
"Well, there something I really want to as ya'. It's kinda important. Well, really important, actually, I think." Her hands left me and I heard them as they rummaged through her pockets, ruffling her clothes. Her voice sounded nervous, and anxious. I began to think. 'What was there that was so important that she needed to ask me at Serah's wedding?' I suddenly remembered where I was and fell back to reality. 'Oh, please. Don't let it be that. Just not today—' My thoughts were disrupted when she spoke up once more.
"Claire.." Her voice was serious, her usual informal and joking self was gone. It was firm and tense, yet still gentle. She tugged me to the side, away from the balcony's door. I gulped heavily, hoping she hadn't heard it. Slowly, I finally turned to face her.
"Yes, Fang?"
My jaw collapsed. I was dreading this moment, but also couldn't believe it was finally happening. I wanted it, just not now. Just as I had expected, she had gone down on a single knee with a small black box in her hand. She was scared, I could see it. But of what, I didn't know.
"Marry me, Claire?"
I couldn't help it (:
I haven't gotten Chapter 4 typed yet, but as soon as I do I'll upload it.
Again, like every other time, I ask you to leave reviews, and be honest!
Hope you enjoyed (:
And sorry the cat remained nameless, I couldn't think of a name, but I felt they needed a pet.
