Chapter Seven
Things were hectic. It was two weeks before the wedding. I had a final dress fitting. My online classes were kicking my butt and the guys were still on tour. We were at a local bridal shop where my dress had been tailored and the bride maids' dresses were picked out. The girls had a fitting as well.
"I wish I had your dress," Bryn frowned looking at the purple, strapless, knee length dress that Shavonne was wearing.
Shavonne put her hands on her hips, "I wish you did too. I look like Barney." Bryn's dress was made in the same style but it was dark gold.
My cousin, Brianna, stifled a laugh, "I don't think you look bad." The dresses were cute, but Shavonne had an aversion to all things purple.
"I love my dress Justice," Sofia twirled playfully in the gold dress. It was made similar to Shavonne and Bryn's dresses on the skirt was ruffled and slightly puffy.
"Me too," Katie nodded looking in the mirror. "And just to be clear, I am walking with Niall right?"
I rolled my eyes and nodded tiredly, "Yes Katie you are walking in with Niall." I wasn't feeling well and Katie had been asking me the same pestering question for a month.
"I'm glad you gave Bri purple and not me," my sister Aerial snapped. When I stared at her with an empty expression she crossed her arms. "What's wrong with you?"
I shook my head, "I don't feel good."
My mom shook her head, "She's stressing herself. Everything is okay Jay." She was right. I was stressing myself. It was so bad that sometimes I got physically sick. This was too much. A trip to the courthouse would have worked just fine.
When the fitting was done we went to Rosa Cantina for lunch. I probably didn't need to fatten Mexican food, but I was going to the gym daily. When my mom, step-mom, and both grandmothers left the table Shavonne leaned forward.
"What are we doing for your bachelorette party?" she asked in a low voice.
"Oh Jay wants something simple," my aunt informed everyone. They all groaned.
"That means no strippers," I added. "Unless Channing Tatum himself is available and can do all of his dances from Magic Mike."
Katie laughed, "I'll get right on that."
Aerial shook her head, "Y'all nasty." She took a sip of her sweet tea. We finished lunch and parted ways. I ended up going to Shavonne's house just to blow off some steam on the Wii. We played about four rounds of Just Dance before Shavonne called it a quits. We went into their dining room slash office and got on the computer.
"You know I don't get on Facebook for real," Shavonne stated as she logged into her account. "I never see anything but mess."
"That's how it works," I agreed. "Facebook is like the hood news." She laughed, "No lie. Some of the things people say are like whatever." I said as we looked at the news feed. There were several article links. One caught my attention. It read; Mother of the Groom Does Not Approve. I groaned at the obvious lie. Anne had been a huge help to me while planning. She and Gemma were flying in to Nashville tomorrow when the rest of us were leaving. Thinking of our travel plans I looked at Shavonne with curious eyes, "Have you packed?"
"Girl you know me." She logged off. "I'm going to pack now."
"I'll talk to you later," I left her house and headed home. Thinking about how my life had changed and was still changing. This was new territory I was stepping in, but there was no turning back now.
We were in Nashville three days before the guys finally got there much to my relief. I was in the suite that I was sharing with my mom, Aretha, and Shavonne when someone knocked on the door early in the morning. I pulled myself out of bed looking over at snoring Shavonne who was knocked out in her bed. Dragging myself into the common room and to the door. My hair was piled high on top of my head in a bun. I wore pink, blue, and silver plaid pajama shorts and black camisole. It was not a pretty site altogether. Yet I didn't care as I yanked opened the door wondering who was up at six o'clock in the morning.
Harry's green eyes stared at me as a smile came across his face, "Good morning." He grabbed me in a hug.
"When did you get here?" I asked wrapping my arms around his neck.
"About an hour ago. We flew straight here after the final concert." He gave me a quick kiss. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, but I kind of need my sleep." Harry chuckled and kissed my forehead softly.
"See you later." I watched him walked down the hallway. Suddenly everything felt right. I wasn't so stressed.
We finally settled on having the long overdue engagement party the night before the wedding. After the rehearsal, we had dinner, and then we transitioned into party mode. The dinner was interesting. It was the first we were altogether; my weird mix of family and friends.
"Look at that," Katie nudged me at the dinner. She was referring to Kari who was sitting with Niall and, get this, eating his food. I snapped a picture before they noticed.
JayQuin94: Nialler shares food with Kari. /p/pg845vje0
"That girl knows secret that we don't know," I joked. It was a good night. The party was fun. It wasn't wild or over the top. Plus it was over by two since we all had to wake early the next morning.
The morning of the wedding the jitters set in. As I sat in the chair while Willy, my mom's hairstylist did my hair all I could think about was what I was about to do.
"I always knew you would get married first," my older stepsister, Quanza, stated as she watched Willy work. I smiled at her before she turned away. "Akira don't do that," she fussed at my energetic niece as she walked off.
My mom walked over looking misty eyed. She didn't say anything, which I was glad for. I couldn't handle the waterworks.
The ceremony was supposed to start at two. By one o'clock we were all dressed. I felt my hands shaking and breathed slowly.
"We won't to give this two you," Aretha announced as my mom placed a silver heart pendant necklace on my neck. "We want to let you know that we love you."
"And we're so proud of you," my mom added fighting her tears. I hugged them both too scared to speak.
At exactly two o'clock Rosa cued the music, "Bride maids!" she called into the large room we were occupying in the building we were using. The girls filed out. I wish I could have seen them, but I knew I would have to wait to watch the recording. They went out in a certain order after the moms made their entrance; Brianna and Tyrique, Aerial and Caleb, Shardai and Darien, Bryn and Liam, Shavonne and Zayn, Katie and Niall, and finally way Sofia and Louis. Next were the flower girls Kari and Lux. Then it was my turn. My dad was waiting in hallway looking handsome in his tuxedo. As we headed towards the large room were the ceremony was being held he kissed y cheek.
"You look beautiful princess," and then we were there. I was walking down aisle with the white runner decorated with the purple and gold flower petals. There were ten rows of chairs on each side decorated formally. The grooms men and bride maids stood on the floor in front of the stage. The maids were on my left and the men on my right. I took in the beauty of it all. The stage was positioned just right in the corner so that not too much light was given off from the glass walls. It was even beautifully decorated outdoors where the reception was to be held. And as Harry stepped forward to take my hand I knew that this couldn't be anymore perfect. It was easy to smile while the pastor spoke.
"Harold and Justice have prepared their own vows," he announced. "Justice you may start."
I took in a deep breath and looked straight into Harry's eyes, "You made quite an impression even before I met you. Then when I met you there was something in your smile that made me want to know even more about you, if that was even possible." Everyone laughed. "During the process of getting to know you I began to love you, although I think I kind of already had that covered. You may not be perfect, but you're perfect for me. You understand me better than anyone else. You know that when I say I'll do most of the work it's code for I'm too lazy to do something for myself." Harry chuckled, "But most importantly you make me feel safe and wanted. And I love you for it." I smiled shyly.
The pastor nodded at Harry and he turned back to me, "Even though I nearly knocked you over at the airport you still treated me like any other person. And when you finally remembered your name I knew you were special. The way you can handle the craziness of my life is one of the many reasons I need you. You are perfect. You're too perfect for me and I love you Justice." His vows blew mine out of the water.
The pastor continued the ceremony. We exchanged rings, said I do, and sealed it all with a kiss. Then there was applause, cheering, and smiling as we made our exit and moved to the reception. Family and friends coming to congratulate us, pictures being taken from everywhere, and more was happening. Rosa announced the first dance and Harry led me to the floor. My eyes brightened when I recognized the beginning of Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran. I looked towards the stage and there the ginger singer was.
"You remembered," I smiled up at Harry as we slowly moved to the music.
"Couldn't forget even if I wanted to," he kissed me. Before we were even officially a couple I had mentioned that my dream first dance at my wedding would be to Kiss Me and Ed Sheeran would perform it.
The dance had ended and dinner was being served when Louis and Zayn with Niall and Liam close behind. We all grew quiet curious as to what they were going to say.
"When I first met Justice I thought she was little odd," Louis began.
"She had a picture of me on her phone," Zayn added. "Plus the laptop background that Harry showed me." I looked down embarrassed.
"But she helped up win a pretty competitive football game," Louis continued. "Not that is was hard to do. Harry knows nothing about playing the sport."
Liam stepped forward, "Technically we were all distracted by the sudden lack of rules."
Niall nodded, "Katie you're an awful referee."
"Come on lads back to the important part," Louis said grabbing the mic. Everyone laughed. "Once she beat everyone in a dancing game I knew she was too good for Harry, so lad you better hold on to her."
Zayn took the mic, "Harry is a cool guy. I'm glad you finally found the girl you were looking for. American you're stuck with us now." I rolled my eyes at the nickname he gave me from day one.
"Haz congratulations," Liam smiled. "Oh, and Justice, I will probably make you sing again."
Finally Niall got in his last remark, "Harry and Justice you're pretty cool together." They left the stage as Katie and Sofia approached.
"Well I've known Justice since tenth grade and she was always a little over the top." Sofia winked at me. "Shavonne and I just knew that she would end up with a professional athlete. Maybe Harry will improve on those soccer skills." She stepped back so Katie could talk.
"When I met Justice she wasn't nearly the obsessed One Direction fan that she is today," everyone laughed. "I just want to take credit for getting us all here. If I hadn't dragged Justice to London, Harry wouldn't have nearly knocked her over in an airport."
Sofia laughed, "We just want to wish you two luck and many years of happiness." Everyone applauded.
The reception continued on before all One Direction took the stage. They were all holding microphones and their band was getting settled.
"Well this is kind of cheesy, but I think it fits the situation." Harry announced smiling directly at me. "I love you Justice." The music began.
Baby I, I wanna know what you think when you're alone.
Is it me yeah? Are you thinking of me yeah?
We've been friends now for a while.
I wanna know that when you smile.
Is it me yeah. Are you thinking of me yeah?
Girl what would you do?
Would you want to stay if I were to say I wanna be last.
Yeah baby let me your let me be your last first kiss.
I wanna be first yeah.
I wanna be the first take it all the way like this.
And if you only knew.
I wanna be last yeah baby let me your last.
Your last first kiss.
