Chapter 9: Planning

It was a depressing Thursday in March, when Isaac and Kayla were trying to find cover from the rain. They had spent the past 3 hours finding a wedding dress for Kayla, and even though Isaac continued to tell her she looked beautiful, she still was the fussiest bride-to-be on the face of the earth. Finally they found another shop, and walked in, leaving a drenched umbrella by the door.

"Hello, can I help you?" asked an employee, faking a smile and hoping for a sale.

Isaac was about to say they were fine before Kayla cut in.

"We are having a small wedding. Nothing fancy. So I want just a simple, elegant dress, nothing big, fancy and ridiculous." Said Kayla, smiling.

"Dear God!" thought the salesman, "Not another couple who can't afford to buy anything worth selling.

"I have a few in mind." Said the salesman, beckoning them towards a section of the store. Unlike the rest of the dresses, these ones where simple, not too extreme.

"So when is your wedding?" asked the salesman, desperate to find out how poor these people were.

"19th of April. In a small clearing in the forest south of the city." Said Kayla excitedly, "The place where he proposed."

"They can't even afford to hire out a church?" thought the salesman.

Kayla walked over to a shelf, and Isaac found a seat. They spent the next few hours having a look at the dresses.

As Kayla was changing from one dress to another, the salesman walked over to Isaac.

"It's not too often that we have the groom giving the second opinion. Usually to bride brings close friends or family." Enquired the salesman.

"We aren't inviting many friends to the wedding. Just a few close friends and family. We didn't want to risk insulting her friends by inviting them to help decide, then not invite them to the wedding. And as for family, she is an only child, and her parents moved interstate when she went to college. As much as I don't mind, she insists that the dress be something I like as well, so we came together." Explained Isaac, starting to show signs of a full day.

"How does this one look?" said Kayla as she walked out of the change rooms. She wore a long, cream coloured dress, with swirling patterns stitched into the side.

"This is your day Kayla. Do you like it?" Asked Isaac.

"To be honest…" Kayla started, Isaac fearing they may be looking for another three hours, "I love it."

Isaac gave a sigh of relief.

"It's perfect," He said. He wasn't lying. In his opinion, it was the best one they had seen all day. But what did he know about dresses?

"So should I get this one?" asked Kayla.

"If it's what you want, then we will get it." Isaac said.

Kayla smiled and went back into the change rooms.

Ten minutes later, and $1500 later, Isaac and Kayla left the store, and walked through the wet street towards Isaac's car. As they were driving home, Isaac noticed Kayla's silence.

"Is something wrong?" asked Isaac, "I have known you for nearly five years, and you are never silent."

"It's nothing?" replied Kayla. Isaac feared the worst.

"Don't you like the dress?"

"No I love it. I just don't like the price-tag." She said looking at Isaac.

"Don't worry Kayla, the price of it doesn't worry me."

"Isaac, how much money do you have left in your account from the handyman jobs?" asked Kayla.

Isaac was silent. He considered lying, but realised that what a mistake that would be.

"$350."

"What? How are we supposed to live with just $350? With you not being paid for your work, we won't be able to afford a roof over our heads!" said Kayla.

"Calm down, I have a plan. I won't say anything yet, I don't want to give you false hope."

Realising Isaac was only thinking of her, Kayla apologized, and thanked him for paying for the wedding dress.

Isaac dropped her off at home, then drove to the café that Asher told him to meet at.

"Do you think you can do it?" asked Isaac.

"Yes. Should be easy enough. You and Kayla pack your things before the wedding, and have them packed in your car on the edge of the forest where the wedding is being held. Once the wedding is over, you and Kayla leave. Go to wherever you plan on going. Change your names, and begin your new lives together." Said Asher.

"And they won't find me?" Isaac asked.

"No. The Chief knows we are good friends. He will get me to investigate your disappearance. I will go along with it, and feed them false information, with the occasional true bit. I will let you know in advance so you can stay hidden when someone is sent to investigate."

"Thanks Asher, I owe you big time." Said Isaac.

"You gave me a second chance at life. It is the least I could do." Said Asher, putting his hand into his pocket, "By the way, you may find these useful."

He handed Isaac 4 cards. 2 debit cards and 2 drives licenses. Each labelled with Isaac Smith and Kayla Smith.

"I explained to dad what was happening. He still works at the bank. He agreed that he will transfer all your money to these accounts." Explained Asher.

"Wow you have really outdone yourself this time Asher." Laughed Isaac.

Asher checked his watch, and saw that his lunchbreak was over. He left the café, and drove back to the station.

Next person Isaac wanted to visit was James. Isaac drove to the warehouse, and after parking his car, walked over to the lift. As he stood out, he had a strange feeling. He could feel the presence of the water in the channel in front of him, but could feel another presence to his left. Heading towards him. Isaac lifted his right hand, and stopped the ice spear that were heading towards him

"James, I know you are just being careful, but this is just getting ridiculous." Isaac yelled out. James stood out from behind a corner to Isaac's left.

"Good thing you are a quick thinker, otherwise I would have impaled you. Twice." Laughed James.

"Anyway, the reason why I am here, I have a few waterbending questions." Asked Isaac.

"Fire away, I'm an open book." Said James smiling.

"When I was bloodbending, I could control the water in people's bodies, to the point where I had complete control over them…" started Isaac.

"If you have started bloodbending again, I will kill you here and now." Said James, suddenly turning serious.

"Firstly, I would like to see you try. And Secondly, no I am not bloodbending. Anyway, is it possible to do the same with plants? Manipulate the way they grow and levitate them?"

"Yes it is. Back in the days of the 100 year war, there were a tribe of waterbenders that learnt to do this. They manipulated the swamp vines around them." Said James.

"Thanks that was all I wanted to know. Will I see you at the wedding next month?" asked Isaac.

"Wouldn't miss it." said James, as her turned around and went home.

Isaac had one thing left to do that day.

"I will be home in time for dinner baby. I got to go, I am losing reception. Love you." Said Isaac, as he hung up his phone, then parked his car. He got out of the car and walked into the forest where he proposed to Kayla, and where in a few weeks, he would be marrying her. Eventually he found the clearing, and put his plan into action.

Isaac ran his fingers along the patch of grass towards the north end of the clearing, cutting into the earth, making a rectangle. Isaac pulled the grassy rectangle out of the earth, and threw it over the trees. Isaac heard it crash a couple of hundred meters away. Isaac raised the earth beneath what he just cut out, until he had a platform above the ground. From the platform, Isaac raised an arch above it.

Isaac ran his finger along the arch, cutting into it. Grooves curled around the pillars. Next he ran his fingers along the base, small grooves appearing in the stone base, creating floral patterns. After that, Isaac stomped a foot on the ground. The top half of the platforms edges broke off, creating what looked like a 2 tier platform. Lastly Isaac pulled the water from his bag, and the box with the little bottles of food dye. Isaac pulled the water from the bottle, and placed it in the grooves in the base. He opened the little bottles of food dye, and pulled that from the bottle, into the water, colouring the floral patterns. Making sure to keep the dyes separate Isaac had one last thing to do. He pulled up tiny walls of earth to stop the colours mixing together, then froze the water.

Isaac stood back and looked at the altar he made. Impressed with his work, he had one last thing to do. He opened his bag and pulled a packet of seeds. Grabbing a handful, he threw them on the ground, making sure they were evenly spread. Isaac left, finally ready for the big day.