Dun, dun, dada, dun, dun, dada… Here comes the chapter…
Chapter 20: The Wedding Part I
The night before the wedding was one of the hardest nights of my life. I don't mean because of the many things that had to be done or any unexpected drama. No, saying good-night to Shane that night was the hardest thing I'd had to do in a long time. I had no idea how I was going to handle saying good-bye to him when he left for the tour.
Shane and I stood on the front porch of his parents' house. I had my face buried into his neck and my arms locked tightly around his shoulders. His arms were wrapped securely around my waist, holding me as close as possible. Our legs were tangled and it was hard to identify what belong to who at that point.
"I don't want you to go." I mumbled, again.
"I know, baby. It's tradition." He mumbled back, again.
"Screw tradition." I whined, again.
"No." He laughed, again. This was the fifth time we'd had this conversation in the last 24 hours. Each time I begged, and each time he said no. "I don't want to jinx anything." He explained, again.
"Why are you being superstitious?" I asked for the first time instead of arguing. I pulled my head away from his shoulder to watch him as he answered.
"When my marriage is at stake, I'm not taking any chances." He spoke seriously. "I'm not risking anything causing this to go wrong."
I smiled at him. "Fine." I relented playfully. "I love you." I said softly.
"I love you, too, baby. Now, go." He nudged me toward the door. I kissed him one last time and slipped back into the house. I heard his engine rev a few moments later. Shane was staying at a hotel with the guys for the night, while the girls and I would be staying at the Grey house. This was to ensure that we wouldn't see each other until I walked down the aisle.
I smiled goofily as I leaned against the door. The others came to find me and stopped seeing me smiling the way I was.
"What the heck?" Nicky asked giving me an odd look. "You okay there, Mitchie?"
"I'm amazingly perfect. I'm getting married!" I quietly yelled. I spun around in a circle. "I can't believe it's really happening." I sighed happily. "I mean, I never thought I'd be getting married at 18 to a pop star! Life is so… unpredictable." I was skipping around the house happily.
"Mitchie, did you drink or something? Take any drugs?" Caitlyn asked, confused by my actions. In all honesty, they were expecting a last minute freak out, not a rendition of the Wizard of Oz with all the skipping.
"No!" I laughed but stopped my skipping. "I'm just… incredibly happy." I replied.
"Wow. I want to be that happy!" Anastasia pouted.
"Just wait. You all will be. Hopefully with my boys." I smiled at them. I started spinning in circles again.
"What makes you so sure?" Caitlyn asked.
"Because… when you get married… you'll be… like… I don't know. I just do." I laughed and skipped into the kitchen. They laughed and followed, though not skipping. "Mommy! Mommy 2!"
Mom and Mrs. Grey looked at me oddly. "You alright, Mitchie?"
"Absolutely perfect!" I smiled.
"Is this… normal?" Nicky asked. They nodded.
"I was like that the night before my wedding, too." Mom said.
"So was I!" Mrs. Grey laughed. "Poor Benny kept looking at my mother, saying 'Sara, is she okay? Is she supposed to be like that? Should we call a doctor?'"
"Benny?" Caitlyn and Anastasia asked, while I asked "Sara?"
She smiled and rolled her eyes at herself. "Benny is my brother, Brown. He wasn't known as Brown until he started touring in high school. And Sara is my mother, but Benny's step mother. His mother lived in England. He spent his summers and winter break here with our father. We were quite close for half-siblings." She explained.
"I always wondered that." I said, referring to Mrs. Grey's lack of accent and Brown's ever present one.
"I always thought he was more Australian than English…" Caitlyn commented.
Mrs. Grey laughed. "He is."
"What?" We all asked, now really confused.
"Amber was born and raised in Australia and is Australian by birth. She moved to England for college, met my father, had Benny, returned to Australia for a few years, then decided that England was closer to America. Of course, that was after my father married my mother and said he wanted to have more time with Benny. That just because he was starting a new life didn't mean he would forget the one he already had. Amber would come visit with him occasionally. My mother and her got along very well, since there wasn't much other than friendship that ever transpired besides sex between my father and her. She was like a second mother at times. You should all know that blood doesn't always make a family."
"Yeah." We all said smiling at each other. "You learn something knew everyday." I said cheekily.
"Okay, girls, off to bed. I don't care if 3 of you are over 18. We want you to be bright eyed and beautiful tomorrow. We have to be at the salon at by 7." Mom shooed us out of the kitchen and toward the stairs.
"Cait?" I whispered from my side of Shane's bed. She mumbled something but turned to look at me. "Do you think everything is going to be fine?"
She smiled, now more awake. "Absolutely. You two manage to overcome everything you've ever dealt with. And if you meant the wedding specifically, well, yeah. And if it's not, oh well. It'll be like graduation. It'll work out in the end. Remember?"
"I'm going to kill you if it rains tomorrow." I threatened playfully.
She laughed. "Rain on your wedding day is supposed to be good luck."
"Except my reception is outside, Cait." I reminded her.
"Oh, right." She laughed a bit more. "Oh well."
"Thanks, Cait." I said softly, before falling asleep with thoughts of Shane and my wedding filling my head.
At exactly 6 am the following morning, the alarm went off, wakening all of us. I heard various other alarms go off with a three minute span through out the relatively silent house. We all sleepily got up and began getting dressed. I pulled on a tank top I'd gotten at my bachelorette party, reading 'Bride' across the front in studded diamonds. Caitlyn laughed as I pulled on Shane's sweat pants with it.
Everyone was getting really into the wedding, and all had personalized shirts stating their position: Maid of Honor, Mother of the Bride/Groom, Bridesmaid. We didn't actually have a flower girl or a ring bearer, though.
"Girls! Let's go!" Mrs. Grey yelled up the stairs. We all filed down the stairs, mostly in sweat pants. Caitlyn, Nicky, and Anastasia piled into Anastasia's car, while I went in Mrs. Grey's with Mom.
Mom kept looking back at me. "What's up, Mom?"
"It seems like just yesterday you were my little baby who was afraid of boys. Now you're getting married." She sighed.
Mrs. Grey smiled. "You've come a long way from the 16 year old I met 2 years ago." She added. I smiled, biting my lip. "I can't believe my baby grew up so much in 2 years," She sighed. "I never saw him in a serious relationship, much less getting married."
"Yeah." I agreed.
When we pulled up at the salon, Jayden and a photographer were waiting. I was a tad confused, since Jayden had been doing all of the photography so far. As if reading my mind, she explained. "There's going to be too much going on for me to take pictures and take notes."
"Oh. Okay, well, we have to go in and get all beautified for the wedding." I giggled.
Caitlyn stage whispered to Jayden, "She's loosing her mind. She's way too happy."
"I'm just excited." I pouted playfully as we entered.
"I need the maid of honor, here." The main stylist said pointing to a seat. "The bridesmaids, here. Mothers over here. And lastly, the bride right here." As I sat down, he said he'd be right back and went over to the other stylists. "She's going to have a bump in front of the headband, and then criss crossing twists pulled up into a pony with curls cascading out." I assumed he was talking about Anastasia. "This one's hair is going to be side parted flat and pinned with the headband in the front, and her natural curls in the back. The same for this one, except her curls are going to be pinned to the sides of her face in the front." He spoke of Nicky and Caitlyn respectively. Mom and Mrs. Grey were fairly easy to be done.
"Now, you, Mrs. Grey-to-be, we are going to pin the top of you up in twists, and then curl you, correct?" I smiled and nodded. "Good. Now, the hair will take the longest on your since we have to do twists and curl this beautifully straight mane of yours. The nail artist will most likely do your nails while I finish your hair. Then we'll do all of the make-up and you'll be beautiful." He paused. "Well, more beautiful." I chuckled as he began my hair.
I saw the girls hair in the mirror occasionally, but didn't really get a good look until we were all finished. My nails were done while my hair was finished, and then my make-up. We decided on simple French manicures for our nails, since none of us usually wore professionally done nails. My make-up was soft yet smoky around my eyes. A creamy gold eye shadow laid beneath a shimmery gray liner. The girls were similar, with a soft, almost white, green instead of the gold. Our lips were tainted in brighter tones of our natural lip colors.
"And, done." The stylist stepped back to admire his work as Jayden's photographer took a few final pictures. He'd been taking pictures through out and I could only imagine at the time what they looked like. I know we were all making faces at him.
When I finally saw the girls, they all looked amazing. Their hair was all done how it was supposed and how each of them had wanted. The head bands weren't on yet, as they might have looked a bit weird as we were walking around, but a small plastic headband that would hide under the real one kept the hairstyles in place instead.
The photograph took a few pictures of us together, smiling and laughing together before Mom and Mrs. Grey ushered us out of the salon again. By now it was eleven o'clock and we had to begin getting ready for my 2 o'clock wedding.
We headed to the church, where I would be getting ready. I was alone as I slipped on my wedding dress, zipping it up about halfway, unable to do the rest.
"Oh my…" Mom's voice trailed off as she came into the room. I was standing in my wedding dress, simply staring at my reflection. It fit me perfectly, better than the first one had. "You look amazing." She gushed.
I smiled at her. "Thanks. I'm not even done yet. Could you zip me the rest of the way?" She smiled and did so for me.
She didn't say much else as she helped me put on my shoes. The girls all came in a moment later. "Here." Anastasia handed me my missing garter. I slipped it up my leg having initially forgotten it. Shane was going to have a heart attack by the end of the night, I was sure. "Something blue." I giggled.
Reaching over me, Anastasia took my bracelet off of my wrist, and Caitlyn slipped her charm bracelet from Jason off of her wrist and placed it into my hand. She smiled saying, "Something borrowed." I smiled back.
"Something old?" Nicky asked looking toward my mother.
I smiled as Mom spoke softly, "Veil time." I nodded, looking straight ahead as Mom placed her veil on my head. It would cover my face before the wedding while the back hung to about the middle of my back. The bottom edge was tapered in a beautiful lace design. The once white veil now had a slightly aged tint to it, but matched the dress amazingly.
"Wow." They all gasped.
I smiled at myself. I did look amazing. The way every bride should feel she looks on her wedding day. Teasingly, I commented, "What? Nothing new?"
As I said this, Mrs. Grey came into the room. "That's where I come in." She said handing me flat square box. "A gift from Shane." She explained.
I read the tiny note attached to the box. Dear Mitchie, I thought you could use a new necklace for today. I hope you like it. It's has that old look you have going, but it's new, too. Like our love. It will last forever but constantly be changing and growing while keeping true. I'll be seeing you in a little while since you weren't being given this until you were almost done getting dressed. All my love, Shane.
I smiled and pulled up the box. I gasped as I looked over the gorgeous necklace he'd given me. It was a pearl necklace with gold quatrefoil accents, with the largest in the center holding a larger pearl dangling from it. Small stones sat in tiny clusters in the heart of the quatrefoils, which were being separated by single pearls.
I was on the verge of crying and Mom must have noticed. "No, no crying yet." She said taking the necklace from my hands. She brushed my hair out of her way and clasped the necklace around my neck. I smiled at how perfectly it completed me that day.
It was when I finally looked at my girls head on, that I realized they were all wearing matching pearl chokers. I shook my head, thinking of how wonderful my husband and friends were.
A few moments later, Dad knocked on the door. "Girls, we're getting ready to line up when you're ready." The girls all smiled at me, hugging me individually and made their way out. Mrs. Grey hugged me and followed them as well.
"I love you." Mom said hugging me the longest.
"I love you, too." I whispered as we pulled apart. Dad came in as Mom left.
"Hey, baby girl." He said softly.
"Hi, Daddy." I smiled brightly.
"You ready?" He asked.
"As I'll ever be." I admitted nervously.
"Mitchie, no father ever wants to see his baby grow up and get married and leave him behind. But when it does happen, they want to make sure that their baby is going to be happy and loved and taken care of. I know Shane will be able to do all of that for you."
"Daddy." I cried, hugging him tightly, careful not to actually cry. He hugged me tightly.
"I love you, Mitchie. And you can always come to us if you need help. I know you probably won't, but if you do. Just know that we are always there for you. Always."
"I love you, too, Dad." I said happily.
Dad stepped back and offered me his arm. I smiled and we made our way out of the room, and to the back of the line, waiting for the music to begin.
I looked over my bridesmaids and smiled, seeing their yellow rose bouquets which matched my white roses. Nate and Jason stood with our mothers, their top hats in place, just as I wanted. I wasn't visible to anyone yet, but I could see out into the church. My eyes swept over the beautiful white sashes decorating the pews with bunches of sunflowers tied to the bows. My eyes rested on the front of the church, though. Shane was standing nervously at the alter with Kevin standing next to him. We had decided that it would be best for the bridesmaids to enter alone, since two thirds of the bridal party were dating and they wouldn't be align correctly. They would all remain standing by the alter until I reached Shane. Then we would all be seated during the mass.
The music started and everyone moved to the now closed doors except for my father and I. The doors opened and Jason escorted Mrs. Grey while Nate escorted Mom to their seats before taking their own places at the alter. Jason stood beside Kevin with Nate bringing up the rear of the groomsmen.
Next, Nicky walked down the aisle. I watched her head turn ever so slightly to the right. When her eyes most likely met Riley's, her head snapped forward again. I smiled sadly, still upset that Nicky was denying them both of what they truly wanted. But, this was my wedding and I wasn't going to let sad thoughts upset me.
After Nicky was Anastasia. I watched Jason's eyes light up as he saw her. She took her place next to Nicky, one step higher on the alter, across from Jason. Lastly, Caitlyn made her way down. Nate seemed to be lost in his own world as he watched her. I had a feeling he was imagining her in a wedding gown and not a bridesmaid's dress.
The doors closed again and the music changed. I bit my lip nervously as Dad and I waited for the door to open once more. Once they did, I saw everyone standing, awaiting my arrival. I took one last calming breath and stepped off with my father. When my eyes locked with Shane's all of my nerves disappeared. I smiled brightly at him.
When I reached the steps, my father presented me to the pastor. "Who gives this bride away?" He asked.
"Her mother and I." My father said smiling happily. He lifted my veil and kissed my cheek. Shane took my hand from my father and smiled the biggest smile I'd ever seen from him. "You look amazing." He mouthed to me as the pastor spoke.
"You may be seated." Pastor Jonas addressed the entire church. Shane and I were separated again until it was time for our vows.
When it was finally time for us to be married, Pastor Jonas brought us to the alter. "Shane, Michaela." Shane chuckled as I clutched his hand tightly instead of grimacing at my name. "Michaela, Shane requested that you read your vows first."
I glared at him slightly. "Jerk." I mouthed to him. "Shane," I began, "Time seems to have no way of binding us. The two years we've known each other have felt like a lifetime already. And I'm ready to live a real lifetime with you. Through everything that comes our way. Whether it be tours or serious problems. I promise to take you, Shane Adam Grey, as my husband to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from now until eternity for even death cannot stop our love." The beauty of being a singer? You can remember your vows without having to read them.
Shane smiled at me. "Mitchie, people believe you changed me and in a way, you did. Though you just showed me who I used to be. You've given me back so many things I'd lost along the way. I owe you so much. With you to ground me, I won't ever be the person you first met, ever again. I want to give you everything in this world I can. I don't think I can ever give you as much as you've given me. I want you to be happy. I never want you to want. I want to love you until long after I am gone. Without you, there is no me, and nothing in this world can make me as happy as you do. I take you, Michaela Theresa Torres, as my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from now until Kingdom come." I blinked away my tears at his words. He wasn't lying when he said he ruined his vows. But they still meant just as much.
"Are there any present who object to this marriage?" When no one spoke up, he smiled and looked at Shane. "Shane, do you take Michaela Theresa, to be your lawfully wedded wife, for ever more until death do you part?" He smiled, holding my hand tightly.
"I do." He said grinning.
"Michaela, do you take Shane Adam to be your lawfully wedded husband, for ever more until death do you part?"
I nodded excitedly. "I do."
"The rings?" The pastor asked. Kevin and Caitlyn handed over the rings. "Shane, repeat after me. With this ring,"
"With this ring," Shane said, holding the ring at the tip of my finger.
"I thee wed."
Slipping the ring the rest onto my finger, Shane finished, "I thee wed."
"Michaela, repeat after me. With this ring,"
Nervously, I placed Shane's ring onto his finger. "With this ring,"
"I thee wed."
I smiled. "I thee wed."
"By the power vested in me by our holy father, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride." Shane wasted no time in kissing me. That kiss rivaled our first kiss, perhaps tying for best kiss of my life. "Dearly gathered, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Shane Grey."
We smiled happily as we walked back down the aisle together. Caitlyn and Nate, Jason and Anastasia, and Nicky and Kevin followed us quickly.
I was officially Mrs. Shane Grey.
Part II will be up as soon as I write. This took Allison and I quite a bit of time and research and without her, this would have been all sorts of screwed up. Lol. Oh, and Mitchie's necklace is linked in my profile. Thanks to Allison.