I hold onto my siblings tightly, allowing them to strangle me until I can't breathe. Because of Pace and President Rector, I have been in the Capitol longer than I should have been. Jace and Jetta have been seeing less and less of me since I won. Now that I moving to District 1, I may never see them again. A hand is placed on my shoulder. I look up and see the tanned figure of my father.
I jump up and hug the man who I have missed dearly. His hug pulls me from the ground. He still smells like the farm. I can smell the cattle on him and the poultry. Tears fall onto his shoulder as I smell home. He places me back on the ground and wipes my tears away. I gently hug my mother, but I notice a stronger feeling to her. She must have been working in the fields since I left.
"What are you all doing here?" I ask, wiping the remaining tears away.
"Do you think we would miss our daughter's wedding?" My mother asked, and I let out a laugh. "Congratulations on your children!" My mom places a hand on my stomach, and I restrain on telling her about Pace. She must have already known, because she removes her hand as quickly as she placed it on my stomach.
The conversation was all about my wedding. We had everything planned out, from when it started to the ending of the party. No one brought up Pace or the president, which was all I could have asked for. As I went into the elevator, they followed me to my floor. When we arrived, Jace and Jetta ran for Quaid. His face was just like mine when I first saw them step out of the elevator. He swung Jetta onto his back and had her sit on his shoulders. Jace kept jabbering away about the animals on our farm.
My mother took me aside and led me into a different room. She sat me on my bed and sat beside me. Her eyes filled with tears while thinking about something. Her eyes reddened the longer we sat there. Her hand is placed on my back and she begins to use her nails to soothe me.
"I know about what happened a while ago. I am the only one that knows." She says, her voice barely above a whisper.
"How are you the only one that knows?" I ask.
"They were all outside with the animals and I was inside, making lunch. They don't know about the problems your children may be facing." A tear slips from her eye and travels down her face. I reach to wipe it away, but she shoos my hand away.
"Is that why you are here, besides my wedding?" I coax more information out of her. Her head bobs in a way we used back home, meaning that she is confirming my answer.
"Yes. I want to know if you and your children are alright." Her arms encase me in a hug and I wrap my arms around her. If she did try to explain to Jace and Jetta, they wouldn't understand. My father may not have wanted to hear it. He might have gone after Pace and killed him. My grip tightens on my mother as tears threaten to fall. Out of my whole family, she would understand.
"Mom." I start. "How do you feel that I am moving to District One?" The hug ends and my mother looks into my eyes. Hers are red and filled with water. She wipes her tears away and continues to look at me.
…
Everything is in place. The guests have been seated (I believe President Rector invited six hundred people), the band is keeping them happy, and my family is waiting the moment when I become Jada Ethers. Eleora is placing the dress on my body, making sure everything looks right. She weaves pearls in my hair and places two small cut diamonds at the corners of my eyes. Eleora is right; Quaid is a lucky man.
She places the veil on my head and stands back to marvel her work. I look like I did last week, when we were creating the dress. The top still has room for my stomach and the body is still bell shaped. If I was back in 10, my wedding wouldn't have been as…elaborate as the ones in the Capitol. I probably would have worn my mother's old wedding gown. I am truly graced with the opportunity to get married here.
I twirl in a circle and wait for Eleora's signal to start walking down the aisle. The bridesmaids (is that what they are called?) have to walk first. Annabelle, Shimmer, and Jetta are among two others of my bridesmaids. I think they are also past victors, but I am not sure. The weddings here, although beautiful, are really confusing.
I begin to think about my family. After the wedding party (is it called a reception?), Quaid and I will change out of our wedding stuff and move to District 1. When that happens, my family will go on a train marked 10 while I step onto one marked 1. My mother told me that it was my choice to move there, but I need to visit 10 once a year, at least. I'm glad that they are happy that I am moving to 1.
"Ready to be wed?" Eleora comes back in, holding my hand. The butterflies in my stomach flapped faster with every step to my new life.
"As ready as I'll ever be." I say, standing behind a train of bridesmaids. Shimmer and Annabelle lead the group with Jetta following behind. My father comes up beside me and stares at me in awe. He is wearing a deep black suit and has a rose sticking out from his pocket. His hair is slicked back and the buzz on his chin is no longer there. His hands try to caress my face, but Eleora smacks his palms.
"Don't ruin her make-up, sir!" She says. "It took a while to get everything right, you know." My dad held up his hands in surrender.
"All I am here to do is escort her down the isle." He says, watching Eleora walk away. He turns his attention back to me. "Sweetie, you look lovely. Quaid is waiting for you."
"Thank you, Daddy." I choke back my tears. I stand side by side with him until someone tells me to go.
The door opens and music fills the air. Shimmer walks in, with her green dress flowing behind her. Annabelle follows her and the past victors follow her. Jetta brings up the rear, trying not to trip over her eight year old legs. I loop my arm through my father's as someone tells us to move. I take my first step, hoping not to trip and spoil the wedding.
The walk from the door to Quaid is about ten minutes. We rented out the biggest room to fit so many guests. The veil over my face covers my expression. Tears threaten to fall as my dad and I walk up to my soon-to-be husband. I spot Jace and my mother in the front, standing with everyone else to honor the bride. A few Capitol citizens whisper to one another about my dress. I ignore them and look to Quaid, who is waiting for me to meet him at the alter.
I am mere steps away from Quaid now. Cleo did a wonderful job with him. His hair has some gel in it and it brings out the blond in his hair. His suit was the color of raven, but had small accents of gold to represent his district color. A similar rose to my father's was in his suit pocket. His emerald eyes lit up when he saw me. When I reached the alter, my father kissed my cheek and handed me over to Quaid, who couldn't stop smiling.
The man in front of us began speaking. I didn't pay attention; I was too shocked that today was the day. A year ago, if you told me that I would be a victor of the Hunger Games and marrying a man from District 1, I wouldn't have believed you. But, it is happening right now. Quaid and I are getting married, moving to District 1, and having our children. Nothing can destroy my mood.
"May we have the rings, please?" the man (who I assumed was the priest) asked. A little Capitol boy came up from beside him, two rings on a plush red pillow. One of the rings had a diamond in the center, and the other was a solid gold ring. Quaid grabbed the ring with the diamond center and I grabbed the solid gold ring.
"Quaid, repeat after me." The priest says and Quaid takes a hold of my left hand. After every word the priest says, Quaid repeats it. He slides the ring on my finger, and I do what he does.
"Quaid." I start to repeat the priest. "With this ring, I promise to stand by your side. For better or for worse, for rich or for poor, to love and to cherish." With the last line, I slid the ring onto his finger, excitement bubbling inside of me. The priest began speaking once again, but all I heard is 'kiss the bride'.
Quaid faced me and lifted the veil from my face. I wrap my arms around his neck and place my lips to his. The crowd roared and pictures were being taken of our first kiss as husband and wife. Our kiss ends and we face the crowd full of people who were our fans during the Hunger Games. Quaid and I lock hands and throw them in the air, causing the people to scream more. We started to walk down the isle, ready to be taken to our party.
Once we reached a separate room, Jace and Jetta ran over to me. Jace was dressed in a simple plaid shirt and nice dress pants, but still wore his signature cowboy boots. Jetta wore the same dress as Annabelle wore, but in a smaller size. Jetta grabbed my hand and admired the ring. I think she could see her reflection in it.
"I want a ring like that when I am older." She says, touching the ring.
"Find a nice boy and you just might, Jetta." I pull her in for a hug, kissing her forehead. Jace came to me, hugging me tightly.
"Congratulations, Jada." He whispers into my hair. He has grown so much since I have seen him. I missed his thirteenth birthday because of the Capitol, but he didn't mind. He knew why I was here, even if it wasn't the exact reason. I am only five foot two in heels, and he must have grown to be five foot five. I have to look up to him when I talk.
"Thank you, Jacey." I reply, pushing his hair from his eyes. "Happy thirteenth, huh?" He lets out a little laugh as I hug Jace and Jetta again.
We are moved from our separate room to a small room behind a ball room. The guests have all taken their seats, awaiting the new couple and the wedding party. Jace, my mother and my father are already in the ball room, waiting patiently for me and Quaid. He slips his hand on my waist and pulls me closer.
"We finally did it." He voiced caressed my ear. "We are finally married."
"Isn't it wonderful?" I ask. Suddenly, one by one, the wedding party moved out and the crowd cheered. An announcer said 'Mr. and Mrs. Ethers' and we entered the ball room. The cameras no longer fazed me and we took our place on the dance floor.
A slow song preformed by musicians wielding cellos and violins filled the air and Quaid and I took our first dance. The chandelier above us gave us enough reflected light to see each other. I rest my head on his chest and reflected on everything that happened to me. I never thought I would volunteer for the Games and fall in love with a District 1 boy, let alone marry him. I never thought my last name would change so suddenly from Caldwell to Ethers just because of me and my Games. And I never thought I would have children so early in my life.
Quaid lifts up my head by guiding my lips to his. His lips are soft to the touch, and make me feel at home. The music by the cellos began to fill my ears and everything felt so calm. A feel of normalcy came over me as our lips separated.
Everything changed in an instant. The chandelier began to flicker before it shut off completely, leaving everyone in the dark. Screams came from all directions while Quaid's arms wrapped around me protectively. After ten more seconds of blind screaming, the lights turned back on. No one noticed a difference. I couldn't tell what happened. Another scream pierced the air as I looked around. My mother kept screaming. Jetta was no longer in her chair.
A/N: How did you like it? I actually got this out on its release date! Anyway, I think this is a shorter chapter, only coming in at 2,221 words without the Author's Note (I couldn't get one more word in). So, I would like to thank everyone who reviewed and who is still reading this. I am very grateful for that. Please read and review and give me anything that can improve my writing (grammar and spelling doesn't count. I already suck at those, and I shall improve).
Also, how is school going for you all? I would love to know! :)