It's finally here! Darry and Laura are getting married! This the longest chapter yet, but please read. Hopefully it's worth it, I worked on it for three days. Anyway, before you read, I wanna thank everyone who read my story. I don't think I would've wrote this much if I didn't get so much good reviews. So thank you, and enjoy!
Chapter 25 The Wedding
The day of the wedding came. I got up 7:00, the earliest I got up on a Saturday. I took a shower, greased my hair a different way so it would look better with my tux, got dressed (not in my tux, I'd change at the church), then got up Soda. We figured we let Darry sleep a little late since it was his wedding day. While Soda got ready I tried to make breakfast. I went through the recipe book- the book that use to belong to mom- and to find something to make. I found her chocolate chip pancakes recipe. Hers were always good. Maybe if I followed the recipe, mine could at least come out close to hers.
They were done by the time Darry was up. "You did all this just 'cause it's my wedding day?" He asked. "Yeah why not?" I answered. The pancakes weren't bad, if I do say so myself. Not as good as mom's of course. Nobody's cooking could compare to hers. She could bake the best chocolate cakes that there wouldn't be enough for breakfast. I sure miss her a lot. Dad too. But I still got Darry and Soda. And now Matty and soon to be Laura.
We had to be at the church by 11:30, so Darry got ready, we all grabbed our tuxes and left. Soda drove. Darry was a little nervous. I just hoped it wasn't cold feet. We were the first people at the church besides the Preist. The church was all decorated though. All we had to do was get into our tuxes then wait in this room until it was time for the wedding ceremony.
Darry looked great in his tux, but he still looked tuff, tough and gentle. Laura would have to say "I do" once she saw him in it. It actually doesn't take long to get into tuxes. What really took a while was for the bride to get ready. I wanted to go into the girl's room to see what was taking so long, but Matty told me she was forbidding me from going in there the night before.
"But it's not like I'm the groom. Just a best man. I can see the bride in the dress before the wedding." I came back with.
"I know, but still." She said. By that she meant she didn't have an excuse and she didn't wanna discuss it anymore so I just shut up 'bout it. But even though Matty said we weren't allowed in the girl's room, that didn't stop one of them from comin' into our room.
At one point there was a knock on our door, I went over to answer it. A girl 'bout Laura and Darry's age was outside. She had brown hair put back in a bun, blue eyes, and a blue dress on. She was either a bride's maid or the maid of honor. " Hello, I'm Angie, or Angel as some people call me. I'm one of Laura's bride's maid. I'm just checking to see if the groom is all ready." She greeted us.
"Yeah he's right here." I told her pointing to Darry. "Oh good..." She sounded like she was gonna say something else, but she stopped. She had a funny look on her face. I hope it wasn't anything bad. "Darry?" She asked. "Yeah...Angie?" He responded. Uh-oh, what did this mean? Please dear God he better not have fallen in love with her and forgot all about Laura right before the wedding.
"You know each other?" Soda asked catching on faster then me. "Um yeah. We were in the same third grade class. We...kinda had our first kiss with one another." Angie explained. No. God damn. Way. Laura's bride's maid was the girl Darry had his first kiss with! How the hell does that happen?
"I can't believe you're marrying Laura! She said her fiance's name was Darrel but I just always remembered you as Darry." Angie/Angel added. "Yeah, well it's me. How've you been since... third grade?" Darry asked trying to be a gentleman. I could tell he wasn't in love with her. He didn't talk to her the same way he talked to Laura.
"I've been good. I'm engaged now too, so in June I'll be the one in the white dress and Laura will be the bride's maid." She answered. Now that was a huge sigh of realif. Good thing they were just gonna be friends. "That's great. Congratulations." Said Darry. "Thanks, but no need to congraulate me yet, it's your wedding day." Said Angie. "Alright then."
"Anyway, the wedding is starting in ten minutes. You guys now what you have to do right?" Angie checked. "Yeah we went over it." I answered. "Good, well I have to go back now, but I'll see you in a bit." Said Angie then she left.
"Can't believe Darry had his first kiss with his soon to be wife's bride's maid." I said once she was gone. Soda laughed a little bit. "Whata fox." He said. We then looked over at Darry. He had a funny look on his face. "You ok, Darry?" I asked.
"I just can't believe I'm getting married." He answered. "You ain't getting cold feet, are you Darry?" Soda asked getting worried. "No it's just, I've been waiting for this day as long as I can remember. And it's here. With the girl of my dreams. I feel like this isn't really happening." He explained. "Well it is, now calm down the wedding is gonna start in less then five minutes."
...
When the organ music started, the maid of honor, a girl named Maria that Laura worked with, walked out first. (Darry was already in his spot) Her husbend escourted her down the asile then he sat down while she stood on the bride's side. Then it was me escourting Matty. I was so nervous. I hadn't seen her all day. What would she look like? Well beautiful of course, but how would her hair and makeup be done? What if I stepped on her foot walking down the asile? What if I walked faster or slower then her?
But as soon as I stepped out of the room and saw her, I forgot all 'bout my worring. She had on the same dress as Angie. Her hair was done so that only half it was in the bun and the rest hung down her back. It wasn't done like usually was, it made it look different. It was long and looked more soft and smooth. Her makeup was different too. There was no black eyeliner or red lipstick. Her face looked purer, more clean. She smiled when she saw me. She looked like an angel. I was so in awe I almost forgot I had to take her down the asile.
We walked up to one another, and stopped once we met. We then interlocked arms, and walked down the asile. Everyone was stareing and awing at us. I guess we did look nice together. You could barley tell we were greasers. We were just normal teenagers in love, no one judged us, they were just happy for us. Like they were with Laura and Darry.
Once we got to the end of the asile we let go of each other, although I didn't want to. Then she went to where she was suppose to stand and I went where I was. Next was Soda and Angie. I wonder if it was awkward for them. If it was, they didn't show it. They just had small smiles on their faces.
Now it was time for the big moment. The orgainst started playing the song he was suppose to, and everyone stood up.
Laura walked out with her father. He was 'bout 60, few grey hairs, wrinkled, but he was sure smiling a lot. Laura had the veil over her face, so I couldn't really see it yet. But her hair was pulled back in a bun a lot fancier then Matty's Angie's and Maria's. The dress was white of course, short sleeved. It looked like something a damsil in distress would wear in some movie while she waited for the prince. Finally he slowly walked Laura down the asile. Everyone could not stop smiling now. 'Cept for Laura's mother, she was crying a little bit.
Once they got to Darry, he pulled Laura's veil back. Her makeup was done simple like the other girl's, but it was still more then she usually wore. She looked really pretty. She was smiling real big. I was 'bout 6 feet away from Darry and I could see him mouth "You look beautiful." to Laura.
The Preist then asked who was giving Laura away. Her father answered before letting go and sitting down next to Laura's mom. The Preist then started with the long speech. Next, the Preist asked Darry if he took Laura to be his wife and that long speech. When he finished, he said without fear, "I do." Then it was Laura's turn. She had a teeny tiny tear running down her left cheek when she said, "I do."
After that was the wedding vows. They were short, but very hard to forgot. Darry said his first.
"When I was younger, my dad would always tell me I would know when I met the girl I would marry, but I never understood what he meant. I wasn't sure if I was suppose to feel a certain way or look for her, it just never made sense to me. Until I saw, and I finally understood what my father was talking about. I know, that he and my mother would love you if they got a chance to meet you. But I also know they have the best seats in the house right now. And, that after this day I won't have to worry too much anymore because I'll be spending to rest of my life with you."
Laura looked like she was 'bout to cry when he finished. But now it was her turn.
"The first time I saw you, you were at my door to fix my roofing tile. And the moment I saw you I couldn't get your face out of my mind. I knew I couldn't bother you, but I so badly wanted to talk to you, see you more, but you had a job to do. So I did whatever I could to see you. I asked you to help me with fixing up my class. Then, I needed a ride to work. The more time I spent with you the more I wanted. And now, I can finally have all the time in the world, and I'm looking foward to it."
The whole church was in awe after thier vows. It gave you a little info 'bout how much they really loved each other. I looked over at Matty, who was holding a bouquet and smiling at them. Simply beautiful, simply golden. I wonder if I loved her as much as Darry and Laura loved each other. And if it would be us in their position in a few years.
Last thing to do was the rings. Me and Matty had them. I walked over to Darry, and handed him Laura's and he put it on for her. Then, Matty handed Laura Darry's which she put on. And finally the Preist said, "I know pronouce you husbend and wife. Kiss the bride." And Darry gentely pulled Laura and kissed her and the whole crowd broke out in appulse. "I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Curtis." the Preist said, and everyone clapped even harder.
...
When the wedding ceremony ended everyone had to drive over to the hall where the reciption was being held. We all had to sit at our assigned tables. I was at table one, with Sodapop, Angie, Maria, her husbend Ron and Matty. Laura's parents were sitting with her grandma and aunt and uncle, her cousins were sitting with some friends from work; and Two-Bit and Steve were with their girlfriends with Derek and his wife.
When darry and Laura walked in, everyone began to clap. They sure were cute togther. Gotta admit that. Once everyone stopped, Laura took a microphone from the guy in chrage of the music to make a quick speech.
"Thank you, everyone. Me and Darry really appeicaite each and every one of you for coming. We'll be by the tables in a little bit to say hi, but I think the best men might wanna say a few words about Darry." She then looked over at me Soda. Damn it, we were suppose to make speeches? I didn't have anything planned.
But Soda began to good guy he is walked over and took to microphone from Laura, saying whatever he could think of. "Hey everyone. I'm Sodapop, no I didn't make that up it's my real name..." -He had to pause because some people laughed- "And as Darry likes to call me, I'm his kid brother, even though I'll be turning 19 soon. Well, I guess I wanna say that Darrel has always been a great older brother. A few years ago I had a girlfriend who was unfaithful and ended up leaving me."-He had to pause again- "But Darry was right there by my side the whole time I tried to get over her. He made sure I knew it wasn't my fault. And one day, I thought to myself, 'Any girl that ends up marrying my older brother is gonna be lucky.' and she is. Laura, Darry, I'm real happy for the two of you. And Darry, thansk for sticking by my side." Everyone began to clap.
Now it was my turn. I was nervous, I didn't know most of these people and now I had to get up in front of them and make up some speech. I got up slowly, and took the microphone from Soda.
"Hello, I'm Ponyboy, and no I didn't make up my name either."-People laughed-"Our dad was a pretty original person. Well, I'll be 16 in a couple of weeks, and I don't think I'd be the man I'm becoming without Darry's help. Our parents passed away in a car accident, and Darrel could've put me and Sodapop in a boy's home while he went to college. But he didn't. He stepped up and took care of us. He basically matured overnight, and I'm thankful and proud of him for that." I had to pause to think of something more to say.
"But no family is perfect. We didn't always get along, mainly because sometimes we have trouble seeing eye to eye. It almost tore us apart. But finally, Soda was able to help us fix our relationship. Now we're getting along better then I could've thought of, and words can't describe Darry-my brother- has finally found the special girl he wants to spend the rest of his life with." Once I was done, everyone, yup once again, clapped. This time a lot more. But before I could give to microphone back Matty came up and took it from me.
"I just wanna say something real quick. I never had a stable home as a kid. And a few years ago Laura took me in. She helped me untangle my life and rebuild it. She brought me into her home and treated me like family. Anyone who meets her is lucky because she's so caring and thoughtful. And Darrel is the luckiest man alive because he gets to marry her." Now everyone was clapping real hard. I just couldn't stop stareing at Matty. I know she doesn't like talking in front of people, so that took a lota guts, She was just full of surprises, and I liked it.
Now that was all said and done it, the reception could really begin. It started with the dinner. Nothing too fancy. Just some chicken, salad and a side dish of some sort. Darry and Laura didn't eat much 'cause they were walkin' 'round to every table thanking everyone. I looked over at Two-Bit. Sure enough, Kathy was next to him, the blondest of the blondes. She had her hair teased and her signture red lipstick, but I gotta admit she looked nice. And Two-Bit had a beer bottle next to him, big surprise.
After dinner, was the cake cutting. Laura and Darry looked cute shoving cake into one another's mouth. It was chocolate cake on the inside of course, and it was great. Almost as good as mom's a little better then Darry's.
Next, it was time to dance. First was Laura's last dance with her father, 'fore he handed her off to Darry and they had their first dance as husbend and wife. Once they were done, everyone appuled. Then Darry's favorite Elvis song, Love Me Tender came on. All the couples went to the dance floor. Matty looked over at me. "Dance with me Ponyboy?" She asked. "I don't know how." I answered. "I'll show you." She then took my hand and lead me onto the dance floor.
She put my hands on her hips 'fore 'rapping hers around my neck. "Now all you have to do is go back and forth to the speed of the song." She instructed. So I did, and I got the hang of it. I looked over at all the couples dancing. Darry and Laura, Two-Bit and Kathy, Steve and Evie, Darry's work buddies and their girls, teachers from Laura's schools with their spouses; even Soda and Angie were dancing together! But it was no big deal, since Angie was engaged anyway. At the end of the song, when Elvis says "I'll be yours through all the years, till the end of time." Matty made me lean down to kiss her. It took me 'bout ten seconds to notice everyone else on the dance floor was "Aw"ing at us.
Now that the slow dancing was over, the real dancing began. Jailhouse Rock came on next. Two-Bit went right to the middle of floor and tried his best to be like Elvis. And no, it wasn't 'cause he was drunk, he just really likes Elvis. Everyone rooted him on though. Then a Beetles song came on. I don't dig 'em but Laura sure did. Her and Angie started dancing to it for fun.
The rest of the reception was basically everyone dancing, Two-Bit getting buzzed, Laura thanking everyone over and over, and spending every waking moment Matty who was having a real good time. But it soon got late and it was time for people to go home. So we all headed outside to see Laura and Darry to leave for their homeroom. They were gonna drive to Texas and spend a few days down there.
We didn't throw any rice, but Laura did throw her bouquet. Angie caught it, but tried handing it off to Matty who refused it. "C'mon, take it. I'm already getting married next. Just take it as a joke." She said. Matty wouldn't listen, but Angie gave it to her anyway.
When Darry and Laura drove off in our car that had "Just Married" written on the windows, everyone waved goodbye. They'd probably stop at a motel sometime later that night on the way to Texas. They promised to call when they stopped. Once we couldn't see their car anymore, people slowly began to leave. Two-Bit couldn't, he was puking in a bush. Kathy and Soda kept an eye on him, leaving me and Matty alone.
"Did you have fun today?" I asked her. "Yeah, I can tell Laura and Darry are gonna be together forever." She answered. "Yeah." I said dully. Matty looked down at the bouquet. "So...do you think the whole getting married next thing still counts if you didn't actually catched it?" I asked trying to make a joke. "Shut up, Pony." She told me, but she was laughing when she said it. Then she leaned over and kissed me.