So This Is War
Chapter Twenty-Six
Oh my goodness! Last chapter! Thank you my readers so much for the reviews and for sticking with the story! I know there have been many twists and turns, laughs and cries, and an all around roller coaster. I hope you've enjoyed reading as much as I have writing! Big shout out to marmapen, Diverging Patronus, EDNACAT, and anyone else who reviewed! Thank you!
Pony's POV (two months later)
We're finally here. Today is the day. Oh boy... I straighten my tie in the mirror with a trembling hand. Why am I so nervous? I'm not the one getting married. Satisfied the torture device is firmly in place, I go over to help Two-Bit with his. He's sweating bullets over that green face of his. I remember imagining how he'd look shopping for the wedding ring, but this face is pretty close to that. His hand is shaking even worse than mine.
I take a few deep breathes and he follows suit, trying to calm his racing heart. I don't know what he has to worry about. They've been together for almost five years. If they weren't meant for each other, they'd have split a long time ago. It's sad that Two-Bit was the last to figure out they'd get hitched. Even now, ten minutes before the altar, I'm not sure he's really come to terms with it. Love and matrimony are two different things to him.
"Remember the good, Two-Bit," I remind him in the hopes of steadying his nerves.
He grins, probably thinking about all the times he's given that advice to me. Still, he takes it to heart and shuts his eyes. He takes a few deep breaths, the tension rolling off his shoulders. After a moment he reopens his eyes and I can tell it worked. He is visibly more relaxed, reflecting his inner peace. I wish it worked as well for me.
"Well I hope you're happy kid. I'm finally tying the knot."
I chuckle and dust invisible lent off his shoulder. "Absoultely! Today's not about me though and I think you'll be even happier real soon," I say easily.
He shakes his head, more than likely thinking about a later time. I look up at the clock and take some calming breaths of my own. It's time. He follows my gaze and sighs. "Well, it's time," he says gravely like a man in line for the gallows. I can see that bright sparkle of life in his eye. No matter how much he bitches and moans, this is what he actually wants.
I make sure that he's in prime groom condition and we venture out into the hall. Darry, Lacey, and Ash are acting as door greeters in the main lobby so he isn't here, but my other brothers are. Soda whistles at Two-Bit's getup, which isn't much different from his own, and Steve hides a smile under his hand. Ryan chuckles from where he's holding T-Bone's leash. Even T-Bone doesn't seem to recognize his best buddy at first.
With everyone assembled we march down the hall in careful procession. Two-Bit gave us strict orders to treat this half like a funeral. We stop at the side door to the altar and Steve cracks it open to peer out. He brings his head back in and shakes it. They're not quite ready. I squat down to T's level and check to make sure he's as well groomed. After straightening his doggy bow tie, I'm satisfied. Steve checks again, nodding. I give Two-Bit the leash and we all have to push him out, closing the door fast behind him. There's no chickening out of this.
Ryan leaves us with a quick smile to grab a seat in the pews. We go around to the double doors and line up with the bridesmaids. Soda pairs with his wife, Darry with his fiance, Steve is with someone we don't know well, and I get Evie. Steve's Evie. When he found out she was going to be here, he was crushed, but made his peace with it. I still feel guilty. The music starts and the hum inside murmurs down. I march to the slow beat at the head of the column with the Maid of Honor.
I hate being the center of attention. Sweat starts to break out on my forehead as I struggle to stay focused on moving forward. I feel like everyone staring at me knows my dark past, like they know and are judging me as I walk on. Evie knows, but she hasn't said a word. I think she's waiting to see where we're really at in the recovery process. The march is painfully slow because all I want to do it run out of there and away from these piercing eyes. I keep my head straight, showing no fear, and we finally make it to the end of the aisle. I go stand by Two-Bit and T-Bone while Evie goes to her place. I take as deep a breath as I can in the tight suit. Finally the eyes are on someone else.
The others file in and meet me on the side of the altar. It feels good not being an island up here. The music changes to the traditional wedding cadence and everyone rises. We stand taller, our eyes peeled on the double doors. Kathy walks alone down the aisle, looking beautiful in her full white gown. She captures the attention of every living creature in the room. I glance at Two-Bit from the corner of my eye. His face is in total awe. I don't think he'd notice a bomb if it exploded right behind him. He only has eyes for Kathy.
He meets her at the foot of the small stairs and helps her up, not letting her hand go even when they reach their position in front of the preacher. The preacher smiles wordlessly at them, before addressing the room. "We are gathered here today to join these two loved ones, Kathy and Two-Bit, in the holy state of matrimony..." carried his generous voice. He even used Two-Bit's preferred name rather than his real one. The man goes on, captivating the audience as well as Kathy's dress had.
"I, Keith 'Two-Bit' Matthews, take this woman to be my wife through sickness and in health, through good times and bad, until death do us part," Two-Bit echoes the priest, adding in his own nickname. A hushed chuckle sweeps over the crowd and I hand him the ring from my pocket. He takes it, barely containing his overjoyed smile, and places it on her finger.
Kathy's smile reflects his own as she modifies her vows, "I, Kathy Bryant, take this man to be my husband through sickness and in health, through good times and the bad, until death do us part. And I, Kathy, also promise not to kick T-Bone out of the house as long as we both shall live." No one can contain the laugh that time. Even the preacher has to let it out. Kathy and Two-Bit are made for each other, and if it wasn't obvious before it is now.
She puts the ring on Two-Bit's finger and they both look expectantly at the preacher. He drags the moment on before finally announcing the long awaited, "You may now kiss the bride." Two-Bit sweeps her up in a dramatic kiss, dipping her back carefully. Everyone erupts with cheers and applause. I laugh alongside my other brothers and he finally uprights her again. She bends down before T-Bone and gives him a kiss on the top of his head too which gives way to more laughter. Two-Bit helps her up and they face the stairs, their hands wrapped around each other.
"May I introduce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Two-Bit Matthews," the preacher beams. Everyone stands and applauds, the long wait finally over. They walk down the short stairs and Two-Bit literally sweeps her off her feet, carrying her down the aisle. I don't think the grin spreading across my face was any match for theirs. We march down at a bearable pace after them, the attention no longer shifted to me.
We stand next to the happy couple in the lobby and bid farewell to the guests. The rehearsal dinner is up next, but everyone knows that's going to be a party fit only for the young and the crazy. Anyone that knows Two-Bit is sure to show, unless it's the few select older people such as the grandparents. They know too how wild it's going to be.
Finally the wedding party can get moving. We pile into the limo that Two-Bit convinced us to rent and Darry drives us to the reception hall closer to our side of town. It came with liquor collection. By the time Darry parks, we all have at least a shot in us, thanks to Two-Bit. My nerves are much calmer, which is good because the worst part for me is about to begin- the best man's speech.
We climb out of that fancy interior with its alluring booze and saunter into the banquet hall. It's pretty breathtaking. The floors are hardwood, the walls painted with a professional mural. One side of the massive room is a spacious dance floor and the other is full of decorated tables. At the head of the room is one long table for us with two high back chairs in the middle. Every table is decorated with fancy linens, plates, napkins, and floral arrangements. I don't know who's paying for this, but props for class.
The guests arrive and settle in. We sit at our supreme table with bridesmaids on one side of the couple and groomsmen on the other. I'm in between Two-Bit and Darry. The caterers come by and serve the food, complete with banana bread. I smirk at Two-Bit who winks in turn. He may not be the quickest, but he has enough heart to make everyone he loves happy.
The room quiets down in expectation and I take that as my cue. I raise my glass, winning the fight to keep it steady in my trembling hand, which grabs the attention of the room. I've been writing this speech for two months, revising every word tens times over in the hopes of getting it right. Now I'm scrapping all of it. I choose my words carefully, from my heart, and say, "Well, considering y'all are here I'm not too sure what I can tell you that you don't already know about these two lovebirds. So, Two-Bit, I don't think I've ever said it, but you're like a brother to me. You are a brother to me. You've always been there to steer me on the right track, only occasionally trying to get me to swerve a little bit. It never mattered what I said or what I did. You were just always there. And if it weren't for you, I don't think I'd be here today. I guess that says a lot about you, huh? You love unconditionally.
"And Kathy, I don't know if you know this what with all the postponing, but he loves you just as unconditionally. I don't think he knows any other way to love," she snuggles closer to him. "The fact that you're still here says a lot about you. You're either love just as conditionally or are just as crazy as he is so good luck! We all know that you two are meant for each other so I just wanted to remind you both. Welcome to the family, Kath. You're practically a sister to us anyway. Cheers." Then I take a long swallow of champagne to push back the lump in my throat. Getting out the truth, especially in front of an audience, isn't easy. It feels even better than I thought though.
The room erupts in applause and Two-Bit gets up to hug me. I can see the tears in his eyes- of joy this time. Evie makes her speech for Kathy which is just as beautiful and the celebration really begins. Two-Bit's always known how to throw a party. The dance floor opens and people spill onto it in droves. Drinks are flying all around which invites more dancers. I laugh as Soda attempts some professional dance move and lands flat on his face. He's still grinning and hops right up, looking like a fool.
Steve takes over Darry's empty seat and sighs. I follow his forlorn gaze to Evie, in a circle with some of her friends. I roll my eyes. "Why don't you go and talk to her then?" I suggest.
He shrugs. "She'll probably just shut me down. I don't deserve her anyway," he says sadly. Even his eyes are sagging with depression and loss, like the fight is over before it's begun.
I bump him with my shoulder and say, "Not with that attitude. Just go and talk to her Stevie because she came alone, meaning she's probably not over you. Don't give her the time to leave with someone else."
He chews on the inside of his lip, thinking. I slaps me on the back with a determined look and decides, "Alright, I'll do it, Cupid. Don't go getting all sentimental and whatnot on me."
I laugh and flip him the bird. He chuckles, a bright beacon of hope lighting up his eye. I watch him go over and gently tear Evie from her friends. At first she looks annoyed, but she listens to whatever he is saying. The conversation is long and more two-sided than Steve thought. I watch from the corner of my eye, ready to step in for my brother if I have to while trying to give them privacy. After at least a half hour there's finally movement. I look over to see him kneeling and putting the ring back on her finger. She's giving him a second chance. He picks her up, swinging her around, with the widest grin I've ever seen on him. It could almost compete with Two-Bit's. Steve gives me the thumbs up and motions to his ring finger, as if I hadn't seen the whole thing unfold. I nod, offering my own excited smile for him. They both deserve to be happy. They run off to join the throng of people crowding the dance floor.
Someone taps me on the shoulder and I look up from my seat at Ryan. He grins, seeing my feet not following my gaze. "Not a dancer, eh, Curtis?"
I chuckle, "Not like you are either."
He looks down at his bum leg and chuckles warmly. "Hells nah. Never has been. I thinks I gots something that'll change ya mind though."
"Oh yeah?"
He nods with a huge, suspicious, grin on his face. He chimes, "Oh yeahs. I brought a plus one for ya since I knews you wouldn't. Don't worry, she's a real looker."
I groan. He was always trying to set me up. "Look, Ryan... Who is she?" There is no use in arguing with him at this point.
He drags me out of the chair and weaves me around the tables until we get to one in the corner. He has to push me the last few feet when my heart jumps to my throat. "Cherry, this here's Ponyboy. Pony, Cherry. I think yous can hit it off just fine without me," he beams with a wink.
I hiss under my breath as he leaves, "You sonofabitch." That only makes him laugh, continuing on his way. I scratch the back of my head once we're alone and hedge, "So..."
She breathes, "So..."
Without warning we both say in unison, "Look, I'm sorry."
I chuckle and she blushes. I offer her my hand and ask, "Want to dance?" She eagerly accepts and I lead her to the dance floor. My own smile mirrors hers which is bright enough to dazzle the room. We've both made mistakes in the past, but now we have a chance to move on and start fresh. We have a second chance. Things are finally back where they're supposed to be. I'm finally gold again.
We dance the night away until the time comes when we have to part. I know it isn't the end. Her smile says the same thing. I drive her home and go back to mine. For whatever reason, I start thinking about everything. I think about how we first met and our first kiss, our first fight, our first attempt at being friends... That gets me thinking about how this whole adventure came to be- the draft. Through all of it, it doesn't hurt. It just feels like a distant memory that's made me who I am.
I get a pencil out from my desk along with a piece of paper. I know I'm going to need a lot more by the time I'm done. I tap the eraser end on my teeth as I think about where to start and decide to start with the sunrise. I wrote: "Today was my seventeenth birthday. Darry and Soda had pounced on me, tickling me awake until we all rolled on the floor in a heap on the floor. We disentangled our limbs and sat back, still laughing. Darry gave me a warm smile..."
YAY! Pony's come full circle again, such is the way of life. He had some rough patches, but in the end the world kept turning and he jumped back aboard. What did you think? Sorry its come to an end my readers, but all good things do!