The wedding is going to be an extra-long James chapter, don't worry ^^
XOXOXOXOXO
Chapter 35
Sofia
"Wake up, Sofia," Seth shook me, but I rolled over and shook my head.
"It's the middle of the night, go back to bed," I grumbled, pulling my pillow over my head and feeling for James.
"Come on, sis, let's go play," he huffed, wrenching my pillow away from me, "We don't have much time,"
"Fine," I groaned, sitting up and swinging my legs over the side of the bed, "Where are we going?"
"The cemetery, but be quiet. Mom and Sam just went to bed," Seth put his finger to his mouth and handed me a flashlight.
"James will worry if I leave without him, Seth. And I'm really not in the mood for flashlight tag," I sighed, tossing the flashlight on the bed.
"He's already there, and you love flashlight tag," he grabbed the flashlight and pulled me to the door.
"I don't believe you," I yanked my arm away from him, "James would have waited for me,"
"You know how much he loves surprising you, sis," Seth smiled, offering me his hand.
I looked at him skeptically but allowed him to usher me out of the house.
The air was thick with fog, and it was eerily quiet, but we ran across the road and jumped over the metal fence.
"James?" I called, but Seth put his hand over my mouth.
"He's hiding, don't get us caught," Seth laughed, removing his hand.
"Sorry," I whispered, taking the flashlight back from him and aiming it in front of me, but the fog was too thick, and the beam bounced back at me.
"I don't think we can play tonight; it's too foggy," I complained, trying not to trip over headstones.
"It's just more of a challenge, Sofia. Don't whine," Seth grumbled, "Go find your boyfriend,"
"He's my fiancee," I corrected him, laying on the ground under the fog.
"You really think you're getting married this weekend?" Seth cackled, "You're an idiot if you think a piece of paper is going to keep Sam from getting you back,"
"Miranda won't be able to get guardianship of me once we're married, and Sam is afraid of James now," I shrugged, looking for James.
"You know better than anyone that Sam isn't driven by fear. He's driven by greed. There's only one way to get away from him, sister," Seth pulled me back up and grabbed my shoulders, "Let me help you,"
"I am not going to kill myself, and I'm tired of you asking me to!" I growled, pushing him back, "James!?"
I ran towards the crypt, hoping he was hiding in it.
"You're going to die either way; you should go out on your own terms!" Seth called after me, but I opened the door and slid inside.
"JAMES!?" I yelled down the hallway, but my voice echoed back to me.
I shone my light around the dark building, but I was alone.
I ventured further inside, finding a spiral staircase, and carefully followed them down.
I came to a hallway of open doors and flashed my light in the first one.
The beam landed on a faceless man holding his hand out for me to join him, but I continued walking, quickly discovering that each room had the same man inside.
I leaned up against the wall, cursing myself for getting out of bed when I heard the shuffling of footsteps.
"James?" I called happily, expecting him to take me in his arms, but I screamed as a horde of faceless men began falling over each other to get to me.
I ran further down the hallway, ducking into another open door and slamming it shut behind me.
I pushed everything I could find against the door to keep them out, listening to their banging and disgusting moans, when I heard someone laugh behind me.
"I told you, sis, you're going to die, and not even James can save you," Seth clicked his tongue against his teeth.
"Who are those guys?" I asked, spinning around to face him.
"Those are all the people that want you dead. You're nothing but a liability to them," he shrugged, "Scott warned you, but you never listen to anyone. You think you're so strong, but you're not. You think James will save you, but he can't. You think the bad guys will leave you alone because you're getting married, but they won't. You're a target, and eventually, they will come for you and your fake little family. You will finally be with me, where you belong,"
The ground began to quake, and the floor opened, exposing a grave with my name on the headstone.
"You should have died with me, but you were selfish!" he roared, pushing me into the hole.
I clawed at the ground, trying to find something to hold onto as dirt fell around me.
"Don't do this, Seth! Please!" I screamed, fighting for my life.
My mouth and nose began filling with dirt, and I couldn't breathe, but I kept trying to crawl out.
"Stop struggling," Seth laughed, "You're making this harder than it needs to be,"
The hole filled up around me, and I just as I couldn't fight anymore, I felt a pair of hands grab my shoulders and pull me out.
"You're safe, baby," James cooed, wiping off my face, "Always,"
I sat up, realizing it was just a dream, and laid in bed staring at the ceiling as I listened to James snore softly next to me.
At least I hadn't been screaming.
I looked at my phone and saw that it was two forty-five, and I sighed in aggravation.
There was no way I was going back to sleep.
I moved James's arm from around me and silently slipped out from under the blanket, pulled my pajama shirt on, grabbed my laptop, and creeped out of the room.
I clicked on the living room lamp and sat crosslegged on the couch, propping my laptop on my knees, and began my descent into the Pinterest wedding idea rabbit hole.
"Baby?" James asked groggily, making me jump, "What are you doing?"
"I had a nightmare," I whispered, putting my laptop on the coffee table.
"You should have woken me up, princess," he smiled, sitting next to me and pulling me on his lap, "I can't sleep without you," he rubbed his nose on mine.
"Do you want to go back to bed?" I rested my head on his shoulder, "It's still early, and I'll lay in there with you,"
"I'd rather talk," he pulled my legs around his waist, so I was looking down at him, "What's on your mind, love?"
"It was just another Seth nightmare," I shrugged, admiring how the lamplight made his eyes glow, "It was creepy, and I was afraid to go back to sleep, so I decided to do some more wedding planning,"
"Do you want to tell me about it?" he asked, softly running his fingers along my jaw.
"I guess the stuff Scott said got to me," I sighed, "Seth tried to bury me alive because the men were trying to kill me anyway, but you pulled me out of my grave before I died,"
"Hey," he wrapped his arms around me, "You said you weren't scared,"
"I'm not scared," I shook my head, "Just nervous. We have restraining orders against Sam and Miranda, but I don't even know who the people Uncle Scott warned us about are. I trusted the bus guy, and he turned out to be Tyler. How many other people have I interacted with that are potentially going to hurt us?"
"We can't live our lives afraid of everyone, love. All we can do is be cautious and not go anywhere alone with anyone, at least until after the trial and those assholes are caught," he rested his head on my chest, "I can't believe Miranda and Sam are getting out, and I wish there were a way I could keep you by my side at all times, I constantly worry about when you're gone,"
"I know you do," I sighed, kissing the top of his head, "And I'm probably paranoid, but it freaks me out that everyone knows where we live. Part of me wishes that you and I met later, but I know it wouldn't have made a difference. Scott said I was never supposed to leave Missouri, and if I had been moved out to the farm when I turned eighteen, I never would have met you, and I can't imagine my life without you, James,"
"I don't like that they know where we are either, baby, and I don't even want to think about what would have happened to you if we didn't meet when we did," I felt him tremble as he looked up at me, "But I swear I will never let anyone hurt you or take you from me again because you are my life, Sofia," he whispered, pressing his lips to mine.
"I love you so much," I breathed, resting my forehead on his.
"I love you, too, baby. I always will," James rubbed his nose on mine, "Are you tired?"
"Not really," I shook my head.
"Let's finish planning our wedding then," he smiled, picking me up and placing me on the couch before grabbing my laptop.
I quickly snatched it from him and closed the open tabs, earning a raised eyebrow from my fiancee.
"You can't see the dresses," I laughed, handing it back to him, "Did you choose your groomsmen?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah," he chuckled, "Garth, Brent, Daniel, and Nick.
"Who's your best man?" I asked, typing notes on my phone.
"Garth," he answered, browsing decorations.
"Good, Vivian is my Maid of Honor, and I also chose Cleo, Bridget, and Heather,"
"We need invitations to give everyone. Do you want to design one and print out a bunch?"
"That will be the cheapest option," I nodded.
We decided on one with a pretty blue background and light green text that read:
With great joy
we invite you to the wedding of
Sofia Dawn Benton
and
James Edwin Talbert
09.18.2021
Seven o'clock in the afternoon
Tawawa Park
Sydney, Ohio
We printed them off and went into the kitchen to start breakfast.
"You two are up early," Anne yawned, starting a pot of coffee.
"Yeah, I couldn't sleep, so we printed off invitations," I showed her one, and she smiled.
"Very nice," she nodded, "Everyone is going to be here tonight, so I need you two to meet me at city hall to get the marriage license at five, and I'll steal Sofia to go dress shopping with your grandmothers and aunt Tilly. They have insisted on coming along, and we'll go to dinner after. Let your bridesmaids know to meet us at the shop at six,"
"I have cheer practice from three-thirty to five-thirty," I raised my hand timidly, "I missed last week's practice, and we have a game Friday,"
"Shit," Anne cursed, pulling out her planner, "City hall closes at six, so try to leave practice early. James, pull her from the gym if you have to. Today is the only day we can get the license. The next three days are going to be busy,"
"She will be over my shoulder at five fifteen," James smirked, "We will be there at five-thirty,"
"Okay, James. You and dad are going to talk to the caterer while we are at the bridal shop. You're in charge of food because I don't want any attitude from you about the menu," Anne rolled her eyes, impatiently waiting for her coffee, "We will talk to the cake people tomorrow and go to the park to see what we're working with, we will do the rehearsal dinner Thursday since you have a game Friday, and thank god you're having the wedding at night, so we have all day to get everything ready. I reserved the park from four to eleven,"
"Awesome, that gives us three hours to decorate," I smiled, taking my shake from James.
"You're hilarious," Anne glared at me, "You are going to be busy getting ready all day, and I'll be damned if the bride and groom help decorate their own wedding. Oh, and Sofia, you need to find somewhere to go after the football game Friday,"
"What the hell? Why?" James put his arm around me defensively.
"Grandma and Grandpa Talbert are staying here Friday night, so I need the room that is supposed to be James's for them, and I am not going to listen to their patronization about you two sleeping together. Plus, the groom isn't supposed to see the bride on their wedding day until she walks down the aisle. It's tradition, and we are dealing with insanely traditional people this week," Anne happily poured her coffee and took a deep breath.
"Dad, tell mom Sofia doesn't have to leave Friday," James frowned as Roland entered the kitchen.
"It's one night and a day, guys. You'll survive, maybe," Roland stated, grabbing a cup from the cupboard, "And James, can you make your room look like you live in it at least? My parents will want to look around, and it's obvious you don't use it. Convincing them this isn't a shotgun wedding was difficult enough without them knowing you two already sleep together,"
James and I exchanged concerned looks.
"Fine," James sighed, pulling me closer to him.
"We are going to be an exhausted bride and groom," I pouted, "Do they know why we're getting married?"
"We explained the situation to everyone as well as we could," Anne sat down at the table, "But be ready for the third degree while they're here,"
We both nodded and went upstairs.
"Well, that fucking sucks," James groaned, pulling on his workout clothes.
"We've got a game Friday night, and neither of us will be able to sleep after," I agreed, changing into mine.
"What if we pretend to go to friend's houses and get a hotel room instead?" James offered, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
"I would love that, but you know the girls are going to insist on a sleepover," I leaned my head against his chest, "This will be the last chance they get,"
"Yeah. I know," James sighed, "Call me if you have any issues, and I'll bring you right back home; I don't care what my grandparents say,"
"You know I will," I turned around in his arms and kissed him.
We pulled into the parking lot, and my squadmates bombarded me.
"I'll see you on the field, baby," I laughed, opening my door, "I love you,"
"I love you too!" James called as the girls pulled me to the locker room.
"I can't believe you're getting married this weekend!" Bridget and Cleo squealed.
"I can't either," I giggled, "I have invitations for all of you," I passed them out, "Vivian, Cleo, Bridget, and Heather, can you meet mom and me at the bridal shop at six to get your dresses? James's grandmothers and aunt are going to be there too,"
"Of course!" they all exclaimed.
"I talked to my mom, and we are having a mock bachelorette party at my house Friday night after the game!" Vivian smiled, "She wants to come too if that's okay,"
"I figured you would, and absolutely, all of your parents are invited," I nodded, "I just need a count by tonight because James and dad are getting the caterer set up tonight,"
"Awe! You already call his parents mom and dad?" Heather grinned, "That is too cute!"
"Why did you move the wedding up so soon?" Cleo asked, handing me my uniform.
"Miranda is getting out of jail next month, and we want to make sure she can't get me back," I frowned.
"Oh shit, seriously?"
"That's fucked up,"
"Yeah, well, it's okay. I get to be Sofia Talbert five months early," I shrugged, smiling, "It's worth it,"
"That's a good way to look at it," Vivian nodded.
"Oh, I need to leave practice a little early tonight; James and I have to get our marriage license at five-thirty, and we're going to do the rehearsal dinner Thursday after practice," I explained, changing into my uniform.
"No problem, you can leave as early as you need, and we can cut Thursday's practice short too. This week's choreography is pretty easy," Vivian shrugged.
"Great, thank you," I hugged her.
As promised, James tossed me and my bag over his shoulder at five-fifteen, and we met Anne at city hall.
She was standing in the lobby with an older woman.
"Grandma Talbert!" James exclaimed happily, hugging her gently, "This is my fiancee, Sofia,"
"You've gotten tall, James," she laughed, "And It's nice to meet you, dear," she smiled and hugged me, "I've heard so much about you,"
"It's nice to meet you too, ma'am," I smiled, hugging her back.
"Where are grandma Newton and aunt Tilly?" James asked, looking around.
"They already went to the bridal shop; you'll see them at dinner," Anne explained, "Now hurry before they close,"
We got our license, and James spun me around the lobby happily.
"We're getting married!" he yelled, kissing me.
"We know," Anne laughed, "Now get out of here so we can get Sofia's dress," she shooed him away.
"I love you, Sofia!" he shouted from his truck.
"I love you, James!" I shouted back, getting into Anne's car.
"Are they always like this?" Mrs. Talbert asked Anne, chuckling.
"Always, they are so sweet together," Anne laughed, patting my knee as she backed the car up.
I texted the girls to let them know we were on our way, and they were already there.
"Sofia, this is my mom, Melissa Newton, and Roland's sister, Matilda Talbert," Anne introduced me to the women inside.
"Call me Tilly," Matilda laughed, hugging me, "Welcome to the family, Sofia!"
"Thanks," I blushed, "It's nice to meet you all,"
"She's shy," Anne explained as the attendant greeted us.
"You're going to have to get over that, dear," Mrs. Newton shook her head, "At least until Sunday. You're the headliner,"
I nodded and took a deep breath, "I'm just not comfortable with attention,"
"She isn't," Vivian giggled, "She won't even let me move her upfront for cheer, even though she's amazing,"
"Come with me," the attendant directed me to the dressing room, and I rushed away with her.
"We will wait to get the bridesmaid dresses until you find one!" Anne called, and I nodded.
I tried dresses on for an hour, and I finally found the perfect one.
It was iridescent white, sleeveless, and was accented with purple, green, and blue beads.
"Oh, Sofia!" they all exclaimed as I walked out to the viewing room, "It's perfect!"
I twirled, fanning out the train, and admiring the rainbow effect, "I love it!"
"It's gorgeous!" Anne ran up to inspect it, "Do you want to get some elbow gloves?"
"No," I shook my head, looking down at my scars, "Not this time,"
I tried to ignore the quizzical, horrified looks of the other family members.
This was my day, and I knew James would be proud of me for not hiding the ugly parts of myself.
James loved all of me.
"I'm proud of you," Anne whispered, hugging me, "Now, we need a veil to match this dress,"
We found a cathedral veil with rainbow trim, and the girls found their dresses before we left for dinner.
"You girls are more than welcome to join us," Anne smiled, holding my dress bag.
"Okay," they smiled, "We'll follow you,"
We went to Chili's, and I gasped when I saw how many people were waiting for us.
James ran up to me, and I could hear my heart pounding in my ears.
"Are you okay, baby?" he asked, kissing my cheek.
"I'm fine," I nodded as he introduced me to his aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandfathers.
I could get through this.
They were all here for us, and I was the main attraction, but I could do this.
It was only for three days.
We pushed tables together, and I tried to keep my composure, but I wanted to go home.
The girls and James sat close to me, so I tried to focus on them as I answered his family's questions.
"I hope you got real food for the reception," Anne laughed.
"We're going to have a taco bar," Roland smiled, "I figured that would be the easiest option for so many people, but your son made sure there would be chicken and wheat tortillas,"
"You're all lucky dad sold me on tacos; I wanted the salmon," James rolled his eyes.
"You already get to marry Sofia, don't take tacos away from us too," one of the boys pouted.
Everyone laughed, and James put his arm around my shoulder.
"I guess that's fair," James smiled, and I hid my face in his side.
"I have to say something," Mrs. Talbert announced, standing up and silencing everyone.
"No, Francine," Mr. Talbert warned her, but she waved him off.
"Mom, stop," Tilly whispered, looking at me worriedly.
"I kept my mouth shut a month ago when Roland told me he had taken Sofia in; I understood that she was in trouble and Anne and Roland were trying to help her. But after the insanity that happened in Wyoming, I did some research into her past," Mrs. Talbert sneered, and I froze, "All I could find were reports of your mother's drug use and child abuse, your father's drug abuse, and suicide, your brother's death, and this Sam Hanson's drug use, child abuse, and how he's suspected of having killed multiple people,"
"Mom, sit down," Roland slammed his hands on the table.
"None of that has anything to do with who Sofia is! Those people abused her!" James growled, "You don't know her!"
"I don't need to know her to know that she is using you, James," she huffed, "Her mother is getting out of jail next month, and she is using you as human shields. This girl is dangerous, and you are all acting like everything is fine. I will not sit back and allow my seventeen-year-old grandson to get married to some self-harming harlot who will ruin his life!"
"You need to shut your mouth! Sofia is an amazing girl who has been through hell, and we all love her and want to keep her safe!" Anne stood up, "My son was the one who talked us into helping her, my son fell in love with her, my son helped get her back when Sam took her, and my son chose to marry her now, despite her past and all of the danger her family has put her in. Sofia didn't force her way into our family. They love each other and are getting married on Saturday. You have no say in any decisions we make, and if you don't like it, you can go back to Oregon!"
"You have no right to judge Sofia by the monsters that she grew up around!" James yelled, "I will do anything to keep her from ending back up in the situation she was in! She isn't using me, and she isn't going to ruin my life!"
I couldn't breathe, and my vision was blurry.
"Sofia?" Vivian rushed to my side, followed by the other girls, "Honey, don't listen to her. James, she's purple,"
I couldn't move.
Was she right?
Was I just using James?
"Sofia, baby, breathe," James cooed, "Mom!"
"Can you hear me?" Anne asked, but I couldn't answer her.
"I told you this was pointless," Seth's voice echoed in my head, "You heard the old lady, you're going to ruin James's life if you marry him. You don't belong here,"
"Come on, love, let's go," James picked me up.
"I'm not using James," I shook my head, "James, Anne, and Roland are the only people who have ever cared about me!"
"You have already drug them into your drama. You're an idiot if you think a piece of paper is going to keep Sam from getting you back," Mrs. Talbert and Seth said in unison, and I blacked out.