Hours late, Ashley and I stood at the back of the church. It was a beautiful sunny day with a warm breeze blowing through the trees. Ashley was holding my hand crying silently. She looked gorgeous. She had on a halter top lace dress. The way it fit her was like the ay she fit with Craig: tight and snug. Ash squeezed my hand and nudged me to look out the door. I glanced out to see Craig standing in his pinstriped suit. Craig had matured since high school. Good thing otherwise Ashley would have been miserable.
The music started to play and the ceremony began. The flower girl started her walk gracefully throwing pink and purple rose petals. The ring barer didn't just bare the ring but his butt as well. Everyone got a big laugh out of that. Now it was time for the court to make their entrance. The girls and guys were separated by a doorway only to meet before entering the chapel. The court was Jimmy and Hazel, who were just friends now; Spinner and Terri, who had dated a few years ago; and Paige and Marco, Paige was no engaged to some guy she met over a year ago and Marco and Dylan were still dating now. Lastly, it was me and mystery date. I started to fidget as I waited to see him. I took my two steps and met a pair of eyes I had not seen for the longest time. The eyes were lighter no and looked more beautiful than ever. I turned away from his eyes and kept my hand loose in his.
"What are you doing here? I'm surprised you would show your face after what you did to me." My voice came out quiet but harshly to make my point.
Sean brushed his hand over mine soothingly. "I'm the best man. Why are you here?" he asked through clenched teeth.
"I'm the maid of honor. I can't believe you would show up after you left me! Why did you leave?" I asked letting curiosity get the best of me.
His gentle eyes met the anger in mine. "I'm sorry I left. But please let me explain." His eyes sparkled as he asked for one last chance to make things right.
My heart sank to my stomach making me want the Sean I used to love. I couldn't deny the fact that I wanted to know the truth. My heart pounded and I took my last step. "After the wedding."
He held me hand and kissed it as we separated. I walked to my spot where I would stand beside the bride. Ashley appeared in the archway of the church and proceeded down the aisle with Mr. Kerwin.
During the ceremony, I would catch Sean looking a t me. His eyes always seemed to meet mine. Looking at him you couldn't think he had changed. But I could. I knew Sean better than anyone in the room. No one knew the real reason why he left, but I knew it was something besides the shooting. His eyes said it all; they couldn't lie to me.
The ceremony was short and sweet. Ashley and Craig wrote their own vows. By the time it was over, Ashley had cried most of her makeup off. She couldn't help it and no one could blame her. Craig was being every girl's dream with his vows and love for Ash. At the end of the wedding they were Mr. and Mrs. Craig Manning.
The reception was held in my backyard all decorated with flowers and white tents and tables. Each table had tiny vanilla candles and a dozen of mixed purple and pink roses. The patio was covered with a linoleum floor provided by the d.j. The floor was crowded with friends and family. The whole time people were telling me how beautiful the wedding and the house looked.
I watched my friends dance and enjoy the celebration. Ashley and Craig had danced non-stop, except to eat food. Sean stood alone for most of the wedding party, but talked to Jimmy and Mr. Jeremiah for a while. I stood by myself for a while eating cake and other desserts.
Sean Smiled at me from across the dance floor and shoved his hands in his pocket as he approached me. He looked debonair in his tuxedo. He walked slowly towards me, trying not to make a scene. When he finally reached me, he bowed politely. "May I have this dance, fair lady?"
I chuckled to myself. He was still light heartedly when it came to romance. "I'd love to." I slid my hand into his as he led to the dance floor. He wrapped his arm around my waist and held my hand in his. All around the room people stood and watched us. Paige and Hazel even started making comments. I ignored them and continued to dance. I could now only hear Sean's heart beating.
He whispered low in my ear, "Considering all the people don't want me here, I seemed to be welcome with open arms, Miss Ellie Nash."
I slapped his shoulder playfully. "Well, Ashley and the rest of the girls weren't too pleased that you left. You have no idea what you put me through. You didn't leave because of the shooting, did you?"
He looked to his left to ignore my question. He knew I was right. "Ashley and Craig have forgiven me. They know why I left. They understand, but you, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. But you know I didn't leave because of the shooting." His eyes returned to mine.
"It's nice that Ashley and Craig forgave you, but I haven't. Don't you think I'm a little more important? For god's sake, I'm the girl who loves you…loved you!"
"You still love me, El? Ellie, Eleanor, I left for you. I left because I didn't want you to get hurt. El, I loved you too much to lose you."
I scoffed at him, "You left for me? You loved me too much to lose me? How does that make any sense, Sean? You left me! You hurt me!"
"Ellie please let me explain. After the shooting, you know I went back home. Well, after I went back, I got mixed up in a gang. The gang was my family. Until someone got shot: me. One of the rival gangs came after me and a few the other gang members and got me. I tired to get out but I was stuck. The only way out was through the box. After that day, I had to stop seeing you for your own sake. I did it to protect you. Say someone found out about you, and then they might have gone after you to get to me. But I got out. They let me out because I didn't do much. I had helped them a lot when I first joined but now they didn't need me. They wanted younger members, not me." He gripped my hand tight in his as he told me this. I couldn't tell if he was lying. I glanced up at his eyes but for some reason his eyes were clouded and hazy. I couldn't read him. I didn't know what to believe.
"I'm sorry." I laid my head against his chest and just listened to his beating heart. Sean still loved me. I could tell in his eyes and the way he held me in his arms. That's why he came back, because he loved me. The question was did I still love him? And if I did, did I believe the gang story?