Rose watches from a distance as Katniss lifts the veil over the calm golden curls. Her mother stands next to her pinning light pink flower clips to hold it in place. The bride sighs. The older women step away from her and she turns around gazing into the floor length mirror. Rose can only gasp at what she sees. A princess, a beautiful delicate princess, one only found in fairy tales and movies. Prim looks back at them with unshed tears in her light blue eyes.
"Thank you" She steps down from the platform her creamy white dress flowing around her like a stream. The light dances off the crystals causing rainbows to land on the walls of the back room. Rose looks out watching May throw pink petals down the grass aisle and see everyone look back. The man at the end looks nervous; he keeps pulling at his jacket and cuffs. Her father standing behind him is laughing, his dark hair blowing. She hops off her stool and walks over to the bride. Taking her hand and walking into the hall. Everyone is lined up to walk out and Peeta takes her arm. Music starts and everyone stands. Rose takes a deep breath and steps behind the Bride and Peeta, lifting the wedding dress and walking out. Inside her head she pretends this is her wedding and everyone is looking at her. Eden is standing at the end looking nervous and proud and her mother is crying. Bryce is making a snobby remark but looks happy and her little sister is clapping. Her friends and family congratulate and tell her how pretty and happy she looks. If only he was here. She takes a seat and watches Rory beam at his future wife.
"I Do" she grins and Rory laughs sliding the ring onto her pale fingers. The veil flies off and they stand gazing at each other before leaning in and kissing. After the party, Rose crawls, away back to her house to sit in her room. She hadn't cried for Eden in a while and the fact that she misses him hits her. It's only been a year. One more before she finds he's found someone else. Her heart tells her not to think that way but she has to remember it's a possibility. Tears drop. One is for Eden. One is for her imaginary wedding. One is for the happiness of the wedding. One is because she's a hormonal 14-year-old. One is for the fact that Eden is a year older than her. One is for her family who told her to not worry about Eden. One is for Mrs. Odair who took him away. One is for his father. One is for herself. One is for Eden. Repeat. The ball she rolled herself into is hurting her back so she opens her window and sits in the window. She looks down the street where the party is. She knows no one will look for her yet. She could escape into woods and sit in the meadow by the lake. Feel the grass between her toes. There she'll be reassured. She slips from her dress and pulls on his sweater and a small skirt. She pulls on navy rain boots and runs out the back door. The strawberry plants look good and the wooden swing is worn and swinging in the light spring breeze. Her feet lap in the mud under the trees. Birds call and the brook's babble chats to her ears. She runs a finger over a flower, feeling its smooth soft petals before turning back to the path and continuing. She wasn't prepared to feel anything like this. Love that is. She didn't understand what to do, what to think, who to go to. She fell into the grass. Smelling the think April air, calling to the clouds for showers, she wanted to feel the rain hit her face so she could be woken up. A fish jumped in the lake and the trees wove together crinkling the leaves. His fingers smoothed her hair away from her face and his breath was hot on her face.
"Rosie" he whispered, kissing under her ear. Rose opened her eyes seeing her boring bedroom ceiling. She climbed out of bed. Slipping her small heels back on she made her way back to the party. She could wait for him. She had to at least try.