Author's note: Thank you so much for the reviews. I'll try to write and upload when I can. By the way, upon reading this, don't get too sad. I have a plan.
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI.
Here Comes the Bride
White rose petals were scattered in the aisle, purple silk cloth separated the pews from the said aisle, and beautiful violets and white lilies adorned the altar. It was everything Sara wanted, and at the same time, it was nothing like what Sara wanted.
The decorations were perfect, the dresses were perfect, the location, perfect, and yet Sara didn't want to be the one getting married. It was too soon for her to be making a mistake this big, this permanent.
"You shouldn't look so sad."
Love is a game. It's fun for some, horrifying to others.
Sara turned her head, startled by the voice. She relaxed and released the breath she didn't know she was holding when she realized that the voice belonged to no one other than Dorothy, her maid of honour.
"Shouldn't I? I'm getting married to a man I don't love. I should be sad."
Dorothy smiled sadly, "you should at least try being happy. You get everything. You become the Princess, you get wealthy. It's what every girl dreams of. You should be content with what you have."
"I get everything that I ever wanted. But the problem is, in the process of becoming what I always wanted, I gave up my freedom. I gave up my freedom to love, and choose the person that I want to love."
"They always said be careful what you wish for," Dorothy stated.
"That they did," said Sara. "It's just so unfair. To an outsider, this wedding is perfect. The decorations are lovely, the dresses are exquisite, the guest list is made for royalty...the list goes on. To them this is perfect, but to me, this is the worst day of my life. Because they see this upcoming ceremony as perfect, I have to act like it is perfect for me which is really hard seeing as I'm marrying someone I don't love," Sara laughs bitterly. "This isn't a perfect wedding...this is a perfect illusion! It's so perfect that no one can see the wrong things in this so called wedding."
Love is never an illusion. It's always the big thing, the sure one.
Dorothy just stared at her sadly.
"This wedding is like a wall. Everyone thinks it's so beautiful, so clean, and so...perfect. They don't look closely enough to see the cracks forming, the smudges in the sides...they don't see those things. The ones that d however, trick themselves into thinking that they saw wrong—thought wrong," Sara sighed. "It's just so unfair."
"I know," Dorothy said.
"When will the ceremony start?" Sara asked.
"Ten more minutes," Dorothy said.
Like a game, love has its own levels and trials.
"What happened yesterday?" Princess Jacqueline asked.
Gil tried to appear casual; he shrugged nonchalantly. Unfortunately, Princess Jacqueline noticed the slight slumping of his posture, and the frown on his face.
"What happened?" Jacqueline asked, tapping her foot impatiently.
"I tried convincing them, told them my reasons. They told me they would think about it."
It is up to you on how to face the hardships Love gives.
"Well, the wedding's starting in eight minutes. What did they think of?"
"I don't know. They didn't tell me, if they do have a plan. I'll just have to stick to plan B," Gil said, his eyes blue as ice.
Jacqueline raised an eyebrow, "what's plan B?"
Like games, Love has solutions—solutions that you must find.
Gil sighed and turned to the mirror, fixing his tie, "accept the fact that some mistakes can't be fixed."
Jacqueline went to Gil and put her hands on his shoulders. "You can't just do that. You can't just give up, not after what you and Sara have gone through! Too much has been put in stake..."
But unlike games, you can't undo or just give up on Love.
"...and too much has been lost. Like trust for example," Gil continued. "It's too late. We can do nothing but accept that fact."
"Who are you? The Gil I knew never gave up!" Jacqueline exclaimed.
"The Gil you knew wasn't broken by heartbreak and heartache. Nor has he been so tired of fighting for things when in the end, he knows that he would lose anyway."
"If you really want to give up for yourself, then at least don't give up for me. Fight for Sara," Jacqueline exclaimed.
Gil turned around, "why are you so adamant about me fighting for Sara? What is it?"
Jacqueline turned around, and started walking away when Gil grabbed her wrist.
"It's Vincent isn't it? You love him."
Love is complicated—it can never be explained fully.
Jacqueline sighed and turned to face Gil, "yes. I loved him then, and I still love him now."
Gil released her wrist. "If you loved him, then why did you get together with me?"
Jacqueline sighed and sat at the foot of Gil's bed, "because I thought that dating you might make him jealous. Because I thought that if we were together, he would finally realize that someone loved him. If only he looked at what he had."
Love often breaks you down before you can even get up.
Gil sat at his bed and took Jacqueline's hand in his. "We both made mistakes. But now, there's no other option left but to accept the fact that they're getting married. And that we'll be in the sidelines, looking from the outside in just how big our mistake is. We're both cowards; you never did tell him how you really felt about him, and I never did let Sara into my heart. I never really trusted her with my heart because I was always afraid that she would leave me. And now that she did leave me, I have no one to blame but myself."
Jacqueline smiled sadly.
Like playing games, one must have practice or experience.
Amber twirled around in her beautiful lavender dress with white patterns at the sides while Cheska stepped into her brand new silver shoes.
"How long is it until the wedding starts?" Faith asked.
"Four minutes," Hazel said.
"Hurry up people! Dorothy might get mad if we're not there in time. We are bridesmaids after all. We shouldn't be late!" Stella said.
"Just...wait a minute. I'm still fixing my hair, and Luna over there is still putting on the necklace she's supposed to wear," Caramel said.
Olivia looked outside the window, her face looking forlorn, "Sara's so sad. She's marrying someone she obviously doesn't like, let alone love. Remember those days when Sara would avoid Prince Vincent?"
"It makes me sad too, but we can't exactly do anything about it," Shane said. "We don't have proof that Prince Vincent did bribe her or threaten her into marrying him."
"Sara deserves something better than him," Hope said.
Experience is important because those who are experienced know that Love is often unfair.
Ruby nodded, "I agree."
"Okay, everyone's ready. Let's go!" Rose exclaimed.
Love tests people, pushing them to their limits.
Sitting stiffly, the people looked to the aisle as the wedding finally started. The violins started playing, and the orchestra took that as their cue to start playing.
Sara can't help but think that the music is so fitting seeing as it's so melancholic.
Like games, Love isn't always a happy thing.
Prince Vincent was already at the groom's supposed position—near the altar.
A flower girl started throwing white rose petals gracefully, making sure that the petals would fall onto the aisle and not onto the guests.
The ring bearer came next.
Pair by pair, the bridesmaids and groomsmen started walking down the aisle, the bridesmaids' dresses so beautiful under the lovely and romantic lighting.
Then, the maid-of-honour and the best man were next. Dorothy and Gil walked together down the aisle, their eyes cold and their posture slightly slumped. Of course, no one would notice this except for Sara because her posture was like theirs too. Slumped, and feeling defeated.
Most of the time, Love is sad.
And finally, it was Sara's turn to walk down the aisle with her uncle and aunt, King Dale and Queen Renee.
With her chin held up and her posture stiff, she started walking down the aisle to the biggest mistake she would ever make. Her eyes were not the usual warm brown but they were cold and unforgiving. She made sure never to stare at the carpet. She would not let Vincent see that she felt defeated. She would not let him see her vulnerable.
But it is up to you to make it through the sad parts.
She finally reached the altar. Sara just stared at it hollowly, knowing that there was no more chance to back out. This was it. This was permanent. Vaguely, he realized that Queen Renee and King Dale went and kissed her on both cheeks before leaving to take their seats. Sara took Vincent's hand, squeezing it as hard as she possible could, hoping that he would at least get hurt by it.
Sara didn't listen to the priest. It just hurt too much. Hearing it and listening to the priest made it seem more formal and permanent to Sara.
Sara realized the irony of the situation. She once wished she was a princess so that Gil could take the risk for her. Now that she was becoming one, she hated it.
Reality was so mean sometimes, wasn't it?
It is up to you to figure out ways on how to understand Love.
She realized that it was the time for their vows.
"Sara, I love you. You are beautiful like no other, intelligent and kind like no other. You have faced so many hardships in your life—"
'And you're about to add up to those hardships...' thought Sara.
Like games, love often has at least one antagonist.
"—and I would like nothing more than to spend all my life trying to make you feel better and feel loved. I would very much like to care for you as a man cares for his wife, and I would very much want to have you in my arms every night."
And it is up to you to survive Love.
Sara gulped audibly. It was now her time to say her vows. All of the things she put into her letter were all lies of course. She didn't like lying but it would be really hard to explain to the priest why she didn't have a vow if she didn't lie.
Because if you don't...
"Prince Vincent, love knows no boundaries. I'm so glad that you loved me no matter my status in life was, and I'm so glad to know that you care for me the same amount I care for you. I have seen nor met any man like you—all of them fail into comparison—and I consider myself extremely lucky that I met you."
Like a game, you'll be...
Then, the priest spoke, and finally, the part Sara had been waiting for had arrived; the part where the priest asks if someone objects to the wedding.
...10...
Please, please...someone, anyone!
...9...
Prince Gil, please.
...8...
I know that you know Prince Gil...
...7...
I know that you know that Vincent threatened me.
...6...
Please, let me out of this prison.
...5...
I still want my freedom.
...4...
I don't think anyone's objecting...
...3...
Because no one's objecting to the wedding...
...2...
I'm just going to say this...
...1...
In case you don't know, Prince Gil...
...0...
I love you.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Game over.