In and Out of Love – Chapter 21

By MyNameIsCAL

Things finally started to fall into place as the days towards Iggy and Ella's wedding grew closer. The guest list mostly consisted of Ella's friends. It would be a lot of people. Enough people to make Iggy hesitant to agree to it, but he did, for Ella. Although he did convince Ella to take a road trip top to bottom of California, visiting everywhere from San Francisco, Napa Valley, and San Diego because he didn't want to go in an airplane.

"I haven't seen Gazzy around lately," Ella said as we sat at dinner one night.

Iggy chewed at his food, being his own hardest critic. "Probably out with Nudge somewhere."

It wasn't a secret that those two were together now. Iggy would never see what he had done to Nudge, and if it hadn't been for Gazzy, the damage might have been worse. Even though Nudge had Gazzy, she still hesitated to be around Iggy. It was why Gazzy had stopped coming around to the apartment as often. Usually he brought Nudge. Not that Nudge showed she didn't like being around Iggy because she did a great job at hiding it.

"I haven't seen Nudge in a while either," Ella commented.

"I'm sure they'll be around one of these days." Although I was probably lying. Every now and then, Max or I would try to get Gazzy to come around. Usually he didn't unless it was something important, like something for the wedding.

But in the bliss of wedding planning and Iggy and Ella's growing excitement, none of us would ever speak a word of how Nudge still felt. Not even Nudge liked to talk about it, according to Gazzy.

Max looked beautiful as we take our places near the altar. She caught my attention and gave me a smile. Iggy stood next to me, only looking slightly nervous. The church was filled with people, some I recognized, others I didn't. Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel sat in the first row, looking anxious too.

The music started to play and the doors at the back of the church open up, Ella appearing, beautiful in her dress, Mom walking her down the aisle. I suppose traditionally it was supposed to be the father, but if I remember correctly, he had died a long time ago. Iggy took in a deep breath. He couldn't see her. It was the one thing that bothered him the most about the wedding. But it looked like his eyes found her anyway.

"She looks beautiful, Ig," I heard Max say quietly.

And he replied with a nod, but you could tell there was a hint of disappointment. By the time we reached the exchanging of vows, the disappointment was gone. I know that Iggy had worked hard on his vows because he felt he needed to have them perfect, to make up for everything he couldn't do because he was blind.

"Ella," Iggy smiled. "It seems like a hundred years ago, but also like yesterday, that I met you. And to even think that I've made it this far, and to have you by my side, means more than the world to me. For years and years, I resented being not able to see, and then you gave me the gift of sight. I can't see the world the way you see it, but I understand it better. And sure, 'til death do us part and in sickness in health, but what I'm really trying to say is that I have never been more sure about anything in my life than being with you, forever."

And you could tell he moved people with that. Mom was crying, Max was crying, even Nudge looked teary. Maybe even to the people watching, Iggy and Ella's marriage felt right.

The reception was filled with more people, or at least it felt like it. A few people stopped to introduce themselves to Max and me. Most of them were old high school friends of Ella's. They had only heard about us from Ella. Max joked they were probably just relieved that we weren't crazy or something.

Iggy mostly stayed by Ella's side. The mass of people made him uncomfortable.

"I'm starving!" Gazzy exclaimed as he and Nudge stopped in front of us. "When's dinner?"

I glanced at the clock. "Half an hour."

"Ah." Gazzy still had his earrings in. Even during a wedding he managed to get away with a little edge.

Nudge began to ramble about some of Ella's friends. I had forgotten she and Ella had been in high school together. It sounded like she was enjoying herself. That was a relief.

Dinner was a time for speeches. Max had stood and given one already, saying how she had first met Ella and what it had been like when we were younger and in cages. If you didn't know Max, it sounded like she could be his mother for a while. It had been far too long since I had heard Max sound like that.

My turn would be next, as I was the best man. It only seemed proper to say something. Not that I had anything planned to say. I'm pretty sure Max had an idea about what she was going to say before the wedding had even started.

I cleared my throat. "Well, first of all, Iggy and Ella, congratulations…"

Max gave me an encouraging smile. Iggy thanked me, giving me a nod to go on.

"Well, Ig," I continued. "I mean, you know it's been hard the past years for Max and me, and if it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here with her right now. We've been sharing an apartment, for what? The last few years now, and you did all the cooking and you kept me in line. What I'm really trying to say is thank you for everything and that, Ella, you're really lucky to have a guy like him."

There was a warm round of applause. Iggy and Ella both gave me a smile.

"You didn't plan that out at all, did you," Iggy said under his breath.

I shook my head.

He laughed.

So I'm thinking there are a couple chapters left. I'll wrap up Iggy and Ella, get Max and Fang's wedding, and maybe a little bit more with Nudge and Gazzy. Spring break for me has finally started. More updates soon. Thank you for reading!