Hi, everybody! OMG! There's an image manager now...? Have to check it out!

ViolonMelody: Hi! Nice to meet you. I am so glad you are liking the chapters. And yes, you described Ty and Hil's enagagement very well.

Rangerapprentice: I knew it, I knew it...you would understand and read between the lines. Happy me! Yup, drama is my middle name when I write MM. OMG! You know One Direction? Ya those are the funs. I am a huge fan!

some stuff: Oh thank you...read on and do tell me if this matched your speculations :)

Kiray Himawari: Oh no. is the story becoming confusing? Oh No. Just read this one and if its still confusing I will try to do something about it! Anyway, I hope you are fine.

Don't wait or say a single vow...You need to hear me out...And they said "speak now".- Speak Now by Taylor Swift. (kinda suiting this chapter, right?)

Chapter 27 (this is the part where I become a sickly, soppy writer. All for the good of the public :) )

Mariam looked at the yellow, bridal gown she was wearing. She sighed, "I hate yellow."

The way she was going to get married was laughable. It was something you could hear only hear in stories. Yes, her life was going very story-like. A story which she knew would go on and be famous as a tragedy. She knew what was supposed to happen next in this story. She would get married to John but not being happy she would die at a young age. John would marry again under 'family pressure' or other crappy reasons. Max would never marry in sadness. Her story would be told in that sad, apologetic tone people often use.

Well, so be it!

"Are you sure about this?" Hilary asked.

Mariam gave her an incredulous look and Hilary reddened. Mariah gave Hilary an i-told-you-so look. All the three girls (including Diana) had tried to help Mariam somehow but it was no use. There was no way out. It was just as irritating as a Nancy Drew game in which you've reached the end but have no clues to complete the game or reading an Agatha Christie book and having it confiscated as soon as you reach the ending. A very irrirating and yet helpless situation.

Half an hour later Mariam was standing on the aisle with John and the priest began to drone. All the snooty old elders from Mariam's hometown gave content, satisfied look as the ceremony started. Tyson watched as Max silently sidled away. Checking that no one saw him, Tyson followed his buddy.

"You ok?" Tyson asked.

"Do you think I am?" The snappy reply surprised Tyson. Max closed his eyes and gulped, "Sorry. Its just that I am not in high spirits right now."

Tyson looked at Max's pale, downtrodden face and immediately felt an elder brother's urge. Maxie was in a fix. Maxie needed help. Tyson had to help him. "Well," Tyson deep-breathed, trying to use Kai's pet tone and words, "you aren't trying much are you?"

Max's eyes widened at the comment, "You'd better stop if you value that ugly face of yours!"

Tyson continued as if he had heard nothing, "I mean if it was Hilary standing with that Johnny-boy right now I would have beaten the hell out of him and everybody else who stood in my love-life."

"Says you, Tyson."

Tyson grabbed hold of Max's shirt and said in his most dangerous voice, "Do you want to be a sicko all your life? Is this how you wanted it to be? Standing beside your crush as she marries someone else? Man, you are such a loser."

Max brushed Tyson's hand away but he seemed to be thinking now. Was that what he wanted? True, he wanted Mariam to be happy but what if...Mariam was not happy. Diana had said that Mariam loved him. And after all how much had he tried? He not even once had Mariam what she felt. "I wishI had asked her."

"Well, there's still time," Tyson offered, praying to God he was spouting the right kind if advice.

"NO! There is...by God, there is time," Max seemed to have been suddenly enlightened. "You are right Tyson. I'll go ask her right now." And Max ran inside.

The priest seemed to be finishing, "-take John Morrison, as your-"

"NO!" shouted Max. Everybody, though a small group, turned to look at the source of this interruption. Max continued, "This marriage cannot happen. I need to-"

However Elder Chihan didn't seem to want any interruption. "Security!" he cried and four burly bodyguards burst in and began marching towards Max.

"Get your hands off me," cried Max. "Mariam, I love-Ahhhh."

The Bladebreakers stood up as the first two guards punched Max when he tried to struggle against them. Max double over in pain but fought back. With a howl the Bladebreakers joined the fight. They weren't going to let Max in a 4 to 1 all alone. Within minutes the marriage turned into what looked like a wrestling match. It was over nearly too soon as Tyson later commented. The Bladebreakers were fighters and quite good at it too. The bodyguards had no chance. They lay in a semi conscious pile beside Elder Chihan who gave them a most displeased look. However proud and strong he was, even he knew that he could, in no way, take on Max and presently the insolent boy's friends were backing him too. He looked at John with disgust. That boy was still gaping at the sudden developments as if frozen with time.

Max, complete with a broken nose, split lip, one black eye and one nearly broken leg, limped over to the aisle. The priest, John and Mariam looked at him as if carved in stone. And Max spoke, "Mariam, I love you. Will you marry me?"

Mariam looked as if she had been slapped. Her suddenly watery eyes flew across the room looking at her friends who were looking happy (why shouldn't they be happy? She knew they didn't support John); at Elder Chihan and his troupe of trusted followers who looked disgusted but confident (they knew she wouldn't let them, her village, her tribe down); at Aunt and uncle who were looking at her with hurt eyes (she wondered if they saw the momentary hesitation in her eyes); at John who was giving her an expectant look (she didn't want to break his heart); and finally her eyes roved back to Max's clear blue ones.

Fine, she did love him but sometimes you just have to give up small things like love for the greater good. Sacrifice. That was it. In order to make everybody's lives go smooth she would have to break Max's heart. She would have to be the destined heroine in her tragic story. This was the end.

If there's any problem do tell me! I hope you like where the story is going. Next one coming soon with lots of surprises!

REVIEW plzzzzz...they make my day!

-Zak