Sorry it's a day late, but I forgot to post this yesterday. I had it all edited and ready, but I forgot to actually press "post". This chapter is Bella's POV of the wedding.
Thanks for reading!
-CL
Marlee, America, and I get to the church. We wait outside the doors until the organ strikes its first chord of the day. Marlee and America walk in. My father clears his throat. "Are you ready, daughter?"
"I guess so," I stay, but a dizzy spell starts. "Shit. Hold on one second." I lean against the wall, trying to keep the world from spinning.
"Are you ok?"
I take a deep breath. "Yes, I'm fine." The world stops spinning, and I cautiously step away from the wall. My father grabs my arm and I hold onto his arm tightly, too tightly.
"Are you sure you're ok?" my father asks.
"Yeah, I'm sure-" I start, but then my legs give out.
Father tightens his grip on me, catching me before I hit the floor. "You are not ok, Bella," he says, helping me up.
"I'm fine for now," I say, regaining my balance. I lean heavily on Father, hoping my little fall won't happen during the wedding. The doors open, and I quickly regain my composure and act normal. . We walk up to Maxon, whose is shocked. I give him a smile and join him near the altar. Father Christopher starts the Mass. I get another dizzy spell and try to focus on Father, but it's impossible. Most of the Mass went by in a blur, between sitting, standing, kneeling, and singing. I kept on zoning out and getting dizzy spells. But the one part I was completely aware of was our vows and first kiss.
Father says, "Please stand." We all stand. Father walks so he's in front of us. "Dearly beloved, you have come together into the house of the Church so that in the presence of the Church's minister and the community your intention to enter into Marriage may be strengthened by the Lord with a sacred seal, and your love be enriched with his blessing you, so that you may have strength to be faithful to each other for ever and assume all the responsibilities of married life. And so, in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions."
"Bella and Maxon, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?"
Maxon and I answer, "I have."
Father responds, "Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?"
"I am."
"Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?"
"I am."
"Since it is your intention to enter the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church."
Maxon and I look at each other and grab each other's right hand. I start to feel dizzy and trying to realease the tension in my legs. Maxon says, "I, Maxon Calix Schreave, take you, Bella Rose Starr, to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life."
I look at Maxon and give a small smile. "I, Bella Rose Starr, take you, Maxon Calix Schreave, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life." My hand is shaking, and Maxon squeezes my hand. He glances at me. I try to give him a smile to reassure him, but I can't. Damn you, anxiety. Maxon smiles, trying to calm me, but I don't respond. I'm too focused on not fainting.
Father continues, "Maxon Calix Schreave, do you take Bella Rose Starr to be your wife? Do you promise to be faithful to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and to honor her all the days of your life?"
"I do," Maxon responds.
Father turns to me and asks, "Bella Rose Starr, do you take Maxon Calix Schreave to be your husband? Do you promise to be faithful to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and to honor him all the days of your life?"
"I do," I respond shakily. Father glances at me, looking concerned. I smile at him. He turns to face both of us.
"May the Lord in his kindness strengthen the consent you have declared before the Church and graciously bring to fulfillment his blessings within you. What God has joined, let no one put asunder.
"May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God who joined together our first parents in paradise, strength and bless in Christ the consent you have declared before the Church, so that what God joins together, no one may put asunder. Let us bless the Lord."
The congregation reponds, "Thanks be to God."
The rings are brought up by America's younger brother, Gerad, and Father blesses the rings. "May the Lord bless these rings, which you will give to each other as the sign of your love and fidelity."
We respond, "Amen."
Father sprinkles holy water over the rings and gives them to Maxon and me.
Maxon places the ring on my finger, saying, "Bella Rose Starr, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Likewise, I place the ring on my finger and say, "Maxon Calix Schreave, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fiedlity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
"You may now kiss the bride," Father says.
I take a silent shaky breath. Maxon lifts the veil off of my face. He stares at me for a little while. He puts his arms around me. I place my hands on his chest. I look up at him, into his eyes. I lean in, but I feel my legs give out and I stumble. Maxon holds me tighter, which allows me to gain my balance before falling. I take another shaky breath, and I look at him. I'm sorry, I mouth to him. He smiles, and there's a knowing glint in his eyes. I lean in again, and this time our lips touch. There's a moan that I just barely stop from coming out. I want to kiss him for the rest of my life, but way too soon, Maxon pulls away. I remember we have an audience. I look at Maxon and we both have big, stupid grins on our faces.
"And now we lift our prayers to God," Father says. I try to focus on the rest of the Mass, but I only focus on not fainting. Soon, the organ plays, and we are walking out of the church. Maxon and I turn to look at each other, with stupid grins on our faces. I hand my bouquet to America, and I jump into Maxon's arms. We kiss passionately, but I soon realize we have an audience. I can hear them cheering, especially Marlee, America, Aspen, and Carter. I pull away, a little embarrassed. I shyly wave to them all and look at Maxon. "I love you," I say. "Let's get ready for the reception."
