Girl in a Hoodie: Where the Future Lies

Chapter 34

*Two weeks later*

James's POV:

I turn to face Riley as we both stood at the front of the alter and I smile at her softly. She looked gorgeous in her dress with the transparent vail covering her face so I could just about see the special glint in her left eye as she smiled back at me.

"You look amazing," I whisper to her.

"You don't look too bad yourself," she tells me back and I grin. I was wearing a white shirt with a black blazer and trousers, a black bow-tie and shoes as well. You'd be surprised when I tell you that it was Mum who picked it out for me. I honestly thought that she would have ended up choosing something a little more drastic than she did but luckily, it's better than what I initially thought.

The priest continues to ramble on about what love really is and the circle of life, except I'm not really listening and all I can find myself able to do is look into the eyes of the wonderful girl in front of me. She still had her necklace on after she refused to take it off, even after the whole encounter she had with Emily. It turns out Em wanted Ri to wear a different necklace but Riley didn't want to take the one I had originally got her off, and she somehow ended up winning the argument after pulling the usual pregnancy card which it seems like no one can choose to battle with.

Hunter ended up being best man, seeing as I couldn't necessarily pick between West and Eldon despite all of the points they both made on who would be better and how West had a whole speech planned but Eldon had practically watched us fall in love. Although thinking about it, pretty much everyone in our year at school watched us fall in love so Eldon didn't really get anywhere with that statement. 

Riley chose her sister to be the maid of honour with Laci, Michelle and Piper as bridesmaids. Jasper was the page boy after countless begs for me to let him do the job. Riley didn't mind but I was hesitant about it because of how obsessed he is with her and I wasn't sure if letting him would be a good or bad thing, albeit, it ended up being a not-so-bad thing after all and he did as he was told.

Rose was the flower girl and then everyone else was pretty much just family and friends who had to watch the ceremony. And then, despite Marcus and Alice coming all the way over here, Dad insisted on being the chaperone to walk Riley down the aisle and Ri agreed. I could tell she wasn't too fond with Marcus and that her own dad was still in rehab and so it was only for the better that Dad did it instead. As he walked her down, I was able to tell that there was some sort of conversation going on between them both since Riley was no doubt giggling behind her covering and it was silent which meant I could hear it just the tiniest bit, but I know not to ask either of them about it.

After we finish reciting a prayer together, line after line, Riley and I take each other's hands and I hold hers firmly yet lightly in mine.

"So now it comes to the wedding vows," the priest announces much louder than needed but I suppose it's because of Harlow who was bawling his eyes out which meant Aunt Kathy and Uncle Arthur had to stand at the back of the church, rocking him side to side, comparatively getting him to keep quiet. 

Riley places her hand over the top of mine though since she had to say the vows first. I saw her exhale slightly and so when she looked up at me, I raised an eyebrow to check if she was okay. She nods and then smiles sweetly before declaiming the small series of speech.

"I, Riley Lynn Raymond... take thee, James Flannagan Tordjman... to be my lawfully wedded husband...-" She pauses for a moment as she looks up at me, biting her lip. I can tell that she's not being herself but I don't want to create a scene and she continues reciting each line the priest says whilst peeling her eyes away from mine to look at our hands. "-To have and to hold from this day forward... For better, for worse... For richer, for poorer..." By now, her words had become muffled and it was as if her mouth was drying up as each syllable became a whisper. "In sickness, and in health... To love and to cherish... till... death do us part... In the presence of God... I... make this vow," she claims slowly.