The Not So Perfect Love Story

20|| Speeches and bouquets

Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are.

- Dinah Martha Mulock

20|| Speeches and bouquets

As the newlywed couple walked down the aisle and out the gates, we followed after them till we reached the reception hall. In there, everybody moved to their seats and sitting down, waiting for the reception to start.

Once everybody's settled, Bash went up to the mic near the live band and clinked a knife to the champagne flute.

"Thank you everyone." He began when everyone quietened.

"Tonight we've gathered here to celebrate the marriage between Mark and Amelia. The two have been head over heels for each from the moment they met, and going to college with them was a headache." Everyone chuckled.

"Their relationship, like every relationship, had its ups and downs. The two would go on and off so many times it was difficult to keep up with them. But today I'm happy to see them together here, and happy in their lives." He paused, letting people cheer for the couple.

"Now that I'm done with the emotional stuff, I request Papa Scott and Mia to come to the dance floor for the bride's dream father-daughter dance."

Dad was tearing up as he held is hand out to Mia, who was sobbing already. Together they went over to the dance floor and started swaying to the music.

Mark stood up and asked his mother to dance with him and off they went. Then the second song started playing and a lot of people were leaving the tables to go join the dance.

After about an hour of everyone dancing around, it was my turn to go up to the mic. I tapped on it twice and everyone stopped to look at me, the band slowly fading out before stopping.

"I apologize for interrupting your dance, ladies and gentlemen, but dinner is about to start and I'd like to give my speech that I spent the entire last night trying to write." I said and everyone moved back to their tables chuckling.

"Mia is my baby sister although younger by only a year and I remember spending nights watching Disney movies as kids, then shifting to rom-coms as we grew older." The groomsmen all booed at it.

"And I remember her talking about how she wants to find the one person with whom she'd feel like a princess. Where it wouldn't matter whether the said person was a frog or a prince, and I'm happy to see she's found her frog."

"He's a frog alright!" Mia snorted and Mark scowled.

"I met Mark in college through my friends Bash and James, with whom he played football and somehow we became close friends pretty soon. Well, I say friends, but he was more of an annoying older brother to me. To say it was mildly nauseating to watch Mark and Mia together the next year at college is an understatement."

Everyone chuckled at that and I made an exaggerated gagging motion. Mia scoffed and rolled her eyes at me.

"But you love me!" Screamed Mark and I rolled my eyes.

Bash, Daniel, James and Arabella pretended to gag along with me before laughing at our antics.

"With that being said it was also a bit difficult for me to see her with Mark. I felt the need to protect her from heartbreak and keep her hidden away so she doesn't have to face the cruel world."

I inhaled holding back my tears before continuing.

"I was lucky enough to have not have gotten my heart broken before then and I wanted her to have the same blissful ignorance. But I realized she needs her own space for everything, especially in college. And today as I stood there watching her walk down the aisle towards Mark, and him bawling his eye out, I was so happy that I let her have her space."

Mia chocked out a sob and Mark narrowed his eyes at me. While I started sniffling, overwhelmed with the realization that my baby sister is married.

"So happy that I wasn't an overbearing sister who made Mia feel like she can't share things. Congratulations to the world's second most beautiful couple for me, the first place being occupied by mum and dad and mama and papa Knight."

I walked back to my seat and sat down wiping at my cheeks. Mia gave me a teary eyed smile with a sniffle and I smiled back at her.

Dinner was then started and everybody lined up to eat.

I motioned for Mia and Mark to keep sitting as they got up and went to the line to bring them some food. Bash and James followed after me and helped me carry the food back.

Well, it was more them almost getting into an argument about what I like to eat and who will carry my plate that I told them both to take the couple's plates with them as I fixed one for myself.

After dinner we all had the cake and drinks and danced some more; and then it was time for Mia and Mark to leave.

Near the main entrance Mia stopped and had her bridal party and other unmarried girls in attendance gather around. She then made an exaggerated throw of the bouquet and the girls around me were all screaming and shoving to be the one to catch the bouquet.

One of the girls shoved me so hard that I stumbled back and I glared at the girl who simply scoffed looking up just for her jaw to drop.

I followed her line of sight and the bouquet was falling right on top of my head.

Taking a slight step back while raising my hand, the bouquet landed on my open palm with a slight thump as the flowers and decorations bound in there by the ribbon swished in a bounce.

Sudden cheering filled the whole hall and Mia was beaming at me as she bounded over to me and hugged me tightly.

As she then slowly let go her eyes were brimming with tears and mine widened in worry, when mum came over to us and wrapped her arms around us holding both of her daughters close.

Mia soon left in a car that had balloons and streamers in white and lavender with a Just Married card on the back. Mark insisted on driving the car and so Mia sat with half her body hanging out of the window waving at us.

The other guests that had been lingering about, left soon after too until it was just family left behind; the Scotts, the Maxwells, the Knights, the Gray father-son duo, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

We decided we wanted to stay for longer and let loose, so after convincing the band to leave and rest we hooked a phone to the speakers and put the party playlist on shuffle.

For the major part, it had been all of us jumping around like mad people with bottles or flutes of alcohol in our hands.

We kept jumping and kicking and punching in the name of dancing, some going as far as to start twerking.

And then a slow song started playing and couples found each other to sway about. I turned around to go back and sit down, and drown my misery in alcohol, when Bash held his hand out.

"You are my date and yet I couldn't get a dance with you all night. If you don't mind, may I have this dance?" He asked in a whisper.

"Who's fault is that, now?" I asked as I placed my hand in his and he whisked me into the crowd.

And that somehow felt better than the memory of skipping into the sunset with James.