The New Student

Chapter 44

I stared in amazement at the woman in the mirror staring back at me. I never thought I could look so beautiful. I didn't even think it was me for a minute. I never really stared at myself much, never feeling the need to. I never had a problem with the way I looked either. I knew I was pretty in my own way, just never really cared about appearance and the way people think of me.

The dress I'm wearing is the most gorgeous dress I've seen in my life, and I couldn't process that I was the one wearing it. It is an off the shoulder Victorian-style champagne wedding dress. It had a ruffles flowing all the way down until the dress was sliding along the floor, even the shoulders had ruffles on them, and so did the waist. Golden flower designs were embroidered into the bottom of the dress, making it even more beautiful. A lace veil tied to a crown was on my head and flowing down my open back with grace.

My hair was silk pressed with waves. Half was up in a bun with a vine pin wrapped in it, while the rest of my hair was down. When the woman began to work on my hair, she started to laugh when she pressed the first piece.

"The shrinkage is real," I recall her saying. I laughed along side her, feeling less tense over my hair, knowing that she knew what it was like since she was also black.

I was never one to indulge in what my wedding looked like. I didn't have the scrap book of what I wanted my setting to be, nor did I have what the bridesmaids would wear and what the after party would look like. I wasn't that type of girl, especially since I didn't have friends, along with a little family to even be bridesmaids.

My makeup was light and natural, seeing how I didn't care for makeup very much. But the smoky wing the professional artist added along my eyes made them pop, for which I'm grateful. I felt my eyes begin to water, finally allowing the transformation to process.

I was getting married to the love of my life. I never thought I'd be here, but I am.

"Oh my goodness," I hear from behind me. I turn around and see Maria and AJ standing side by side, hand in hand, looking at me. Both of their mouths are open in what looks like amazement and shock. I laugh a little, blinking away the tears that threaten to escape.

"You look beautiful," Maria gasps, tears building in her eyes. AJ agrees, quickly nodding his head.

"Thank you, both. I couldn't have done this without you two," I say before embracing them in a tight hug. Once we release, Maria wipes a tear that left her eye while AJ wraps a comforting arm around her back.

"Did Dylan tell you how many people he invited?" AJ asked.

"No."

Maria and AJ quickly exchanged looks.

"How many did he invite?"

they both stay silent.

"Answer. Me."

"Possibly your mom's side of the family, along with every ally he has?" AJ says in a questioning voice while rubbing the back of his neck.

"How many allies does he have?" I ask.

"He's possibly allies with about a hundred countries, I think," AJ states slowly, avoiding my eyes.

I'm gonna kill him before we can even get to the 'I do's'.

"Please don't," Maria laughs a little. I've seriously got to stop saying things aloud. I take a deep breath, trying to keep my mind off of the possible thousands of guests that must be sitting in the chapel right now. My back tingles as reality slams into me, and the nerves begin to creep in.

"What if he gets cold feet?" I say out of nowhere. We all knew it wasn't possible but this was my nerves talking.

AJ and Maria both give me that look like I just asked the dumbest question in the world, which I did.