Under the Hollywood Sign (editing)

Chapter 20

Shane

I was in the church bathroom, making sure that my green, blue, and orange hair was laid perfectly in place.

I was trying to make everything perfect, and I was nervous out of my shit at the same time.

We had been planning this for the past... While now, and we both knew that everything was going to be perfect. I was still frantic, and I didn't leave my hair alone.

Jesse had to drag me out of the bathroom, because it was almost go time.

"Dude, ya look perfect. Here. Take this."

He handed me a shotglass full of tequila.

I downed it, put a stick of gum in my mouth so she wouldn't smell it on my breath, and I went out there.

When I watched her walk up the aisle, she had me mesmerized. I had a smile wider than before plastered on my face, and I could feel myself blushing madly.

Soon enough, we said the vows, we exchanged rings, and before I knew it, the priest said 'You may kiss the bride'.

I dipped her, and I kissed her with so much passion, it should have gone down into history.

From the dip, I grabbed the back of her knees, and I carried her out of the church.

I never imagined myself getting married to her, but fate is a funny thing.

We had known each other for just under two years, and here we are now. Married.

As I was carrying her out, I took a look at her feet. She was wearing her all stars, and I laughed. I did too.

For the reception, she wore a shimmery black dress, and a newer pair of converse all stars. Her hair laid perfectly, an frankly, I looked normal, but just a little bit dressier.

I took her out onto the dance floor, and we danced for a while.

As we were dancing, she said

"I tasted tequila on your breath. We're you really that nervous?"

Shit. I thought the gum worked.

"Yeah,"

I said with a laugh.

"I downed a beer before I walked out. Not all at once, of course, but I was just as scared as you were."

"What made your breath smell like rainbows?!"

"A whole lot of tic tacs."

She smiled.

I leaned in, and I kissed her.

Soon, we were making out.

I carried her out the door, and onto the quiet deck. I sat down on a lawn chair, and she was on my lap, with her head on my left shoulder.

We looked up at the stars for a little bit. I gave her my jacket when I felt her arms get goosebumps when the wind blew.

When the reception was over, and after I had gotten the icing out of my hair after she got to dunk my face in a separate cake, we drove in my car all the way to the airport.

I changed radio stations back and forth, just because we were stuck in traffic, and I was bored. But she slapped my hand away from the radio when she heard a song she liked. I happened to like it too.

"In the end as you fade into the night, who will tell the story of your life?"

That station was good, so we stayed on it for a while.

The traffic didn't lighten up, and it was getting late. I looked over, and her eyes began to close ever so slowly.

I grabbed a blanket from the backseat, and I covered her with it. I turned down the radio, and when we finally got to the airport, I woke her up. I felt bad, but I had to do it.

She slept in my arms when we were on the plane.

I fell asleep too, and I woke up when we were almost there. I didn't tell her where we were going, I just told her to bring a bathing suit and her surfboard.

Of course she packed more, but I gave her that one clue.

When we landed, she said

"You took me to... WHERE?!"

"South Africa!"

"Why?"

She said with a smile.

"Because I know you're a great surfer, and J-Bay is wicked. It's a cool place, too. I plan on riding a giraffe while we're here."

"I plan on sleeping."

"Jet lag?"

She nodded her head.

We both collapsed on the couch when we got to our vacation house. We slept for a while.

I woke up before her, and I began kissing the back of her neck. She then rolled over, and her lips met mine.

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