J.A.C.I.E.'s World (All Time Low Fanfiction | Jack Barakat)

Epilogue

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was twisted up, a few colourful wildflowers carefully peaking out, turning the blonde into a beautiful delicate landscape. A few wisps of hair were still framing my face, keeping the warmth in my skin. It had been over a year and a half since I impulsively cut my hair short. Since then, it had grown longer, but I had come to love the strands that used to annoy me.

It had been a crazy year and a half since I first moved in with Jack. My career had been a whirlwind of excitement. I'd gotten to produce for more artists and eventually stopped working for Justin. We still worked together and his studio was always open to me, but I had gotten far enough to make my own contacts. It even went as far as me actually poaching some of his clients. Which then led to me living my childhood dream and playing the drums for a band on tour for two weeks since they didn't have a drummer. On top of that, I got hired to help write songs for much bigger artists; artists I could have never imagined working for.

But that wasn't all, I also still had my own projects going on. All Time Low took me on tour around Europe, which was insane. I'd never been to Europe before and suddenly got to see a lot of it in less than a month. I also put a lot of my efforts into social media, knowing that that was the way to make a name for yourself in the digital age. And somehow it paid off. I had a few songs go relatively viral (amongst the right crowd).

It had been such a busy time. But now, things were slowing down for a day.

"You ready?" Hazel asked as she stood beside me, also looking into the mirror.

My gaze moved over to her, looking at the way her own brown hair was curled lightly and the way her ochre dress made her shine from miles away.

I gave her a nod and a radiant smile. "Of course."

"Nervous?" she chuckled when she saw me look over my own appearance again.

"I know we're already married, but yes."

"Makes sense, you've performed in front of thousands, but this is the most important show of your life."

"Well, that makes me feel better," I couldn't help but laugh.

A gentle knock on the door made my heart skip a beat. I knew exactly who was on the other side and what it meant. Hazel gently put her hand on my shoulder as she walked around me to open the door. There stood my dad, a small bouquet of wildflowers in his hands, just like the ones in my hair. His eyes were filled with pride and watered up when he saw me.

He took a step inside the room and I walked up to him, watching the first tear drop down his cheek.

"Don't cry," I told him, wiping away his tears. "I'm already married."

"It's just a privilege to still get to see you like this," he said, his voice wavering slightly.

I couldn't help but smile at him and carefully gave him a hug. I didn't want to mess up my appearance so close to the moment I had to step out. The touch ups to my hair and makeup had already been done and I was even wearing my dress. Two years after marrying Jack in the black dress I had worn out for date night, I was now finally in a white dress covered in brightly-coloured embroidered flowers.

Once I pulled away from the hug, my dad held out the flowers. "These are for you."

"Thank you," I whispered, the emotions starting to get to me too as I accepted them.

He placed a loving kiss on my forehead. "I couldn't be prouder of the woman you've become."

His words meant more than he ever could have known. While we were finally celebrating our marriage with friends and family, making lasting memories, my mom hadn't been invited. Even over a year later, I still hadn't fixed things with her. I knew that inviting her to my wedding would have been a disaster waiting to happen. The only person who I still kept in contact with was her girlfriend, Fran. Of course, she couldn't be here either, but she was wanted.