Strawberries And Crows (Canceled, For Now)

Part 16- Preparations

There are two days left until the wedding. Dressmakers are frantically working to make Elizabeth's dress, meanwhile Alice is helping with mine.

The halls have been decorated with flowers and vines and fabrics.

The ballroom has been set up with chairs and an arch and of course, even more flowers.

I haven't seen any of my friends (Besides Alice, of course.) Since the picnic.

Elizabeth has been forced to sleep in her own bed.

I'm nearly falling asleep as Alice tugs and pokes at my dress. " Perfect. " She says with a smile. That wakes me up.

" It's done? "I say.

" Yep. " Alice is clearly proud of it. She pulls em out of it and I put a different dress on, then run out into the halls to find David.

I find him setting up flowers in the ballroom.
" David. " I whisper, and he turns to look at me.

" Ah, Kalese. " he has a smug look on my face.

" Just to be clear, it won't be clear, It won't be mentioned that I had any help in planning the- our plan- right? "

" Of course Kalese, otherwise the elders would believe it was your own selfish desires that stopped the wedding. " I sigh.

" Yeah, right. "

One day to the wedding.

The house has calmed down quite a bit, since most of the preparations were completed in a  rush yesterday.

I'm completely dreading the wedding tomorrow. I've been seated beside David, because we will be the next two be wed blah blah blah.

Tomorrow, when I wake up, I'll get dressed, put on my best game face, and- what will I do then? I'll sit through the wedding and wait for David to object. 

Everything will be fine.

Everything's not fine. 

All the guests are here, I'm seated in my chair, David isn't next to me yet, I haven't seen Elizabeth in days, I'll have to see Richard again, my head is throbbing, and worst of all...

Elizabeth looks beautiful up there in her dress. 

David rushes in, sliding into the seat next to me. 

Just then, the pastor asks the guests if there are any objections. 

I side-eye David, but he doesn't rise.

My heart is beating in my chest.

Everything's not fine.

My ears are ringing and I can see a thing.

I can't feel a thing either, when my legs stand and my arm raises.

" I object. " I say, somehow, though I was sure my voice box wouldn't work. " I object... " I repeat.

" Kalese Boleyn. " My father stands up, and approaches me. " Sit down. " 

" NO! " I yell. " I am NOT letting my bastard brother get married to Elizabeth. " I hiss in his face.    " You want to know why? 

" I know why, Kalese. You're selfish, you don't want your friend marrying your brother. " 

" God, NO! Listen here, Father, and all you guests too, " I wave my hand lazily at them. " My brother hit me so hard I nearly passed out and you still allow Elizabeth to marry him? " 

" Enough! " Richard yells, gripping Elizabeth's arm with his ugly, big hand.  " Sister, I've treated you with nothing but kindness and this is how you repay me? Silly rumours have no place in this house. " 

" Be a good girl and sit. " He smiles, then turns back to Elizabeth.  

I'm so, so embarrassed, I want to just run out of the hall, But Elizabeth has this look in her eyes that says she wants me to stay, so i drop down to my seat, David sitting smug beside me. I want to slap him.

I look up to Elizabeth and Richard, tears blurring my vision. She really wants to marry him after all?  I think, as Richard leans in for their kiss, She lied to me? To get me to embarrass myself, I bet. God, you're embarrassing Kalese, get it together. A tear rolls to my face as Richards just about to kiss her.

Everything is NOT fine. 

Everything is falling apart.

God, I'm embarrassing. I sniffle as tears roll down my cheeks. 

It's a crisp slap sound that brings me back to the moment.