You Promised

Chapter Thirty One

   Hazel skips down our make-shift aisle, scattering flowers as she walks towards Adam and John. Our neighbour George, who was a few years older than us, holds my hand tightly and walks with me after Hazel. Anna and Jayne clap politely for me on either side of us as I glide towards Adam.
   I'm wearing a lace tablecloth over my head as a makeshift veil with my only white dress barely covering my knees. I've had it since my sixth birthday but I had to drag it out with the help of our maid once our play wedding was announced.
   George places my hand in Adam's larger one and kisses my forehead in place of my father. Adam smiles at me as we turn to my younger brother.
   'Ladies and gentlemen.' Introduces John grandly, sweeping his arms out wide. 'We are gathered here today to join my friend and my sister-'
   'Say it properly!' Objects Hazel irritated.
   'No.' He answers shortly, rolling his eyes at her. 'Proper weddings are boring.'
   'Then I'm not coming to yours.' Retorts Hazel, crossing her arms and smirking triumphantly.
   'Good because you're not invited.' John sneers back.
   'Anyway...' Prompts Adam, pinning my arm to his side.
   'Yeah. Sorry.' John says, completely unabashed. 'Does anyone have a problem with this marriage?' He calls to our small congregation.
I hear Hazel snort in contempt behind me as I look around at our friends, listening for an objection.
'Then kiss the bride Adam. Although be careful because she is my sister.' John warns.
Adam leans over to me and places a chaste kiss on my cheek. I blush and grin at him before we turn to our small number of wedding guests.
Anna and Jayne cheer loudly as Adam and I begin our walk down the aisle, waving royally to our imaginary guests.
'Can I get married now?' Asks John impatiently. 'I'm tired of marrying you two.'
'No it's my turn!' Hisses Hazel, ripping my veil off of my head.
'Ow!' I squeal, holding onto my hair protectively.
'Be careful!' Adam almost shouts, holding my shoulder, worrying over my hair.
'It's my turn!' Hazel insists, holding the veil away from John's searching fingers.
'Just marry each other.' Groans Anna. 'This is getting boring.'
'No!' Hazel and John scream in unison.
'Not him!'
'Never her!'
'Oh get on with it. Or I'll marry him.' Anna says, eyeing the tablecloth in Hazel's iron grip.
Hazel spins around to face the new threat. 'Fine.' She sighs. 'John get up to the altar now.'
John groans and stomps theatrically to the altar, while the rest of us presume our various roles in this ceremony.

Anna, Jayne, Hazel and I are in Oxford, looking for my dream wedding dress.
    'Not that one.' We chant together, looking at clipping after clipping that the stressed attendant shows us.
   'May I ask which one is the bride?' She asks eventually, tiring quickly of my bridesmaids.
   I raise my hand, a pattern catching my eye.
    'Well miss...' The woman launches into a long list of current dress styles and what is worn by the ladies of the high circles.
   I cannot tear my eyes away from one of the gowns. 'How much is that one?' I ask eventually having to interrupt the woman.
She looks startled and looks at the dress I'm pointing to. '£95 miss.'
I bite my lip and glance at Jayne.
Jayne shuffles in closer to look at the picture. The tiered skirts had the same lace as the collar with a simple white ribbon tied it together at the waist. The lace at the dollar extended down the arm to the elbow.
Hazel nudges my elbow excitedly. 'That's the one Ami.' She giggles a little. 'That's it!'
   We all look at my financier, Jayne. She smiles and nods adamantly. 'It's perfect.'
   We all coo over the dress and then I am brought into a side room to get measured for my gown.
   We leave the shop, as giddy as we have been in a long time.
   'Maybe we should look for Hazel's dress, just in case.' Teases Anna, poking her friend in the arm.
   'Remember when you said you wouldn't even invite John to your wedding?' Laughs Jayne as we buy our return tickets home.
   'That would be a short ceremony.' Giggles Anna, as Hazel rolls her eyes.
   We shuffle onto the train, silence creeping on us for the first time today. Every now and then it is interrupted by the occasional bubbly murmur about the wedding or a small comment about Oxford. I bite my lip and stare out the window, the ache in my chest returning as I think of how much Adam would want to be here today.
'Ami?' Asks Anna, coming to sit beside me. 'Have you heard from him at all?'
I smile weakly at her. 'How do you always know when I'm thinking about him?'
She laughs without humour. 'You get all sad looking.' She sticks her lower lip out in a pout and furrows her eyebrows.
'Is Ami talking about Adam?' Chimes Jayne, Hazel watching us with cautious eyes. 'Ami are you-'
'Excuse me?' Jayne is interrupted by a young man, in his early twenties. He is tall, around 6 foot, with brilliant green eyes framed by jet black hair. The accent that leaks from his full lips above a strong jaw is foreign and reminds me of Dolly. We are stare much longer than we should, Jayne nibbling her lip as she eyes his muscled arm move under his green shirt. 'Will this train get in by about five?'
'You're on the five o'clock train, buddy.' Hazel answers, giggling a little, as she brushes her hair behind her ear. 'I'm Hazel.'
He reaches out his hand to her. 'Colton. And your friends are?'
She points to each of us in turn with her free hand, having not released his hand. Jayne nudges her with her elbow and Hazel shoots the American a smile before letting him go.
His eyes are stilling scanning her face, staring keenly into her eyes. The train judders to a halt in our station. Anna and I break their contact by standing up between them. He looks at us then, removing an imaginary hat politely. 'Its been a pleasure ladies.'
Hazel smiles at him again as he leaves. I storm out of the doors, pausing briefly on the platform for them before stalking off down the street once we leave the station.
'Hey Ami!' Calls Hazel, coming after me as I speed down the dusty street. 'Amelia!'
I slow down but don't look at her. 'Yes?'
'You know I didn't mean anything by that.' She says, sounding bored with the discussion before it even starts. 'And you're well aware of why.' She adds, nodding at my brother as we round the corner to my house.
I sigh and stop walking. 'I know. Sorry, I'm just...on edge I suppose.'

She tilts her head as we slowly continue towards the house. 'I'm sorry for what part I played. I meant nothing by it.'
I nod. 'I know you didn't. You should bare in mind that he mightn't know that you love the strange fool that is my brother.'
She raises an eyebrow at me, as John looks up and grins at her. 'Hey Hazel.'
'Bonjour!' She chirps, leaving my side and sauntering over to him. 'How are you?'
'Even better now.' He replies, bopping her nose with his finger.
'Do I need to be here for this?' I ask grimacing, as I start to go inside.
'Bring us out some tea?' John calls after my hopefully.
'I'll ask Nicky.' I call back, closing the back door. Going into the kitchen I ask our cook to make John some tea before heading upstairs to write to Adam, the second time in a week.
I sit down at my desk, looking out the window at my brother and Hazel laughing in the grass. John picks up a small pink flower and places it behind her ear. She smiles sweetly back at him before putting a weed behind his.
I shake my head and continue my story about the dress and out excursions in the town. Just as I'm signing off I hear a loud sigh from behind me. 'Hello Jenny.' I say tiredly, without turning around.
'Hello.' She responds, without emotion. 'I brought you tea.'
'Thank you.' I turn and take my cup from her as she sits on my bed with her own.
'Do you think I'll ever find that?' She asks, sadly looking out the window at John and Hazel. 'What you both have?'
'Yes.' I answer immediately. 'Why wouldn't you?'
'I didn't have such good luck that last time I looked for it.' She responds dryly.
I pause, watching her mouth constrict as she bites back her emotions, as usual. 'Jenny... you'll find it. Everyone deserves it. Regardless of what mistakes they made before.' I add quickly as she looks like she is going to argue.
She purses her lips and stands up, leaving my room without a goodnight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd like to thank mystolenheart_ for her constant support and help with this story. She's an inspiration and a fountain of ideas when I ask her. Thanks so much!! :) x
Please favourite, share and enjoy this story!

Thanks :D x