Something Unexpected

You Annoying Little...

                                                  ~ Chapter One ~

                                                    Age: Thirteen

“Love one another and you will be happy. It’s as simple and as difficult as that.” ~ Michael Leunig

            “You look so beautiful Miranda. John’s a lucky guy.” Aunt Nelly said. Her and Aunt Deddie was fixing my sister, Miranda’s veil and grinning from ear to ear. I rolled my eyes and kept drawing; outlining my masterpiece of my dog, Coco, eating off John’s pants. I stifled a laugh with a cough and the girls looked over at me briefly before fussing over Miranda again.

            I didn’t even want to go to this stupid wedding. With stupid flowers, stupid decorations, and stupid dresses. Speaking of dresses, I looked down at mine and growled in frustration. Pink. I was forced to wear a fluffy, pink dress. “Can’t it be purple?” I remember asking Miranda a month before the wedding. She shook her head and glared at me, “No, the bride maid’s flowers are pink and you have to match them.” I glared back at her, “Shouldn’t I be wearing the same dress they are?” I looked over at the lovely lavender dresses Miranda’s friends were gushing over. Miranda sighed and patted my shoulder, “They’re the bride maid’s, you’re the flower girl, and you’re supposed to be different from them.”

            I shook my head, pushing the memory back in my thoughts. Different. I was always different. “Shit!” My head shot up from my sister’s colorful word choice, in a church I might add, to see her flapping her hands around like a dead chicken. “No! No! No!” Aunt Nelly and Debbie looked over at Miranda’s bride maids, Jessica, Bork, and April with a question in their eyes. They all shrugged and watched as my sister started pacing back and forth. “I can’t believe I forgot! Shit!” Nelly sighed and grabbed her arm, stopping Miranda from burning holes in the church floor. “What is it child?” Miranda looked at her, tears brimming her eyes. “I left mom’s necklace at the house. I can't do this without her." Nelly smiled sweetly at her before replying, "Don't worry, I got it before we left; it's in the car." Miranda visibly relaxed and said, "Thank you." Nelly chuckled.

            Debbie turned towards me and said, "Abbey, would you go get your mom's necklace out of the car?" I opened my mouth to object, but quickly shut it when Aunt Debbie shot me one of her looks.  Miranda smiled appreciatively at me, to which I returned with a tight smile. 

            As I walked out of the little room in the back of the church, my eyes flitted across the room at all the people. Hundreds of them, chatting and laughing; catching up on old times. I fiddled with my hands nervously and went outside to the car. As the June heat hit my face, I was glad I wore my hair in pigtails. The temperature would suffocate you. I guess that’s Florida for you. I sighed when I heard my stupid heels click on the pavement. Miranda said I just had to wear heels at her wedding. I rolled my eyes. What thirteen year old wears heels anyway? No one willing, that’s for sure.

            My ankle twisted a bit as I walked and I stumbled, using some of those colorful words Miranda used earlier. “What a mouth you have, Crabby.” I straightened and turned around slowly, my jaw clinched in annoyance. Standing in front of me was none other than Aiden, John’s younger brother. And my personal night mare. He was dressed in a black tux and dress shoes with a pink tie. Which to my annoyance, matched my dress.  I glared at him, causing his smirk to grow.

          “Aiden.” He took a step towards me and winked, “Crabby.” I bit my lip to keep from yelling at him for using that stupid nickname and turned around,  heading to the car once again.