"Ella! Stop it!" Shauna shouted at her best friend, who was pacing in front of the doors she was soon supposed to walk through.
Ella looked up, biting her lip, holding the folds of her lacy dress up. "I'm just pacing."
"You're worrying," Ana said, smiling affectionately at her soon to be sister-in-law, who was obviously anxiety ridden.
"No I'm not! Why would you think that?" Ella laughed nervously, then ducked her head down.
The truth was, she really was nervous and worrying. Even though her and Antonio had now been together for nearly 4 years, she was afraid that'd he change his mind and run off, leaving her a wreck. Even thought it was nowhere near cold in the chapel, Ella shivered at the thought of not having Antonio.
"You need to chill out." Cori said, popping fruit snacks into her mouth.
Ella shot her a glare and stopped pacing, taking a deep breath. She closed her eyes and forced herself to stay calm. She was getting married and everything was okay.
"You look beautiful, Ella."
Ella opened her eyes and smiled at Jamie. He looked awkward in his suit, but happy nonetheless. He pecked Shauna on the cheek then hooked arms with Ella.
"You ready to go make Antonio the luckiest guy in the world?" He asked and she nodded, beaming.
Cori stood up and poked her sister in the side. "I've gotta go in there now but good luck, loser."
Ella scoffed and shoved the younger girl away. Everyone waited for her to get inside and then counted to 50 before Shauna and Ana started down the aisle. Ana looked like a natural, gliding down the aisle, holding the bouquet perfectly and smiling wide. Whereas, Shauna seemed as awkward as Jamie did. She chewed her gum and nervously giggled while Emma sat in the front row with Cori and AnnaMarie.
Ella almost rolled her eyes at her friends but managed to refrain, her eyes being drawn to Antonio.
As soon as Antonio saw Ella, his eyes lot up and he began to bean, staring at her. She blushed, tears stinging her eyes, ducking her head down.
"I'm so lucky." Antonio whispered and Gabriel smiles at him.
"You really are, man." He agreed with his best friend, nodding.
The moment Ella arrived at the alter, Antonio grabbed her hands with his, smiling ear to ear. She laughed quietly at him, her eyes softening, as she stared at him, adoration clear on her face. Antonio planted a kiss on her nose which was enough to make her start sobbing because she still couldn't believe she was getting her happy ever after, especially with Antonio, the boy who had been saving her ever since she was 16.
Throughout the entire ceremony, Ella continued to whisper to him, "Please don't leave me."
And of course he'd reply under his breath to her, "Never, La. Never ever."
Neither of them could help the tears that spilled down their face as they slid the rings onto each others fingers and looked out at everybody. While there were so many smiling faces, there was also the few spots that were empty with only little name cards on them: Ivy, Justice, Zach, Andrew, Sam, Adam, and Claudia. A quiet sob escaped Ella's mouth and she cupped Antonio's face, pulling his head down, pressing her lips to his hard.
YOU ARE READING
No Way (#Wattys2015)
Teen FictionShe's a street rat. He's a rich boy. She's a fighter. He's a lost soul. Both are so different but so in love. When Antonio Cortez and Ella January first met, neither of them expected anything big would come out of it. But when both of them lose peop...
