to the moon. /m.c./

e p i l o g u e 1

"MOM!"

My mother came running down the stairs, worry spread across her face. "Yes, Josie? What's wrong?"

"The dress. I can't zip it myself. I can't...ugh..." I reached behind myself in a failed attempt to zipper the dress, just to look strangely deformed. "Can you, please?"

She came over to me and zipped the dress up, looking at my reflection in the mirror. "You look gorgeous, love."

I smiled, doing a quick twirl. "I feel like a princess."

My mother laughed and then a small child came running into the room.

"Mommy! Mommy!" I laughed as the child crashed into my leg, Raven black hair a complete mess.

"Oh, look who it is! It's my favorite ring bearer, Jordan!!" I lifted the child up and gave him a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Ew," he said, wiping his face. "Girls have cooties."

"So do boys," I responded, sticking my tongue out. "Eeeeeew."

Joy then came sprinting into the room, and found Jordan standing right in front of me. "There you are!"

Jordan spun around and ran to Joy, a huge smile on his face. "Mommy!"

Joy laughed. "Was he bothering you?"

I smirked. "Only a little, he told me I have cooties."

"Tattle-tale!" The little child was now in Joy's arms, his arms wrapped around her neck. "You're gonna go to hell!"

Joy looked almost panic-stricken. "I can explain how he knows that...uh...there's a few phone calls he shouldn't have heard but did."

"You said butt!" 

I sighed, but then began laughing hysterically. Suddenly, I heard music.

"Oh, shit! Is that me?"

Joy shook her head. "Not yet. But almost. Are you ready?"

I looked in the mirror. My makeup was natural, hair dyed a deep auburn colour. The dress I wore cascaded around me in a ton of lace, I felt as though I weighed twice as much with it on. "Ready as I'll ever be."

I slipped on the heels I was supposed to wear and then made my way to the top of the aisle, smiling at my dad. He kissed my cheek and smiled at me.

We began walking down the aisle, and everyone went silent. They watched us in awe, and I smiled back at them, my eyes finally resting on the man-boy at the front of the room. His hair had been dyed jet-black for the occasion, and to be honest, it suited him. Then again, what colour didn't suit Michael?"

I took a few steps, eyes locked with Michael, and he smiled a small smile at me. I wasn't exactly paying attention to how I walked, though, and so I ended up tripping and nearly falling on my face. I heard Ashton's giggles echoing through the room, and then a slapping sound, probably from Bryana, which ceased the laughter.

I finally made it to Michael, and grasped his hands. He smiled a huge, genuine smile at me and went to kiss me, but the priest stopped us. "Not yet."

Michael smirked sheepishly, nodding to the priest.

"Do you, Michael Gordon Clifford, take Josie Charlotte Kennedy to be your lawfully wedded wife?" I stared at Michael, suddenly forgetting to listen to the priest as he continued talking. Michael said something, and then reached for the ring on the pillow. His hands were warm on mine, and he slipped the ring on my finger with ease.

Suddenly, Michael was looking at me, an expression of pure confusion on his face. "Josie."

I looked up to the priest, who was also expecting me to say something, so I said, "I do."

Michael's warm smile reappeared, and I took the ring and put it on his finger. He smiled at me, and the moment the priest said "You may now kiss the bride," his hands were on my cheeks as he gave me a quick, but loving kiss.

"I love you," I whispered, unable to not smile.

"I love you too," he replied, pulling me into a huge hug.

"Now let's party!!"