Walk the Line

8 - The Time She Comes Home for Her Brother's Wedding

8 – The Time She Comes Home for Her Brother's Wedding

"So?" Blythe asked me with a hopeful smile.

I hadn't even been home a full day and absolute chaos had erupted. My brother was supposed to be marrying Blythe tomorrow and she was without a maid of honor.

"I know we aren't super close or anything, but I don't know what else to do. Amanda got into a car accident, and while I'm happy she's okay, she can't walk down the aisle with a broken leg and arm. And you're the only person I would want as my bridesmaid that isn't already a bridesmaid," Blythe begged, "Plus you're the only person I know that can wear an eight on such short notice."

"I don't know, Blythe. I'm not really--," I started.

"Please, just try the dress on. If it doesn't fit you can forget I ever asked."

I sighed and took the little black dress from her and went to our bathroom to try it on. To my dismay, it fit. I walked out of the bathroom and she squealed in delight.

"Amanda will still take care of the bachelorette party and all that. All you have to do is walk down the aisle with Ford."

"Ford?" I mumbled. I hadn't seen Ford since he'd visited me last semester and kissed me and left.

"See? You already know him, so it won't even be that bad!"

"Fine," I said.

"You're a life-saver, Eleanor!" Blythe hugged me, "The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner are tonight. Be at the church no later than six. I can get Kyle to pick you up if you want?"

"I can drive, don't worry," I laughed.

"The bachelorette party is also tonight, if you want to come!"

"I'll think about it. I'm not twenty one so I can't get into any twenty one and over bars," I said.

"We'll get you in, don't worry. This is Franklin, honey, no one cares here," she laughed.

"Okay," I laughed.

"Kiddo!" My brother yelled walking into his house. I'd stopped by to surprise him but Blythe told me he was out with Ford, and then roped me into being her bridesmaid.

"Hey big bro," I laughed. I noticed Ford was behind him. I couldn't help but notice how he'd changed since I'd seen him last. His face was more angular and mature, but then again maybe I just thought that because of the beard he had growing.

"Hey Ford," I said, meeting his eyes. It felt like an eternity passed before either of us moved.

"Hey princess," he responded and enveloped me in a big hug.

"Have they always been this weird around each other?" Blythe asked.

"Ford and Eleanor have never been normal around each other," Kyle shrugged.

"But this is like advanced weird... You guys are okay, right?" Blythe asked.

"Yeah, we're good," I said, despite the fact that Ford and I had about a million and one unspoken words and I had a thousand questions. We hadn't spoken a word to each other since he'd visited me at college in the fall. Three months had passed. He'd kissed me and dropped off the face of the Earth. Not that I cared.

I did care, of course, but things were complicated. I watched as Ford nodded and agreed with me. We were fine. It was like nothing had ever happened. That's perfectly fine. My life was complicated enough as it was.

"Yeah, we're fine," Ford nodded.

"Okay, well, Kyle and I have to be at the church early to finish up decorations. Rehearsal at six, dinner at Mia's following," Blythe said.

She was nervous and stressed, I could tell, but I knew everything was under control. I liked Blythe. I was glad my brother finally figured out his shit enough to finally propose. They'd been dating since high school. They met after Blythe found me having a panic attack in the bathroom. She went on a manhunt for Kyle, who'd never noticed her before. Franklin was a small town, but Kyle was kind of Mr. Bigshot in high school, and Blythe was below his radar, until she wasn't. Then he had to bust his ass to make sure he had her. He was whipped by her, but it worked out because she didn't ask for much.

Kyle and Blythe left, leaving Ford and I in an awkward silence.

"I'm sorry," he finally mustered.

"For what?" I asked.

"You know what, Eleanor."

"I'm afraid I don't. Are you sorry that you kissed me or are you sorry that you dropped off the face of the planet for three months after?" I asked.

"Eleanor, I'm not sorry I kissed you," he said.

"So the other thing?" I asked.

"Don't make this any harder than it needs to be," he pleaded. I met his eyes, realizing he was earnestly trying to make good.

"Don't worry about it. We're good, right?" I asked.

"As long as you say we're good," he said.

"Why didn't you text me?" I asked.

"Phones work both ways, you know," he said, and left.

And that's when I realized I'd hurt him, just about the same amount he'd hurt me. We were both in the wrong.