Innocently In Love (-A David Henrie FanFiction)

Chapter Sixteen

"Hey.” He stands, smiling at me from the bottom of the stairs. I spy a loose piece of hair in front of my ear and tuck it behind it. I take another step, towards my soon to be husband.

I’ve fantasized about this moment- the one moment I would feel safe and utterly in love with John again. Now that it’s here, all I can think about is everything that has gone wrong in our relationship since this night.

He smiles at me, pushing away all these thoughts. I step down another step, getting closer to him. He extends him arm in front of the bottom step, like in those princess movies I used to watch when I was a lot younger. I take another step, smiling.

He watches me watch him. We stare at each other while I walk down the remainder of the steps and take his hand. His hand is warm. I can’t hesitate to look at my parents standing in the dining room doorway.

Behind my mom’s smile I can see she’s holding back tears. She is excited for me. I remember her like this; she deserved an explanation why I packed up and left- I didn’t know what to say.

I try my hardest to not let these thoughts affect me. I look at John again. I smile, beginning to walk towards the dining room hand in hand. I see my father. He stands there with a look of utter distress on his rough face.

John guides me to the dinner table; I take a seat across where my father would sit, but switches with my mother last minute. I sit in the chair and John pushes it in. He hesitates to get into the chair beside me, his hand shaking for what will happen tonight.

He knows what will happen- I know what will happen. We all do, it’s just we all have very different opinions on it and thinking long-term, it would be best to listen to my father, but I can’t.

This is too much for me to handle. Looking at John’s face right now is so overwhelming it almost makes me feel sorry for him. I did something to turn him into that... that.... that monster he has become.

My mother walks into the room with four plates and sets them in front of the four chairs besides hers that have already been occupied.

“You look beautiful.” John whispers, setting his napkin on his dress pants. I stare at him, at his smile. It’s so pure. I can see his happiness leaking through his every move.

My mother leaves the room, to get dinner I’m assuming.

“Honey!” She calls from the kitchen. He gets up emotionlessly and walks towards the doorway making a sharp right, looking back at my soon to be husband and his expression, killing him inside. I feel so guilty- all of this is my fault.

If only I haven’t met John. He has been staring at me since my dad left the room. I hear plates moving around from the dining room. John leans over towards my ear.

“I love you.” He says, I feel his smile, waiting for my response.

“ I love you too.” I push out, looking directly at him, getting butterflies- remembering my old feelings for him.

He closes his eyes, leaning in towards me. My mouth opens, waiting for him to make contact. My hands fly up in defense, pushing him away from his stomach. He looks at me, confused.

“I’m sorry.” I say.

“I love you.” I mutter, trying to fix the mistake I just made.

He comes closer, smiling again.

I push my lips against his, reminding my body and my mind what it felt like to be in love and have everything in the world- for once. I’m reminded of the last time he kissed me, outside of this vision or dream or whatever it is.