"Hey Wiles?"Foster beckons, with a mouthful of haribos.
Ryan and I are at his house doing some coloring Foster's mom set out for us because our mom and dad went out.
We are in the kitchen, sitting by the island surrounded by a mounting of crayons and hot chocolate Foster's mom made, while the three of us scribble over the coloring sheets.
"Mhmm?" I answer with my tongue out, concentrating deeply on the little pony I'm coloring.
Foster jumped off the stool, pushing his brown hair out of his face and goes on one knee. "Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?" He asks shyly, holding up an orange - red haribo ring.
A gasp escapes my tiny little mouth. Dropping my pink crayon. I nod profusely. "Yes Foster!"
I jump of the stool too and stretch my dainty fingers to him, grinning from ear to ear.
I let out a squeal and jump up and down.
My brother, who watched the whole thing, was grinning as wide as I am and clapping his hands.
"Ry look! I'm engaged." I squeal.
Foster's mom rushes into the kitchen asking why I was screaming until she notices the gummy ring on my finger and cracks a smile.
"Oh wow." She places her hand on her forehead. "Riley! That ring is absolutely beautiful!" She exclaims, rushing to me to get a better look.
"I'll be right back! I just wanna get my camera!" She rushes out again and sings, "This is so cute!"
Foster interlinks my caramel colored hand with his and holds it out to my brother, grinning proudly.
"That's really something alright." He nods, staring at the ring. "Treat her good!"
His mom comes running back, balancing a phone between her ear and her elbow and holding a camera. "Like he proposed Ev! She has a haribo ring on!"
We all guessed she was on the phone with my mom, telling her what just happened.
"You have to come home!"
She waits for my mom to reply before saying a quick goodbye and tucking the phone into her pocket.
I move closer to my husband to be and flatten my unruly curls to look presentable.
Foster slings his had over my shoulder and gives the camera a thumbs up while I show the camera my ringed finger.
She holds up the camera to her eye.
"Cheese!" We both say in unison.
Two days later...
"Please stand for the arrival of the bride."
That's my cue. I straighten my pink floral dress and slowly walk the length of Foster's garden.
I look around and spot our moms and their friend on a pile of cushions on the grass gushing about how cute we look.
I grip the small bunch of Lilies as a makeshift bouquet a little tighter as I spot Foster in his dad's old suit, his jacket reaches his knees. He looks quite ridiculous I must say but I don't want to laugh and ruin the moment.
I reach our fake alter and we stand face to face.
We stand in front of our moms friend's son — who she bribed to act as the priest for this ceremony.
A very reluctant one but he's still a priest.
"We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Foster Cambridge and Riley Carmichael," He says flatly, reading off the paper we'd written for him earlier.
I smile at my best friend and he smiles back at me, displaying his gap tooth. It is so familiar, I can't remember him with two front teeth.
"If anyone present has an objection to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace."
My brother that is acting the role of Foster's best man, narrows his eyes at the stuffed animals behind our moms as if threatening them to speak.
When nobody spoke, the priest rolls his eyes and continued to read from the paper.
He turns to my brother and asks for the rings and Ryan quickly gives it to him.
Foster took one of the rings whilst I held my had out. He grabs it gently and puts the haribo orange ring at the tip of my finger. I glance at the ring as if it was made of gold.
"I, Foster Cambridge, take Riley Carmichael to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day foward... for better or worse... for richer or for poorer... in sickness and in health... to love and to cherish... till death do us part." He says, after the priest.
I stare at my ring clad finger and my heart flutters. Sure, this isn't a real wedding nor ring but the feeling is all the same — and one day, far far into the future, the real thing will happened. I would have a big white and glittery wedding gown, and Foster in a tux. We would exchange rings whilst promising to love and to cherish each other.
I didn't have a doubt I wouldn't get married to Foster.
I take the ring and slowly sliding it into my best friends finger and then I say after the priest, repeating the same vows.
"I know pronounce you, husband and wife." The priest says finally.
I look at Foster and he his sparkling apple green eyes look back me. We both grin at each other. But unfortunately our moment was ruined by the whiney priest.
"Mom can I stop now?"
"Max... " His mom warns and he let's out an unpleasant groan.
"You may now kiss bride." He mumbles and walks away.
This is it. The big moment.
While I was trying to work out how everything is gonna go, Foster's lips meets mine — taking me abruptly — and we have a short tender kiss.
The adults instantly go aww in unison with my brother who gags.
From this day, I knew Foster and I were gonna end up together forever.
...Until three weeks later when I heard they had moved out of town — and he didn't even notify me.
If I didn't cry, the pain wouldn't be real.
If I didn't think about, it wouldn't be real.
If I had spent the night there, I would have prevented him from leaving.
My farfetched way of thinking was unsurprisingly unsuccessful. No matter hard my eight year old self wanted to believe he was still around, it didn't happen.
I never saw my best friend again...
At least... Not until nine years later.
YOU ARE READING
Of Jerks & Drama
Novela JuvenilReuniting with your best friend after being apart for nine years? Might seem like a heart warming story. Finding out he's a complete jerk and you want to murder him? Not so much. Riley and Foster were inseparable when they were eight years old. Best...