Altogether unusual

The wedding

'Come sleep with me: We won't make Love, Love will make us.'

Julio Cortazar

The wedding is amazing. It is said that every such event has its downfalls, but I guess the organized Eve scared all the bad luck away, because everything went smoothly. The girls' dresses are beautiful, the flowers out of a fairy tale, the guests are smiling and dancing, the discourses heartfelt. I've never seen Eve so happy and glowing. Of course, I am not the type of woman who understands marriage and weddings. It seems a lot of money spent and for me, signing some papers doesn't make a marriage, so why do it at all? As long as there is love between two people it should be enough. Eve knows my standpoint and she knows I never judge the people who want it all. That is why I am so happy for her and also why I haven't been seated since this morning. I helped with everything, talked to people, and assisted the girls in the bathroom, with the make-up and the hair during the day. If you think a bride is demanding, imagine two at the same time! Being this busy helped me not to think of what I did last night. Or this morning. You can think whatever you want about me and the impossibility of sticking to my decision, but waking up next to Jonathan is not something I can get used to. So yeah, we made love again in the morning. The only reason he would leave was to give us time to dress and prepare for the wedding. Ever since we haven't talked much and I feel like a relapsed alcoholic. I haven't had a slip, but a relapse. And I don't know how I can do to return to my former resolve.

"Dance with me!" He takes my hand in his and I follow him to the dance floor. He knows I hate dancing, but he is also positive I will not make a scene. I know because of the smirk he wears. Trademark Jonathan.

"Is this punishment?" I enquire while following his lead.

"No, this is me wanting to dance with the most beautiful woman here." This makes me laugh out loud.

"This is seriously disturbing. You being this gentlemanlike."

"I told you I love you. There is nothing I won't do to prove this to you. There is nothing I won't be."

"And I told you I'll be on my way after this event ends and you'll never see me again." I countered.

"This is not the time and the place for this. All I can tell you now is that I need a chance. Wherever you go, I go with you..."

"Jonathan, this is... "I try to interrupt him, but he spins me under his arm and then dips me so my entire leg is revealed from my dress. The one my mother made for me. I call it the nightmare dress. It is black and long, just how I requested. But the rest is my mother entirely. The model for it is the dress worn by Angelina Jolie in Mr and Mrs Smith basically. High slit, thin straps, hugging my body and falling like a calla flower at the bottom. The only favour I could obtain from my mom was to make the sides of the dress overlapping a little, so the slit doesn't show so much leg unless I am dipped. Or if I walk in wide strides, which I don't. I walk as elegant as a little geisha. My hair on the other side is straightened to an inch of its length and pulled over my left shoulder in a thick braid made out of four strands which reaches my waist. About this my mother was adamant: 'You do the braid, Clarisse. No excuses. I expect pictures.' It took me 2 hours to straighten all my hair. When he saw me Jonathan said I was beautiful. I doubt that a lot. I feel out of place. No one in my state of awkwardness can look good.

So I went through the motions. I danced with everybody, when Jonathan gave them a chance. I had to dance with Eve, which was awesome because she is all girl and I had to lead. Then Sandy invited me and it was just a little strange because she's leading; it didn't take me a long time to adjust really.