A DARKER CITY

chapter fifteen, a bride (never) to be

The weather was slowly getting worse, and the leaves were just barely starting to turn drown and die. Ramona thought, briefly, about how leaves didn't fell off of the trees, they were pushed off by the tree. Leaves were parasites in the winter.

"Ramona, you ready?" Athena asked from the hallway.

"yeah. Yeah." She said. She was lying. She pulled her dress on quickly, and decided that she didn't really need to brush her hair.

"I feel like you're lying," Athena said.

"that's because I am."

"I can't believe you!" she said. "It's my wedding day!"

Ramona stepped out of her room. She looked decent, the cut of the bridesmaid's dress didn't suit her, and she looked awkward in heels, but she was dressed and that was about as much as Athena could ask for.

Atheana wore the undress of her wedding dress, probably waiting to put on the dress itself so it didn't get ruined. With morgan and ramona around accidnets tended to happen.

Morgan stood behind her, in a dress that matched ramona's. it fit her well, hugging her curves in a flattering way. Ramona promised herself she wasn't jealous.

"are you ok?" ramona aksed Athena.

"what do you mean?"

"you're shaking, badly."

"I'm fine." Athena's voice was high. "I'm just nervous."

"of course, you are! It's your big day!" morgan cheered.

The doorbell rang a few times. Athena didn't move to the door. Her mind was frozen in her own worry. If ramona could tell, who wouldn't be able to?

"I'll get it!" morgan said.

It was the usual few, crutchie and jack and davey and sniper and smalls. Morgan greeted jack, as if he was the only one there. His eyes lit up when he saw her. he was in awe, and how would he now be? Morgan was beautiful.

Ramona felt uncharacteristically bad for some reason.

"princess, c'mere." Crutchie waved. No hiding now. She walked down the stairs carefully, holding her breath and praying that she wouldn't fall over her own heels. She could do this, for Athena. Crutchie pushed her back and tucked a flower behind her ear.

It would be the only thing she'd have for comfort when she had to stand on the stage with her older sister as they watched Athena walk down the aisle to her new husband. Ramona felt like she was losing her sister. Maybe she was.

Davey was talking to Athena, who seemed upset just by his being there. But he had been so happy to see her. they disappeared the next time ramona turned her back to them. Whatever else was said between them before the wedding, ramona didn't hear it behind her sisters closed door.

She'd have to get used to her sister being far away. Because Athena wasn't just her sister now, she was going to be a married woman. She'd belong to a new family where she'd be the lady of the house.

Crutchie noticed Ramona's foul mood.

"hey, it aint so bad. She'll still be around."

"you don't know that." It was biting, and she wished she could take it back when crutchie flinched at her tone. "I'm sorry. I'm just afraid for her." ramona said, softer.

"she'll be alright." Curtchie assured. He had no way to know, but it made ramona feel better to hear him say it. She let her head rest on his shoulder, which was almost uncomfortable because they were so similar in height and he still had to brace his weight on his crutch, but it was still nice.