The last Saturday in September, my family met Nate's family down at the courthouse. I wasn't sure if I was expected to wear white, so I was wearing a white sundress, just in case. Nate dressed up a little too, in khaki pants and a light blue button down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. "You look nice," Nate said casually when he saw me.
I felt my cheek heat up the slightest bit as I said, "Thanks."
We stood side by side as we followed the adults into the building. The whole ordeal was rather emotionless. Nothing like how a wedding should be, but, then again, Nate and I weren't getting married under circumstances couples should be.
I couldn't help the soft sigh that escaped my lips. Nate was the only one to hear it and he shot me questioning eyes, probably searching for a sign that says I was backing out. I shook my head. I'm fine. I'm not backing out.
Our parents had to sign all the papers with us, as we weren't eighteen yet. When all was sighed and done, Nate and I were pronounced officially married. The Kellers and my parents were smiling, so I forced a smile too, but I couldn't help feeling that something was. . .a little bittersweet.
We went out to dinner afterwards. My sister Kate joined us. Anna and Jo met us at the restaurant as well. The restaurant was lovely and upscale. Twinkling lights, classy love music, and a dance floor with all kinds of couples, both young and old, swaying together to the beat.
We were seated at a table right off the dance floor. The meal was delicious. Anna and Jo were the only ones to order dessert, so while they were waiting, the adults began to dance. My mom had to drag Dad out there. He always claimed he was an awful dancer, but how hard can it be to hold somebody in your arms and just sway? Mr. Keller stood up and held a hand out to his wife. She smiled and glad accepted. As they stood up to go, Mrs. Keller turned around and suggested, "Nate, why don't you ask Evie to dance?"
Nate blushed a little and looked to me. "Wanna dance?"
"Sure." I smiled and took the hand he offered to me. He guided me, putting on hand on my lower back and the other clasped mine. I put my hand on his shoulder as the music played.
The live music was gone, and replaced by some a music channel or playlist of some sort. Snow Patrol danced through the speakers, playing their hit song Chasing Cars. I smiled happily. I loved that song.
I tilted my chin up towards Nate. At five-foot-four-and-a-half, I was nearly a foot shorter than him. He was looking at something in the distance, the wheels turning behind his eyes.
"What are you thinking about?" I asked.
He looked down to me, a small smile ghosting his lips. "Next week, I'm going to be taking over the family business. I'm nervous. I know I'm prepared, I've been working with my dad for years to learn the ropes, but I never expected it to come so soon. I was gonna go to college first, but that's not happening anymore."
"A lot of things won't happen the way we expect," I pointed out. "For example, I never thought I'd get married at the courthouse and have my first dance with my husband in some restaurant I can't remember the name of." I had a smile on my face but it was almost bitter.
I realized that's what bothered me earlier. I always wanted a huge, fairytale wedding once I found everlasting love. This arranged marriage took that dream away from me and it broke my heart, realizing I would never stand in a church with the man I love, professing our love to all of our friends and family, knowing that I only needed to marry once to be happy forever. I'd be divorced damaged goods.
Tears prickled the corners of my eyes, but I forced the tears back. "Evie? What's wrong?" Nate asked. His eyes poured into mine, searching for a clue as to what was upsetting me.
"It's just. . .weird for me. I don't know. I just always expected my wedding to be something bigger, something more. I wanted to be with everybody who matters to me, I wanted to be ready to shout my love from the rooftops. I wanted to feel like a princess on my wedding day." I rambled on. My head dropped, lowering my eyes to the ground. "This isn't how I expected things to be."
Nate lifted my chin so I was looking at him. "You look like a princess everyday."
I felt color dust my cheeks. The shy part of me wanted to duck my head and look away from Nate, but with his fingers under my chin I was forced to maintain eye contact. "I'm so sorry that your first wedding couldn't be that way, but someday, after all of this, you'll fall in love and get the perfect wedding you always dreamed of. I promise you that."
Then he pulled me closer, so my head was tucked under his chin. I was close enough to lay my head on his chest and I was tempted to. I resisted my urge, even though I'm sure I would enjoy feeling his hard chest against my cheek.
"Whatever happens, we're in it together," he murmured softly. I gulped, feeling the impact of his words. We were bound by law. And though we weren't in love, we were still in a relationship, however dysfunctional it may have been.
We danced the rest of the song and the music changed to "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. "May I cut in?" I heard a familiar voice ask. I looked up to find my dad standing beside us.
"Of course," Nate replied, untangling himself from me and stepping away. Nate gave me a small smile as my dad took over the dancing.
My dad sighed as we started swaying. "I'm sure this isn't how you pictured your wedding. It's not how I pictured giving you away. But I'm happy to give you to Nate."
"Dad-" I started, ready to remind him that he's not truly giving me away, that this was only temporary, that he doesn't need to approve of Nate.
"No, honey, I know what you're going to say. And yes, I know this isn't permanent, but if you had to be in this situation with anyone, I'm glad it's Nate. He has a good head on his shoulders"-a good face, I think, on top of good shoulders-"and I think that he will take care of you, no matter how real this marriage is or isn't."
That seemed to be all my dad had to say. I didn't know how to respond, so Dad and I just finished the dance in a silence. I was lost in thought. I was hoping my father was right.
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Four :)) Thanks for reading! Hope you all enjoyed
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Teen Fiction"Whatever happens, we're in it together," he murmured softly. I gulped, feeling the impact of his words. We were bound by law. And though we weren't in love, we were still in a relationship, however dysfunctional it may have been. *****************...
