Not so Natural

Chapter Fifteen -March-

When the wedding march finally started to play everyone shared ‘good luck’ looks. Josh stood at the alter smiling at the crowd. Joey and Ashely strode down the aisle looking proud of their cousin with completely identical faces. Daniel and Cassadee practically glided looking like a model couple. Alex and Cecilia were last before Monica; they kept one hand on the outer hip of the other grinning. Monica came last; when Josh saw her he burst into tears which Monica mirrored.

 There was nary a dry eye in the house at the sight of the couple getting married.  An hour later the four pairs retreated back to their respective rooms to change before the reception. The girls fixed their makeup, hair, and helped Monica into a more party apt gown while the boys brushed their teeth and fixed their hair. The two small crowds regrouped and reappeared to the congregation.

 They all gasped as they stepped into the ballroom. They spent an hour eating and talking to guests before going to the dance floor for the first dance.  Everyone clapped as the new married couple swung and twirled around. They all joined each other for the next dance when Cecilia went to the bathroom. When she came back Alex was twirling around with one of Monica’s friends, so she sat and watched from the head table.

 Alex caught her eye and winked before dancing back into the fray. The girl’s name was Annie, she thought, what an ordinary name. She felt the green monster rear its ugly head in her head. ‘No’, she told herself mentally. ‘He’s just a good friend; you just don’t want him hurt by that slut.’ She knew she was being cruel, but no one knew she thought Annie was a slut.

 “Whoa, where did that come from?” she heard a voice ask from her back. She twisted around to find Alex staring at her; she must not have seen him emerge whilst in her stupor. “You realized you said that out loud right?” he asked when she didn’t answer his first question. She shook her head feeling ashamed and hot-cheeked. “Anyway, I wanted to tell you I’m going home with Annie tonight, so I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” Alex told her before turning and leaving.

 She felt empty, so she sat and watched the festivities for a while. “Hey, why don’t you go dance with Alex?” Ashley asked sliding into the seat next to Cecilia. “He left with Moni’s friend. Annie, I think,” she told her cousin. “The skank?” Ashley asked looking appalled. Cecilia gave a grim nod. Just then Daniel came up, “Hey Cece? May I have this dance?” “You may,” she replied smiling.

“Listen, I’m sorry Alex is an asshole. Just have fun tonight, we don’t need him for that,” Daniel whispered as the danced. “Okay everyone! Time to cut the cake!” Josh said over the speakers.

All the guests sat back in their places and watched the newlyweds cut their cake. “Hey, where’s Alex?” Monica asked when she sat back down. Cecilia just sighs, “Hijo de puta se fue a casa con Annie.” Then under her breath, “Skank.” “Oh honey, I’m sorry. You drink that champagne in that glass in front of you, and then you have fun,” Monica ordered still smiling.

 “Moni, I’m so glad you’re officially kin now,” Cecilia slurred after several drinks. Monica just nodded. Cecilia saw her sister asleep with Daniel in a corner, so she went and nudged them, “You two have a room upstairs, go sleep.” Joe came over as she was getting Alex’s keys from her pocket. “Ey, go drink some tea and a glass of water before you even think about driving home,” said Joe ushering her over to the kitchen.

Half an hour later, Cecilia kissed her cousins, Daniel, and Cassadee goodbye and got into Alex’s car with her belongings. She went straight to her room and changed into her pajamas before falling into bed.