A Collection of Short Stories

John's Wedding Day

Keith stood closely, half-hidden by a pillar. John is going to murder me, Keith thought to himself involuntarily. Keith often had that thought when it came to doing things for his older brother. The short male shook my head, he hadn't done anything wrong. Yet, a nasty voice added at the back of his head. Keith cleared his throat and stood a little straighter as Gene Wilson made her way over.

'You better not have messed anything up, Keith, John will kill you if you forgot anything.' She said, adding to the pressure that made Keith feel suddenly sick.

'Everything's fine, Gene. Just make sure Carla doesn't get cold feet and let the best man take care of the rest.' He replied smugly, earning a scoff from Gene as his eyes scanned the crowded hall they found themselves in.

It was a nice location they picked for the wedding. There was a hall where all the guests were standing, having a few drinks and chatting, then they'd go in the chapel and have the ceremony, and end the night with a party a couple of blocks over. Keith smiled to himself, knowing he was the one who found and visited the location and that for the first time in his life, John wouldn't have to fix everything. He sighed contentedly.

Gene sighed, 'This is too stressful, I need a drink,' She said, grabbing a martini as a server walked past. Keith looked at her condescendingly with a smirk.

'Can't handle the pressure of having responsibilities now, can we Gene?' He mocked and Gene scoffed.

'Funny you should say that. You're usually the one running around like a headless chicken, I'm just waiting until that moment happens.' She said as she gulped the liquid. Keith rolled his eyes.

'I did everything right this time!' He exclaimed, sounding more childish than before, losing his confidence.

Gene shrugged, 'If you say so.' John approached the pair, his tie loosely around his neck and his shirt only half-tucked, his hair still a mess, Gene's eyes widened, 'What are you still doing looking like that?! You were supposed to be ready 10 minutes ago!' She exclaimed, almost choking on her drink.

'I just had to make sure everything was going okay.' John defended himself, putting his hands up in the air in surrender; he then turned to look at his younger brother, a cautious look in his eyes, 'Everything's good, right Keith?' He asked as if one were asking their child if they had used the toilet before a big car trip. But Keith wasn't a child and he'd prove to them all one way or the other that he was actually a responsible 25-year-old.

He started ranting, 'Why does everyone think I can't-'

He was cut off by a loud gasp coming from Gene as Keith, overcome with emotion, lifted his hands up in the air in frustration just as a server with sangrias walked past, knocking the tray out of the server's hand and spilling the contents all over Gene's white dress. They stared in shock at the dress as it was consumed by the red liquid. Gene mumbled incoherently as John sighed as if he just knew Keith would mess up.

'Uh oh.' Was all Keith could mutter as his wide eyes met Gene's furious ones. Just as she was about to charge at him, John held her back by her waist as Keith hid behind him.

'Alright, Gene, go look for another dress of something you could put over it, Carla should have something, and Keith...' He looked at his younger brother, a hint of disappointment in his eyes, 'Just... Stay away from Gene.' He finished, ushering Gene away.

'W-what should I do?' Keith stuttered through the question, his voice small as it lost its previous confidence, but John was already too far to hear him. Or he chose not to hear him.

Keith started to walk away, head hanging low as he greeted some guests. He didn't want to disappoint John again. His eyes met a drop of the spilt drink on his not-so-perfectly polished shoes and he bent down to wipe them off, already devising a plan to make John proud. Keith was smiling to himself as he thought there was no way he could possibly mess up more.