Marry Me

Chapter 3

Graduation rolled around, and Chelsea came and sat with my family. She wore a knee length, white sun dress with a thin braided belt, and white sandals.
My favorite picture we ever took together was of her in that dress, and me in my black cap and gown. She looked so proud, and with my arm around her, I had never seen myself happier.
She came with me and my family to dinner to celebrate... but she left fairly quickly... so she could meet some guy at the movies.

Three years later I found myself sitting in the UNCW library, staring at that very photo. I kept it in the back of my wallet and pulled it out when I found myself missing her.
I was pulled back into reality when my back pocket started vibrating. I checked the screen and wouldn't you know it... Chelsea's smile lit up my phone.
"If it isn't Little Red Chelsing Hood." I said into the phone.
"You need to come up with somthing better than that." Chelsea sighed. I laughed and started gathering my books.
"Nah, it annoys you so I will keep it." I told her as I walked out into the chilly February air. The line went quiet, and I could tell she was waiting to tell me somthing. I dropped my backpack and sat down on a bench.
"What's wrong?" I asked. The line stayed quiet for a few more moments until I heard her clear her throat.
"I umm... I have a suprise for you." She said hesitantly. I sat up straighter.
"Okay, what's that?"
I felt a tap on my shoulder and when I turned around, Chelsea's smiling face greated me.
"I'm gonna have to call you back." I said into the phone. She laughed as I jumped up and pulled her into a big hug.

Chelsea had gotten accepted into Duke when she graduated. It killed me that she went to a different school, but we made sure go get together as often as we could. I hadn't seen her since Christmas break. She had brought home her current boyfriend, Anthony, so I didn't spend much time with her. Seeing her happy with someone made me happy, but also made me feel sick.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her excitedly. She giggled and replied "What, a girl can't surprise her best friend on a random Thursday afternoon?" I grinned and sat back down on the bench. She sat beside me and huddled into her black leather jacket. I started to take my jacket off to give her when she said "Oh, no I'm fine. I'm just, antsy."

"Why?" I asked, shrugging back into my jacket. Chelsea sighed and from her little brown purse, she pulled a small white envelope. My name was elegantly scrawled across the front, with a little heart drawn in the bottom right corner. She held it up and said "Before I give this to you, I want you to know that you are my best friend in the world and I hope that never changes."

My heart started to hammer in my chest. What was in that envelope? I was almost afraid to take it from her. She was pale and she kept twirling a lock of her long red hair. She only ever did that when she was nervous. My mouth was dry, and I felt that familiar pull from my body that was a tie between "kiss her" and "run for the hills."

I slowly took the envelope from her and turned it over. Sliding my finger under the flap, I tore it open and pulled out the card inside. The back was blank, but when I flipped it over, my heart stopped altogether.

The sides were embossed in beautiful swirls, and in light blue cursive letters, it said

"Anthony and Chelsea would like to formally invite you to the ceremony of their marriage. The ceremony will take place on the 5th of June, 2015 at 3:00pm. The bride-to-be and her groom would be honored if you could attend. Please mail back your RSVP as soon as possible."

On the bottom of the invite was the address, and the RSVP options. I could hardly process what I had just read. I felt like I had just been hit by a semi. I focused on my breathing and tried to look at her, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from the one piece of paper that has ever destroyed me.