Miss Atomic Bomb | a.i

•Epilogue•

"Hurry the fuck up, man!" Cal yells from the door. I was in the process of struggling with my bow-tie, but It was quite complicated because I never learned how to work one, unless it was as easy as a clip on. I knew I had to be quick, but I couldn't just go without it on.

"I know, I know." I mumble, but Calum wasn't going to tolerate my messiness. So he trudged over to me, and fumbled around with the tie just like I'd done not thirty seconds ago.

"Can you go without it?" He asks with an unsure grin.

"I can't get married without a tie, Calum." I tell him, looking him dead in the eyes.

I knew I wanted Rae from the minute I laid eyes on her that one day in the shoe store I'd gotten fired from. I remembered the outfit she wore, the way her hair was down and frizzy, yet delightfully curly, and the noise her boots made as she walked in and out of the store. I didn't even need to think when I realized I needed her, it was like going out to eat, hearing the special, and deciding you wanted the meal without looking at the menu. Some impulses required no consideration.

We had maybe five minutes till the wedding would start, so I'd have to hurry my ass up before I miss it. I didn't want to look like a fool, but I couldn't be late, so I jogged past Calum and down the hall toward the main room. Cal followed behind me, and we ended up getting in our spots at just the right moment.

My tie was still jumbled up on my chest, and I didn't know how to fix it, so I closed my eyes with a sigh, hoping nobody would notice.

The pressure in my head elevated when the chiming of the wedding bells came, and when the piano-riffed music began to play throughout the large church room, I swear I could feel the sweat just running down my arms. I felt my cheeks burn and my fingers clenched as I intertwined them with each other. I was nervous, I could barely hear myself think, the overwhelming sensation came over me and I nearly felt my knees start to buckle.

I hadn't been this nervous since the time Rae and I were hopping into her car to leave everything behind. I still remember that night like it was yesterday, I still remember the times we had on our trip into absolutely nowhere and I remember myself changing for her. It wasn't a bad change though, it was more of a me finding myself type change. I realized I wasn't actually that self conscious, I figured out my taste in music and the way I genuinely was, and it was all because of her.

That night I left a note on my mother's kitchen counter telling her I'd be okay on my own and how happy I could be, even how the situation couldv'e benefited her. She didn't care though. It was a scary feeling knowing there was a search team trying to track you and your girlfriend down two states away, and knowing your mother was scared shitless and was probably going crazy without you. I just wasn't thinking about it at that moment and I was really into the idea of doing life on my own.

I almost had tears in my eyes just watching Calum and Harley walk down the isle together. They weren't in any type of relationship, but Calum was my best man and Harley, of course, was the made of honor. The night we left I remember Harley calling my cell twenty-four-seven, and texting me, begging for me to pick up. I didn't though. I turned the phone off and slipped it into my bag half way through the ride to wherever we were going, and hoped she would forget about it like some idiot. I'd even gotten text messages from Calum the next morning after waking up in the same car, even Michael had shot a few messages.

Calum winked at my as he strode down the slim isle, Harley's arm hooked with his. Michael was watching them with no scowl in the front row, just focusing on Harley and not paying much attention to Calum. We'd become much better friends over the years, so we were pretty close now.

My mother was sat next to him, trying to make an attempt to make a conversation with him, but Michael just looked awkward like he didn't know what to say. They both cracked a small smile after something she said, so I'm guessing they weren't in such a horrible position.