first american title | tenya iida

fourteen

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lydia's pov

If there was one thing I could tell my self from five years ago, it would be, 'expect the most unexpected of yourself.' While that was a cheesy thing to say, it was the best advice I could ever give to myself. Five years ago I swore that I would rather be tied up and left for the rats than get committed and married to someone. Yet here I was in a David's Bridal with Lucy, Juvia, and Cana. 

We flipped through hundreds of dresses, with an assistant by our side, of course. "Subtle, right?" Lucy asked. 

I nodded. "I'm not one for the dramatic dress. Nothing ballgown-y. Simple, subtle, classy," I replied. 

She nodded to herself as she looked through dresses. "God I can't believe you're getting married."

I chuckled. "Me too."

On the right of me, Juvia smiled as she pulled a dress off the rack and showed it to us. "Simple, subtle, classy right?" She said holding it up so I could see it. 

"That's pretty we'll try that one," I said.

Juvia sighed. "Do remember when we all skipped prom and instead bought Goodwill wedding dress and wore them downtown? And Gray drove us to the lake and we dove off the high rock in them? And we covered each other in paint? That was a good time," she chuckled. 

I nodded. "Feels like that except this time I'm genuinely picking out-" My words fizzled out mid-sentence at the dress my hands had fallen upon. It was gorgeous, long, and flowy. I pulled it off the rack and observed it from a distance. "Can I try this on?" I asked. 

Lucy and Juvia nodded happily, leading me to a dressing room where I changed into the dress. It's a tad too big for me, and it hangs way past my toes, but when I see it on me I gasp aloud. It was so simple, yet- as there are no other words to describe it- perfect. The sleeves; off the shoulder and so delicate and soft against my skin. It would look stunning with a small pendant necklace and a veil. For the first time since Tenya has asked me to marry him, I can actually see myself wearing this. And more importantly, I can imagine myself marrying him in this. 

There's a cough on the other side of the stall from Cana. "How are we looking in there, Lydia?" 

I take a breath and step out of the stall, giving the others a twirl. "What do you think?" I ask. 

The others don't say anything. Lucy tilts her head and finally says, "I love it on you." Cana and Juvia nod. "It's exactly what I'd want you to wear," she states. 

Juvia pipes up, "The bodice is so simple and delicate. And the way it flows out? It's fucking perfect Lydia."

"We need to get one of those veils so it's complete," says Cana. She calls over an assistant who shows off the various veils to me, and I pick a simple veil, one that only falls to about my mid-back with lace trailing all around the edges. Cana gently settles it into my hair and I look into the mirror.

When I glance at myself, I feel speechless. I look like my mother, like the way she twisted in the wind, carefree and away from my father. It was the one. "I'm buying this one," I say.

The assistant who has been helping us smiles and takes some measurements, writing them down on a notepad. The dress obviously needs alterations, which means it won't be able to be tried on and picked up until next month. In the meantime, I pay for the veil and the dress which comes out to be about one thousand dollars; in all honesty, it's not that bad. 

Lucy, Cana, and Juvia are all over bridesmaid dresses, trying to pick out perfect ones. I remind them that the wedding colors are soft pink and green. Not like a pastel green -more like a faded green- if that makes sense. And a baby pink. Odd choices I know but Tenya and I once saw those colors together on a Hawaiian shirt inside of a thrift shop that smelt of popcorn and thought that they would look really nice at our wedding. 

They argue for a few minutes over dresses, and finally, Cana huffs and turns to me, who sits scrolling on my phone. "Which dress?" She says, each of them holding up a dress. 

I look between them and then say softly, "The one Juvia's holding." It's a high-low emerald green dress that looks remarkable against their skin tone; the dress is simple and cute. They get sized and each purchase one, and finally we're out of David's Bridal. 

I rub my eyes as we get home, exhausted by the day despite how short it was. Lucy actually had a car, so she was the one driving us around everywhere, she dropped me off at Tenya's apartment, which I thanked her for. 

I lazily climbed the stairs, disappointed to know when I got upstairs Tenya would not be there. He was at work picking up an extra shift, which I, of course, didn't mind. Although, I did want to see him.

When I turned the knob to the apartment, I was surprised to see Tenya who was there sitting on the couch. I began to greet him with a simple "Hey," but then I noticed he was in tears.

I rushed over to his side, "Tenya? What's wrong why are you crying?"

He gasped out for air, still choking out tears. "Ten-Tensei's in the hospital, they said that h-he could die- oh my god he could die- I-I-I," He mumbles out. 

My hand rushes out to his shoulder where I rub small circles. "Hey, hey it's okay, it's okay Tenya he's gonna be okay," I coo, trying to offer the most support I can. 

"I need- I need to see him, Lydia."

"What do you mean love?" I ask. 

He turns to me, eyes red and filled with salty tears. "I-I need to be there, Lydia I need to go," he rushes out his words before getting up and going to his room.

I follow right behind him "To Japan?" I ask. 

"Yes."

I stand at the doorway as he rushes to pack a suitcase, which he does in the messiest way imaginable. "Are you sure?" I ask, and he only replies with a nod. "Do you want me to go with you?" I ask. He doesn't reply. 

I go up to the closest and begin packing my own bag, taking his silence as an opportunity. I've never seen him this distressed, and I know remember that its the first time I think I've ever seen him cry. He seems very serious about this, and I can only imagine how awful he must feel. 

I pack my bag quickly and watch as Iida unplugs everything in the house, grabs his phone, and rushes out the door. So he is serious about this. I rush out behind him. "Tenya are you sure?" I ask.

He turns back to me. "I couldn't live with myself if he died knowing I wasn't there."

We get onto a bus, and then to the San Fransisco airport, which takes us forty minutes. When we arrive at the airport, the next flight to Japan won't be for another three hours. Tenya doesn't plan on leaving though and just sits at our gate after purchasing two tickets. I slide my hand into his while he sits in the chair next to me. I can hear the gears in his head moving too fast, and I can see the thoughts in his mind smear into a jumble of concern and worry. 

Soon enough we're on a plane. Tenya falls asleep much sooner than I do, and the entire flight all I can do is play with his hair and hope, pray, and beg that his brother will be okay. 

~*~