oxygen (e.d.)

short chapter 5: wedding day

<ethan>

"are you ready?" grayson asks me as he fixes my tie.

"very," i flash a smile at my reflection in the mirror, making sure there's nothing in my teeth.

grayson turns away and hides his face with his hands for a few moments.

"are you crying?" i ask him, laughing slightly.

"my twin is getting married, of course i'm crying," he protests.

i'm getting married.

to the most beautiful girl in the world.

"it's so surreal," i say in awe.

"i know. i'm happy for you, man."

"since grayson got to be best man, can i at least get a bow tie that doesn't choke me out?" wyatt whines from across the room.

"you're not doing it right," gray rolls his eyes and goes over to help him.

i take in the last few moments of being unmarried and a few deep breaths.

{riley}

"twirl!" sloane shrieks with excitement.

my dress ruffles as i do a little spin while giggling like a teenager.

"you look so beautiful," my mom says, fanning her eyes.

i stare in the mirror and study the woman i've become.

fresh out of law school and getting married to the love of my life.

"can you believe today is the big day?" sloane asks as she fixes my hair a little.

"i'm in... complete and utter shock," i grin.

"who knew," she laughs, "that you'd be walking down the aisle to ethan dolan looking like this."

i laugh and think, my high school self can't believe this right now.

"knock knock," a voice from the doorway says.

i turn to see my dad, and he tilts his head when he sees me.

"look at you," he says, clearly getting emotional, "you're getting married."

"dad don't make me cry,"

"i- i'm just so proud of the little girl i raised."

"we raised," my mother corrects, tapping him lightly on the shoulder.

wyatt appears and gives me the nod.

it's time.

my nerves explode, but in a good way.

my mother hurries out to take her seat and sloane fixes my dress behind me.

my dad holds out his arm, and i hook mine with it.

i wiggle my toes, a nervous habit of mine, and take one last deep breath.

<ethan>

i stand nervously at the altar, the only thing keeping me from having an anxiety attack is grayson standing behind me.

but then i see her.

and all my anxiety melts away.