Found Along The Way

Chapter thirty-seven

"Daniel I don't care how sorry you are, you're not allowed to keep showing up here." Tricia told him, not in a sharp or angry way, she seemed more tired of him than anything.

"I'm not here to try and win you back." He said, hands in his pockets, looking around to make sure they were alone. "I know about the wedding, I know why you're so dressed up."

The audacity. He'd shown up on Tricia's doorstep out of absolutely nowhere, catching her completely off-guard.

"Don't tell me you're wearing that ridiculous suit for the same reason." Her voice was picking up anxiety, becoming harsher.

"I need to see her." He said, looking Tricia dead in the eye, hoping she'd somehow understand.

"You're fucking kidding me. I'm not taking you Daniel, don't even think about it." she barked, her anxiety becoming anger in a second. "You will not ruin the happiest day of that girl's life, like you ruined everything else."

"Tricia don't say that, I need her."

"You need help Daniel. Anya needs a life away from you, and you need some serious help." Tricia continued to tell him, almost in tears. "I have to go Daniel, please just leave." She said, rushing to her car, and beginning to drive away.

"Oh, Anya, You look beautiful." Lina gasped, seeing the stunning makeup Taya had done for Anya. Silver and pink eyeshadow, a champagne highlight, orange-pink lipstick, the most elegant and pretty look Anya had ever had. She felt truly beautiful, and everyone agreed. Lilly had braided and swirled her hair into a graceful bridal bun, with the most dazzling gemstone clip sat just above it.

"She looks like an angel." Caleb said, wrapping his arms around Anya.

Music played in Anya's bedroom as she, Lina, Caleb, Taya, and Lilly prepared themselves for the day ahead. Hair, makeup, dresses, food, everything was planned down to the last detail. But Anya's anxiety levels were most definitely not so planned.

"Have you called my dad?" Anya asked Lina, the millionth question that day.

"Yes, he's on his way, don't worry you won't be late."

"Is my mom preparing everyone at the place? You know, the wedding happening place-" She could barely get her words together.

"Yes Anya, now you need to chill girl." She said, sitting Anya down on her bed and giving her a glass of water. "The last time I was this stressed I passed out." Anya laughed, getting concerned looks from everyone in the room,

"Well we most definitely don't want that today, keep hydrated, I'm going to get some food." Caleb hurried, rushing out of the room, before Anya could answer.

"But I've already eaten..." She tried to yell to her friend who had already left. "Some more couldn't hurt I guess." She muttered, picking at her perfect white nails.

"No way lady, leave the nails alone." Lina snapped, grabbing her hands.

"What else am I supposed to do? I'm so nervous, and we have over an hour until we need to be there."

"Exactly, over an hour to calm you down Ann. Deep breaths, we want some pretty pictures right?"

Anya nodded, biting her lip.

"Then get your beautiful dress on, and we'll take some, 'Kay?"

Her dress. It was a calming but simultaneously exciting though. She hadn't looked at it since the night she and Lucas wrote their vows, and it had so much meaning already. Anya smiled and rushed over to the wardrobe where it hung inside the bag, she unzipped it and took it out, beaming with joy. With many deep breaths, and a lot of help from her friends she put it on, almost crying when she stood in the mirror, surrounded by loving people who were almost in tears themselves.