A New Life

Chapter Six

We step out of the car, letting Raven and Monroe help Clarke change into her dress in a dressing room of sorts. I spot Monty and Jasper, and head over to them. Octavia goes over to Lincoln. Thank goodness Clarke wanted us to wear black flats, or else I would of tripped and fell on my face.

"Hi," I smile at Monty and Jasper.

"Um-hi," Jasper stares at me. I roll my eyes.

"Earth to Jasper!" I snap, and he looks at my face. "Thank you! Now I have to tell you two something very important. Do you know what this is?" I hold up my hand. Monty and Jasper nod, confused. "Good. Now, if you do anything to mess up my sister's wedding, I will use this to beat you up. Got it?"

"Yep." They both say.

"Good." I can see Octavia waving me over. It's time!

I walk over to Octavia, and everyone gets prepared.

******

The ceremony was perfect! Everything went as planned. Now we are at the reception.

Clarke's dress is beautiful. It is a pearl white, ankle length dress, with no train. There is lace designs on the torso part of the dress, and her hair has a French braid, wrapping her head as if it were a golden crown. Bellamy has a black tuxedo with a white shirt and a black bow tie, a dark blue flower resting in his pocket. Of course, his hair is still a mess of brown curls.

Warning! There is a very sad moment coming up. If you do not wish to read this, please skip ahead. Thank you!:)

Octavia, Monroe, Raven, and I sit next to Clarke, who is seated next to Bellamy, in the centre of the long table at the head of the room. Miller, Finn, and one other man I don't recognize sit next to Bellamy. Everyone says speeches about Clarke or Bellamy, or both, and then my mother says something unexpected after her speech.

"Clarke's father had written a speech for this day, but was unfortunately, cannot be here today." Mom's eyes are sad. Then she looks at me. "Ally, would you come up here and deliver the speech?"

I'm shocked, and I glance at Clarke. She smiles, and nods her head to the podium with the microphone. I walk over, and Mom hands me the microphone and a piece of paper. Handwritten. I swallow, and move the microphone towards my mouth and start reading the paper.

"To my eldest daughter, Clarke,
I apologize for not being able to attend your special day today, but I wrote this letter to tell you how much I love you, and also to tell a few funny stories about your early life.

"When you were born, I fainted. But when I woke up, I was able to hold you, and I saw your beautiful bright eyes that see the beauty of the world, and your gold hair as vibrant as an angel's halo. Before I had a chance to faint again, your mother told me your name. 'Clarke Griffin,' she said proudly.
"When you were eighteen months, you were talking, walking, and fingerpainting. Everywhere. You would stick your hand in paint, and slap your hand on the wall, on the furniture, on the mirrors. And every time I would clean up one hand print, I would find another. But as you grew older, you changed your canvas from walls to paper, your designs changed from handprints to flowers and trees. Every thing you drew, you gave to me and your mother. We loved every line.

"When you were seven, your little sister, Allysa Griffin was born. I remember how bright you smiled when you first got to hold her. As my two beautiful daughters grew older, they got closer. And when you were nineteen, you met your future husband, Bellamy Blake. I kept a close eye on him, but I didn't have to worry too much, since Octavia, his sister, and Allysa were constantly spying on everybody.

"When you and Bellamy first got together, I was skeptical about this. But the first time he came over for dinner, I found out that he wasn't as bad as I thought. Octavia would always tell me what a great big brother he is to her, how responsible he was, that he would never hurt Clarke, that Octavia and Allysa made a nickname for the couple. 'Bellarke!' They would always say.
"And Clarke, you will be an excellent wife and mother, always caring, always loving. A month before you and Bellamy got engaged, he had come to me in the hospital. He had told me that he loved you so much, how wonderful you were, all the stuff I know you are. He said he wanted to be with you for the rest of his life. He had come for my blessing. I was glad to have him marry you, glad to see my baby girl so happy.
"I love you so much, Clarke and Allysa. I'm so proud of both of you.
With love, Dad."

The crowd had laughed at the funny parts, smiled at others, and clapped when I finished. I forgot there was a crowd. After I was done speaking, I didn't even realize the tears streaming down my cheeks. I step off the podium, and Clarke stands up, and hugs me. I smile, and hug her back, before pulling back, and heading to my seat, still standing. Octavia hugs me, and smiles.

But before, I sit down, Bellamy stands up, and heads towards me. I have to look up to see his face. He smirks, then hugs me. This is a but akward. But, I hug him back anyway. I sit back in my seat, and stare at the whole crowd, sitting at their assigned tables. I see Jasper give me a thumbs-up, and I stick my tounge out at him.

A few other people say speeches, but Dad's is still engraved in my head.

*****

After everyone is done their meals, the dancing starts. I'm not much of a dancer, personally. But then one of my favourite songs comes on, although it's a slow song, Take Me To Church by Hozier. Ugh. I don't favour dancing, but I despise slow dances.

Octavia is asked to dance by Lincoln, but before dancing, she asks if I want her to sit with me. Although I feel akward sitting at the large table by myself, I just tell her to go have fun, and ignore Bellamy's death glares.

My akwardness must be easy for anyone to sense, since my good friend Jasper comes up to me. "Um, might as well," he says, grinning. He holds out his hand, asking me to dance, and I roll my eyes and take his hand, letting him lead me to the crowded dance floor.

I'm almost the same height as Jasper, so I can stay flat-flooted while I put my arms around his neck.

"This is weird." I laugh as he puts his hands on my waist.

I glance to my left, where I see Octavia smile really big, and give me a thumbs-up. I glance to my right, and see Monty dancing with girl, I want I say her name is Maya. I stick my tounge out at him.

"We're so weird."