Goin' Viral (Kleinsen)

Chapter 26

It is the day. 

the day. 

It was finally here. After a whole year of planning, everything was finally perfect. 

We decided to have the wedding at my mother's house where I grew up. In the backyard, where the trees set the scene perfectly. The same forrest where Jared talked me down out of that tree. That night was the beginning of the closeness blossoming between us. We had always been close before, but not like that. 

In front of the trees was an arch, it looked like tree branches with white fabric draping off of it, flowers woven in. A white isle (it was really just a silk tarp basically) led up to the arch. On either side of the isle, white folding chairs sat in long rows and columns. 

The air smelled clean, fresh. From some of the lower hanging branches on the trees, glass jars with candles inside hung, low enough to provide light for everyone once it got dark. The wedding was set at sunset. The perfect moment between day and night. 

I was in my old room, it was about 4 pm, I wasn't ready yet but neither was Jared. Or so I had been told by Michael - Jared's best man. My best man - Jeremy - walked around my room, looking at all the old memories. My mom hadn't changed a thing since I left for college. Now, college would be over within the next year and I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I didn't know how life after college would be, but I did know one thing. I would face it with Jared. That's all I needed to know for now. under all the uncertainty, laid Jared. He would always be there, no matter what. So I knew I didn't have to worry. Everything would be okay. It felt like forever since I'd said that and meant it. 

Jeremy smiled at the picture of Jared and I that I kept on my nightstand. Jared was making a silly face, and I was smiling slightly, the blush more prominent than anything, shy. I was a different person back then. The same I guess sometimes, just a little... better now. Jared made me want to be better. He helped me get over the things that tied me down. I didn't change for him. I changed for me, he just helped me get there. 

I slipped the piece of paper behind our framed photograph. 

After a while of walking around my room, my mother walked in. "It's time to get ready, babe," She said smiling, tears welling up in her eyes. I smiled back at my mother, looked at Jeremy, and followed her out the door. 

*** 

Evan was everything I needed. This day would be perfect, Michael and I made sure of it. With months of planning and late nights were well spent. This was the most beautiful wedding I had ever seen. And it was so Evan, so me, it was so us. 

The memories came rushing back when we pulled up into the driveway. The house looked the same. Perfect. We walked out to the trees in the backyard. Perfect. Everything had been set up the day before. I missed Evan, I hadn't seen him since the night before. It's bad luck to see the Groom on the wedding day. We had had enough bad luck for a lifetime. No more was allowed, especially not today. 

I knew he would look beautiful. He always did. Michael came to get me after Evan's room had been cleared, so I could walk around and look before the wedding. A wave of emotion washed over me. 

We sat on that bed, crying into each others arms. We held each other until we fell asleep that night. I sat down on the bed, running my hands across the blanket, just as soft as I remembered it. I laid down, a smell was pushed up from my force. Even after all this time, it still smelled of Evan. It was such a pleasant scent. 

I looked over at the nightstand beside the bed. There was a picture of us. I remembered the day we took it. I flipped it over and there was a small piece of paper hidden. I looked up at Michael, he was distracted by Evan's closet. I pulled out the paper to read it. 

"My love,

I cannot wait to see you. Our phones were taken, but I wrote this note to prove how similar we are. I knew you'd look at this picture just as I did. I also wrote it to prove that no matter what happens, we will always find a way to be together. 

unless you don't find this...

that'd be a bummer. 

                                                                                                                            Forever Yours, 

                                                                                                                                            acorn <3 " 

I smiled and giggled at the dorkiness of his writing, and the cuteness of his nickname. I'd been calling him that forever, since we were kids. Yet it still fit, no matter how much time passed. Some things never change. 

I folded up the note and stuck it in my pocket. 

I looked up and Michael had left the room. I got up and walked to the door just as Michael was walking back in. 

"Come on, we have to get you ready. Show starts in two hours."