Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Day before the wedding

"Why do I have to get my nails done today?" I ask as Maya is pushing me into my car.

"Because your hands must look presentable for your pictures." She explains getting into the driver's seat.

Abby, Maya, Sophie, and I are all riding in one car and my mom, Hannah, and Kelly Mark's cousin in another.

"What if I don't want to look presentable?" I ask as I groan and slip in my seat.

"You have to. No questions asked. And sit up. We can't have you getting into a car accident the day before your wedding." She says pulling out of the driveway.

"You'd be the one to kill me. You're at the wheel." I shrug sitting up.

"Shut up. You know what I mean. And besides you might like it." Maya says.

I hated it. It was weird. She massages my hands then does all this stuff to my nails that kinda hurt. Then I had to sit through her putting acrylic nails on me. Then she had to paint them with a 'French tip' whatever that is.

"My fingers hurt." I complain about getting in the car.

"Like I said 6 weeks ago, beauty is pain." Maya says bringing back the memory of graduation.

She's doing ok with the whole 'my boyfriend confessed his feelings for my best friend' thing. She didn't blame me but she did break up with Max.

"Like I said 6 weeks ago, maybe I don't want to be beautiful." I came back.

"Like I said 6 weeks ago, you are beautiful, this just enhances it." I don't feel like arguing anymore so I just shut up and roll my eyes looking out the window.

The night before the wedding I'm sitting in my room drawing. I'm recreating a picture of Mark and his mom before she died. He showed me the picture and I might have taken a picture of it. I started about a half an hour ago and I'm almost done.

My dad knocks on my door and comes in. "Hello, is my daughter here?" He asks.

"Hey dad." I say covering the picture.

"I was going to ask how are you feeling but it kinda feels wrong." He confesses

"Why?" I ask. I'm getting a little mad. "I'm ok with this dad. I know Mark will take care of me. And so John gets the company. You'll still have your major so you'll stay in business."

"Yeah but I'm forcing you to do this." He says sitting on my bed.

"No one is forcing me to do anything dad. I make my own decisions. I chose this dad. I chose to go along with the arrangement, I chose to marry Mark. I chose to sign the contract. And I also choose to try and convince Mark to not give John the company." I get up and go sit by him.

"What do you mean? He has to, it's in the contract." My dad looks at me weird.

"No dad. The contract says that the Hernandez family gets full ownership of the company. Mark is a full blood Hernandez and after 2:00 tomorrow I become one. So the Hernandez family does have full ownership by the time I get my inheritance." I explained.

"Are you sure?" My dad asks.

"I'm sure dad. The hard part is to convince Mark to not give it to him." I get up and turn on my lamp and turn off my overhead light.

"Yeah. Even though Mark is treated like crap by his dad, Mark doesn't want to disappoint him." I'm glad he sees it.

"Yeah." I sigh. "But we have about ten months to figure that out. So for now let's just get some sleep. We have a big day." I say trying to make the mood brighter.

My dad smiles. "I love you my smiley Alyanna."

"I love you too dad."

—

The day of the wedding

I wake up early on my own. I'm surprised that no one tried to wake me up earlier. But to my surprise everyone else was asleep. At least everyone in my room. Maya was asleep next to me and Hannah and Sophie shared the air mattress.

My dad was doing good with seeing mom again and meeting her husband and kids. He's been spending a lot of time with Maddy to keep himself busy.

I go downstairs to find something to eat. I decided to make something for everyone. I make pancakes, eggs and bacon. I'm not exactly sure how much to make but I know my mom and Will are at a hotel and Marks at his apartment, but Abby is eating for two. So I'm just going to make the rest of the pancake batter, the rest of the eggs and a couple packages of bacon.

When the eggs and bacon are done I have about 5 pancakes left to do as everyone comes down as if they all got up at the same time.

"Morning" I say to them, getting plates and silverware. I get a few groans and waves.

"You shouldn't be cooking for us, this is your special day." Abby says, walking to grab a plate with Charlie right behind her.

"I don't mind, I like it." I tell her passing out glasses and setting out juice before getting myself a plate and joining them at the table.

"Morning everyone." My dad says walking down the stairs.

"Morning Chris." Everyone says at the same time as if they rehearsed it.

He smiles. "Morning dad." I say kissing him on the cheek.

"I have to go help set up. Bye." He waves before heading off.

"What's he setting up?" Hannah asks.

"He's helping set up for the wedding today." I say taking a bite out of my bacon. I've gotten somewhat used to my nails. I don't mind them.

"There's still so much to do. We have to be at the salon by 10:30." Maya says looking through her phone. "Kelly said she'll meet us there."

"Abby you can come too if you want to." I say.

"Sure." She says stuffing her face with a bite of pancake.

"Well I better go help the men out now too. I may be part of the bridal party but I don't think I can stand being at a salon. Charlie says coming back from putting his plate in the sink. He kisses Abby goodbye.

"Ok everyone get ready then we meet back here. Ready break!" Maya says making everyone put their hands in.

I roll my eyes and go up to get ready. Maya said not to wash my hair so I don't. What's the big deal with that? I don't get it.

I drive this time and we all take one car. Abby in front with me and Maya, Hannah, and Sophie in the back. They had to drag me in there.

"I don't want to." I whine.

"Come on, you're getting married, don't you want to look good?" Abby asks. I snarl.

"How can I help you?" The woman at the desk asks us.

"We're the wedding party." Maya states proudly. "The names under Hernandez."

"Follow me." She says as she leads us to a back room with vanities all in a circle and I looked around the room and found 'congratulations Alyanna' written on a chalkboard.

"Alright, who is the bride here?" Another girl asks.

"I am." I say as I step forward.

"Follow me." She says as she leads me to a chair. "So what are you thinking?" She asks.

Before I have a chance to open my mouth maya comes over with her phone, "Something along the lines of this." She shows her a picture.

"We'll have to make a few changes to that. Her hair's too long to do that exact style. But we can braid the hair here then curl this." I have no idea what they're talking about and it seems like they are going to talk for a while so I zone out.

I think about my drawing that I haven't finished yet and I won't have time to finish it because of this stupid, crazy schedule. I was really hoping to give it to Mark as a wedding present but maybe I'll have to give it to him on our 'honeymoon.'

I next think about that. We're going somewhere and Mark won't tell me. I think everyone but me knows. All Mark said was pack your swimsuit and asked me if I know how to surf. I do but I told him I don't. I want to see him take lessons and fall down a lot while I'm out in the water making him look bad. That's going to be classic.

I'm brought back by the hairdresser person or whatever spraying hairspray-too much in my opinion - and then saying I'm done.

I look around. Maya is in the middle of her hair reading a magazine, Kelly is talking to Abby and my mom got here and is watching Hannah getting her hair done while Sophie is looking out the window.

I get up to look at my hair. "How do you like it?" She asks.

"It's perfect." I say as I smile.

"Ok now it's time for your makeup." She tries to lead me over.

"I'll be right there. I just need to talk to someone." I say as I go over to Sophie. "Hey. What's up?" I ask.

"Nothing. I really like your hair." She says trying to change the subject.

"No. Tell me what's up. Don't change the subject." I sigh. I look over to the makeup area and the woman is staring me down.

"I saw this." She showed me a picture. "It's a picture of Bradley and Alexia." Oh I see she's sad because she likes Bradley and he's with someone else.

"I'm sorry." I say patting her arm.

"I thought he liked me." She says trying to keep the tears from coming.

"Hey he's a jerk." I say give her a hug. "Remember you have a very nice looking guy who is going to walk you down the aisle remember. You can make him jealous." I try to help.

She chuckles a little. "Yeah I guess. So this guy, how cute is he?" She asks with a smile.

"I'll show you a picture." I say grabbing my phone and showing her a picture of Mason, Mark's friend's little brother.

"Ooh! He is cute." She smirks.

"Yeah. Now come on. It's your turn to get your hair done."

"Fine." She rolls her eyes.

"Don't you want to look presentable for you date?" I ask her.

"Well if it isn't the biggest hypocrite in the world." She snaps back. She's definitely my sister.

—

1 hour till the wedding

"What do you mean the dress isn't here? You had one job to do. Bring the dress to the beach house and then leave. You didn't do that." I hear Maya yell into the phone. Apparently the person who was supposed to bring my dress bailed and now Maya is going off on her. "I have a bride here who is taking pictures in," she checks her watch. "In 15 minutes." I then hear silence. "Thank you now, can you have it here in 5 minutes?" Silence. "You're not getting paid if you can't get it here. That throws off the whole schedule and you will be the cause of that."

I take the phone away from her. "Hello?"

"Hello, who is this?" the voice asks.

"This is the bride, just bring it as soon as you can. You'll still get paid." I look over to Maya who has a really mad look on her face.

"Thank you, I'll be there soon." I hear the woman says on the other side of the phone before hanging up.

"Why did you do that?" Maya practically yells at me.

"It's what's right, this is still my wedding and not yours. I make the decisions." I say in a voice that when I use it you don't what to mess with me.

"Fine." She sits down and pouts.

I go to sit next to her rearranging my weird robe thing. "I know you're just trying to thelp, but you have to calm down. You have nothing to worry about."

"I know it's just that you're getting married and leaving me and I'll miss you and-"I cut her off.

"You aren't going to lose me." I reassure her.

"But I still feel like I am. I mean you're getting married then you're going to move and have kids and you wont need me anymore." Maya kinda has a shorter term memory then I do. She already forgot that this is arranged. I don't know how, but she did. I'm telling the truth. Honestly.

"You're not. I'll always need you." I hugged her and apparently that took about 5 minutes because here comes my dress.

"Again, I'm so sorry." the woman says handing the dress over to Abby.

"It's no problem. Now go on and get out of here before the woman over there gets to you." Abby says handing the woman her money for getting the dress here. The woman nods and leaves quickly.

"Thanks Abby." I say as she gives Maya the dress and she helps me put it on.

When the dress is on and I'm all settled with my jewelry the girls help me walk out and meet at the spot where we are taking pictures.

I see Mark is already there with a blindfold on and the photographer setting up. I take a breath and walk over to sam. I hear a few clicks but can't concentrate on that. I'm focused on making this as real as possible.

I go up behind him and touch his shoulder. I feel him tense a little. "Ready?" I ask in a whisper. He gives me a nod and I begin to take his blindfold off. I step back. "How do I look?" I ask, my voice shaky.

"Beautiful." he says smiling and crying for dramatic effect. That's it but there's no guarded look. We take some there alone, with the parties, one with my dad and I, with my parents, with John. Then we switched locations and did the same thing again. We haven't even had the ceremony and I'm already tired.