Queen For A Day

The day of the wedding came quickly, much to the dismay of my mother who was flat out with planning. We still somehow managed to get about 200 guests to the wedding, despite its spontaneity. Poppy, her cousin Emma and I got ready at Mum’s house before we all climbed into the Limousine and headed to the church where the wedding would take place. We pulled up to the grand old building at 11:20, ten minutes early, after the most anxiety filled car trip I’d ever been on. Due to the fact that it was such a last minute ordeal, we didn’t have time for a practice, so all of us were so unsure about how it would all work out. Emma and I helped fluff up Poppy’s skirt and straighten her veil as she stood fidgeting with her bouquet of white roses
“Ok girls, we’re almost ready to go, Cali, you’ll go first, after the flower girl, followed by Emma then I’ll take Poppy,” Poppy’s Dad hissed at all of us. I could hear music starting inside the front door.
“I’m so scared,” Poppy whispered as we all stood in a line by the front door.
“Don’t be Poppy, you’re about to marry the Love of your life! You should be excited!” Emma sent her friend an encouraging smile. Damn I don’t want to get married. This is such bullshit.
The door was suddenly opened, and Emma’s six year old sister turned and disappeared down the aisle.
“Wait ten seconds, then go Cali.” Someone whispered. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight-
“GO!” Three people hissed. I didn’t even get to ten! I walked up and turned down to face 200 staring faces on either side of the petal filled aisle. Fuck 200 is a lot of people. I tried to stay calm and walk in time with the music whilst keeping a smile on my face. I focused my eyes straight down on my brother and the minister at the end of the aisle. As I got closer I could see the two groomsmen. There’s Adam, Saxon’s old friend and… is that who I think it is?.. Of fuck my life. Mike.
I reached the end of the aisle where I turned and stood roughly where I’d been told to stand.
Well at least its only Mike, it could’ve been.. FUCK! There he was. In all his long haired, tattoo-less glory staring straight at me from the second row. Victor. I quickly averted my gaze to try and focus on Emma who was now almost next to me. The next twenty minutes went forever. I zoned out completely as my brother and Poppy said their vows and exchanged rings. It wasn’t until the minister said “You may now kiss the Bride!” and everyone cheered that I snapped out of my trance. I cheered along with the congregation and smiled, knowing this moment would be caught on camera. I caught Vic’s gaze again. He was staring, emotionless at me, not giving anything away from his blank expression. I tried to hold his intense stare but I couldn’t. There was something about him that I still found mysterious. Or maybe I was just imagining it. I am pregnant with his kid after all. Shit. I have to tell him. I have to tell him tonight, or get his number.. How the hell am I supposed to tell him?! He probably already regrets sleeping with me, this is just going to make it worse.
As Poppy and Saxon walked to the small table to the side to sign the certificate Mike wandered up to me. “Cali, didn’t expect to see you here!”
“I’m thinking the same thing Mike.. Somehow we managed to miss the fact that you’re friends with my big brother,” I smiled lightly, ignoring the summersaults my stomach was doing in objection to the conversation.
“Yeah, weird right. I must say, you do look beautiful,” He blushed lightly. He’s sweet, I’ll give him that.
“Thanks, you shine up pretty well too, I can still see your tattoos though,” I winked at him jokingly.
“Not much I can do about those,” He chuckled, holding up his hands sheepishly. We were whisked apart abruptly after that and dragged out the door where we spoke to a few family members and friends before being ushered back into the Limo to drive to the reception. I managed to sit between Poppy and Emma. Mike was up the complete opposite side and end of the car, giving me a chance to whisper to Poppy about him briefly.
“Poppy, how are Mike and Vic your cousins!?” I hissed, leaning closer to her face.
“Um my step dad is their mum’s brother?” Poppy explained with a questioning look on her face. “Do you listen to their band or something?”
“You could say that..” I slumped back into the plush leather seat and zoned out again.

Mike and I were thrust together again for all the photographs before the reception, and even at the table for lunch we were placed next to each other.
“So aren’t you meant to be on tour or something?” I asked Mike, taking a sip of my Lemon Lime Bitters. No alcohol for ol’ pregnant Cali.
“Yeah, we had to push it back a few days because of this wedding, but we wouldn’t miss it. Weddings are a big deal on my side of the family.” Mike laughed. Does that mean Mr and Mrs Fuentes will also want me to be married before I bare their first grandchild?
“Fair enough, I guess it must be hard to keep up with everything while you’re travelling so much,”
“Eh, you get used to it. My last girlfriend broke up because she couldn’t handle being apart for so much of the year,” he looked at me quizzically. “What would you do if you had a boyfriend travelling around like that?”
Oh shit. He must know I’m pregnant. HOW THE HELL DID HE FIND OUT?! He knows I need to marry his brother now. Shit that probably means Vic knows too!
“Uh,” I choked on my words and started coughing. I couldn’t stop coughing. People were staring now, and I think Mike was patting my back lightly.
“I think we should go outside,” He murmured in my ear before pulling me to my feet. My coughing stopped when I stood up, but my throat was sore and my lungs hurt. Mike’s a good thinker though, I did need some fresh air to help me process everything. It was a nice day, a little cold but the afternoon sun was warm on my back. The old hall we were at was on a few acres of land that included a few little park areas. We wandered to one that we’d just had photos at and sat on a little stone bench.
“Have I said you look beautiful Cali?” Mike smiled down at me.
“Yes, you did actually,” Damn this guy’s sweet, his memories not the best though. Mike reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, but his hand lingered on my jaw lightly. That’s when he leaned in. There was no time to think, he was about to kiss me. Oh God I’d read all the signs wrong, he liked me. This is so wrong. But his lips met mine. And I kissed back. That was, until I suddenly realized I shouldn’t be kissing the uncle of my unborn child. I pushed my little palms against his chest and forced his mouth away from mine.
“Mike I can’t!” I exclaimed. “I’m pregnant!” I didn’t really want to tell him.. but I couldn’t help it.
“What!? Shit Cali, I didn’t realize you were with someone!” Mike shifted his entire body away from me and stared at the ground unhappily. He looked really guilty.
“I’m not..” I put my face in my hands. I’m such a slut.
“What do you mean?”
“It was a one night thing.”
“Shit Cali, were you drunk or something?” he’s going to figure it out soon if I’m not careful.
“Yeah..” I left it at that. I didn’t want to explain anything else.
“Cali,” a new voice was standing in front of us. I knew who it was before I saw him.
“Hi Vic,” I smiled at him weakly.
“So you’re Saxon’s sister huh?” He asked lightly.
“Yep, small world,” I was so uncomfortable. This is one of the most tense conversations I’d ever had, and that’s saying something.
“Vic, Cali and I were talking,” Mike put in rudely, frowning at his older brother.
“Actually, Mike, would you mind if I just spoke to Vic alone for a few moments,” I looked pleadingly at the tattooed man. He stared back and I could tell his mind was processing everything. Suddenly his eyes widened and he opened his mouth in shock. He shot his eyes between Vic and me; he’d figured it out. I nodded reluctantly. My life is over.
“Oh wow, ok.. fuck.. I’m going to be inside..” Vic and I watched silently as Mike sauntered back inside.
“So, what’s up?” Vic sat down heavily beside me.
“Um, Mike and I were just talking.” I murmured, trying to figure out what to say.
“About?..” Vic said dryly, obviously not aware that I was about to give him news that would change his life.
“Vic, I’m going to tell you a story.” I waited for his unsure nod to continue, “one day, this girl got drunk and was talking to someone, and then they woke up the next morning alone. So she went along with her normal life until she started getting sick a lot during the day. Then she found a note that had been lost under her bed, and she tried to call the number on it but the number was fake. So she had no way to contact ‘him’. Until they suddenly met again.” I took a deep breath.
Vic stared at me intently, “what does this mean?” he gulped.
“I’m pregnant Vic.. It’s yours.” A few tears fell from my eyes, probably leaving black streaks down my cheeks. But I didn’t care at that moment.
The colour from Vic’s face drained. “W-what?” he asked weakly, “No.. no you can’t be..”
“I’m sorry Vic,” I cried into my hands.
“How!? What the hell! This can’t be happening!” He yelled, pulling at his hair. “I-I can’t do this.” Vic stood up in a huff and stormed off a path to our right, kicking at the gravel violently. I was left stranded, a crying mess, alone on the bench. He’d rejected me. He hates me for being pregnant.. I’m ruining his life with mine and my child’s existence.
I could hear footsteps running towards me but I didn’t bother looking up.
“Cali, don’t cry, you’re ok,” Mike’s soothing voice found me as he pulled me into his arms.
“What am I going to do?” I sobbed pathetically. I couldn’t raise a baby alone. I didn’t want to if he or she didn’t have a father who wanted them.
“He’ll come to his senses Cali, don’t worry. It’s just a lot to take in right now.” Mike kissed the top of my head and rocked me back and forward gently. “Nothing’s your fault ok Cali? He’s just confused and probably scared, which I guess you are too, understandably.” Mike and I sat in silence.
“I want to go home,” I cried softly into his chest.
“Ok Cali, I’ll go tell your Mum then call a cab ok? You wait here,” Mike did as he said and was back within a few moments, with someone else. I looked up at the sound of heels on the gravel to see my Mum walking carefully, as not to trip in her stilettos.
“Cali what’s up with you? Why do you want to leave?! This is your brother’s wedding if you haven’t noticed!” Her voice screeched.
“Sorry Mum, I’m not feeling well.” I sighed, wiping the last of the tears from my face.
She sniffed obnoxiously, “Can’t you just take some medicine? Really Cali, I thought better of you.” The woman walked right up to me and leaned down a little, which was quite a feat due to her unbalance in those awful heels. “And who is that man over there, why does he have tattoos? They look awful! You better not be dating him!”
I glanced over at Mike who was standing a few metres away, typing furiously at his phone.
“No Mum, I need to leave. And he’s my friend.” I ground my teeth together angrily. She’s so judgmental!
“Fine, but know I am very disappointed in you.” She told me curtly, turning and stumbling back to the reception, looking a lot like a baby horse learning to walk. She’s going to kill me when she finds out.
Mike walked back up to me, “C’mon Cali, let’s get you home,”

Notes

Here it is, the chapter I've been anticipating the most so far... hope you like it

Beth xx