Somebody's Supposed To Fall In Love

“Should I be concerned that I let them spend two days and a night in Las Vegas? I’m afraid that whatever they did is going to come back and haunt us.” I laugh nervously, looking down at my phone, as I send Mike his last text before their flight takes off. The guys are coming home tonight, so that they have plenty of time to sleep their hangovers away. Alex, Jess, my cousins Becca and Rachel, and I are all headed to the AV Nightclub in Los Angeles tonight. We rented a party bus and we left around seven o’clock.

“What do you mean?” Alex laughs and plays with the edge of her tight black dress. It’s actually one of mine that just so happened to fit her. She’s actually eighteen now, and she’s gotten a bit more mature looking. Her and Aiden are still together, even after a few different arguments this past year.

“Jaime and Mike probably both impregnated a pair of strippers.” Jess rolls her eyes and takes a sip of her champagne.

“Jaime wouldn’t touch another girl, Jess.” I smile comfortingly, pushing my iPhone in my wristlet. “Mike, on the other hand, is probably scared shitless about getting married. He probably fucked however many girls as he is years old.”

“Twenty-nine?” Alex smirks.

“Almost thirty.” I smile and exhale slowly. “He’s getting up there.”

“He is not getting up there!” My cousin Rachel laughs, looking over at us. She’s about thirty-four with a husband and two sons. “Sweetheart, you must think I’m ancient.”

“Not what I meant.” I roll my eyes and smirk, looking out the tinted windows as the bus comes to a complete stop. Loud music can be heard from the front of a tan building. There’s even a line wrapped around the block to get in. Luckily for us, my dad got our names put on the list so that we won’t have to wait in line. “Yay! We’re here.” I grin and stand up, grabbing my spiky clutch. I’m wearing a leather skirt, a white tank top that reads ‘bride’ across my chest in sparkles, and a pair black wedges. My long dark hair is completely straight and it falls just below my bra hook.

Alex claps happily and jumps up, heading toward the door. “Someone is buying me a drink, right? Have we settled this yet?”

Jess presses her hands to my sister’s back and follows her out of the bus. “You’re only eighteen, silly. Haven’t you heard the advertisements? Eighteen to party, twenty-one to drink.”

“Lana and I just made the cut!” Becca grins and holds my hand as we hop down onto the sidewalk.

“Thank god.” I smirk, walking with her to the door. “I need something strong. I’m still coming to terms with having to deal with Mike’s shit for the rest of my life.”

“Till death do you part, sweetheart.” Rachel giggles and runs ahead of us, after taking the time to slap my ass.

About three hours later, I’m on my fourth mojito. Alex is completely drunk and dancing with some random guy. No one from our group bought her the drinks, so it was obviously the creep she’s grinding up on. Jess and Rachel are laughing at a high top table, drinking away. Becca is dancing with me. Actually, she’s just jumping up and down like a typical white girl. I can’t tell if she’s also drunk or she really can’t dance. I’m hoping it’s a bit of both.

A pair of hands wrap around my waist and I look back nervously, staring up at a tall blonde guy. He’s attractive, but he’s way too clean-cut for my liking. He’s probably obsessed with football and Mila Kunis. Definitely not my type of guy. “Want to dance, beautiful?” He yells over the music.

I pull out of his grasp and shake my head. “I’m here for my bachelorette party. I’m engaged, sorry.”

“Aw, come on.” He grins mischievously and holds his hands out again. “That’s what a bachelorette party is all about! Having fun on your last night of independence.”

“No thank you.” I smirk and grab Becca’s hand, pulling her back to our table. “Come on, before he tries to hit on you too!”

She giggles and runs with me, tripping over her own feet a few times. “Hey! He was kind of cute. I kinda wanted to stay!”

“And get raped by some creep?” I flop into a seat next to Jess.

“I bet he was rich too…” She sighs and waves a waitress over. “Another round of shots over here!”

“I want a very natural lip.” I look at my stylist through the mirror, as she finishes pinning back my last loose curl. My long, dark brown hair is curled and left half up and half down, with one blue daisy pinned in the back. The blue daisy matches our blue and white theme, along with the rule of the bride wearing something borrowed, something new, and something blue.

Jamie nods and smiles, pulling her huge makeup box out of her suitcase. “How about your eyes, baby doll?” She pulls out a tiny jar of liquid foundation. “What colors are we using?”

“Um… I guess whatever brings out brown eyes. Browns and tans. Just natural colors in general. I don’t want anything crazy.” I laugh quietly.

“Understandable, sweetheart.”

“Mama!” Isabelle jumps off the white couch in our dressing room and runs over, staring up at me. She pinches the fluffy white material of my robe and giggles. “I get flower, Mama?”

I grin and reach down, running my fingers through her shoulder-length brown hair. “Of course you get a flower! You are the flower girl, remember? You get to walk down the aisle ahead of Mommy and grandpa.” I smile and close my eyes, as Jamie starts to apply my makeup.

“I’m walking with her, right?” Gemma calls from a few seats down. She’s currently getting her hair curled by our mother.

I laugh but stay still my seat, not wanting to mess up any of Jamie’s work. “Jesus, I’m kind of scared that no one remembers what they’re doing. This ceremony could be a complete train wreck.”

“No, no!” Gemma says immediately. “I’m carrying the rings, behind Alex and Vic, while Isabelle throws the flowers at people.”

Everyone in the room laughs. My mom, dad, the five stylists, Alex, Becca, Rachel, Jess, and even Gemma laughs at her own joke. I just roll my eyes. “Please, don’t give Isabelle any ideas. If she starts to act up just grab her hand, okay Gemma? I don’t want you picking her up.”

“I won’t, Mama.” Isabelle smiles and grabs my hand, kissing it. “Dada said if I be good, I get a puppy.”

“Daddy is bribing you now, huh?” I laugh and reach down, tickling her gently. “What kind of puppy?”

“A bulldog!” Isabelle squeals happily and runs away, jumping onto the couch next to my dad, who’s watching a Laker’s game on his iPhone.

Jamie starts to get the eye makeup out, so I close my eyes and listen to the conversations around me. Jess is talking to Rachel about Jaime. Alex, Gemma, and my mother are talking about college visits for Alex. Becca is on the phone. My father is answering all of Isabelle’s pointless questions. It’s honestly so nice to see everyone getting along. Ever since Isabelle was born, my mother and I’s relationship has dramatically improved.

Today starts another chapter in our lives. She’s a grandmother now and her first daughter is getting married in almost an hour. I’m so grateful that we have moved on from the past and she has been here to help me through these huge milestones in my life.

Jamie finishes my makeup after about thirty minutes. She puts extra makeup in my bag in case there was a need for touchups, and then leaves. By now, all of the bridesmaids are dressed in their long blue dresses. Each one of them has a different shade of blue. Alex has aqua, Becca has navy, Rachel has teal, and Jess has Indigo. Even Gemma and Isabelle are wearing matching blue dresses.

“Here, sweetheart. Let’s get you into your dress.” My mother strides over to the closet and unzips the bag, carefully pulling my dress down. “We only have about half an hour.”

“Yes, ma’am!” I finish putting the blue flower into Isabelle’s hair and then stride over to the bathroom with my mother.

She unbuttons the top part of my dress and sets it down on the floor. “Hop in.”

Smiling, I step into the center of my dress and then untie my robe, before tossing it onto the counter. My then mom bends down and pulls my dress up, coaxing it over my hips. The back of my dress is completely open, with a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves. The dress is draped in a floral tulle material, which makes the dress really light and easy to move around in. This dress was actually only the third one that I tried on, but I fell completely in love with it. It’s perfect for a beach ceremony and a fun reception afterwards.

My mom finishes buttoning the back into place and runs her hands down the sides, smoothing the material. Then she spins me around, so that I can see myself in the mirror and she can see me as well. Immediately, her face scrunches up and her eyes fill with tears. I manage to only catch a glimpse of myself, before my mom sniffles. I glance back at her and frown slightly.

“What’s wrong, Mom?” I ask quietly, fiddling with the dress’ material.

“N-Nothing…” She smiles faintly, letting a few of the tears roll down her cheeks. “I am just so sorry for all the bad things I have ever done to you, Lana.” My mother touches my dress again and takes a step closer. “I love you so unbelievably much, and I regret missing out on all these years with you.” She reaches up and holds my face in her hands. “I’m a sorry excuse of a mother, Lana, and I am so sorry. I will never forgive myself.”

I stare back at her, my eyes filling with tears now too. “We all screw up. You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. You’re here for me and Isabelle.”

“I just wish I could go back and see what I was missing out on.” She sniffles again, her voice shaky. “I will n-never get any of that time back… You’re getting married. You have a beautiful daughter of your own now.”

“And Isabelle loves you very much.” My teeth sink into my tongue, trying my hardest not to cry. “I love you too and I always will. You’re my mother…”

“Don’t you start crying now!” She laughs quietly and grabs a tissue, dabbing it under my eyes.

I smile slightly, staring up at my mother. I don’t remember it, but she was the first thing I laid my little eyes upon. This woman, even though we’ve had our differences, is the most beautiful woman in the world. She is the only mother I will ever have.

It takes about a minute for my mother to compose herself. She pulls my hair to the front and smiles. “I am so proud of you, and nothing will ever change that.” Then she kisses my forehead and reaches down to hold my hand. “Let’s go, beautiful. There’ll be a man waiting for you at the altar in a few minutes.”

My mother opens the changing room door and I lift the bottom of my dress, walking into the middle of the main room. Everyone in the room goes silent, staring at me with huge smiles. Alex’s eyes widen. “Holy shit, Lana… You look perfect.”

Gemma and Isabelle both run over in their blue dresses, giggling. Isabelle looks up at me with wide eyes. “Mama is princess.”

I grin, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “You look like a princess too, baby.”

My dad stands up and walks over to me, smiling his best. “You look beautiful, sweetheart. You really do…”

I smile faintly, hugging my arms around his waist. “Thanks, Dad.”

Just as his grip loosens, there’s a knock on the door. Gemma runs over immediately and opens it. I turn slightly, smiling when I see Vic at the door. He’s all cute and tucked away in a black suit, with a blue tie.

Isabelle squeals happily and runs toward the door. “Wuncle Vic!” She holds her chubby little arms up and giggles. “Up! Up!”

“Aw, look at my girl!” He chuckles and scoops her up easily. “You look so pretty!” Vic then smiles at me, walking into the room. “Isabelle, you definitely take after you Mama. She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

Isabelle nods, pushing her thumb into her mouth. “Mama is princess.”

Vic grins and sets Isabelle back down. Then he steps closer to me and leans in, kissing my cheek and hugging me. “Mike is a lucky man…” He says quietly and smiles again, rubbing my arm.

“You clean up very well.” I smile, fixing Vic’s tie. “What’s Mike doing right now anyway?”

He runs his fingers through his hair and smirks. “Pacing. Wants a drink and a smoke, the usual.”

“That sounds like him.” I giggle quietly and roll my eyes. “How about the guests? Have you looked outside yet?”

“Yeah! You’ve got a full house. Better than any of our concerts.” He smirks and wraps one of his arms around my waist, trying to pose candidly for the wedding photographer.

“That’s pretty impossible, Victor.” I hug him back one more time and then sigh. “I want to go marry him. I’m ready.”

Vic chuckles and pulls away from the hug. “She’s ready, everyone. Let’s get this wedding on the road before she gets cold feet.”

I wait at the back of a line of people on the path that leads to the beach. Rachel is paired with Tony, Jess is paired with Jaime, and Becca is paired with Casey. Behind them, Mike’s best man and my maid of honor talk quietly, their arms linked and ready to walk down the aisle ahead of me. Alex and Vic. Gemma holds a bouquet of blue flower with the rings attached to the stems by thin ribbon. Next to her, Isabelle stands, holding a basket and staring back at me.

“Mama marry?”

“Soon, baby! In about thirty minutes, Dada and I will be married.” I smile, the corners of my lips nearly twitching in nervousness. Holy shit… This is actually happening. All the months of stress and planning the cake flavor, flowers, dresses, honeymoon, and venue is over with. I can finally marry the love of my life, the father of my beautiful daughter, and the drummer of Pierce The Veil.

The procession starts to walk down the aisle and I take a deep breath, holding onto my father’s arm. He gives a comforting smile and then nudges Gemma and Isabelle forward. My heart starts to race and then, everyone stands and turns to me. It’s intimidating, staring out at almost three hundred people on the beach. Some of them, I’ve never even met. But when I spot Mike standing on the altar, and I take in his wide and triumphant smile, my nerves fade away and I step forward.