Somebody's Supposed To Fall In Love

I bite down on the corner of my bottom lip and stare at Mike, as my father and I near the flower-covered altar. He smiles back, his eyes wide at the sight of me. I never dreamt of this happening. Never in my life did I imagine marrying Mike Fuentes. He was in a famous band. I didn’t exist to him, or anyone else here for that matter. I had no plan for my future. No hopes, no dreams. Now I have everything. I have a beautiful two-year-old daughter, a beautiful house, and in a few minutes, I’ll have the most amazing, loving husband I could’ve ever asked for.

My father’s arm slowly loosens and I turn, smiling comfortingly up at him. I was always afraid that my father would cry at my wedding. He was giving me away forever. He was leaving me in the care of Mike. But as I look up at my father and he takes my bouquet, before kissing my cheek, I realize that he’s not crying. There isn’t a tear in sight. My father loves and trusts Mike, and I am so relieved for that.

I turn back to Mike and smile, taking a step up onto the altar. He reaches out and grins, making sure I don’t trip. That’s something I would do. Trip in front of hundreds of people.

“Hey, beautiful...” Mike murmurs, slowly letting go of my arm.

“You clean up well too!” I giggle quietly. “This is the first time I’ve seen you in a tux.”

“Even in a tuxedo, I could never outshine you. You look absolutely stunning.” He smiles and we both turn to the man between us.

John Peters, our official, who is actually a childhood friend of my father’s, beams at us. “Ready?”

Mike and I both nod.

“Okay.” John laughs quietly and looks out at the crowd. “We are here today in the presence of family and friends to share with the Bride and Groom, the most important moment in their lives. Without the love between these two people, we would not be here today…” He takes a deep breath. “What is marriage? It has been said that marriage is the relationship between man and woman in which the independence is equal, the dependence mutual and the obligation reciprocal.” He glances from me to Mike. “Bride and Groom, you are now to bring together the best parts of your individuality, uniting spirit, talent, and experience to create something better than either of you alone can offer. You must, and I’m sure will, work hard to maintain this union.”

As John goes on, I look out toward my family. Isabelle sits between my mother and Gemma, watching with curious, wide eyes. I know she doesn’t quite understand why Mike and I are different than some of her friend’s parents, but now we can finally be married for her.

“Life together will sometimes be playful and effortless, sometimes… frustrating and difficult.” John chuckles a bit and so does the crowd. “Each day your relationship will strengthen if you choose to continue to love and honor one another.Love is something beyond the excitement of romance and being in love. It is a committed, thoughtful decision. Love is nurturing… Love is listening... Love is caring about your partner... Love lightens burdens because you divide them. Love intensifies joys because you share them.” Mike makes a silly face at me and I giggle quietly. John continues, smiling this time. “If you truly love you will always be loyal to one another. No matter what the cost, always believe in one another, always expect the best of one another and above all else, always support one another in every day living.”

John pauses for a few seconds and pulls a piece of paper out of his front suit pocket. “On a little side note… I love to read in my free time.” The crowd, Mike, and I both laugh. “I was actually reading a wonderful book on the flight here last night, and I came across an equally wonderful quote.” He clears his throat and glances at the paper. “There is a desire within each of us, in the deep center of ourselves that we call our heart. We were born with it. It is never completely satisfied, and it never dies. We are often unaware of it, but it is always awake. It is the human desire for love. Every person in this earth yearns to love, to be loved, to know love. Our true identity, our reason for being, is to be found in this desire...”

Across from me, Mike playfully closes his eyes, pretending to fall asleep. I cover my mouth with one of my hands, trying not to laugh too loudly.

“Anyway!” John grins and stuffs the paper back into his pocket, before holding his arms out to Mike and I. “Bride and Groom came together as friends. Today, they pledge to each other not only their love, but also the strength, warmth and most importantly, the fun of true friendship. It is the wish of everyone here today that your marriage brings both of you much happiness. Happiness in marriage doesn’t just happen though. You must work on it. Remember to say, “I love you,” hold hands whenever you get the chance, and at no time take the other for granted.” He then opens his arms, motioning to the crowd of people in white fold out chairs. “For the beauty around us, the strength it offers and the peace it brings, we are grateful and honored to be a part of the life this man and woman have chosen to live as husband and wife from this day forward. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley, Alexandra, Gemma, Mr. and Mrs. Fuentes, Victor, Isabelle, and everyone else here today.”

My attention moves off Mike again and I see Jaime wiggling his eyebrows, from his spot next to Vic. I have no idea who he’s doing it to, because Jess is next to Alex up here on the altar, just as he is. Typical Jaime.

John turns his head to Mike and I refocus my eyes. “Will you Michael have Lana to be your wedded wife, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, and forsaking all others, for so long as you both shall live?”

Mike nods immediately, glancing at me with a big smile. “I will.”

John then turns to me. “Will you Lana take Michael to be your wedded husband, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, and forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?”

“I will.” I grin up at Mike.

“Excellent. Then let’s get right down to business.” John claps his hands together and the crowd laughs. “Rings please?”

Mike and I both look to Gemma, who grins and climbs off her seat, walking over with the rings. She steps up to the altar and holds the bouquet of flowers out before looking up at us.

Mike reaches over and unties my wedding ring from the bouquet. Then he shakily reaches for my hand and looks into my eyes, holding my ring between his fingers. “Lana, I love you for your beauty, your intelligence, your kindness, and for your passionate personality. So, on top of all the other vows that I will make to you today, I also vow to appreciate how lucky I am to be in love with my best friend. I will forever continue to try as hard as I can to make you feel as special as you make me feel.” I smile back at him to my best ability, trying to ignore the happy tears rising into my eyes, as I feel the cold ring slide over the appropriate finger.

John then turns his attention to me and nods. Mike and I’s eye contact breaks momentarily, while I untie his wedding band from the flowers. Then I look back up at him reach for his left hand. “In your eyes, I have found my home. In your heart, I have found my love. In your soul, I have found my mate. With you, I am whole. I am full. I am alive. You make me laugh. You let me cry. You are my breath, my every heartbeat. I am yours. You are mine. And of this I am certain.” Mike grins down at me and I smile, sliding his wedding band over his ring finger.

John nods again and holds his hands out. “In as much as Bride and Groom have consented together in wedlock and have witnessed the same before this company, and pledged their vows to each other, by the authority vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mike, you may kiss your bride.”

I giggle and step closer to Mike, throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him. He smiles against my lips and rubs my back with his fingers, as the crowd begins to clap and stand up. We both pull back slowly and smile excitedly at each other, before turning and stepping down from the altar. Mike trots over to my mother and scoops up Isabelle. She giggles and hugs his neck, as we head down the aisle. I’m literally smiling from ear to ear, waving to a few of the people I recognize in the seats. Mike and I swing our hands gently, grinning at each other and Isabelle. “Vic said you were nervous earlier.”

“I wasn’t nervous to marry you! I was more nervous that I was going to fuck up my vows or something.” He scoffs. “I need a nice JD and coke.”

“Dada curse.” Isabelle giggles and pokes his lips.

“Tattle tale.” He smirks and pulls her closer with his one arm, kissing her lips. “You did so good! I love you, baby girl.”

“Does that mean I get puppy?” She smiles evilly and holds her palms to his cheeks.

“Yes, you get a puppy.”

“We’re actually going to do this a little differently tonight…” Vic clears his throat and holds the microphone up to his lips. He’s standing in the middle of the ballroom dance floor, staring out at the blue and white flower covered tables. Dinner should be served shortly, but everyone’s been drinking and talking for almost an hour. “Instead of having the beautiful couple’s first dance before the speeches, we thought we’d kind of combine them. Sounds confusing, I know, but you’ll catch on.” Vic laughs and so do some of the guests. Then he runs his fingers through his hair and clears his throat again, taking a few steps forward. “It’s weird… I’m like really bad at giving speeches, I always have, and yet I perform for millions of people. That makes a lot of sense, right?”

“I just don’t want to mess up anything for these lovely individuals.” Vic pauses for a few seconds and motions to Mike and I’s table. “Mike is my brother.” He claps his hand to his chest gently and smiles at Mike. “He’s the baby of the family, despite the height difference between him and I... Mike will always be my baby brother, and I will always feel protective over him.” He laughs quietly, looking out at everyone. “So that night after Pomona Warped Tour, Jaime strolls into the club, all sweaty and tired. We laughed for a few minutes, but when Jaime explained to us that Mike was driving some girl back to her house in Santa Monica, I was a little skeptical.”

Behind me, Mike smirks and rubs my arms gently.

“He was already back on the bus when the rest of us got back, and I’m not kidding you when I say, I’ve never seen him so perplexed. He was sitting on the couch in the bus, staring down at his phone. Eventually, Tony got Mike to talk about the mysterious girl he had driven home, and I felt a little better about the whole idea. I knew my brother. And I knew he was really into this Lana girl, so I figured he should invite her to tour with us. They could get to know each other more and whatever else. If it worked out, it worked out. If it didn’t, both of them could go back to their normal routines.” Vic shrugs, a sly smile forming over his lips. “Lana was one of, if not the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. And two years later, she is still pretty high up on that list. The only other girl I could possibly consider more beautiful, would have to be the little princess in my seat right now.” Vic points to Isabelle, who’s sitting with Mama and Papa Fuentes and Hadley. He then shakes his head and laughs. “I’m kind of rambling now…” He gives a long exhale and looks back at Mike and I, reaching for a champagne glass. “Lana, you deserve the world, and I know my little brother can give it to you. You are a perfect match for Mike. I love you with all my heart, so I can’t imagine how much more he loves you. As much as I’m jealous that my younger brother is so far ahead of me in this thing called life, I wish you two nothing but happiness and love on this journey as parents and a married couple.” Vic raises the glass and smiles, before taking a sip.

Everyone else takes a sip of their champagne and starts to clap. Giggling, I lean over and wrap my arms around Mike’s neck, kissing him gently. Mike pulls away after a few seconds and stands up, walking over to Vic. They laugh and hug for a few moments, before I see Kellin Quinn strolling across the dance floor. A huge smile creeps across my lips and I start to stand up. Kellin points to me and laughs, shaking his head. “Stay there, gorgeous.”

I raise an eyebrow and slowly lower myself back into the seat, watching confusedly as Kellin takes the microphone from Vic. Mike remains up there, his hands in his pockets and his eyes on mine.

Kellin clears his throat and brings the mic up to his lips. “Hey, I’m Kellin and I’m an alcoholic...” He smirks and everyone starts to laugh. Eventually, he raises his hand and grins. “I’m just kidding... I’m here like the rest of you, to celebrate the marriage between my good buddy Mikey and this spectacular girl, who I met two summers ago.” Kellin slowly starts walking toward me. “You’ve become like a little sister to me, darling. It’s been a honor to talk you through certain hard times in your relationship and just spend time with you. Mike is one lucky dude to have such a perfect life ahead of him. I wish you two nothing but happiness. And yeah, I’ll probably see you both next week for a play date between Copes and Bells.”

“Aw…” I smile, tears rising in my eyes, and run over to Kellin, hugging him tightly. A lot of people may not know it, but if it weren’t for Kellin, Isabelle wouldn’t be here. Kellin was the first person I told about being pregnant. He convinced me to tell Mike. I trusted him when he said everything would be okay, because he already had a baby. He had Copeland. “Thank you so much, Quinny…” I laugh, hugging him tighter. He hugs back for a few seconds, before taking a step back. Then I smile up at Vic and hug his neck. “Thank you…”

From the corners of my eyes, I notice Jesse and Jack up on the small stage. Jesse takes a seat on a stool and waves slightly, holding an acoustic guitar. Aw… Mike and I’s first dance song…

Vic walks over to his table again and Kellin hops up onto the stage, taking the mic with him. I walk over to Mike and smile faintly, reaching for his hands. He leans down and kisses my forehead, before intertwining our fingers. We walk to the center of the dance floor, as the beginning of Iris starts to play. I feel like I’m dreaming. Iris is my all time favorite song that Sleeping With Sirens has covered, and now it’s the anthem to our first dance.

Kellin starts to sing and Mike and I sway back and forth, taking small steps side to side. Mike leans down and pecks my lips, before pressing his forehead into mine. “I love you so much, Lana…”

I nod and slowly close my eyes. “I love you too, Mikey...” I feel his arms pull me closer and hug my body protectively. He rests his chin on top of my head and sighs calmly, rubbing my back as the song plays out.

Toward the end of the song, Isabelle runs over and hugs both Mike and I’s legs, giggling up at us. “Up! Dance!”

Laughing quietly, Mike bends down and scoops Isabelle up. “You always have to be in the spotlight, don’t you?” He smirks and hugs her tightly. I take a step forward and hug both of them. My two babies. I have everything I could’ve asked for now. Mike and I are married, we have a perfectly healthy and beautiful daughter, and our family is closer than ever.

As I stare up at Mike and our sleepy baby, my world stops. They’re the closest to heaven that I will ever be.