What's So Good About Picking Up the Pieces?
Chapter Thirty-Four.
Lyla's P.O.V:
"What?" I questioned, my eyes wide with surprise as I stared at Vic lying next to me.
"You heard me," he muttered with a smirk. I was practically frozen, his words replaying in my mind over and over.
"You can't be serious," I replied and he furrowed his eyebrows at me.
"Lyla, why wouldn't I be?"
"Because! That's crazy!" My voice was high and squeaky; it's amazing the effect that two simple words had on me. He opened his mouth to speak but I quickly cut him off. I reached my hand out, pressing it against his forehead. "Are you sick or something? Or are you still drunk from last night?" I was trying to find any rational reason that would explain his sudden behavior.
He grabbed my arms and pushed me down lightly so I was lying on my back. He leaned over me, his chocolate brown eyes staring deeply into mine. "No, I am not still drunk, not even a little bit." He stroked my cheek lightly with his thumb, and I felt like I was going to melt under his touch. "Do you not want to?" He asked, a hint of sadness present in his tone. I let out a small sigh.
"Vic, of course I want to, I've always wanted to-" he put his finger to my lips, silencing me.
"Okay? So what's the problem?" His eyes seemed to be glistening as he searched my face for a reaction, pleading silently with me.
"Why now?" I muttered out the first question that came to mind. He just smiled at me, one of his million dollar smiles, that smile that no one could resist, especially not me.
"Why not now?" I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"I'm unprepared! I don't have anything to wear or...." I trailed off, getting lost in his eyes, in his smile.
"First of all: I could care less what you wear. Hell, you could go naked, that would be fine with me," he bit his bottom lip and winked at me; I rolled my eyes and laughed, shaking my head at his suggestion. "But they do make these things called stores, baby. It's quite a concept, actually. You go there and you can buy things, whatever you want!" I smacked his arm softly. Sarcasm came way too easily to both of us.
I bit my bottom lip nervously, my eyes searching his. "Are you serious about this Vic?" He inched his face closer to mine, our noses barely brushing against each other's.
"Lyla. I've never been more serious about anything in my entire life. I wouldn't have brought it up if I weren't entirely sure. But I am. I've wanted this for so long, I love you, baby. And I want this." He rested his forehead against mine and I stroked his hair, taking a deep breath in and letting my eyes fall closed.
"Okay," I whispered, my voice so soft it was almost inaudible. He sat up and I followed suit, leaning my back up agasint the headboard as he kneeled on the bed in front of me. His face brightened, a wide smile spreading across his lips, his eyes shining as he stared into mine.
"Okay?" He questioned as if he didn't quite believe the word that had fallen from my lips. I nodded my head with a smile. He leaned forward, his lips pushing against mine with such passion I wanted to jump out of my skin. He grabbed each side of my face, pulling our lips that much closer as my hands moved to his back, clinging on for dear life. "I love you so much," he muttered, his lips grazing against mine as he spoke.
"I love you too, Vic." He kissed me once more, a little softer this time, but no less passionate. I slightly pushed him away and tore back the covers, stepping out of the bed, stopping a moment to admire the view of the sunrise over the strip. I smiled at Vic as he climbed out of the bed, his boxers hanging low on his waist. My eyes found his once again and I felt my stomach flutter, my heart beating more rapidly than before. "Alright, Vic. Let's go get married."
------------------------
As the taxi pulled up in front of the Chapel of the Bells I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. This was really happening. In a little over an hour Vic and I would be getting married. Sensing my nervousness, Frenchi grabbed my hand in hers, squeezing tightly. I looked over at her and was met with a smile. "Just breathe, Lyla," she said sweetly and I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, taking her advice to try to calm my nerves. Jessica, Frenchi, and I stepped out of the cab; I grabbed my bag from the trunk and took another deep breath before walking into the chapel. The lady behind the reception desk greeted us with a smile before ushering down a small hallway towards a dressing room. I took a seat in front of the vanity, my leg jittering restlessly; why I was so nervous I had no clue. I was excited, overjoyed at the prospect of finally marrying Vic; I've wanted this for so long and it's finally happening, and I couldn't be happier if I wanted to.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that this had all happened so fast? It had only been 12 hours since Vic sprung the question on me this morning. Well, it was more a statment than a question. We had been laying in bed in silence, both of us awake but not speaking when he said it. Marry Me. Two simple words that had changed everything. After some hesitation I agreed; the hesitation had nothing to do with not wanting to marry him, I was more afraid of him getting caught up in the moment and not really wanting to marry me.
I had spent all afternoon rushing around, trying to find a dress....and shoes....and a ring for Vic. With Frenchi and Jessica's help I found a dress; it wasn't anything fancy or over the top. It was a simple t-shirt dress that hit mid-thigh, with short sleeves, a scoop neck, and a white lace overlay. I paired it with a couple of silver bangle bracelets, a necklace with a little silver key on the end, a simple pair of diamond studs, and a pair of nude high heels.
Hunting for a wedding band for Vic and proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated. There were so many options, and I had no idea what Vic wanted. It was frustrating to say the least. I ended up deciding on a simple silver band with grooves; I liked that the grooves added a little something to it and didn't make it look so plain.
Jessica had taken on the task of doing my hair, curling it in loose waves and pinning half of it back. I did my makeup as the three of us chatted about anything and everything; I made sure to emphasis my eyes a little more than I normally did, adding a little extra eyeliner to make them pop. I stood up and grabbed my dress out of the bag. "Hey, will you guys go get Austin for me?" I asked. They both nodded and smiled before leaving the room in search of him. I slipped the dress over my head, smoothing the front out as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. As I put my earrings in my ears there was a soft knock at the door before it opened a crack, Austin peeking his head in.
"Are you decent?" He asked, laughing a little. After giving him the okay he entered the dressing room, shutting the door behind him. "For you," he said, handing me a bouquet of assorted colorful flowers. I grabbed it from him with a smile and set it on the counter. We were both silent for a while. I handed him my necklace and he clasped it behind my neck, squeezing my shoulders after he did so. I pulled my shoes out of the box and grabbed onto Austin for support as I slipped them onto my feet. I stared at my reflection, taking it all in.
"You look absolutely stunning," Austin whispered before kissing the back of my head gently.
"Do you think this is crazy?" I asked, turning to face him. He gave me a sly smile.
"Not at all," he responded, shaking his head. "I think it's perfect." I smiled and gave him a tight hug, burying my face in his chest.
"Will you walk me down the aisle?" I questioned, pulling away a little so I could look at him.
"Are you serious?" He responded, his face etched with surprise. I nodded my head.
"If you want to."
"I would love to," he said with a smile, leaning down to kiss my forehead.
I grabbed the ring box, handing it to Austin who shoved it in his pocket. I took one last look in the mirror, surprisingly satisfied with my appearance, sprayed some perfume on my wrists and neck, and grabbed my flowers. We walked out in the hallway where one of the staff members was waiting to give me the okay to go. I intertwined my arm around Austin's as we stood waiting. I suddenly felt calm. It was finally happening; I had dreamed of this day so many times, and now it was real. The nerves disappeared and all I could feel was an overwhelming amount of happiness.
"I love you, Lyle," Austin said quietly.
"I love you, too." The song started, an instrumental version of "Marry Me" by Train. It was so cliche, but so was everything else about this wedding, and I loved it. Austin led me around the corner into the chapel. Everyone was there, all of our friends were seated, smiling back at me. But I didn't notice them, not really. I only had eyes for Vic. My eyes found his immediately. He looked so handsome in a suit. A smile came across both of our faces.
Austin walked me down the aisle, my eyes never leaving Vic's the entire way.
As I reached him, Austin let go of my arm, giving me a small kiss on the cheek before taking a seat in the front next to Alan. I stood in front of Vic, who immediately took my hand in his.
"You look....beautiful," he whispered with a smile, making me blush.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). We are here today to celebrate the love that these two souls have found in one another, to unite them under God in holy matrimony," the officiant spoke as Vic and I smiled at each other, staring deep into each other's eyes. "I understand you would like to share your own vows with each other?" He asked and Vic nodded his head. He dropped my hand and pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket.
"Lyla, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. From the moment I first met you almost 15 years ago I knew I loved you. I tried to be cool and play it off, but eventually you got to me." We all let out a small laugh as Vic spoke. "I was a fool for ever letting you go. That is the one thing I regret more than anything else. But you came back to me, and after all of these years my feelings for you had only grown stronger in your absence. I loved you then, I love you now, and I will love you until the day that I die. I'm never letting you get away again." A tear rolled down his cheek as he looked up at me; I reached my hand out and wiped it away with a small laugh. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful diamond ring and a diamond encircled wedding band. I gasped in shock at their beauty. Vic grabbed my left hand and slipped both of the rings onto my finger. My heart was threatening to beat out of my chest.
"Lyla," the officiant said, motioning towards me. I wiped a tear from under my eye and smiled before I spoke.
"So, I kind of forgot about this part so I'm just going to have to wing it," I said, shrugging my shoulders. Vic laughed loudly along with everyone else as he shook his head at me, smiling widely. "Up until about 8 months ago I never believed in fate. I had a hard time accepting that everything happens for a reason. All of that changed when you walked back into my life that second day of Warped Tour. I had spent the last 7 years thinking I would never see you again, and as if on cue there you were. Now I believe that things happen for a reason; those 7 years that we spent apart have only made me love you more. We were supposed to end up together. We just needed a little time to find ourselves and figure that out. And I did just that." My eyes were welling with tears as I gazed at Vic. "You are, and always have been, my dream, Vic. I love you more than I ever thought I possibly could. That love for you only grows with each passing day, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." I turned and handed Austin my flowers in exchange for the ring. I grabbed Vic's hand and slipped the silver band onto his finger.
Vic squeezed my hand tightly as a tear rolled down both of our cheeks. "Do you, Victor Vincent Fuentes, take Lyla to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, from this day forward until death do you part?"
"I do," Vic said with as smile as his eyes gazed into mine. I felt another tear make its way out of my eye.
"And do you, Lyla Marie James, take Victor to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, from this day forward until death do you part?"
I bit my bottom lip and smiled. "I do."
"By the power vested in me by the wonderful state of Nevada I now pronounce you husband and wife. Vic, you may kiss your bride."
"Finally," Vic murmered. He grabbed my face and kissed me with so much passion I swear I saw fireworks. I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed him back as our friends errupted in applause around us. Vic pulled away, giving me one more quick peck before grabbing my hand, interlacing our fingers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Vic and Lyla Fuentes," the officiant said excitedly.
I love you. Vic mouthed silently as we smiled at each other.
I love you too.
---------------------
I leaned against the railing on the balcony, staring out at the city lights that lit up the night sky. I held my hand out, once again admiring the gorgeous diamond that sat atop my small finger. My face was beginning to hurt from all the smiling, but I couldn't seem to quit. I was so happy I thought I might explode. It all felt like a dream, and this was one dream I never wanted to wake up from. I heard the sliding door open and I turned to see Vic, still in his suit, make his way from the room onto the balcony, pulling the door closed behind him. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on my shoulder as we both stared off into the distance. "Vic, this is so beautiful. I don't even know what to say," I whispered, motioning to the rings.
"I'm glad you like it. I've been wanting to give it to you for so long," he replied. I turned my head a little to look at him.
"What are you talking about?" I questioned. He smiled at me.
"I've had that ring for almost nine years. I bought it a few months before I broke up with you. I was going to propose to you back then. I wanted to marry you so bad; I knew I loved you, that you were the one I was supposed to be with forever. But then I got scared, scared that I would be holding you back, so I never did." Tears came to my eyes as I listened to him talk. "I kept it all of these years, hoping that one day you would find your way back to me. I promised myself that if you ever did I would give you this ring and never let you go. And you did, you came back. I'm just sorry that it took so long."
I turned around so I was facing him. I cupped his cheek, running my thumb across it. "Better late than never, right?" I replied with a smirk, my words making Vic smile once again. He kissed my nose and walked over to a chair that was on the balcony. He pulled his iPod out of his jacket pocket, and only then did I notice the iPod dock sitting in the chair. "What are you doing?" I questioned with a laugh. He set the iPod in the dock and turned, smiling at me.
"We have to have our first dance, baby," he said, and I blushed. I slipped out of my heels and walked over to meet him. He pressed play and the song that filled my ears brought tears to my eyes. 'This I Promise You' by N*Sync. I looked at him in amazement.
"Vic....how did you-" I muttered, unable to properly form my words. He wiped the tears away from my cheeks.
"This was the very first song we ever danced to. It was homecoming and we had just started dating only a few weeks before. You looked beautiful in that purple dress. I asked you to dance as this song came on, and as we swayed back and forth you told me how much you loved this song," he said as he gazed into my eyes.
"You remembered?" I questioned, more tears falling down my face.
"Of course I did, Lyla. I could never forget." I wrapped my arms around his neck, his encircling my waist, pulling me tightly against him. I kissed him softly before I rested my cheek on his chest as we swayed back and forth to Justin Timberlake's voice blasting through the speakers. I couldn't believe that he remembered something so small, something that once seemed so insignificant. He was right: I did love this song, and I still do. The words had always spoken to me. The song put words to the way I felt when I was around Vic, back then and still now.
I played with Vic's hair as we danced, letting my eyes fall closed as I listened to the all too familiar song. The chorus rolled around a second time, and Vic began to sing along softly in my ear, the sound of his voice making my heart race.
The song came to an end, but we kept dancing despite the fact that there was no music. "I love you so much, Mrs. Fuentes," Vic whispered in my ear, tightening his hold around me.
"Oh, Vic, you have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that."
"What?" I questioned, my eyes wide with surprise as I stared at Vic lying next to me.
"You heard me," he muttered with a smirk. I was practically frozen, his words replaying in my mind over and over.
"You can't be serious," I replied and he furrowed his eyebrows at me.
"Lyla, why wouldn't I be?"
"Because! That's crazy!" My voice was high and squeaky; it's amazing the effect that two simple words had on me. He opened his mouth to speak but I quickly cut him off. I reached my hand out, pressing it against his forehead. "Are you sick or something? Or are you still drunk from last night?" I was trying to find any rational reason that would explain his sudden behavior.
He grabbed my arms and pushed me down lightly so I was lying on my back. He leaned over me, his chocolate brown eyes staring deeply into mine. "No, I am not still drunk, not even a little bit." He stroked my cheek lightly with his thumb, and I felt like I was going to melt under his touch. "Do you not want to?" He asked, a hint of sadness present in his tone. I let out a small sigh.
"Vic, of course I want to, I've always wanted to-" he put his finger to my lips, silencing me.
"Okay? So what's the problem?" His eyes seemed to be glistening as he searched my face for a reaction, pleading silently with me.
"Why now?" I muttered out the first question that came to mind. He just smiled at me, one of his million dollar smiles, that smile that no one could resist, especially not me.
"Why not now?" I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"I'm unprepared! I don't have anything to wear or...." I trailed off, getting lost in his eyes, in his smile.
"First of all: I could care less what you wear. Hell, you could go naked, that would be fine with me," he bit his bottom lip and winked at me; I rolled my eyes and laughed, shaking my head at his suggestion. "But they do make these things called stores, baby. It's quite a concept, actually. You go there and you can buy things, whatever you want!" I smacked his arm softly. Sarcasm came way too easily to both of us.
I bit my bottom lip nervously, my eyes searching his. "Are you serious about this Vic?" He inched his face closer to mine, our noses barely brushing against each other's.
"Lyla. I've never been more serious about anything in my entire life. I wouldn't have brought it up if I weren't entirely sure. But I am. I've wanted this for so long, I love you, baby. And I want this." He rested his forehead against mine and I stroked his hair, taking a deep breath in and letting my eyes fall closed.
"Okay," I whispered, my voice so soft it was almost inaudible. He sat up and I followed suit, leaning my back up agasint the headboard as he kneeled on the bed in front of me. His face brightened, a wide smile spreading across his lips, his eyes shining as he stared into mine.
"Okay?" He questioned as if he didn't quite believe the word that had fallen from my lips. I nodded my head with a smile. He leaned forward, his lips pushing against mine with such passion I wanted to jump out of my skin. He grabbed each side of my face, pulling our lips that much closer as my hands moved to his back, clinging on for dear life. "I love you so much," he muttered, his lips grazing against mine as he spoke.
"I love you too, Vic." He kissed me once more, a little softer this time, but no less passionate. I slightly pushed him away and tore back the covers, stepping out of the bed, stopping a moment to admire the view of the sunrise over the strip. I smiled at Vic as he climbed out of the bed, his boxers hanging low on his waist. My eyes found his once again and I felt my stomach flutter, my heart beating more rapidly than before. "Alright, Vic. Let's go get married."
------------------------
As the taxi pulled up in front of the Chapel of the Bells I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. This was really happening. In a little over an hour Vic and I would be getting married. Sensing my nervousness, Frenchi grabbed my hand in hers, squeezing tightly. I looked over at her and was met with a smile. "Just breathe, Lyla," she said sweetly and I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, taking her advice to try to calm my nerves. Jessica, Frenchi, and I stepped out of the cab; I grabbed my bag from the trunk and took another deep breath before walking into the chapel. The lady behind the reception desk greeted us with a smile before ushering down a small hallway towards a dressing room. I took a seat in front of the vanity, my leg jittering restlessly; why I was so nervous I had no clue. I was excited, overjoyed at the prospect of finally marrying Vic; I've wanted this for so long and it's finally happening, and I couldn't be happier if I wanted to.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that this had all happened so fast? It had only been 12 hours since Vic sprung the question on me this morning. Well, it was more a statment than a question. We had been laying in bed in silence, both of us awake but not speaking when he said it. Marry Me. Two simple words that had changed everything. After some hesitation I agreed; the hesitation had nothing to do with not wanting to marry him, I was more afraid of him getting caught up in the moment and not really wanting to marry me.
I had spent all afternoon rushing around, trying to find a dress....and shoes....and a ring for Vic. With Frenchi and Jessica's help I found a dress; it wasn't anything fancy or over the top. It was a simple t-shirt dress that hit mid-thigh, with short sleeves, a scoop neck, and a white lace overlay. I paired it with a couple of silver bangle bracelets, a necklace with a little silver key on the end, a simple pair of diamond studs, and a pair of nude high heels.
Hunting for a wedding band for Vic and proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated. There were so many options, and I had no idea what Vic wanted. It was frustrating to say the least. I ended up deciding on a simple silver band with grooves; I liked that the grooves added a little something to it and didn't make it look so plain.
Jessica had taken on the task of doing my hair, curling it in loose waves and pinning half of it back. I did my makeup as the three of us chatted about anything and everything; I made sure to emphasis my eyes a little more than I normally did, adding a little extra eyeliner to make them pop. I stood up and grabbed my dress out of the bag. "Hey, will you guys go get Austin for me?" I asked. They both nodded and smiled before leaving the room in search of him. I slipped the dress over my head, smoothing the front out as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. As I put my earrings in my ears there was a soft knock at the door before it opened a crack, Austin peeking his head in.
"Are you decent?" He asked, laughing a little. After giving him the okay he entered the dressing room, shutting the door behind him. "For you," he said, handing me a bouquet of assorted colorful flowers. I grabbed it from him with a smile and set it on the counter. We were both silent for a while. I handed him my necklace and he clasped it behind my neck, squeezing my shoulders after he did so. I pulled my shoes out of the box and grabbed onto Austin for support as I slipped them onto my feet. I stared at my reflection, taking it all in.
"You look absolutely stunning," Austin whispered before kissing the back of my head gently.
"Do you think this is crazy?" I asked, turning to face him. He gave me a sly smile.
"Not at all," he responded, shaking his head. "I think it's perfect." I smiled and gave him a tight hug, burying my face in his chest.
"Will you walk me down the aisle?" I questioned, pulling away a little so I could look at him.
"Are you serious?" He responded, his face etched with surprise. I nodded my head.
"If you want to."
"I would love to," he said with a smile, leaning down to kiss my forehead.
I grabbed the ring box, handing it to Austin who shoved it in his pocket. I took one last look in the mirror, surprisingly satisfied with my appearance, sprayed some perfume on my wrists and neck, and grabbed my flowers. We walked out in the hallway where one of the staff members was waiting to give me the okay to go. I intertwined my arm around Austin's as we stood waiting. I suddenly felt calm. It was finally happening; I had dreamed of this day so many times, and now it was real. The nerves disappeared and all I could feel was an overwhelming amount of happiness.
"I love you, Lyle," Austin said quietly.
"I love you, too." The song started, an instrumental version of "Marry Me" by Train. It was so cliche, but so was everything else about this wedding, and I loved it. Austin led me around the corner into the chapel. Everyone was there, all of our friends were seated, smiling back at me. But I didn't notice them, not really. I only had eyes for Vic. My eyes found his immediately. He looked so handsome in a suit. A smile came across both of our faces.
Austin walked me down the aisle, my eyes never leaving Vic's the entire way.
As I reached him, Austin let go of my arm, giving me a small kiss on the cheek before taking a seat in the front next to Alan. I stood in front of Vic, who immediately took my hand in his.
"You look....beautiful," he whispered with a smile, making me blush.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). We are here today to celebrate the love that these two souls have found in one another, to unite them under God in holy matrimony," the officiant spoke as Vic and I smiled at each other, staring deep into each other's eyes. "I understand you would like to share your own vows with each other?" He asked and Vic nodded his head. He dropped my hand and pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket.
"Lyla, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. From the moment I first met you almost 15 years ago I knew I loved you. I tried to be cool and play it off, but eventually you got to me." We all let out a small laugh as Vic spoke. "I was a fool for ever letting you go. That is the one thing I regret more than anything else. But you came back to me, and after all of these years my feelings for you had only grown stronger in your absence. I loved you then, I love you now, and I will love you until the day that I die. I'm never letting you get away again." A tear rolled down his cheek as he looked up at me; I reached my hand out and wiped it away with a small laugh. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a beautiful diamond ring and a diamond encircled wedding band. I gasped in shock at their beauty. Vic grabbed my left hand and slipped both of the rings onto my finger. My heart was threatening to beat out of my chest.
"Lyla," the officiant said, motioning towards me. I wiped a tear from under my eye and smiled before I spoke.
"So, I kind of forgot about this part so I'm just going to have to wing it," I said, shrugging my shoulders. Vic laughed loudly along with everyone else as he shook his head at me, smiling widely. "Up until about 8 months ago I never believed in fate. I had a hard time accepting that everything happens for a reason. All of that changed when you walked back into my life that second day of Warped Tour. I had spent the last 7 years thinking I would never see you again, and as if on cue there you were. Now I believe that things happen for a reason; those 7 years that we spent apart have only made me love you more. We were supposed to end up together. We just needed a little time to find ourselves and figure that out. And I did just that." My eyes were welling with tears as I gazed at Vic. "You are, and always have been, my dream, Vic. I love you more than I ever thought I possibly could. That love for you only grows with each passing day, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." I turned and handed Austin my flowers in exchange for the ring. I grabbed Vic's hand and slipped the silver band onto his finger.
Vic squeezed my hand tightly as a tear rolled down both of our cheeks. "Do you, Victor Vincent Fuentes, take Lyla to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, from this day forward until death do you part?"
"I do," Vic said with as smile as his eyes gazed into mine. I felt another tear make its way out of my eye.
"And do you, Lyla Marie James, take Victor to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, to love and to cherish, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse, from this day forward until death do you part?"
I bit my bottom lip and smiled. "I do."
"By the power vested in me by the wonderful state of Nevada I now pronounce you husband and wife. Vic, you may kiss your bride."
"Finally," Vic murmered. He grabbed my face and kissed me with so much passion I swear I saw fireworks. I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed him back as our friends errupted in applause around us. Vic pulled away, giving me one more quick peck before grabbing my hand, interlacing our fingers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Vic and Lyla Fuentes," the officiant said excitedly.
I love you. Vic mouthed silently as we smiled at each other.
I love you too.
---------------------
I leaned against the railing on the balcony, staring out at the city lights that lit up the night sky. I held my hand out, once again admiring the gorgeous diamond that sat atop my small finger. My face was beginning to hurt from all the smiling, but I couldn't seem to quit. I was so happy I thought I might explode. It all felt like a dream, and this was one dream I never wanted to wake up from. I heard the sliding door open and I turned to see Vic, still in his suit, make his way from the room onto the balcony, pulling the door closed behind him. He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on my shoulder as we both stared off into the distance. "Vic, this is so beautiful. I don't even know what to say," I whispered, motioning to the rings.
"I'm glad you like it. I've been wanting to give it to you for so long," he replied. I turned my head a little to look at him.
"What are you talking about?" I questioned. He smiled at me.
"I've had that ring for almost nine years. I bought it a few months before I broke up with you. I was going to propose to you back then. I wanted to marry you so bad; I knew I loved you, that you were the one I was supposed to be with forever. But then I got scared, scared that I would be holding you back, so I never did." Tears came to my eyes as I listened to him talk. "I kept it all of these years, hoping that one day you would find your way back to me. I promised myself that if you ever did I would give you this ring and never let you go. And you did, you came back. I'm just sorry that it took so long."
I turned around so I was facing him. I cupped his cheek, running my thumb across it. "Better late than never, right?" I replied with a smirk, my words making Vic smile once again. He kissed my nose and walked over to a chair that was on the balcony. He pulled his iPod out of his jacket pocket, and only then did I notice the iPod dock sitting in the chair. "What are you doing?" I questioned with a laugh. He set the iPod in the dock and turned, smiling at me.
"We have to have our first dance, baby," he said, and I blushed. I slipped out of my heels and walked over to meet him. He pressed play and the song that filled my ears brought tears to my eyes. 'This I Promise You' by N*Sync. I looked at him in amazement.
"Vic....how did you-" I muttered, unable to properly form my words. He wiped the tears away from my cheeks.
"This was the very first song we ever danced to. It was homecoming and we had just started dating only a few weeks before. You looked beautiful in that purple dress. I asked you to dance as this song came on, and as we swayed back and forth you told me how much you loved this song," he said as he gazed into my eyes.
"You remembered?" I questioned, more tears falling down my face.
"Of course I did, Lyla. I could never forget." I wrapped my arms around his neck, his encircling my waist, pulling me tightly against him. I kissed him softly before I rested my cheek on his chest as we swayed back and forth to Justin Timberlake's voice blasting through the speakers. I couldn't believe that he remembered something so small, something that once seemed so insignificant. He was right: I did love this song, and I still do. The words had always spoken to me. The song put words to the way I felt when I was around Vic, back then and still now.
I played with Vic's hair as we danced, letting my eyes fall closed as I listened to the all too familiar song. The chorus rolled around a second time, and Vic began to sing along softly in my ear, the sound of his voice making my heart race.
The song came to an end, but we kept dancing despite the fact that there was no music. "I love you so much, Mrs. Fuentes," Vic whispered in my ear, tightening his hold around me.
"Oh, Vic, you have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that."
8/1/13