Dustyn Franco

I feel restless. I can hear my heartbeat as the clock ticks loudly. I couldn't stop myself from standing up and pacing the room. I try to wipe the sweat on my palms on my pants without thinking.

"What the hell." Her loud voice startled me, followed by a slap on my arm. I looked up to see Aurora furiously looking at me, her bright pink hair braided up into an elegant looking bun. She seemed taller than she usually is, given that she's wearing high heels. "You look like you're about to throw up."

I would have rolled my eyes if I could, but the nervousness I am feeling trumps any other thoughts in my head. "What are you doing here?" I asked as I took a seat at the nearest chair.

"You look worst than the bride." She remarked and tossed me a small box. "Mara told me to give you this."

I took the box and opened it. There was no note inside, just a pair of cufflinks of my initials in silver. It looks amazing. Neat and plain but it said a lot more than a note could ever have. I smiled to myself, knowing that Mara is probably doing better than I am. To think that she's the girl in this relationship is somehow embarrassing.

"Seriously though. Where are your stupid friends to keep you calm when you need them most?" She said, looking at the empty room.

"The fun has arrived," Eros announced as he entered the room with a bottle of wine in one hand. Behind him is Alec who looked far more bored than he is. Together with them is Apollo who looked lost as he followed around the two adults. "Oh. It's Al's girl."

Aurora's face became visibly red at Eros' words. But she doesn't seem delighted at all. "Oh here comes the devils."

Apollo perked up from his phone at the word devil and looked at Aurora like she said something completely unbelievable. "Why am I included?"

Aurora smiled at Apollo. "Not you, of course. You're, after all, Mara's friend."

Apollo sighed in relief and nodded his head before putting his attention back on his phone.

"I'm her friend too," Eros said as he finished pouring the drinks. He started handing them out, giving the last glass to Aurora who refused it.

"I'm her brother."

Aurora shrugged before heading for the door. "Don't forget to wear her gift. That's what she wanted me to tell you."

"Thanks, Rory!" I shout after her but she has already closed the door. I looked at Alec who is still looking at the door. "Someone needs to grow some balls," I said in a sing-song voice as I took the cufflinks and started replacing my current ones with them.

"Shut up, you fool," Alec said angrily as he chucks a pillow my way. "I'm fine."

"No, he's not," Apollo said, without looking up from his phone. "He's been whining about Aurora since last night."

I laughed as I watch Alec's face turned red at Apollo's words. He may be younger than us, but he is Artemis' twin with that sharp tongue of his.

"She went out with someone just a week ago. She seemed happy when she got back." Eros said, shrugging his shoulder as if he was just casually telling a story about his cousin's date. In reality, Eros has been rooting for Alec ever since they got close.

"Shut your mouth," Alec said angrily as his hands balled into fists. His efforts are going nowhere with Aurora. She seemed to have put a wall that even the good old Alec cannot climb or break. Aurora has completely distanced herself away from him.

"What? I'm just telling a story. Something to make conversation of." He said as he smiled innocently at Alec.

"He's being a pain in the ass," Apollo muttered.

Eros takes Apollo's phone out of his hands. "You need to socialize a little, kid."

"Give me back my phone," Apollo said, standing at his full height.

I shake my head at Eros. "Eros stop annoying him. If he doesn't attend the wedding because of you, Mara will kill you."

Alec snorts. "Yeah, that's for sure."

Eros gives Apollo his phone back and moves away from him with his hands up in mock surrender. "Fine."

I stood up from my seat, to stand in front of the mirror. Just looking at the cufflink I have put on. It's not the most unique idea in the world as a gift, but I know that Mara took the time to get this, buy it just for me. It was a gift from the woman I would be spending a lifetime with, and I couldn't be any happier.

"He's smiling like a crazy old man." I heard Apollo say. Alec and Eros hummed in agreement.

A knock on the door caught all of our attention. It opened and Stella smiled as she saw us all ready. "We'll start in ten minutes, sir." She said.

I released a breath and shake my arms a little. "I'm ready," I said with confidence, although my heart is beating too fast.

The men in the room all stood up, fixing their clothes before following Stella out of the room.

Tamara Ramirez

I feel like crying as I stare at the wedding gown laid down on the bed. I fell back down on the chair I was sitting in when they were doing my hair and make-up. I covered my face with my shaking hands, as my breathing became shallow.

An unexplainable amount of anxiety crashed through my system like never before. Fear crept up in my mind as negative thoughts flood my mind. Different scenarios run through my head, all ending negatively. None of it was pleasant.

Tears started to swell up in my eyes as I fought hard to keep the negative thoughts away.

"Mara?" Artemis's voice made me snapped my head up. Seeing her standing there, looking so worried as her eyes traveled up and down my body. "Are you hurt? What's wrong?" She asked as she walked to me.

I shake my head, not sure how to answer her questions. Nothing is wrong. It's just in my head. Just my thoughts. Everything is perfect.

There hasn't been a problem all day. Everything was going according to plan, nothing is out of place.

I let these thoughts linger in my head. Reminding myself that everything is fine.

"Are you scared, Mara?" Artemis asked. Crouching down to see me at eye level. She smiled at my lack of response. "Mom said it was normal to feel scared. To not know what to do. It's okay. That's what I'm here for."

"Art... what if I mess up?" I asked. I try my best not to let the tears fall and have the make-up artist re-do the marvelous work she had done. "What if I'm not ready?"

"No one is ready for marriage, Mara. It's okay to make any mistake. And if anyone has anything to say about it, they can go complaint to me." She said.

I nodded my head dumbly. Having Artemis here is the icing on the cake. She knows me better than I know myself sometimes. "Thanks, Art."

She smiled. Her whole face lighting up as she pulled me up. "Come on. Let's get you in this dress. Then you can ask Aurora to get your gift to your husband." She said.

I blushed. This is the first time I ever heard someone else call Dustyn my husband. Sure, in my head I know that's what he would eventually be, but I never really heard it from someone else. Deep inside, I am still getting used to the thoughts of Dustyn and me as a married couple.

Artemis kicked everyone out of the room and got ready to help me slip in my wedding gown. It wasn't as heavy as it looked. It felt light and breathable. Aurora did a good job at making this dress.

"Knock Knock." Aurora's voice made us turn our heads in the direction of the door. Aurora comes in dressed in her peach-colored dress that reached up to her knees. Her newly dyed pink hair up in an elegant bun. She smiles as Artemis zips up the dress. "I knew you would look amazing in this design."

I smiled thankfully. I gave her the design of the dress seven weeks before the wedding that got rescheduled. Still, she made good use of her time and finished the dress on time as she had first promised me. She refused to let me see the actual dress until last night, as she had me try it on for size while blindfolded. Which was not something designers should do, but since I respect Rory's talents, I trusted her in what she is doing.

"I heard I'm needed." She said as she helped fix the ends of the gown. She stood up straight, blowing out a breath as she stared at me again. "You look amazing! I should take a picture. Mom would be shocked."

Rory's mom is an amazing woman. She's strict and overprotective of her family and their status and sometimes over-bearing. But she is a loving woman once you got to know her. Her hatred for Alec, however, exceeds anything else. I'm thankful she hasn't classified me as an enemy when Rory and Alec broke up.

"Sure. Let's get a picture. All three of us." I said as Artemis got the veil ready. " Come, Art."

She looked at me with a smile. "You should just get a picture with Aurora. Here, I'll take it." She held her hand out to get the phone from Rory.

Rory and I looked at each other. Rory grinned and pulled at Artemis's extended hand and had her stand in between us.

"Nonsense. Smile!" Rory said loudly as she snapped a picture of us. We took a bunch of pictures together, much to Artemis' surprise. Aurora made us pose a bunch before laughing and letting us go. Afterward, Aurora helped me put on my veil before leaving to deliver my gift for Dustyn.

I have been holding on to that gift for months now. Unable to find the perfect time and the courage to give it to him. It was a small gift that he could use for his everyday life, but I wanted to give him something. A token of appreciation for all that he has done for me. He has given me more than I could ask for and I have been grateful for everything every single day.

"Tamara, can I come in?"

"I'll be going. I'll see you in a few." Artemis said smiling from ear to ear. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," I said, squeezing her hand before letting her go. She opens the door for my dad who is looking handsome in his dark gray suit. "Dad."

"Mara, honey. You look amazing." He said, his eyes lighting up with happiness as he stepped into the room. He walked closer to me, a box in his hands. "I brought you something."

My eyebrows creased as I try to see what it is he brought. "Dad. I told you, no more gifts." I said, referring to the last gift he had given me. Dad bought me a house. Not just any house, but a million-dollar house with huge space for expansion. And not just in any place but at The Hamptons. I wanted to refuse his gift but he insisted that I accept it before he bought something much more extravagant than the one he did.

"It's just something for your wedding. I asked Alec not to provide any jewelry because I have this for you." He said and opened the box in his hands. Inside is a set of beautiful sapphire jewelry.

"Dad.."

"Oh shush. Your Mom asked me to hold onto this until this day. It was made from her old collection of jewelry. Also, I wanted to know if you would use this?" He said.

It was a hair comb clip. A simple black hair comb, with its handle decorated with diamonds. It was beautiful and eye-catching. It was the right size to hold the veil on top of my head.

"Where did you get this?" I asked him as I touch the piece with care. I'm too afraid to touch something this beautiful for I might break it.

Dad smiled as if he was relieved with my reaction. "It was your mother's. She used it when we got married. I had it restored just for today." He said.

"Dad. Thank you." I said, hugging him. I didn't care if doing so would ruin my hair. I'm thankful for everything that Dad has done for me.

"Oh, honey. I wished your Mom could see you. She was thrilled when she gave birth to you. She would always say that you look a lot like me. We argued about that." He said, chuckling to himself at the thought of Mom. "I think you look a lot like her. Even your personalities are quite the same. She would be so proud of you."

I wanted to cry. Badly. This is the first time that Dad has really talked about Mom. Hearing him say these things makes me feel like I'm close, so close to Mom. It warms my heart to know that Mom wanted me. That she was glad she gave birth to me even if I don't hear it directly from her. Hearing it from Dad feels like I heard it from her.

"Now. Let's put this on and get you to Dustyn. I bet that young man is just dying to see you." He said as he carefully pulled away. He put the box on top of the vanity table and carefully lifted the necklace. "May I?" He asked.

I nodded my head. I felt the coldness of the jewelry as it was gently placed around my neck. I raised my hand to touch it while looking at the mirror. It does, for some unknown reason, complete the look. It was simple yet elegant.

After putting on the earrings, a knock on the door caught both of our attention. Stella sticks her head inside the room with a smile as she looked at the both of us. "We start in ten. I just told the groom." She informed me.

Somehow, the nervousness I was feeling was replaced with excitement. This is it. The day I had been waiting on ever since I realized I love him. Today, in front of our families and friends, we would get married. To be together for the rest of our lives.

"Let's go?" Dad asked, offering his hand to me with a confident smile.

I released a shaky breath and accepted his hand. "Ready."