I reach the venue; I can see a hall across the lawn. No one is around; they all probably entered the wedding hall. There is a board with 'Andy weds Katie' written in red Table and chairs in pink white are set in the lawn for the reception dinner on the right the table for foods and cake is set, the entire decor is white and pink flowers, ribbons the table cloths everything; there are woods on the far left side of the lawn. I walk across the lawn dodging the table and chairs. My knee-length mint green dress is filled with air on the bottom, my brown hair clipped away from my face sway with the wind, my silver heels reflect in the sunlight dig in the soil.
I enter the hall-it's full, I scan the crowd for Cody, but all I can see is everyone's heads. The music starts startling me a little girl in a purple dress starts to walk on the aisle with a basket of violets. I quickly look for an empty bench before the bridegroom enters; I see an empty bench in the right corner in the last row. I silently reach the bench I sit down when someone speaks beside me "am I late"
I turn to my left to see who it is. Its Zavier-Cody invited him and when I asked him why he would invite him he said "he is our friend, aerial" and I replied "no, he is our enemy" and his reply was "Always invite your enemies to your brother's wedding; nothing annoys them so much" and I just rolled my eyes; I mean ok we have been playing basketball for past two weeks together- we have gathered quite an audience- but it's always him against us no other way around that doesn't make him our friend, anyways I couldn't ask him not to invite someone to his brother's wedding. I look at him, his black hair styled with gel backward, and he is wearing black suit pants, might I add he looks... change (handsome). "A little, but its okay I myself came just now" I reply to his question
"Oh, where is Cody?"
"he is in the front somewhere probably" my phone rings; it's from Cody 'where are you' I didn't really want to come- I don't like dressing up- but I was in no position to reject considering the fact I was invited two times, being Cody's –groom's brother- friend, and the daughter of groom's parents friends.
'I am sitting in the back, can't see you' I reply his text
'Looks like you've got yourself company' I receive his text
'What'
'Zavier'
'Where are you sitting' I scan the front benches he turns around and smiles at me he is sitting at the first bench between his parents, I tap Zavier beside me and point at Cody smiling at me.
"He looks like a cartoon" he comments making me chuckle
'Baby of the family'
'You didn't answer my question"
'He came in right after me'
'Looks like you are friends with him'
"Whatever you think...….'
Everyone starts cheering, I look around to realize the bridegroom has entered and I send the half texted message.
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The ceremony, the vows went by in a blur, everyone is now attending the reception, but I have left that place long behind, I don't even know how far I have come- I didn't have much to do; I don't know anyone here except Cody who is busy with his family- I am strolling through the forest I had seen earlier over there. The earthen smell of the moist soil beneath my sandals reaches my nose, the trees rose high above the ground shading. It was difficult to walk on the uneven ground filled with mosses broken trees, with my heels.
There was a freshly fallen tree between all the high trees. I decided to cross it to go further; I really wish my mom hadn't forced me into these heels. I climb over the fallen tree balancing myself when someone speaks behind me
"Careful" I whipped my head around to find the source losing my balance; a hand from above the tree caught my hand stopping me from falling for a second-that hand was too cold as if touching a dry ice- until an electric spark passed through my hand before I could even register whose hand it was: I quickly hold on to the branch of the tree and steady myself; my fingers and palm still numb from holding that hand- it was too cold. I look up on the above branch, to see the source of hand, it's Zavier sitting there - his black hair no more styled fall in to his eyes. He looks up to see me his eyes stare deep into my eyes, but this time there is something change about them they aren't just golden Brown ; they are darker and have tint of green in them.
"Your eyes" we both simultaneously say. I am guessing my eyes have turned purple, and I shut my eyes tight and open them after a deep breath. I look back into his eyes and they are normal again. There is loud thunder we both look up to the sky from the tiny holes of trees canopy.
"It's about to rain any second now" he speaks from above the branch.
"Quick help me up" I plead
"Why, go back from where you came from"
"I don't want to go there please, it's about to rain"
"Fine"
We both extend our hands towards each other and then everything happens simultaneously for a second. We pull back our hands and say " not your hand" afraid of the spark felt before.
"Here hold this" he breaks a small branch of tree from above him, and extends it towards me. I hold the branch and he lifts me towards him, I successfully sit on the branch beside him. Right after a second it starts to rain, I extend my hand from under the tree shade, the cold rain drops touch my numb hand and calm me.I can feel Zavier's stare boring in to my head, I turn sideways and he swiftly looks in other direction.
It's all good until it happens all over again, all those voices they come in my ear all at once - everyone talking and laughing at the reception, the raindrops splashing into the ground the leaves rustling all together, the branches moving, people walking in the ground, tires screeching on the road miles away. My hands clasp my ears, my eyes tightly shut as if to block all those voice but they just won't go away. Then I hear a voice calling out to me different from all others "Aerial are you okay" it's Zavier's, concern laced around the words.
"Please tell them to shutup" I beg my ears still closed by my hands and my eyes still shut.
"Who?" He questions back.
" everything, everyone, please"
"Aerial what's happening" I don't answer I can't.
"Come on Aerial damn it, tell me, what's happening" I stay quiet enduring the pain.
"Why aren't you answering" and I lose it after that because his voice closer is hurting me more.
My eyes open - they are probably purple - and I scream at him "Because I don't want you to think I am freak "
He looks taken aback a bit but then he replies "I won't, tell me what's wrong maybe I can help."
" you can't help a person who is hearing magnified voice of people and things over a mile away" anger still burning in side me.
He takes off his headphones from around his neck - I hadn't noticed this before; he removed my hand from my ears and I feel a spark again but this time it doesn't have the same effect it had before. He takes his headphones and puts it right above my head before it enclose around my ears he says " focus on this voice"
The headphones enclose around my ears and a soft melodic female voice enters my ears, I focus on this voice, close my eyes and the world blocks out.
"Thaks" I mutter.