Azul pulled up to the courthouse. It was a dreary building, typical of stereotypical municipal type buildings with absolutely no sense of individuality.
Sira pursed her lips as they walked up the stone steps. She couldn't believe she was about to get married to a man she hardly knew, in a courthouse, wearing a cheap dress.
"Let me just go change." Sira said as she headed towards the bathroom.
With a nod, Azul headed towards the clerk to sign in.
Anxiously, he paced the length of the waiting room while Sira changed.
'What is happening to me?' he wondered as his hands sweated and he found himself getting tense.
"Are you nervous?" A voice rang out behind him, causing him to swivel on his heels.
It was an older woman wearing a white silk gown that trailed down to the floor. The wrinkles on her face showed life experience and the gray hairs decorating her scalp showed her age.
"Something like that," he looked her up and down, "is this your first wedding?"
The woman blushed and smiled, "No, my second. Your first?"
Azul nodded, "Yes. Shouldn't your second wedding be even grander than the first?"
"My first wedding was what dreams are made of. I already had my night. Now, I'm just going to spend that money on a vacation for me and my new husband. Why are you not having a 'grand' wedding for your first?"
He glanced towards the door, hesitating a moment as he waited for Sira to enter.
When she didn't, he replied, "She didn't want to. She wanted a simple courthouse wedding with a cheap dress."
The woman nodded, "It's not for everyone. If she ever changes her mind, renew your vows with a big wedding."
Azul pursed his lips and shoved his clammy hands in his pockets. He couldn't explain to this woman that the reason Sira wanted to get married here was because she wanted to save that for her real wedding.
Suddenly, his heart calmed down and he felt a sense of disappointment.
'Ah. Right. This isn't a real wedding. We won't even be living as a married couple.' He thought before wondering why he felt so disappointed at that fact.
Back in the bathroom, Sira was fixing her hair, using the water from the faucet to try and make it stay a certain way and trying it with hand towels.
Her dress was a very simple one.
The waist went in and accentuated her small waist, the hem was wavy with lace, and it had little hearts embroidered on it.
It came down half-way above her knee and the sleeves were frilly with the same laced wavy design as the hem.
While it was definitely no wedding dress, it was cute and elegant enough for the occasion, and she felt confident in it.
She placed her hand over her heart and took a deep breath, suddenly feeling nervous.
Azul was attracted and marrying a guy that looked like him was something she probably would've dreamed up in her younger years.
However, she had no idea who he was, nor did she know anything about him.
Marrying someone because he needs a wife? A fake marriage? Isn't that a red flag?
Part of her screamed to run the other way, to not go through with this weird scenario.
'Who really cares about your virginity? Hardly anyone my age has it still. Why go through it because of that?' she thought.
Yet, the other part of her was telling her that she was attracted to him, that she wanted him to be her husband.
'Just give in to the fantasy!'
Finally, she grabbed the bathroom door and flung it open.
Azul turned as Sira entered the waiting room, his eyes widening.
"Wow…." He whispered, causing the woman he had been conversing with to laugh.
Sira approached, smoothing out her dress nervously. She noticed the other woman and nudged Azul.
"Did you find someone else to become your wife instead?"
The woman blushed with a smile, "No, no. I'm just an old woman making conversation. You look lovely, dear."
Sira smiled, "Thank you."
As the woman was called up, Sira sat down on the bench.
Azul cleared his throat, "The dress you chose looks good on you."
For some reason, his compliment made her heart begin to race.
When the older woman had given her a compliment, she felt nothing more than flattered, but when Azul said it…..it had sparked something within her.
'Am I falling for him? There's no way…..I don't even know him!'
While she sat there, arguing with herself internally, the clerk called out, "Azul Grant and Sierra Nirell!"
Both Azul and Sira felt their stomachs sink at the sound of their names.
Okay, it was time, they were really doing this.
They stood up and headed to the door, both placing their hands on the doorknob at the same time.
Sira gasped, their touch felt like an electric shock.
Azul hesitated for a moment before grabbing her hand and leading her into the room.
Their hearts were beating in unison, racing as they walked up to the officiant.
Neither could hear a word that was being said and could only repeat what was told to them mindlessly.
Before they knew it, wedding bands were on their fingers and the words "You may now kiss the bride," were being uttered.
Sira's eyes widened as Azul placed his hand behind her head, his other arm snaking around her waist as he pulled her closer.
Their gazes locked for a moment, electricity sparking between them as their bodies pressed together.
She felt his warm breath on her as he let out a sharp exhale before he quickly pressed his lips against hers.
It was warm and comforting, electric and exciting.
Butterflies tickled her stomach as her knees started to feel weak.
She leaned into his kiss, tilting her head to the side and closing her eyes, but just as she did so, he pulled away.