Things didn't turn out the way we planned it. I promised Beck that we would be married by the twin's first birthday, but renovating and re-saving for them had pushed back the date about another year.
This is the first, and quite possibly, the last time I will ever wear anything so disgustingly white. My horrid mother insisted on my dress being nothing but white, and thank god for my logic, or else I wouldn't have had the black sash around my waist, hemline, and my upper dress. It was the only true part of the dress that was me, other than the style. It was hugging down to my waist, then jutted out to the side in a fluffy manner, and a very short train.
If you haven't already noticed, I'm about to step out into the rest of my life; it's my wedding day, to the man of my dreams.
Women were bustling around the room, talking loudly and at an extremely annoying volume; especially my mother. She was more of a Bridezilla than I was. "Everything must be in place, and we need to have the dress re-fluffed before we walk out."
"Mom, will you calm down?" I barked. She was going to be the death of me. I swear it.
"Honey, just focus on yourself. I'll take care of all of this," she hushed.
I rolled my eyes and waited until her back was turned before I stuck my tongue out at her. Childish, I know, but it's not like I could flip her the bird or do anything worse.
Proudly, I watched my two year old daughter mimic me. She was in my mom's arms, wearing a pretty dark purple dress, and her hair done up in curls. I thought she looked simply adorable, and I couldn't help but smile at her. She was actually getting more features from her father than she was getting from me. It's all with the cheek bones.
I couldn't help but wince as Cat ran the zipper up my back. My breathing stopped immediately. I looked at my aunt Melissa with a stressed look. Thankfully, she knew exactly what to do, "No bra. You're going to suffocate."
My aunt Melissa was my the only relative that I could actually relate to. I'm pretty sure it's because we're only five years apart. She's my favorite family member, ever.
"So, I just did all that work for nothing?" Cat asked, disappointed.
"I didn't realize I was such a hassle," I said with as much sarcasm as I could get out, struggling to breathe. She shrugged in response, and unzipped me. I felt the air rush into my lungs. "I missed you, oxygen."
I pulled down the front of my dress and was about to let my strapless bra drop to the ground as Andre walked in. A barrage of yells, hands, and objects flew towards the poor boy as he tried desperately to protect himself. "What's the deal, man?" he exclaimed.
"I'm almost topless. You have bad timing," I said as Melissa stood in front of me so my idiot family members would stop freaking out as Cat re-zipped my dress. "For the record, I'm pretty sure that he's seen me topless before. He is one of my roommates, after all."
"Yeah, what she said," Andre said, walking more into our tiny hotel room. He gave an "I told you so" look to my grandmother, before she raised her fist to him. He took that as a good enough hint to state his business before leaving. "You look gorgeous, Jade. Oh... and this is for you."
An echo of "awww" chorused around the room as he handed me a black box with a white bow wrapped neatly around it. I took it from his hand and opened it quickly. It wasn't anything too showy, but it was perfect; an exact replica of his leather necklace, holding a silver ring on it. I looked at the engraving on the inside of the ring, that I almost didn't notice: "You're more than enough, doll."
I could feel my heart melting inside. I didn't care that it wasn't worth a million dollars, I don't care that it's not what everyone would expect... it was perfect for us.
The day was set in my head, on our one year anniversary, my idiot boyfriend decided to dedicate a song to me. It wasn't the lyrics that meant the most. It was the fact that he had the entire school in on his little plan.
It started with a little static over the intercom system, so I ignored it until I heard a familiar beat through it. This was before Beck came into the room as my teacher's lecture began to end.
He walked up to me, a coffee in his hand, as he began to quote the lyrics to one of my favorite groups, Atmosphere. His voice filled my ears as he tried to imitate Sean Daley as best he could, "If she want it, I'm gonna give it up. If she's running low, I'm gonna fill her cup," he quoted before he set the coffee down on my desk. "If it spills, chill, I'm gonna clean it up. I'll be right here because she's enough."
Andre, Robbie and Cat came into the room, all carrying bags of fake money, throwing it into the air above my head before Beck continued, "If she needed the money, I would stick you up. If she gets bored, I do some different stuff. I don't need anything just to keep it up. I'll be right here 'cause she's enough.
"She's the one to put the kick in the drums, she's the hot stove top when winter comes. She hits the run, she can lift a ton, she sticks to the job and gets it done. She hop out and push if the motor's dead. She's gotta keep it moving with no regret, she's up in my head, but never oversteps, she let me know when it's time for us to go to bed." He ran his hand down my cheek and to my chin, smiling down at me as his hand moved to my hand, he pulled me up and into his arms.
"She's the one that you wanna grow old with. She's gotta touch it, she wants to hold it, she gets focused, and she's got the dopest kisses. She don't need you to tell her, she already knows it. Believe it don't get sweeter. She's gonna make me sweat like a fever.," he fished into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. I felt my heart stop in my chest as he got down on one knee.
"Beckette Oliver, what the hell are you doing?" I remember yelling at him.
"She wants a ring, got me measuring her fingers," he opened the box and held it up. "Got me here, whatcha do now is up to you."
The music stopped in the background, and the room was in dead silence, while the echoes of applause filled the hallway outside. He stood up and laughed at my shocked expression. Here he was, asking me to marry him in the tenth grade, and he expected me not to look at least a little shocked? "Before you freak out any more, this isn't an engagement ring."
A sigh of relief came out of my mouth before I could stop it. He rose his eyebrow at me before I told him it wasn't a bad sigh.
"Okay... anyway, I want to marry you in the future, but not now. You make think that it's stupid for me to feel that way when we've only been together for a year, but I know you're more than enough for me, Jaden Leigh West. I love you more than anything, and I'm giving you this promise ring, so that you feel comfortable knowing that you always have my heart, and no one else will come between us."
I wasn't one for showing emotions, especially in front of a crowded classroom, but I felt a small blush creep onto my face. I looked him in the eye and told him, "I love you, too, and if anyone comes between us, I'm going to kick their ass."
"Language, Jade!" The teacher shushed as I rolled my eyes. I took the ring out of the box and put it on my left, ring finger.
"Wrong." Beck stated as he made me take it off, trying to do it himself. He put it on my right, ring finger. "Right."
And that was it. The start of it all.
This is how I knew, deep down in the light part of my dark heart, that Beck was the one. Through everything I've put him though, everything I've been dealing with, all of the compromises, all of the stress, he was still here, telling me no matter what happened, he would be here with me. And he still knew how to make me feel love all over again.
"That's nice," my mother said from over my shoulder, looking down at the ring like it was a disappointment. I rolled my eyes before handing the box back to Andre, taking the necklace out and putting it on, much to my mom's annoyance. "Don't you think it'll clash with the dress, darling?"
"I think it's a perfect component to the dress, mother," I clenched my teeth.
Andre shoved the box into his suit pocket before giving me a kiss on my cheek to calm me down. "It looks good with the dress," then he whispered, "don't let her get to you" before he turned to walk out of the room.
"Wait!" I told him, moving ever so slightly, causing my family to yell at me for moving over the bottom of the dress. I growled as I stopped moving as they rushed to fluff it back out. "Who is supposed to give my present to him?"
"I think that's your maid of honor's job, so Cat would have to do it."
"Do what?" she asked, popping out from behind the white fluff of the dress.
"Deliver Jade's present to Beck for her."
"Okay!" she said, happily. I rolled my eyes as she grabbed the black bag off the counter next to me, just where I pointed.
I watched her prance out of the room, ushering Andre along with her. "I hope he likes it."
"He'll love it," Melissa told me, helping me tie the ribbon around the middle of my dress. "You know him too well."
I really did. It took me three different days of nothing but shopping to find the perfect present for him. I had to brave the sketchy pawn shop to find it. Luckily, it was only sketchy on the outside. The inner parts of the store were almost too nice, and they had a certificate of authenticity for every item.
What I got him was a very odd present, even in my opinion, but I knew deep down in my gut he was going to freak out; half of the neck to Johnny Cash's favorite guitar. Beck was a huge fan of that man, and he was actually the reason my fiance learned how to play the guitar in the first place. He's always talked about wanting to see him in concert, but he never got the chance because Johnny was out of his era of life.
Not only did I get him that present, but I opted to put out a little more money, and make another one of my baby's dreams come true. Awaiting at the house for when we get home, was a small Rottweiler, being watched by my cousin and her daughter, who she thought was too young to join in the festivities of the day; being only a few months old, I could understand.
Before I knew what was going on, my Wedding planner was in the room, ushering people out as quickly as she could, "If we want this wedding to start on time, we need to start going down as soon as possible. If you're ready, I need you to start taking the elevator. You all can't fit in one together."
It was a swirl of black and purple with a little mix of red and yellow moved all around me. I couldn't pick out my mother from the rest of my relatives as they all grabbed onto their hats and purses before fitting out the door in a rush. Not a single one of them even remembered that I was still in the room, except for Melissa, and my mom, which was probably only because she had my daughter in her arms.
Kendall was stretching her arms out to me, and I wanted nothing more than to hold her, but that didn't work out well when I was in a skin tight wedding dress. I knew my little girl better than that. The moment she would have been in my grasp, either my dress would have a huge smudge on it, or it would have been pulled down from the top. She was in her grabbing everything phase, sadly.
I made a silly face at her, and got her to giggle as my mother took her out of the room.
Cat almost bumped into the two as they were trying to get out of the doorway. She smiled at Kendall before coming over to me, "are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be..." I took a deep breath as Melissa picked up my train, and Cat moved everything that was in my path out of the way. We walked down the hallway in a comfortable silence. I was ready to get married...
The melody to one of my favorite songs chimed along with my steps as I waited behind the doors of the massive church. I could match the lyrics with the instrumental version almost perfectly. I was really trying not to mouth the words as my father grabbed onto my arm. He didn't show much emotion, but I could see a proud look on his face.
"What?" I looked up at him.
"You're beautiful, Jade." He stated in his strong tone, as always.
I was stunned. It was rare the man even acknowledged my existence, and now he was giving me a compliment, "thanks, daddy."
It was the last thing we talked about as the song began over, and my wedding party began to walk out, two by two. I smiled widely as I watched my son and daughter walk out together, Blake being more excited than Kendall. My mother walked behind them to make sure he didn't drop the ring, and she didn't eat the flowers.
They were the last to walk out before I was supposed to.
I took a deep breath before emerging into the room, my father gripping my hand as I held the purple and white bouquet in my other. My eyes instantly went to Beck's place at the alter.
He was so gorgeous. His hair was pulled out of his face, and his plan black suit looked more than good on him, just like everything else he ever wore. Beck was smiling towards her, even though he looked a little shocked, probably because this is one of the first times I've ever worn white for someone, and I had more make up on my face than a clown.
I walked slowly, taking a breath from each step, making sure I didn't trip over the front of the dress, or my own feet. I didn't do very good in huge heels.
Without trying to, I noticed my mouth moving along with the words of the song, "I said I'd never let you go and I never did, I said I'd never let you fall and I always meant it. If you didn't have this chance then I never did..."
As soon as I got to the second row of pews, I noticed that Beck was taking steps towards me. Andre had to hold him back, and snap him into reality before he walked away from the alter, in an attempt to get to me. He probably didn't even realize that he was walking towards her, because his look of daze shook off of him as his best man pulled him back. The room filled with quiet laughter as I couldn't fight the smile on my face.
He stayed and waited for me at the bottom of the steps, his hand outreached to me.
My father whispered in my ear, "he's lucky to have you. You're an amazing daughter."
Those were the most sentimental words the man had ever spoken to me. I got my emotional side from my father, the keep it in kind. We don't display affection as easily, but it's still there. He was showing that to me now, and I was in utter shock.
My eyes started tearing up as we got to the steps. My dad lifted the veil and pushed it away from my face. He noticed my eyes and gave me a wink before his face turned back into stone. Placing a final kiss on my nose, my father gave me away to my fiance.
"Are you ready?" the minister asked with a small smile. He was a very short, very bald little man. His eyes were scrunched up behind years of smiling too much. I noticed a ring on his left finger, indicating he had been standing in this very spot before us. He could have only been smiling so much because he found the short, little woman of his dreams.
I nodded, and so did Beck.
The man began speaking, "Hello. I am joined here with Jade West and Beck Oliver, who I hear wish to be married today. What a joyous occasion!"
He just started talking in versus, when my son decided it was time to take the show, as per usual. Blake jumped off the bench before Beck's dad could grab him, and walked up to Beck, pulling on his pant leg. "Daddy...?"
"Yes, Blake?" Beck whispered, rolling his eyes. This was just Blake's personality. He was the little drama loving, show stealing, two year old.
"I gotta go potty," he said, holding his private area and sinking down into a squeezing dance.
The room erupted with laughter as Beck's father finally rushed up to the stage, pulling the little boy off of the floor and out of the room. Hopefully they find a bathroom soon. He was just learning how to hold his bladder without a diaper.
"As I was saying-"
"Mommy!" I hear from my side of the room. That call was too familiar.
"Kendell, I'm trying to marry your father, can't it wait?" I turned, trying to sound less annoyed than I normally would have been in this situation. I looked at my daughter as she struggled in my mother's grasp, trying to loosen the hold on her just enough so that she could escape.
"Maybe you'd like the short version?" the man in black offered.
I turned to Beck who shrugged, "I just want to get to the part where I get to kiss you."
The room laughed again. I never knew a wedding could be filled with this much humor, unless it was previously staged, and trust me. This wasn't planned. My mother wouldn't have let it happen like this.
"Let's go with the short version," I agreed with a sigh. Beck took my hands in his own, looking into my eyes. I couldn't help but smile, and I could hear the echo of Cat giggling in the background.
The man cleared his throat to call the room to attention, "The couple has decided to recite their own vows. Jade, would you like to tell Beck why you're here today?"
"I'm here because I love you..." I looked him in the eye. I felt like I could have split my heart out to him, right then and there, but not in front of all of the people. I had to keep up my composure while I was here. "More than words could ever possibly describe. I want it to be as plain and simple as that. I don't need to throw in the unnecessary sh-... stuff, that comes along with these stupid things. I love you. No fillers."
I'm sure the room was disappointed in me. If I was going to be sentimental at any point in time, shouldn't it be my own wedding? I really didn't care at that point, all that mattered was that Beck was staring at me, smiling. He obviously thought my display of affection was enough. It made my heart beat a little faster for the millionth time today.
"And Beck, would you like to tell Jade something?"
"I do," he smiled at me, and earned a few giggles from the isles, "Jaden Leigh West, you are my everything. I can no longer imagine a future without you in my life, and that's not just because you're the mother of my babies. It's because I need you, in every sense of the word. Not just because you take the dogs for a walk, or have dinner ready when I come home every afternoon, or the fact that you've given me the greatest gifts a man could ever have in the twins... it's because without you, I am nothing. I love you, and I'm more than thankful that you're finally agreeing to be mine forever."
By this time, I had tears in my eyes, wishing that I could have something to prevent my makeup from dripping down the side of my face.
"Jade, do you take this man, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?" he asked me.
I looked deep into Beck's eyes, without really trying to. No hesitation, "of course, I do."
"And do you, Beck, take this woman-"
"I do." He said instantly, smiling at me. I couldn't help but smirk. He wanted me really bad, not only was it funny to see him stressing about just kissing me, but his eyes said way more than that. We were in a church, for fuck's sake.
"By the power invested in me, by the great state of California, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Beck Oliver. You may ki-"
His lips crashed down onto mine, as his hands flew to my hips to help me keep my balance. I was smiling as he was placing kisses against my lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he picked me up slightly by the waist. I held him close, happier than ever before.
"He has a thing for cutting people off, doesn't he?" I heard the minister ask someone who just laughed in return.
"Mommy!" I heard my daughter say excitedly from behind me. Beck finally let me down, and I picked Kendall up. She hugged me tight and laid her head on my shoulder. I think she was glaring at my mother for not letting her go. I wouldn't doubt it at all, I mean, she is my daughter.
Beck was standing in front of me as people talked, and applauded around us. The crowd got louder when Blake ran into the room, and crashed straight into Beck's leg. My husband laughed and picked up the giggling toddler, throwing him over his shoulder in a gentle manner.
I looked around at everyone.
This was my life. As crazy, annoying and frustrating, but everything I could have possibly asked for in a family. This was perfect...