Ruby

I knock three times before getting the permission from Dianna to enter. The heels I am wearing cling as I enter. Elizabeth in a white snowy wedding dress meets me. Her hair is pulled to the back into a low bun. A white bride's veil is fixed into her hair. She's smiling, holding a bouquet of flowers. "Look at you, oh my god, you're beautiful." I say as I feel my eyes tear up a bit. She laughs as her cheeks catch some color. I embrace her tightly. "This dress is fitting perfectly, then?" Emily's voice comes from behind me. I turn to her. Her golden hair is pulled to the back with side braids. "Definitely." I say with a smile. "I gotta run. I meeting with the groom." I say with a wink to Elizabeth. She smiles. "I will see you there then." Dianna says. "I will see you." I say leaving the bride with her two besties.

"Hey." Elite in a beautiful dark red silk dress says. Her hair is loose and natural. "Hi." I say as we embrace. This morning was one of a kind. We talked and laughed. I actually got to know Elite. It made me feel even more guilty. She told me how she and Tobias became friends. She told me about there childhood. It was all weird after his mother's death. Specially since she had to move away, her parents not liking their neighbors. "What are you doing here? You should be going to the wedding hall with Albert and Penny." I say. "Well, Tobias is taking a lot of time, sobering up." She says with a chuckle. It really hurts me that she gets to call me Tobias as well. That it is not my special thing anymore. "I gotta go. Ash wants to have a word with me." I say. "Alright. See ya." She says. I wave at her as I make my way to Ash's room.

"Are you okay?" I say, closing the door behind me. "Oh thank god, you're here." Ash in an unbuttoned shirt says. "You look, well , not ready to get married." I say. "I think I am getting cold feet." He nervously says. "Hey, it's okay to feel this way." I say as I walk closer to him. "What if we're not ready yet? What if I am not a good husband? Oh god, what if we get bored of each other?" He says. I grab him between my arms. "Calm down, Ash." I say, as we hug. "Oh Ruby, I am terrified." He says as we pull back. "Do you love her?" I ask. "I am" "Answer me, do you?" I interrupt him. "I do. I really do. I love her so much. I have never loved anyone that much." He says. "Then, you are going to be alright." I say, holding his face. "You think?" He says. "I am sure." I say with a reassuring smile. He smiles back in a relief. "What the hell would I do without you, Ruby?" He says as we embrace once more. I smile as we pull back. "Let's get you ready then, shall we?" I say, buttoning up his shirt.

I stand at the end of the asile between Emily and Penny. Ash in a clean neat suit in standing waiting for his bride. Tobias is sitting next to Elite with the crowd. Our eyes meet.

"I know I fucked up five years ago. When I left you. I know I shouldn't have left someone like you ever. Ruby, you're the best thing that happened to me. In my whole damn life. Fuck, I am not sure if I love anyone as much as I love you. You make me happy. I am crazy about you. I have been since I saw you. I have been for the last five years. I am crazily in love with you, Ruby Clark."

I close my eyes as I hear his voice in my mind. Wedding songs start playing. I open my eyes. Elizabeth holding her father's arm are walking down the aisle. I smile, holding the bouquet of the off-white roses in my hand. The crowd stands as the bride getting delivered to her future husband. She hold hands. I look at them with a wide smile, my eyes starting tear up a bit.

"I have been so lost the last five years. I wanted you so badly to not listen to me. I wanted you to find me. I wanted us to meet again. I wanted us to be together again. I wanted you so badly. I still do. I want to fucking marry you, Clark! I always wondered what were you doing. I wondered if you got to the college you dreamed of. I wondered if you're happy. I wanted you to be happy."

My mind is somewhere else, repeating his words, as the couple say their vows. I look at them as they kiss. Happiness fills up the air as the newly married couple wave at the crowd. I clap and hug Penny as the crowd roars with laughs and claps of happiness.

I watch the couple dance with a cup of champagne, swaying in my hand to the slow music. "How come you're sitting here all alone?" Alexander says, taking a seat beside me. "Hey." I say, looking at him. He's wearing a blue suit with a dark red tie. He looks like he always looks at work. "What's up? You look like you got a lot on your mind." He says. I do. More than anything. "My parents are coming. You will meet them." I say. "That's what you're thinking about?" He asks. Not really. I am thinking about my parents arriving. But, not about meeting Alex. About meeting Tobias.

"It hurts me so badly to think of you somewhere crying over your little brother and I am not there to hold you. You were right that day. When you called me a monster. When you said that I am just like him. I think I am. I am a monster. I hurt you. I left you and I hate myself for doing it. I hate myself everyday for not waking up to your face. I hate myself for leaving you, Ruby. If I could go back, I would have stayed and never left your side." His voice starts to crack.