PART TWO
**Six years later...**
I looked through the crowd, until I saw Dad and Kara.
"They're over here," I ব্যক্ত to Blake, taking his hand in mine. I led him through the band of so many people, all talking, laughing, অথবা crying from joy. Soon enough, I got to them, and gave them both a big hug.
"It's good to see you," Dad said. Kara smiled warmly at his side.
"Irina!" a small voice exclaimed at my feet. I scooped up Desiree in my arms and gave her a big hug.
"What's up, kid? You've gotten so big!" I observed. Her dirty brown hair fell to the middle of her back, with a small purple bow pinned delicately on শীর্ষ of her head.
"Are আপনি coming to the party?" she asked, her voice trilling. I looked to Blake. He smiled and shrugged.
"I guess so," I said, turning back to her. She clapped her hands together in excitement. Then the ceremony began, and the crowd grew reticent. I took my আসন between Dad and Blake, with Desiree sitting on my lap. The whole ceremony was painstakingly boring, and Desiree reminded me many times.
Then finally, came the S's.
"Hera Sieger," ব্যক্ত the high school principal. I watched as she made her way to the stage, dressed in a blue gown, with the matching ridiculous hat that all graduates are forced to wear. She shook hands with the principal and took her diploma, then went back to her seat, doomed to stay seated for another ঘন্টা as they finished the alphabet.
Soon, the ঘন্টা was finally up. The graduates threw their hats up in the air, then went to go find their families. Hera smiled when she saw us, and was প্রদত্ত many repetitive hugs দ্বারা Dad and Kara. Kara's eyes were sparkling with tears. Hera had gotten so tall; it was hard to believe this was the same girl that bugged the hell out of me when I first met her about seven years ago. My head spun for a moment, as I remembered all that had happened in so little time, so long ago.
"Hey Irina," she smiled. Now she stood taller than me; I wasn't even to her shoulder anymore. I reached up and ruffled her hair.
"Congratulations," I said.
"Well, let's all go to the house for the party!" Dad said. Everyone disappeared to their cars, and Blake and I went to his truck; the same one he's had for years.
"Well that was fun," Blake yawned.
"I know right," I laughed, stretching. "There's four hours of my life I'll never get back." He smirked as he put the truck in drive. We drove from the high school, to the house that I'd left two years পূর্বে to সরানো into an apartment with Blake. It was still the same as I'd left it. I hadn't been here in a few months; for some reason I expected it to be completely different. Everyone else had already arrived.
Dad's brothers were there, along with their wives, some of my cousins that I haven't seen in years, and Dad's parents.
"Hello, Irina Dear," my grandmother said, walking over slowly to give me a hug. She gave me a big চুম্বন on the cheek, probably getting vibrant red lipstick on my cheek. I wiped it away when she looked at Blake. "And who's this?" she said.
"This is my boyfriend, Blake," I introduced. She gave him a hug, and he took it charmingly. I was stuck introducing Blake to most of the family for a good half hour; trying to remember peoples' names that I truthfully had no memory as to who they were.
I talked to family and বন্ধু for a while, then we had dinner, and went back to socializing. The lively crowd of people soon died down as the night grew new, and things got fairly quiet and serene. Then Blake took my hand, and cleared his throat. I smiled at him, as he stood to face in front of me. He looked worried, making me as well. He reached into his pocket, then got down on his knee.
He looked up at me, with hopefullness and প্রণয় dancing in his eyes. Others' curious eyes turned to us. Mine grew huge.
"Irina, I প্রণয় you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will আপনি marry me?" he asked, his voice trembling here and there. He pulled out a ring. I'm pretty sure my jaw would've dropped to the floor, but I was ফ্রোজেন solid. I couldn't even blink. There were some gasps from my family, and others "aww"ed. I felt the blood finally start to return to my face, and soon it felt on fire. I opened my mouth to speak, but a barely audible whimper was all I was able to manage. My widened eyes started to fill with tears, and I closed them slowly. All I could do was nod "yes." He slid the ring onto my finger, and stood up to hug me.
Dad and Kara congratulated us both, Dad looking happy yet sad.
"I think that's enough for one night," Dad sighed. I smiled. First his middle daughter graduated high school, and now his eldest daughter got engaged. He looked to little Desiree. "You got any surprises for me?" She furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head. Hera laughed and hugged me.
"Congratulations," she said.
"You too," I laughed. Others congratulated both me, Hera, and Blake, and then went প্রথমপাতা as it became very late. I hugged Dad, Kara, Desiree and Hera, then the two of us left. I couldn't stop smiling, even in the truck. I hugged him real tight, and kissed him. He smiled much as well.
"I প্রণয় you," he said.
"I প্রণয় আপনি too." The whole thing was pretty unbelievable. I knew he loved me, and I loved him, but still. I couldn't help but be shocked.
We got back to the empty apartment, untouched since this morning. I plopped down on the couch, exhausted from the day's events. Blake curled up পরবর্তি to me, laying his head on শীর্ষ of mine. He began to whisper softly about our future together, but I didn't catch everything as I fell into a peaceful sleep.
***
A few months later, our wedding দিন came. I still had a hard time wrapping my head around the whole thing. I was sent to a stray room in the church, ordered to get ready. Normally, I'd never wear a dress, but I guess this was one of those occasions where আপনি have no choice. I sat on a chair, taking a deep breath.
There was a knock on the door. Kara, Hera, and Desiree sneaked in.
"Oh, Irina. আপনি look beautiful," Kara smiled. I looked up at her with weak eyes. I felt like I was going to be sick. The whole time of our engagement, I had been perfectly fine, and excited. Now I was pretty sure I was going to throw up.
"You ok?" Desiree asked. I took a deep breath, waited, and nodded.
"Are আপনি going to throw up?" Hera asked, disgusted.
"I hope not," I muttered. The last thing I'd need is to চুম্বন him, and smell like barf.
"You're not getting cold feet, are you?" Kara asked worriedly.
"My feet are fine, thank আপনি very much," I said, focusing on the pattern on the carpet.
"She's fine," Hera said, rolling her eyes. I heard সঙ্গীত start playing from outside the door.
"We have to go," Kara said. She kissed my forehead real quick, then took Desiree's hand and led her out the door.
"Good luck," Hera ব্যক্ত before she left. I'd need it. After they left, there was another knock at the door. It was Dad.
"You ready?" he asked. I took a deep breath, then nodded. I stood up, and crossed the room to him. "You look beautiful," he said. I pursed my lips, and my cheeks flushed again. "I'm very happy for you, Irina. Your mother would be very proud, just like I am. You've become an amazing young woman." Tears filled my eyes, and I wasn't even out of my dressing room yet. Dad kissed my cheek real quick, then flipped the veil over my face. I felt kind of silly.
We stood at the entrance of the altar, and everyone stood. I averted my gaze to the ground as Dad walked me down the aisle. I didn't dare to look up. I'd freeze for sure. Soon we came to where Blake and the priest were, and Dad handed me off to Blake. I was certain my হৃদয় would explode into tiny fragments right then and there. The priest began the ceremony.
Before I knew it, the priest announced us man and wife, and Blake took my face in his hands to চুম্বন me. People clapped, and it was over. I'd done it. I married Blake.
Later, the reception started. People congratulated us both. There were many hugs, kisses, and hand shakes. Blake's family was there as well, and I was introduced to unknown family members. Then finally, I was congratulated দ্বারা a couple of the people I was most excited to see.
Gwen and Mateo.
They had broken up a couple years ago. Things were awkward at first, but they're good বন্ধু now. Gwen squealed when she saw us, and gave Blake and I huge hugs.
"I'm so happy for আপনি guys!" she ব্যক্ত excitedly. Blake and Mateo exchanged a congratulatory hug, and Mateo kissed my cheek.
"Same here," he smiled.
There was lots of dancing at the reception, something I'm not so fond of. But I went through it with a gracious smile. It wasn't that bad I guess. I danced with Blake, Dad, my new father-in-law, my brother-in-law, uncles, Mateo, and many other guys that attended the wedding. Soon, I ended up with Blake again. My feet ached.
"You're taking this very well," he admired as we danced slowly. I sighed.
"I think I'm pushing it now," I admitted. "My feet are going to fall off." He smirked. We danced for only one আরো song, then soon the reception was over. We ব্যক্ত goodbye to everyone as they left. Dad, Kara, and Hera left, with Desiree asleep in Hera's arms. They smiled and waved bye. Then Blake's parents left, with Blake's younger brother and sister as well. Then Gwen and Mateo, and so on and so on.
We went home, after an incredibly long day. It was all still brand new to me, as if I'd been wedded just সেকেন্ড ago, not hours. Every detail was still fresh in my mind. Blake was still the most handsome man I'd ever seen.
And now he was my husband.
**Six years later...**
I looked through the crowd, until I saw Dad and Kara.
"They're over here," I ব্যক্ত to Blake, taking his hand in mine. I led him through the band of so many people, all talking, laughing, অথবা crying from joy. Soon enough, I got to them, and gave them both a big hug.
"It's good to see you," Dad said. Kara smiled warmly at his side.
"Irina!" a small voice exclaimed at my feet. I scooped up Desiree in my arms and gave her a big hug.
"What's up, kid? You've gotten so big!" I observed. Her dirty brown hair fell to the middle of her back, with a small purple bow pinned delicately on শীর্ষ of her head.
"Are আপনি coming to the party?" she asked, her voice trilling. I looked to Blake. He smiled and shrugged.
"I guess so," I said, turning back to her. She clapped her hands together in excitement. Then the ceremony began, and the crowd grew reticent. I took my আসন between Dad and Blake, with Desiree sitting on my lap. The whole ceremony was painstakingly boring, and Desiree reminded me many times.
Then finally, came the S's.
"Hera Sieger," ব্যক্ত the high school principal. I watched as she made her way to the stage, dressed in a blue gown, with the matching ridiculous hat that all graduates are forced to wear. She shook hands with the principal and took her diploma, then went back to her seat, doomed to stay seated for another ঘন্টা as they finished the alphabet.
Soon, the ঘন্টা was finally up. The graduates threw their hats up in the air, then went to go find their families. Hera smiled when she saw us, and was প্রদত্ত many repetitive hugs দ্বারা Dad and Kara. Kara's eyes were sparkling with tears. Hera had gotten so tall; it was hard to believe this was the same girl that bugged the hell out of me when I first met her about seven years ago. My head spun for a moment, as I remembered all that had happened in so little time, so long ago.
"Hey Irina," she smiled. Now she stood taller than me; I wasn't even to her shoulder anymore. I reached up and ruffled her hair.
"Congratulations," I said.
"Well, let's all go to the house for the party!" Dad said. Everyone disappeared to their cars, and Blake and I went to his truck; the same one he's had for years.
"Well that was fun," Blake yawned.
"I know right," I laughed, stretching. "There's four hours of my life I'll never get back." He smirked as he put the truck in drive. We drove from the high school, to the house that I'd left two years পূর্বে to সরানো into an apartment with Blake. It was still the same as I'd left it. I hadn't been here in a few months; for some reason I expected it to be completely different. Everyone else had already arrived.
Dad's brothers were there, along with their wives, some of my cousins that I haven't seen in years, and Dad's parents.
"Hello, Irina Dear," my grandmother said, walking over slowly to give me a hug. She gave me a big চুম্বন on the cheek, probably getting vibrant red lipstick on my cheek. I wiped it away when she looked at Blake. "And who's this?" she said.
"This is my boyfriend, Blake," I introduced. She gave him a hug, and he took it charmingly. I was stuck introducing Blake to most of the family for a good half hour; trying to remember peoples' names that I truthfully had no memory as to who they were.
I talked to family and বন্ধু for a while, then we had dinner, and went back to socializing. The lively crowd of people soon died down as the night grew new, and things got fairly quiet and serene. Then Blake took my hand, and cleared his throat. I smiled at him, as he stood to face in front of me. He looked worried, making me as well. He reached into his pocket, then got down on his knee.
He looked up at me, with hopefullness and প্রণয় dancing in his eyes. Others' curious eyes turned to us. Mine grew huge.
"Irina, I প্রণয় you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will আপনি marry me?" he asked, his voice trembling here and there. He pulled out a ring. I'm pretty sure my jaw would've dropped to the floor, but I was ফ্রোজেন solid. I couldn't even blink. There were some gasps from my family, and others "aww"ed. I felt the blood finally start to return to my face, and soon it felt on fire. I opened my mouth to speak, but a barely audible whimper was all I was able to manage. My widened eyes started to fill with tears, and I closed them slowly. All I could do was nod "yes." He slid the ring onto my finger, and stood up to hug me.
Dad and Kara congratulated us both, Dad looking happy yet sad.
"I think that's enough for one night," Dad sighed. I smiled. First his middle daughter graduated high school, and now his eldest daughter got engaged. He looked to little Desiree. "You got any surprises for me?" She furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head. Hera laughed and hugged me.
"Congratulations," she said.
"You too," I laughed. Others congratulated both me, Hera, and Blake, and then went প্রথমপাতা as it became very late. I hugged Dad, Kara, Desiree and Hera, then the two of us left. I couldn't stop smiling, even in the truck. I hugged him real tight, and kissed him. He smiled much as well.
"I প্রণয় you," he said.
"I প্রণয় আপনি too." The whole thing was pretty unbelievable. I knew he loved me, and I loved him, but still. I couldn't help but be shocked.
We got back to the empty apartment, untouched since this morning. I plopped down on the couch, exhausted from the day's events. Blake curled up পরবর্তি to me, laying his head on শীর্ষ of mine. He began to whisper softly about our future together, but I didn't catch everything as I fell into a peaceful sleep.
***
A few months later, our wedding দিন came. I still had a hard time wrapping my head around the whole thing. I was sent to a stray room in the church, ordered to get ready. Normally, I'd never wear a dress, but I guess this was one of those occasions where আপনি have no choice. I sat on a chair, taking a deep breath.
There was a knock on the door. Kara, Hera, and Desiree sneaked in.
"Oh, Irina. আপনি look beautiful," Kara smiled. I looked up at her with weak eyes. I felt like I was going to be sick. The whole time of our engagement, I had been perfectly fine, and excited. Now I was pretty sure I was going to throw up.
"You ok?" Desiree asked. I took a deep breath, waited, and nodded.
"Are আপনি going to throw up?" Hera asked, disgusted.
"I hope not," I muttered. The last thing I'd need is to চুম্বন him, and smell like barf.
"You're not getting cold feet, are you?" Kara asked worriedly.
"My feet are fine, thank আপনি very much," I said, focusing on the pattern on the carpet.
"She's fine," Hera said, rolling her eyes. I heard সঙ্গীত start playing from outside the door.
"We have to go," Kara said. She kissed my forehead real quick, then took Desiree's hand and led her out the door.
"Good luck," Hera ব্যক্ত before she left. I'd need it. After they left, there was another knock at the door. It was Dad.
"You ready?" he asked. I took a deep breath, then nodded. I stood up, and crossed the room to him. "You look beautiful," he said. I pursed my lips, and my cheeks flushed again. "I'm very happy for you, Irina. Your mother would be very proud, just like I am. You've become an amazing young woman." Tears filled my eyes, and I wasn't even out of my dressing room yet. Dad kissed my cheek real quick, then flipped the veil over my face. I felt kind of silly.
We stood at the entrance of the altar, and everyone stood. I averted my gaze to the ground as Dad walked me down the aisle. I didn't dare to look up. I'd freeze for sure. Soon we came to where Blake and the priest were, and Dad handed me off to Blake. I was certain my হৃদয় would explode into tiny fragments right then and there. The priest began the ceremony.
Before I knew it, the priest announced us man and wife, and Blake took my face in his hands to চুম্বন me. People clapped, and it was over. I'd done it. I married Blake.
Later, the reception started. People congratulated us both. There were many hugs, kisses, and hand shakes. Blake's family was there as well, and I was introduced to unknown family members. Then finally, I was congratulated দ্বারা a couple of the people I was most excited to see.
Gwen and Mateo.
They had broken up a couple years ago. Things were awkward at first, but they're good বন্ধু now. Gwen squealed when she saw us, and gave Blake and I huge hugs.
"I'm so happy for আপনি guys!" she ব্যক্ত excitedly. Blake and Mateo exchanged a congratulatory hug, and Mateo kissed my cheek.
"Same here," he smiled.
There was lots of dancing at the reception, something I'm not so fond of. But I went through it with a gracious smile. It wasn't that bad I guess. I danced with Blake, Dad, my new father-in-law, my brother-in-law, uncles, Mateo, and many other guys that attended the wedding. Soon, I ended up with Blake again. My feet ached.
"You're taking this very well," he admired as we danced slowly. I sighed.
"I think I'm pushing it now," I admitted. "My feet are going to fall off." He smirked. We danced for only one আরো song, then soon the reception was over. We ব্যক্ত goodbye to everyone as they left. Dad, Kara, and Hera left, with Desiree asleep in Hera's arms. They smiled and waved bye. Then Blake's parents left, with Blake's younger brother and sister as well. Then Gwen and Mateo, and so on and so on.
We went home, after an incredibly long day. It was all still brand new to me, as if I'd been wedded just সেকেন্ড ago, not hours. Every detail was still fresh in my mind. Blake was still the most handsome man I'd ever seen.
And now he was my husband.