Jonathan and Kara Thorne grabbed hands and ran through the parting in the crowd that had gathered in the park. Kara's small body was donned with a white dress and her blue eyes sparkled as her mouth set into a permanent smile, even though her cheeks were killing her.
Jonathan was wearing a suit, probably for the first time in his life. His brown hair was gelled down so it didn't' look like he had just woken up.
The couple gripped at each other's hands hands as they ran, smile plastered to their mouths. The people around them clapped hard, and the photographer snapped a shot of them surrounded by friends and family.
"Ah! Kara, you look gorgeous!" shouted one of Kara's friends, making her way towards the couple and hugging them both. "Where did you get that dress? It's absolutely divine!"
Kara giggled and continued to talk to masses of people who were both friends relatives and guests of her new husband who she had never met before in her life. They were interrupted by somebody tapping the mike. Their Best Man and MC for the day was calling everybody to attention.
"I'm sorry to interrupt every-one's conversations, but canapes and drinks are being serves in the marquee. Entrees will be served in 15 minutes, and we ask that everybody be seated for them."
Slowly, the crowd began to move towards the marquee and find their allocated seats. Kara ad Jonathon made their way to the small table at the head of the marquee, the Bridal table. There they found Fiona, Kara's best friend of 16 years and bridesmaid, in conversation with Timothy, the Best Man.
When Kara and Jonathan approached, the two stood up and welcomed the new couple with many screams, on Fiona's part, and claps of the back from Timothy.
The four sat back down, and were soon joined by the last guest of the Bridal table, Jonathan's father.
"You look radiant," he said to Kara. "I wish you all the happiness our God can give you, you deserve it."
*This is all I could come up with. Hope you like it!*
*Don't expect to see me around much in the next couple of weeks. School has started again, and it'll be a couple of weeks before I've settled in. If you've asked me for a critique, you will get it, but not for a little while. Sorry*
Timothy, the best man, took his seat next to the groom. A few times a smile pinned itself to his lips, but for the most while, as he sat, it was a pale expression that stole his face.
"What's wrong, Tim?" asked Jonathan, a little mock to his voice. "Enjoy yourself! It's--"
"I'm great, thanks," Tim cut in. The waiter hurried over to the table, carrying a white pad. Tim could just about see is silver jacket bobbing in the reflections.
"Can I get you anything to drink?" the man shouted, almost spitting over the noise. His pen fumed through the paper as he scribbled down some notes. Now, eyes were upon Tim. "Drink, sir?"
Tim glanced in his direction. "A double vodka."
"Drink isn't the answer, Timothy boy," Jonathan bellowed merrily. Tim took a deep breath. "Na, just kidding, have you like!" Jonathan smiled. "You're paying, anyway."
Tim forced a laugh, turning his direction back to Kara, two seats away. "Cretin," he mumbled, perhaps a little to loudly.
Jonathan took a deep breath. "What?"
"Hey, you two! Not more of this--can't you just put it behind you?"
Tim blushed. As the waiter returned he placed down Tim's drink. He snatched it violently, before gulping down the contents in one.
"A man's face is his autobiography. A woman's face is her work of fiction." ~ Oscar Wilde
Kara gave her order of mains to the waiter and he left the table looking disturbed. Kara sighed. Timothy and Jonathan had been best friends for years, but sometimes they would just take their insults too far. And ever since Kara came onto the scene, Timothy had been acting really weird around her and Jonathan.
Shaking the thoughts away, Kara leaned across the table to her father-in-law.
"How are you, Mr. Thorne?"
The old man laughed. "We're family now, Kara! Call me Marcus. And I'm doing fine. You look radiant, my dear. Your father would be proud."
Kara nodded and leaned back in her seat, holding back a tear let was threatening to come out. If she let it fall, she knew thousands of others would follow.
Kara's father had died after having a stroke three years ago. He had known Marcus since they were little boys, but after a while lost contact, and it wasn't until Marcus heard Kara's maiden name that he realised who her father was.
Kara looked into the sea of faces surrounding all the other tables, her eyes finally finding her mother's. Jane looked up at her daughter and smiled, waving a little. Kara returned the gesture and grabbed her wine, drinking a little more than a sip of it.
"Are you okay?" the bridesmaid, Fiona, asked.
Kara nodded. "It's just -- this day. I'm so happy!"
Fiona grabbed her friend's hand and nodded.
"Me too. Now, let's not let anything spoil your big day."
*Do you want to do the murder next, or should we have a couple more scenes beforehand? Oh, and I couldn't remember what Jonathan's father was called, so I just called him Marcus.*
*Don't expect to see me around much in the next couple of weeks. School has started again, and it'll be a couple of weeks before I've settled in. If you've asked me for a critique, you will get it, but not for a little while. Sorry*
*OK, I thought have him go a little sick/hallucinating then collapse. Marcus is good *
As Jonathan sipped his lager silently, Kara already was babbling on about a honeymoon. A lifetime of this?
Jonathan swallowed. Something stirred in his stomach but he pushed it away—this was his day. Or so he thought.
A few laughs were laughed. Some smiles were smiled.
The waiter scurried in from the background rumblings, and placed down his order before disappearing into the lapping crowds.
The fish glared at him. “What?” he spat.
“John…?” Tim shared a frown, a little perplexed. “Never mind, I won’t ask.”
The fish jumped up from his plate. Its glared stabbed into John’s eyes—they shared a moment of empty sickness. Shaking his head, he stuck his fork into the fish. “Stupid fish.”
“It’s what you ordered.”
“Hmm? Oh… ye.” Why I am talking to a fish? He threw his fork down—Kara glanced at him but soon looked away. Hot. It was too hot. Jonathan tugged at his tie, revealing an undone button and a pale face. His skin melted into white.
}Short!{
"A man's face is his autobiography. A woman's face is her work of fiction." ~ Oscar Wilde
Kara screamed as Jonathan collapsed onto her. Timothy jumped up and grabbed his friend by the shoulders, pulling him onto the floor.
"Somebody call an ambulance!" he shouted, ripping open Jonathan's shirt. "Hurry! We don't have much time!"
In the distance, Timothy could hear somebody calling emergency services. He let out a small sigh of relief and lowered his head down to Jonathan's chest, looking to see if there was any movement.
"Give me your napkin," he said to Kara. She was staring at her husband and friend in shock. He skin had gone from an olive colour to completely white in less than a second. She was shaking uncontrollably as she looked on in desperation.
Unable to process the order Timothy had just given her, Fiona passed one to her and then turned her friend around, pushing her head into her neck and hugging her.
Kara burst into tears, not caring what other people thought of the way she was acting. Her husband was dead, of course she was going to cry.
A minute later they head the ambulance sirens. Fiona helped Kara up and, slowly but surely, they began walking outside, while the rest of the guests made a path for the paramedics to get through when they arrived.
*Don't expect to see me around much in the next couple of weeks. School has started again, and it'll be a couple of weeks before I've settled in. If you've asked me for a critique, you will get it, but not for a little while. Sorry*
Kara staggered out of the marquee in a trance. Her eyelids were stained with heavy tears. They trailed down her cheeks--but he might be alright, she never knows. Doctors can do wonderful things these days, you know!
Then one came.
Fiona pattered back as Tim just leaned against a tree, trembling violently. His skin was stone white. As the medic came sauntering over, Tim sprang to life and hurried towards Kara, hands clasped to his mouth. The doctor swallowed but when he tried to speak, nothing came. Nothing. He tried to splutter out something, but just became some inaudible splutter.
Yet Kara knew. She could see it in his eyes--the young man's innocent eyes. She giggled. Her lungs were filled with air and it erupted through her wildy until she burst into fits of laughter. Kara's skin burnt red--
"Give her a sedative, she's going into hysteria."
A few moments passed and a plastic lid fitted over her mouth. She took deep breaths.
In... out...
Her heartbeat slowed--eyes growing heavy.
In... out...
Suddenly the mask fell from her grasp and plummeted to the ground. Then Kara as the darkness crept in.
*I thought we could have Kara wake up on her bed and have it explained to her later? Might give a little break from the wedding.*
"A man's face is his autobiography. A woman's face is her work of fiction." ~ Oscar Wilde
A watch. A watch? Why can I see a watch? It's... 4:56. Wait, the watch is connected to an arm!
Kara blinked three times and rolled onto her back, twisting her head to look at the people standing around her. Her mother, Hannah, was at her shoulder, teas streaming down her face. Fiona stood on the other side, holding her hand. Marcus was beside Hannah, looking on in desperation.
"Wha- what's going on? Mummy, where am I? What's happening, Mummy?"
With Fiona's help, Kara sat up, leaning against the many pillows. That was when she noticed Tim. He was leaning against the wall. He had taken off his jacket and tie, and his hair was all over the place. His eyes were red and puffy and he refused to look Kara in the eye.
Kara looked down at herself. She was wearing a blue-green hospital gown. She looked back up at Tim an said in a pleading voice, "Where's Jonathan?"
*Don't expect to see me around much in the next couple of weeks. School has started again, and it'll be a couple of weeks before I've settled in. If you've asked me for a critique, you will get it, but not for a little while. Sorry*
Hesitantly, Tim placed his hand on Kara's. He gulped and tried to speak, but no sound came. Kara looked him in the eye.
"Where's Jona..." Her voice waned into silence.
"Kara," Tim muttered. "You know what I'm going to say." Swallowing, his tongue itched in his mouth. "He didn't... The paramedics couldn't--"
"He's dead, Kara," Marcus spat.
Kara burst into tears. They flowed down her flaming cheeks, as her hands shook against them. "But—he’s your son! How could you…"
Marcus stormed from the hospital room, slamming the door. Tim stood to go after him, but Hannah held her hand. "Let him be. It’s the shock talking." Turning, she looked at Kara. "At the moment, you’re what matters."
"But do-do they know how he—how he died?" Kara spluttered.
Tim glanced at her sympathetically, but quickly turning his eyes. "They think it was a poison, but they don’t know what. It must have got out the bloodstream or…"
"Or what!"
"I don’t know…"
Kara leaned her head against Tim’s arm, sobbing loudly.
"A man's face is his autobiography. A woman's face is her work of fiction." ~ Oscar Wilde
I just created this so we can start.
*
