S.S. Queen's Holiday Cruise [2]

Chance

After I finish jotting down my vows, I change into pajamas and lie down. After a while, I find I can't sleep. Restlessness takes over, and I stare at the ceiling until I hear someone knocking at the door. I stand and open it to find Katie there. Flashing a smile, I lean against the frame, "Can't sleep either, huh?"

Katie

I smile and shake my head. "No, I can't." I say. "I am too use to you with me."

Chance

I smile and nod, "I can't either. I'm not used to everything being so empty."

Katie

I smile and nod. "I know. " I say. "So, is it okay if I still sleep here? I do not want you to catch bad luck."

Chance

I smile and hold out a hand for her, pushing off the frame, "I don't believe in luck anyways."

Katie

"Me either." I say. He leads my to the bed and we both lay down and cover up. I smile and snuggle up to him. "I love you and I will see you in the morning." I say.Before he can say anything, I fall asleep.

Chance

I smile and kiss her forehead, closing my eyes, "Love you too, K."

Katie

I wake up very early the next morning. I kiss his cheek and watch him wake up. "I will see you soon." I say. "I am going to leave before my mom kills me." I kiss him and get up, running out the door.

My mom is waiting on me. "I knew you would leave." she spats.

I smile. " I love you too." I say, laughing.

She sits my down and rolls my hair again in hot rollers. As they curl my hair, she puts my make up on and does my nails. My mom went to school for this stuff, she is great at it.

When she is done, I feels so beautiful. I have never felt so pretty in my life. We put the dress, crown, veil and shoes on and I look in the mirror. I feel like a bride and a beautiful one at that. "Do not cry, you will mess your face up." My mom says.

An hour later, Chance's sister comes. We get her beautiful and head up to the lobby. We go in another way so no one can see me. It is almost time to start. They have the rings, my vow and everything. My heart is pounding with excitement.

Chance

I smile and watch Katie leave before getting up. After a shower, I dress into my tux and spend an hour or so putting my tie on right. I comb my hair back nicely, and stare myself in the mirror for a while, psyching myself up and eradicating the cliche second thoughts. I've been waiting my whole life for this moment. I can do it.

Slipping my vows up my jacket sleeve, I take a deep breath and head to the lobby. I'm directed to the appropriate spot and told to wait, arms crossed in front of my body. My heart pounds in my chest as I look over all the people, and I feel myself grow faint when the music starts. My eyes train at the staircase, the thought of what I'm doing keeping me standing tall.

Katie

I gasp and smile fully. His sister heads down and tosses out flowers. I wish I could see her. Then I am told to go and I take a deep breath. I take a hold of the railing and beging to walk down.

I see the people standing, but all I am looking at is Chance. I smile at him as I walk down the stairs. When I get to the straight path between the chairs, I see his standing at the end. I smile wider. Then, I see my father standing there, with a pink tie. I gasp and take hold of his arm as he walks me down. I try hard not to cry tears of joy.

When we get to the end, I give him a huge hug and give my flowers to his sister. I then take Chance's hand. I never stop smiling at him and gaze into his eyes and the preacher talks.

Chance

A man stands at the bottom of the stairs, and without even noticing I realize it must be her father. Smiling at her happiness, I wait and take her hand when she comes. Never had I thought I'd ever see something so beautiful until she stood before me, smiling and looking me straight in the eyes. I match her smile, and I look back into her eyes as the preacher talks. I respond the way I'm supposed to without even thinking, knowing that this is exactly what I want.

Katie

It is time to slip the ring on. I smile when his sister hands it to me. "With this ring I shall be wed." I say. Now that that is over, it is time for Chance to read his vow. I smile at him and wait for him to do so.

Chance

I take a deep breath and bring out my vows from my sleeve, unfolding the paper and clearing my throat, "I remember a day where nothing else seemed to exist beyond us, a summer day on a beach somewhere I don't recall the name of. You had sand in your hair, and we were both soaking wet, but we hadn't even gone in the water yet. It was pouring rain, and we'd spent the day running in it. After a while, I remember we just dropped where we stood and sat in each other's arms. The sun slowly peeked out of the clouds, and the rain let up. Behind all of that, it seemed that the new light was shining just on you. You fell asleep in my arms, and I remember being afraid to move in the case of waking you. So I sat there, and I looked down. In that moment, I knew that nothing else mattered. We might as well have been the only ones living, 'cause there was nothing else that would ever amount to what you did then. I stopped thinking about what if's and how's, and i started thinking of the thousands of ways I could show you how much I loved you instead. It was then that I realized that you didn't care about the flowers I could bring you, or anything else money could buy. It was the kisses on your forehead, the gentle squeeze of you hand when you're not by my side, and the sure smile from across a room that you cared about. It was me. I remember buying the ring the next day, and then having to wait another few confusing months to ask you because I didn't even realize my name was mine. I fell in love with you all over again in that time, and I promise to do it every day from now on until the end of our time."

Katie

Tears come to my eyes as he reads. I smile wider as he goes on. Once he is done, I start to read. "The love I have for you is like not other love in the world. It is the need to be with you, the desire to put a smile on your face and the heart throbbing feeling I get when we kiss. I have never felt such a wonderful feeling in all my life. When you had your accident, all I cared about was making sure you were okay. It was never my goal to make you remember me. All I wanted was to be wrapped in your arms and to love you. I am not upset about anything. The love we share can push past anything. You are my life, my love and the most amazing man I have ever met. I promise to never stop loving you and to always be here for you. I will never leave you." I say.

Chance

I can't stop smiling as she reads, finding myself teary-eyed as she is. Blinking back emotion, I keep her hands in mine and look at the preacher to continue the ceremony, though all I want to do now is take her in my arms and kiss her.