Ha, and when I first met Alyssa I thought that she would be replacing me, not the other way around. Boy was I wrong.
“Tara went out to get a selection of gowns in your size that match the wedding colors today, so tonight you can chose the one you would like to wear.” Seeing my eyebrow raise, he lifted my hand to stop my thoughts. “Alyssa went too. She insisted and said she could offer advice on dresses that would be more of a fit for you. In addition to you being Tara’s maid of honor, Damien will be my best man. I want to start this family off on the right foot, and I think that putting family first is the perfect way to do it.” He paused for a moment, his eyes meeting mine. “That is if you’re willing to be in the wedding with us.”
A small smile tugged at my lips. “I would be honored to.”
“Then let’s go get you ready to be in the wedding and then we can come back in here after dinner and finish our walk down memory lane,” he said before letting out a groan as he forced himself off of the ground. He offered me a hand once he was on his feet and easily pulled me off the ground like he had done to me when I was a child.
“While we’re still upstairs, I want to ask Damien about this toaster story.” I let out a light laugh as my dad bumped elbows with me on the way out of the office.
“You should. I mean, who manages to accidentally set a toaster on fire using nothing but a Pop-Tart?”
“Oh man, who told you that?” I heard Damien groan from another room. He hurriedly emerged from a room a few doors down and stormed off down the stairs, yelling, “Alyssa, I’m going to kill you for telling people that story!”
“I didn’t do it!” Alyssa yelled back at him, appearing at the bottom of the steps and causing my father and I to both laugh hysterically. I was willing to bet that Alyssa wasn’t even aware of what Damien was talking about and that she yelled that response out of habit.
“I’m suddenly extremely glad that you didn’t have a sibling growing up. I don’t think I could have handled bickering with more than one child for so many years,” he joked as we descended the stairs toward our new family, and the new start that we would have. I couldn’t wait to see how everything worked out, and I had a feeling that it would be fantastic.
Chapter 33
I met Damien at the start of the aisle so that we could walk down together as the maid of honor and the best man. The senator thought this would be a good time for us to be seen together since the news about our relationship had been leaked by an 'anonymous' source after one of our dates. Brooke had taken photos of us and sold them to the tabloids to pay for the dress she was wearing to the wedding, and to pay off the used car she had bought to finally replace that damn six-seater bike of hers. It was about time. She couldn’t realistically use that bike while she was away at college in two years.
Of course, since she was offering exclusive photos for almost a month before the wedding, Brooke had saved up quite a bit of money. She better at least take me out for a night on the town, her treat, since if it weren’t for me she wouldn’t even have the money.
In front of me, Damien gave me a small smile and winked at me. “You look beautiful,” he whispered as I slipped my hand around his elbow so that he could lead me down the aisle to meet my father.
My cheeks burned from his compliment as we began to walk, and not even the crowd of people sitting on either side of us could stop me from mumbling, “Thank you.”
He nodded in response, keeping a smile on his face as we passed our family and friends.
Our dating had actually brought the senator great publicity instead of the earth shattering, election-ruining publicity that she assumed it would. Apparently the papers had already thought Damien and I were perfect for each other, considering our pasts, along with people at my school who had seen us in the papers on family outings. It was like a teen romance novel wrapping up and coming to a perfect end for the reader because the characters they had shipped were finally together.
“Hi, Jade,” I heard Brooke call as Damien and I walked past where she was seated. I could see her elegant blue dress out of the corner of my eye, and Bryan’s tanned hands holding Brooke’s tightly, hoping to keep her quiet during the ceremony. Obviously his strategy was not working. I should have told him to bring duct tape.
That thought brought a smile to my face as Damien and I reached our spots at the sides of the altar. I gave my dad a hug and a kiss on the cheek before I stood off to the side. He looked nervous as we made our way toward him, so I was hoping a little hug would help take his mind off of things.
Just as I took my spot and turned to face the guests, the wedding march music came on and Senator Jacobs emerged from the other end of the hallway. She was dressed in an extravagant off-white dress, since she had been married prior to this, with a large smile on her face that was partially hidden by her short veil. I turned to glance at my father, to see him smiling back at her for support. I could only hope that the man I would marry would do the same for me on my wedding day. It would be the last walk I took alone, because then he would be by my side for the rest of my life. It was such a cute notion that a goofy smile began to curve my lips, and watching my dad stare at the senator with so much love in his eyes made my eyes water a bit. Not enough for me to cry, but just enough that I had to blink away tears. I was so happy that he was happy. Even if that did mean that the senator was less than an hour away from becoming my official stepmother.
That made my smile falter a bit. Just a bit.
“I hope you’re ready for a twenty minute sermon,” joked the reverend as the senator came to a stop in front of him, and took my dad’s hand in hers. Up close, I could see right through her thin veil to where her makeup-covered eyes were streaming with tears. It was a good thing she was wearing waterproof mascara, because if she hadn’t been, by the end of the sermon she would probably look like a raccoon.
As the reverend began to speak, I couldn’t stop myself from zoning out. My eyes scanned the crowd of people who had come to celebrate this special day with my father and Tara. I could see a few of my mom’s old friends in the crowd with smiles on their faces. A few of them even tossed supportive glances in my direction.
I listened as words of love, promise, and happiness entered my ears. There were wishes of lasting love and never ending happiness throughout all of the years that they lived. There was even the promise to remember the past loved ones and family members who had shaped them and helped lead them to this very day.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the reverend said, breaking me out of my thoughts as the pair sealed their promise of marriage with a kiss.
My father and Tara turned to face the applause and cheers of their loved ones as they walked up the aisle together, married and happy. My dad waved at all of his guests, while the senator swiped away her tears of happiness and waved at her family and friends too. After they made it to the center of the aisle, Damien and I walked to meet each other and began to follow them through the bubbles that we had opted for instead of the normal confetti and rice.
After the bride and groom were out of sight, and Damien and I had reached the end of the aisle, Austin raced up to me with excitement in his eyes.
“How lame would it be to ask someone out at a wedding?” he questioned, his eyes wide, but not nearly as wide as his smile.
“Depends. It’s not the bride, right?” I asked curiously, before eyeing one of the senator’s nieces who had ruined the seating arrangement by taking the seat next to Austin.
“No, it’s Alyssa,” he stated glancing behind me to look at Alyssa who was currently walking up the aisle with my dad’s closest friend. “I really like her.”
“You barely know her,” I said with a disbelieving tone. I unhooked my arm from Damien’s, and pulled the pair over to the side, away from the aisle and the guests so that we wouldn’t be overheard.
“Not after that day you forced her to talk to me. We figured out that we had a lot in common. I just don’t want Brooke to know in case Alyssa rejects me. I’d never hear t
he end of it.”
I chuckled, knowing how right he was. “Well, she likes you too if it helps. So how about first you ask her to dance at the reception and then, if that goes well, ask her on a date. I’m sure it will work out perfectly.”
Damien gave Austin a glare. “How is it possible that first you were trying to get over my girlfriend and now you want to move on with my little sister?”
Austin shrugged his shoulders. “I honestly have no idea how to answer that.”
Leaning forward, Damien patted Austin’s shoulder slowly. “I like you, Austin, but just so you know, if you hurt my sister, I will kill you.”
“I would expect nothing less,” Austin responded, looking a bit intimidated by Damien’s words. Maybe Damien couldn’t take Matt, but there was no doubt in my mind that he could take Austin.
From the expressions on their faces, there was no doubt in their minds either.
In an attempt to dissolve the tension in the air, I said, “Well then, go get your girl.” I didn’t have to tell him twice. As soon as Alyssa was finished taking a picture, he headed off in her direction.
I smiled to myself as I saw Alyssa agree to whatever Austin had asked her about. Everything was working out perfectly, despite the setbacks and the mistakes that had happened. Matt and Chase were together publicly without the fear of getting caught or not being accepted, Brooke and Bryan were taking it slow, and for the first time I was sure that Brooke would keep this relationship for longer than two months, and Damien and I were able to be together without any problems. According to the papers, since we had started dating we had inadvertently cleaned up our acts, and showed that a little bad publicity or rebellion never hurt anyone.
Next to me, Damien turned toward me and gave me a flirty smile. “Have I told you how beautiful you look today?” Damien questioned as he grabbed my waist to pull me to him.
I nodded, laughing at his words. “I’m pretty sure you said that already. A few times actually.”
He shrugged. “Well that’s because you look absolutely stunning. I’m amazed more guys aren’t over here trying to talk to you.”
“I’m sure they’re afraid of whatever you would do to them if they were. Either that, or the fact that a majority of the guys here are related to me or you in some way.”
He chuckled at the second part. “No, it’s definitely the first reason.” Damien smirked just before he leaned in to kiss me. Before his lips could meet mine we heard an elderly couple telling each other how much they loved each other and how their wedding day had been the happiest day of both of their lives. We heard the gentleman say, “I love you,” and the woman respond, “I love you too,” before they kissed.
I looked into Damien’s eyes, giving him a small smile. “I dig you.”
“I dig you, too,” he responded before placing his lips on mine and effectively sending the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy. This was our version of saying I love you, because we couldn’t do anything like another couple; we had to be ourselves. If that means we got to be impulsive, wild, and carefree, then it was worth it, because I wouldn’t change us for the world.
After all, a little bad publicity never really hurt anybody. We knew that from experience.
About the Authors
Taylor Henderson and Sara Schoen are twenty year old college students who were born and raised in Northern Virginia. They have been interested in writing since they were young, and met in a creative writing class in high school. Taylor introduced Sara to an amateur writing website, and shortly after, the pair began writing together. Together, and separately, they plan to continue sharing their stories.
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Sara Schoen
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Taylor Henderson
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Better Than Revenge
By Taylor Henderson
Prologue
The hot summer sun was beating down on us as we sat together on the side of the pool. Leaning forward, I dipped one foot into the water and made small circles, causing the clear water to ripple and shine in the bright sunlight. I could feel the heat radiating off of his body as he snaked his arm around my waist. Despite the heat I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder as I breathed in his scent. The strong smell of his aftershave mixed with citrus from his shampoo enveloped me, fogging my thoughts.
“Want to take a swim?” Blake looked at me with a small smirk on his sun-tanned face that made my heart melt.
I couldn't help but notice the way his blue eyes twinkled every time he looked at me. A small breeze blew a few strands of his black hair into his eyes as I cupped his cheek with my hand.
“I dare you,” I whispered as I leaned in closer to him, pressing my lips gently to his.
He kissed me back softly, allowing his lips to mold and move in sync with mine, before pulling back and smirking at me. “I never turn down a good dare!” he exclaimed with a laugh as he shoved me into the pool.
The cold water slapped against my body, folding in around me on all sides until I was completely submerged. I had just barely managed to take in a breath before I had been so rudely shoved into the pool, and I was thankful that I had. When my toes touched the bottom of the deep end I kicked off of the concrete, propelling myself back upward. Once my head broke the surface I rubbed the chlorinated water from my eyes and squinted up at where Blake had been sitting moments ago.
A chorus of giggles erupted from the opposite direction and I turned my head to see Blake walking toward the fence that separated my yard from my neighbor’s, laughing at something that Brianna, the stuck up princess who lived next door, had said. She giggled, tossing her hair lightly as she spoke again, leaning her body against the wooden fence. As Blake drew near her, she leaned her body forward and pulled him into a tight hug, pressing her chest to his body while rolling her eyes at me, and smirking. I responded with a glare that only deepened when she mouthed the word, “Mine,” before she pulled away. The only word she has known ever since we were little.
Since I was younger, and even now, Brianna has been associated with some of my worst memories. As I watched her talk to my boyfriend while tossing me sly glares, I remembered seventh grade when Brianna had done everything in her power to make my life miserable. Not even a month into the school year she had found a way to turn all of my friends against me. She dug a hole into my friend group, put herself in, and took me out. She had a leader quality in her that was for sure. All of my friends followed her in spreading rumors about me, and isolating me from the main group.
I had learned at a young age how to entertain myself, and I had even gotten use to being alone. Her actions, and the actions of my so-called friends had shown me that trust shouldn’t be doled out easily. Trust is something to be given to those who deserve it. That was something that had stuck with me, and was probably the reason I had so few friends to this very day.
Logically, I knew that I was able to change that, but my trust issues ran deep, and I blamed Brianna. Even at a young age she had been conniving and evil. Nothing about her personality has really changed. She’s still conniving and evil—just more so.
That was just one of the many times that the stuck up bitch, formally known as Brianna Richardson, had taken something that was mine and made it hers, and I was tired of it. Brianna was the type of girl who had been spoiled and put on a pedestal her whole life, and I hated people like that. I wanted to rip the silver spoon from her smirking mouth and shove it where the sun doe
sn’t shine. It was about time that she learned other people have feelings too, and I was just the person to teach her that.
Chapter 1
“Violet?” There was tapping on my bedroom door, then the sound of the door knob turning. Suddenly light flooded my bedroom, as my mom entered. “Wake up, sweetheart. You don't want to miss the bus.”
Groaning, I rolled onto my stomach, pressing my face into my fluffy, hypoallergenic pillow in an attempt to block the light from my eyes. I tried to ignore the irritating sound of her heels clicking on my bedroom's hardwood floors as she approached me.
“Violet, I am not putting up with this behavior anymore. You’re old enough to wake up on a schedule and get to school on time. You need to start taking your education more seriously.” She then shook my shoulder in another futile attempt to get a response out of me. All I did was shrug her hand off.
“Violet Elizabeth Forrester I am not going to say it again.” She put extra emphasis on the word ‘not’. “Wake up now or I'll have to go and get the bucket.”
I ignored her threat and pulled the comforter up higher over my head. Her threats never fazed me. She was bluffing and she knew it. I heard her tsking to herself as she turned and walked out of my room.
This is how our morning routine has gone since my first day of seventh grade five years ago. Mom would walk into my room and flick my lights on whilst asking me politely to wake up. It was normal for me to ignore her requests. I took them as suggestions instead which only made her angrier. After her first failed attempt at getting me up, she would call out my full name or threaten me. I guess today was my lucky day because she had decided to do both.
Crush: A YA Romance Collection Page 24