HTB
Chapter 15
I blink rapidly and then look up again at the four boys- no, the four men- above me. Then it all comes rushing back; me leaving Adam, finding Zayn, the wedding- the guys. I blush at look at them, naming all of them mentally. The blonde one- Niall. He’s dating Marie. The curly-haired, green-eyed one; Harry, the flirt. He’s dating Maritza, and together they’re quite the pair. Louis, the one with blue eyes and the sassiest personality- he’s dating Larissa. Together- well, let’s just say no one can say anything around them without getting a sassy remark made. Finally, I find the kind of puppies, Liam. His brown eyes look down on me with such concern I feel bad, and I think of Isabella, and what he’ll tell her.
“Guys, hey. Sorry, I had a bad dream.” The boys exchange looks and then look back at me. I wipe the sweat off my brow and try to forget my dream about- him. About Adam.
“Look, we’re going to bring in Zayn, and you can sleep with him, because he said you’ve never had nightmares with him.” Liam states, straightening up confidently and looking down on me.
“But isn’t it time to wake up?” Liam shakes his head.
“No, it’s actually two in the morning. The girls woke us up because you were screaming in your sleep. I’m pretty sure that if they hadn’t woken us, we would’ve slept through it.” Louis adds in, and I smile. They probably would have. “Anyway we’re going to get Zayn so we can actually sleep. Night!” Louis finishes, dashing out of my room. As he leaves, I realize he’s just wearing a t-shirt and boxers. Nice move, Lou. I watch the boys file out, and keep my ears strained as whispered words are half audible.
“Keep her safe… Hopefully the wedding… Be good, Zayn… Yeah, Liam… Night.”
“Hey babe,” Zayn smiles at me as he slides into bed. I snuggle into him, feel him put his arms around me, and fall back asleep in my sanctuary, Just as I’m about to fall asleep, I realized Zayn didn’t ask any questions.
It looks like he’s learning.
~*~*~
“Julianna,” Marie whispers, leaning over Zayn to me. “Julianna, come on, let’s get you ready.” I groan and roll over, looking away from Marie, just to find Maritza on my other side.
“God people, who said that I couldn’t get any sleep on the night before me wedding?” I ask, hearing giggles as my answer. Snorting, I brush my hair out of my eyes and stand, shivering as the cold morning air hits my exposed limbs, resulting in goose bumps. “Okay people, let’s get warmed up A.S.A.P.,” I demand them, slipping on clothes as they throw them at me. Underwear, jeans, and a long-sleeved shirt. Thank god they have common sense!
"Don’t expect to be wearing those for long,” Isabella warns me with a special look. “Once we get our nails done, we’re coming back here and changing. Then we’re getting special people to do our makeup and hair, and after that… Well, after that, it’s your wedding, Jules!” I sigh, smoothing down my pants. I love Zayn to the moon and back, but getting married isn’t something I had planned for ages, like most girls. Then again, I haven’t done many things like most girls.
“Whoopee,” I whisper, following the similarly-clad girls out of the hotel, where we get into Marie’s car. “So, where’s this nail salon?” I ask Marie, who’s pulling out of the hotel parking lot and onto the main road.
“Literally five seconds away from where we’re staying. We’ve passed it like thirty times while we’ve been in Hawaii.” She informs me, looking at me through the rear-view mirror. I nod, and look out the window. In absolutely no time, we’re already at the nail place, and I cringe. I’ve always hated going to these places; walking into the chemical smell, sitting there for twenty minutes while people who normally speak in a foreign language talk between themselves and are probably making fun of you and your friends. Yeah: not my definition of fun. But as we walk in, Larissa, Maritza, and Marie look fine. Isabella and I exchange uncomfortable looks as we all sit down in a row: Maritza, me, Marie, Isabella, and then Larissa.
As I look around, my surroundings are alright. The walls are painted a light green, and the chairs are certainly comfy. The girls chatter beside me, but I sit there, motionless. T-minus four hours ‘till I’m a Mrs.
T-Minus Three Hours
“I love your nails, Jules!” Marie compliments me on my pearl-white nails. I blush and look at the ground, wishing for a distraction from the looming appointment. WE pay the ladies who did our nails, who smile warmly at us, and walk out to the car.
Huh… not as much torture as I expected.
T-Minus Two Hours
“Time to get dressed,” Isabella announces, walking into my hotel room with confidence. She walks into the closet, pulling out the main dress: mine. I could see through the wrappings to the white thing that had so entranced me months ago. I allow Isabella to unzip it and I strip, having the girls help put it on. Once Marie zips me up, I gasp in the mirror. This isn’t me, Julianna- this is Julianna Malik. I shiver at the thought, a smile rising on my lips.
Julianna Malik. It sounds right, when you say it. It sounds like it should.
When I’m done spacing out and smiling, I realize the girls have all changed. They’re wearing their bridesmaids dresses, which are truly breathtaking. All the girls, spare Isabella, are wearing floor-length strapless organza gowns, with a flowing skirt that compliments them. Isabella, my maid of honor, since we’ve know each other the longest and are, in my case, the closest- is wearing a different ensemble. Her dress is cropped just above the knee, a deep color of gold, and has two thin straps going over each tan shoulder. I smile at all of them- out of everyone, these people are definitely the ones I wanted to have with me today. From Isabella and Marie who I’ve known since middle school, and Larissa and Maritza who I’ve known for only a few months but it seems so much long- these are my friends.
“Let’s go, ladies,” I say, linking our arms and marching out the door to where we’ll get our hair and makeup professionally done.
T-Minus Ten Minutes
“Guys, I’m so nervous,” I whisper, standing at the exit to the building, waiting for my cue to walk out onto the makeshift aisle, created specifically for Zayn and I’s wedding. I can see him, even though he can’t see me, nervously fixing his flower on his tux. I giggle as he glances around, looking for something. One by one, people leave me. First the flower girl, then my bridesmaids, and then I have to wait. Just on time, Liam comes to deliver me to Zayn. My father hadn’t come, so Liam volunteered.
“Ready?” He asks, and I gulp. Under his breathe counts down, and as he gets to one, we take one step forward. Left, right, left, right; it’s a constant chat in my mind. I try to control my frantic breath, and the urge to run back down the aisle, but by the time I’m serious about the idea, I’m already standing across from Zayn.
Julianna Malik, I remember. Julianna Malik sounds right.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here to join together this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony; which is an honorable estate, and therefore is not by any to be entered upon, nor taken In hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.
Matrimony was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, which the one ought to have of the other, in both prosperity and adversity.
Into which estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can show any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace." The elderly man, whom I now realize stands slightly between Zayn and I, looks to the audience. Just as he opens his mouth to continue, I hear a shout.
“I object!” A husky voice shouts, from the back of the assembly. “I object to Julianna’s wedding.” That voice. That voice made my hands go clammy and my heart start beating three hundred times faster than normal- with fear. Who had objected to our marriage?
Adam.
“Adam fucking whatever the hell your last name is, get out.” Louis hisses, standing up.
“No,” Adam says pointedly, standing up straight, looking me in the eye. “Julianna still loves me, and I won’t let her enter a loveless marriage.” Looking him over, I blink a few times. I still love him? What the hell? The last time I told him I loved him was years ago.
“Adam, leave,” I snarl, looking away from him. “I hate you, get out of my sight.”
“No,” he ignores me, and I hear footsteps. My breathing speeds up even more, and Zayn steps in front of me. With my back turned I hear the pounding of fists against flesh, but the victim didn’t seem to be hurt at all. Peeking out from behind Zayn, I realize Paul had lifted Adam over his shoulder, like a baby, and is carrying him out. I lean into Zayn’s back, and whisper to him.
“I love Paul.” I can feel him smile as he replies.
“So do I.” Zayn clears his throat, and we return to our original positions, like Louis.
We continue with the wedding- say our “I do’s”, and everything, without another disturbance. Soon I hear the priest saying, “You may now kiss the bride,” but I freeze as Zayn leans in.
The minute his lips touch mine, I reach up and lock my arms around him. I smile against him and I hear Louis groan in the crowd before the crowd starts clapping. I break away from him, winking.
“How does it feel, being Mrs. Zayn Malik?” He breaths into my ear. I shiver, loving the feel of his breath on my skin.
“Absolutely amazing.”

Notes

Woohoo! Chapter fifteen. I know on here it feels so surreal, only taking a few minutes to have the whole story/book whatever up, but in real life it took a few months to write and put it up. For anyone who's reading this, this is the second to last installment of Hey There Beautiful... I hope you liked it. :)

~Mallery <3