Behind the Scenes

S: Motions

Sara Winters

The bursts of light shun through the room and I covered my head tighter with the sheet.

"Get up," Kim spat, fanning her face to get rid of the room smell. She opened up the balcony door to let in fresh air. I haven't left me condo since they left a few days ago.

I couldn't believe this was my life. All that time spent for nothing. I always thought he would be back with everything I've been begging for. But he simply handed all of that over to another woman. I had to be the problem because he was perfect in everyway.

The sheet was ripped from my grip leaving me exposed and cold. "What?" I rasped, my voice almost gone from crying and screaming.

"We're going out." Kim informed me.

"No thank you. I'm fine here." I denied.

"You haven't been to work in days, Sara. If your dad didn't own the bank you'd be fired." Lizzy told me.

"Well it's a good thing he does. Makes it easier when I quit." I mumbled.

"You can't do that," one of them mumbled.

"It's where I met him! Every time I go in for work, I remember that night he came in." I breathed as my heart contracted. It was so vivid and real. I remembered everything about that night and what he was wearing. I thought it was definite for so long. What an i***t I was.

"Love is everywhere. You'll find it again. Maybe even today. At this event." Kim suggested.

She was probably right. But I've been dating for the last three months and let me tell you; the pool was small and shallow. Just thinking about the amount of energy and time I had to invest into my next relationship made me feel even more tired. I only wanted to have Jace's babies. I never wanted kids until Lizzy had Zach and until I realized Jace was that one. Will I still want it with someone else? I wasn't looking forward to the next part of my life.

I was independent before Jace and I was aiming to get back there. Dating was not something on my list of priorities. First was beating this depression I was in. Then it was finding a new job, and then getting over Jace before moving on. Right now I wasn't in the headspace to do any of those.

"Sara this is what you need. You need to get out." Lizzy promised as she ran her fingers over my forehead.

"I'm really not up for anything." I told them. "Maybe tonight we can go to the club." I bit my tongue once I said that, knowing what happened with Kim a few days ago. She turned away from me but then turned back, a pained smile on her face.

"That's not really my scene anymore. Besides, this is definitely what you need." She nodded. "We both need this."

I could tell she was still sad about Alex and she was here for me when I needed her, which was one of the reasons they broke up. If I weren't going to do this for myself, I would do this for her. It was the least I could do.

"Fine," I regretted. They smiled winningly and helped me to the tub. I didn't have the energy to do anything so they helped wash my hair and me. I sat in the tub as I thought about sleep and how good it would feel to just turn my racing mind off for a while.

Before I knew it we were at a salon getting our nails and hair done. I sat in the chair obediently, smiling when I was required and slouching when no one was looking. They added makeup to my face and curled my hair. I just waited for the day to be over so I could return home.

Then we arrived at a hall and we entered into the back quickly. They gave me something to change into and stared at me expectantly when I came out. I simply stared back at them.

"You look beautiful." Lizzy sang, tears forming in her eyes.

"Thanks. When are we heading back home? I'm a bit tired." The days went by faster when I was in my bed and asleep. Being awake only had me thinking of Jace and what he could possibly be doing right now. Which of course I shouldn't care about, but after almost a decade, I couldn't turn it off. God how I wanted to just close my eyes and turn off my brain.

"Nothing? You still don't get it?" Kim asked.

"Get what?" I was getting irritated and miserable. She handed me a pile of flowers and shook her head.

"okay let's go." Lizzy said. I genuinely smiled at this and walked out the doors in my new pair of heals. I stopped when I met my dad near a room entrance.

"You look beautiful." He complimented.

"What are you doing here? Is it because I haven't shown up for work?" Of course he couldn't reach me, I turned off my cellphone, even broke the screen one night after rereading Jace's text messages. It all seemed unbelievable at the time and now it all made sense. It was too good to be true.

He looked at Lizzy and Kim behind me and raised his brows. He laughed and then held my hand, kissing it. He opened the door and music began to play. There was an aisle down the middle of the room covered in rose pedals. The multitude of people in the hall stood up as we entered, all smiling and staring at us.

I looked back at them in shock and confusion before turning to my dad. "What's going on? Why are they staring?"

"Ask him," he pointed to the front of the room as we continued to walk down the aisle. Jace stood at the end of the lane, his hands nervously fixing his tie. It was the tie I got him for his birthday because it made his eyes dance.

As we continued to walk closer to him, I began to panic. I wasn't ready to face him yet after finding out everything from his assistant. I turned to run out of the room but my dad held my arm and we continued to walk.

I froze once we were face to face. It was like we were alone in the room full of people.

He was my dream and he was no longer mine. I smacked him across the face and the gasps in the room erupted. I immediately began to apologize.

"I'm sorry," I muttered. I had no right to hit him. I broke up with him, I placed our relationship on hold, and I pushed him away when he begged me to stop. He gripped my arm before I could run out in embarrassment.

He rubbed his cheek as he pulled me closer, connecting our nose like we use to before we fell asleep. I closed my eyes as tears ran down my cheek. I missed this.

"Jace" I muttered through the tears. How was I expected to let a part of me go?

"I wasn't expecting that." He mumbled with humour. "You look absolutely gorgeous."

"Are you going to pretend you didn't propose to your girl friend after only a month?" I rasped. "How could you? How could you do this to me?" I was having a breakdown after seeing him and hearing his voice. I won't get past this.

"You still don't understand, Cici." He muttered as he looked out at the crowd. I looked around finally, wiping my tears. I immediately noticed my mom and my aunt. They sat at the front, tissues in their hands.

Then I saw Katherine and Cameron a few rows back. She smiled and waved a little to me and I waved back. I searched for Lizzy, still not understanding. She stood behind me in Sunset red, her hair and makeup perfectly done. Then behind her was Kim in the same outfit that I never noticed. They were both in tears, trying their hardest not to ruin their makeup. Then I looked down and I was dressed in a beautiful white elegant yet sexy gown. I have no idea how I got into this and how I haven't noticed till now.

"What's going on?" I asked in a slight panic.

"You know how I feel about you." He began. "I'm sorry it took so long, Cici, but to me you were already my wife."

"Your girl friend..." I reminded him.

"I know you've been checking up on me. He's my assistant for crying out loud not a secret agent."

"So you tricked me." I pushed him, relief coming over to me.

"No, I am getting married." he laughed taking my hand. "And I plan to get you pregnant by tonight." He lightly kissed my lips.

"How did you have time to plan this?" I wondered.

"The big event I've had for the last few months now." He hinted.

"So you planned everything?" I whispered, looking around at the large room of people staring and listening to our conversation. I turned to the girls behind me, tears rolling down again. "I can't believe you guys."

"We just found out today." Lizzy promised, blotting my face with her tissue and fanning it.

"Thank you." I told her and Kim and then turned to Jace again. "Where's my ring?"

The whole room laughed as if I was joking. My finger has been ready for more than 5 years now. I rubbed my sweaty palms together as Zachary came from behind him with a pillow.

"Aunty Cici." He smiled, two of his tooth missing. More tears ran down my face as I kissed his forehead. Never did I think this would be happening after I heard the news that Jace was dating again. I gave up on seeing Jace in a suit and tie, telling me he loved me and wanted forever. He took the pair of rings and slipped them both on my finger.

"Where's yours?" I wondered.

He held up his hand to show the gold band. "I told you. We were always married." I kissed him finally and the applause began.

"That was the weirdest vow exchange I've ever witnessed." Jake smiled after hugging me. The pastor did his thing and then everyone entered into the hall to eat. I have already changed my clothes and everyone was dancing. I felt Jace's fingers run down my back and over my hips after Jake was pulled by one of his partners.

"So where are we going for our honeymoon?" he mumbled as we rocked to the music.

"Home. I haven't taken birth control for three months and you promised me a baby."

He laughed as he gripped my hair and brought our lips together.