Their First Meeting

Alise continued to walk, her mind racing with questions about what her mother had planned. She despised surprises and being caught off guard, and this was no exception. With every step, her thoughts whirled.

The blindfold irritated her, making her wish she could see, as her eyelashes brushed against the fabric.

She heard a door open and wondered if it was time to remove the blindfold, but someone still guided her steps. Finally, they placed something in her hands, and she detected a sweet, dense texture, likely flowers, although she couldn't identify the type.

As Alise held the bouquet, a sudden forceful push jolted her, and a strong gust of wind caressed her skin. Startled by this unexpected turn of events, both Alise and Auston staggered briefly before simultaneously exclaiming, "Screw this," and promptly removing their blindfolds.

Unbeknownst to each other, they both turned towards each other, their faces expressing a shared feeling of confusion and frustration..

For a brief moment, neither of them had noticed the guests, seated in white chairs adorned with delicate floral arrangements, exuding pure joy as they eagerly awaited the ceremony.

As they looked around, they realized they were in a garden adorned with vibrant colors and fragrant blossoms that stretched out before them.

Their initial bewilderment faded, and they quickly concealed their puzzled expressions, replacing them with forced smiles as they tried to play along with their parents' bullshit.

Alise subtly extended her arm, her eyes signaling, "Hurry up and take my arm."

Auston quickly caught on, intertwining his arm with hers. While the music played they exchanged coy smiles and gracefully glided down the aisle, their steps perfectly synchronized with the wedding music.

Although Alise concealed her true emotions beneath a forced smile, she couldn't help but silently think, 'What the fuck' She fought the urge to grimace showing her dissatisfaction on her face for how her mother planned this.

Auston shared the same frustration. He was exasperated by how his family had blindsided him, thrusting him into the spotlight without a hint of warning. Despite his inner turmoil, he maintained his outward appearance, appearing to be affectionate for the sake of the wedding.

As Alise and Auston made their way towards the altar, they maintained their facade of fake smiles, concealing their inner annoyance, and presenting an image that appeared flawless to everyone in attendance.

Guests whispered amongst themselves, sharing their thoughts.

"Who would've thought the youngest of the Myers family would marry?"

"Yeah, who would've thought! But what about that girl from the Graftland family? Wasn't she always absent?"

"Yeah, we never heard much about her."

Alise and Auston overheard the hushed murmurs, exchanging knowing side glances between themselves as they continued down the aisle. They fervently wished someone would hand those whispering guests a mop to put in their mouths and silence the chatter.

Upon reaching the altar, they couldn't help but steal quick glances toward the VIP section, where their parents and siblings were seated.

It was here that they noticed the concealed disapproval in their siblings' expressions, a sentiment only they, who intimately understood their family's dynamics, could recognize.

Auston, who had been briefly observing his own family, turned his attention to Alise. As he continued to ponder the synchronization they had shared, he tapped her arm, silently encouraging her to shift her focus.

Alise's reflexive response nearly led her to blurt out, "What?" However, she managed to catch herself , she said "whew" in her head as she turned her focus on him.

At that moment, she examined him closely. His hair was deep, jet-black, neatly framing his face, and his facial features were strikingly sharp with a defined jawline. What truly caught her eye wasn't his height but his muscular build.

She couldn't help but wonder about the age of the photo her mom had shown her because he didn't appear to be in such good shape as he did in the picture.

Facing him now, his body was quite impressive, especially with those well-defined six-pack that seemed to speak through his tuxedo.

Unable to control her thoughts, she softly mumbled "damn" under her breath. He noticed and quietly said, "What?"

Her eyes met his, as if to express, "Damn he heard me? Shit, I did it again." She then looked away. her mind racing with self-critique.

He couldn't help but think she was peculiar(weirdo). As the priest made his way to the altar, an uneasy silence enveloped them both.

The priest stood before Alise and Auston, ready to officiate their unexpected wedding. He began, "Dearly beloved, we gather here today in the presence of family and friends to witness the union of Alise and Auston in matrimony."

As he continued with the ceremony, the priest's words filled the garden with solemnity. The guests listened intently, and Alise and Auston wished this could be over.

Time passed and The priest continued, "Now, Alise and Auston, it's time to express your vows to each other. Please share your promises and commitment."

As Alise locked eyes with Auston, her vows left her lips, bearing a blend of sincerity and inner discomfort.

She uttered, "I promise to stand by you for the rest of our lives. I will always have your back, and I will never betray you or divorce you. From this day forward, you are my love."

The crowd couldn't help but emit a collective "aww," but within, Alise grappled with a cringe that flushed her cheeks with embarrassment.

The priest signaled subtly for them to continue, and Auston, feeling the weight of the moment, responded.

"I promise to be there for you through every win and all the twists and turns of life. You will be the only woman by my side, and I will never betray you or divorce you. Till death do us part, my love," he whispered.

Shivers ran down their spines as they uttered these words, and while the crowd smiled warmly, Alise and Auston couldn't escape the feeling of discomfort.

At last, the priest spoke the words they had been eagerly anticipating all evening.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the priest declared, catching the couple off guard as they had been rushing to get this sh*t over with, momentarily forgetting about the tradition that followed..