A BLOOD STAINED I DO

Five rules.

Hold your bouquet low.

Shoulders straight. Head high.

Don't forget to walk.

Be careful not to trip on your dress.

Smile at the guests.

Dawn went over these rules, pacing around the room with her heart beating a million times faster than it should.

She had spent the last few days of her life rehearsing for this moment - waiting for her time of glamour to reveal itself but now that it was finally here, she felt stuffed and the figure-hugging white wedding dress didn't help lighten her burden.

"Quit pacing around, you're making me dizzy" her sister, Paula, (who'd been watching her walk back and forth for over ten minutes) scolded with a slight huff of annoyance but Dawn was too apprehensive to notice.

She'd been fidgety all morning and having Paula as the bridesmaid wasn't doing anything to help calm her down. In fact, it made her worse.

"I can't Paula" she chewed on her lip, almost tempted to run a hand through her face but she knew better than to fortify the two hours' worth of makeup baked on her face.

"If you're worried about the dress, I'd say you look stunning in it" she commented, adjusting the straps of her own gown.

"No, it's not the dress" Dawn groaned.

Okay, maybe it was, just a little bit of it, but of course, she couldn't just go about telling her that the dress she'd chosen barely gave her room to breathe.

"Then what is?" At this point, Paula was frustrated.

"I'm just nervous" she sighed out, subconsciously smoothening out the nonexistent wrinkles on her dress.

She had a valid reason to be nervous, for it wasn't every day that one got married to an Argent and the thought of it feared her.

"About what?" Paule raised an eyebrow, searching her eyes.

"It's just - " she paused, stopped, and fully turned to her. "Wh-what if he doesn't show up at the altar, what if he changes his mind?" She stuttered, her brows creasing with worry.

Maybe it was too soon for marriage, they'd only been together for half a year, and thus didn't have enough time to familiarize themselves properly.

What if he just felt rushed and proposed because she promised to leave if he didn't take the first step? What if he'd planned to bail on her as they did in the movies.

She mentally pulled on her hair. She was going crazy.

Paula scoffed. "C'mon, Dawn, this isn't the movies. You and I both know that if he was going to change his mind, he would've done it by now."

Dawn's shoulders drooped, obviously not at all comforted with that statement and Paula must have noticed because she quickly added. " What I mean is... as much as I don't like that blockhead, I have to admit that he's a good man, and if he were to change his mind about marrying you, he wouldn't wait until the ceremony or humiliate you in front of everyone."

Dawn bit inside her cheek. Paula had a point but she still couldn't dust off the uneasy feeling in her gut.

"But what if I trip?" She was always known to be the clumsy sort, especially when she was nervous and apprehensive.

Paula sighed and gently brushed her fingers over her thick curls. "Today happens only once in a lifetime Dawn, stop worrying about the moment and just focus on yourself. Trust me, it will be over quickly and the best parts will come after" she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Whatever happens, good or bad, David isn't going to love you less for it okay? So just drop it all off and enjoy your day"

Dawn took a moment to inhale deeply before breathing out. "Thank you, Paula," she said, finally turning to examine herself in the full-length mirror.

"You're going to do just great," Paula assured with a soft smile gracing her features.

"You think so?"

She nodded vehemently. "I know so. Now come on, we better go before David actually changes his mind"



The ceremonial song began to play, urging everyone to stand and turn to look toward the back of the chapel.