Here Without You

Chapter 31:

Chapter 31

"There you are, baby mama!" Diana calls as I walk up to the fountain in Central Park. Baby mama is a new nickname Diana has placed upon me, one I don't particularly favor in public. I haven't came out and said I was pregnant yet, though its obvious, but I'm still self concious about it. I don't shoot her down though.

"Diana!" I shout, running over to greet my friend. She engulfs me in a tight hug, squeezing my shoulders in. Before we have time to talk, Demi and Selena come in sight, holding bags from Forever 21 on their wrists. Demi spots us first, pointing up ahead to direct Selenas' attention to us with an increasingly large smile. She brightens up tremendously, both of them half-waddling, half-sprinting towards us in their heels. Why they wore heels is their problem. I nod to Diana before running up to meet them halfway, pulling them into a three-way hug.

Abigail and Gemma couldn't make it, Abigail is at college and Gemma in the UK. But I mailed their invitations and bridesmaid cards anyway though they cant receive it in person. Emma Stone should be coming too... sometime, with Hailee. I hope they can make it, they said they could at least.

All of us begin to catch up as we walk after I send a text to Emma and Hailee to meet us at a local restaurant they know very well called The Diamond. I wonder how its going with Harry and the guys. Austin has always been wary of Harry, just because of the rumors and how the media portrays him. Austin has always tried to be the younger yet protective brother when he isn't as intimidating as he feels, its actually humorous. But he's met Harry a couple of times and thought nothing less than a good guy. Which is good, I need my brother to like his future brother-in-law.

••

We end up chosing a seat on the roof patio which overlooks the skyline. It's beautiful today, the blueish sky being hidden beneath a pattern of stratus clouds that scatter the sky in dark grey waves. The fog is settled around the tips of the skyscrapers, creating the allusion that they're never ending. I'd use to think so, too, when I was little, if it wasn't for the little red blinking light on top. The little lights had kept me up thinking late at night from my days in Nashville as a young teenager, about the bullies and teasing. How easy it'd be to be one of those lights. Just to let people know you're there yet to avoid you, to leave you alone. I use to wish I was like the little blinking light.

A snapping of fingers jerks me from the memory, "Earth to Taylor?" A voice floods in with my surroundings. I zone out often lately, too much to think about. I blink quickly and push myself off the hand I had been leaning on. Hailee and Emma have also arrived since I had dozed off into my own world.

"Oh, sorry guys. I've been really clouded lately, so much to think about.." I explain to the nodding of heads and murmurs of agreement. If I could explain myself to anyone, its the girls'. Or Harry. Both, really.

"So, tell us about the wedding!" Demi winks, her voice growing giddier as she leads to the end of her sentence. The other girls lean forward in an attempt to not miss a word though I'm not exactly sure to say. I had planned it, of course, just not in depth. Everyone was hired but I have nothing special about it like I had dreamt about.

When I was young, I had dreamt that i'd end up marrying Drew and we'd have this very detailed wedding with classy glasses and esteemed dresses known only to the royal families. But that was only a childhood dream, now that I realize to be the opposite that I want. I want a simple wedding, because it defines and represents our love. We aren't physical in public much except for our hands locked and maybe a kiss or two. But that's what makes it great, we're so in love that its simply sophisticated. That's why I believe simple love is the most brisk, extreme, beautiful, wonderful type of love that's out there. The kind Harry and I have. Therefore a simple wedding is in order.

But with that I manage to simplify my overexposition, "Uh, I think for me and Harry, a simple wedding. You know, traditional, but maybe fun. Like, I want a lot of dancing at the reception."

They deflate immediately after I say that I want it simple. Of course they expected the high-end fashion and filet-minón dinner yet i'd actually rather Barbecue and sweet tea, though Harrys side of the family would question. I raise my shoulders in a shrug. Selena purses her lips before speaking.

"Okay but can we at least make the reception fun?" She pleads. I join into the laughter with the others momentarily.

"Of course! I just want the wedding simple because Harry and I will be reciting our own vows, not reading them." I say, looking down at my clasped hands. We'd agreed on this even before he had proposed, its just the factor that proves that you, yourself, are promising your lover that you vow this to them. Not just reading something off the internet, something real. I already wrote and memorized mine by habit.

"Speaking of the wedding," I start, digging into my purse to pull out the light violet bridesmaid proposal cards with flowers strung along the edges. "These are for y'all."

I hand them to each of the girls, watching their reaction change as one by one, they finish reading. Hailee finishes first, her eyes brightening up and a squeal releases out of her mouth before embracing me, "I'd be honored!"

One by one, the whole deck becomes an extremely loud crying party. Thankfully, we're the only ones up here at 11:30 eating lunch. They all accept but I'm surprised they didnt expect it, they're my best friends, theres no doubt I wouldn't have them in my wedding.

Finally, we actually decide to order our lunches after we settle down, calming to the topic of music and the subject I couldn't avoid, the baby.

••