“Hey gorgeous,” a tenor voice to my right drawls lowly.

I freeze instantly, recognizing the voice at once, and lowering my head to avoid any eye contact. “Bryan…I’m so-”

“Save it,” he interrupts me, and at first I think he’s mad, but the tone in his voice sounds more like defeat. “I knew we wouldn’t work anyways,” he takes a seat beside me and from the corner of my eye I can see him almost reach for my hand before he stops and retracts his own, setting it beside him on the outside bench.

I finally decide to look at him, dreading any emotions I might see splayed across his structured face. His brown hair, usually falling in his eyes, is cut a bit shorter and combed to the side for the occasion. It’s just the way I like it. His chiseled features are set into a deep frown and his chestnut eyes are filled with hurt as they stare at the fountain before us, causing my heart to clench guiltily.

I swallow loudly and he turns to look at me. I watch his eyes and can comprehend that he’s looking me over, much like I’d just done to him, although he probably sees something much less composed sitting beside him. I can feel the dark trails marking the path of the tears down my face, both lined with makeup, which I’d spent forever on. My hair, once an elegant bun, now fell loosely around my shoulders, a few locks manging to stay up in their clips.

“You look great,” he said softly, tucking a stray curl behind my ear before quickly removing his hand, as if he had just burnt himself. “Sorry.”

“No, Bryan, I’m sorry,” I apologize, fresh tears following the paths down my face once more. “I just… I just…”

“Couldn’t,” he finishes, nodding slowly, turning away from me to stare at the fountain once more. “I shouldn’t of asked you too. I knew all along, and here I was, expecting you to change your mind.”

I scoot closer and grab his hand, holding tightly as I speak again, “I never wanted to hurt you…but seeing Reagan there…seeing him so happy and in love. I couldn’t make you do that. I couldn’t make you marry a girl who loves someone else.”

“What if I loved that girl?” Bryan asks, quickly standing up and pacing. “What if I thought I could make her happy, safe, and feel like she’d never need to worry about anything else because I’d be there?”

“It’s not fair to you, Bryan. You can’t be with a girl who is in love with someone else-” I stand up and he cuts me off again.

“Someone unattainable! Someone married! Hell, someone gay!” He argues, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

I can feel the tears leaking onto my dress, and because it is quite flowy after such a tight bodice, it’s easy to move over to the upset man. It’s only a few steps, so once I’m in front of him, I lift his chin up to look me in the eye. “You’re right,” I sigh. “You could make me happy. You already have. Would you be able to forgive me so that we can walk back into that wedding?”

His eyes hold a moment of disbelief, but this changes a moment later into jubilation as he grabs both sides of my face and kisses like there is no tomorrow. I know I’m not over him. I know I won’t be anytime soon. I know I may never get over this love. Though time will go on, my feelings will stay the same towards Reagan. Love for him, friendship for Bryan. I’ll swallow the tears and keep my collection of fake smiles nearby for all occasions. After all, he is someone unattainable. He is somone married. Hell, he is someone gay.

As I walk, hand in hand, with Bryan towards the church, I know that somewhere deep in my mind holds the image of that man. I’m guilty, and saying the words to Bryan about “love” and “forever” are false promises, but I’ll keep quiet. I’ll even wave as the two of us leave, my white gown being held up and a sign on the back of the car that says ‘Just Married‘.