The wedding
“So, the day off?” Sarah asked.
“Yes, Sarah,” Vi confirmed, trying to keep her voice calm.
“Then let’s go to the festival tonight.”
“Sarah, I need to rest,” Vi said, feeling the exhaustion from her head injury.
“Vi, just one hour, please?” Said Sarah putting her arms around her girlfriend’s neck.
“Alright, alright, let’s go,” Vi relented with a sigh.
At the festival, they enjoyed spending time together, savoring the vibrant atmosphere, the colorful lights, and the delicious food. They wandered through stalls, tried various treats, and laughed at the street performers' antics. Eventually, they headed towards a dance floor where they danced for a bit, letting the music take over and forgetting their worries for a while.
While slowly dancing together, Sarah said, “Vi, you need at least a day off to spend time with me.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. I have to take care of Caitlyn every day,” Vi replied, her voice tinged with guilt.
Sarah stopped dancing “Always her. You’re always talking about her and spend all your time with her. I need you too, you know,” Sarah said, frustration creeping into her voice.
“Sarah, I know, but she—” Vi began.
“There we go again,” Sarah interrupted, letting go of Vi’s hand and walking away.
“Sarah, wait,” Vi called, following her.
“Violet, please give me some time,” Sarah said, her voice wavering.
Vi watched as Sarah walked away, feeling a pang of regret. She let her go and headed back home by herself. On the way, she saw some bracelets at a vendor's stall and decided to buy two. Once at home she saw the flower on her table. It was dying. “Time to get her new ones.” Thought Vi.
The next day, Vi arrived at the Kiramman house early with fresh flowers in hand. Caitlyn was still asleep, so Vi sat down and waited for her to wake up. She couldn’t stop thinking about the argument with Sarah, but she pushed those thoughts aside as she focused on Caitlyn.
“Good morning, cupcake,” Vi said softly when Caitlyn finally stirred.
“Good morning. How are you feeling?” Caitlyn asked, her concern evident.
“My head is fine. I told you,” Vi replied with a reassuring smile.
“Still, drink what my father gave you,” Caitlyn insisted.
“Yeah, I will,” Vi promised.
Caitlyn's eyes lit up as she noticed the bouquet in Vi's hands, a smile tugging at her lips. “Flowers?” she said softly.
“Yes, flowers,” Vi replied with a small grin, her tone light but affectionate. She moved across the room, her boots clicking faintly against the wooden floor as she approached the bedside table.
Setting the fresh bouquet down for a moment, Vi reached for the old flowers in the vase. She paused as she gathered them up, glancing at Caitlyn with a teasing smirk. “You know, these poor things have seen better days.”
Caitlyn chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Yes they have.”
Vi turned back to the fresh flowers, carefully removing the wrapping and arranging them in the vase.
Caitlyn watched her closely, a tender smile playing on her lips. “You didn’t have to, again,” she said, her voice warm and sincere. “But thank you.”
Vi glanced up briefly, catching Caitlyn’s gaze, and shrugged as if it were no big deal. But the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her. “It’s not a big thing,” she murmured. “I just… wanted to bring a little color into your day.”
Caitlyn’s gaze lingered on Vi, her expression tender. “You’ve always had a way of surprising me,” she said, her tone almost playful. “Underneath all that tough-girl bravado, you’re just a big softie, aren’t you?”
Vi smirked, but there was a flicker of warmth in her eyes. “As I said don’t let that get around,” she warned lightly, though the teasing edge in her voice couldn’t hide her genuine affection.
“Hey, so yesterday I went to a festival and got you this.” Vi showed Caitlyn one of the bracelets. “This one matches your hair color, and this one matches mine,” she said, holding up her wrist with the other bracelet.
“I want that one on your wrist,” Caitlyn said, looking to the hot pink bracelet.
“Wait, but this is for my hair color,” Vi said.
“I know, that’s why,” Caitlyn said with a mischievous smile.
“Oh, alright,” Vi said, removing her hot pink bracelet and placing it on Caitlyn’s wrist. “Then I’ll use this one,” she added, putting the dark blue bracelet on her own wrist.
“What’s wrong?” Caitlyn asked, noticing the somber expression on Vi's face. “You seem less happy today.”
“Well, last night my girlfriend and I had an argument,” Vi admitted, her voice tinged with sadness.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Caitlyn said, her concern genuine.
“Don’t worry, it’s alright,” Vi replied, trying to brush it off, but the worry was still there.
Caitlyn, sensing the need to change the mood, decided to brighten the conversation. “Well, guess what?” she said with a playful smile.
“What?” Vi asked, curiosity piqued.
“We’re going to that stupid wedding.” Caitlyn announced.
Vi looked surprised. “Really?”
“Yes. So let’s go shopping, we need to look good,” Caitlyn said.
Vi couldn’t help but smile. “Alright, let’s do it,” she agreed, feeling her spirits lift a bit.
They headed out to the city’s bustling shopping district. The streets were filled with people, the shops displaying vibrant clothes and accessories, each one more dazzling than the last.
“What do you think about this one?” Caitlyn asked, looking at a flowing dress. It shimmered subtly under the store lights.
“You’ll look stunning,” Vi said sincerely, her gaze lingering on the dress for a moment before drifting away.
As Caitlyn admired the dress, Vi’s eyes wandered across the store. Then she saw it—a suit that immediately caught her attention. It was a black with subtle detailing, sharp yet understated. “What about this?” Vi asked, pulling it off the rack and holding it up.
Caitlyn turned, her eyes lighting up as she gave the suit an approving once-over. “You’d look amazing in that,” she said with a grin. “Like, jaw-droppingly amazing.”
Vi smiled shyly at the compliment, but it quickly faded when her fingers brushed the price tag. Her stomach dropped. She hesitated, then slowly returned the suit to its place.
“What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” Caitlyn asked, noticing Vi’s sudden shift in demeanor.
“No, I don’t,” Vi replied quickly, a little too quickly. She shoved her hands in her pockets and took a step back, pretending to browse the nearby racks. “It’s not really my thing.”
Caitlyn frowned, narrowing her eyes. “Vi,” she said firmly, her tone signaling she wasn’t buying the excuse. When Vi didn’t respond, Caitlyn took a got closer and said her name again, this time sharper. “Violet.”
Vi froze. Caitlyn didn’t really used her full name unless she meant business. She turned reluctantly, her shoulders slumping slightly.
“Is it the price?” Caitlyn asked, her voice softening.
Vi hesitated, then nodded, trying to laugh it off. “Yeah,” she admitted, scratching the back of her neck awkwardly. “I can’t afford that. I’m too broke.” She forced a chuckle, but the embarrassment in her expression was hard to miss.
Caitlyn sighed, her brows furrowing as she looked at Vi. “Vi,” she said gently, “I’m buying it for you.”
“No. No, no, no,” Vi said, shaking her head and waving her hands as if to physically block the idea. “Absolutely not.”
“Vi.” Caitlyn’s tone was more commanding now, but Vi still held her ground.
“No, Cait, seriously,” Vi said, backing away slightly. “You already got me clothes last time. You don’t have to keep—”
“Stop being so stubborn,” Caitlyn interrupted. Her expression softened, though her voice remained resolute. “Let me do this for you. Consider it a repayment for the bracelet you gave me, which, by the way, I *love* and will wear every day now.”
“But, Cait—”
“But nothing!” Caitlyn cut her. “Look, either I buy you this suit, or we are not going to that wedding. And you know we’re not missing that wedding.”
Vi blinked, caught off guard. “Wow. Really? The wedding ultimatum?”
“Absolutely,” Caitlyn replied with a determined nod.
Vi let out a long, defeated sigh. “Fine,” she muttered. “Alright. Thank you, Caitlyn. Really.”
“You’re welcome,” Caitlyn said with a warm smile. “Now go try it on—and grab that other blue one too. Trust me, you’ll look phenomenal.”
Grumbling under her breath, Vi picked up the black suit along with a couple of others Caitlyn had pointed out.
The day of the wedding, Vi headed towards her sister’s dorm, her heart pounding with excitement and nerves. “How do I look?” Vi asked, her voice wavering slightly. Powder, who was rummaging through bags full of different clothes, glanced up and sighed. “Yeah, no let’s fix that,” she said, pulling out a few items. After a few minutes of bustling and adjusting, Powder stepped back, admiring her handiwork. “Now that’s better,” she said, a proud smile spreading across her face.
Vi stood before her, looking elegant in a long, black, double-breasted overcoat with a high collar and buttoned cuffs. Underneath, she wore a black suit paired with a black dress shirt and a subtly patterned black tie. Her outfit was completed with black trousers and black dress shoes.
Powder wasn’t done yet. “And last,” she said, taking a small blue flower and pinning it on Vi’s coat. “And this one is for her,” she added, handing Vi a pink flower with a pin. Vi’s eyes softened, and she hugged her sister tightly. “Thank you, Pow Pow,” she said smiling at her little sister.
“Well, you better run because you’re late,” Powder reminded her. Vi looked at her watch and saw that indeed she was late. She quickly hugged her sister and dashed out the door, her heart racing as she hurried to the Kiramman mansion.
“You’re late,” said Caitlyn. “And you’re stunning,” Vi responded, unable to hide the admiration in her voice as she took in Caitlyn’s appearance. Caitlyn was wearing an elegant black gown with intricate gold embroidery that shimmered in the light. The bodice was a high neckline with a sheer panel that extended to the shoulders and upper chest.
The embroidery on the bodice and sleeves was detailed with beautiful floral and leaf patterns. The sleeves were long and bell-shaped, flaring out at the wrists and adorned with the same gold embroidery. The waist was cinched with a wide black sash tied into a bow, accentuating her figure, and the skirt flowed down in soft, graceful folds, giving the dress a flowing and ethereal appearance.
The comment made Caitlyn’s cheeks blush a bit, and she smiled warmly. “May I?” Vi asked, holding up the pink flower in her hand. Caitlyn nodded, her smile growing even wider. Vi carefully pinned the pink flower onto Caitlyn’s dress. “There,” she said with satisfaction. Caitlyn’s eyes caught sight of the blue flower pinned on Vi’s coat. “I see you’re wearing a blue one,” she remarked.
Vi glanced down at the blue flower and smiled. “Ah yes, my sister’s idea,” she explained. “I like it,” Caitlyn said, her smile radiating warmth and approval.
“Alright, let’s go,” Caitlyn said, her tone now more urgent as she glanced at the time. Vi nodded.
They arrived at the wedding venue just in time before the ceremony began. The ceremony, as expected, was a typical formal affair, filled with long speeches and rituals that seemed to drag on endlessly. Vi glanced at Caitlyn and whispered, "This ceremony is boring."
Caitlyn chuckled softly, "It is, not going to lie to you.”
The the wedding party came. Vi and Caitlyn sat on a table far from the dance floor.
“I'll get us some drinks, I'll be right back." With that, Vi left Caitlyn alone for a moment.
While Vi was gone, Maddie and Morgana headed towards Caitlyn. Maddie approached. "Thank you for coming," she said.
"Yes, yes, thank you, Cait," Morgana chimed in, seemingly distracted.
Caitlyn corrected her, "Caitlyn."
"Sorry?" Morgana looked puzzled.
"It's Caitlyn," Caitlyn repeated firmly.
Morgana turned and left, leaving Maddie to sigh. "Well, thank you for coming and for the... the microwave."
"Yes, the microwave," Caitlyn confirmed, forcing a smile. "Alright, I'll see you around."
Caitlyn just simply smiled as Maddie walked away. As soon as she was out of earshot, Vi returned with a mischievous grin. "A microwave? You didn't get them a microwave." She whispered.
"I know," Caitlyn whispered back. "But her expression was funny, wasn't it?" They both laughed.
"What did you get me?" Caitlyn asked, eyeing the drink in Vi's hand.
"An orange juice."
"Oh, nice. Thank you," Caitlyn said, taking a sip from the straw.
Just then, a man approached them. "Commander," he said, addressing Caitlyn.
"Oh, hello. It's just Caitlyn now. How are you, Steb?"
"Alive, thanks to you," Steb replied gratefully.
"No need to thank me, it was my job," Caitlyn said modestly. "May I sit?" Steb asked.
"Yes, go ahead," Caitlyn replied. "Vi, this is Steb," Caitlyn introduced them.
Steb stretched out his hand, "Nice to meet you, Violet."
"Nice to meet you too," Vi said, shaking his hand.
"By the way, Ms. Kiramman, Loris is here too. Would you like to see him?" Steb asked.
"Oh, yeah, sure," Caitlyn replied.
"Alright, let me bring him," Steb offered.
"No, no, it's fine. I'll go. Vi, I'll be right back," Caitlyn said, giving Vi a reassuring nod before leaving.
Vi watched Caitlyn leave, feeling a bit out of place. A lady who seemed very rich and elegant sat right by Vi. "Well, this is boring," she said.
"Um, yeah, it is," Vi agreed.
The lady extended her hand, "Hello, I'm Mel Medarda."
Vi shook her hand. "I'm Violet Lanes. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, Violet. I see that you came with Caitlyn," Mel observed.
"Yeah, she invited me," Vi explained.
"Well, I'm actually glad she came. She totally changed after that accident, and I'm glad that she's improving," Mel said.
"Yeah, I'm happy too. Sorry, but how do you know Caitlyn?" Vi asked, curious.
"Oh, I'm friends with her mother and Jayce. So we are quite close. She would hang around with Jayce a lot, so I basically saw her grow," Mel explained.
"Oh, that's nice," Vi said, feeling a bit more at ease.
"It is. Well, it looks like they're opening the dance floor. I think I'm going to find someone to dance with. I'll see you around, Violet," Mel said, standing up gracefully.
"Yes, see you around," Vi replied, watching Mel disappear into the crowd.
Caitlyn came back, and beside her was a large man who bore a striking resemblance to her father, Vander. "Vi, this is Loris,he’s the one that carried me and Steb to safety after my accident." Caitlyn introduced him.
Vi stood up and shook his hand. "Hello, I'm Violet. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Loris replied with a warm smile. "Well, I should get going. Steb and I have work tomorrow. It was nice seeing you again, Ms. Kiramman. It was lovely to meet you, Violet."
"It was nice meeting you too, Loris," Vi said as Loris waved goodbye and left with Steb.
"So he saved you," Vi said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yes," Caitlyn said softly, the weight of the memory pressing against her chest. "He did. I'm alive because of him." Her voice faltered as the words caught in her throat. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself before continuing. "But, Vi, I didn’t tell you everything that day. I… I couldn’t."
Vi tilted her head, concern shadowing her expression. "What do you mean?" she asked gently. Her gaze never wavered, and her tone carried an urgency, as though she already knew the answer was going to hurt.
Caitlyn let out a shaky exhale, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. "After the ceiling collapsed… I was unconscious for I don’t minutes? But suddenly I regained consciousness and I saw that it wasn’t just the rubble trapping us. A fire started," she said, her voice trembling as she relived the moment. "The heat, the smoke—it was everywhere. Steb and I, we were pinned down under the wreckage. I couldn’t see anything and we could barely breathe. I thought… I thought that was it. That we weren’t going to make it."
Vi placed her hand on Caitlyn’s. "Caitlyn…" she said softly.
“Steb, he…" Caitlyn paused, her throat tightening. "He managed to get his radio, somehow. I don’t even know how, with the way he was trapped. His hands were shaking so badly, and he was covered in dust and blood, but he did it. He called for help. His voice—" she swallowed hard, blinking back tears. "I’ll never forget the way he sounded. He was desperate. Broken."
Vi’s eyes glistened, and she tightened her grip on Caitlyn’s hand.
"And then he came," she whispered, her eyes meeting Vi’s. "He wasn’t even with our unit, Vi. He was with another team, but the moment he heard Steb’s call… he didn’t hesitate. He ran straight toward us. Through the flames. Through the debris. Nothing stopped him."
“He found us, pulled Steb out first. And then he came back for me. By then, the fire was raging. The heat… I can’t even describe it, Vi. But he didn’t stop. He lifted me out like I weighed nothing. Carried me through the chaos, coughing, choking on the smoke, but he didn’t stop. Not until we were all out."
A tear broke down through Caitlyn’s face.
Vi removed her handkerchief and wiped it. “Thank you” said Caitlyn smiling.
Caitlyn tries to distract herself. "What's going on?"
"Oh they’re opening the dance floor," Vi explained trying to process what Caitlyn just told her still holding her hand.
"Oh, well, we'll leave after the dance if you want," Caitlyn suggested.
"Fine with me," said Vi. "I could use a bit of excitement after all this."
They watched others take to the dance floor, lost in the rhythm of the music. Vi sipped her juice, enjoying the moment of calm. Out of nowhere, Caitlyn leaned her head in and whispered, "Sit on my lap."
Vi was so startled that she accidentally spat her drink. "What?" she asked, wiping her mouth in disbelief.
"Sit on my lap and let's go dance. This is boring," Caitlyn repeated, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
Vi laughed, shaking her head. "You can't be serious."
"Oh, I am," Caitlyn insisted.
Vi hesitated for a moment before deciding to go along with Caitlyn's playful suggestion. She carefully sat on Caitlyn's lap and wrapped a hand around her neck, causing Caitlyn to chuckle. "Alright, let's do this," Vi said.
Together they made their way to the dance floor. As they joined the other couples, they couldn't help but laugh at the odd looks they were getting. But soon, they found their own rhythm and started to enjoy the music.
"This is actually funny. Look at their faces," Vi whispered, trying to contain her laughter. Caitlyn glanced around and couldn't help but giggle too. "This is fun," Caitlyn agreed. They were so close together that they could feel each other's breaths, warm and rhythmic, mingling in the cool night air.
Their eyes met, and suddenly, a wave of nervousness washed over Caitlyn. Her heart skipped a beat, and in her moment of distraction, she accidentally bumped into someone. "Oops, sorry," she mumbled, trying to maneuver her chair. But as she tried to move away, she bumped into another person. "Oh, sorry," she apologized again, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks.
"You know what, let's get out of here," Caitlyn said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She started pushing the chair toward the large double doors.
"Cait, what are you doing?" Vi asked, unable to suppress her laughter.
"We're leaving," Caitlyn declared with a smile.
Once outside, they found themselves on a walkway that was uneven and slightly bumpy. The chair wobbled precariously as Caitlyn tried to navigate the uneven terrain. "Cait, we're going to fall!" Vi exclaimed, her laughter bubbling over.
"Don't worry," Caitlyn said. They were both laughing uncontrollably, the sound of their joy echoing into the night.
As they moved farther away from the venue, the cool breeze played with their hair, and the stars above seemed to twinkle with approval at their spontaneous escape.
Vi wrapped both of her arms around Caitlyn's shoulders for support, their laughter intertwining with the night. "You're crazy, Cait," Vi said, breathless from the excitement.
"Crazy fun," Caitlyn replied, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Let's just keep going and see where the night takes us."
They arrived home pretty late. Vi carefully helped Caitlyn inside, carrying her to the bathroom. Caitlyn sat on her chair, her eyes half-closed, as Vi gently helped her change out of her party clothes and into something more comfortable.
"You're staying again," Caitlyn mumbled, her voice filled with a mix of sleepiness and contentment.
This time, Vi didn't argue. She simply smiled and nodded. She carried Caitlyn to her bed, tucking her in with care. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm, comforting light over the room.
Vi climbed into bed beside Caitlyn, pulling the covers over both of them. As they settled in, Caitlyn turned to face Vi, her eyes bright with curiosity. "My birthday is coming up. Would you come to my party?" Vi asked, her voice soft and hopeful.
Caitlyn's face lit up with a genuine smile. "I would love to," she replied.
"Alright, I'll let my dad know," Vi said, feeling a sense of happiness and anticipation. "Good night, cupcake."
"Good night, Violet," Caitlyn whispered, her eyes closing as she drifted off to sleep.
Vi lay there for a moment, watching Caitlyn's peaceful expression and eventually fell asleep.