Notsofuture Highschool: Next Gen

Celeste smiled at Jazzmin, but she still felt glum. As much as she loved to be loved by Jazz's wonderful mothers... Her parents had no idea where she was, probably, and it didn't matter that they would be happy. The fact was... "Can we go to bed?" she asked, taking Jazz's hand and looking at the mushed doughnut ring. They'd have to tidy up and clean their teeth, but Celeste wanted to cheer up. Nothing did that better than snuggling her gir- fiancee!

"Mhm, I'm so glad," Celeste murmured, twining her fingers through Jazzmin's hair like she always did. Tonight it was Jazzmin's turn to sleep on Celeste's bust, though they took it in turns and sometimes simply spooned. "N-not that I thought you'd say no... N-not that I'm boasting! I just... Aha, I think the nerves are catching up to me," she added, her hands beginning to tremble.

Celeste felt Jazz nuzzling her breast and her smile faded ever so slightly. She knew that Jazzmin was marrying her because she loved her, but she hoped it wasn't mainly because they'd finally get to have sex... Celeste wanted to be with Jazzmin in all ways, always. Plus her traditional, religious self demanded that she be wed. "I love you," she whispered, her eyes starting to droop.

So. This was it. The day had finally come where Celeste would be wed. She had been dreaming about this her whole life, dreaming about the dress, the church, the vows she would say, everything. She thought she would have been unbelievably nervous. And yet she had been sat the whole day in total silence, utterly serene, head bent perhaps in prayer. She looked a picture of innocence in her pure white dressE of course designed by Ash. Everyone who saw her said she was literally glowing, but also that she looked so alone. In truth, she was heartbroken that one thing about her wedding wasn't perfect - her parents were not here. Could they even see her now? The others all suspected her parents might be something to do with this, so it was the mothers who insisted on doing her hair and makeup. Jazzmin's mothers were obviously with Jazzmin, but the others swamped Celeste's room. Tarana gave Celeste's hair beautiful waves, Yve gifted her a halo-like golden tiara, Ori dusted a light coat of makeup on her face, Kat was giving her a shoulder massage. The fathers stood outside, making sure no one came in. It lifted Celeste's spirits to know that, by marrying Jazzmin, she married into her huge extended family.

[Kat's already included so.] Celeste had actually vehemently insisted that she walk down the aisle alone, seeing as her own father was absent and he should be the only one escorting her, but Jazzmin's mothers kept insisting. She knew why, and she loved them more for wanting to make her feel as welcomed as possible, but when she saw Bonita waiting, Celeste shook her head. "If I'm not strong enough to walk on my own, then I'm not strong enough for your daughter," she breathed.

Celeste was used to this wedding not panning out how she'd always dreamed. She was the one doing the proposing, rather than vice versa, she didn't have her father to walk her, and of course she had agreed to walk down the aisle first. Life was full of surprising twists and turns. Celeste kissed Bonita on the cheek and smiled apologetically. And then she walked out into the aisle. Everyone stood for her. It felt so odd, gliding slowly down the aisle but seeing no one waiting for her at the alter. Her friends all saw how serene she looked, but even those furthest away noted that she looked sad.

Celeste was keeping herself upright and breathing steadily surprisingly well. There was something about the light streaming through the stain glass window that gave her comfort and strength. Years later, she'd swear she felt her parents' presences behind her in that moment. But for now, all anyone else saw was Celeste surrounded by a halo of light, and... Were those wings? A very faint, glimmering outline of wings could be seen by anyone who looked hard enough. Celeste's heart soared when she saw Jazzmin approaching. Her best friend in all the world, the most kind and beautiful woman, who loved Celeste despite her many flaws and the differences between them. Jazzmin made Celeste a better woman, and now she was about to become an honest woman too. Celeste smiled lovingly at her fiancee, very soon to be wife.

Celeste could hardly hear either, despite having asked for religious vows to suit her beliefs. She could vaguely make out Jazz's face through both of their veils, and she looked stunning. Oh good, Jazz had mentioned smoothing her Afro to try a new look, but Celeste had protested. Now she happily saw Jazz's beautiful hair as big and bouncy as ever, with a little tiara to hold the veil. Very soon,
it came time to do the rings. This time, Jazzmin would be giving Celeste's hers first. They had both gone for simple wedding bands and skipped the blingy engagement rings.

Celeste didn't want diamonds, she didn't even need this simple wedding band; all she wanted was Jazzmin. "You too," she whispered back to Jazzmin, blushing beneath her veil. This day was going so perfectly, and despite how slowly they slipped the rings onto one another's hands, it was already time for the "I do's". Celeste was ready, though. As much as she wanted to savour this day, she wanted more to be with Jazzmin finally.

Celeste was also smiling like a goof, but when Jazzmin called her 'her beautiful wife', her eyes started streaming like waterfalls. Oh no, her beautifully crafted makeup. This was much more like the usual Celeste. She was laughing and crying as she twined her fingers through Jazz's.

Celeste was normally private and only indulged in minor public displays of affection, so Jazzmin might expecting her to hold back. But not this time. She held onto Jazz's hands and the kiss for the longest time, even winding her arms loosely around her waist. The pair were bathed in such heavenly light that it gave everyone pause for thought. Made them feel all warm and beloved inside. Even Yana, who glanced over at Leo with doughy eyes.

"I love you too," Celeste whispered back, wiping away her joyous tears. They didn't hear everyone around them cheering again, or see Violet taking pictures. She'd volunteered to be the photographer, and theirs was the first wedding she'd be doing the photos for. The ceremony was over, and the pair floated down the aisle to head to their after party, which was being hosted at the Radcliffe manor gardens.