Til Death Do Us Part

Sarah sat at her desk, her head in her hand as she watched the clock. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. The bell was going to ring any minute and she couldn't wait. It was the last day of school and she was ready to say goodbye to her lame high school and start her summer. She kept her blue gaze on the clock until finally, the bell rang. She quickly swept her books into her arms and jumped up from her seat. "Have a safe summer!" Her English teacher yelled to all the students as they rushed out of her classroom. Sarah made a beeline for her locker where she grabbed her backpack, she started to stuff her things into it as she grabbed her car keys, so she had them at the ready.

Sarah weaved her way between the students, there was one person she was trying to avoid. She moved quickly and swiftly out the front doors and into the parking lot. "Sarah! Wait!" came a voice behind her. It was the voice of the person she was avoiding.

No...no no no no... Sarah thought to herself. She made it to her car and struggled to get the key in the lock. She pulled the door open when a hand slapped against the door frame and closed the car door before she could get in. Sarah did not want to turn around, she could feel him at her back as he boxed her in.

Gathering her courage she slowly turned around, bringing her gaze straight to his. "What do you want, Michael? I have somewhere to be." Sarah said. She crossed her arms over her chest and did her best to look annoyed. She was trying to avoid this moment. She just wanted to get home and changed so she could make it to the wedding she had been hired to take pictures at.

"Do you really think you could just break up with me this morning in front of the whole student body and I wouldn't want to talk with you about it?" Michael said. He towered over Sarah and was trying to use that to intimidate her. Sarah heaved a big sigh and shook her head. "There is nothing to talk about Michael. We are over. I don't love you and I don't want to be with you. That is the best you are going to get, so please just leave me alone. I have to go." Sarah pulled open her car door again before Michael could make a move and got in. She could hear him yell her name as she had locked the doors and started the car. She put the car into reverse and was holding her breath hoping Michael would get out of the way.

Michael cursed at her and hit her car but didn't stand in the way. "This isn't over, Sarah!" he yelled as she sped away. She rushed home and ran upstairs to change into a nice dark blue dress and heels. She ran her hands through her black curls and touched up her makeup before grabbing her camera kit and heading out the door.

She got to the church right on time and immediately went to find the bride. She knocked on the door and was told to come in. As she entered she saw the bride, all the bridesmaids as they rushed around getting their hair and makeup done. Sarah smiled and approached Megan. "I just wanted to talk to you about a few things before I got set up." Megan smiled widely as she hugged Sarah, "Sure, what is on your mind?" Megan asked as she stepped away and turned to look back into the mirror, her gaze meeting Sarah's.

"You wanted me to get pictures of the food straight away, correct? The wedding cake and of the setup? Before anyone is sitting down?" Sarah asked. Sarah waited for Megan to reply as she seemed to ponder what Sarah had asked her. Sarah took that time to admire Megan. Megan's long blonde hair was pulled into a half up and half down do, her dress was slender and all lace. Megan looked like something straight from a dream. Watching Megan stirred feelings in Sarah that she never knowledged before. These kinds of feelings were the reasons that Sarah had broken up with Michael.

"Yes, please. There is also an extra cake off to the side. Would you please also get a picture of that as well. I know it sounds odd but it is something that my parents did at their wedding and I wanted to do the same at mine." Megan said as she turned around to look at Sarah. Sarah looked deep into her eyes and felt a shiver go down her spine. She had the urge to ask Megan if she was alright but didn't feel like it was her place. "Okay, I will go do that before I come back to take pictures of you getting ready." Sarah nodded before she turned and left the room.

Sarah absentmindedly got her camera out and started to take pictures as she struggled with her own feelings. Sarah had known Megan for years, Megan being two years older than Sarah's eighteen. Megan had always been special to Sarah, maybe there was something more? Sarah was feeling confused. She kept clicking away with the pictures, taking pictures of the seating area and then of the cake.

Sarah pulled the camera down from eye level as she looked at the cake, it was a three-tier chocolate cake with double fudge filling. It wasn't your average wedding cake that you always. It was special, just like Megan. It had also been a fight for Megan to get her husband-to-be to agree to it. Sarah admired the cake as an idea popped into her head, one little taste wouldn't hurt anything. No one was around and she would be quick about it.

Sarah moved around to the backside of the cake and reached out as she took a quick little taste of the cake. She closed her eyes, pretty sure it was the best chocolate cake she had ever had. "It is very delicious isn't it?" came a voice behind Sarah, she jumped and whipped around. Megan was standing just a few feet away looking at Sarah. Megan giggled, "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." There was an awkward silence as Sarah struggled with what to say to Megan since she just got caught red-handed tasting her wedding cake.

"I should be the one apologizing for dipping into your cake before it has been cut," Sarah said as Megan got closer her gaze on Sarah. "Well, actually Sarah it may not be getting cut at all," Megan said offhandedly. Sarah's brows furrowed. Her confusion deepening, not fully comprehending what Megan meant. "Why wouldn't it?" Sarah finally asked. Megan reached out and took Sarah's hand. "Well, it depends on you... if you feel the way I think you might." Sarah felt her heart start to race as the full meaning of everything Megan was saying dawned on her.

Megan had feelings for her. Sarah couldn't believe it, and Megan was about to get married. Could Sarah really be the one to stop that from happening? "Sarah, I don't love Derek. He doesn't love me. This marriage is all just because we thought it was the next step, but it isn't who I truly am." Sarah was in shock, she didn't reply for what seemed like several very drawn-out minutes. It was so long that Megan started to take it as a rejection. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I shouldn't put that on you. Regardless of your response I am not getting married today." Megan turned to leave and Sarah found herself calling out.

"Wait, Megan!" Megan stopped but didn't turn back around. "Can we at least take the cake with us?" Sarah asked. Megan was smiling big as she moved to hug Sarah. They embraced both laughing with tears in their eyes. "Yes, let's grab it and run for it!" Megan said as they ran towards the large cake and cut off huge pieces. "At least I didn't have to kill anyone for you!" Sarah joked as they moved to leave the church. Megan laughed at Sarah's comment, "Death do us part!"