With Love, Greece.

Chapter 19

I leave Mia to her thoughts and make my way back into the church. I slip inside the church and make my way to the front. "We won't be a minute," I smile.

When I slip out again, Mia is making her way through the church doors.

She smiles, "okay, I'm ready."

Well then.

I nod, "positions everyone."

I give the final nod and listen as the music starts up. I watch every bridesmaid descend the isle and give a final nod to Mia and her father.

As soon as the doors close, I make my way out of the church.

I walk all the way to the end of the pier next to the church, drop myself to the stony ground and sit with my legs dangling down over the sea. The waves were lapping against the stone and the sunset is bouncing off the horizon.

I guess I've done it. I've gotten to this point. I could leave now, and everything would be fine. I had no doubt in myself that the rest of the wedding would run smoothly.

After a good few minutes had passed. I was enjoying the calmness around me when I heard shouts come from the church.

Oh. Fudge.

I turned to see Mia walking through the church doors and making her way back out to the harbour. Her father, her mother, bridesmaids, guests and, most importantly, Matt were following after her. It was Matt causing all the shouting.

"Mia. Don't do this, for fuck sake."

"Enough Matt, I'm not marrying you."

The chaos unfolding is gathering the attention of tourists and tavernas around us. I make my way down the pier and towards the commotion. Demetri is watching it unfold, along with everyone else.

As soon as I'm in the firing line, Matt turns to me. "This is all your fault."

I hold my hands up, "woah, calm down."

"What the hell did you say to her?" he shouts.

"Matt, stop it." Mia raises her voice back.

"I know you said something Alana, you did this, you destroyed your chance to do this," he gestures around.

I shake my head to reply, but he continues, "you are nothing Alana, you will never have this."

"Matt," Mia shouts.

He turns to her, "Mia, please, lets just talk this though, she's manipulating you just because we have a past."

Mia scoffs and rolls her eyes, "the only manipulating arsehole here is you, Matt."

"I think you need to leave," I speak directly towards Matt.

He looks towards me again. "Just because you can't have your happily ever after doesn't mean you can go around destroying others," he spits.

"You will never know true love Matt, not if you act like this," I reply.

"You think you know what true love is Alana? No one will ever love you," he sneers.

"I do."

I look to my side where Demetri is standing, "I love her."

I feel my eyes well, he loves me?

"I love her!" We all turn to see Hebe stood on one of the chairs of the taverna.

Mela is stood behind her, "I love Alana," she shouts.

Suddenly, all the Andreas' in the vicinity start shouting and confessing their love for me.

I let out a wobbly laugh.

Matt rolls his eyes, "for fuck sake. This is a joke."

"That's enough!" Matt jolts from the firm hand placed on his shoulder. His father steps to his side. "That's quite enough son, you've done enough damage here. We're leaving. Now."

"No," Matt starts.

"Yes." The tone of his father isn't up for discussion. I suppose that's what being a barrister does for you, you can control a situation with a firm confidence in place. "I've called a taxi, go and wait for it at the end of the road, we'll be along," he adds.

"Father," Matt argues.

"Now."

Matt doesn't argue, he walks away leaving us in a calming silence.

"Maybe one day he'll learn. He's not the man I raised and I'm not proud of his actions," Matts father steps forward and places a much gentler hand on my shoulder.

"I appreciate your support, I'm sorry for all of this," I reply.

He shakes his head, "don't apologise. I wish you all the best."

"Thank you," I smile.

"Alana," Matts mother steps forward. "You already know but I run the local magazine, and well, after everything that's happened. If you do continue to wedding plan on the island, then email me your advertisements and I'll feature you, no price."

"That's very thoughtful."

She smiles, "we reach a wide audience. It's the least I can do."

"Thank you." I watch as they walk towards where Matt is stepping into a taxi.

Some of the guests have dispersed, but some still linger around, watching the disaster unfold.

Mia walks towards me, she wraps her arms around me and cries into my shoulder. "I'm sorry Alana, I couldn't do it. He sucked me into his black hole. I feel like I've been in some sort of trance. This isn't what I want. This isn't my dream," she shakes her head.

She pulls back, her make-up now smeared but her face is lighter, she looks relieved.

She wipes the back of her hand over her nose. "You need content, right?"

"What?" I frown.

She shrugs, "what's paid for is paid for, lets have a party. Get the photos you need Alana, because this really is magical," she smiles, looking around. "Show the world your dream. Use it to get yourself out there Alana. And in the meantime, lets party like the Greeks."

I look towards where Matts taxi is driving off. I throw my arms up, "why the hell not," I smile.

"Yay!" she claps. She turns to the remaining guests and works on hyping them up. Her father doesn't look impressed, I wouldn't if I forked out thousands of pounds for a wedding that didn't go ahead.

"It's over." I jump as the voice I've come to be obsessed with wraps around me just as his arms do. "You can relax now."

I slink back into his chest, "I can't believe it didn't go ahead. My very first disastrous wedding."

"There's a first for everything, prinkípissa. However, I don't think its disastrous," Demetri replies.

I look to where Mia is handing out glasses of prosecco to the remaining guests, they've all already started digging into the cake and dancing on the dance floor.

"Maybe not completely disastrous," I smile.

"It's magical," Demetri whispers into my ear.

Goosebumps spread out along my arms, "yeah," I whisper. "It really is magical."