Fiona on Fire | ONC 2023

18. blue wedding

It was the wedding day. Jack and Fiona walked up to the venue together, dress flowing and suit pressed.

"Everything is so...blue," she whispered.

The chairs, the cake, and the decorations were all various shades of blue. It looked good, though. Even the bride's dress, which she'd stolen a glance of, faded into a blue ombré near the hemline.

"It's Julia's favorite color," she heard a passerby say, engaged in her own conversation.

The room was decorated with endless flowers and balloons. People were filling into the chairs—relatives she vaguely recognized, her brother's friends from school, and strangers to her, probably Julia's friends and family. Fiona was soon swamped with attention, no one having seen her since before she'd started acting. They remarked about how much she'd changed, asked her about what California was like, and wanted to know if she really had dated her costar, as the tabloids suggested.

She didn't want this. She definitely didn't want to take any attention away from the husband and bride-to-be. Fiona told Jack to text her when the ceremony was about to start and hurried to the bathroom. She didn't come out for fifteen minutes, when the procession was starting.

She watched closely as her parents walked down the aisle, then spotted Cody, smiling his wide toothy grin. The ring bearer and flower girl were precious, taking their jobs seriously. Julia followed, looking impossibly beautiful, with her father's arm hooked through her own.

Fiona had been to plenty of weddings as a kid, and frankly, had found it boring. This was different. Everything made her tear up in happiness. Unlike when she was a kid, she could imagine herself in Julia's shoes.

After an hour-long break, they arrived at the reception. It was in a massive room with many tables and chairs, and a dance floor at the far end. The decorations here were green and woodsy—Cody's favorite, she knew.

Her brother walked up then. She realized she couldn't remember the last time she'd hugged Cody, so she threw her arms around his neck like she did as a little girl. "Congratulations!"

"I'm really glad you came home," he said, voice half choked off by her hug. "Did you talk to Mom and Dad yet?"

She drew away and answered honestly, "No."

Cody looked concerned, his eyebrows pulling up.

"Don't worry, I will," she assured him. "Just haven't run into them yet."

Her brother smiled and looked at Jack.

"Good to meet you," Jack said, reaching in for a handshake. "Congrats. You look absolutely dapper."

"Wait, I recognize you."

"Jack McKennon." He stuck his hand out, which Cody gladly shook.

"I knew it! I saw your movie. The war one." He looked up as if thinking hard. "Gah, I can't remember the name. That's embarrassing."

"Totally fine, focus on having fun on your big day."

They disentangled and meandered around the room. Fiona spotted her father sitting at a table alone. His eyes met hers. It looked like he might cry, his face proud and tender. She'd never seen him like this. She hurried forward.

He rose and trapped her in a hug. "Look how far you've come. I don't know what to...I just—I'm sorry I ever doubted you."

"I'm so sorry I haven't visited," she said. "I've missed you, Dad."

She stepped back and took his hand, now more weathered and wrinkled than she remembered.  That strange look never left his eyes as they sat down to talk.

After a while, Fiona went to fill up her cup at the punch bowl nearby. She couldn't help but eavesdrop as Jack made conversation with her father, peeking over her shoulder at them.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Flores." Jack shook her father's hand.

"I like your accent," her father said. "Where're you from?"

"Ireland, sir."

"And are you dating my daughter?"

Jack sputtered on his drink, a wide nervous smile forming on his face. "Maybe, if she'll let me."

Fiona's veins went hot with elation and a touch of embarrassment.

"Well, good luck, son. Once she decides she wants something, she doesn't stop until it's hers."

Fiona looked away and immediately locked eyes with her mother across the table from her. They had an odd stare-down for a few seconds.

Then her mother burst into tears, choking out words between sobs. "My daughter...so beautiful...can't believe...too much. I'm so...sorry."

"It's okay, Mom. It's okay." She hurried around the table to embrace her, tears forming in her own eyes.

They stayed like that for a while, until it was time to eat. Julia and Cody were already cutting the cake and then playfully shoving it in each other's faces.

Fiona gravitated back to Jack. They ended up eating at her parent's table with Cody and Julia. After the cathartic moments with her mother and father, everything felt harmonious. There was joy and love in the air. Her parents asked nonstop questions but nothing about fame or money, only open-ended ones that meant she could disclose as much as she wanted. She was grateful for this. All conflicts were forgotten, and everyone seemed happy to be together.

Then it was time to dance. The newlyweds took the floor first to a romantic song of their choice with gentle strumming acoustic guitars.

As everyone else took to the dance floor, it became clear that Jack was itching to join them.

"May I have this dance, Miss Fiona Flores?" He spoke like they were in a historical drama.

She giggled. "You may."

He swept her around the dance floor with ease, taking the opportunity to show off his skills. Swaying couples made room for them, watching and smiling. Still, it felt like they were alone in her living room back in Los Angeles, just the two of them. Jack had a way of bringing about that feeling.

By the evening, pleasant tiredness washed over Fiona. She stuck close to Jack's side, leaning on him as everything seemed to move in slow motion. They walked back to their nearby hotel in the refreshing night air.

"I like your family," he said.

She was silent, heels clanking on the sidewalk. "Maybe it's time for me to meet yours."

He looked down at her with a raised eyebrow. "Maybe it is."

"When do you fly home?"

"After this. Tomorrow. My project in New York already wrapped."

"I'll go with you."

"You will?"

She nodded, the plan solidifying in her mind. "You don't mind if I stay with you?"

"Of course not. I've got a place in Greystones, twenty minutes outside Dublin. It's just...you know, it's not like LA. Not very bustling at all."

"Neither is here."

"Right. You're not a city girl at heart?"

"Nope. I would have gladly stayed here and acted if I could have."

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About 2400 words left to 20k and my very first complete ONC project! Who knows if I'll even make it through the second round, but cheers!