I wrote this story a few months ago, got the idea from a story that actually happened and then, of course, I fictionalized it. So tell me what you think guys! :)
“Today, sunny with a high of 79*, tomorrow they’re expecting-”
Karson Smith subcontiously flipped to a different station. Between the
three decent stations available, they’d already announced the weather at
least five times in the last hour and a half, and he was sick of it.
The talking interrupted his thoughts. Thoughts about his future - and
Kayleigh - their future.
Kayleigh Heath, Karson’s best friend, Jon’s sister, was just a year
younger than Karson, and over the past four years, a mutual attraction
had been growing. Karson had finally decided he was ready for a serious
relationship, he hadn’t wanted to start dating Kay before they were both
100% ready and take a chance of ruining things. Now they were and he
had it all planned. He and LUcas, his younger brother, were going on a
road trip South, sightseeing, as soon as they got back, Karson was going
to ask Kayleigh out.
Karson, being the reserved and private type, hadn’t told anyone of
his plans yet. Now he was starting to regret this trip, three weeks away
from Kayleigh, with close to no contact and no one to talk to about his
decision. They weren’t even two hours away and he already couldn’t stop
thinking about her, he was tempted to turn around, only an hour and a
half, he could go back and let Lucas take the trip by himself. But he
kept driving.
“Karson,” Lucas turned the radio down.
“Hmm?” Karson answered, pulling himself out of his daydreams of Kayleigh and him.
“I’m in love.” Lucas announced.
“With who?” the question was automatic, Karson was still absent,
not really listening to his brother. Lucas was always in love. It rarely
lasted. At 18, he’d never yet had a relationship last longer than three
months.
“Kayleigh. I think she’s the one for me.” Karson was now fully listening.
“Kayleigh Heath?” he tried not to let his emotions spill into his words.
“Yeah. What do you think?” Lucas looked at him.
“I- well, I guess- do you know how she feels about you?” Karson’s
eyes were glued to the asphalt ahead of them, disappearing beneath his
tires. Nothing could make him look at LUcas right now; his love for
Kayleigh and his jealousy of his younger brother liking her were surely
obvious in his eyes and he didn’t want Lucas to read him. Right now, he
wasn’t even sure if lucas could
read people! Everyone with two eyes could see that Kayleigh and Karson
liked each other! They’d been getting flack for years about it. Was
Lucas that oblivious?
“I think she does.”
“Are you sure that you don’t just want her to like you Luke?”
“Yes! Why? Do you think we wouldn’t be good together?” Lucas sounded hurt.
“I didn’t say that! Just be sure. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Or Kayleigh, or myself.” he added mentally, “If
he proposes to her, according to my loyalty, even if she refuses him, I
can’t date my brother’s ex. And to ask first would be disloyal as well.
But I loved her first!” he
argued with himself. Why did Lucas have to be his brother, and so
stupid too! What if Kayleigh accepts Lucas? What then? How could he
watch that?
The weeks dragged slowly and with the thought of Lucas and Kayleigh
weighing on his mind, nothing about the trip was enjoyable. Lucas
talked from time to time about Kayleigh and it was all Karson could do
to keep from exploding at him.
When they finally were home, Lucas took the first opportunity to
talk to Kayleigh, only to be refused. He was heartbroken at first, but
soon moved on, finding another girl he was sure would be the perfect
wife, but leaving behind a loyal brother and shattered Kayleigh as the
two of them drifted apart after Lucas’ proposal.
“Shawna, do you believe in destiny?” Kayleigh looked at the picture of the smiling couple on their wedding invitation,
Karson Drew Heath
and
Arianna Marie Burgeson
Kayleigh covered the girls’ face and imagined herself next to Karson, instead.
After Lucas proposed, things had never been the same with Karson, he had pulled away, leaving Kayleigh devastated.
“I guess maybe.” Shawna replied, watching her younger sister’s
face as she studied the wedding invitation. They had all been sure it
would be Kayleigh’s name on that invitation someday, until Lucas screwed
things up.
“Do you ever wonder what happens to a person when they marry the
wrong partner? Like, what happens to the person they should’ve married,
and what about the person they do marry, what happens to their ‘should have been partner’?” Kayleigh’s eyes were troubled.
“I don’t know Kay.” Shawna answered quietly, longing to comfort her sister.
“Do you think destiny is that we were meant to be but they
got together instead? Was it pre- planned so there is another guy for
me, or will I always be single?” Shawna was silent, not knowing how to
answer this question, “Did he even like me? I was so sure! But maybe we
imagined it. Maybe he never did feel the way about me that I did about
him!” Kayleigh said uncertainly.
“He did. It should’ve happened!” Shawna assured her. “It just didn’t-” Kayleigh looked at her older sister,
“Do you think I need to go to the wedding?”
Karson searched the crowd as he stood up front with his groomsmen,
waiting for his bride. Uncertainty filled him, marriage is forever. His
eyes roved over the guests, had she come? He found her family in the
sixth row, and there she was, looking as beautiful as she always had.
Her dark hair framing her heart shaped face, large brown eyes veiled by
long thick lashes, and he thought about walking out, calling the wedding
off, explaining that he didn’t love Ari like he’d love Kay. Maybe Kay
would still have him. He stood indecisive and her beautiful eyes met
his, a silent look passed,
‘I will always love you Karson. Always remember, we were meant to be.’
Before he could do anything, the “Wedding March” began to play and
the sanctuary doors were opened. The crowd rose as the bride glided up
the aisle on her father’s arm. The radiance in Ari’s face made him
guilty, she loved him, so trusting, so unaware that he had chosen her,
only because she was so like Kay had been and that he was still in love
with Kay. There was still time. He could marry the girl he really loved.
But he couldn’t hurt Ari. Once again, loyalty bound him, and as if his
feet were nailed, he stayed where he was supposed to, and did what was
expected of him.
As they began their vows, Karson noticed Kay slip out of the
church, and not for the first time in his life, he wished he was the
reckless type.
Kayleigh couldn’t watch anymore. She couldn’t watch the only man
she’d ever loved marry someone else. She had met his eyes just for a
moment, just long enough to silently beg him not to marry Ari, and she’d
seen it in his eyes, he had hesitated, but it was too late. Now she was
unaware of him watching her from the corner of his eye as she left,
unaware of his blunder as he tried to keep his mind on his vows, almost
mixing her name in instead of Arianna’s. Only aware of the painful fact
that no matter how hard she wished that he would leave his bride and
follow Kay out, begging her to forgive his foolishness and love him
forever, he was as good as married, and marriage was forever. There was
no hope left for them- there had never been a ‘them’, just dreams and
hopes and miscommunications. Kayleigh sat down against a large oak, her
back to the church, and cried.
Arianna felt ecstatic. She’d never felt so happy in her life! The
biggest day of her life had finally come; her wedding day!
As she walked up the aisle, unaware of the crowds watching her, she
met her groom’s eyes and smiled. He hardly smiled back, but she knew he
was nervous. As they joined hands at the altar, she caught him glancing
at someone in the crowd, she followed his look, Jon Smith’s family,
Karson’s best man. She looked back at Karson who was watching her now.
As the vows were said, Ari noticed someone exiting the sanctuary,
Jon’s sister Kayleigh Smith, then her eyes took in her groom’s face as
he watched Kayleigh for just an instant. Ari knew he’d liked her years
ago, but he never talked about her, so Ari had assumed it had been
small, but now as she read the look in his eyes, she knew she had been
wrong. He loved Kayleigh. And no matter how hard Ari tried, she’d never
be Kayleigh!
Kayleigh stared out over the dancing, gray waves of Superior, her
eyes locked on the distant horizon. She shivered as the wind swept
around her and she folded her arms against her chest.
“Karson!” she whispered, “I never said this, but I love you!” the
wind tore the words from her lips and whisked them into the foreboding
waters, to be washed away. And Kayleigh just stood there. It had been
ten years since Karson’s wedding, Kayleigh was thirty and still single,
still asking the same questions as she had then, ‘do you believe in
destiny? If so, what happens to me? Will I forever be alone? Karson, did
you love me? Do you ever think about me?”
Arianna held her baby close to her, rocking him gently and humming a
lullaby softly. Ten years had brought four children, the youngest
wasn’t quite one. Now as she rocked him to sleep, she watched her
husband. He stood by the window, moonlight playing across his handsome
face. He was lost in thought. What about? she wondered. Often, when he
would sink into reverie, she couldn’t help thinking he was dreaming of her.
Even now, ten years later, she could tell he loved Kayleigh still. He
was good to Ari, and she loved him, but she knew his love for Kayleigh
would always get between.
The moonlight danced on the swaying branches of the poplar trees
outside the window. Karson listened to the even breathing of his
youngest son as he slept. He was happy. Ari was a good wife, but in
moments of silence, he still thought about Kayleigh, would that ever
change? All these years hadn’t totally erased his love for her, would it
fade in years to come?
He looked at his wife and she smiled at him. He loved her, it just
wasn’t the same. His thoughts returned to Kayleigh, had he made a
mistake? Were they supposed to be together? What if he had turned around
that day he was so tempted to, instead of going on the trip with Lucas,
would things be different? What was Kayleigh doing now? Was she happy?
Did she ever think about him? He turned away from the window, maybe he
would never know.
