“Can you not do this right now" David hissed, shooting his older brother a glare that threw caution into the air. It didn't stop Blake, his older brother, from antagonizing him, only made him more irritated.

"Why the hell didn't you listen to me?" Blake sounded almost defeated as he slumped down on the couch in their parent's living room. David couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew Blake didn't approve of his girlfriend, fiancé now, but he didn't have a say in their relationship whatsoever.

"What-- Am I supposed to break up with her because you tell me to?" Sarcasm dripped off Dave's each word. There was a moment of silence as Blake stared at him, expression of stone.

"Yes!" He shouted, "When have I ever told to do the opposite?"

"Don't be ridiculous, I love her--"

"That is why you're blind, Dave!" Blake stood up from the couch, one index finger extended towards his brother, "You'll remember my words when she rips you to shreds," and with that, Blake stalked out of the room.

The entire family had gathered for a wedding preparation that was supposed to take place next month. Blake was eager to return mainly because he'd just gotten out of another rough relationship, which was a breaking point for him. When he looked at women now, all he saw were the lying, cheating, and scheming demons in place of beauty and feminism. He'd sworn off relationships, only allowing himself for those raw one-night-stands that kept his heart from being preyed upon. He didn't want his brother to end up the same. According to Blake, Dave was digging his own grave.

Blake blew into the kitchen. His mother, who was looking over the content of the wedding brochure, lifted up two pieces of paper, "Oh Blake!" his mother exclaimed, "Which carnation is more elegant?" She asked her eldest, expecting him to place a vote for one of the two almost identical photos of flowers. Blake groaned in response, jumping away from his mother.

"Keep me out of this," he lifted his hands up in front of him in defence.

"What's gotten into you?" The woman furrowed her brows, setting the photos aside.

"Nothing, I'm just peachy," The man flashed a brief grin, too wide to be real and left the kitchen. There were too many people in this household that were poisoned by that woman,

Her mother had warned her about this, and she just absolutely had to ignore what she said. Look where she was now.

Natalie, or Tallie as everyone else called her, wasn't the girl she was then. Now that the heavy burden of a particular gold band on her left ring finger was given to her, she now had to deal with the flurry of things she had to get done before the wedding. Worst of all, plans started months before the event so that everything fell perfectly into place later on. Don't get me wrong; Tallie wanted this to happen. She was indeed more than eager to get married. Thing is, she hated the responsibility that came with it. It was only after Dave coerced her quite gently to have the patience to push through with the crazy plans that she stayed and listened to the whining and the blabbering of their nit-picking wedding planner in the first place.

Tallie had fallen into a very temporary stupor and that very same planner didn't seem to notice.

"So, Nat, beige ceiling fabric, all converging at the centre, orangey lights. In the smack middle I had in mind a chandelier; wouldn't that be lovely?" Alexandra, the almost always cross-looking but nevertheless enthusiastic wedding planner queried, her steely dark greys surveying the garden they were walking through. She didn't usually expect an answer, the woman. All she needed was a nod. "Nat?" The simplest "oh" escaped Tallie's mouth unconsciously as she remembered that someone walked with her. "Sorry, head in the clouds again. You were saying?" With much hesitation, Alexandra repeated what she'd said, and that awaited nod was finally given. Hoorah.

To escape further ear-wrenching insanity, she escaped to the kitchen through the back door, hoping to get something cold to drink. Blake was the last person she expected to see there, hitting her in the shoulder as he stormed out. She muttered a curse under her breath at his brusque manner, but she was instead diverted by the older woman, holding two pictures of carnations. "Oh, hi mom," she greeted her future mother-in-law. "This one is lovely," she said, pointing at a nice peach carnation, edges adorned with gentle purple. She then left, off to find her fiancé.

"Dave?" she said, poking her head into one door she tried looking through. Seeing his expression told her everything. "Oh, don't tell me he gave you the usual again."