I wake up as someone knocks on my bedroom door.

Carmen - Hayden, wake up! It's time to get up and have breakfast before we go shopping.

Hayden - Coming, Mom. Thanks. Alba and Julia, come on, wake up! We need to go get our dresses today.

Julia - I'm up already.

Alba - Ugh... let me sleep.

Julia - Get up, lazybones.

Alba - Fine, I'm coming – she grumbles.

Hayden - I'll shower and meet you downstairs.

I grab my clothes and head into the bathroom. After I shower, I put on some slightly ripped jeans, short black boots, and a black cropped top that reaches the middle of my abdomen. I get dressed, do my hair, leaving it loose, apply a bit of makeup, and head out of the room. I make my way downstairs, passing through the living room, where I see Anna and Carlos with my parents.

Hayden - Hi, everyone! Good morning.

Anna - Hello, Hayden. We brought the engagement ring. My son picked it out for you. – She hands me a small box, and I open it.

Hayden - Wow! It's beautiful. Thank you so much. – I'm genuinely surprised. The ring is stunning; it's gold with a diamond in the center and several surrounding stones.

Carlos - Oh, before I forget, when people ask how you two met, just say it was at one of the cheerleading championships.

Hayden - Okay.

Anna - My son wants a honeymoon, and I'll talk to the coach about the practices.

Hayden - Okay, sure, and thank you.

I go to have breakfast, and my future in-laws leave. My friends soon come downstairs, and we start eating. After finishing breakfast, we leave the house and head to the mall. We arrive, enter, and I start looking at wedding dresses until I find one.

Hayden - Mom, this dress!

Carmen - Wow, Hayden. It's really beautiful.

Hayden - I know, Mom. I'm only getting married once, and I want everything to be perfect.

Carmen - That sounds good. Girls, let's go find our dresses.

Both - Yes!

We visit several stores and end up buying everything we need: shoes, dresses, and accessories. We return home, and I head to my room, tired. I lie down and fall asleep.

(…)

Family Bridal Shower

I wake up, grab my phone, check the time; it's 6 AM. I get up to take a quick shower, rushing. I need to find my bridal shower dress, a family one.

I choose a long pink dress with waist adornments, one sleeve, and a heart-shaped top. I style my hair, pulling it up, and do my makeup a bit more than usual. Ready, I take a photo to send to the girls, head downstairs, and run into my parents.

Carmen - Darling, you look stunning.

José - My love, my little girl is all grown up. Tomorrow, my little girl gets married.

Hayden - Dad, please don't make me cry. I want to enjoy my last day of singlehood, as tomorrow I'll be married to someone I don't even know. I hope he's not old and pot-bellied.

Mom - I doubt he is. We should get going; it's getting late.

We leave the house, and my dad drives us to a lovely restaurant I've never been to.

Hayden - Dad, I've never been to this restaurant before.

José - It's your surprise bridal shower.

Hayden - Thanks, Dad. I'll cherish this day.

Carmen - That's great, my dear. Let's go in.

We enter the restaurant, sit at a table, order our food—wine for my parents, lemonade for me. We chat and laugh while waiting for our orders. Once dinner arrives, we enjoy our meal and continue chatting until it's time to leave. I didn't want to stay up too late. Finally, we get back home. I say goodbye to my parents and head to my room. I take off my dress, shoes, put on my pajamas, remove my makeup, get into bed, and fall sound asleep.

(…)

The Next Day

Carmen - Hayden, wake up! Today is your wedding day.

Hayden - Just a little longer, Mom... please?

Carmen – No, it's late already.

Hayden – Ugh... I'm coming.

Carmen - Take a shower and come downstairs to have breakfast. You need to be at the church by 3.

Hayden – Mom, why didn't you wake me up earlier?

Carmen - I wanted to let you rest for your honeymoon.

Hayden - I quickly shower and head downstairs.

I strip off my clothes and step into the shower, taking a quick one. In ten minutes, I'm out. I put on something lightweight, so I won't spend too much time taking it off and ruining my makeup and hair.

Dressed, I run a comb through my hair and head down to eat. I sit down and eat as quickly as I can. Just then, someone knocks on the door. My mom answers it, and it's the makeup artist and hairstylist. We go to my room, where I sit down, and she gets to work.

Makeup Artist - Done. Take a look. – I look in the mirror, and I don't even recognize myself. It's not too heavy makeup, with the eyeshadow in perfect daytime wedding colors. The lipstick is a subtle shade of pink.

Hayden - It's amazing, thank you. – I smile at her.

Makeup Artist - Now, about your hair, I'm going to add some extensions because your hair isn't very long.

Hayden - Sure, that's fine. – As she styles my hair, I glance at my phone.

Makeup Artist - Ready. Do you like it? – She shows me in the mirror.

Hayden - Yes, it's beautiful. Thanks. – I fix the front part of my hair, arranging my bangs. With a section of my hair, she creates a crown-like arrangement at the front, ties the rest into a low ponytail, and curls the leftover hair.

Makeup Artist - You're going to be the most beautiful bride. Can I ask you a question?

Hayden - Thanks, sure, what is it?

Makeup Artist - Aren't you the cheerleader from Navarro Institute?

Hayden - Yes, why?

Makeup Artist - My little sister admires you.

Hayden - Thank you. Tell her I say hi.

Makeup Artist - I will. Excuse me, and congratulations on your wedding.

Hayden - Thank you. She leaves, and my mom comes in with my friends, who are also ready.

Carmen - Honey, let's put on your dress.

Alba - Yes, friend. I can't wait to see you in the dress.

Julia - Me neither.

Hayden - But Mom, you look beautiful in that dress. – My mom's dress is gorgeous; it's purple from the waist down, mermaid style, with an accent on one side of the waist. The top part is black, with one side having a sleeve and the other bare.

Carmen - Thanks, honey.

Hayden - Alba, you look stunning. That dress suits you perfectly. – The dress she chose is also purple and long, but it's a different style. It has short sleeves and a v-neck that reveals a bit of her bust.

Hayden - And you too, Julia. I have a feeling you'll catch someone's eye at my wedding. – The dress Julia picked is purple, long, with a sweetheart neckline and crossed straps.

Julia - Thanks, Hayden. But I'm good as I am, thanks.

Alba - I might... I'll think about it.

Carmen - Well, here's the famous dress.