Sweet Home Arizona.

“I can’t believe you actually got in the car with that maniac!” My mother continued to scream. In fact, she had been screaming since I got to the church. “I am going to make sure to call the cops on him when the ceremony is over.” I rolled my eyes. I really did not want to hear her bitch and complain right now. The moments that had happened an hour ago were still spinning in my head. As soon as John’s lips touched mine everything inside of me changed. The way I looked at him changed. The way I was looking into my future changed. And the way I look at Luke had now changed. John’s words were another powerful force for me as well. Was I really about to waste my life with a person that I don’t really love? I have so many feelings for Luke but, no Mason, there are not going to be anymore buts. You are going to get your ass out there and marry the man of your dreams. “Mom, I don’t want to deal with any of this right now.” I pushed through the crowd of bridesmaids and flower girls so I could reach the door. Before I could turn the handle, Lillian just so happened to burst through the door. “Where in the world have you been? Do you know how long my son has been standing at that altar looking like an idiot? Lillian screamed out. I could see the vein that often protrudes out of her neck practically pulsating as her anger rose. “Are you going to get out there or am I going to have to drag your fat ass out myself?” Everyone in the room gasped in shock as those words came out of her mouth. I could instantly feel my hands clenching into a fist and my knuckles were probably as white as Casper the ghost. “Listen here bitch,” my mother pushed through the crowed of bridesmaids, “Nobody and I mean nobody has the right to speak to my daughter like that. I don’t give a flying fuck who the hell you think you may be but where I come from, we are not afraid to knock someone back into place. Do you understand me or are those fake ass Chanel earrings getting in your way of hearing?” I could not believe I had just heard my mother, who was practically a Southern Belle, tell off and basically make a fool out of Lillian in front of everyone. “Way to go mom!” Taylor cheered. Lillian looked like she was on the brink of tears and that was so hilarious! “You do not deserve to be welcomed into my family. My son deserves so much better!” And with that, she stormed out of the room and stomped her way back into the church.

“Taylor, Dylan, please go tell the groomsmen that we are ready to start the wedding.” I announced. They both looked at me to make sure that I was being serious. “Are you sure about all this, Mason?” Dylan asked. Was I sure? Out of all the 23 years that I have been on this planet, this was the most stressful decision I have ever had to make. “Just do it, please.” And with that they stalked out of the room. “Mason, I am so pr-” I lifted my hand up to stop my mom from finishing her sentence. “Mom I really don’t want to hear it. Just go get dad and then get yourself in line.” I walked back over to the window and watched as the world passed by me. I heard my mom let out a loud sign and walk out the door, making sure to slam the door loudly. I didn’t really mean to piss her off or piss off my sisters by being such a bitch to them but I was so freaking stressed out by this point. John just had to come in a ruin everything as usual. While I was on the verge of a breakdown, someone knocked on the door. I figured it was just my mother or someone that I just didn’t want to interact with right now.

“Go away.” I yelled. The knocking suddenly stopped and the door opened. “I said go aw-.” I turned to see Garrett standing in the doorway. “Oh, it’s just you.” I said relieved.
“Oh that makes me feel real special, Mace.” He let out a laugh. “I heard about all the drama that has been going on and I wanted to make sure you were okay.” He asked sincerely. Out of all the guys in The Maine, Garrett and I had the most in common and often the best times together. I loved the other guys with all my heart but there was something about Garrett that just stuck out. I let out a sigh and collapsed onto one of the chairs that were placed in the corner of the room. “Garrett, I want your honest opinion when I ask you this.” I let out another sigh, “Do you honestly and truly think that I am doing the right thing or do you think I should just pack it up now?” He looked at me and then to the ground. I could see he was thinking of the right thing to say but wasn’t sure of how to word it.

“Mace.” He said taking a seat next to mine. He pulled my hand into his and looked me deep in the eyes. “Mason, I think you have to do what’s right for you. I can’t just tell you to go and be with John just because he is one of my best friends. If that was the case then I would have told you that a long time ago.” I looked down at the ground and knew that I had to make the decision myself. I just couldn’t keep asking random people what I should do. This was my mess and it was time that I start cleaning it up alone. “I want you to be happy Macy, and if that means staying with Mr. Wall Street out there then I will support you 100 percent of the way.” I gave him a smile and leaned over to kiss his cheek.

“Thanks Garrett.” We both got up from the seats and I walked Garrett over to the door. “Mason, I want you to remember what I just said. Don’t do anything that you think you will regret. I mean this is the rest of your life we’re talking about.” And with that he walked back out the door. A couple seconds later, I could hear the music that helped the wedding party down the aisle. I guess it wasn’t up to me whether the wedding was going to start or not. I took a couple more deep breathes and opened the door and found my dad waiting for me. “Took you long enough, kiddo.” He smiled. I gave him a lopsided smile back and wrapped my arm around his. We took the small walk over to the front of the cathedral and my heart started to pound once again. All the people that Luke and I had invited were standing there waiting for me. “Are you sure you want to do this?” I looked up at my dad and then looked back at the crowd. Here Comes the Bride started to fill the church and everyone stood up. I could see Luke and his goons standing at the alter with smug looks on the faces. As my dad and I started to make the slow walk to the pompous ass, all the thoughts that I had before started to pop back up. Was I really about to marry a guy that was too into himself? Did he really deserve me? Did I deserve him? What kind of father was he going to be if I was to get pregnant? Was he going to be the type of guy that would cheat on me? Was he going to be as good as John?

By the time my dad and I reached Luke and the priest, I was feeling lightheaded. “Who grants this young lady to be in wedded matrimony?” Before anyone could answer, the church doors swung open. Everyone including myself instantly turned and my heart literally leaped out of my chest. Standing there like he was freaking James Dean was none other than John O’Callaghan. He didn’t even have to say a word because as soon as I saw him I instantly ran. Never in my life have I been so happy to see someone, especially John. I completely forgot that I was surrounded by my friends and family along with all of Luke’s people. “I thought you weren’t going to come back for me.” I told him. I could see the gorgeous smile that I had grown to love for the past 9 years appearing on his face. Instead of responding he simply placed his lips onto mine in front of the whole entire church. It was like it was just me and him and nobody else. But like always the joyous moment soon faltered. “What the hell is going on?” Luke’s voice boomed. “Excuse me pal but you need to get the fuck out of here before you start regretting your decision.” He threatened. I could feel John tense up and I wasn’t sure what was about to happen. John unwrapped his arms from around my waist and moved in front of me. “Listen here Luke, I think we all who Mason wants to be with and if it’s alright with you I think you should just let her go.” John said very calmly. Luke let out a loud laugh and immediately slammed his fist into John’s face. The rest of the church jumped out of the pews and Luke’s goons ran towards us while the guys tried to take control of John. “You motherfucker!” John lunged towards Luke and tackled him against the wall. Punches were being thrown in every direction that I wasn’t sure who was getting hit and who was the one hitting. I tried my best to scream so I could get their attention but it wasn’t working. I could not believe that Luke would start a fight inside of a church, especially in front of both or our families and a priest. I could see blood was pouring from both of their faces but they didn’t seem to notice. Since Luke’s groomsmen and the rest of the boys of The Maine could not break the two men apart, my father and some other men broke finally stopped the bloodshed. John’s face was starting to bruise and his nose and lip were busted. Luke on the other hand tried to put on a front that he was the top dog winner but I could see that his pride was broken and so was his nose along with a huge gash on his cheek. “You better be counting your lucky stars faggot because I would have killed you.” Luke’s voice flowed with venom and hatred. “Mason!” I wiped my head around and saw Lillian was stomping her way towards me. “You stupid slut!” Her hand slapped hard against my cheek, sending my head flying in the other direction. “You stupid little bitch; how could you chose someone like this piece of trash over my wonderful and loving son?” She continued to scream. “Any girl in this whole entire world wanted to be with my son and for some reason he chose you and look how you’re repaying him.” I was trying my hardest not to lash back at her but the temptation was stronger. “Ever since I met you, I knew you would never be suitable for my son. I mean look at your background!”

That was the last straw. I threw my flowers down and stomped my way into the face. “You know what Lillian, your son is the one who doesn’t deserve me. I’m sorry that I was never really in love with Luke to begin with but when someone comes into the bar that you're working in and demands that you have sex with him right away.” The whole church let out a gasp. “You think that your precious little Luke is angel and that we should all bow down to him; well I got some news for you, he isn't!” My voice was just dripping with hatred and venom. “Never in a million years would I want to spend the rest of my life with Luke. Your son is nothing but a womanizer asshole and for some reason it has taken me up to this point to realize that. Oh and also found that out when I read those scandalous text messages between him and Melinda.” I looked over at the whore and saw that she had no guilt at all. “And as for John, yes he may not be the richest person on earth but I have loved that boy since i’ve been 15 years old. He is my one and only and the only reason I fell so hard for Luke is because I was heartbroken. I thought that Luke might be the perfect rebound but I found out he was just a regular, Wall Street asshole.”

I walked back over to John and wrapped my arm around his waist. Everyone in the church was basically speechless. In the silence, Luke started to laugh again. “What’s so funny?” I asked annoyed. John’s hand tightened around my waist and I could feel his heart beating out of control. “You honestly think I was actually in love with you?” Luke asked. I furrowed my brows and stared at him. “All I wanted was a test ride to see if you were any good in the sack.” By the time the last word came out of his mouth, John was back on top of him. Everyone in the church started to yell again and this time Lillian and Melinda came after me. I could feel my hair being pulled and nails scratching against my skin but my fists were flying and I wasn’t quite sure who I was hitting nor did I care.

“Enough!!!!!” My mother’s voice screamed through the air. The poor priest that was hired to officiate the wedding probably thought he was in hell. “I’ve had enough of all this bickering and fighting like a bunch of wild animals.” My mother continued to scream. I could see that she was really heated and I was prepared to get the brunt of most of that anger. “I am so ashamed at how you, Lillian of all people are behaving right now. You’re supposed to be this high priced and fabulous person you speak so highly of but you are nothing but a piece of trash. Oh and so is your manwhore of a son.” I could not believe that these words were coming out of my mothers mouth. I thought she wanted me to be apart of Lillian’s high society family? She was so pissed when she found out that I had spent most of my time with John back in Arizona and was so afraid that Luke would call everything off he was to find out. She wanted things to be perfect for me and repeated that Luke was the person to fulfill those dreams. I watched as she made her way up to Lillian and stood her ground right in front of her. “I could give a rats ass what you may think of me right now but you will not attack my daughter for decided that she wanted to go back with her true love. Actually, I am really happy that she chose to be with John because then I won’t have to see her being put through the ringer with that son of a bitch you call a son.” Lillian’s face told everyone in the church just how my mother’s words were affected her. “Oh and before I go, I just want to give you something.” Everyone in the church looked at my mother as her small and powerful fist slammed into Lillian’s face. “I hope you have a fabulous rest of the day, Lillian.” And with that my mother made her way out of the church with my father and sister’s following. I took that as my cue to leave as well, grabbing John’s hand in the process.

As soon as I stepped onto the streets of New York I knew that I was finally free to be with the one I was truly meant to be with. I no longer had to try and impress snooty people or do things that I found to be just plane horrible. After spending all these years thinking that Luke might be my one and only, I finally found out that John was the only person who could fill those shoes!