Chapter Text
“You may kiss your bride.” With a broad smile and a few slipping tears, Eren slid his palm on Mikasa’s cheek and pressed his lips to her. You clapped along with everyone else while watching your best friend finally seal the deal with her new husband. They had dated for years. Had been in love for longer. And it warmed your heart knowing that she was happy. Mikasa had found and married her person.
The crowd stood and cheered as Eren dipped his new bride and kissed her lips once more before pulling away and murmuring something between the two of them. A pink blush stained Mikasa’s cheeks as they straightened and took one another’s arms.
The newlyweds smiled broadly as they started down the aisle, now raining with white confetti. People threw rose petals at them and pearls, waved their sparklers throughout the air until they made it into their white Porsche, and started for the reception venue.
Within just a few minutes, you were in your car readying yourself for the drive when a text came through from Mikasa.
Just checking to see if everything is arranged.
Whole crew is already there. Stop worrying and let me take care of your reception, babe :P
You’re the best! Love you <3
You handpicked your two best employees for bartending. Mikasa had been nervous to ask you to serve the booze but gladly accepted with a smile and a wave of your hand. Once you arrived at the reception, you hurried inside before the crowd of people entered the vast room.
There were white dining tables scattered throughout each corner of the room—about eight chairs around each round table and a place setting for dinner. In the center of the room was the dance floor, which was bare and ready for people to hit it. You sidled your way over to the bar, where the two bartenders seemed to be finishing up prep for the party.
“Aye (y/n) wanna shot before the party begins?”
You made your way behind the bar with a grin. “You know it,” you chimed. Ian nodded while pouring three shots of tequila. One for you, himself, and Stacy. All three of you cheered, tapped the table, and shot them back with ease right as people began flooding in and taking their respective seats at the tables.
“You think we’ll make good money?” Stacy inquired with a hand on her hip. Her chestnut eyes wide with excitement as usual. She was always so excited to do her job. Always polite to guests and bubbly, which aided with her tips.
“Given the venue is about thirty grand, I’d hope so.” Stacy’s jaw was agape when you looked at her, and her arms slack. Ian snorted and crossed his arm before eyeing the droves of people.
You saw Sasha and Connie approaching the bartop out of the corner of your eye. Both with feral grins on their faces. “Y’all serving now?” Sasha boomed.
Patting Ian and Stacy on the back, you said, “Have at it.”
Nearly thirty minutes after everyone was seated and talking amongst themselves, the doors to the venue opened, and in came Mikasa and Eren arm in arm. Mikasa had changed into a simpler white gown, still beautiful but more comfortable for dancing. Eren remained in his suit and tie but had forgone the blazer.
They happily jammed to the entering song before taking their seats at the newlywed table. You watched as Eren pulled his wife’s chair back and pushed it forward once she was settled. He brushed a kiss on her cheek before taking to his chair and smiling at her.
The sight made your chest strain, and you instantly swallowed the tightness in your throat. This is her day. She is happy. That is all that matters. Of all the times your emotions had to hit, now was the worst. It shouldn’t have made you jealous to see your best friend happy. All your lives, you two had prayed you’d meet your person. Mikasa finally had and was now living out that dream.
You, however, weren’t as lucky in the ‘finding your person’ department. In high school, you weren’t interested in dating. There weren’t any guys who were that into you in college, and if they were…, they ended up being pieces of shit. Now it was the issue of finding someone with shared goals. However, as the days passed, that kind of love was slipping through your fingers.
I really should not have done that shot. You thought to yourself as you took your seat at the bridesmaid table. Sasha, Hange, Ymir, Historia, and Annie all talked among themselves while you sat.
“I got you a jack and coke,” Sasha chirped as she slid it your way.
“Thank God,” you answered and sipped deeply. The burn of the liquor warmed you from the inside.
Ymir chuckled softly. “Getting high on your own supply, (y/n)?”
You glared and nodded. “How do you think I get through my shifts at the bar?”
“Man, I wish I could drink on the job,” Hange added. “But surgery and alcohol don’t mix well.”
Staring at the high-energy surgeon before you, you nodded. “I would think that logical.”
“Anyways,” they added, “when do you think the dancing will begin? I was hoping I could get Levi to—”
Answering their question, Eren spoke into the microphone. “Thank you all for coming. It means so much to Mikasa and me. Before we get into the eating and dancing, we wanted to get the sob story speeches out of the way.”
Once all the speeches were done, including your own. The food hit the table, and then the dancing began. Sasha and Connie danced with one another. Ymir and Historia together, then you and Hange. It was a mix of dirty dancing, slow dancing, and some yelling to some of the banger songs.
Eren and Mikasa had their first dance as a married couple. Tears of joy were shed, and more congratulations were given before they cut the cake and retired to their hotel room.
After everyone wished the newlyweds and were tired out and drunk on the open bar, they began packing up for their journeys back home. Unfortunately, you had to clean up the mess in the bar before you started home. It was nearly two a.m. when you sat at the bar waiting for the venue manager to finish inspecting the room to give all clear so you could leave.
You sat on the barstool, with your head propped on your fist and eyelids heavy. You honestly weren’t even sure you would be able to drive yourself home because of your fatigue. The venue manager alerted you were clear to head out, so you slid off the barstool, grabbed your clutch, and made your way towards the parking lot.
There was no sound in the humid night air except for the clacking of your heels on the asphalt and the chirping crickets in the distance. You unlocked your car and slid into the driver's seat without much trouble. You shut the door, placed your keys in the ignition, and braced your forehead against the wheel.
The automatic light faded away while the silence enveloped you. That’s when the tears began flowing, and your heart began aching. You silently cried in the comfort of your own car at the realization of how alone you were now. All your friends now married and starting lives with their respective partners.
Annie and Bertholdt were expecting a new baby in the winter. Sasha and Niccolo were building their first house. Ymir and Historia happily married and content in their townhome. Even Connie and his wife were now talking about having little ones. The last person you had was Mikasa, but she too had slipped through your grasp like sand.
You took a shuddering breath and rested your head back against your seat as you wiped away the running mascara and snot with a napkin. The drive home was spent in contemplative silence. When you pulled into the driveway of your two-bedroom, two-bath home, your throat tightened as you noticed the dark porch light.
Pushing aside the hurt, you stepped out of your car and trotted up the front steps before unlocking the door and entering your house. Small, patted footsteps greeted you, and a wet nose brushed your exposed shin. Mila, your blue pitbull, wagged her tail and welcomed you home with a few happy huffs.
A sad smile graced your lips while you kicked off your heels and bent over to give your pup some love. “Hi, baby. I’m sorry I was gone so long.”
She returned the love with some puppy kisses and led you towards your bedroom, where the two of you would crash for the night. Mila leaped upon the bed and curled up on the foot of the queen while you stripped out of your purple bridesmaid dress and scrubbed the makeup off your face before joining her. The two of you were out like lights once your head hit the pillow. Maybe tomorrow would offer up something in your favor.