Last day! Day 7 - Now or Never

It's their wedding day, and Opal and Bolin just need a little reassurance from each other.

Opal paced back and forth for about the fiftieth time. Her pale yellow dress swished around her feet. Her veil fell around her face as she stared at the floor, her breathing fast and frantic with each step.

She couldn't believe she was doing this. Months ago this day seemed so far away, like a fantasy, it was hard to believe it would actually come. But here she was, in her gown on her wedding day, and she could barely breathe.

"Why am I so nervous?" she asked herself. "I've wanted this day for so long…" But the thought of all those people staring at her as she stumbled through her vows, eyes judging her every word and every movement as she proclaimed her love, made every inch of her grow cold.

And Bolin. Oh, what about Bolin? He had been a wreck all these months with planning the wedding, even with Opal at his side. Maybe now he realized he actually didn't want to marry her and had left on a boat to the South Pole or something. Oh no, being left alone at the altar; it was like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her head. She couldn't think of anything worse. The air in the room started to shift as she breathed; she didn't even notice she was airbending.

Suddenly a 'clack' sound came from the window, stopping Opal in her tracks. It was open, but someone was throwing tiny pebbles against the shutters. Who could that be?

"Opal? Opal, are you in there?" Bolin.

She hurried to the window and hid against the wall. "Bolin? What are you doing here? It's bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the ceremony!"

"I know, I know… But I just had to hear your voice."

Opal blushed. "Where's Mako? Isn't he supposed to be keeping track of you today?"

"He thinks I'm in the bathroom," he replied. "So we've got to be quick before he comes looking for me."

There was a faint tapping as his palm hit the window pane. Opal looked away, but still reached out behind her and took his hand in hers. "I'm right here, Bolin. I'm glad you came."

Even from the other side of the wall she could tell he relaxed. "I'm so happy I found you. I was afraid that you'd decided you didn't like me anymore and that you left."

Opal's heart thudded against her ribcage "No, Bolin. I want this so much. I was actually afraid with all the panicking you've been doing that you didn't want to marry me anymore."

She heard a slight whimper. "I did that? Oh, Opal, I'm so sorry. I just wanted everything to be perfect. I'd never want to abandon you, not ever. Ever, ever, ever." He squeezed her hand, and she squeezed back. "And just to let you know, I'll probably cry at the ceremony, but they're happy tears, I promise."

She let out a giggle, but then bit her lip to try and steady her breath. "But I'm still so nervous. All those people will be staring at us. I mean, yes, they're our friends and family, we invited them. But I don't know…"

Bolin chuckled. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm nervous about all those people too."

"What? But you love talking in front of people. You love putting on a show. You're an actor!"

"Well yeah, but this is different. I'm not acting. All those things I'm gonna say are true, and I'm trying to be myself. I love you so much, Opal. It's… It's really hard to explain."

"Maybe we should have eloped."

"And have to deal with the wrath of your mother and my brother? Ha, no. Eloping, not a good idea. Plus, we already paid Tahno's band and the catering. We can't let that all go to waste."

"True, true."

They let a comfortable silence linger between them before Opal sighed. "So, we're really doing this."

"Yeah. Yeah, we're doing this."

She smiled as she brushed his knuckles with her thumb. "Now or never, right?"

"Yeah. Now or never."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. "Opal? We're going to start soon. Are you ready?"

"In a minute, Dad!" she called before whispering at the window. "You better go. Doesn't Mako still think you're in the bathroom?"

"He's probably figured out by now that I'm not there." He squeezed her hand again. "See you soon."

"See you soon. I love you."

"I love you too." With that he was gone.

Opal held her hand to her chest before taking a deep breath. "Okay, Dad, you can come in."

Baatar Sr. opened the door, and tears immediately welled in his eyes. "Oh, Opal, Sweetheart, you look so beautiful!"

She came over and gave him a big hug. "Thank you, Dad."

"So, are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be," she answered as she grabbed her bouquet and cue cards for her vows.

Baatar held out his arm, which Opal graciously took, and led her down the hall. With her father at her side, and her gaze drifting to the ring on her finger, she felt her confidence build with each step. This was what she wanted for so long, and now it was finally here. Now or never.

And that's Bopal Week 2016! Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, and participated. You all are amazing!

I'll be posting matching drawings for each chapter on my tumblr next week.