Disclaimer: Based on real events, but some things are made up to help the story. Slight AU. Goes in a different direction.
Chapter 25 - June 4th, 2017
"You held on tight to me 'cause nothing's as it seems. I'm spinning out of control." - Excerpt from Wonderland, Taylor Swift
"After this wedding, I am never touching another dress ever again."
Miley looked up, amused. "Really?"
Demi groaned. She had been through at least eighty dresses, and it was barely nine. So far, she had hated each and every single one of them—well, she didn't hate them. They were all designed beautifully. She just didn't see herself in any of those dresses at her wedding. If Joe felt that way shopping for her wedding ring...well, she wouldn't blame him. The dresses ranged from extravagant to simple and classy. It was utterly impossible to choose. Just when Demi thought that the, er, dress expert people couldn't find a dress to fit her requirements (and she had made some of those requirements up because hello, she just wanted to get out of there), they would find yet another dress. Grr. Demi was never going to survive long enough for her wedding.
"How's this one?" Demi said, twirling around.
Miley smiled. "It's amazing."
"That's what you said for the last ninety-five dresses," Demi grumbled. "I feel like you're lying."
Miley shook her head absentmindedly. "They all look gorgeous on you, Demi. Just get whatever feels right."
"And if none of them feel right?"
Miley shook her head and smiled wryly. "I guess the books lie, right? About how there's the 'perfect wedding dress' for every single person?"
Demi scoffed, though inwardly, she really hoped that would be true. How embarrassing would it be to have a wedding dress she didn't even like? Well, she liked all of the dresses she had tried on—they were white, some were decorated more excessively than others, but all had equally alluring patterns—yet none of them had really attracted her attention. She was seriously starting to despair about a task as simplistic as this.
Wasn't wedding dress shopping supposed to be like regular shopping? Fun and ridiculous and a total waste of time but still awesome—for lack of better word—all the same. Nope. This—this was just tiring and tiring and more tiring, and ugh, had only five minutes passed? Demi groaned inwardly and stormed through the dressing room, putting on her regular, comfortable clothes. She didn't know what the last dress she had been wearing was made of, but it was not silk. Or anything soft. Or anything wearable. It was probably even flammable.
Demi stepped out, and Miley looked up, amused but not looking entirely surprised that Demi had given up before twelve.
"So. Selena's joining us for lunch."
That got Demi's attention.
"What?" she squeaked. "Selena got on a jet and flew her way over here?! That's ridiculous!"
"It's not that ridiculous," Miley scoffed.
Demi was sure that Miley wasn't that happy about the whole Selena situation, but...well, well, Demi didn't know. She had no idea what on earth was up, but it was more surprise than anything. Demi didn't have anything against Selena. The whole thing was just a bit weird. Demi had no idea how to handle a situation like this. She hadn't seen and talked to Selena in...a long time.
As Demi examined Miley's face, she noted that Miley did look curious, probably at everything Selena had been doing. After all, Selena was quite successful, so she must be doing something right. Years ago, Miley and Selena had fought of Nick, but everything had changed now, Demi knew that. Selena and Miley were both perfectly happy with their own guy. Demi wondered if a few years would be enough to actually make them all cooperate. The idea didn't seem too outlandish, and perhaps it might actually be...fun.
"We're going to that small cafe around the corner," Miley informed.
"We are always at cafes," Demi complained.
Miley hid a smile. "Yeah, that's how we know which ones are the best," she said with a dubious smile. "Plus you won't need to try on another dress before then."
Demi perked up. "How soon can we go?"
The two were soon on their way to that small cafe, waiting at a table. They were sitting in tall chairs and waiting for Selena to show up. Miley was drumming her fingers against the table in a perpetual way and murmuring lyrics under her breath. Demi had the sneaking suspicion that the song was Best of Both Worlds but didn't dare call Miley on it. It made Demi smile, though, the way Miley was able to sing the song like it was just another song.
"Sorry I'm late. The traffic was horrendous! I honestly should've walked here."
Demi looked up to see Selena. Selena looked more or less the same as Demi remembered. Dark hair, now cropped so the waves were around her shoulders instead of flowing down her back, skin with a rosy flush, yep Selena didn't change that much. She was still beautiful, still stunning. Selena's hair had a slight curl to it, and her eyes were dark and mysterious as usual.
"Selena," Miley greeted Selena first, a smile on her lips at once. She got up out of her chair to give Selena a hug, and Demi smiled, remembering that Miley didn't do handshakes, she did hugs. Apparently, Selena was more than just an acquaintance that Miley could hug her. Of course, Miley could hug complete strangers, and Demi wouldn't be surprised. "How are you?" Miley said politely, a friendly tone to her voice. Demi had the sneaking suspicion that Miley was trying to make this outing as pleasant as possible—for Demi, perhaps.
Selena grinned, smile wider. "Great—and I can see that you're doing just fine, too."
"Hey, Selena," Demi said, smiling. She gave Selena a small hug, too. "And you're not that late. We just arrived ourselves."
Selena rolled her eyes. "You don't have to lie to me to spare my feelings, Demi."
Miley actually laughed, and Demi shot a glare towards Miley. However, Selena was laughing, too, and Demi started laughing because a) it would be extremely awkward and maybe slightly humiliating if she didn't, and b) their laughter was just too contagious, and she would have to be a fool not to join in. A slightly awkward silence that lasted maybe half a second occurred Selena took a seat with them.
"God, you two look amazing," Selena said, a wistful look in her eyes.
"Hmph," Demi scoffed. "Not amazing enough to find a wedding dress I actually like."
Miley grinned teasingly. "Well, it's not our fault that you're so picky. I saw a dozen that looked gorgeous on you."
"So you're saying the rest looked ugly?"
"God, no, Demi," Miley said, groaning. She turned to Selena, exchanging a glance with the girl. "She never changes."
Selena laughed. Demi didn't remember Selena laughing so much. What love did to you, was she right? "Nope, she doesn't," Selena agreed. She smiled and turned back to Demi, her gaze landing briefly on Demi's engagement ring. "That's a pretty ring," Selena said admiringly. "Joe sure has good taste—surprising for him." Selena suddenly looked jolted. "No offense," she was quick to add.
"Come on, Sel," Miley said, rolling her eyes. "We aren't at Disney," she joked. "There's no one here to tell us what we're doing wrong."
Selena grinned. "You were such a troublemaker."
"Guilty as charged," Miley said, grinning. "Still am, I reckon." Her eyes twinkled.
"Are we going to eat or what?" Demi complained. "I'm hungry."
Miley rolled her eyes. "Alright then."
Soon, they ordered their food and were chatting animatedly between bites of the food. Demi was surprised at how well Selena fit in with them. Selena still had that old-school sort of gracefulness and politeness, but there was something different in her eyes—something more carefree. And sometimes, Demi caught Selena looking at Miley with a sort of wistfulness, not an icy jealousy like how Demi remembered it years ago. The girls seemed to have a mutual understanding now.
As they finished, Demi groaned. "No more dresses!"
"You're the one who wanted the wedding in three days!" Miley retorted.
"That's the day after tomorrow, correct?" Selena inquired.
"Yup," Demi said glumly. "This wedding better be worth it if it takes all this trouble!"
"Trouble?" Miley echoed indignantly. "I'm the one doing everything!"
Demi scoffed. Then, she noticed Selena looking at their casts, a worried, careful look in her eyes. Demi cleared her throat, and Miley and Selena turned back to her, slightly curious looks in their faces. "I see you're looking at our casts," Demi said bluntly, and Selena let out a small oh at that. "It's fine, really. You can ask, if you want. I reckon we'll have to give the full story to some random magazine anyways."
"If you don't mind me asking..." Selena said hesitantly. "Just...what happened? You've all been so quiet about it."
"You tell her," Demi told Miley.
Miley nodded seriously. "Well, Paul Kevin, Nick's dad, you know, he kidnapped Nick..." Miley hesitated, and sympathy mixed in with the horror in Selena's dark eyes. "A sort of revenge thing, I guess... He was trying to get to us, something like that. Well, when we figured out where Nick was...we were headed over there when we were hit by a car. I think it was a suicide mission. The other driver died instantly, on impact."
Selena covered her mouth with a hand, eyes wide with horror. "What?"
"Yeah," Miley said, looking down. "We were lucky, we could've gotten seriously injured. Joe was the worst off out of us, really." Miley shuddered. "It was really traumatic, it's hard to understand if you weren't there..." There was a solemn air around Miley, one that the car crash had brought out. Miley squeezed her eyes shut for a heartbeat. "But it's all done and dusted. Paul can't hurt us anymore... Pretty sure."
Selena frowned. "What do you mean 'pretty sure'?"
"What she means is that Paul left and said sorry through a text," Demi said flatly. "He just...disappeared."
Selena's jaw dropped. She shuddered. "How can you guys sleep at night?"
Miley stiffened. "To be honest, it's hard sometimes," she said. She took a deep breath. "Sorry," she murmured, her apology clearly shocking and confusing Selena. "We shouldn't have bothered you with this...we know it can be hard to...take in." She shrugged. "Even we aren't safe, really, even being this successful and having all that money..." She shrugged. "Sort of makes you want to live life a little fuller, a little better."
Selena nodded in comprehension. "Totally. I can't...can't imagine that happening. It must've been horrible." Demi shrugged in a matter-of-fact way, and Selena frowned, clearly thinking. "This is why you wanted to have the wedding right now, right?" Selena mused aloud, and Demi exchanged a brief glance with Miley before nodding slowly. "It's a good distraction." Selena smiled. "Thanks for inviting me, you know? I know that things..."
Miley smiled. "It's a brand new start," Miley murmured.
"In Malibu," all three girls chorused, bursting out into a fit of giggles.
"I love that song," Selena admitted shyly. "It gives off such positive vibes. It makes me smile."
Miley smiled appreciatively. "Thanks." She smirked. "It's no Confident or It Ain't Me, but I suppose it'll do."
Demi glowered. "Gee, thanks."
Selena laughed. "How have you guys not ripped each other's throats out yet?"
"I'm wondering that, too," Miley said, winking.
Selena shook her head absentmindedly, amazed. "Wow..." she murmured, almost to herself.
Love Will Find A Way
Selena hadn't been sure what she had been expecting when she agreed to go out for lunch with Demi and Miley. She hadn't been sure what she had been thinking then, but what she was sure of was that she didn't regret it, not one bit. She was actually quite glad. Miley and Demi clearly had their own special friendship, but they both were very welcoming and charismatic.
No wonder both of them had gotten away with so much.
Selena had been the most nervous about Miley. She and the girl had never really been on good terms. They had been friends once—not good friends, not best friends, but friends just the same—but they never really had much in common. As of now, those insecurities that Selena had always felt around Miley...well, she wouldn't say they disappeared. Maybe faded a bit. She had always been slightly jealous of the successful Hannah Montana star because it didn't matter what you said about Miley, you couldn't deny she had the confidence. She had this vivid, wild energy to her.
Miley had been charming and nice, and Selena could tell just like that that Miley wasn't a faker. Miley was real. Miley said what was on her mind and joked around all the time. It was an intriguing quality, how Miley could just...let loose just like that, like she didn't notice the million cameras flashing to get a good shot of the star, or maybe she didn't care. Or maybe she did. Maybe she just didn't care enough to do anything about it.
And then there was Demi. Selena and Demi had been definite besties back in the day, but that friendship had...disappeared. So had their closeness. Selena was touched that Demi was just as charming and welcoming as Miley was. She didn't realize how much she missed Demi's playful bantering and witty comments. Demi could light up a room as easily as Miley could. And though Selena knew that she was quite a looker, she felt plain with Demi and Miley by her side. She didn't show these insecurities though, but she was only human. She was allowed to have those insecurities, even if they made no sense to other people.
They were now in another dress store with Demi complaining about every single dress she tried on. Selena and Miley were in a section of their own, checking out different dresses that would be suitable—Demi had demanded that if she had to go through the torture of finding a dress, so would they. Miley had actually laughed at Demi and told her that she wouldn't have a problem finding a dress. Demi, long story short, had been fuming and had no doubt thrown a fit at the next person who had presented her with a dress.
Selena fingered a white, long-sleeved dress that had a snowflake pattern on it. "Did you find anything you like?" Selena asked Miley.
Miley blinked. "I don't know," she admitted. Then, in a rather sly voice, she added, "But whatever I find, it's going to match my boots."
Selena laughed. Of course Miley would wear boots at Demi's wedding.
Selena saw Miley holding a sleeveless white dress that roughly hit the knees. The straps and flowing material of the dress made Selena think of summer, and there was a pale blue belt that went with the dress. Miley blinked and murmured, "I'll probably get this. And maybe change the belt to a red one. Or black. I just think a blue belt looks...off." Miley shrugged.
"It'll look great on you," Selena said truthfully.
"Thanks," Miley said, smiling. She pointed at a dress next to Selena. It looked sort of like the one Miley had chosen for herself, but there were sleeves—flowing sleeves that seemed almost transparent. Selena smiled. She could almost picture herself in the dress. "That's the one for you," Miley breathed, her blue eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Try it on," Miley urged.
Selena didn't need any other urging. When she came out of the dressing room...
Miley gasped. Then, she grinned. "Geez, Selena, you might not want to outdress Demi at her own wedding."
Selena grinned at the compliment. "Yeah, she'd totally regret inviting me then."
Miley looked slightly bashful now. Then, she murmured, "You know, when you first came, my first thought was, what on earth did I get myself into?" Miley shrugged in a devil-may-care way. "But this has been a lot of fun." She smiled. "We should probably rehearse Send It On tomorrow or something. Demi would kill us if we messed up the song at her wedding."
Selena smiled, liking Miley's use of us. The girl seemed determined not to ruin their newfound friendship.
"We make mistakes," Miley said suddenly. "But if that's alright for you, I'd like for us to be friends."
Selena smiled. "I'd like that, too, very much."
There was a small shriek in the air, and both girls whirled around. A very triumphant looking Demi rushed towards them, holding a dress. There was a very gleeful, very Demi-like gleam in her eyes. There was a new light in Demi's eyes, as if her dark eyes had captured the light of a brilliant dawn sun, with just slivers of light peaking out at times. Demi looked stunning, and not just because she was beautiful, in that moment. It was because of the look in Demi's eyes.
And Selena knew that Demi had found her dress.
QotD: Is this encounter believable?
#I don't think so, but it's my story, so what the heck! I seriously don't want to waste a few chapters arguing about Selena.
A/N: Hey, it's Darky! Man, this chapter was just too fun to write! Glad I can put these three as friends. My little Disney triumvirate. Each one a queen in her own way. Love that Send It On thing, though. I love them all! I was contemplating putting Selena as an enemy, but you know, I love her, and I didn't want to do that. I can't wait to write Demi's wedding! It's going to be a blast!
Pretty sure.
Review your answer to the QotD! Tell me your thoughts? I appreciate it though you don't need to. But who doesn't love reviews? ;)
- Darky