If not for the tense atmosphere, Thorne's dumbfounded expression would have made her laugh. His mouth opened a few times but no words came out. He just looked back and forth between her and the ring box.

Cress had never seen Thorne at loss for words. Now she felt better about not confiding in Kai.

"Soo ...," Thorne started, a slight pitch in his tone. "While I'm very flattered, I'm sorry I have to decline your proposal. That's a proposal ring—engagement ring, I mean, right? But no hard feelings." He chuckled weakly at his own joke. He had crossed his arms and drew back to his part of the couch. He looked like he couldn't get far enough away from the ring box.

Cress almost laughed at his antics. He was over-the-top dramatic but it lightened the mood.

And Cress couldn't turn back now anyway. She and Thorne were something like friends now—a development that would have been almost unthinkable a few weeks ago. But she had really started to like Thorne and his jokes, the way he approached everything with good humor and a self-confidence when it came to handling things for Kai and Cinder's wedding.

She was grateful for his steady presence, especially since Cress had recently let herself become immersed in this whole wedding planning business, way more than usual.

Because focusing on the wedding was better than focusing on everything involving the little box in her hand.

For several long minutes, an awkward silence hung between them until Thorne gave a short cough.

Sitting up a bit straighter and combing through his hair with his fingers, Thorne said, "Okay, so, that's your big secret? You're engaged? Shouldn't that be a big cause of celebration? Confetti, fireworks and the likes?"

"Um, I … you know—"

He raised an eyebrow. "But then again you would have worn that ring on your finger, waving it around like every newly-engaged girl I know, Well, except Cinder." He paused. "Or Scarlet. Okay, maybe not that many girls I know. But just wait for Iko, she'll go for the whole thing, only barely topped by her wedding when her time comes."

Cress had only heard bits and pieces about Iko from Kai and passing references from Thorne and Cinder too. She seemed to be … one of a kind and Cress couldn't wait to meet her.

"…— and not to mention all my clients. They book me as their wedding planner and they still wave their ring finger around to demonstrate their new status." Cocking his head to the side, he sent her a curios glance. "But you keep it in its box. And you haven't told Kai. I thought someone like you would be more excited."

"Someone like me?"

"Yes, someone over-the-top romantic like you are. Just waiting for the moment to get engaged and having the wedding you always dreamed of."

"Over the top romantic?" Cress huffed. She never thought she was over-the-top though it wasn't the first time she heard it. Rather, Cress felt she was reasonably romantic … with a slight tendency to be very enthusiastic about her job. But Cress rather chalked it up to having an excellent work ethic.

But something else in Thorne's words stung a little. Something that made her curl her fingers around the velvet ring box.

Thorne raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Have you met yourself?" He shook his head. "Anyway. Now, who's the lucky guy? Why doesn't anyone know about him? Oh. Is he—"Thorne suddenly looked concerned"—ugly?" he added in hushed voice.

Cress was very much tempted to punch him. "He is not!"

"Okay, okay." Thorne held up his hands appeasingly. "So, what's with the hiding?"

"There's no hiding." At his doubtful glance, she backtracked. "It's just that ... I didn't want to put the spotlight on me. Not when it's about Kai and Cinder's wedding," she added. Cress fiddled with the ring box, then decided to lay it on the table. Then closed it when she felt the ring was glaring at her. Admonishing her for not being honest. Except admitting it would lead to admitting other things and Cress was certainly not ready for that.

But then, why had she brought up the engagement at all?

"That's noble but stupid," Thorne told her. "You're engagement would not have topped the wedding. Except if you decided to run up to the altar and declare it while Cinder and Kai were exchanging their rings. Which I hope you weren't planning on doing?"

"No!" Cress cried.

"See, then what's the problem?"

Cress held his full attention now. There was something warm and curious about Thorne at this moment, his calm eyes steadying her the way they had in the van with Jina and her group of stoners. Or when he had voted for her idea for Cinder and Kai's wedding when she had presented it. Or when he had asked to team up for the wedding, as partners.

"I haven't said 'yes' yet." Her voice was quiet, so quiet that she wasn't sure he had heard her (she had hardly heard herself) but he nodded. There was a long silence. When she stole a glance at Thorne, he scratched his chin as if lost in thought but his eyes still haven't left her.

"Doubts?"

Cress startled. "Sorry?"

He gave a small cough. "I was asking if you have doubts. Concerning the...," he trailed off, pointing to the ring box on the table.

Cress slightly shook her head. "It's not that." Hugging her knees to her chest, Cress followed his glance. "It's not that at all."

A careful brushing of fingertips was all it took for Cress to know she just met her soulmate.

After all, that was how all the couples met in her favorite romcoms.

"Oh, I'm sorry," the said in unison, retracting their hands from where they had reached for the same book.

Yes, definitely romcom worthy.

Cress had arrived before her first lecture of evening school to get all the required reading material ahead of time. She suspected that most people would get them after the lecturer went through their course schedule but not so Cress.

No, she wanted to be as prepared as possible.

After all, this was the first step towards her own wedding planning business.

But it seemed she wasn't the only one who came early to prepare for their first class.

The guy was tall, with a mop of dark curls and eyes so deep and dark you could get lost in them.

Everything a soulmate should be like.

"Please, take it," he said in a voice that was quiet and soft. When she didn't respond, he grabbed it from the shelf and held it up to her.

"Oh, no you should have it," Cress objected but he just smiled.

"Ladies first."

A true gentleman.

She smiled up at him and hoped he could feel the same flutter in his chest that signified the beginning of an epic love story.

"Hi, is this seat taken?"

Cress, who had been trying to organize her pens, highlighters and post-its on her desk, a most boring task that just didn't seem up to be on par with meeting your soulmate, looked up startled.

A familiar friendly face smiled down at her expectantly as he pointed to the empty seat next to her.

It was him.

Cress needed a few seconds until his words registered. "Oh, um, yes, sure." The guy looked a bit confused, his smile faltering for a bit and Cress wanted to slap herself. "I mean, no, it's not taken. I just meant that, sure, you could take it." Inside, Cress groaned.

So much for a great first impression. Or second, whatever.

The guy chuckled, a small relieved sound, before he took his seat and arranged his own folder and pens on his desk.

Nervousness bubbled up in her stomach. He was here! In the same class, sitting next to her!

That couldn't be a coincidence.

No, this was fate.

And fate it was that let them cross paths ever so often and Cress and Julian went from simple students who had the same two classes every Tuesday and Thursday to so much more.

It was not a whirlwind romance, like Cress had imagined. But it was a sweet, slow courtship over the course of a semester that went in the expected ways: A few casual meetups with a group of friends, then a spontaneous coffee date when class was cancelled and finally, a first date at the movies.

Julian was just as sweet and just as kind as Cress had hoped for him to be. Attentive, reliable and calm, and very, very cute.

A guy every girl would dream of.

Cress had anticipated their first kiss by the way Julian fidgeted the whole evening. They had dinner and then toured the park together by moonlight.

It was a perfect date and the setup to an epic kiss.

Nervousness was evident on Julian's face as he slowly leaned forward, quickly glancing at her before capturing her lips with his own.

He moved carefully, his hands first finding her hands, then her shoulders and finally her hips before drawing her closer.

The kiss was sweet, languid as they took their time with it.

The moonlight, the lake, the scent of blossoms at night - could anything be more romantic?

Julian moved, pressing tiny pecks to her cheek, making her sigh as he moved lower, towards her jaw line.

In anticipation, she craned her neck slightly to give him better access, not quite knowing what she wanted herself but knowing she craved something, but then he moved back to her lips.

Telling herself, it was still a perfect first kiss, Cress pushed down any twinges of disappointment.

Between dates and school, Julian and Cress developed a tentative business partnership too.

Julian's family owned a hotel in Burlington that hosted a few events, among them many weddings, from time to time. It was a venue that could be recommended to couples that came to the event agency Cress worked for while she attained her degree in evening school. So, Cress often helped out at events and weddings in Julian's hotel and he, in turn, recommended her agency to couples too.

Cress's favorite daydream was the both of them working together for the rest of their lives. Him, as the hotel owner who knew his venue in and out and her, as the wedding planner with her own business who would turn his hotel into something wonderful for each new couple.

It seemed like a match made in heaven.

On their first anniversary, Cress received a bouquet of pink roses wound with baby's breath.

"Oh Julian! They're beautiful," Cress clapped her hands in excitement. She so loved flowers. Her father had always brought her a different one when he visited her in hospital. It made her white and sterile world just a bit more colorful.

"Almost as beautiful as you," he told her with a smile, as he stepped into her apartment.

"Why did you pick them?"

Julian was a bit taken aback. "Why did I...?"

"Why did you pick the pink roses?" Roses were the most popular wedding flowers so Cress knew their meanings particularly well. Pink roses stood for elegance, grace and sweetness which would be wonderful if Julian saw her like that. As elegant, graceful and sweet. Which girl would't want that? And baby's breath was a sign of everlasting love. It was enough to make Cress's heart flutter with joy.

Looking bashfully between Cress and the bouquet in her hands, Julian shrugged. "I thought those looked nice. The girl at the shop assured me that girls liked pink roses and they were her favorite too so I thought ... you know," he trailed off. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, of course not," Cress said with a smile. She was silly for expecting more, she told herself. It was just flowers and the gesture that counted after all. She gave Julian a quick kiss. "They're perfect."

Cress enjoyed lounging in bed the day after her first rounds of exams were done. She had a day off, the agency where she worked at giving her the day off.

Naturally, Cress spent her day not organizing weddings looking up more weddings.

Still in her favorite spaceship pajamas and sipping coffee from her favorite crescent moon cup, Cress flipped the pages of Something Blue. She read the article about eco-friendly weddings with great interest and made a few notes accordingly. She swooned over the meet-cutes of the featured newlyweds and was in awe of the wedding planner Carswell Thorne who gave his grandmother's necklace to a bride because she "deserved to sparkle on her wedding day".

Successful, kind and a great sense of romance?

That was exactly the kind of wedding planner she aspired to be.

"So, instead of the theme we discussed, they now want something very traditional and, frankly, boring. It would be like everyone else's wedding," Cress huffed, before taking another slice of pizza. She refrained from licking away the bit of tomato sauce knowing how peculiar Julian was about table manners and picked up a napkin instead.

He stopped cutting his slice to eye her. "Did you have any expenses that went along with the first idea?"

Using the fork and knife to cut her own slice, Cress first took a bite before answering. "No, not yet and the venue stays the same too. But money is not the issue."

"No?" There was a short pause. "I don't know why it bothers you so much. They switched their ideas, okay but I'm sure it will be a wonderful wedding either way," he said with an encouraging smile.

That was not what Cress wanted to hear though. "It will not be as amazing as the first one would have been. Before it had a fantastic Italian flair with the music and the bistro elements, as well as the food and there was even the idea to have the groom and his friends serenading-"

"Serenading?"

Cress ignored and incredulous stare. "- under his fiancée's window the night before! It would have been very chic and honour the bride's grandparents. But now, all they want to keep is the food."

Julian sighed but Cress had the feeling it wasn't to empathize with her. When he noted her stare, he just shrugged. "If that's what they want. You can't force them to go with your idea."

"I'm not forcing anyone," Cress objected, slightly offended by his remark. "We developed it together for weeks."

"Even so. It's your job to help them have a nice wedding and that's it."

Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Cress took another bite of her pizza, ditching the cutlery. "I want everything to be special, not just nice," she said between bites.

"Cress, babe, you take everything way too seriously. I'm happy you like your job and everything but for most people it's just a big day to celebrate with their friends and family and have a good time. And they will have that with or without Italian theme and serenading. Now, let's have a nice dinner, alright?" He cut another bit of pizza and ate it, obviously done with the conversation.

Cress pursed her lips but left it at that. There was no reason to argue, they had very different views on weddings. Julian didn't see the appeal of personalized weddings and if anyone asked him, he thought they were all the same anyway

But what did she expect? His sense of romance extended no further than candlelight, a bouquet of pink roses and dinner.

Which was perfect, of course.

Cress still smiled long after Kai and her said good-bye on the phone.

Kai may not know it himself but he was definitely head over heels for that girl Cinder. The way he talked about her in a faux casual way that still revealed how much he noticed was a dead giveaway.

But she didn't dig too hard. She was sure he would find out for himself soon enough. Hopefully, before the charity house building project they both volunteered at was over.

Kai had also mentioned a friend of Cinder going by the name of Thorne who sometimes visited the construction site. At first, Cress's heart skipped at the thought of it being the famous wedding planner but the guy had described with his jokey nature and flirty ways didn't seem to match the wedding planner from the magazine.

Too bad. That would have been something, a chance to learn more about the guy that she admired so much.

"Cress, are you coming?"

Cress pulled up her hair back from her face, considering how it would look and the pushed her bangs back too. She wasn't used to showing so much of her face, not since her hair had grown back from the latest chemo treatment.

Julian appeared in the door behind her. "We're going to be late."

She didn't turn away from the mirror but watched him. "What do you think?"

He stepped closer until he reached her. "About your hair?" He shrugged. "Looks good, I guess."

Cress nodded. "Maybe I should cut it a little?"

Julian made a face, telling her exactly what he thought of that. "Why would you want to do that. You have gorgeous hair. You always have."

Thinking back to her chemo's as a child, Cress knew that wasn't the case. She had cried silently with every strand of hair that fell of her scalp until nothing remained but baldness. And then, slowly, it had all grown back and she had never touched it since. But maybe it was time to try something new?

Slowly, Julian's hands came up to hers and detangled them from her head. A wave of golden locks spilled back over her shoulders and down her back. "Now, this is pretty. But of course, that's just but most guys like long hair. Especially if it's as gorgeous as yours." He gave her a quick kiss to the top of her head. "Now, let's go or we're really going to be late."

Taking a last look at the familiar face in the mirror, Cress thought Julian must be right.

It had been a silly thought.

Snowflakes danced in the air, glittering in the light of the headlights. The sudden frost at night worried hardly Cress though - Julian was a very safe driver even if it took them a little longer to get home from the restaurant where they had just had dinner with Julian's sister, Calista, and a boy from her running group, Arol.

Cress had noticed with delight how much they connected though they weren't a couple.

Yet. Cress was convinced it would take very little encouragement for them to fall madly in love and admit their feelings for each other.

She glanced at Julian, an impish smile on her lips. "So, what do you think of Arol?"

Even from just his profile could see the way his eyebrows drew together, though his eyes never left the street. "A nice kid, I guess," he settled on after a short pause.

Cress resisted the urge to roll her eyes. With Calista being only two years younger than Julian and herself and Arol being the same age, he was hardly a "kid" in Cress's eyes. But Julian took his big brother responsibilities very seriously.

"He's very nice, isn't he? He trains to be a paramedic, too."

"I know, I was there when he told us."

Cress paused. "Don't you think it would be wonderfully romantic for Calista and Arol to fall in love? They already like the same things and they plan to go on that trek in-"

"Cress, stop." He stopped at a red light with a sigh before turning to her. "Please, Cress, just ... let it go."

"Excuse me?"

"That matchmaking of yours. Just leave Calista out of it."

"What? I just saw the way they looked at each other. They would make a cute couple, that's all." And there was nothing wrong with a bit of match-making, Cress thought. Some people needed help finding their soulmate. Especially with someone being so shy as Arol seemed to be. But apparently Julian didn't understand that.

"Then let them figure it out themselves. Really, there's no need for anyone to intervene in someone else's love life." He smiled at her before starting to drive as the light turned to green. "We figured it out for ourselves, didn't we?"

With him focused on the street, there was no need for Cress to smile at him. "Yes, Julian."

But when she replayed the evening in her mind, Cress knew that there was more between Calista and Arol if only they felt confident enough to admit their feelings.

If Cress learned something from the romcoms, it was that true love never came easily.

The Veil did a two-page feature on Carswell Thorne's newest wedding trends to follow, when Kai called to tell her about asking Cinder to marry him.

She squealed into the phone. "Kai, that is amazing! Congratulations! I wish you all the best."

"Thank you. I wanted to tell you first." There was a short pause. "I wish you could have met her before the wedding."

Cress cringed. Time had passed so fast after she finally started her own wedding planner business. Similarly, Kai's political career hardly left him much time either. They had always promised each other to visit but it never worked out. Mails, instant messages and some rare phone calls were all they shared over the last few years.

But this was different. This was Kai's wedding and she would make sure to be there!

"I wanted to ask you but maybe it's a bit too much...," Kai trailed off quietly as if he changed his mind.

Cress wouldn't have any of that though. "No, I'm sure it isn't. What do you need? I can help you with everything." This was her chance to repay Kai's kindness he had shown her all those years.

She heard him chuckle at her enthusiasm. "You know, that is basically what I wanted to ask you. To help with everything."

Cress almost forgot how to breathe. He surely wouldn't ask her to be his wedding planner? Right?

Then again, why not? They were friends, after all and with her being a wedding planner, maybe he considered her.

She almost missed what Kai said,"- so, you know, it would be a great help. I'm sure Thorne will appreciate it if you could support him."

"Um, who is Thorne?"

Kai faltered for a second. "You know, Thorne. I'm pretty sure I told you about him? Cinder's best friend, as he likes to claim," he offered.

Oh right, she remembered something about a Thorne. But why would she support him? That could only mean... She peered down at the magazine photo of Carswell Thorne winking into the camera.

"Wait? Are you telling me that this Thorne is the Thorne?"

Kai laughed. "The Thorne, eh? I'm pretty sure he'll love to hear that one."

"Answer the question, Kai!" Cress squeaked in excitement.

"Alright, alright. Gee, someone is excited. Really, be careful about that around him, he already has a big enough ego as it is," he joked good-naturedly. "I guess, this Thorne is the Thorne. At least the one who is a wedding pl-"

There was enough time for Cress to grab a pillow, bury her face into and let out a muffled scream.

She would be working with Thorne! She, Cress Darnel, start-out wedding planner would be working with one of the best event planners in the country. No, the world!

It was like a dream come true!

"Cress? Cress, are you still there?" Kai's voice came out muffled between the pillows where she had thrown the phone in her excitement.

Oh, right. "Yes, I'm still here. Must have lost connection or something," she said in her best business tone, if slightly out of breath. "I would love to help you plan your wedding and support Thorne. Thank you very much for thinking of me." Okay, maybe a little less business attitude. "I can't wait to finally meet Cinder, too."

They chatted amiably for another ten minutes though Cress found Kai not very forthcoming about anything concerning Carswell Thorne. It wasn't that he didn't talk about him, but as much as she tried to guide towards the things that really interested her, Kai didn't take the hint. After hanging up, Cress hardly knew more about Carswell (would she be allowed to call him Carswell? Or Mr. Thorne? Or Thorne like his friends did, she wondered) than she did before.

Pressing the magazine to her chest like a treasure, Cress thought of all the things she had to do. Rescheduling some clients, booking plane tickets and the likes. If she was going to stay there for several weeks during summer, it would mean that she would lose the income she usually would have gained from the popular July to August weddings.

Then again, it was an opportunity like no other.

A business opportunity. Like a trainée. Or a special wedding planner summer camp.

Cress knew she would learn so much from Carswell Thorne that it would be worth it.

Hugging herself closer to Julian, as they watched the happy ending play of the movie they finally got around to watching (well, she got around to watch, Julian more or less endured it), Cress enjoyed the comfort of the moment.

It was nice.

If a bit quiet. Cress peered up at Julian who zapped through several more programs before settling on the news. The news anchor droned on, deep in talks with some travel expert.

"This will be good for us," Julian mentioned off-handedly.

Cress hadn't been listening. "What?"

"Many tourists travelling North rather than South for their holidays. We steadily got more guests at the hotel, so this summer will be busy." Looking down at her, Cress could see that he was considering his next words. "You sure you want to leave for L.A.?"

Cress sat up slightly. "Of course. I promised Kai I would be there."

Julian sighed. "Yes, but he can't expect you to be there for weeks on end, without any income," he added.

"Kai is paying me."

"Sure but that's one client. Usually, you could have ten."

She knew that as well as he did but she made a commitment and she would go to L.A. "It's a one-time thing, Julian. It's a big opportunity for me and I haven't taken a break in like ever. So, it's a bit like a vacation. There's the beach and lots to see." Cress had dreamed of beaches and the ocean for so long.

"That could wait. I'm not saying you shouldn't go there at all, Cress. I'm just asking you to consider not going there for several weeks. A few days before the wedding would be enough, don't you think? You'll miss out on great opportunities here too. Most couples marry in July and August. I should know be-"

"-because your hotel is completely booked during that time. I know, I know." She took his hands in his. "Don't you see how much this means to me?"

Julian held her steady glance, his eyes dark and thoughtful. He finally nodded. "Of course. I just want you think of your business too. It's your dream after all."

"I know. And I do."

He sighed in defeat, a tense smile playing on his lips. Begrudging support. Cress knew that this was the best she would get from him.

When Calista called Cress to ask her along for a shopping tour because she needed a new dress for her first date with Arol, Cress hardly could keep herself from gloating.

Not too much at least. Whereas Julian had to listen to everything she had planned for L.A. and Kai and Cinder's wedding, he now had to cop a few I told you so's thrown in too.

She had known Calista and Arol were made for each other. She just had.

Cress knew about love and romance.

It was in her line of business after all.

So, she and Calista spent a free afternoon browsing a few boutiques for a perfect dress.

"What about this one?"

Cress, who was still struggling to zip up her dress, carefully peeked through the curtain, careful that it hid her almost undressed body even though they were the only ones in the dressing room area. "Ooh, this one is cute!"

Calista didn't seem happy. "I don't want to look cute. I want to look ravishingly sexy."

"Umm." Ravishingly sexy was not how Cress would describe the pink dress with the bell sleeves and fine flower details. Then again, Cress doubted she had anything in her closet that could be described as ravishingly sexy either. "But you look so pretty in it. And it's a good dress for a first date. Where are you going again?"

"Some Italian place." Calista put up her long, brown locks as if to judge how it would look in an updo. She gave up. "Nah, not my style. Let's check out yours." A curious smile played on her lips.

"One sec." Cress bend first this way, then that way until she finally managed to close the zipper. She walked out of the stall. "What do you think?" She asked Calista, turning to the mirror.

It was a navy blue dress with a black belt. Professional but maybe a bit too strict for her work? Then again, it was fitting well, not an easy task, given Cress's small statue. It accented the few curves she had. Definitely not bad.

Calista was less impressed. "Boring."

"It's not boring," Cress said lightly, standing on tip-toes to see how it would look in high heels.

"Cress, no offense but if you look for "boring" in a dictionary, you'll find a picture of this dress right next to it." Calista walked next to her. "You have so many cute dresses. Like that teal boho-style dress."

Cress raised an eyebrow. "The one you borrowed from me and which you still haven't returned to me?"

Calista was Julian's little sister but sometimes it felt she was hers too. It wasn't a bad thought for Cress who never had much family. Julian's family on the other hand was huge with a full set of grandparents, uncles and aunts and more cousins than Cress could keep track of.

Calista ignored her. "Or the red skirt with the top you bought from that vintage store."

"Hey, I borrowed you that one too. Where is that top?"

Calista prowled on. "Or the yellow dress! Cress, you need something cute and breath-taking."

"I need something for work. This is perfect. You get something cute and breath-taking for your date with Arol," she teased the younger girl.

"Nooo, you need something amazing. Trust me, you'll thank me!" Browsing through a cloth rack, Calista quickly assessed a few dresses. "This one is perfect. I saw it before and you need to try it on. No arguing." She held up a beautiful rose-gold dress with a flowy skirt that Cress couldn't help but brush lightly with her fingertips, feeling the soft fabric.

"It's beautiful." That is, until Cress's fingers reached the price tag. Turning it around, Cress almost forgot how to breathe. "Beautiful and expensive."

"Oh come on, Cress, put it on. Pleeeeasse?"

"I won't be able to afford it."

Calista waved her concerns away. "Don't worry about that. Please just try it on."

Calista was nothing if not insistent and Cress had learned to give in, otherwise she would never hear the end of it.

Trying it on didn't mean she had to buy it after all. And it would probably not fit her anyway, Cress told herself.

But ooh, how it did. Cress hardly could take her eyes off herself when she stepped in front of the mirror. The simple, thin straps against her bare shoulders, the high-waist line, accentuating her hips, the skirt flowing prettily around her legs as the colours changed in the lights from a subtle pink tone to a shimmering gold one - it was gorgeous. And it was gorgeous on her.

"Oooh, Cress, you look so beautiful! Here, try on these heels."

It was a stupid idea with a price like that but Cress couldn't resist the strappy golden sandals Calista had picked out and everything came together.

"You need to buy it."

Reality set in. "Calista, it's way too expensive."

"Every girl needs a dress like this one, Cress."

"For what? I won't have any opportunity to wear it."

"But you do. You go to that fancy French restaurant with Julian next week."

Cress laughed. "Just because it's French doesn't mean it's fancy. I do have a blue dress picked out for it that will be perfect." Schrunching up her nose in thought, Cress tried to remember if she had lent that particular dress to Calista too.

"No, Cress, it's not. Let me pay for it."

That made her chuckle. "Ah, of course. Students and part-time waitresses are known for being rich and throwing around money." Cress gave her boyfriend's sister a brief hug. "Very sweet of you though. But let's get a dress for you. Ravishingly sexy, you said?"

Biting her lips dramatically, Calista hardly seemed to hear Cress.

"Calista, is everything alright?"

"Cress!" Reaching out for Cress's hands, she held them tightly between her own. "You have to promise me not to say anything."

Calista was pregnant. Deathly ill. Got thrown out from college. Had gambled away her college funds.

Countless scenarios filled Cress's head, one more devastating and terrifying than the other. She forced herself to be calm. "O-okay."

"No, Cress, you have to swear by everything that you hold dear that you will never, never reveal what I'm about to tell you."

"Calista, you're scaring me."

"I promised not to tell you. Julian would be so mad with me." She blew her dark curls away from her face in annoyance. "Promise me."

Cress gulped. "I promise."

Instantly, Calista's mood was bright and carefree again, her grin almost mischievous. "He will propose!" She squeaked, clapping her hands excitedly before covering her mouth as if she couldn't believe what she just revealed.

What? "Who?"

Calista rolled her eyes. "Julian, of course." A short pause. "To you!" Just in case Cress didn't make the connection herself.

The ground was pulling away under her and Cress felt as if she somersaulted head-first into the void.

"He booked a table at that fancy restaurant you went to on your first year anniversary. And he wants it to be a surprise but I knew you would be so mad if it were anything less than perfect so I had to go shopping with you. It had to be the perfect place, the perfect time and the perfect dress." When Cress didn't reply, Calista reached out, suddenly concerned. "Cress, is anything wrong? Aren't you happy?"

Cress smiled but it was took her some effort. "Of course I'm happy. Just surprised, that's all." And she was. Nothing had indicated that Julian wanted to propose.

"Which is why you can't tell him anything. But you were talking so much about the wedding of that friend of yours and I knew you were dropping hints that Julian should do the same. You've been together for so long and it's finally happening?"

Dropping hints? She had never dropped hints of any sort when she discussed Kai's wedding with Julian.

But her heart was beating fast in her chest, as was expected from a girl who learned that she would get engaged soon.

"So Julian told me to go shopping with you and find a wonderful dress for the evening." Calista glowed with happiness as a thought occurred to her. "Oh, Cress, you'll be part of the family. I'll be your sister and you'll have our parents to help you find a perfect place to live. It's finally going to happen. We'll be your family."

A family. Cress hadn't had that for a long time. And that was the happy ending for an epic romance, perfect relationship and amazing wedding after all. She wanted the boyfriend, the fiancée and, eventually, the husband. That's how life worked. That was the reason she loved her job so much. It was a day for celebrating happy endings.

"You're not saying anything."

Cress looked at herself in the mirror, doing a little half-spin. This would be the dress she would get engaged in. "I'm just overwhelmed."

Calista nodded. "Of course. But you have to act surprised when Julian proposes to you, too. Or he'll know I told you. You promised, Cress, you can't let him know."

Cress smiled at the younger girl. "No worries, I won't."

"And with you being a wedding planner, this will be the most amazing wedding ever. It will be stunning and everyone will be so jealous because you'll have everything perfect. I'll be your bridesmaid, I hope?"

"Of course."

Calista had a dreamy smile on her face as she stepped behind Cress. "Your wedding. I'm sure you must have tons of ideas already. Every girl plans their weddings to their dream guy long before they get around to even buy the ring. And you always make sure to realize a special, personal wedding for everyone. I can't wait to hear what you have planned."

And reality crushed her like a boulder.

Cress couldn't sleep the following few nights.

She laid almost wide-awake, tired but unable to find rest. She turned from one side of the other but even her own bed (she preferred not to stay at Julian's place for the moment) didn't provide her any comfort.

Calista's words were haunting her:

Tons of ideas.

Every girl plans their wedding to their dream guy.

You always make sure to realize a special, personal wedding for everyone.

This will be the most amazing wedding ever.

I can't wait to hear what you have planned.

Neither could Cress.

Because Cress had to face her worst nightmare: That she, Cress Darnel of Crescent Moon Wedding, had not the slightest clue what her own wedding might look like.

Oh, the irony.

The wedding planner without a plan what her own wedding would be like. That would be too silly even for romantic comedies.

Since Calista had let out the secret of Julian's planned engagement, Cress desperately poured over every wedding-related magazine and online article in hopes that something, anything, would spark an idea.

She knew that this wasn't how it worked. It wasn't how she worked. She needed personal details, moments that mattered to find a way to highlight exactly that in a wedding.

But here she had all those personal details and moments that mattered. She had been in the front row for all of them.

So how could she have nothing? Why did she have not even the slightest clue what could make her and Julian's wedding the perfect culmination of their relationship and the celebration of both of them starting one new life together?

Cress told herself that maybe she tried too hard. It might come to her if she didn't focus on it so much. Or that it would be fine if she didn't have the same wedding she tried to make possible for her clients.

But it was no use. Cress knew it wasn't about perfect. It wasn't even about memorable.

It was about two people and what mattered to them.

What made them special.

So, if she didn't have an idea-No!

Cress forced the thoughts away, pushing herself deeper into her pillows, somehow falling into an unsettled sleep.

Of course, she would say yes.

That was not the question.

The question was what came after the yes.

But for now, Cress followed the waiter as he led her to a secluded table and to Julian.

He stood up when he saw her and greeted her with a kiss to her cheek. "You look beautiful," he whispered into her ear, making her smile.

She had done everything in her repertoire to look pretty and radiant and ready for engagement. That's why Cress was wearing the dress she had picked out with Calista, despite the price.

Perfect occasions called for perfect dresses. And it was a one-in-a-lifetime moment after all.

She took a seat across from Julian when Cress's eyes snagged on the bouquet on the table.

Pink roses.

Baby's breath.

Looking around, she saw that the other tables had a different table pieces.

An uneasy feeling settled in her stomach.

The waiter came and Julian picked out the expensive evening menu, with an exquisite red wine to go along with it. They started an easy and amiably conversation over salad, reminisced over the main course and held hands over a shared dessert.

It was perfect.

Violins played softly in the background.

Perfect.

Julian looked at her adoringly, the way every girl wanted to be looked at.

Perfect, perfect, perfect.

There would have been no need for Calista to spill the secret. It was clear from how the whole evening was arranged and the way Julian steered the conversation where he expected the evening to go.

Cress's cheeks were hurting from smiling the whole evening, only faltering whenever she spotted the pink roses on their table.

Maybe those would work for the wedding arrangement. Julian gave them to her at every opportune moment after all. They were nice enough, she supposed. White and pink were good wedding colours. Calista as the bridesmaid could wear a pink dress, maybe set it off with some bright green. It would fit a spring wedding best. Maybe outside with a tent to be on the safe side. Probably at the hotel that belonged to Julian's family. All the weddings in the family were celebrated there, so it was probably expected.

All very good choices for a wedding.

Only a fool would be disappointed.

Only a fool would say no.

So when Julian pulled out the velvet box, opened it to show his grandmother's ring and asked her to marry him, she didn't say no.

But she didn't say yes either.

A/N: Soooo... what do you think? :) I would appreciate reviews a lot (I would also appreciate a lot of reviews :P), especially after fighting with this 7k chapter for a long time. Many thanks to kiminicricket for betareading. :)