Chapter 7

Today was the day. Chris' wedding. I was extremely nervous, but nonetheless excited. As I got up out of bed, I plugged my iPod into its console and turned it up, blasting I Knew You Were Trouble. I searched through my closet to find clothes appropriate for a wedding. Unfortunately, I wasn't the girliest girl in the world, so I had next to nothing when it came to dress clothes. I mentally reprimanded myself for not purchasing clothes earlier. I checked my clock: 10 A.M. I had three hours until I had to be at the wedding. I threw on some black skinny jeans and a red and black plaid shirt before heading out to the mall.

I stepped through the front doors of the mall, the scent of flavored coffee and freshly made pretzels wafting through the air. I made my way through the relentless crowd to find myself at a dress shop. Stepping in, I found myself surround by dresses of all shapes, styles, and sizes. I'd instantly wished that I'd brought Dan along to help me, even though this was definitely not his type of thing. A plump, perky saleswoman in an almost-too-tight black slacks walked straight up to me, smiling brightly.

"Ello, dear! Anything I could help you with?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "Um, no thank you. I-"

"Oh, come now! What's the occasion?"

"I'm, uh, photographing a wedding."

"Oh! Yes, yes." She studied my figure and I blushed from all the attention. "Come with me. I think I've some dresses in mind." I followed the woman to the back of the store where she had me step into a dressing room. She picked up an extremely poofy, extremely pink dress, handing it to me and smiling. I reluctantly slipped the dress on, looking back at myself in the mirror. I looked absolutely ridiculous. For one, (and this might sound petty) the dress totally made me look heavier than I actually was. Secondly, it was awfully short and definitely not suited for photography. I pulled my jeans back on and handed the dress to the woman, shaking my head no.

This same cycle continued for the next hour and a half, pink dress after pink dress. Once I'd handed the twentieth bedazzled dress back to the woman, she finally seemed to get the idea that I was by no means into pink. After making this realization, she returned with a simpler black dress. It looked promising.

I slipped the black dress on with my back turned to the mirror. I feared what I'd see there. But I eventually opened my eyes, looking at my own reflection and….smiled.

The dress was simple yet sleek. It was just the right length and body shape. The sleeves fell just past my shoulders and a shiny gold belt wrapped around the waist. It was perfect. I slipped my regular clothes back on, purchasing the dress and heading back home.

Once home, I pulled my hair into a bun to fix my makeup, which honestly wasn't much. I then pulled my hair, which had begun to fade back to its natural chestnut color, up in a more elegant bun, leaving my bangs down and curling them. I slipped on the black dress and my black flats, checking my watch for the time. 1:30. I crossed the hall to knock on Dan's door. He opened it, first smiling, but then looking quite shocked. I blushed.

"What?"

"You're so….girly."

Oh, great. I probably looked ridiculous. I turned to leave and change, planning on curling up in my bed and sleeping for the rest of eternity, but Dan grabbed my wrist.

"I like it. It suits you." He smiled, and I smiled back. "Off to the wedding then, yes?" He offered me his arm.

"Isn't Phil coming?" I asked as I took it.

"Already there. Chris needed a mate to calm him down. Poor Phil. I hope he's doing alright."

And with that, we headed out of the building and to the wedding.

"And do you, Elizabeth Halsted, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

With tears in her eyes, the woman replied, "I do."

"And do you, Chris Kendall, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Barely audible, he whispered, "I do."

Snap.

"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You man now kiss the bride." And man did Chris kiss that bride.

Snap.

Everyone cheered and threw rice and they made their way back down the aisle together.

Snap. Snap. Snap.

I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear as I stood to follow the congregation to the middle of garden where the reception would be held. As people seated themselves, I took several snapshots, hoping to find a familiar face. I saw Dan conversing with some of his friends and made my way toward his table. He caught my eye and smiled, waving me over. I took a seat right beside him and he pulled me in for a hug. "How's the photographing coming along?"

"Pretty well, actually. I've gotten a lot of good shots. I just hope the bride likes them."

"I'm sure she will. You are pretty freaking amazing." I smiled cheesily and he poked my nose.

The sound of someone clinking a glass echoed through the area, and I saw Chris stand up on a platform. "Hello everyone. I have a few announcements to make. First of all, I'd like to thank you all for coming out and supporting me and Eliza in our marriage." He looked down at her lovingly and she mouthed something incoherently back to him. "I'd like to make a toast to my wife in fact. These past three years of knowing each other has been absolutely fantastic. There has not been one moment where I wished I had better than her because she is honestly the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you, Eliza."

"I love you too!" She shouted back tearily as her bridesmaids cooed over her.

"And I'd also like to propose a toast to Dan Howell, Phil Lester, and PJ Liguori. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you mates. You've been the best friends a chap could ask for, and if it wasn't for you three, I never would have met the love of my life. You dragged me out of a dark and lonely place, and I am so grateful for all three of you. Thank you." At that moment, the three boys found it appropriate to pummel Chris. I laughed at their dorkiness, standing to take more pictures. Snap, snap, snap, snap.

I made my way over to the refreshment table, pouring myself a cup of punch as everyone made their way to the dance floor. Several young boys were running around chasing and shooting each other with paper bow and arrows. I smiled and snapped a picture of the boys, thinking of my own little brother at home. Drew. It hit me then how much I truly missed my brother. I walked down a small path out of the way of the rest of the festivities, sitting on the ground and letting a tear spill down my cheek.

A rustling sound startled, and I furiously rubbed at my eyes to dry them. A familiar ebony-haired boy stepped into the clearing.

"Hey Lucy! What's goin' on?"

I looked at him for a moment then burst into tears.

Alarmed, he came over to me, pulling me into a hug. "Hey, it's gonna be okay. What's wrong?"

I pulled back from him. "I just r-really m-miss my b-brother."

His mouth formed an 'O' shape. "It's been a long time, huh?"

I shook my head, wiping a tear from my eye. "Before I came to London, Drew was really my only friend." I cleared my throat before continuing, steadying my voice. "Once I'd found out that he had been diagnosed with cancer, I pledged to spend every second with him that I could."

"Because you weren't sure when the last second you would have with him would be..."

I looked up at him, nodding. "And being away from him so long just really scares me."

"I understand. Everything's going to be okay though. I pinky promise." He smiled a crooked smile, holding his pinky out to me. I wrapped my smallest digit around his, and he pulled me up. Music from the dance floor wafted through to our little hideout, a song called The Scientist. Phil began dancing dorkily as he did in nearly all of his videos. I laughed. "Dance with me!"

I shook my head no.

"Fine. I'll just dance by you." And he did just that, dancing strangely around me in circles. The tears coming from eyes were from laughter this time, and he grabbed a hold of my wrist, pulling me close and wrapping his arms around my waist. I gasped, not used to the contact, and hesitantly wrapped my arms around his neck. And for the first time in a long time, I felt whole.