"There you are, Alfred!" Francis yelled from the bridge waving Alfred over.
Alfred walked up to the bridge where they were standing. "Here I am. So sorry that I'm late. I got caught up with work and I just..." He shrugged. "...forgot."
"At least you made it while we're still taking the pictures." Francis sighed. He turned and saw Arthur. "Oh, and this is Arthur." He then left to go and take the groom and bride photos.
"My name is Alfred." Alfred introduced himself since Francis didn't to do so. "Oh aren't you that guy that ran into me?"
"Uh yeah I am." Arthur nervously replied. He was talking to the detective that had been hunting him down for years AND he's hot?
"You were coming out of that building that I was investigating!" He pulled out a notepad and pencil. "Did you anything suspicious?"
Arthur furrowed his eyebrows wondering where in the hell did he pull that notepad out from. "Nope, I didn't see anything at all. My apartment is right next to the building front door and the only time I left today was to come here." He lied. 'Hopefully this idiot buys it.' He thought.
"Ok." Alfred was disappointed. Sure he caught someone but there is a good chance that he might not be the guy so he needs to continue investigating.
"Oh, look the wedding is starting." Arthur said awkwardly trying to change the subject before he let's something slip and gets caught.
They started walking down the trail to the wedding area. It was a long trail but it was also a beautiful one. Central park doesn't cease to amaze anyone even native New Yorkers. The trail was along the lake and along side the trail were the flora and fauna.
"Central Park is very beautiful today." Arthur said looking at the water. 'Oh god, oh god. Don't suspect something.' He thought. They reached the wedding area shortly after that. "This is where we part ways. I am the best man."
"Right, right. Later." Alfred took his seat.
Arthur looked at him for a moment before walking up to the other groomsmen, Gilbert and Antonio. More people he found annoying. He sighed.
"Is something wrong, Arthur?" Francis asked surprising Arthur making him jump.
"No nothing is wrong I am just so bloody happy for you." He said with a plastic smile.
"If you say so."
Pretty soon the music began to play and Madeline Williams (metaphorically) waltzed down the aisle with her arm intertwined with her father's. She looked absolutely stunning. Her polar bear, following close behind her (of course), was picked up by Alfred. He didn't want the bear getting in anyone's way.
Arthur however couldn't stop thinking about getting caught. 'As long as I stay calm and act normal he won't suspect me right? Just take a deep breath, Arthur. In' He inhaled. 'And out.' He exhaled. 'Calm. Stay calm.'
He managed to maintain his façade up until the after party. 'So far so good. Just don't get drunk.' Just as he thought that Alfred came over with Francis and one had an extra drink in his hand. 'Oh, dear god.'
"Got you a drink." Alfred smiling brightly and handing Arthur the champagne.
"Thank you." Arthur said unenthusiastically. The drink was taunting him. He wanted to drink but deep down he knew he wouldn't be able to handle it. He has heard the stories millions of times. The others will never let it go.
"Honhon Arthur remember that time when you-"
"Yes, I remember and I'd rather have you not bring that up. Thank you." Arthur cut off Francis before he had a chance to bring up the last time he drank.
"That time when he what?" Alfred asked curiously.
Francis laughed. "Arthur can't hold his liquor very well."
Alfred and Arthur were silent while Francis laughed.
"He Francy-Pants come here for a sec!" Gilbert shouted.
Francis waved as he walked over to Gilbert and a group of other people leaving the unknown criminal and the detective alone together.
"I have some things to ask you." Alfred finally broke the silence. "Do you know anything about the illegal trade in the apartment building you were in."
Arthur nearly choked on air. His eyes went wide. "N-no I did not know anything about an illegal trade."
Alfred narrowed his eyes and drew closer to the flustered Arthur. "You're still a suspect though so..." He backed up. "I guess I'll take you into custody after this party."
Arthur sighed relieved. But now he was conflicted. He could either be taken into custody or run. If he was interrogated they'll be bound to find out but if he runs they'll know for sure. Maybe he'll be too drunk to remember. Better yet maybe he'll pass out. Arthur peeked at Alfred and automatically knew that he could hold his liquor very well.
"Oh god." Arthur muttered. He looked down at the glass of champagne. So tempting. Arthur raised up his glass it almost touched his lips. 'No no no no no. I cant do it. Nope' Arthur pushed the champagne away with his other hand. He found a table and set it down there. He looked at it one last time and turned away.
"If I drink I know for a fact that Alfred is going to find out about the robberies and illegal trades. I can't. I absolutely can't." He looked at the glass one more time. "Well maybe if I just... Stay away from him?" He thought about the sparkling champagne in that gorgeous glass. "Fuck it." He grabbed the glass and downed that drink so fast he nearly choked.
"Okay..." Arthur went up to the drinks table and got another glass of champagne. "I shouldn't down it like that..." He looked at the drink and shrugged. "I'll jus' drink it normally." He took sips of the drink and didn't care about the fact that it was trickling down the sides of his mouth.
"Wow I haven't hada drink like tha since... well who bloody knows?!" Arthur was beginning to feel drunk. He stumbled around trying to talk to people.
And the last thing he remembers was stumbling into Alfred.
Sorry for the late update I was trying to update weekly but it's difficult being a writer. Sorry. :)