Author's Note:

This chapter was not supposed to come out this early. xD It's just that it's summer and I've got a lot of time on my hands to write. And although I'm trying so hard to get inspiration to continue After Dusk, I just find myself writing this one. Maybe that's a good thing. Or maybe it's not.

But to the reviewers, thank you so much! :) A hundred-and-five. That's not bad. Not bad at all.

Happy Fourth of July! (:

Enjoy!

| ~ | ~ | B l u e . E r s a t z | ~ | ~ |

8
"Rhiannon"

-SuzieQuaKes-

"Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night and wouldn't you love to love her?"

Monday. The beginning of the week. The day when weekends concluded and the week full of work, sweat, tears and everyday drama began. I had always despised Mondays. Something about the word never failed to make me cringe in my seat. And oddly enough, Monday always came so fast. The weekends always went like boom, boom! And suddenly, before you know it, you were getting ready to start five more days of school, work, whatever horrendous routine you have to follow.

But this time I didn't want Monday to come for a very different reason. Monday was the day of Drew's wedding. Monday was the day that I would say good-bye to my beautiful gown and deliver to Posy. I didn't understand why their wedding was held on Monday, out of all days. Usually weddings were held on weekends when people would be free from work. Then I wondered—what kind of people would come to Drew and Posy's wedding?

Drew was a criminal, wasn't he? And I wasn't exactly sure of what kind of 'crime' he did, but usually criminals were friends with other criminals. And Drew did mention that Posy's father was the guy that he worked for. It was possible that Posy came from a criminal background too. Why else would Drew marry her? And he was also talking about how Posy's father could afford dresses from Milan . . . Meaning that Posy was rich. Criminals were usually rich, right?

"Earth to May? Pass the syrup!"

Startled, I snapped out of my thoughts to find a beady-eyed, dark-haired little freak glaring at me from across the table. It was early Monday morning, and we (my parents, Max and I) were having breakfast together. Just the way we had breakfast together for the past twenty-two years of my life. Depressing the way nothing really had changed.

"Max, no yelling at the breakfast table." My Dad scolded him slightly and continued to read Petalburg Daily through his glasses. He took occasional sips of coffee.

"Well I'm sorry, but as you can clearly see, May is not in this universe." My brother's voice was lighter, but that didn't stop him from giving me a look through his narrowed beady eyes. "I've been asking her to pass the syrup for fifteen times."

"Max, don't exaggerate." Mom gave him a smile as she carefully cut a piece of toast and buttered it. "May, would you pass him the syrup?"

"Uh, sure." I reached out to the little bottle of maple syrup and pushed it towards my brother. He dumped a load of the sticky goodness on top of his pancakes, stabbed them with a fork and shoved it into his mouth.

I stared down at my own plate of pancakes and decided that I wasn't hungry at all. My stomach was tossing and turning and my heart ached at the thought of Drew pledging to give his love to some other girl for eternity. It didn't matter how gorgeous Posy was. It didn't matter how I had let Drew go to do as he pleased. And it sure didn't matter that I had Danny. It still hurt.

Danny. The thought of Danny made me realize that I hadn't seen him ever since the day Posy and Drew came to my boutique. And that had been four entire days. He texted me occasionally, but they were little awkward texts. All that thinking about Drew made a little oblivious to what was going on between Danny and I. I suddenly realized there—while holding a fork and staring down at two pancakes—that my relationship with Danny was not going to work out. Sure, he was cute. And I had been crushing on him for ages, but we just didn't have chemistry.

"May? Sweetheart, it's almost eight-thirty. Don't you have that dress to deliver?" I looked up to see my mother looking at me with this sympathetic look in her eyes. She had gone ballistic when she first saw Drew with another girl, but I had explained everything to her. Everything that Drew told me. The entire criminal business. She didn't take it very well at first but then she told me that she was glad I wasn't with him anymore. And that it was actually good that he called off our wedding because it would be so heartbreaking to find these things after I was Mrs. Drew Hayden.

Oh, Mom. What did she know anyway? Like it was any less heartbreaking that he refused to show up at our wedding. Like it still wasn't breaking my heart, now, two years later and he was in love with another girl.

"Dress? Oh, you mean May's wedding dress? Drew's getting married today, isn't he?" Max prodded me with a sea of questions that I really did not want to be answering. But I knew that I shouldn't be feeling that way. Everything that happened between Drew and I were just lies. So I had no right whatsoever to hold on to him. But letting go was so hard.

"Yes, he is." I said with the strongest voice that I could muster at that moment. I even surprised myself with how utterly weak and pathetic I sounded. And I guess that was when the sympathy began. Dad put the newspaper down and removed his glasses.

"Honey, I'm sorry. I know it's probably hard for you, but he was a jerk anyway."

"It's not hard for me." I tried to deny, but my voice gave it all away. The tight, sinking feeling in my gut made me almost want to throw up. It hurt. It hurt so badly and the slightest mention of his name made me want to scream. Drew was the biggest jerk in the entire world. But I loved him. I never stopped loving him, ever since the day he left me. Because when you're in love with someone, it never really goes away. Love doesn't end. Once you love someone, you would love that person forever.

Quickly, I stood up from the breakfast table. "Um, Mom's right. I have to go and deliver the dress on time."

"I can deliver it for you if it's too hard, May."

I smiled at my mother and shook my head. Delivering this dress was important for me. I should be able to overcome this on my own. "No, it's okay. I can do it." I started to make my way out of the kitchen. "The address that Posy gave me is pretty far south of Petalburg. Can I take the car?"

"Of course." Dad stood up and walked over to the nearby peg where we kept the keys. He threw me the key to the family sedan and I caught in one swift motion. The keys jingled pleasurably in my palm.

"Thanks. I'll, uh, catch you guys later."

With that last word, I rushed upstairs to my room. The second I walked in, my beautiful wedding gown greeted me. It was hung up on a hanger in front of my closet, just how it was, two years ago. The familiar sight brought back so many memories. Ignoring how choked my throat had suddenly became, I walked over to the dress and held it by the hanger. I didn't want to feel the soft material under my fingers. Just feeling it would make me want to change my mind about giving it to Posy. I quickly placed the dress in the black cover and zipped it up.

I made my way downstairs and out of the house, not bothering to brush my hair or to change out of the grubby sweater and jeans that I was wearing. After all, I was just the dress-deliverer. There was absolutely no need for me to look fabulous.

"Holy—"

958, Cherry Avenue, Petalburg. I reread the address that Posy had scribbled for me. Then I looked at the metal address plate that was hung on the enormous gate. Yup. That was the place. I couldn't help but stare at how spacious it was. The mansion was huge—modernly designed, made of bricks that were a light beige color. Judging by all the windows, there must have been about a hundred rooms. A huge fountain in the shape of a cherub, spurting out water was placed right in the center of the garden. Bunches of blood-red tulips danced in the little spring breeze.

This was Posy's house. Suddenly I felt little and underpowered.

"Pardon me, Miss. May I help you?"

I was shaken out of my gazing, by a man wearing a vibrant blue uniform. He spoke from behind the huge golden gates and stared at my old family car with a suspicious look. As if I was some hobo woman or something. Okay, so maybe the sedan was a little bit run-down. Maybe I was dressed like I was a hobo. And maybe it didn't look so right that any visitor to the owner of this spacious place should come in a car like this, looking like this. Whatever.

"Miss?"

"Sorry." I cleared my throat a little bit and spoke in a louder voice so that he could hear me over the loud rumbling of the motor. I poked my head out of the window. "I'm here to deliver the wedding dress? To Posy Donahue?" I motioned my hand over to the black bundle beside me.

"Oh, yes! Mr. Hayden told me to expect you." The look of suspicion disappeared from his face as he rushed over to open the gates. "Sorry for the questioning, Miss. It's just that we don't get many visitors."

"No, don't worry about it." I smiled at him, and when the gate was fully opened, I drove the hammering car towards the entrance of the house. Once I got there, a woman dressed in a maid costume in the same bright blue color came hurrying to me. She opened the car door, and then took the dress from my hands in a frenzied manner.

"Thanks." I murmured, a little bit uncomfortable at all the attention. I mean—what was with the maids anyway? I could perfectly carry a dress and open my own car door. It wasn't like I needed some special help. But it wasn't right for me to say something when she seemed so eager to help me.

"No, no, no! It's no problem." I saw that the little flustered woman spoke with an accent. I couldn't identify exactly what sort it was—maybe Bulgarian or something. "Mr. Hayden told me to lead you to his room if you come. If you'll follow me, Miss . . ."

"Oh, of course."

The mansion was even more spacious inside than it was on the outside. Marble lined the floor, so shiny that you could see your own reflections. I felt a little bit guilty to be walking on floors so shiny while wearing my dirty old sneakers. I only caught a glimpse of the living room, but I saw that it was filled with china knick-knacks, huge paintings and sculptures, expensive looking leather couches, and a huge plasma television. I noticed something else though. The house was oddly empty. I caught site of a few other women in blue uniforms but that was it. The entire house was silent, as if holding its breath.

The maid led me up the big winding stairs that led to the second story, and I reminded myself not to touch anything. I knew I was quite clumsy and if something broke, I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to pay for it. The second floor was just a huge hall, with some portraits of stiff-looking people in inquisitive clothes. Probably ancestors or something. Doors lined the corridor. Big, wooden doors. It reminded me of a strange movie—or was that a cartoon? Teen Titans? The episode where the titans found themselves in this weird corridor where the different rooms led to different places.

"Here we are." I snapped out of my trance to find the maid standing in front of a double-door at the end of the corridor. It was the largest door, painted white. And for some reason, my heart started to beat wildly against my rib-cage.

The little woman knocked on the door quickly and it was almost immediately pulled open. I was kind of startled by how serious Drew looked. He appeared frazzled, his green eyes looking expectant, as if he were waiting for something. His dress shirt was crumpled and he looked like he hadn't slept in days. When he saw me, the expectant glint in his eyes disappeared.

"Oh. Hi."

"And good morning to you too, sunshine." I murmured under my breath. The maid gasped a little. Drew rolled his eyes.

"It's all right, Bonny. You can just leave that here." Drew took the dress from here and then nodded appreciatively at her. "Thanks for leading dear May here. Don't think she would have made it on her own." He smirked at me, dismissed the maid and then motioned me to follow him inside the room.

Room? It was more like a chamber. The big canopy double bed was in the center of the room. A black tuxedo was spread out on the bed. A dressing table with an enormous mirror was placed beside it. There were two walk-in closets, one on each side of the room (I was guessing one belonged to Posy and the other belonged to Drew). There were velvet curtains, and a door that led to a balcony where I saw two deck chairs. The floors were covered with an expensive-looking carpet that was spotless.

My God.

No wonder Drew was marrying this girl. She was filthy rich.

And speaking of the girl . . . where was she? "Drew." I turned towards the green-haired man who was spreading out my wedding dress beside the tux. There was something different about him. He appeared . . . nervous. And Drew Hayden was not the nervous type of guy. A knot was forming in the pit of my stomach. "Where's Posy?"

His body tensed as he froze in mid-position. Then he brushed his hair slightly, straightening himself up. His green eyes scanned the floor as he refused to directly look at my face. "She's . . . uh. She's not here."

More knots littered my stomach. Anxiously I fumbled with my hands and let out a little laugh. "W-what? What do you mean she's not here?"

Drew let out a sigh escape his lips and sat down on the bed. Then he looked straight up at me with those tired and distress-filled eyes. "Maybe it's karma. Maybe what goes around comes around." He slumped his shoulders and appeared to be about fifty years older than he really was. "Oh, I don't even know anymore!"

"Drew . . ." I let the name that I had once loved so much escape my lips. My worries were correct. It was true. And suddenly, although it should have been my moment of triumph at receiving what you would call 'revenge'—I felt sorry for him. I walked over to him slowly, and set myself down beside him on the bed. "She left you."

The green-haired man pushed up his lips and turned to face me. Having his face so close to mine rekindled me with all those memories. All those times when I held his face in my fingertips and let my lips brush slightly against his. Suddenly, my heart sped up three times as fast. But if Drew was hit by the sudden sea of memories, he didn't show it. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "She actually ran away. I couldn't find her since yesterday night. I had no sleep at all. I can't believe that she would do something like that."

I tore my gaze away from his face and stared down at my lap. Now you know how it feels like, Drew. Now you know how it feels like. "Do you have any idea where she went?"

"She left a letter." I looked up to find Drew lifting a pillow and pulling out a manila envelope. He handed it over to me and I hesitated a little before looking down at it.

To Drew

I then gazed up to the man beside me. He nodded as if to say 'open it'. So I did. I pulled out the folded piece of writing paper, quickly opened it up and let my eyes drop onto the writing.

Dear Drew,

I'm SO sorry, baby! I know that you may never forgive me! I wanted to marry you so badly. I know that it was a marriage of convenience and that you didn't really love me, but I thought you were absolutely perfect. Daddy wanted to see us together too, you know. His top man and his only daughter. But baby, I found somebody who truly loved me for me. He's asked me to elope with him to the Caribbean. I've arranged a jet and everything. I'm writing this in a hurry because Danny is going to come and pick me up any second. Daddy doesn't know about this, but I'm going to give him a phone call from the jet.

I'm so sorry! I can't marry you. I don't love you the way that I love Danny. I've left the wedding ring inside the envelope. It's beautiful, Drew. But it's not meant for me. And please tell May that I won't be able to wear her absolutely gorgeous dress.

I'm sure the guests will understand.

Yours,

Posy

"What the f—?" I dropped the letter and looked at Drew in complete and utter confusion. "She ran away with Danny? My Danny?"

That was like completely impossible, wasn't it? Hadn't they only met four days ago? How could she fall in love with him—and him with her—that quickly? How could they even f—ing elope after four days? It didn't make sense at all. But something did hit me like a kick to the guts. I had been seeing less of Danny ever since the day he met Posy. So it was possible. He could have been seeing her all this time. I didn't know whether to feel rejected that I had been cheated on, or relieved that . . . well, that things had kind of turned out my way.

"That's the only Danny that I could think of." Drew answered my question in a dry voice before he curled his lips and took his head in his palms. "I know that Posy's spontaneous and she's been known for doing crazy things, but she's completely blown the records this time."

"Drew. What are you going to do?"

"I—I don't know . . ." Suddenly, his head popped up from his palms. His green eyes glinted with a strange spark. The way that it always did when he had some wild, crazy idea. I waited for him to eagerly exclaim something stupid. Something like "we can chase Posy down and convince her that she's wrong". Or maybe "we can tell the guests that the wedding invitation was printed with the wrong date and the real wedding would take place a month after, giving me time to find Posy". Or something. But no. What he said absolutely blew my mind.

"May, marry me."

And of course, there was nothing I could do or say except stare blankly at his handsome face. "What?"

"Marry me. Step in as Posy." Drew suddenly looked excited as his green eyes started to light up. "Almost all of the guests that were invited don't have a clue on what Posy looks like. May, this wedding is important to my reputation. I can't go out there and say that she left me for some bum!"

"What?" I was still stunned. I was going to wear my wedding dress, go out there, pretend to be Posy Donahue and marry Drew?

Drew sighed, rolling his eyes apparently exasperated at my inability to say anything. "May, seriously, please? After this wedding, Posy and I were supposed to head to La Rousse city where we were going to do a job together. If I go there alone, I'll be unable to complete the task. May, I'm like begging you right now. I need you to marry me. After everything, I promise, I will leave you alone. I just really need your help, May."

"But—but what about Posy's relatives? Her friends? Won't they recognize that I'm not Posy?"

"The only relative that Posy has is her father. She's been home-schooled her entire life because her father thought she was too special to go off to a school with other kids. The only closest thing to a friend she's had was me." Drew pressed his lips together and appeared to be more serious than I had ever seen him. "No one knows her, May. Nobody. And well, I can handle the father—if he comes. The only thing that I'm uncertain about is you. Will you marry me?"

Wow. Andrew Hayden was begging me to marry him. I never thought I would see that day. In a matter of half a second, I weighed out everything in my mind. Whether I should really marry him. Whether it was really even worth it after all the suffering he made me go through. I just couldn't come to a decision. Finally I looked up and stared into burning emerald eyes. He was looking at me in such a way that I felt my heartbeat quicken and my pulses go haywire. Biting down my lower lip and knowing that I would regret it later I whispered out the same word that I had said the first time he had proposed to me.

"Yes."

Author's Note:

Uh, yeah that kinda sucked. Dx LOL.

Please review. :)

-Suzie x

Edited: 4th September '10