Lightning took one last look in the mirror, making sure none of her stubborn pink locks had escaped from the complicated hairdo. Serah had braided it and pinned it to her head in a soft bun, and Lightning had to admit that it actually looked pretty good. She took a deep breath before leaving the dressing room, feeling slightly nauseous.
Hope, dressed in a black suit and a light blue tie, was waiting for her right outside the door. For a moment he just stared at her, mouth slightly ajar.
Lightning blushed. "I look weird, don't I?" she said, anxiously crossing her arms.
Hope blinked and shook his head. "No. No, no. Absolutely not," he said, giving her a warm smile. "You're perfect. You're better than perfect. I just… The dress – it's that dress, isn't it? From back then?"
Lightning nodded. "It's the one from the performance in Yuusnan. Well, it's not exactly the same, but I tried my best to draw all the details I could remember on the sketch I gave the seamstress… Do you like it?"
Lightning did a quick twirl, the white fabric flowing around her legs. The dress she'd worn in Yuusnan had been magenta-colored, but white had been her obvious choice for the replica. Even though Lightning's sketch had been pretty bad, the seamstress had done a wonderful job. She'd even managed to recreate the intricate rose-looking folds where the bodice met the skirt.
"It's perfect. You're perfect. Everything's perfect," Hope said, practically glowing with happiness. He sighed, shaking his head. "I want to kiss you so badly right now."
Lightning smiled. "You're going to have to wait like, five minutes."
Music started playing behind the closed double door in front of them, the organist taking the first notes of Mendelsohn's famous march. Lightning swallowed hard. On the other side of the doors were all her friends and family, waiting for her and Hope to make their entrance. Lightning had never been more nervous in her whole life.
"What if I mess up?" she said, beginning to panic. "I'm wearing heels. I can't walk in heels. What if I trip? What if I-"
"You won't. You'll be absolutely perfect, and if you fall, I'll catch you. I promise," Hope said, holding out his arm. "Do you trust me?"
Lightning nodded, linking her arm with his just as the doors to the chapel opened up before them.
"I do."