Part 7
Damien--------------------------------------------Alexia-------------------------------------------Jake
October 2004AlexiaThe young woman looked at herself in the mirror, and didn't recognise the beauty staring in shock back at her. Her blonde hair was tied up in a messy but pristine bun, her long slender neck exposed, decorated with long silver earrings that dangled from her ears. Her skin was immaculate, her lips full and shiny, her eyes captivating, the purple iris's the only colour in her outfit. The dress she wore was long, with delicate patterns embroided on the larger base. The corset was similar, the flowery pattern embroided on the strapless boddess. Her shoes were white heels, making her look taller than her natural height of 5ft6. In her hands was a bouquet of purple lilies that matched her eyes perfectly, handpicked for her by her mother.
This was her perfect wedding dress.
Her mother stood over her shoulder. Her face was more lined than when Alexia had last seen her, but she still had her beauty. There were tears in her eyes.
"Oh mum!" Cried Alexia, turning on the spot, her dress making a swishing noise as she threw her slender arms around her mother’s form.
The mother and daughter hugged, tears in both their eyes. Tears of joy.
"I knew this day would come" sniffed her mum, "You look beautiful darling. Just promise me one thing."
"Anything mum" said Alexia softly in her mother's ear.
"Don't make me a grandmother just yet. I'm not
that old" said her mum, and the two of them collapsed into nervous giggles.
The sound of the door opening cut them short.
"Alexia?"
"Harriet! Oh you look beautiful!" exclaimed Alexia, shuffling forwards towards her head bridesmaid, her best friend from university. It was true, that the two of them were just leaving the university and looking for jobs. They both studied engineering, Alexia civil, Harriet mechanical, though the two spent the large majority of their time together having lived in a flat together before Alexia moved to live with Damien who had finished college three years earlier.
The two exchanged a quick hug.
"Alexia, you look stunning! Even if it weren't your wedding day, all the eyes would be on you" she said, taking her friend’s hands. "Come on, its time" she said. Alexia looked into her friend’s excited face, looking at her sparkling blue eyes, and broke into a smile.
"It’s time."
JakeThe man stood up as he let someone pass him down the church seat.
"Jake? Is that really you?"
As Jake sat back down, he got a full look at the woman he had let past him.
"Mrs Fray?" exclaimed Jake, his eyes widening with recognition. Alexia's mother! She sure had aged since he had last seen her, but not so badly that she would look her age. Her face was more blotched, lines more defined, but her hair still had the same blonde colour as Alexia's.
"Of course my dear!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around a startled Jake. He stiffened, and then patted her on her back.
"Good to see you" he said, turning his head to look at where she had come from. She must have been with Alexia. He had wanted to see her before the ceremony, but he had chickened out. He didn't want to upset her. This was her day after all. A little girls dream to have the perfect wedding. Though of course, Alexia wouldn't have had any dream of the sort. She was such a tom-boy when they were in primary school together. Always playing tag with the boys, never playing 'horsies' with the girls.
"I didn't know that you two were still friends, do you see each other often then?" Asked Mrs Fray in Jakes ear. He turned to look at her with his golden eyes. He had tried to tame his scruffy hair, but it was still sticking up at the back.
"Every now and again. We keep on trying to meet up more often, but it doesn't happen", Jake said softly, a shadow clouding his face momentarily. He thought about the last time he had seen her, in the park. She had looked so happy with Damien. That was all he wanted really, her to be happy. He still believed that Damien was no good, but he didn't really know the man. He was the manager of a growing business, had a decent house in London, and was, Jake hated himself for admitting it, very good looking. The perfect guy, for the perfect girl. She was smart, beautiful, and everything that Jake could ever hope for. She put a smile on his face.
As Jake fell into silence, the wedding march had started up. He jerked his head upwards, catching a glimpse of Damien who had his back to the aisle, and was wearing black trousers and black tails from what Jake could see. But he wasn't interested in Damien. He swivelled his head around to look at her.
Her.
She made the room sparkle with her beauty. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Her smile sent butterflies down his stomach, her eyes glittering with excitement. Oh how Jake wished that she would look at him that way. He stared at her as she walked towards him. Their eyes met. He instantly smiled, and gave a small bow of his head. Her smile widened even more as she saw him, and as she passed, she quickly squeezed his hand in a way that said,
Thank you for coming, it means everything. Just a small squeeze, but Jake got the message.
He turned his attention to Damien, who at this point had given in to temptation and had turned around to look at his bride. Jake could see his face crack into a smile, and hated him. He watched how their hands reached for each other, and watched him squeeze her hand reassuringly as the priest started talking.
Jake watched the ceremony like a good little boy. He was silent when he should have been, and sung when he was called to. He felt his body tense as they said their vows, and when they said their 'I do's'. He felt a muscle twitch in his jaw as they kissed, his face stony.
It was over. It was all over. She was gone.
~
Jake reached for another glass of wine. He had lost count of how many he had had by that time. He chugged down the red liquid, and stood up. A wave of dizziness hit him, and he swayed as he stood. "I'm going out" he said loudly, though no one seemed to hear. The dancing had started already, the music loud. Alexia was dancing with a small bridesmaid, Damien standing and laughing with his best man.
No one was interested in Jake.
He grabbed a bottle of unopened wine, and stumbled out of the spinning room and out into the candle lit garden. Pulling the cork out with his teeth, he tipped the liquid down his throat.
"You know drinking won't achieve anything Jake."
Jake spun around.
"Whoses there?" He slurred, blinking stupidly. He could just make out a woman sitting on a bench he had just passed.
"Oh don't mind me, I'm just a ratty old woman" she said, waving a hand. "I've been watching you young man."
"STALKER" cried Jake, raising a hand to point at her, but seemed to change his mind halfway through and took another glug of alcohol. He really didn't need a lecture now.
She chuckled. "She looks beautiful tonight, doesn't she?"
Jake fell silent at this, instantly tense and the muscle twitching in his jaw once more. "Yes" he said.
"Very beautiful. Most beautiful creature I have ever seen."
Jake looked up at the woman. She was shaded in the dark, and Jake couldn't be bothered to walk towards her to see who she was. Though her voice was familiar.
"Couldn't agree moreeeee" slurred Jake, looking away to the window where glimpses of Alexia could be seen.
"You like her, don't you young man?"
Jake nodded slowly. It made his world spin as he did so, his eyes drooping.
The woman gave a knowing nod. "I've seen the way you look at her, the way you act around her, and the way you act around Damien."
"Don't speak to me about that man" spat Jake, anger pulsing through his veins. He took another swing of drink, swaying ever more.
The woman chuckled. "You'll hurt yourself if you carry on like this", she said sadly, the tone of her voice changing dramatically.
Jake laughed at her. "I do what I want! If I want to drink, then I can!" He laughed, and tilted the drink down his throat once more. It stung, but he ignored the sensation.
"I wasn't talking about the drink" the woman said, watching him intently.
Jake stopped laughing. "Hey. Hey you. Lady. Show yourself. Why don't you show yourself? Come on" he said, walking towards her, anger showing up on his face once more. The woman didn't move. Jake stumbled as he walked, and took another swing of drink as if it would help him. The world began to sway even more, and suddenly a sickening crunch could be heard. Jake's eyes fluttered open, and he realised he was on the floor. He pushed himself up, and had another swing, but found himself gagging. hot liquid was trickling down the back of his neck. Everything was fuzzy. Feet appeared in his blurred vision, shocked voices could be heard, and he heard someone yell his name, and then...
nothing.
Sorry its so long guys! Was contemplating whether or not to cut this in half, but I decided against it obviously.
For the whole story, go to:
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