05

DAVID MILES

The wedding went well. The whole resort was looking… colourful.

Every nook and corner was covered in blues and greens.

The open area at the back of the resort which was a dining area and only had two dozens of tables, now was packed with almost fifty tables.

The pathway that lead to the garden from the dining area was covered with lilies. The trees on either side and the lilies strewn path led to the open garden where white chairs were placed on either side, creating an aisle in the middle.

Dave stood there looking at the platform that was set up feets away from where he was standing, for his brother and his wife’s marriage ceremony. Chairs covered in white facing the platform were set in a two rows forming an aisle for the bride.

Marriage. Dave didn’t know what it really meant. His mother had died giving birth to him. Dave was raised by a single dad who spent most of his time at his company and the rest half with some bimbo of the month.

His father had been married five times. And Dave had been tortured and kicked out of the house by these women when he was little and when he was grown up, he would find ‘em in his bed when he’d return home late.

Dave shook his head. Marriage just wasn’t for people like him.

« It’s beautiful, isn’t it ? »

A familiar sweet voice reached his ears. Closing his eyes, he readied himself for some taunt or a sarcasm or more warning.

« Are we not supposed to talk or something ? »

Dave opened his eyes.

« I had enough of the ‘You’re going to get kicked out if you did something’ warnings. » Dave said without turning back.

« Who said that ? »

« Logan. Sean. Dan. Lexi. George. «

« George ? » Sydney asked as she stepped beside him.

« Yeah. Apparently, my uncle doesn’t like me anymore. He even threatened to kill me and then bury me in his backyard. «

She stood there saying nothing.

Taking one last glance at the remaining of the wedding that happened that very morning, he turned.

Sydney stood there, in her peach bridesmaid cocktail dress watching the decorated garden area.

« Can’t help but imagine what would’ve happened if Logan hadn’t met Lexi. » Sydney said.

If Logan hadn’t met Lexi, then Sydney would be the one marrying Logan while he would never have met Tessa Cole.

Dave looked at Sydney. She was just his type. Platinum blonde hair, blue eyes. A runway model. But she wasn’t the one who he thought about frequently.

Logan and Sydney had been childhood friends. And they were also engaged back then.

While Logan had thrown himself into work, trying to find a solution to the engagement they both never wanted, Sydney had fled her home. And Dave had been her friend for a while. He liked Sydney. But god alone knew why he never could imagine himself with her.

Sydney turned to him, « C’mon. Let’s go inside. »

« I can’t. »

« Don’t worry. Just be with me. As much as other people hate you for whatever it is you did to Tess, I don’t care. I mean it is awful that I can’t see the girl I came to love but she’s successful and she has turned into an amazing person. Plus, whatever did happen, it’s between you guys. You were there when I needed you and now, I am going to do the same thing for you. » Sydney smiled and wound her arm around his.

Dave couldn’t help but smile back at her. Atleast he had someone he could talk to other than Zach.

« This tastes like shit. »

« No it’s not. It’s an acquired taste. »

« Wine has an acquired taste. This is just… blech. « Sydney signaled a waiter to get a glass of water.

Dave smiled at her melodrama. The girl sure knew how to keep him entertained.

Shaking his head he turned his gaze towards the dance floor.

The first dance of the bride and the groom was over before he even knew it. Logan and Lexi looked good together.

« There’s something different about Lexi. »

« What ? » Sydney asked as she drank and placed the now empty glass of water that the waiter had brought.

« Something… »

« Oh. It’s her hair. »

« Yeah. » He nodded as he took in the now short stylish bob cut she had instead of her long hair. « What happened » ?

Syd looked around the grand hall where the reception was taking place, as if she was telling the world’s biggest secret to him.

« Lexi had been a train wreck. Kayla burnt her hair and then Tessa came and took charge and handled her. »

He couldn’t get past the Tessa and took charge part of the sentence.

His Tessa – not his exactly- was a protective, fierce girl who looked after people and stayed in the shadows. She had even told him that she liked that she worked under her sister.

« If it was upto me, I’d run the whole coMpany into the ground » she had said

When did Tessa became the take charge kind of girl.

Dave shook his head. He turned to pick up his glass only to find it empty. Even if Sydney did act like she hated the taste, she did finished the contents of his glass. Smiling he buttoned his tux and stood up.

« Wanna dance ? » He asked Sydney.

« Sure. C’mon. »

Taking her hand in his, he guided her towards the dance floor.

It wasn’t like he knew how to dance but he just followed Sydney’s footsteps and hoped he didn’t step on her foot.

After fifteen minutes of just dancing and having fun, Sydney pulled him towards their table.

« You, my boy, have enough stamina to dance the whole night while me » she pointed her index finger towards herself, « I need to fill my stomach and sleep. I just can’t dance anymore. And also I think I won’t be able to walk anymore. »

« Hey » he frowned, crossing his arms defensively afainst his chest « I just stepped twice okay. »

« Honey, you crushed my toes. Doesn’t matter if it was twice or hundred times. » She said as she dropped down on the chair of the table they had occupied before they went dancing.

Dave was about to drop down when he saw who sat beside Sydney.

Dressed in a similar design lavender coloured gown like Sydney’s, sat Tessa.

He had seen her the day before but he hadn’t gotten a closer look.

Her hair were much longer then the pixie cut she used to maintain, her black eyes trained to the dance floor. Her one arm was thrown around the back of the chair occupied by a guy in a tux. Her other hand clasped in his as she rested her head on his shoulder.

And wasn’t that a sucker punch to his chest.

Everybody hated him for what he had done to her.

But as far as he could see, she had moved on and found another guy already. She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed.

Rage pulsed through his veins. Why he didn’t know. Was it jealousy or just plain anger or something else ?

He didn’t stand there to clear out the whys.

He stomped out of there with Sydney on his tail shouting his name.

But Dave didn’t wait or turn. Because he wasn’t going to stop and see her in other guy’s arms. The girl he had almost fallen in love with.