July 5th 2015, Tuesday

"Honey, you're coming with us to shop for Suzie's wedding dress right?" My mum asked as we finally settled for breakfast. I reach out and grab a piece of toast before turning my attention to her.

"Yes, of course. I just have to go to Brad's for a while for Lola's birthday." I glanced at the clock, aware that if I was to get a present for Lola and still make it in time to the party, I would have to leave the house soon.

"Wish her a happy birthday for me. I have sorting out application forms on my agenda today."

"In about a week or so, the children would all be living in loving homes huh." I muttered, getting up and putting on my shoes.

"Yeah, and new ones will be coming in." She answered. I smiled, grabbing my plate and hers and loading up the dishwasher.

"I'll just have to make the best with the little time I have left with them then."

"Is that just your excuse to see Devon every day?" I laughed, turning around to her.

"Mum, I'm not that desperate. If I wanted to see him, I would go to him."

"That's my girl." I rolled my eyes, grabbing my bag and heading towards the door.

"See you late mother!" Before I could open the door, I heard her footsteps behind me and I turned around.

"By the way, Devon's coming with us today. Bye honey!" She shouted, then ran back inside the house. I laughed.

"Stop trying to play match maker mum!" I shouted back, exiting the house. The drive towards the high street was filled with colour and traffic. The preparation for the summer festival was in full swing with businesses and shops decorating their buildings in the festival colours of blue and yellow, hoping to attract more tourists.

I quickly found a car park and went into one of the shops to find some clothes for Lola. Judging off Ellie's size, I purchased a few tops and jeans before driving back towards Brad's house.

I peered down as a message alert came through.

"Don't text and drive El." I muttered to myself, facing the front.

By the time I reached Brad's house, it was already 2:05 and I quickly rushed up the driveway, whilst trying to view my texts at the same time. I knocked and typed my password in, my heartbeat accelerating at the name of the person who texted me.

Devon

Are you still coming by today?

"Are you just gonna stare at your phone or come in?" Brad's voice cuts through my thoughts and I look up, shoving my phone in my bag.

"Did you want me to stare at your door whilst I waited for you?" He smiled, pulling me in for a hug and ushering me inside the house.

"Lola and her friends are in the living room. I'm getting snacks."

"I'll go wait in there then, you realise I have to leave in about 25 minutes?" I questioned.

"Yeah, what's up with that?" He asked.

"I'll tell you later, let me go say hi to the birthday girl." I navigated my way to the living room, finding Lola in the center, sitting down whilst her friends surrounded her.

"Elaine!" She called, spotting me and I smile, walking towards her and bending down to give her a hug.

"Happy birthday Lola! Finally eight!"

"I know right? One step closer to that iPhone." I smiled, bringing out my phone and handing it to her.

"Have mine to practice with until I leave. And, oh your presents." I added, handing her the bag. She grinned as her friends closed in on her.

"You're acting too much like an angel, don't show me up." Brad whispered behind me, putting his hand on my waist. I free myself, and turned to him.

"It's in my nature, I'm sorry." I replied, helping him with the tray he'd just brought from the kitchen.

"Yeah, you're so nice you're leaving in about ten minutes." He accused, pouting.

"I'm sorry, but I'd already promised to go somewhere else with another person. And you only told me about Lola's party yesterday." I argued.

"Yeah, but why do you have to leave now?" He complained and I ruffled his hair.

"Because, silly, the drive to the high street at this point in time is a mission. If we want to stay on schedule, then I have to get there by three so we can get to the high street by four."

"We? As in the Devon boy you called yesterday?" I sighed, rubbing at my temple.

"We, as in my mum and a few others, and Devon. Look, I have to go like now Brad." I answered, going over to Lola and hugging her before getting ready to leave.

"We've had an argument twice this week." Brad stated coming behind me.

"Yeah, because you're so aggravating."

"And you, my princess, you're far too nice."

"Yeah? Well believe me, you're not the first to complain about that." I answered.

"It's not a bad thing though. I'll see you soon, say hi to Annabelle." He said, hugging me and I sighed, smiling and hugging him back.

I left his house, and sat down inside my car to reply back to Devon.

Sorry Picasso, was busy. Yeah, on my way. About thirty seconds later, just when I started my car I got a reply.

Okay, we're waiting. Annabelle's here too. I smiled, quickly driving away from Brad's house. By the time I arrived at the home I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't get a ticket.

Suzie, Annie, my mum and Devon were all waiting outside and I quickly parked before rushing to them.

"I'm so sorry, but I needed to get that gift for Lola, mum. Oh and Brad says hi." My mum rolled her eyes, turning to Annie.

"Did I not tell you when she got here, her excuse would literally be based on other people?" I glared, crossing my arms.

"Mother, please don't tell me I'm far too nice, already heard that today. Erm, who's gonna take care of the children?"

"We've got that sorted El, don't worry, should we go?" My mum answered.

"Who's coming inside Grayson with me?" I asked and I could swear I saw Suzie, Annie and my mum all give each other not so sly smiles.

"You kids go in your car, Annabelle will drive us two." Annie answered, not giving us a chance to answer. I sighed, rubbing at my temple.

"Hello to you too." Devon finally speaks and I face him, smiling.

"Sorry, just a tiny bit stressed. Shall we?" I asked, leading the way to Grayson. He went to the passenger side and climbed in next to me.

"Just one second." I muttered, grabbing the blanket Grace had promptly dumped on the back seat and placing it back in its rightful place. I quickly glanced at the mirror and packed my hair up, turned the AC on and took off my cardigan.

"You're very distracting." I turned to Devon, starting up the car and pulling away from the Home.

"What am I doing to you?" I asked, utterly confused and he smiled.

"Very good question." He simply answered.

"Wait what?" I asked again and he shrugged, taking out a little notebook.

"I said, very good question." I sighed, facing him as we stopped at a traffic light.

"But that didn't answer the question." I shot back and he smiled again, bringing out a pencil and sketching away. Occasionally, he looked up to show me he was listening.

"Didn't it?"

"Oh my God Devon, no it actually didn't. You claimed I was distracting you, yet when I asked you how, you answered with "good question." Technically, you don't know how I'm distracting you then." I argued and he stopped sketching to turn his attention to me.

"Okay but think about your question to me." He hinted.

"Yes, I asked, and I quote, 'what am I doing to you?' and you gave me a backwards answer."

"Exactly, what are you doing to me?" I glared.

"Jesus Christ Devon, I don't know that's why I asked!" He laughed, sketching something on his notepad.

"Hmm, ask me the same question on Suzie's wedding day."

"Wait, what?"

"I said, ask me the same question on Suzie's wedding day." He repeated.

"I was being rhetorical. Why can't you answer me now though?"

"Because by then I guarantee you'll know the answer to your own question."

"I swear writers are meant to be the mysterious ones, Devon." I muttered.

"I'm seriously not being mysterious about anything, you're just not getting it. You, are very oblivious."

"No way, nope, never. Please Devon, I might be bad at reading most people, but I am amazing at reading you." I argued, and probably would have pouted and crossed my arms like a child if I wasn't focused on driving.

"That's what you claim anyway."

"No, it's what I know. I literally hold the title as the one person that can read you. I guarantee that if I wasn't driving and I was looking at you properly, I would know the answer to that question now."

"How confident are you?"

"Look Devon, I know you. How much do you know me?"

"Let's see. I know that when you're nervous about something, you simultaneously play with your thumbs whilst chewing on your bottom lip. You have some sort of obsession with always smiling at anyone and anything. You have little dots of freckles across your face, but it's not noticeable, weirdly enough since you're so pale.

Erm, you have the most amazing brown eyes in the world, which you don't agree with. But I know if you look deeply, you'll see you have flecks of gold that outlines the pupil of your eye, making it look almost magical. And I know that whenever you're happy, truly happy, those flecks of gold become bigger because of how wide your pupils dilate. Oh and you have a thin mark on the back of your neck, almost like you got scratched there, it's not noticeable since it's always hidden." He finished and if I wasn't driving, I would have probably proposed to him right there.

"Jesus Christ, I think you just played my own game against me. What the hell, you know things about me that I don't know." I pointed out and he shrugged.

"I love to observe people. Especially you." He answered and it was then I decided he was on a mission to make me crash the car.

"Especially me?" I questioned.

"Yeah. You have this sort of weird energy that makes many people attracted to you? I don't know how to describe it, but as creepy as it sounds, I could probably just watch you forever without getting bored."

"Devon, are you trying to make me cause an accident?" I asked, willing my heart to stop beating as fast as it was.

"What? It's the truth, I'm an honest kind of person." He protested and I sighed, shaking my head.

"Let me be honest and tell you that if a girl is driving next to a ridiculously good looking guy, he should know how to choose his words carefully so that she does not crash the car and kill them both."

"Well, you're the one who claimed I didn't know anything about you."

"No, what I said was that I know you, and I simply asked what you knew about me."

"Okay Mrs. Elaine Adams, since you claim to know so much about me, it's your turn." He declared.

"Oh, so we're married now." I pointed out, turning to him to give him a brief smile before turning my attention back to the road.

"You did mention you hold the title as the one person who can read me, so we might as well be married."

"Without you proposing to me first? Shameful."

"Are you purposely evading my question?"

"Wasn't a question Devon, and I'm not."

"Answer me then." He pushed and I sighed, turning an intersection before starting.

"Okay, the one way for a person to know if you genuinely mean it when you smile at them, is if that dimple of yours peek out, even by an inch. I don't think you notice, but when you're painting and trying to gather inspiration out of thing air or something, you have a tendency to rub at your left wrist, as if you're trying to absorb inspiration from yourself.

You have a little scar above your eyebrow, and two scars behind your left ear that join together to form some sort of lopsided heart. When people first see you - minus me - they see your face, your beauty, and they get attracted to it."

"Minus you?"

I smiled, seeing my mum's car ahead and what appeared to be Suzie dancing along to the radio.

"Obviously, when I first saw you, I did notice all of that, I'm not blind. But what attracted me to you, I guess you could say, was when you smiled at Ellie. Even before I figured out it takes your dimple to appear for your smile to be genuine, I figured something was off about your smile. It just didn't reach your eyes.

But I looked around, Ellie seemed pretty content, and so did Suzie. No one thought anything was off, I guess. But honestly, I knew something was off, even if I didn't exactly know what at the time. So like I said in my previous statement, I know you a whole lot Devon." He glanced at me, and I smiled.

"You win." He finally replied.

"Do I deserve your last name?" I asked as I turned to the intersection that would lead us to Enchanted.

"You deserve a whole lot more." He muttered, as I tried to find a parking spot close enough to where my mum's car was.

"Your last name is enough for me." I answered grinning and he smiled, undoing his seatbelt.

"As you wish." He replied, getting out with me following. We found my mum, Annie and Suzie in front of the store, along with a few others which I assumed were related to Suzie. They waved us over and after introductions, we went inside the store.

"So what exactly are you here for Devon?" I asked as me, him and Suzie waited in the line

"Devon kindly agreed to paint me and John during our wedding day, during our slow dance." Suzie answered for him and I turned to him. He shrugged.

"Yeah, so I need to know what Suzie's gonna be wearing on the day so I would know which art supplies I would need. I haven't painted with movement in a long time." He explained.

"I wouldn't question it Elaine, he actually went to visit John a few days back and he's seen what my to be husband is wearing before me." Suzie disclosed. I laughed as we moved forward in the line.

"Any excuse this boy needs to paint."

"He'll take it." Suzie finished for me.

"Are you two on some sort of mission to constantly tease me?" Devon asked.

"It's my life goal artist boy." Suzie answered as we finally arrived at the front of the line to face Bridgette again. Her smile quickly disappeared when she saw it was us.

"Good afternoon, my name is Bridgette, how may I help you today?" She asked again and Suzie smiled, just as sweetly as the last time, then turned to me. I smiled, taking her lead.

"Just looking for wedding dresses." I answered, like Suzie had done the last time which led to her laughing and Devon looking on in confusion.

"Buying or browsing?" Bridgette asked, now scowling at this point.

"Buying." Suzie replied.

"Great, just wait over there and an assistant will be right with you." Bridgette answered, making me wonder just how many times of the day she's had to repeat the same old lines.

"Actually, we made an appointment with our last assistant, Jasmine. If you could inform her we're here please." Suzie disclosed and Bridgette sighed, taking up her phone.

"Please inform Jasmine that-" She looked up at us.

"Suzie and Elaine." Suzie commented.

"That Suzie and Elaine are here for their appointment." She hung up and faced us.

"Please take a seat, and Jasmine will come out soon." She informed us and after getting the rest of the group, we went to the seating area waiting for Jasmine.

"So you can be sarcastic." Devon whispered to me as we sat down. I faced him.

"What?"

"What just happened with Bridgette just then? Didn't know you had it in you. You're like a saint you know." I sighed.

"For some I'm an Angel, for others I'm a saint. I can be mean you know." He laughed, causing the rest to look at us.

"You seriously look like Ellie when I refused to paint her doll right there. She was pouting too."

"I am not pouting." I argued and he rolled his eyes, poking at my cheek.

"You're 17 Elaine."

"And so are you Devon. Speaking of I need to give you a birthday present."

"My birthday was in January. It's July." He reminded.

"And so? I missed it, I need to give you a present."

"Oh yeah Elaine, you definitely know how to be mean, totally." He replied as Jasmine came towards our group. I glared, getting up and linking arms with Suzie.

"Elaine! Suzie! Today's the big day!" Jasmine exclaimed grinning and bringing out her notebook and a box of tissues.

"I am nervous as hell El, you have no idea. My friend, Kemi has a problem with being too outspoken." Suzie whispered to me as we walked towards the booth Jasmine had booked for us. I turned around to see Kemi talking with Suzie's mother, already giving her ideas on what she wanted to see Suzie in.

"Remember it's ultimately your choice Suzie." I whispered back and she sighed, playing with her fingers. We all settled in the booth, Suzie practically dragging me on to her lap.

"You're my rock today Elaine." She whispered and I smiled, holding on to her arm.

"Okay, as per your instructions when you came here last, I have selected and picked out dresses that matched your description of what you wanted. Also I have the dresses you originally picked out. In total you have about thirty dresses to try on today, and more of course if these ones aren't what you're looking for." By the tight grip Suzie gave my arm, I could tell that made her even more nervous.

"Suzie, do you want to try on the first dress now?" I whispered to her and she nodded, getting up and effectively dragging me with her.

"We'll just be back." She informed the rest, and we followed Jasmine inside the changing room attached to our booth.

"So, the first dress, you've already tried on before, but I thought you should try it on again so we can rule out any dress we don't want." Jasmine informs us and Suzie nods.

"Here Elaine, help me with putting this on her." Jasmine instructed and through some difficulty, we managed to fit the first dress on Suzie; the princess style one.

"Here goes nothing." Suzie muttered, holding on to my arm again as I led her out of the changing room.

"Oh my God Suzie!" Annie exclaim as I helped her stand on the raised platform next to the mirror.

"Here we have the princess dress made by Antonio Baldacci, all Swarovski crystals hand sown in." Jasmine explained as Suzie gave a little twirl around.

"Oh it's amazing!" My mum chirped in and I nodded, stepping back to see the dress in its glory. From Suzie's face, however, I could tell she wasn't feeling the dress as much anymore. I tapped her and stood on tiptoes to whisper to her.

"Only have to please yourself, remember." I whispered, then stepped back. She inhaled and nodded before turning to the group.

"I don't really think I can manage a big puffy dress all nights. It's kinda heavy."

"I agree! This is only the first dress as well, we need more options." Kemi inputted.

"So should I tick this dress of the list?" Jasmine asked and Suzie nodded. I smiled, helping her off the podium and leading her inside the room. After trying more than 12 dresses on with no result, everyone was starting to get irritated. Kemi had inputted on every dress, liking the ones everyone hated and hating the ones everyone liked.

"Elaine, this is the 14th dress." Suzie said, as I helped her into it.

"Suzie we will find the right dress, I promise." I assured her, and she sighed, holding on to my arm as we went back to the main booth.

"Oh my God!" It seemed as if all the women presented in the booth simultaneously uttered those words as I lead her on to the podium; Kemi excluded. And I definitely shared in their surprise. The 14th dress had to be the most beautiful of the sets she had previously tried on. Even Devon was leaning in his seat, no doubt thinking of the best way to paint it.

The dress was a sort of off shoulder, low cut dress that didn't reveal too much of a cleavage. Adorning the sleeves and around the bodice of the dress were an off white lace detail, plunging down to a little bow at the front. More details of lace were adorned trailing down the dress in a sort of symmetrical pattern, with a long train sweeping the floor.

The simplicity of the dress made it all the more perfect.

"Suzie this is amazing!" I exclaimed as she stared down the mirror, turning to see the back.

"This, is the Eternal dress, also made by Antonio Baldacci." Jasmine informed us.

"I think I found the one." Suzie finally said at last, leading to every woman there cheering; almost every woman.

"I don't like it. Too simple." Kemi said above the uproar.

"Wait what?" I asked and she stared at me.

"I said, I don't like it." It was obvious that Suzie loved the dress, however, I knew her decision could be easily changed if Kemi continued with her input.

"What's there not to like, the simplicity of it brings out the beauty and makes her look radiant." I argued, as everyone else looked on in shock, as if deeming me incapable of such things.

"But she would look even more radiant if she wore something more extravagant." Kemi argued back. I sighed rubbing at my temple.

"But it's not what you want, it's what Suzie wants. Suzie is this the dress for you, or would you like to try on more?" I asked.

"No, um, I love this one." She whispered and I smiled triumphantly.

"She loves this one, she's found her dress." I said to Kemi.

"I don't like it." She shot back. I smiled sweetly.

"You ain't the one wearing it honey." I answered and I could swear everyone in the room gasped at the same time.

"Yeah, um, Suzie this dress would be incredible to paint. The little details on it would be amazing. Especially in the right lighting. Plus the colour with John's suit is perfect." Devon included causing us all to turn to him.

"See Suzie, an artist just told you it's the perfect dress, and you know if Devon tells you something would be incredible to paint, then it must be great." I said to her.

"Would you like to see it with the veil?" Jasmine muttered and Suzie nodded. After some time, she emerged with a long veil and attached it to Suzie's hair.

From the tears that emerged from Suzie's eyes, I knew nothing could sway her opinion.

"This is the one. Definitely." She says as I hand her some tissues. I smiled, sitting down as everyone else crowded around her.

"Wow, didn't know you had it in you." Devon muttered and I turned to him.

"It's what Suzie wanted, didn't you see it? No way was I gonna let her decision change because of one sour opinion." I whispered, looking at Kemi who was sitting down, staring at the ground.

"Kemi, come here." Suzie said, taking her hand and pulling her in for a hug.

"You may not like the dress, but I do hope you'll like the maid of honour dress you'll get to choose for yourself." Suzie declared and Kemi's expression went from irritation to joy.

"Seriously, you want me to be the maid of honour?" She asked and Suzie nodded.

"Who else would it be?" Suzie answered and finally, Kemi smiled.

"All's well that ends well." I mutter to Devon. He glanced at me then gave me a side hug.

"You did great." He said.

"Yeah she did, thank you so much Elaine." Suzie whispered, pulling me up for a hug and I grinned.

"Any time Suzie, any time." I answered.

"So, that's why I want to know if you'll be my junior bridesmaid." Suzie asked.

"Wait, seriously?"

"Yeah, I never got a little sister like I wanted. But I found her in you. I would love it if you agreed."

"Oh Suzie, as if I would actually say no, I'd be honoured." I exclaimed and she smiled, looking down before looking back at me.

"One thing though, I kinda promised Kemi she'd be the one to choose the rest of the dresses, oops." Suzie quickly says then ran back inside the changing room laughing. I turned to Devon, sitting back down, and resting my head on his shoulder.

"Devon, kill me now please." I muttered and he chuckled, patting my cheek.

"You'll survive."

*

a/n: i told you guys they were married lol. comment your thoughts on the chapter, and vote if you enjoyed it. oh and i also attached the inspiration for suzie's wedding dress, if you wanna see it visually.