Sebastian's

Getting into my room I closed the door quickly and turned the key 2 times. I was about flush the key too when stopped myself half way to the toilet. I was facing the mirror. It showed a guy, about my age but younger, with bright orange hair and a bad ass orange beard, and electric eyes that would do whatever to win the girl and get out of there. By my neck was the camera with all information I needed to destroy Snowfields credibility. So powerful thing made the hairs of my arm scared. What I was about to do was completely crazy, and I was supposed to be cool with it I have done lots of insane things before. Like going against Oliver Snowfields for the first time 10 years ago, that was the biggest of my mistakes (I guess it would be anyone's final big mistake). But hey! I was alive, healthy we may say, and finally with something important and majestical to do with my miserable existence.

I looked again at the mirror, and knew I would start talking to myself because that's what usually happen when we are alone with lots of deep thoughts.

"You big stupid, you just ruined your life! Okay, no time for despair, I am safe and I've got the photos. Now all we have to do is take them to the wedding and BINGO!"

As soon as I shouted "bingo" I held my tongue in mid-thought.

Wait. I could not carry a photographing camera to Kennedy's wedding. The security banished recording objects that were not listed, as well as costumes with too many folders. They were not born yesterday, with such an important occasion going on, security would be double with crisps of chocolate and a cherry on the top. Of course I wouldn't be the one carrying a bomb to my best friend's celebration, but no wonder I was the person Snowfields hated the most inside that party and all of my steps would be somehow followed.

I could print the photos and hide them inside my boxers, but the printer room was located on the second floor, which was an inconvenience. Plus, everything that was printed there was then saved in a computer and its content checked... If there's no way to take those with me to the wedding, what was the sense of taking them?

What was the sense of everything?

I was a mouse. Surrounded. By. Mousetraps.

🔸🔸🔸
•••

Angelina's

Kennedy was a very beautiful woman and I'd never realize that if she wasn't marrying our Alek. Her hair was totally the opposite of mine, short, pitch black and shinny. Mine had always been waved and difficult to take care of, I'd probably give the hairdresser a hell of a work to get it done it the wedding was mine. Kennedy, the contrary, was happy with what she has gotten and didn't even bother to stress anybody with useless fancies. She looked beautiful in the dress we got for her, the only bride dress we could find that didn't look smacked or burnt by age and war. It took Oliver's men almost 2 months to bring it here, and costed us a lot of food, but it was for a good cause. I was happy for my best friend Alek and even happier for the friend I was having the opportunity to meet. Maybe she was meant to be my best friend. The first and only girl soul mate I ever had... after Barbie.

"Oh, these coconut candies are truly delicious, Angelina! With no doubt they are my favorite already... do you think I'll fit in the dress if I keep eating this much?" She said after the 4th candy put down her throat. In front of my bedroom mirror surrounded by lights and in that beautiful white dress I had nothing to say except...

"You're so stunning and slim I doubt it."

She smiled, looking at herself. Her teeth was incredibly white too but because of the product we gave her to chew. In a few days her month would go back to normal and sincerely, I prefer the natural. Her smiles faded soon, though, and she looked at me."God I wish I was a little bit fatter like yourself. It's very hard to eat properly downstairs, you know. We are poor and there's even no money anymore. I feel like I'm stealing something that doesn't belong to me every time Aleksei invites me to eat with you."

"That's not true, you're not stealing anything... it's- uh..."

I had no words, no ideas, no answers to comfort her. Mainly because I knew every word she said was true. Secondly because I couldn't call her beautifully slim if she was half the time hungry. That's not beautiful that's sad!

"I wish I could do something for you, I mean all of you... Especially for Sebastian." I lowered my head quickly knowing that she would turn to me fast as lightening. But I truly, deeply wished the best for him. I was afraid that I'd be taking his most beloved friend away and couldn't picture his face when she crossed the aisle. I wanted to be able to touch him, even for a split second, and say that everything was going to be fine, I would take care of him. Sebastian, who'd taken care of me more than people imagined...

"Do you miss him, Ang?"

"Oh well, yes I do."

It was unusually good to say that out loud. I regretted it at the moment I opened my mouth to it.

"Honestly", Kennedy started, "I wouldn't notice you knew each other if he was not my best friend. He talks pretty decently about you, if it wasn't for that there's no chance of knowing you two have history. I'm sorry for what happened. But be sure he loves his job, and you might love your life too! All those clothes, perfumes, these pillows... oh, fluffy pillows! And the coconut candies, they are so good."

"I am lucky to have you now. It is sad to have lots of coconut candy if you can't share them."

The door opened and Aleksei popped his head in. "Came by to check on you girls. Is the dress ready for the party?"

"Hey my love!"

"ALEKSEI GET OUT OF HERE!" I grabbed the first thing my hands could reach and tossed it onto his face.

"Ouch, Angelina! Really? A comb?"

We started laughing, Kennedy turned around from the mirror and went like crazy to hug him. My mother some time ago said the groom can never see the bride's dress before the wedding, but this assumption was so long forgotten nobody really cared anymore. I personally would like to follow these old costumes, they turn things more romantic.

"See what I was telling you", Kennedy palpated Aleksei's belly with delight, "I like pillowly bellies, look how nice they are!"

"Are you calling me fat, lady?" He faked to be angry and disappointed, but ended up laughing and squeezing her even more in the hug. "I love you."

"I love you too."

I was about to throw up rainbows and wish it was me under those sleeves when the door opened again, announcing a new visitor. Just the outside breeze that entered then was enough to tell everyone party was over.

"What are the three of you doing here?" He asked dryly.

"Hey, boss." Alek straightened his posture, letting go of Kennedy. "We were just admiring the dress."

I held my breath some time in the past and would only let it go if the temperature in the room raised again, which wasn't something so likely to happen. He was very tall at the moment and I didn't like when our high difference showed up so much. He wasn't chubby massive like Alek but his thick clothes made him look so, and the look on his face - only God knows what gruesome thing he might be dealing with - showed nothing but an empty pack of expression.

I bit the insides of my cheeks. Both of them. He looked from Alek to Kennedy and to me once and very slowly.

"I see."

"Umm, need my help with something?" Aleksei ventured a conversation despite being visibly out of balance.

The air was still cold, but the gelid breeze around us seemed to decrease gradually. It was because Oliver was smiling. Step by step he crossed the room. Saying nothing, lowered down and kissed my forehead, light and soft. I closed my eyes so the kiss could feel longer, and it did.

"Your dress is downstairs in the truck. Go check it out."