[longer chapter warning! (this one is kinda long lol)]
{scroll to bottom for song if u can't see it up top! <3}
!if there are translations, they're at the end!

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{eloping and ever-afters}

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

❝you ruin your life by not saying how you feel.❞
~ {sarah bahbah}

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┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ˚✩ ⋆｡˚ ✩
┊ ┊ ┊ ✫
┊ ┊ ☪︎⋆
┊ ⊹ ┊
✯ ⋆ ┊ . ˚
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THE GROUP OF americans made their way out of their car. they ran their hands over their formal attire to straighten out the fabric after sitting for a bit of time.

cassandra held onto jays hand a smile on her face as her orange flowey ankle-length dress flew around in the wind. jay wore a purple thigh-length dress that had flowers scattered about on it. the two girls giggled about something as they walked slightly ahead of the boys.

alexander walked in behind the girls but in front of the other two american boys. he wore a grey suit that showed the top part of his bare-chest due to him feeling it was more fabulous to not wear a shirt. he walked while also taking pictures.

sebastian and timothée walked at the back of the friend group side by side. sebastian was wearing a charcoal colored suit that showed his white tank top underneath and he wore a thin gold chain around his neck. timothée wore a black suit but the jacket was unbuttoned and showcased his button up flowered satin shirt that had a few top buttons undone. he wore a gold chain as well.

the group came back together as they reached the building the ceremony was being held at.

"hello! we're here for the wedding ceremony of brigetta and nicolas." cassandra said reaching the front desk.

"oh yes this way." the lady smiled before beginning to walk and lead the group to an entrance outside.

"so you got plans after this?" sebastian asked the ginger-haired girl.

"actually yes. cleaning up after the wedding." the girl says with a laugh before continuing to look ahead.

"next time buddy." timothée says patting sebastian on the back.

the group was confused at first but once they saw the where they were being led their mouths fell open in amazement.

the backyard garden was decorated as if it was a fairyland. string lights hung across the rows of chairs and they twinkled lightly due to it still being a bit light outside. the chairs had baby pink lace draped over the back of them and flowers tucked into the bows on them. their was a flower archway that petals dropped off of making the scene look magical. the pathway was white and sparkled and upfront was a gazebo the was decorated with floral and greenery.

the five americans made their way over to their seats that were all in a row together. they chatted amongst themselves as they waited. there weren't many people as the couple wanted to keep it intimate but, it was a good turn out.

"you nervous to see her timmy?" alexander asked the boy who was seated next to him.

"i mean...yea of course. it's been a year and some months now. but- its not about me. today is nico and brig's day. i'm not gonna ruin it." timothée says and alexander smiles at him.

"i'm so excited to see them!" cassandra says practically jumping in her seat.

"me too! they sound so cool! and we're in italy! i'm still not over that." jay says matching cassandra's excitement before leaning over and placing her head on the curly-haired girls shoulder.

cassandra leans down and places a kiss on her girlfriends head before slipping her arm around her and jay grabbing ahold of her hand.

"same. it feels a bit like a second home after that summer. i missed it here." sebastian says, one leg over the other and a cigarette hanging loosely from his mouth.

"yea same. it's still just as beautiful." alexander says leaning over and taking sebastians cigarette and stomping it.

"jeez dad." sebastian says before pulling out another one.

"you light that and you won't make it to see her walk down the isle." cassandra says not even looking at the boy.

timothée places his hand out and sebastian hands him the cigarette and the box. he puts the cigarette in the box and closes it before handing it to jay for her to put in her purse.

"you get those back after." timothée says.

"and when you're not around children at a wedding." jay says in a 'duh' tone.

sebastian is about to open his mouth to speak but is cut off by soft music beginning to play and a silence falling over the people who were there.

"i know you, i walked with you once upon a dream. i know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar, a gleam..."

the americans turned their head to the flower archway at the start of the white path and soon nicolas began to walk out, alongside his father. nicolas wore a black suit with a white button up that had a few unbuttoned at the top. he had a yellow rose in his suit pocket.

once nicolas got to the front his eyes landed on his distant friends and the new face. he sent them all a smile and a tiny wave. cassandra smiles back so big her jaw could break, jay smiled politely at the new face, alexander smiled back gracefully, timothée smiled and nodded, and sebastian winked and threw a pair of finger guns.

"and i know it's true that visions are seldom what they seem..."

isabelle and lorenzo walked down the isle next. their arms were interlinked and they adorned beautiful and big smiles on their faces. isabelle wore a peach jumpsuit that fit loosely. lorenzo has on a black suit with a green turtle neck underneath. as they reached the ending they took their places on their respective sides.

when isabelle caught view of timothée her face lit up. she gave a quick wave with her mouth slightly agape in astonishment.

"but if i know you, i know what you'll do..."

timothée felt a tap on his shoulder and his eyes were pulled away from isabelle to alexander.

"what?" timothée whispered to the boy but alexander only continued to stare at the flower archway.

timothée let his eyes move to where the curly-haired boy was looking and suddenly his world seemed to stop. at that moment it felt as if he was going to pass out from all the heat that rushed to his face.

there stood selene. she looked exactly as he had remembered. beautifully captivating. she wore a red silk slip on dress that fit her effortlessly. the two front strands of her hair were pinned back which showcased her beautiful face structure. her cheeks dusted in pink and eyes bright. her lips coated in a soft red. timothée had remembered those eyes and those lips like no other.

she began to walk down the isle. she held a small bouquet of red roses and baby's breath in her hands as she smiled at those she passed. she made a silly face a nicolas as he looked at his best friend. once she reached the end she took her respective place.

her eyes danced over those seated and immediately lit up once she came across cassandra and jay. she knew of the girls girlfriend through video chats. she waved and then she saw sebastian and alexander and smiled and blew them kisses. once her eyes met timothée's however, she didn't know what to do.

they kept that same bright spark but she didn't know what action to do. so she simply just smiled before turning her attention towards the archway where rosalie began to waddle down and drop flower petals.

the crowd 'awed' and melted but soon looked back and stood up as they knew what came next.

"you'll love me at once, the way you did once, ...upon a dream."

there brigetta stood. she wore a dress that looked white at first glance but was faintly tinted baby blue. it fit close up top but was puffy at the bottom. it had flowers etched into it and it shimmered in the now dim-daylight. her hair was curled into waves and it was littered with small flowers and small butterfly clips.

she began to walk her dad holding her arm. nicolas stood in awe of his soon-to be bride, a bright smile on his face. selene tried her back to hold in tears while meanwhile cassandra was letting them slowly fall.

she reached the front of the end of the path and brigetta and nicolas joined hands. they couple shared their vows and their 'i do's' and then nicolas kissed his bride. the couple made their way back down the isle and leaded the way to the reception.

a few entrances and a first dance later brigetta was running her way over to the table the americans were at followed by her now husband.

the inside reception was decorated similar to the outside just fit to work indoors. upbeat music played as people talked and danced.

"brig!" cassandra shouts.

"cassie my favorite american baby. no offense boys." brigetta shouts back.

she hold the girl in her arms and then makes her way to hug the boys and nicolas follows in her steps.

"how have you all been?!" nicolas asks the group infringe if him.

"all well i suppose." alexander replies and he others nod.

except for timothée who was half listening to the conversation and half looking for where the brown-haired italian girl he missed deeply was.

"and who's this!" brigetta says going to hug jay.

"well this here is my girlfriend." cassandra says leaving to give the girl a quick peck.

"shut up! no way! how cute!" brigetta says going to hug the girl again.

"see and you complained you would never find someone!" nicolas taunts to the girl.

"we don't bring up my dark days." cassandra says making everyone laugh.

"hey where's selene? i miss that little annoying ant." sebastian asks looking around for the girl.

"oh well-" brigetta starts but is cut off by a female voice.

"an annoying ant. that's a new one yea." selene says appearing with a tray of wine glasses.

timothée head snaps around at the voice and his eyes slightly widen at the sight of the girl so close to him.

"selie!" the group shouts.

"hi! hi! hi!" selene says as she places the tray down on the table and gets sucked into the group hug that timothée stand slightly distanced from and nicolas takes notice.

"i've missed you all! and oh my goodness! jay hi! you're here in the flesh." selene says hugging her newfound friend.

"i sure am and it feels good!" jay says with a laugh.

selene turns to timothée and the group all stares at the pair as they await to see what happens next.

"hello timmy t." selene says with a bittersweet smile before going to hug him.

"hey there sel." timothée says with a smile and falls into the hug.

at first he's stiff but vegans to relax as it begins to feel natural again. just like it did the summer he could do it whenever he pleased.

"okay sit sit! tell me what you've all been up to!" brigetta says going to sit at the table and the others follow.

"well i'll start. i've kinda sorta i'm not really sure,...become a model. like i've walked a few shows but some of them were my own for some clothes i designed." alexander says a smile on his face.

"what! no way you icon!" selene says lightly hitting his shoulder.

"yea. oh and as a gift for you guys i've brought you some items from a future drop that you can have for yourselves. i'll get them out the car afterwards." alexander says with a smile.

"yes. big fat yes." nicolas says giving the boy a high-five.

"i've been selling my art pieces about and getting gigs at popular exhibits which i'm super proud of." cassandra says with a smile.

"and i work with her. always." jay says sending her girlfriend a dreamy glance whic cassandra returns.

"awe cuties!" brigetta chirps.

"i'm editing my movie. i'm supposed to present it at a festival and see if any bigger name production companies wanna pick it up so fingers crossed! and i'm definitely sending you guys and invite don't worry." sebastian says.

"awe sebby. i'm so proud of you." selene says going to squish the boys cheeks and he swats her hands away.

"that's great news seb. saw that coming since your bomb ass film at that summers presentation. jack hotass is an icon." nicolas says making the table laugh.

"my movie has wrapped up filming and where just waiting on an official release date before we start publicly promoting." timothée says with a smile.

"go on mr.movie star!" brigetta taunts in a loving way.

"that's great timmy. i'm so proud." selene says softly and timothée smiled at her trying to read the girl but he finds it a bit hard after being away for so long.

"what about you guys. what's happening once here in italy." alexander asks.

"well i've opened my art gallery and profit is coming in pretty smoothly so i couldn't ask for anything else honestly." brigetta says with a proud grin on her face.

"i'm so proud of you wife." nicolas says leaning to kiss his now-wife as the fable 'awe' and coo.

"i went on tour as a photographer for an italian band and after that i've gotten many calls from people asking me to photograph them and their shows which is exciting." nicolas says and brigetta rubs his chest as she smiles up at him.

"atta' boy. you bring in that income!" sebastian says.

"that's so great nico!" timothée cheers.

"i've still been singing at the restaurant. we've gotten more attention so many people come to eat and listen which is thrilling but exciting. i've also started working as a kindergarten aid until i fully get my teaching degree but it's so fun and i love those little nuggets. just knowing i'm a memorable part in their life is so satisfying." selene says with a small and grateful smile adorning her face.

"that's exactly what deserve selie. i'm so proud." cassandra says.

"awe that's so cute." jay coo's to the girl.

"you seem happy. i'm happy for you sel." timothée says to the brunette girl.

"thank you guys." selene replies softly.

"come on guys we have to dance! just like the old summer days!" nicolas says standing and the group following.

sebastian stays seated and shoo's the others.

"when a bride asks you to dance on her wedding day and you say no to that bride, things don't end the best." brigetta says to sebastian with a smile.

"man i love this song!" sebastian says quickly and fist-bumps his way into the dance floor.

the group dance around to "dang!" by mac miller and anderson .pakk as they laugh. brigetta has her arms around nicolas and his arms are wrapped just as tight around her as they look into each other's eyes and sing. sebastian is trying his hardest to twerk and alexander is laughing at him whilst still dancing. cassandra and jay do their own rendition of the tango but can't even take themselves seriously as they laugh about. selene and timothée are dancing near each other but not with each other.

"go talk to her. i bet you both have a lot to say." nicolas says nudging timothée towards the girl making his bump into her as she spins about.

"sorry sorry sorry." timothée rushes out as he reaches out to stable the girl.

they keep eye contact but selene pulls away.

"it's okay. don't worry." the girl says as she regains her balance.

timothée looks back at nicolas and he's giving him a look as she dances with brigetta in his arms.

"um...selene can we talk. outside." timothée hesitantly asks the girl.

"oh umm, yea sure of course." selene says and the two excuse themselves and began to make their way outside.

they walk where the wedding ceremony was and take a seat next to each other in two random chairs.

"what's up?" selene asks with a smile.

"i just wanted to say i'm sorry." timothée says looking at the girl.

"for what?" selene asks clearly knowing what he meant in some sense.

"for not writing back. that was a pretty dick move of me. but i am truly sorry." timothée says with a laugh.

"it's okay. you had things to take care of that were in front of you and not miles away. i understand. i'm just glad you're here now." selene said with a smile.

"you know i read the book you sent." selene says softly while looking ahead.

"call me by your name?" timothée questions.

"yea. and thank you for highlighting. but i couldn't help but notice that amongst all th line highlighted in yellow, one was highlighted in blue. 'is it better to speak or die?'" selene says as her hazel eyes cascade over the pale boys face.

"really? well which is better?" timothée asks the girl.

it's silent for a moment as selene looks ahead in thought. her eyes twinkling along with the fairy lights above them. in that moment timothée was transported back to the summer. the summer full of love and warmth. a summer full of selene.

"to speak. because the guilt and regret of it saying the words that could have made a difference in your life will kill you anyways." the girl says looking at timothée in the eyes.

"have you ever not spoken?" timothée asked the girl.

"yea. one summer, when i met this american boy." the girl says with smile making timothée smile as well.

they stare for a minute but before anyone can say anything alexander comes jogging over to the pair.

"sel, it's time for your speech!" alexander says not letting the girl answer before grabbing her arm and pulling her inside, timothée laughing before following.

selene made her way up to the stage and tapped the microphone before clearing her throat.

"hello everyone. it's my honor to be standing here today as the maid of honor and best woman for two people who i hold dearest to me. i met brigetta in middle school. she was new and she had blonde hair that was so curly that i had to ask her about it. she told me it wasn't supposed to be like that and she just got caught in the rain whilst on her way to school." selene says and the room fills with small laughter.

"but, i told her i liked it. and she ate lunch with me that day. and the day after that. and...the day after that. but i'd never complain because i had a new friend." selene says smiling at her blonde best friend who whipped her eyes.

"now with nicolas, i met him at a club, sorry mama. i was so drunk that he had to drag me around like a suitcase. but he did it so he knew i would get home safe. and brigetta let him in to sit on the couch and drink some water while she put me in my bed but this silly goose had passed out on the couch. and after breakfast in the morning he said he was looking for roommates and so we allowed him to pass out on the couch for many days after that and eventually he moved in with us for good. and got his room promoted to the upstairs." selene says smiling at the boy.

"now at first we were the trio against everything. but i first realized the love between these two when they would go back in forth with the insults except for one time where nico didn't come home and brig was a mad woman trying to find his whereabouts. she played it off as a worried friend but the constant pacing and glances at the door was something totally different. and now i get to be here looking at the two in love and happy and i wouldn't ask for anything else." selene says and brigetta blows her a kiss.

"thanks for not being to pda around me before you moved out. i love you both endlessly. congratulations you lovebirds." selene says and everyone claps.

"sing! please for me!" brigetta yells to the girl.

selene was taken aback and glanced at the four americans who nodded their head rapidly. the brunette let out a sigh and walked back over to the microphone. she looked at timothée and then to brigetta who nodded her head knowing what she doing. selene took a breath before bringing to sing.

"godamn, man child, you fucked me so good that i almost said, "i love you". you're fun and you're wild, but you don't know the half of the shit that you put me through." selene sang as sebastian choked on his wine at her words, nicolas let out a surprised laugh, cassandra and jay silently gasped, alexander gave a small 'period', brigetta smirked, and timothée's ears perked up as making him lift his head.

"your poetry's bad and you blame the news, but i can't change that, and i can't change your mood. ah ah." selene sings her eyes fluttering closed as she sings the song.

"'cause you're just a man, it's just what you do. your head in your hands, as you color me blue. yeah, you're just a man, all through and through. your head in your hands, as you color me blue. blue, blue, blue." selene sings.

timothée stares up at the girl who sings with her eyes shut. something about her voice sounds different. it still sound good but it sound raw. like she's been in pain or distress.

"goddamn, man child, you act like a kid even though you stand six foot two. self-loathing poet, resident Laurel Canyon, know-it-all." selene sings opening her eyes and cracking a smile while singing the height making timothée smile as well.

"you talk to the walls when the party gets bored of you. but i don't get bored, i just see you through. why wait for the best when i could have you? you." the girl sings her eyes met with timothée's.

his heart practically stops. but there's hesitation. the distance. the time. the problems. but for her, he would make it work.

"'cause you're just a man, it's just what you do. your head in your hands, as you color me blue. yeah, you're just a man, all through and through. your head in your hands, as you color me blue. blue, blue, blue." brigetta smiles up at the girl as she sings and nods her head.

the song sounds as if it's a song about loving someone no matter their flaws and it's just made for a wedding but to selene, the meaning is much more than that. it's about how you can still love someone even though they carry so much stuff along with them.

"you make me blue, blue, blue, blue, blue, blue, blue." selene looks directly at timothée as she sings the last words and at that moment he realizes the pain that rested in the small girl.

the crowd clapped as timothée got lost in his thoughts. not writing back was an accident but after not receiving another letter from the girl he didn't want to be an inconvenience to her. but he would never be an inconvenience to the girl because she loved him.

so as he stood to walk over to the girl who just walked off the stage and was surrounded by his friends who seemed very interested in something, he was excited until he began to slow up.

the sight in front of him was his group of friends talking to a male. a male who had his arm wrapped around selene's waist.

"timmy come meet ethan!" jay called for the boy unaware of the pair's deep romantic history.

'ethan'

the name hit like bricks even though this was his first time hearing it.

"timothée. this is ethan..." the italian girl started.

"my boyfriend." selene said a smile on her face but her eyes reading something different. something timothée had never seen before.

"nice to meet you." the deep male's voice said but it was semi-blocked our due to timothée's thoughts.

it all started clicking. there were many moments where they could've rekindled what they had but selene was resist. he thought it was because she needed time, but she has already had her time. and a sign he thought was a love confession for him, was closure for him. they had chosen not to speak. therefore sacrificing the liveliness for the love they had.

so as they drove to the hotel after the wedding. timothée made a flight back and said it was for 'work purposes'. he sat on his flight back to nyc thinking of what could've become if he just let the words pour out. but yet again, he stayed quiet.

.・゜゜・　　・゜゜・．
:songs from the chapter:

once upon a dream ~ lana del rey

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

norman f**king rockwell ~ lana del rey

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

dang! ~ mac miller ft. anderson .paak

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

.・゜゜・　　・゜゜・．

AUTHORS NOTE:
~ hello ! thank you for reading even though it was quite long el oh el <3. but this was a closure chap before the...(dare i say it.) last chapter. *cries*. also peep the way i made them all where the colors of their graphics to tie the beginning and end together 😪 (tears. literal tears.). but i wanted to ask you a few trivia questions for fun at the end of the last two chapters! today's questions are...

- who's your favorite character? (feel free to rank them if you want! that would be fun to see!)

- which one of the songs selene has sang is most iconic to you? (like moment, lyric, & meaning wise!)

- who's your fave ship? (sel & timmy, brig & nico, cassie & jay, or isabelle & lorenzo?!)

~ i hope you're all safe, hydrated, and healthy. try to eat a little something and laugh about something! use ur voice for good as well! talk soon! sending much love xx
- <3