Darkness's Flower: Pulling It Together

Chapter 40: Wedding Dresses?

~Lilly~

I looked over at Nico. He shimmied back against the wall and I cuddled up against him.

"You can go do something. You don't have to sit here with me while I look through bridal magazines," I told him.

He smiled. "Hey, as long as you stay right here, I'll be perfectly fine."

He wrapped his arms around me and I let my head fall against his chest. He kissed me on the head and I opened the magazine.

"Uh, Gabby, do you have a certain style or anything?" I asked her.

"I want them some shade of turquoise and either strapless, or small spaghetti straps," she replied.

"Alright."

I turned the page. Boom. There, right there. It's a light color of turquoise, strapless, sweetheart neckline, and about knee-length.

"Hey, Gabs, take a look at this one," I said with a big smile.

"That's nice. I actually do like that," Nico muttered.

"What is it?" Gabby asked.

"It's a short, knee-length, sweetheart neckline, chiffon bridesmaids dress. It's really cute. Take a look," I replied.

She hopped up from the floor and I handed her the magazine. Her eyes got wide and the biggest smile imaginable appeared on her face.

"Yes! I need it! Oh my gods, Lilly, it's gorgeous!" Gabby squealed.

I giggled and Nico squeezed his arms a little bit. "Nice job."

"I didn't really do anything, Nico. I opened the magazine," I told him.

"Yeah, but you might be looking for dresses for your own wedding sometime soon," he whispered for only me to hear.

Major excitement was zapped into my body, but also followed were big tingles and slight nervousness. I smiled and giggled a little bit.

"But only maybe," I whispered back. "So, Gabby, are you gonna get those?"

"Hades, yeah! I can't wait to see you in it! Oh my freaking gods!" Gabby turned to us. "The dresses will be absolutely beautiful!"

I smiled. "Now why don't we find your dress? And I happen to know of a good place in town! They have prom dresses and bridal stuff. I've been in there once. I was pretty little and I was getting a flower girl dress. Anyways, we can go down there and I can help you with that!"

"Can we? Oh my gods, yay!"

"And we can pick Ash up on the way. She lives near the place anyways. Nico, aren't you friends with Zach?" I asked.

"Yeah, sorta. I'm guessing you're gonna say that he's here too and I can hang with him until you're all done," Nico said.

"You know me so well!"

"Yeah, whatever."

"Let me Iris-Message her. Hold on." I grabbed a drachma from my dresser and threw a spritz of water in the sunlight coming through my window. "Oh, Iris, goddess of the rainbow, except my offering."

The image shimmered and we saw Ash and Zach together.

"Hey, guys!" I said.

"Oh, hi! Oh my gods! Lilly! Nico! Gabby! Yay! So, Lill, you heard the news?" Ash asked me.

"Hades, yeah, I heard the news! That's awesome, Ash! Yay! I can't believe it! My best friends are getting married. Man, I'm so pumped!"

"Yay! We are too!"

"Hi, Zach!"

"Oh, hey, Lilly," Zach replied with a smile.

"So, Ash, I was about to take Gabby out to help her find her wedding dress. Do you wanna come too? We can get yours too! But only if you want," I told her.

She smiled bigger than ever. "Oh my freaking gods, yes! Yay! I am super excited now! Wait. What about Nico and Zach?"

"Think about it for a moment, Ash."

She paused then smiled again. "Alright, let's go!"

"I am driving, just so everyone's aware! Nico, you're coming too, considering you have to hang out with Zach for a few hours," I said, looking at Nico.

He nodded. "Alright, whatever."

"Alright! Be there in a few!"

I put my hand through the image and grabbed the keys as I sprinted downstairs. Nico and Gabby trailed behind and I pushed them out the door, after scribbling a note to what we were doing, to the car. Gabby got in the back and I stopped Nico. He turned and faced me.

I placed my hands on his chest. "I know this isn't something you really want to do, but thanks anyways. I just think it'll be nice for them to get all of this out of the way. And once we get back, I'll still be with you. Gabby can do stuff with us. Trust me, Nico, it'll be fine-"

He closed his fingers around my wrists. "Hey, it's fine! It'll be kinda nice to hang out with Zach. You go have fun with them. I know Ash has kinda pulled away from you once her and Zach got together. It'll be nice for you. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine! And maybe tonight before I go to bed, we can maybe kiss a little. That'll make me happy."

I stood up on my tiptoes and brushed some hair away from his eyes and leaned towards him. "That'll be perfect."

As I spoke, our lips brushed together slightly. I actually kissed him softly, then pulled away slowly. I smiled at him and we both hopped into the car.

Half an hour later, I pulled into Ash's driveway. She ran out with Zach and smiled widely. I rolled the window down.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Hades, yeah!" Ash squealed.

"Alright, you too, cupcake! You need to calm yourself down!"

"No! Don't say that! No!" Nico said.

"Dude, what's your problem?" I asked him.

"I had to spend days, weeks, with that guy and I don't want any reminders, thank you very much!"

I rolled my eyes and kissed him. "Is that better?"

"Yeah, actually. Okay! So how are we gonna do this, considering the fact that there's only one extra seat open?"

"Yup," I replied. "That's all I got."

"Gods, Lilly, you seriously don't even know how much I love you!"

I smiled. "Whatever. So, I guess Ash could kinda squeeze in the middle."

"Alright. That works," Ash said.

I had to get out to let them in. It was a tight fit, but it works! Nico smirked and even chuckled silently.

"So glad I'm not them," he mumbled.

I laughed and he looked over at me. "I heard you, Nico. Dear gods, you're awesome!"

He smiled. "Whatever. Can we go?"

"Do you have a hot date or something?" I asked.

"Maybe later. But that's just a maybe. It just depends on what she's doing. And it won't be much if a date, maybe a little bit of kissing before I go to bed, but that's it."

I giggled and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. "Then I guess you have yourself a date."

A smile appeared on Nico's face as I actually kissed him on the cheek. Then we headed off into town. We parked in the bridal place and Nico and Zach went only gods know where. I looked at Gabby and Ash before stepping through the door.

"Let's go find your dresses!" I said.