Partners In Crime

5• Thunderbird

=4 Days Left=

Even though Marina didn't often see Alex outside of a wedding, as he was always either doing interviews or on tour in god knows which country, the two of them shared quite a few traditions everytime they met up with each other.

The blowing of a kiss towards Alex. That'd been a thing since the Hoffman wedding. Not always a goodbye one, but a general parting custom.

Marina remembered the beginning of 'in a minute'. Well, it was recent-ish, not ingrained as a tradition yet. It was after the horrorshow of her cousin's wedding, Alex and her had stood outside her front door, before he left for his year-long tour around the world. They were both anxious that they might never see each other again. So they promised each other that it wasn't goodbye, before it would take years to see another wedding with Alex until this one, Solana's wedding.

Marina had been daydreaming, sitting in Tranquility's restaurant, on a velvet emerald green sofa, where they'd been serving cream tea. Her notepad on her lap, elbow propped on it as she gazed out into the window.

Four days was what had been counting down in the back of her mind. Four days to fuck up. Just as usual. But it wasn't going to be as easy as simply opening a gate to release a flock of goats. No, it felt more like panic studying for an exam you'd been procrastinating longer than you'd care to admit.

"Marina!"

Another familiar voice approached from behind. Erin.

No no no. Shit. Alex was supposed to be here any minute.

Her hands went for her flask in her bag, cursing internally upon remembering she'd decided to leave it in her suitcase for the day. Fuck this shit of trying to be a better person like a New Year's resolution. Her head was now forming a dull ache, teasing her by the near point of unbearable. Ignoring it, Marina stood up, coming to greet an old friend with a hug.

"Erin, you look lovely," she said, a smile she'd practised to be real enough. She didn't want to hurt Erin's feelings.

Erin's, however, never seemed so genuine. She'd always held that air about her. Smiling like nothing could ever crease her forehead.

"Oh Marina, you're too kind. This old thing?" She played with her strawberry pink sundress, twirling a little with it in her hand. "Just picked it up from a sale. Can you believe it? The last one and my size!"

Of course it was.

"No way!"

"Yes way!"

Marina so desperately wanted to share in her excitement, but it felt arbitrary to her. Like she would be lying to herself. She kept up her façade, glancing at her watch. Where the hell was Alex?

She noticed Erin watching her, another one of those attentive looks that came whenever she held her flask.

"But to be honest, no dress is quite as stunning as the bridesmaids' dresses you and Solana chose for us." Erin placed a comforting hand on Marina's shoulder.

"Just wait till you see Solana's dress. It's truly-truly amazing."

"No, you guys are killing me. I'm dying waiting for this wedding. Gah!" She smiled again. And Marina realised it was a kind of flirtation. The same kind of flirtatious she emitted when she twirled her dress.

Not necessarily towards Marina, but practise for...for...

"Good afternoon, ladies." She heard Alex's low dulcet tone ooze out from behind her.

She spun around gracelessly, the way Alex often made her be, and her breath caught in her throat as if it was the first time seeing him.

One gelled curl of his flicked over his forehead while the rest was styled ruggedly. No leather jacket but a grey chequered shirt, his sleeves rolled up revealing his forearms and rose tattoo. She noticed a bracelet around his wrist. So simple but so captivating. He grinned, cocky as per usual.