My Best-friend's Groom

Chapter 1~Signs Of Becoming A Runaway Bride

I've always had the belief that a wedding should be the most celebrated occasion in a person's life. It must be a joyous event, no matter how it is held: be it a simple gathering with family or friends, or a grand ceremony attended by families, friends, friends of friends, and so on. Either way, weddings are very special, very sacred affair. After all, a couple of individuals will be joined for life, vowing to love and cherish each other.

It's all very romantic, really.

Which is why I'm standing here inside the bride's hotel room, scrutinizing the bride herself, who also happened to be my best-friend.

To be honest, she looks like an embodiment of the perfect bride: her golden blonde hair piled atop her head, a small diamond tiara adorning it; her expensive white and gold gown hugged her upper body perfectly while her skirt flowed elegantly down her body. All in all, Lia looks regal in her outfit.

She even acted the perfect bride during the first few minutes that I spent here with her. In fact, she played the part so well that if I didn't know her, I would have been convinced that she really is excited. But then again, I do know her. I know her well enough to see that she really is not acting herself.

So I arched a brow, and said in the driest of voice that I am capable of, "yeah, yeah. You do seem very excited to be Mrs. Landon Keene to me."

She froze. Her eyes widened, panic evident within them. Suddenly, she stepped towards me and clasped my hands.

"Oh God, Lexi! Please, help me out of this mess. I don't want to be tied to that man forever. He's...he's...damn it! I don't even know him that ,much."

"What are you talking about?" I asked her, letting my doubt color my tone. "I thought the two of you knew each other all your life. Literally."

Closing her eyes, she heaved a sigh as she sat down the high-backed chair in front of the mirror.

"That's what I thought. Now, he's just some asshole that would do anything to get what he wants, no matter the cost. So unlike the Landon I knew before". She looked back up to me, her eyes full of indignation. "He's just using me, Lexi. He doesn't want to marry me because he loves me. He probably doesn't even care about me at all. He's just using me.

"It would have been alright somehow if he's marrying me because of some girl who broke his heart. I would've understood that. But no. He's marrying me for his goddamned business empire", she finished with a bitter laugh.

Then she shouldn't have accepted his proposal in the first place, I thought. But I didn't dare say it aloud. She's already upset as it is. I don't want to make it worse. Of course, that doesn't mean that I'm not going to give her hell for this someday. Considering I do get her out of this.

Instead, I arched an amused brow at Lia's rant. "So you're saying that you're fine with being used as long as you're being used as a rebound?"

"What? No, of course not."

"Uh-huh? I'm pretty sure that's what you said."

"No! What I said was that I would've understood if-ugh! That's not even the damned point!" She snapped at me, which doesn't happen often, if ever.

"Okay, okay. Calm down", I said, holding out a placating hand to her. "Jeez, your stressing yourself out. You wouldn't want to look haggard during your wedding, do you?"

"That's the thing. I don't want to go to any wedding at all!" She cried, her eyes blazing, before slumping on her seat, looking dejected. "I tried talking to my mom, but she said everything's already set so I can't back out anymore. And that Landon is still the guy I used to know, that he's just buried somewhere there inside him, and that I could bring him out with time." She looked at me, her eyes disbelieving and almost hysterical. "Tell me Lexi, do I look like an excavator? Do I?"

"Uh, no?"

"Exactly! Lexi please, help me out. You're my only hope". She looked at me with her wide blue eyes, pleading me. She's never been the kind who always ask for help, not even from me, not unless she's desperate. That's why I can never say no to her.

I sighed in resignation. "How do you suggest I do that?"

Hope shimmered in her eyes as she gave me a small smile. "You'll help me?"

"Like I have a choice", I replied, rolling my eyes, "So what's your plan?"

She hesitated for awhile. "Uh...None actually. But you're more than welcome to be creative", she said sheepishly.

"What? But-"

"Alexandra darling, I hate to kick you out, but I truly have to. The wedding is starting in fifteen". Rebeca Hawthorn, Lia's mom, called out to me, suddenly appearing from the doorway.

Lia started panicking. "Already? But mom, can I have a few more minutes with Lexi, please? It's really important. We have things to talk about and...uh..."

Rebeca made her way towards her daughter and started fussing over Lia's hair. "Oh shush. I'm sure whatever you girls have to gossip about is not that important. Besides, you'll still have plenty of time later. Right, Alexandra?"

"It's Alexis", I grumbled.

"Hmm? What's that? You're leaving? Very well then, see you later darling."

I just rolled my eyes at Rebeca's dismissal for me and looked at Lia. "I guess I'll just see you later, Li."

"But-"

"Don't worry. I'll see you later", I told her firmly before turning around and leaving the room.

Ooh crap. What have I gotten myself into this time?

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( Me: *grumbles* Damn it, I'm such an awkward mess...)