Sofia the First: The Rise of Rulers

Chapter Sixteen: Desmond

Chapter Sixteen

Desmond

She won't even look at me. I've been stealing glances at her all night, and she won't even look at me.

I try to focus on the party. The wedding is extravagant, but that was always Hildegard's thing. The venue is perfect. Everything is perfect. I look around taking it all in and my eyes, on their accord, rest on Amber. Who is by far the most perfect thing in the room. Her dress dips in the back and her golden-blonde hair is tied up giving me the best view of her long back and olive skin. She has a few loose curls falling out of her updo, and I want to twist them between my fingers. It's worse knowing what it's felt like.

I know what it's like to feel her smooth, silky hair and watch as she smiles and talks about nothing important. I love the little laugh she does when she thinks she's funny.

It's been a long time since I've seen her. I haven't seen her since that graduation ball over a year ago. She looked beautiful then too. She always looks gorgeous.

She's waving at someone and I turn my head in the direction she's waving. A little guy who looks like he hasn't seen a weight in his life, that's rude but I don't care, is walking towards her.

He's smiling, she's smiling, I am not.

He walks over and hugs her. I watch as his bare hand touches the part of her back that's exposed and my feet are moving before my mind can catch up.

"Hey."

He startles and looks at me. He's tall. Not as tall as me, though.

"Oh hey man. I don't think we've met?" He says. I'm not one to get angry but his casual tone is putting me in a pissy mood. It's a shame really, he seems like a decent enough guy. Maybe we could have been friends.

"No, I don't think we have. I'm Desmond"

"Desmond. I've heard of you." He sticks out his hand to shake mine. "I'm Wendell"

I take his hand because I'm not a dick, but If I was I would have slapped it away, or maybe just glared at him, or I could have told him to fuck off...

"And I'm Lucinda." A tiny lady, who looks only a year or two younger than Amber, says. I hadn't even seen her on the other side of Wendell.

"Hi," I say. Wendell looks between me and Amber before leading himself and Lucinda away. His hand was on her lower back. Interesting.

"They're cute together don't you think?"

I don't turn around. I take a deep breath in and I can smell her sweet vanilla scent.

"Yes," I say. A couple. They are a couple. Good to know.

"It's been a while, Desmond." She says. I still don't turn around. I'm scared my want for her will be too easily seen in just the way I look at her.

"A year and 2 months."

She's quiet.

"A year and 2 months." She repeats.

I can't help myself. I need to see her. I turn around and sure enough, her cute little nose is pointed up with the confidence only she has. Her head is slightly tilted to the side as if confused. It's adorable. She's adorable, but gorgeous, but impossibly hot at the same time. I take in the curls, I was imagining touching only a few minutes ago, framing her face. They are cruel because they are begging me to reach out and tuck them behind her ear.

"Amber,"

The sound of glass on glass fills the room and everyone stops their conversations to face Clio.

"I would like to make a toast to the lovely couple since I am in fact the maid of honor," she continues, "I knew Hildegard would marry this fool since the first day she told me that his..."

I stop listening because I'm hyper-focused on the warm slither of skin that's touching my hand. My knuckles are barely making contact with the back of Amber's forearm but it's all I can feel. It's hardly a touch and it would only take the smallest move of my hand to move away. It's the right thing to do, but hell if I care. It's been 424 days, I deserve this.

We don't talk for the rest of the night. I want to. I debated asking her to dance but ultimately decided not to. Maybe I will tomorrow. That has been my only comfort all night. I will be able to see her for three more days at all the other weddings. I wonder what she will wear, I doubt should could look any more perfect than she did tonight. She always does though, look more beautiful every time I see her. I wish she would see me, too.