The Tale Of Hearts

Chapter 114

Hazel's POV

"Oh my god, Tash, you are NOT doing this to me right now," I muttered, my voice wobbling as panic crawled up my throat. But all I got in response were giggles. So many giggles and the unmistakable sound of shuffling feet moving around me. Making me aware that Tash not alone in this. 

I swallowed hard. "Tash," I tried again, my voice sharper this time. "I swear, if there is a—"

BOOM. Loud music exploded through the room, rattling my bones. I jumped, nearly losing my balance as the blindfold over my eyes made everything ten times more terrifying.

"Oh, don't be such a baby," Tash's voice finally rang out, way too cheerful for my liking. "You're the bride! We're just setting the mood for your special night." 

"I don't need a mood! I need my vision back!" I shot back, twisting uselessly against whatever ridiculous soft fabric had been draped around me. Laughter erupted from every corner of the room, and I knew—I just knew—this was only going to get worse.

"Oh, Haze, you look hot," a voice purred. I froze. That voice—Eva? Oh, I knew it. They were in this together. Three of my maid-of-honors plotting against me? This couldn't be good. And if Eva was involved, it was even worse. Yes, we'd gotten closer lately, and I wanted her to be one of my maid-of-honors. I thought she deserved more sweet memories—to help her forget what Bryan did to her.  She was one of the sweetest, bubbliest girls I'd ever met but I had also learned something important—she is just as much of a brat as Tash.

I groaned. "Guys, stop this."

"Nora, I know you're here too. You're supposed to be the mature one. You know bringing a stripper is a terrible idea, right? Do you have any idea how Hyden would react if he found out?" I mumbled, ignoring their barely suppressed giggles. Before I could say anything else, something soft brushed against my arm. Then feathery. I tensed. "What... what was that?" Tash hummed, way too innocent.  "Oh, just a little outfit change. Gotta match the theme." My stomach dropped. "The what now?" And then, before I could thrash my way out of whatever they were doing to me, The blindfold was yanked off of my eyes. I blinked rapidly against the sudden brightness, and the first thing I saw was...

Pink.

Rhinestones.

Feathers.

And worst of all—a damn tiara.

I stood there in the middle of the room, wrapped in a ridiculously bright pink, glittering, feather-trimmed robe. It was something between a princess costume and a burlesque disaster. Silence stretched for a second before laughter erupted around me. 

Tash was doubled over, Eva was wiping away tears, and even Nora, the supposedly mature one, was grinning. I looked around in panic to see a half-naked man standing there, but thankfully, it was only us in Tash's living room. A sigh of relief left my lips, but I narrowed my eyes at the three girls grinning at me.

"What is this?" I asked, eyeing them—also dressed in robes but much less ridicules.

Tash wiped the tears from her eyes, still fighting back laughs. "You look amazing, Hazel," she said, barely able to breathe, and then burst into another round of laughter. "Yes, Eva, I think so," Tash said, smirking. "Seems like the idea of having strippers at her bachelorette party is exactly what she expected. But don't worry, I can still arrange something." She grabbed her phone with a mischievous glint in her eyes. I gasped, not bored, just panicked, quickly snatching her phone away and hiding it behind my back.