Ollibear [ on going ]

07 | one dance

07 | one dance

Killian called the next day.

We were able to keep the whole ordeal behind us and stay friends, which I was completely glad for. I liked having him around and I've grown fond of him. Just not in a way he wanted. So when the day of the wedding came, Killian was still my date and I was glad that I didn't have to go stag. However...

"Late? Like, how late?" I asked, frowning as Nina, the hairdresser, pulled on my hair. I winced at the rough pulling but she made everyone else's hair look magical so I figured that the bits of pain would come a long way with my hair. Emily was first and she was probably being photographed right now. I was the last person to get their hair and makeup done by Nina and she must have been a real saint because with the news Killian just bombarded on me, I didn't think that my moving around was making her job better. I tried to sit still even though I really wanted to pace around the room. But I wanted this to finish quickly because we still had pictures to take.

"Maybe half an hour? Sorry, Elle," he apologized sincerely. The sound of paper being shuffled around and people yelling at each other in the background and I couldn't be angry with him because he seemed rather stressed, too. Someone was rushed to the ER and the patients of the doctor who's doing the surgery was pushed to Killian until the surgery was done. "I'll still be there for the wedding but I don't think I'll be there for the pre-photos."

"No, don't rush," I quickly said. I didn't want to be the cause of a person dying. "Seriously, Killian, it's totally fine. There's still the after photos, right?" I assured him, not wanting him to rush his job. "And if you miss that, that's okay, too," I added. "It's just pictures."

"Thanks, Elle," he said, sounding tired. "I'll be there though, maybe a little late, but I'll be there, I promise."

"Then I'll see you in a few of hours," I said pleasantly, hoping that the fact that he may be late wouldn't be bothering him at work. Then just to lighten up the atmosphere, I added: "Make sure you clean up later because I look spectacular right now."

In the mirror, I saw Nina roll her eyes but she was smiling.

"When do you not look spectacular?" he asked with a hint of teasing in his tone.

"Shut up," I muttered, fighting the blush. The others in the room might mistake the reason for the blush to be something else. "You know what, I'm un-inviting you."

"Aw, you know I didn't mean it," he countered, chuckling. "Don't fall in love with the other groomsmen when I'm not there."

I rolled my eyes. "They'll be too busy looking at the other bridesmaid anyway," I told him, half-serious, half-kidding. But I was mostly serious. Everyone looked gorgeous today. I never had this much makeup on or took so long with my hair and I wasn't sure if I liked it at all. It's been a bit over twenty minutes and I couldn't just sit here anymore. I knew that Audrey thoroughly enjoyed having someone fix her hair and makeup though. "I mean, even with my makeup and hair; I feel so average beside them."

"Honestly, Elle, you couldn't even be average if you tried."

I didn't know what to say to Killian after that. Did he mean that I was so terribly ugly that I'd never ever be average even with the best amount of effort? Or did he mean the exact opposite of that? His statement could warrant different feelings and I wasn't sure what was stirring inside me right now.

"I meant that as a compliment," he added after a second.

Oh, okay. It was definitely my heart beating way too fast for my liking.