Half a Man at Best (Sequel to VALERIE)

Chapter Twenty-One

~UNEDITED~

Copyright © zylgnagnaba 2014

“Earth to Valerie!” I blink several times before my eyes fixated with the black-haired girl standing before me, Jackie. I was unaware that I zoned out in the middle of preparing Bree for today’s big occasion. I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that she is about to be wedded today with Niall, the baby of the group next to me.

“What’s the matter, Val?” I hear Eleanor ask from across the room. I am sitting on the edge of Bree’s bed while the four of the girls – Perrie, Evonnie, Bree and her – stand next to the large mirror by the window, fixing the bride’s dress after Lou did some magic on her hair and make-up.

Jackie decides to sit next to me as I ogle on the clock which hands have just ticked twenty minutes before two in the afternoon. The ceremony starts at exactly two-thirty.

Staring back at the other girls, I admire how the colours of the bridesmaids’ dresses blended with the bride’s – just enough to let Bree stand out on this very special occasion. She looks like a queen with the combination of crushed velvet, satin and laces of her dress. Her hair is pulled together in a very elegant chignon with few little strands curled at the sides of her temple. Her make-up consists of chic shades of blue and pink – which only make her look younger.

The bridesmaids are all clad in lavender bodycon dresses which accentuate the curves and edges of our body just fine. We saved Lou the trouble of doing our hairs for us. Somehow, I am glad that I cut my hair short because I would have taken so much time over hairsprays, considering that the wedding venue is at the top of the hill and is very much breezy. The other girls, however, have gathered their hair in ponytails to keep them from sticking to their faces just in case the wind gets unforgiving.

 “Nothing. I was just thinking about the last wedding that I missed.” My answer comes out few seconds later, directing the words to Perrie whose eyes are now trained on me as soon as the words slip.

“Oh, Valerie…” She coos while straightening herself up before walking towards me. Her fingers graze my cheek before she cups my chin for me to look up at her compassionate eyes. “I told you, it’s okay if you missed Zayn and I’s wedding. You haven’t really missed that much, sweetie.”

 “True.” Bree seconds, turning her face from the mirror to us and nods. Perrie then sits beside me and leans her head to my shoulder while her arm wraps around me. “I mean, it was a glorious occasion but it was different without you there. If you were there, you’d probably feel empty – or not because you are there and it would have been the opposite scenario.” We all chuckle at that. Bree is the kind of person that thinks over things before speaking and this is just one rare incident when she seems careless. Her nerves are already quite obvious, if I say so myself.

“I should be offended, but it’s true, Valerie.” Perrie tells me while pulling away to run her hand through my hair and I smile. It always feels amazing when you are loved, when people value your existence. I feel blessed because it’s not every day that you get to meet or know people such as them.

“Aww. This is such a sentimental moment. Can we first take a selfie before we bring our bride to the venue?” The affected atmosphere shifts into amusing at Evonnie’s suggestion and we all crack into fits of giggles. However, Perrie, Jackie and I stand on our feet and huddle around Bree to join the rest of the girls as Evonnie attaches a monopod to her phone. She sets the time of the camera before raising it up so we would all fit in the screen as we strike a pose.

Several photos after that, and we are all ready to go but not before hugging the bride with best wishes.

We watch as Bree, her father and step-mom climbs in a white car. A bouquet of white flowers is adorning at the front of the hood, embedded with silver satin cloth. While the bridesmaids – including me – ride in a different van to take us all at the venue.