A Wicked Twist (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfic)

The Reception ~ Part 1

           

Hi all,

Thank you for your patience. Work and life is hard right now but I've managed to get this to something I'm happy with. I have a lot more mapped out, just needs padding so hopefully there'll be more updates soon.

Pad x

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As we approach the main door some of the guests are loitering around waiting for the bride and groom to arrive. I'm not sure why as it is very chilly but each to their own I guess. As we get closer I notice some are having a cigarette and that makes more sense, one of the guys waves at Tom and he heads on over to speak to him and his friends as I make my way inside. I weave my way through the crowd, which has congregated in the warmth of the main hall, heading towards the main room and I manage to pick up a glass of champagne on the way. I push one of the large wooden doors open and slip inside the room, it looks even more spectacular now the lights are on and the candles are lit as they make it look magical and I just take a moment to soak it all in. The room itself is rectangular in shape, but only just. The door I have just come in is in the bottom right hand corner of the room on the short side. In the corner to the left of the door, and recessed into the wall, is the bar, I shall be visiting that later, a lot. Along the long outside wall, from the edge of the bar to the furthest corner, are an number of windowed bays and in the middle are some patio doors that lead out onto the balcony. At the far end of the hall the stage has been erected, upon which the band has now set up, with a large flower arrangement on either side. In the far corner opposite the main door there are a few tables, for the buffet later, and another single door that leads back out into the main hall. The round tables for guests are positioned around the room in a horseshoe with the dance floor in the middle. The top table is directly opposite the band, on the edge of the dance floor, and my table is just slightly back and to the side of this, but closer to the main door I've just come through. I know exactly where I'm sitting, as I put all the place names out yesterday, so I head to my table and put my bag down. I rest on the back of the chair with my left hand whilst I take a large gulp of champagne before taking a deep breath. 'Just another couple of hours and then you can relax and enjoy yourself Sam, that's all you need to get through' I think. I take another sip of champagne then head over to check that my guitar is still safely stashed in the corner where I left it yesterday, and once I see it's still there a little of the tension I'm carrying lifts. Turning back round to head back to the table I see that the guests have begun to make their way in and look for their seats, I assume someone decided to follow me in. I return to my table that I am sharing with Ben's sister, her husband and two children, well teenagers, then Aunt Gladys and Uncle Mick, joy, and a friend of the family, Marie. I mover carefully through the guests smiling and nodding as I go, Andrew Scott gives me a wave and I return it as it's impossible to reach him now. Once back at my seat I take off my coat and begin to place it on the back of my chair, that is until Tom suddenly appears by my side and whisks it out of my hands.

"You don't want this to get ruined trailing on the floor. I'll put it in the cloakroom" he says by way of explanation and he turns away making his way back through some guests and the door.

"Thank you" I call after his retreating form. His actions have completely thrown me so I decide to sit down and knock back the rest of my champagne. Most of the guests are now in and seated, there's almost a Christmas feel to the decorations, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Tom doesn't return so I take my seat between Mick and Marie and begin chatting to Marie about the ceremony and her work as a barrister. Eventually the Master of Ceremonies interrupts the chatter to announce the arrival of the bride and groom so we all stand and turn to welcome them. As they enter the room erupts into rapturous applause; I may have whistled too, and then make their way to their table stopping to say help to a few people. Once they reach their table the room begins to sit back down too and I follow suit.  However as I sit down I notice, for the first time, that I'm sat directly in the eye line of Tom, who is across the room on the table at the other side of the top table. How had I not noticed that when I was putting out place cards? So I've now got to spend the next hour or so trying to avoid looking to see if he's looking but also wondering if he's looking and yet being torn about looking. Argh! This is ridiculous, I am a thirty three year old woman, and I need to get a grip. Luckily the conversation begins to flow at our table and I get engrossed in stories about Ben, laughing along with the others as his sister shares many hilarious stories of family trips they took as teenagers.