Parallels | Dylan O'Brien

28 - Distractions

           

Los Angeles
-Lydia Moon-

Today is a big day. It's my first ever event as event manager – or as intern event manager – and I'm really excited about it. So excited that I don't even think one second about Dylan. Not when I'm getting ready, not when I'm doing the last touches, never. I've been up since six am and have been trying to tie up the loose ends. Uncle Rich has been helping me and telling me what to do most of the time, but I've also been taking charge over things and mending things myself. It's been quite the adventure so far and the party hasn't even started yet.
"One hour before bride and groom are here," uncle Rich tells us when everything is perfect and in place, "Go get dressed, and get into position for the first shift." All of us nod and scatter towards dressing rooms, kitchens or wherever anyone needs to be. I go to the dressing room. I need to make sure I can hoist myself in my new red dress as I'm doing the welcoming today. The bride and groom have ordered a dress code: reds and pinks. And since red looks really great on me, I've chosen to go for the color. The dress is long, real long, has a build-in choker that goes down between my boobs, and a beautiful, open back. I'm so in love with this dress, I wish I had it at prom a couple years ago. Once I've gotten myself inside the dress, I tie my hair up in a high pony tail and finish off my makeup in the mirror. I've done the base, so now all I have to do is touch ups and the eyes. Once all of that's ready and my lips are painted bright red, I get out of the dressing room and go find Rich in the hall.
"Ah, Lydia! You're ready!" he exclaims when he sees me. I can tell he's nervous, he always is at events, I've noticed, "Be a doll and go and grab some more ice from the basement and bring it to the kitchen," I nod and take myself – on my four-inch heels – to the basement. I'm glad it's not too dusty and gross down here, and my dress wouldn't become dirty. I quickly grab two bags of ice and take them back upstairs to the kitchen.
"Lydia! I need you at the entrance, now!" Uncle Rich shouts from the other side of the room. I drop the bags of ice with someone on kitchen-duty before running as fast as my heels can take me towards the entrance where the first people walk through. The Bride and Groom. She's clad in a gorgeous, long flowing white dress with beautiful lace detailing, and her hair is up in a gorgeous up-do. That was my first clue to them being the special guests of tonight, and obviously because I've seen them in meetings, the cake tastings and the rehearsal dinner.
"Good evening, miss and mister Cooper," I greet kindly, holding the door open for them. The two of them look around the giant welcoming hall we've decorated to perfection. They hadn't seen the official outcome of their moodboards and ideas yet. "Are you happy with it?" I ask them.
"Beyond," says the groom to me and he smiles, his eyes sparkling a little.
"You guys put our dreams and ideas to reality. This is so crazy!" exclaims the bride before flailing herself into my arms, hugging me. I instantly hug back, laughing a little. This is too adorable. Now I know exactly why my parallel Lydia wanted to do this. The happiness and excitement of your clients feeds your soul. How dramatic that may sound.
"Thank you so much!" says the groom when his wife lets go of me.
"Wait until you see the ballroom!" I say excitedly and let the two wander around the room so they can see details and every other thing they couldn't see from afar. Like the line of Polaroid pictures on the wall of the both of them. They start apart, when they were little and then you watch them grow older and the lines come together with pictures of the both of them. That was my input. I loved the idea and I hope they love it too. When I turn back to the door, I watch a couple more people walk towards us. With the biggest and most genuine smile, I open the door and welcome them. I take some coats, explain them where they need to go or where they find the bride and groom. That's my job for the rest of the evening, until it's dinner time and everyone on the guest list has arrived. That's where my first shift ends, and I need to stay in the dinner room to see if everything goes to plan. I check if every table has what it needs, if the people on kitchen-duty need anything from the basement quickly. But so far, everything is going to plan, and it seems like everyone is having fun.