Take Me Back

13 - Jenna

March

The wedding was only two months away, so we were getting all of the last things checked off of the list. This included getting my bridesmaids and I our dresses. After eating some brunch with the girls, we went to the boutique in the city. When we walked in, we were immediately greeted by a salesperson with a name tag that said "Eleanor". 

"Hello, welcome to your wedding wonderland! My name is Eleanor, and I'll be helping you out today. So, who's our lucky bride?" She seemed weirdly enthusiastic for a Thursday afternoon, but I suppose it makes her look good for her boss.

"I am". I gave her a faint smile, and she pulled me into a hug. I squirmed under her grip and urgently pulled away while trying to stay subtle. I gave a confused look to my sisters, who just silently giggled back at me. I turned back to the brunette girl, who still had that clown smile plastered on her face.

"Well, congratulations! Follow me, I'll take you to your dressing room and sitting area for the other ladies. Are these your sisters, friends..?"

"These are my sisters; Marie, Riley, and Elizabeth. They are my bridesmaids along with my friend Katherine here. And this is my best friend, Caroline. She's my maid of honor". I put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. Of course, my best friend really was Niall, but she was a close second. We were dorm mates in university. Plus, I wanted to avoid talking about my relationship with this peculiar woman at all costs. Eleanor led us to a cream-colored room with bright lights and baby pink couches. She gestured for us to sit down, and we oblidged.

"So, how about we pick some dresses out and Jenna can give us a little fashion show? There's champagne in those bottles, and my colleague will bring out a dessert tray shortly". God, I was gonna need that alcohol if I had to deal with her for the next three hours. 

Since I was a little girl, I wanted a fairy tale wedding. So Niall, being the amazing human he is, made my dream come true. Our venue was this beautiful Victorian home, but the ceremony itself would be taking place in the huge courtyard. Of course, I needed a ballgown to go with it. In my everyday style, I'm not one for frills and frou-frou, but this was the one day I needed it. I completely tuned out Eleanor as she rambled about her personal life until a few words caught my ear.

"So my boyfriend, Louis, actually used to be a singer in a band. Can you even believe that? Like, he was a popstar. Super attractive, right?" I turned to look at her, and she stared back at me.

"Funny, my fiancee has a best friend named Louis who he used to be in a band with". I prayed that we weren't talking about the same guy. Why would Lou date this girl? She was so not his type. I should know, because I was his type. 

"Oh my god, really? That's so funny! What's your fiancee's name?" I clenched my teeth and let out the answer.

"Niall. Niall Horan". An ear piercing screech came out of her and she gave me another hug.

"Oh my god, he's marrying you? That's crazy! I never knew that chum would find a girl. Yeah, Niall is one of Louis' best friends! So that means I'm coming to your wedding, since Louis is a groomsmen! Yay, sisters!" I resisted to puke on her hot pink shoes as I let out a fake smile. 

After hours of rambling from Eleanor, I picked out my dress. It was a white strapless gown with a beautiful tulle skirt that reached the floor. It was perfect, and I knew Niall would love it too. It was strange making such an important decision without him, but I knew that it was a tradition to not see the dress before the wedding. Once I said my goodbyes to my bridal party, I set off to my next destination: Louis' flat.

Once I climbed a few flights of stairs, I finally reached his door. I knocked on his door, and I swear I broke a finger from banging it so hard. 

"Chill your shit love, I'm coming", the voice behind the door said. When it finally opened, a short man with severe bedhead gave me a confused look. "Jenna, love, what are you doing here? You didn't text. And how do you know where I live?" It was my turn to give him a perplexed face.

"Louis, I've been to your flat multiple times".

"Oh, I suppose you have. Well, come on in and make yourself at home, I guess. What's up?"

I walked in and plopped straight onto the couch. "I met somebody new today that you might know. Her name is Eleanor". His face dropped, and I saw his eyes flood with fear. "Lou, what's wrong? You don't look too good". He sat down next to me and put a hand on my leg.

"Everything's fine. So, what was she saying?" I cocked an eyebrow at him, but answered the question.

"She was my clerk at the boutique I just got my dress from. We were shopping, and she was rambling about her life, and then she started talking about you".

"That's really interesting. It's a small world, eh? Well, if that's all you came to talk about, I suppose you can get on your way now. I've got a few things to do today. As for El, she's my girlfriend, and I...love her". He seemed really persistent and a bit enraged at me. I could tell that something was very wrong.

"Lou, something doesn't sit right with me about this, and I'm not leaving until I figure out why. Now, sit your ass down and talk to me". He cringed as I sat him down on the couch next to me. "You know, I was really surprised when Eleanor told me you two were dating. She seemed so...chipper and unlike you. She's the kind of girls we make fun of at the bars". He sat silently and fidgeted with his fingers.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I love Eleanor". He looked up at me with tears in his eyes, and it seemed like a cry for help.

"Louis, is she hurting you?" I was scared for the answer, but I had to ask. It almost seemed like he was afraid to say anything bad about her.

"No". He said quietly, and bounced his leg for a while longer. "Just the opposite, actually".

I knew he wasn't a violent person and would never do anything to harm anybody. So, I pried into the fragile boy a little more.

"How are you hurting her, Louis?" He let out a tiny whimper and looked down at his shoes.

"I don't really love her"

"Are you cheating on her with another girl?"

A large sigh came from his chest, and he gripped the couch cushions so hard his knuckles turned white.

"Eleanor's my beard. I'm gay".

I audibly gasped and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.

"Lou, you should have told me, you know I would have helped you". I felt him sob, and his tears soaked through my shirt and into my heart. I thought about his words for another minute, and suddenly something clicked inside of my head. I remembered my birthday party, and the stares, and...

"Oh my god. You and Harry...you love him, don't you?" He looked up at me with sad blue eyes and nodded, and I held him even tighter. More soft cries escaped his lips. "Shh, it's okay, it's okay. I'm here. When you're ready to tell people, I'll stand by your side the whole time. You know I'm here for you, Louis".

"Thank you, Jenna. I do love you like a sister. All of the lads do. And I know you're here. I just don't know if anybody else has arrived yet".

"Trust me, we're here. Nobody's going anywhere. Now please, when you're ready, get rid of that girl. You don't have to come out to her, but maybe just break up with her. I can not have that bitch at my wedding". We both laughed, and I made us lunch before going back home.

a/n: whoo i had a larry breakdown earlier and decided to add it into the story lol. sorry for not updating for a while, im in school now so i have more work to do before i can write. i'm trying, though. i love you, make sure to comment and vote!