Thalia

My newly waved hair tickled my face as I spun around in front of her full body mirror. I indeed looked way more stunning than I had previously. I turned to Fiona with a wide grin, my pink, glossy lips parting to reveal my teeth. "Thank you." I said.

"Don't mention it!" Fiona said, enveloping me in a quick but loving hug.

A knock resounded at the door and Fiona turned to me with a cheeky grin. "Moment of truth!" She teased. I walked over behind her and peered over her shoulder just as she opened the door.

She groaned angrily as Rhys stood before her. "Wow, Rhys. Way to ruin the moment." She muttered.

"Huh?" He asked, his grey eyes filled with confusion. "What did I do?"

"She's just upset because you're not Peter." I said walking beside her to reveal myself. It was supposed to be the grand revealing of my outfit."

Rhys' jaw dropped at the sight of me. "I can see why! Damn, Thalia! You look-"

"Peter's girlfriend" Fiona coughed obnoxiously. She pretended to clear her throat and straightened up.

"Chill, Fiona! I know that. I'm just saying, one friend to another, Thalia looks really good!" Rhys said with his cheery smile.

"Awe! Thanks Rhys." I smiled in return. "Anyway, Mrs. Ronan told me to come get you two. The rehearsal is starting."

"Shit. We lost track of time!" Fiona picked up the hem of her dress and before we had time to prepare, she was out of the door and racing down the hall. Rhys and I shared a look for a spit second before we smiled and ran after her. It was slightly difficult for me, though because of the heels, but we managed to run al the way down the hall and stairs and past a couple halls. Soon we arrived at a pair of large double doors.

As Fiona pushed them open I gasped. Never had I ever felt so small and plain in comparison to a room. Dozens of crystal chandeliers decorated the beautiful arching ceiling high above me, illuminating the glittering golden walls and the polished floor. Many men and women were spread throughout the vast room, all clad in expensive suits and dresses. I suddenly shrunk back. If this was what they'd chosen for the recital, image how beautiful they'd look tomorrow at the actual wedding.

Rhys must've felt my discomfort. With a caring smile he nudged me carefully. "Hey, don't be overwhelmed. Most of these people are too busy with their heads too far up their asses to judge you anyway." He joked.

I chuckled and shook my head. "You know these are Fiona and Ricardo's families you're talking about, right?" Rhys shrugged in response.

Mrs. Ronan's voice called out to everyone and they all immediately grew quiet.

"Thank you everyone for coming today. I'm hoping this recital won't be too long, so if everyone would listen carefully to me as I call out names and titles, this will go smoothly." She grew quiet for a moment and looked around the room before her eyes landed on Fiona. She motioned for her to walk over and did the same with Ricardo. Once they were both beside her, she turned to the crowd again. "Now, since the actual wedding is going to take place out in the gardens, if you would, please follow me."

The crowd started moving and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of red hair. My heart stopped and I quickly turned around. I haven't seen Corey since the fight between him and Peter. I had no doubt in my mind that he was here but to be seeing him so soon...

I tried to spot him again in the throng of the crowd, but I couldn't see anyone who even vaguely resembled him. Could I just have imagined it?

"Looking for someone?" A familiar voice whispered in my ear. I felt a hand smoothly slide around my waist and Peter pulled me close. I turned around and saw him smirking down at me. His eyes took in my outfit and his smirk grew. "I'm liking the look." He teased. He leaned down a bit again. "But I think I prefer seeing you without clothes."

I felt my face heat up and I smacked Peter's arm mumbling a quick "Shut up."

Rhys cleared his throat, gaining our attention. "I'm still here, you two."

Peter elbowed Rhys and Rhys returned the gesture, leading to the two of them hitting each other like restless children.

"Boys," I began, not bothering to look over at them. "We're still in public."

Peter and Rhys exchanged a look before they straightened up, trying to hold back their laughter. I rolled my eyes, a small smile pulling at my lips as well.

We arrived in the spacious gardens and my eyes widened. Surrounding me were various flowers from roses and peonies to tulips and orchids. Some of which I didn't even know the name of. To my right there was a beautiful Victorian greenhouse tat was easily the size of a small cottage. Through the glass walls, I could see even more spectacular plants. In the center of the garden was a large hedge maze. The walls weren't too high, but they were high enough to keep you from climbing them. I could see various hedge sculptures inside the maze as well.

"Wow." I found myself muttering. "I didn't know that you guys had a ballroom, let alone a whole fantastical garden." I breathed.

"Yeah. Dad had it grown especially for mom." Peter said. She likes to come out here sometimes to sit in the greenhouse or walk around in the maze, but our groundskeepers do most of the maintenance and plant care."

"Sometimes I forget how rich you people are." I mumbled. Peter must have heard me, however because he chuckled.

Mrs. Ronan quickly made the seating arrangements clear, talking about where everyone would sit or stand during the ceremony, making us get into position when she called us and told us where we would be. Next was the recessional practice, where everyone had a specific order to walk out of the ceremony. That was a bit trickier, since many people were tired of being bossed around at that point, but Leo and Mrs. Ronan would quickly put them in their place.

The processional was last, since Mrs. Ronan figured that once everyone had the seating and exit down, the entrance would be a piece of cake. Which it was. It went by much more smoothly than the previous two processes, which made Mrs. Ronan very happy.

Finally, it was time to depart and enjoy the food and company. Peter made his way over to me through the crowd. "You sure did know what to do pretty early on." He said.

"I tend to follow directions better than others. Its called obedience." I smirked.

"Wow. I didn't deserve that sass." Peter pouted.

"Of course you didn't." I agreed sarcastically, earning a playful glare from Peter.

"Anyway, I know that since you have the whole house arrest thing to worry about, you haven't been outside much, so I was wondering if you'd like to explore the gardens with me?" Peter asked.

I looked up at him with a smile. "Awe! You do care about me!" I gushed playfully. Peter scoffed. "But to answer your question, I would love to."

"Where to? The greenhouse or the maze?" Peter asked extending his arm out to me.

I looped my arm in Peter's and tapped my chin in though. "The maze." I decided.

"Maze it is!" Peter smiled. We ducked under the flower covered arch where Ricardo and Fiona would exchange their vows and entered the maze. It seemed so much quieter in here among the hedges and flowers. Like it as an adventure waiting o happen. Before Peter could question it, I unhooked my arm from his and took off my heels.

"What are you-" I quickly smacked his arm and ran off. "Tag! You're it!" I declared.

"Oh you are on!" Peter ran after me, but I quickly lost him among the twists and turns of the maze. I stopped beside an elephant statue, a grin on my features as I peered around the corner I'd just turned.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and shrieked as I turned around to find Peter smirking at me cheekily. "You forget I grew up here." He smirked. "I know all these paths by heart."

"Cheater." I huffed with a small smile. "Then there's no way I'm gonna win!"

"However, from this path, its going to be a straight shot towards the center. I'll race you if you want."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Deal."

He smirked at me and we both got into position. "On your mark, get set, GO!"

We both took off, neck and neck as we ran towards the center of the maze. As the center came into view, Peter pulled ahead a little. "Oh no you don't!" I called.

I jumped out, wrapping my arms around Peter and tackling him to the ground.

"Woah!" He exclaimed as we tumbled to the ground. We landed mere inches away from the center.

Peter made a tsk sound. "You sure are sore loser, huh?" He asked playfully.

"You mean, a gracious winner." I corrected.

"Huh?" Peter asked. T was then he noticed that my hand had indeed passed the arch that marked the entrance to the center of the maze. He gasped in feigned betrayal. "How dare you!"

"It was all in the name of victory, darling." I smirked.

Peter shook his head and got off me, extending his arm to help me to my feet. "You sure do like to play dirty."

"Well I hang out around you, Rhys and Corey. You three are hooligans!" I joked as he pulled me to my feet.

Peter chuckled. "Guilty as charged."

It was then I remembered that flash of red hair in the crowd from the ballroom. "Hey Peter?" I asked as he led me to a stone bench before a large water fountain.

"Yes?"

"Is Corey here? I haven't seen him since-"

Peter turned down to look at me. "Yeah he's here. Why?"

I blink ed in confusion at him. "Wait, don't tell me you two have made up already." I said.

"Of course we did! It was a couple of days after we made up, actually. Corey, Rhys and I fight all the time. We never let dumb tussles get in between us."

"You guys beat the shit out each other. That didn't seem like a dumb tussle to me." I said.

Peter smiled. "You haven't seen our other fights."

I looked at him with a raised brow and he smiled in return. "Anyway, why do you ask?"

"Well, I haven't seen him since the whole...brawl thing." I began. "And when we left things it wasn't...pretty." Peter listened intently as I continued. "I just feel terrible about how I handled the situation and I don't want there to be anymore tension between us."

Peter nodded. "I see." He said. He turned to look at the fountain as he thought. "Well, I'll see if I can talk to him tonight at the bachelor party. And if that doesn't work, then you two can always talk at the wedding tomorrow. How does that sound?"

I smiled softly and nodded. "Thank you, Peter."

"Anything for you, Lea."