Tobias

"This is very beautiful." Elite's hands are holding mine. "Yeah." I say, staring at her a couple of tables away. Alexander is sitting with her and it's driving me crazy. She should be here, sitting with me. "You okay?" Elite asks. I look at her. "Yeah. I am perfectly fine." I say. "Let's dance, then." She says, standing up and walking me down to the dancing place. Elizabeth and Ash are slow dancing. Beside them is Penny and Albert. I wonder where Henry is. El places my hand in her hip and clutches the other with hers. Our bodies sway to the music. A couple of familiar faces catch my eye. The Clark's family. Ruby is standing with her family. Her father looks like he's been growing a beard. He has streaks of white in his light brown hair. Holding his arm beside him is his wife. Miss Clark looks like her age got the best of her. Her hair that used to be short is touching her shoulders. Beside them is Louisa as I remember. She's grown taller over the years. Her black hair has blue within it. She's wearing a black dress. It looks like an old prom dress.

I keep my hands in my pockets. They're sweating. "You okay?" Her voice calms me down. I look back at her. Her hair is loose. "Should I be?" I ask, looking back at the city. "That's a hell of a view." She says, standing beside me. "Yeah." I say. "I have seen better." She says with a shrug. "I bet you did." I say. She chuckles. I like to think she's in a good mood around me. "Your parents look good." I say. "They do? I really hope that. I just left Alexander with them." She says with a sight. "Don't you think this is odd?" I ask, looking at her. She looks at me. We just look at each other. I am not sure if it is because we don't even know what to say. "I heard your message." She says. I smile. "I did, too." I say. She laughs. "I could have guessed that you were drunk." She says. I chuckle.

"Ruby?" We both look at her sister, that just came out of the tent. "Louisa." She walks up to us. She crosses her arms, standing next to her sister. Ruby is still taller than her. Her arms are laced with her dress's sleeves. "Is that asshole bothering you?" She asks. "No. We um we were just talking." She says, nervously. "Talking, eh?" Louisa says, looking me up and down. "Nice to see you again, Louisa." I say, trying to reduce the tension. "Feeling not mutual, brick." She says. I gulp. "Okay, let's go Lou." Ruby says as she walks back to tent. She stops as she notices that Louisa hasn't moved an inch. "You leave my sister alone, Woods. You hear me, you fucking cunt!" Louisa says with force. I look at her. I am offended but I don't blame her. "Lou, let's go." Ruby grabs her sister's arm and walks them both back inside. I watch them as they argue in there. I let out a heavy sight as I stare back at the city.

I watch El as she laughs along with the other girls, as they stand to catch the bride's bouquet. "They go crazy for this shit." Albert says, beside me. I notice Ruby standing with the crowd. She's smiling. I like it when she's happy. Her sister is not standing with the crowd. I look for her with my eyes. She's sitting in a table with her parents. "Even the ones who are already married?" Alexander asks from my other side. "You mean Penny?" Albert asks. "Yeah." He says, looking at the crowd. "I think she would just be happy to hold a bride's bouquet again." I say with a shrug. "They like to feel this way." Albert says. I look at him. Henry is sitting in his lap, watching the crowd. "There it goes." Ash comes saying. Elizabeth throws the bouquet and it falls within the hands of Ruby. She laughs, looking with sparkly eyes at the bouquet in her hands. "Congratulations, Alex." Ash, pats Alexander on the back. "There is nothing between us really." Alexander denies the fact that he might have feelings for Ruby. "Yeah, right." Albert says with a smirk. I just stare at her. I wonder what would she look like in her own wedding. Would I be the man by her side or just an anonymous friend? Would I even get an invitation?

"I am going to Tessa's." I say, zipping up the suitcase. "I was going to ask you if we can go to Mama's and papa's place." Elite says. "I am sorry, El. I promised Tessa." I say. I don't really want to go to Miami with El. I want sometime on my own. To think. To rearrange my thoughts. "Alright, I am taking a plane to Miami." She says, crossing her arms. "Please, don't be mad." I say as I look at her. She's sitting in an armchair. "I am not. You want to see you your sister. I am okay with it." She says, flapping her arms. I let out a sight. "I will call you." I say. She nods. "When is your flight?" I ask. "Two in the morning. The last flight." She says. "Alright. Have fun." I say, kissing her forehead. I leave the room in the suit, I was wearing in the wedding. I take a cap to the nearest bus stop.

"Hey." I say as I meet with Tessa's face. Her dark hair is pulled into a ponytail. "Hi." She says as we embrace. "Welcome home." She says, closing the door behind me. "Anne is sleeping?" I ask. "Yeah, she wanted to stay up, but fell asleep waiting." She says. "Sorry." I say. "It's alright, come in." She says, leading me into the living room. I walk with my suitcase to the living room. "Where is Elite?" She asks as we sit down. "Probably on a plane to Miami." I say, leaning back. "Are you okay?" She asks. "I don't know, Tessa. Honestly." I say with a sight. "You should get some sleep." She says. I nod.

"Here, it's the guest's room." She says, as we enter a room. "Thanks." I say. I remember the room. I stayed one night here before leaving California. Right before Peter's funeral. I take off my jacket and lay it on the bed. I turn to look at Tessa. Five years made my older sister look a bit like our mother. "Merry Christmas, Tobi." She says, before closing the door and leaving. I kick off my shoes and lay in bed.