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© 2017 Shay Spencer. All rights reserved.

Something Real

[ Chapter 12 ] The Three Musketeers

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Every girl dreams of that moment when she finally tries on that one white dress. I just never figured I would be trying on someone else's first.

"How do you button these?" Hayden muttered, the man playing with his cufflinks. I frowned at the sight, watching as he only struggled further.

"I wouldn't know," I laughed at the sight. "I barely knew how to get into this thing."

The bridesmaid dress was exactly what I had imagined my mother ordering for herself. Which obviously meant that this dress, was one that I would never be caught dead in.

I must have nine lives.

"But you did," Hayden teased. "And you look pretty great in it."

I rolled my eyes at him as he continued to play with his cufflinks. Stepping down to his level, I reached out to help him. There was no way he was getting this done on his own.

"How have you gone this long without having to put on cufflinks?" I muttered, my fingers working to push the two ends together. "What with Elias dragging you to fancy dinners and all."

Hayden merely shrugged, "I don't fit the Pennington mold. I think the only time I've ever worn a suit, one of the servants helped me put it on."

"Please tell me you're kidding," I said, stopping what I was doing.

A wide grin took form on Hayden's face before he moved his arm out of my grasp. He quickly finished whatever crappy job I was doing of fixing his cufflinks, making no mistakes in his precise movements.

"I just wanted to see your reaction," he smiled. "I've put these stupid things on like fifty times before." I rolled my eyes and turned back around, looking myself over in the mirror once more.

The dress was red, almost matching the silhouette of the dress from the engagement party. Though there were no lace sleeves, the crimson silk started in a sweetheart neckline and fell to my knees nicely. The top had a large bow that covered my bust, looking just obnoxious enough to be something my mother would have pick out for me.

After catching the color of Hayden's tie, I was starting to think the wedding colors included some shade of red.

"I think your mom asked Wren to be a bridesmaid." Hayden mentioned absentmindedly, the man falling back onto one of the couches behind us.

"What?!" I asked, whirling around to look at him.

"I don't know," Hayden chuckled. "I think Jay said something about asking her to the wedding."

"Why the hell would he ask her to the wedding?" I whined, crossing my arms over the large bow on my chest. "It's still more than two months away."

The last few weeks had been a nightmare, and strangely enough, my mother had played a very small roll. Wren was making her way up on my list of annoyances I had yet to deal with.

Hayden shook his head and stood from his place on the couch, making his way over to me there after.

"I really don't think it's that big of a deal," Hayden said. "Jay just mentioned that he really liked her. He wants her to know that he sees a future with her. I can't see why he would tell her this early in the game, myself, but he's pretty into her."

"All when they've been dating for a total of a week."

"Ever heard of love at first sight?" Hayden's face twisted in confusion. I shook my head before pushing my hair over my shoulders.

"Don't believe in it," I said simply, reaching out to smooth the creased I had unintentionally formed in my dress.

"No wonder you've never had a boyfriend," Hayden smirked, catching my eye in the mirror.

"What? Because I don't believe in love at first sight?"

Hayden merely nodded, "you've got this whole thing that's putting guys off. If you're a romantic, then they know what cards to play. Girls like you usually don't get the guy."

"Zane doesn't seem to be put off by me," I mumbled, playing with the edges of the bow.

"Not that you've had much time to talk about your hatred of romance." Hayden muttered, falling quiet with that. He turned his attention to the suit hanging just outside of his changing room. "I'm putting on Elias' suit," he announced. "Don't be surprised if it hangs a little where his gut is meant to be."

I bit my lip to hold back my laughter, "he's in pretty good shape for someone of his age."

"Don't tell me you've got a stepfather fetish, too, Blaine," Hayden called before looking back to me. "I really don't have a lot to work when it comes to you."

"No stepfather fetishes here," I smiled, stepping around the couches as I made my way back to the changing rooms.

Hanging on the far wall when you entered the small room they had set aside for me, was the wedding dress my mother had ordered for herself. It had yet to be tried on by anyone, and I almost felt strange trying it on myself.

I warily pulled off the red dress, half missing the feeling of it on my body as I reached up and unhooked the dress from the hanger. The back was lined in a sheer material, and the dress would clip together in a series of buttons along the back.

I shook my head, stepping into the dress and pulling it over my body. Carefully, I slipped my arms into the sleeves, not wanting to ruin the perfectly made dress. I let the back hang open, knowing I would never be able to button the dress up myself. But even from here, I could tell that this dress would be gorgeous on my mother.

The creme colored dress held a sweetheart neckline to it, matching that of the bridesmaid dresses. Though, from top to bottom, the dress was lined with a sheer lace. The dress was tight against my torso, and flared out to the floor. The sleeves started just under the shoulders, wrapping around my arms nicely, and stopping at my wrists. Even with the back hanging open, I could tell that the buttons added depth to the design, along with the long train, which was covered in rhinestones and lace.

It was beautiful, and certainly the most expensive dress I had ever tried on.

I carefully bunched up what I could of the dress, making it so I could walk out of the dressing room without tripping over the thing. Upon exiting the small room, my eyes landed on the back of Hayden, now wearing Elias' illustrious suit. Only now, Hayden was talking with some girl, one I had never seen before.

"Hayden," I called, trying to get his attention. Hearing his name, Hayden turned around, looking as shocked as ever when he caught sight of me.

His eyes trailed all over my body, the action bringing a pink color to my cheeks when he did. Finally, his eyes met mine, and he couldn't have looked more confused.

"You look amazing," he sputtered, running a hand over his hair. "Do you need held with the back?"

Without waiting for my answer, Hayden quickly walked over to me. I could feel the gentle touch of his fingers against my back, and I couldn't help but to notice the way his skin warmed my own. I almost felt nervous, waiting for him to button up my dress. I wasn't exactly decent underneath the dress.

"Are you getting married?" The girl started, motioning our way as she walked over. Her gaze was fixed on me as her own eyes worked over my dress.

It almost looked like she was threatened by me.

"No," Hayden shook his head. "Elias and his fiancé asked us to come in and try on the wedding attire. Scarlett is my step sister."

"Soon to be," I corrected, receiving an odd look from the girl.

"Oh," she nodded, grabbing onto her right wrist with her left hand awkwardly. "I just assumed-"

"Yeah," Hayden interrupted. "I would have too."

The girl wore a skin tight black crop top, the shirt falling just above her high waisted shorts. The dark denim stopped mid thigh, and her combat boots were the perfect color to match her shirt. A plaid jacket was tied neatly around her waist, and her hair fell in blue curls around her shoulders.

"Eddy says hi," she added with a short smile. "He and Axel are here with Zane-"

"I know," Hayden stepped in once more. "I would have never put you two together."

She pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear before speaking up, "after you left, I just kind of fell in with the group. I mean, it's still not the same without you, or Zane, but..." She trailed off.

Hayden finished the job, stepping just around me before he placed an arm around my waist.

"Well, I'm happy you found someone," he smiled. "If you don't mind, Scarlett and I have some unfinished business."

"Of course," she laughed nervously. "I should get going, anyways. Eddy only asked me hear to pick up a tie. It was nice seeing you, Hayden."

"You too," he muttered, averting his eyes as she walked away.

Hayden kept his uncomfortable demeanor about him when he removed his arm from around me. He couldn't even look me in the eyes.

"Who was she?" I asked, trying to coax him back out.

"No one."

"Well she had to be someone," I laughed. "Enough of someone to get you to act this weird-"

"She's an old girlfriend, okay?" Hayden huffed. "Marley and I met back at U-Pen. Some shit went down, and I haven't seen her since Elias moved us here. She even ended up with one of my friends from back home."

I frowned, watching as Hayden danced around the bigger problem. "Who's Eddy?"

Hayden groaned at my question. "One of Zane's friends. Eddy, Zane, and Axel are like the three musketeers. Now Marley thinks she's one of them."

"And why is that so-"

"Can we drop it?" Hayden hissed. He let out a short breath before waving at my dress. "You look great in it, and I'm sure Angel will love it once she gets done criticizing the whole thing. Can we go?" With that, Hayden stalked off in the direction of his changing room, pulling the curtain closed behind him.

Who knew Hayden had such a temper.

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Hayden's got some issues, huh? I wonder what his problem is...

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The next update will be on March 4th!

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Also! Check out The Buddies Rule - Chapter 21 will be up tomorrow!

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Ps: Check out the newest version of my site! There's the Something Real Sequel title/cover reveal, along with the reveal of the characters for Gentlemen's Guide!