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© 2017 Shay Spencer. All rights reserved.

Something Real

[ Chapter 32 ] Dearly Beloved

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Finding my first real love had been the goal of my summer, and now that I had it, I wasn't sure what to do about it.

But one thing was for sure, there was no way in hell I was letting my mother and Elias in on the happenings of these last few weeks.

"You were the last one to see me before the party, Scarlett," Elias started, turning his attention to me. "Axel also mentioned he spoke with you about finding Hayden."

I fumbled with the fabric of my dress awkwardly, keeping my gaze focused in on the wall behind Elias, "yes."

"And you knew what they were coming to me about?" He continued, crossing his arms over his chest. The white material of his shirt stretched a bit with his movement, making it abundantly clear that my mother had ordered him a snug fitting size, just like she had for Hayden and Jay.

I had neglected to admit how utterly attractive Hayden looked in his groomsmen getup.

"Not until after they spoke with you," I shook my head at myself. "I mean, Zane told me a little while ago, but I honestly didn't think-"

"That they would tell the truth?" My mother cut me off, narrowing her eyes in on me. "Scarlett! How could you not tell us about this!"

I took a deep breath, ignoring my mother for a mere second as I fell back into the couch in between Hayden and Wren. Jay had managed to balance himself on the arm rest of the lavish furniture next to Wren.

But despite the vast amount of people in this room, my mother and Elias only seemed to care what I had to add to the conversation. They were currently ignoring the ticking time bomb that was the wedding of the century.

Dearly beloved, it seems I've been brought here today to tell a story.

"It wasn't my place to tell," I sighed, running my fingers through my slightly frizzy hair. "Zane only just told me a week or two ago. I broke up with him right after, and I didn't think he would do anything to make it right."

"Besides," Hayden stepped in, quite literally taking a stand as he rose from his seat on the couch. "It was my problem. So don't go after Scarlett for this one, because I told you time and time again that it wasn't my fault, dad."

"And I didn't believe you," Elias scoffed, probably at himself. "I trusted Axel, Eddy and Zane with everything; only to find out just what kind of people they are."

"They screwed us all over," Hayden corrected, waving a hand back in my direction. "Zane fooled Scarlett for half the summer."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," my mother coddled, racing forward as quickly as she could in that ginormous dress to pull me into a hug. "But why didn't you tell us?"

I kept quiet, only wrapping my own arms around my mother's lace clad neck to appease her. There were no more questions I felt were worth answering. Elias and my mother had gotten all that they needed from Axel, Eddy and Zane.

Hayden was free now, and so was I.

"Those boys did mention something else before I cut the conversation short," Elias leaned himself back against the desk by the wall near the door. "They went to the Dean of U-Pen two days ago. You've been reinstated, Hayden. You'll start there for the fall semester in three weeks."

"What?" Hayden's mouth nearly dropped to the floor, while my heart plummeted into my stomach.

"You need to finish college. You had gotten this far, might as well see it through. Especially now that the slate has been wiped clean."

"But what about-"

"Your family will be here when you get back," Elias cut him off before turning his attention to his bride to be. "Angel?"

My mother dropped her hold on me, spinning around carefully as not to ruin her dress. Slowly, she made her way back over to Elias before he took either one of her hands into his own.

"I know I've made some mistakes, those mainly involving my children. But I do hope that you will still marry me today."

My mother turned back to me, making sure to get my signature nod of approval before looking to Elias once more.

"Of course, my love," she cooed, taking a deep breath when she did. "Shall we head out?"

"Yes," he nodded, waving the boys, Wren and I forward.

I warily took a step after picking myself back up off the couch, feeling the true effects of the conversation with each step. I was shaking and only one thought rang in my head.

I was losing Hayden Pennington to Pennsylvania this fall, and it wasn't like I could follow him there.

-

The wedding had gone exactly as planned, and though the reception had been rained out, forcing the party inside, it was as beautiful as my mother could have hoped for.

"Please help me in welcoming for the first time ever, Mr. and Mrs. Elias and Angel Pennington!"

The waiters assisted in pulling back the curtains hanging over the door from the lobby into the ballroom, revealing my mother and stepfather as they made their initial entrance.

The crowd erupted in applause before taking their seats once more, listening as the music for their first song began to play.

I could have sworn it was the same song that had played for she and my father at their wedding.

Droning out the music, I sat back in the comfort of my corner table. The rain was coming down harder than I had ever seen in California, and the droplets were cascading down the window panes in the most mesmerizing way.

"Hey," Hayden huffed as he sat down, pushing his wet hair back when he did. He had a lopsided grin on his face, watching me as I looked over the rain sliding down the window. "What's wrong? You hate the rain or something?"

I shook my head, sitting up and pushing my own damp hair over my shoulders once more.

"You're leaving," I whispered. "Wren and Jay are leaving, too."

"Not leaving for three weeks," Hayden shrugged, taking my hand discretely under the table. "I can't speak for my perfect brother and his practical future wife, however."

"You'll be almost three-thousand miles away," I reiterated, attempting to pull my hand from his grasp.

"Twenty-seven-hundred miles, give or take," Hayden corrected with a smirk. "You ever heard of this thing called transferring?"

"My mother would know something was up."

"Then long distance," he gave in. "It's a long shot, but I think you get the pun."

"It won't work, Hayden," I whined. I had already managed to get myself into a bad mood, and though Hayden was the perfect remedy for it, I just didn't feel like celebrating.

"You ever tried it?" I shook my head. "Then don't knock it until you do," he laughed back at me. "We're stepbrother and sister for crying out loud. We're beating the odds as we speak."

"And that's something to boast about," I smiled. "I'm sorry."

"Then dance with me, Blaine," Hayden popped his eyebrows up and down suggestively.

"Why exactly?" I mused, leaning in a bit closer.

He laughed in recognition, "because stupid. I think someone said something about grinding."

"No one said anything about grinding," I reminded.

"I did," he hushed.

Without warning, Hayden gently pulled me up from my chair as he silently whisked me off to the dance floor, now accompanied by our family and anyone else who cared to join in.

Hayden snaked his arms around my waist, pushing his body flush against my own, and allowing for my own hands to land on his chest to steady myself.

Slowly but surely, the music sped up, and I knew for sure that Wren had requested this very song. It was some club mix she had been obsessed with since the year before, but it was perfect for the kind of dancing both she and Hayden most likely had in mind.

Hayden somehow pulled me in even closer, giving me time to wrap my arms around his neck as he placed his hands on either side of my waist.

The air between us grew hotter with every second as he bore his eyes into my own, and honestly, I couldn't recall a single other person on that dance floor.

The only person that concerned me, was Hayden Pennington.

"I'll miss this," I whispered, my words ghosting against his lips. I knew my mother and Elias were so caught up with one another that they wouldn't dare catch us, and the other guests at the wedding had no clue who we were.

"You won't have to," Hayden reassured, spinning me around and pulling me back into him. "If we can go the distance, the happy couple may even break up; make a little room for us."

I laughed before Hayden dipped me, the man leaning down to press a quick kiss to my lips.

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Confession time? This was where the book was supposed to end. Cut off at the wedding and then skip to the second book. Oh how much has changed since last September...

Did you guys think that Hayden would have to head back to U-Pen? And how do you think that will affect he and Scarlett's relationship?

The next chapter will be up on September 1st! See you here next Friday!

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Thank you all so much for reading!