There was nothing magical about this wedding hall I was standing in. It wasn't a place where my new life would be starting. It wasn't a place where happiness gushed through me. My mind wasn't allowing me to be present in the same room as everyone else.

It felt like I was in a place far away. The voice projecting from the lady who was officiating our marriage was muffled. Even though she was standing close, it seemed she was miles away.

I looked at the individuals who attended. Smiles everywhere. Happy, witnessing the momentous occasion. If only they knew how much my heart had broken. How much I was hurting on the inside, because I sacrificed my happiness, and for what? For stability? For structure in my life? For a clear path?

Calum's wide grin was plastered on his face. For him this was the happiest day in his life. He took my hand into his, my heart sank, there was no warm feeling. Pure coldness ejected from his hand. Unlike Alexander, there was always a warm feeling embedded in our touch.

"I, Calum Harris, take you, Louisa Watts, to be my wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part." Calum uttered the dreaded words.

He placed the wedding band around my delicate finger. For a moment I got lost into the ring, it didn't feel special. There was no symbolism to it. After placing the ring on my finger, he returned to holding my jittering hands.

"Now Louisa, repeat after me," the officiator said.

"I, Louisa Watts."

My ears didn't acknowledge it was my turn to announce my wedding vows. I was so deep and lost in thought, I didn't realise Calum was subtly squeezing my hands, hinting that it was my turn.

"Louisa?" Calum and the officiator both call out my name. My mind half wandered back to the wedding hall. I give a nod and a forceful smile.

"Okay, repeat after me. I, Louisa Watts."

"I... Louisa Watts." I mumbled.

"Take you, Calum Harris."

A strange feeling crept upon me, it was like my mind was elsewhere, yet I still acknowledged where I was. My mouth took over, doing the talking, without me thinking.

The officiator nudges me slightly. "Take you, Calum Harris." She repeated.

I took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly.

"Take you... Alex-CALUM!" I yelped out.

My consciousness was suddenly slammed back into the room full of people. My face drained from every drop of blood in my system. My heart thumped rapidly in my chest. While saying my vows all I could picture was Alexander's heartbroken face in my mind. My lips took over for me as I was about to say his name.

A sudden rumble of gasps escaped the mouths those witnessing our marriage. Each individual was shocked at my blunder. I squirmed on the inside as I saw Calum's face, plastered with puzzlement.

"Where you about to say Alexander?" He painfully asked.

"I... Um... No! I mean yes, only because he was here earlier, um... I..." I replied, babbling away. My lips trembled as I was lost for the right words to say.

Calum tilted his head to the side, looking at me quizzically. "Is there something going on between you?"

"What?! No! There isn't! I-"

"Louisa," Calum calmly whispered, he soothingly stroked my hand with his thumb, "Just tell me, is there something going on? Are you in love with him?"

My eyes opened up, widened in shock.

How was Calum asking this question? Does he know? Is he another person aware of my attraction to Alexander?

"How can you ask that-"

"Please, just tell me."

Mentally and physically, I was so drained. I couldn't keep it away anymore. I had a feeling that Calum deep down knew, or else he would have never asked me this.

"Yes... I am," I cried.

Those sitting down started murmuring and chatting between them. I couldn't care less if they knew. Whispers were travelling around the room.

"I'm sorry Calum, but I am." I looked towards the floor, as my tears fell. I didn't have it in me to look Calum in his eyes.

Calum lifted my head, placing his hands just under my chin. When I came face to face with him, I expected him to be flushed with anger, but he wasn't. I saw compassion in his eyes, as if he understood.

A slow and shaking breath escaped his mouth. "I knew it."

I shook my head at his claim for knowing about my feelings. I tried to form words, but I was disorientated, my mind wasn't allowing me to form a sentence.

"I had a feeling back when you were in the hospital. I saw how you both looked at each other. I recognised the way you looked at him, because that's how you used to look at me, at the start of our relationship."

The words coming out of Calum's mouth, stung me. They were painful to my ears.

"I am so sorry." I let out in an almost whisper with my breathing shaky.

"Don't. Don't say sorry. This is all on me. If I never did what I did," Calum said in a lower tone as he peered his eyes towards our audience. "We wouldn't be in this situation. I treated you like shit. So, if anyone is sorry, it's me."

Tears were uncontrollably falling down my face. I gave a warm hug to Calum, for a moment the hug felt wholesome, like it was needed after what we had been through.

"Right, okay, let's carry on with the wedding then," I suggested, wiping my tears away.

Calum let out a chuckle. "Are you serious? No, you are going to get your happiness back. Go to Alexander."

"But-"

"No buts. Louisa, I want you to be happy, and if that's with Alexander, then so be it. I've made so many stupid mistakes, but this is one thing I want to do right. So, I'm letting you go, I want you to go to Alexander, be happy with him."

When I finally comprehended what Calum was saying, a wave of panic flushed through me, with the realisation of Alexander on his way to the airport. The timer was on. It was go time. I had to get to the airport. I quickly pulled Calum in to another hug, squeezing him tightly.

"Thank you so much. You know I'll always love you." I whispered into his ears.

Pulling the ring off my finger, I placed it carefully in his hands.

"I know. I'll always love you too. You'll always be my best friend. Now go!" Calum stepped away from the hug, subtly pushing me.

Without another word, I ran to Sarah, who was overjoyed, grabbing her arm and taking her with me to the bridal room.

When we got to the bridal room, I frantically looked for my bag which was packed for our honeymoon. After locating it, I yanked it open, searching for my passport.

"Okay listen to me Sarah," I excitedly shouted, "We need to get the airport, quick. Get my suitcase and take out anything, I need to get out of this dress."

Sarah abruptly got to the suitcase, opening it up and getting a pair of grey joggers and a black top. With the help of Sarah, I managed to unzip the dress, which falls to the floor. Not caring that I was in my underwear for a brief second, I get into my comfy clothes.

"Have you got your car?" I asked.

Sarah nodded, she ran towards the door. "Yes, I have. Meet me at the front I'll be waiting in the car."

Without letting me respond, Sarah left the room. My heart was rapidly beating, I felt restless. I went up and down the room, pacing around as my hands started to tremble.

Before leaving, I ensured that I had my passport and ticket to Paris, this was my ticket to happiness. My ticket to finding Alexander.

As I make my way outside, I peered my head into the main hall, taking it all. Calum made sure all the guest stayed happy with the mention of free food and drinks.

Calum caught me, he gave me a reassuring smile and nod. I mouthed the words 'thank you,' once again. I then proceeded to make my way outside, where I saw Sarah in the car.

I get to the car, jumping in and slamming the door shut. Within a second Sarah stepped on the gas zooming down the road.

My legs crazily shook as I was on the edge. I was on a very thin line; I was counting on Sarah driving as fast as she could. I dialled Alexander's number a few times, unluckily there was no answer. I cursed under my breath, the one time I needed him to pick my call.

My happiness was like a candle. The candle was burning, slowly going down. I had to get to Alexander before the candle was all burnt out.

The uncertainty of not knowing what time his flight was due to leave, was killing me on the inside. There was the dreaded thought of him already departed, but something deep within me was telling me that he had not left yet. I was holding onto that feeling.

A/N

I'd like to point out that this is far from the scene of friends, where Ross says the wrong name, I kind of wanted to portray and different feeling, where Louisa was lost and out of it that she didn't realise what she was saying.

But why am I starting to like Calum? He finally makes a good decision, a very late but good decision.

Can Louisa make it in time before Alexander jets off?

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Love _xxAMxx