ACT II

SCENE I

THE WEDDING MARCH

Rose was at Finn's wedding, looking like she'd stepped straight off a movie set. I should mention that I wasn't particularly excited to go to Finn's wedding before I found out that she would most definitely be attending. As Insley took me tuxedo shopping, this fact became apparent.

"Would you go if Rose was there?" He asked as the small Italian man measured his shoulder-breadth.

"That's ridiculous. I'm going anyway." I said, but only for the sake of him stopping. Insley was always one to exploit my fondness for Rose.

"Of course you would." He laughed, as the tailor disappeared into his shop. Insley stepped down from the platform, and gave me a look, "you're next, Haz." He said.

"I know." I said as I loosened the button of my jacket, and watched him sit down next to me.

"It's so blatantly obvious that you're whipped, Harry." He said with a laugh, at which I looked down and blushed, as if that would make it less obvious.

"Shut up. One day when you're this in love, you'll understand." I said, with a sheepish laugh. He shrugged like he wouldn't. Insley was never one to fall in love, I was always the lovey-dovey brother, while he struggled to find anyone who was willing to deal with him. (You can't choose family, they say...)

"Sure." He said like he knew, and then the Italian man was back in the room, muttering something about Insley's shoulders, and how they wouldn't fit in the blazer if he didn't adjust it again. I'm not going to bore you with the details of Insley and I's fitting, because quite frankly I can tell you could care less, so I'll skip to the part you'll actually find interesting. The wedding, Rose Darlings, and everything under that subject.

I guess you could say all of it started here. Rose and I's actual romance, because the rest of it was just me giving you history, and honestly everything I've mentioned up until this point was just me filling up the pages of this novel because I didn't have anything better to do. I'd be lying if it started at the wedding though, however, I wouldn't be lying if I realized while I watched Louis Kai cry his eyes out and Finn looking him like his eyes held the world, made me realise that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Now it's all ridiculously cheesy from this point on, so if you're more interested in a mystery novel, or are still staring at the pages wondering when the hell I'm going to discover my magic powers, I'm pretty sure you're in the wrong place, and should consider pressing the X button, because I'm not going to find a phoenix and an attractive woman claiming she can practice telepathy in my garage. I'm not going to meet the woman of my dreams after she spills her Starbucks frappe all over my jacket, nor am I going to find that someone had been murdered in my house and quite frankly I'm not going to assume the position of alpha in my local werewolf pack simply because I'm not alpha material and this is a romance novel, if you haven't noticed. Nevertheless, Finn and Louis' wedding was a nice event, as far as weddings go, I mean, the food was good and the cake heavenly, but I was more interested in stealing a glass of champagne off one of the trays, and downing it for that extra little bit of confidence I needed when I decided I was going to ask Rose to go on a date with me. She was chatting to some or other homosexual friend of Finn's, laughing animatedly, holding one of the glasses of champagne in her little hand, looking like a painting that had just came to life. It took everything, and I mean everything in me not to swoop her off her feet and kiss her in front of everyone. (I'm a gentleman, I promise, but you know... I've got needs too...) Throwing the inherent social anxiety out the window, I put on my best smile, and worked myself into Rose's conversation. She was obviously surprised when I showed up, since I was pretty soft spoken when she first met me, and for me to cut into a conversation like that was out of sorts for me. When the homosexual man she was chatting with finally got my drift and left us alone, I took charge, I had to, if I didn't, the book would end here. I'd end up going home, dejected as hell, probably eating a ton of ice cream and that would be it. I'd accept my fate, I'd be a lonely bachelor for the rest of my life, only looking after my child and dreading the day he left for college because then I'd really be alone.

"What's your opinion on Italian cuisine?" I opted for charm, she always responded well to charm. With my best, most charismatic smile stretched over my face, I eagerly awaited her response. A part of me felt like I was back in high school, awaiting criticism from my piano teacher after I just played my heart out. Of course, Rose wasn't like my piano teacher at all, it'd be kind of sad if she was, and I was at a bachelor's party, waiting for the literal girl of my dreams to answer a question.

She pondered for a moment, I guess you could say, and then she smiled, that sultry smile of hers that made her look (and I hate this word) naughty.

"I love it. Why do you ask?" She asked politely but her smile said otherwise. I saw through Rose Darlings' innocent front, I knew she was anything but and I couldn't wait to find out just how... corrupted for lack of better word she was.

"Because, there's this lovely little Italian place down the road from my flat, and I was wondering whether you'd like to come with me some time?" It came out more like a question when I had intended it to sound like a statement. I wanted her to come with me, I mean, if she didn't I'd probably cry, and it makes me sound like a baby but I am one, sue me.

At this she immediately smiled excitedly, like she was waiting for me to mention it for something like six years now, and then she said, all sultry, "thought you'd never ask." It was all ridiculously suggestive, and I feel bad typing it out because it makes me sound like I would probably... well you know, I'm sure you can make the connection but I've got to keep this PG or my mother will probably look over my shoulder and stare at me like Harold, don't write about sex. (I'm doing it mum, sue me.)