#tdbp1

[thirstyhscwriter]

The Decoy Bride Part One II Jai/OC

The wedding was exactly as all weddings should be. Exceedingly dull, and terribly awkward. The bride looked as if she had been baked into a giant white meringue.  She had been able to see the bride’s skin poking through the buttons as she walked past, the tell tale stray threads a sure sign the frustrated bride had been sewed into the garment only moments before. It was the best sight she had seen all day, she had found it so funny she had needed to bite down on her sleeve to stop herself from audibly laughing as the bride walked past.

That was the only good part of weddings. The knowledge that what happened between the bride and groom afterwards would be the worst night of their marriage, even the best fit dress was near impossible to remove, she had seen enough of them up close to know that. This however was not the best fit dress, not even close, she would be willing to wager that perhaps it was the worst.

“And so,” she said, as the final kiss was given, “The bride and groom settled for a monotonous life of pain and hatred.” “I wouldn’t be so cynical missy,” She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of her boss’s shrill voice behind her, “It’s these weddings that pay your bills,” “They pay yours as well, I don’t see you rushing to get married.” “Aye well, you see enough of these things you learn fast enough there’s very little to want about them,” She was preparing herself to smile in victory before her boss began to talk once again, “But I’m not so cruel as to look down upon those who do. You and I are likely to live a life of loneliness and bitterness, with naught but money and snark to keep us company, you cannot begrudge these people for trying to find someone nice enough to smile against the wind with. Now, hand out the bags of rice, and smile, I don’t want any complaints about your attitude.” “You might not be able to” she muttered, as she turned to the rice bags, “but I can.” She turned back to shout after the retreating back of her boss, “And you know as well as I do that you haven’t had a complaint about me in your life.”

“You know it’s my day off.” She wished she could claim she sounded angry with her boss, who had the nerve to call her on a Sunday to come in, “Aye I do lassie, which is how I know you will not doubt that I would not ask if I was not really sick.” She made a disgruntled sound, “Can you not ask them to come again later, when you are well, or I am actually meant to be working.” “No, I cannot” Her boss broke off from the conversation, coughing on the other side, “And not I will not tell you why. Stop complaining little miss, get in that tin can you call a car, and show the nice couple around the venue. And for god’s sake you cynical girl, at least pretend to like weddings, it’s much harder the fall in love with a venue when the woman running it appears to have a heart of stone.”

“And thus, for a small price, the two of you can have the wedding of your dreams in one of the few castles in this part of America, we do know that churches are more traditional, but we know how to make every wedding…” She turned away as she uttered the next words, not wanting them to see the face she pulled as she said it, “unique.”

Why this couple could not have waited another day she did not know, there did not seem to be anything particularly extraordinary about them, except that they were both more good looking than any couple had the right to be. The woman did, however, seem like most others she saw in these halls, in love with the idea she might be a princess for a day. Her future husband had not so much as glanced in her direction since entering the venue, not that she could blame him, she felt terribly plain next to the stunning blonde. Still, he could have spared at least one smile or greeting in her direction.

“No, it’s perfect, oh Jai, I can just see myself descending this staircase, although it will require a much longer train” “I thought we weren’t going to say our names.” It was the first time he had spoken, although his fiancé did not appear to hear it, she was already hurrying towards the staircase in question, evidently testing to see if it would, indeed make for the grand entrance she imagined. It was very tempting to simply ignore her fiancés words, Jai as she now knew his name was, just as he had hers all day, but she was too curious. “It’s a wise decision not to speak your names, now that I know yours there is no escaping this wedding, you will be married, although your fiancé may still be lucky enough to escape.” The edges of his lips twitched slightly at her words as his eyes came to meet hers for the first time, she raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for more explanation as to why they wanted to keep their names a secret, but it did not come. Instead he looked her over, absent mindedly scratching an oversized bicep as he did so.

“You’re not American,” She tried again after a moment’s silence, “English, is it? Surely you’ve got enough castles back home.” Again, he smirked, taking a step closer to her, “Australian actually, but even I know…” He leaned in close, lowering his voice as if eavesdroppers surrounded them, “That this place is nowhere near as old as you claim.” He raised his eyebrows at her, settling back a little, as if readying himself for her reply. She was suddenly struck by the sheer size of him. She had thought him attractive before, in the conventional sense, all muscle and carefree smiles, only now however, when his eyes were actually engaged, did she see just how entrancing he was, she could not tear her eyes away from him, “No, it’s a very new, and cheap building. But since when have weddings been based on truth.” He narrowed his eyes at her, ready to reply. “Jai.” The call made her jump, she had forgotten the other woman was there. “How did that look.” “Hmmm.” He looked up at his fiancé, obviously having missed her decent entirely, “lovely. We should get going, you know what happens if we stay in one place for too long.”

The fiancé, still unnamed, was still inside, taking great care in placing her sunglasses and head wrap, fearful she would burst out laughing she had gone to stand by the door, ready to lock up once the couple had left. To her surprise Jai had followed her out. His large frame seemed much too large for the door. “Just one quick question for you,” His accent, so jarring before, seemed to wash over her, and she suddenly became aware of just how close to her he was standing. Her eyes drifted down, despite herself, looking at the small blonde hairs that decorated his arms. “Most of this wedding is going to be hers but…” He broke of looking slightly embarrassed, “You guys don’t serve beers do you.” “I can assure you, Jai, you are not the first man, or woman, to want beers at his wedding. I’m sure I can get them on the menu for you.” He grinned, leaning in even closer. This time however, it was her who cut him off, “You won’t tell your fiancé what I said I hope, about the castle. As stupid as it is I quite like this job.” “I can keep a secret.” He told her, they were almost nose to nose now, “Can you do the same?” He was flirting, she realised, earlier he hadn’t been able to look at her, and now he was flirting, she wandered just what his future wife would think about that, and was preparing herself to ask, when… “What was that?” She had jumped away from him in surprise, “What was what?” He was looking around, large shoulders braced, she had to force herself not to admire them. “It was nothing,” The fiancé had emerged, safely wrapped in her scarfs. “The two of you look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Not a ghost. She thought, just a flash from the trees.

@fuckthatfeeling