Chapter 4

When Saturday finally came, everyone was more than excited. Elizabeth was thrilled. One of her best friends was getting married. It was a big day. She met Samantha on her first day of college, in their first class. What made them click instantly was shared love towards Russian romanticism and the English Victorian era. One discussion led to another, and before they even knew it, they were spending more and more time together. Martha was already Lizzy’s best friend, and soon Jenny started hanging out with them since she was already friends with Samantha. Marie actually used to work at a local cafe where they used to spend their free periods, so in time she just fell into the group. Now, five years later, they were glued together. So when one of them was getting married, it was like that was their own wedding. It was important.

“Are you nervous?” Lizzy asked Samantha.

“Nooo, why would I be? It’s just the most important day of my life till now,” nervous sarcasm was seeping out of her.

“Sam, look at me,” Elizabeth said in the most serious voice that she could master, standing right in front of her friend. “Today, you are getting married to the most amazing guy you have ever had a chance to know, a love of your life. John loves you more than his life, and you have a bright future in front of you. And now that man is waiting for you down the aisle. Are you ready to go to him?” Samantha just nodded in response. “OK. So now take a deep breath,” she said, motioning her hands up and down, “and exhale. Right. Again... Better now?” Samantha again just nodded.

“Oh, you are all still here?” Sam’s father entered the chapel. “Go. Now! Take your places. I’ll take it from here.” he quickly hugged his daughter and, taking her hand under his, headed to the door out of the chapel and into the church.

Just a couple of seconds after Elizabeth and the other girls took their places, the Wedding march started, and at the far end of the aisle, Samantha and her father showed up. At that moment, all Elizabeth could think about was the feeling of being watched again. ‘Well, this is getting uncomfortable...’ she thought, but she shrugged the feeling, thinking that she was in a church full of people, someone was bound to look at her even though everyone was supposed to look at the bride.

And then she saw him. Sitting on the far end of the bench, there was that guy from Monday morning, the guy she couldn’t stop thinking about. He was staring right at her. Throughout the whole ceremony, Elizabeth felt the stranger’s eyes on her. It was becoming uncomfortable. She couldn’t focus on what the priest was saying, she barely heard vows. She snapped up when the bride and the groom kissed and headed towards the exit. Her friends caught her by her hand and pulled out to the car waiting to take them to the restaurant where the reception was supposed to be held.

Jenny tirelessly took pictures of them in the car that she immediately posted on her social media platforms. In their group, she was that kind of freak who kept documenting everything.

“Oh, my God, did you see that guy that was staring at Lizzy the whole time? He is gorgeous!” Jenny asked.

‘God, I hoped no one saw that,’ Elizabeth thought. That guy gave her the creeps.

“Yeah, we saw him,” Martha and Marie said in unison.

Reluctantly, Elizabeth squeezed through her teeth, “That is actually a guy from Monday morning, the one that spilled coffee on me, remember? I told you.”

“If you don’t bang that tonight after the reception, I am personally going to set you on fire as an example and take him home!” Jenny squealed. “Yeah, and I will join her,” Martha added.

“Join her in what? Setting me on fire or taking him home?” Liz asked sarcastically but still laughing, “I don’t know ... he is giving me a bad vibe. I am not sure what it is exactly, but my instinct is telling me to stay away from him.” she frowned.

“No, I don’t want to hear that excuse again. It’s always the same with you. No, not this time. You are going in there, and you are going to ask him for a dance. And ok, you don’t have to take him home right away, but you are going to find out his name and get his number. And that is an order!” Jenny fussed, “You are my best friend, and I want to see you happy. I want to see you live a little. You can’t be a nun for eternity, for heaven's sake.”

At that moment, their car stopped in front of the restaurant, and they left the vehicle and headed towards the reception. They ate and drank and had a good time but all the along Elizabeth felt that stranger’s eyes on her, she didn’t even have to look, she knew it was him.

After the toast, when there was a time for the dance, her girlfriends left her at their table to join a celebrating couple on the stage with their partners. She was the only one in their bunch that was single, so she stayed at her place for the moment.

Movement on her right caught her attention, and she turned to come face to face with that guy again. ‘I would have to stop calling him that guy,’ she thought.

“Well, we meet again.” she heard his husky voice. He offered her a hand and asked, “Would you do me the honors and allow me to dance with the most beautiful girl here?”

She accepted his hand and rose slowly from her seat.

“May I know your name, sir?” she asked quietly.

“Henry. My name is Henry Johnson.” the guy answered, keeping his gaze on her eyes while he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

The second his lips touched her skin, she felt like an electric current struck him and fireworks erupted inside her. ‘What the hell just happened?!’