Mrs Bride, Mr Groom

Victoria sat in front of the dressing mirror as her best friends worked on her hair and face.

It was her wedding day today, she had wished earnestly for it to come, and seeing herself dressed in a wedding gown made the butterflies in her stomach flutter. Her face had been wearing a broad smile since she woke up, she was getting married to the man she loved; the only man she found worthy to be a good husband to her and a perfect father to her children.

Having a perfect family with a perfect man was all she desired and Miles was the only man she found perfect, he had always been there for her, supporting all her decisions and choices, trusting her undoubtedly and showering her with love and Victoria wanted nothing else than to spend forever with him, and today she was getting married to him.

She could remember vividly the day she met Miles as if it had only happened yesterday, she could clearly see his smile, hear his funny ascent and her heart leaped of joy as she remembered the way he pronounced her name.

"Aren't you the most beautiful bride ever?" Ellen, one of her best friends, said with a teary voice as she placed the last flower in her hair and Victoria raised her eyes to look at herself in the mirror, and indeed she made a beautiful bride.

Her hair was perfectly combed, partitioned from the sides and pinned entirely at the back, some strands of her hair had been left to fall to her face.

The beautiful stones which had been embedded in her neatly sown wedding dress reflected lights, adding more beauty to the dress.

The combination of the thread work done on her wedding gown and her beautiful face made her look more like a fairy tale princess.

"I am so happy this day is happening," Lisa, her other best friend, said as a tear dropped from her eye.

"Lisa," Victoria called, looking at her with teary eyes.

"Come here," Lisa said and pulled Victoria in for a hug. Lisa couldn't help holding back her tears and ended up crying on Victoria's shoulder.

"Come on Lisa, you are going to mess up her dress, it's a big day for her today, you wouldn't want her to walk down the aisle with a messed up dress." Ellen said and Lisa pulled out of the hug.

"My bad, I couldn't control the emotions, I just love that our girl is getting married."

"And to the man of her dreams." Ellen added and Victoria nodded.

Miles really was the man of her dreams and she wanted to marry him right away, she had longed to be addressed as a 'Mrs.' and now she was not only going to be addressed as 'Mrs.' but 'Mrs. Taylor'.

'Mrs. Victoria Taylor'. She thought to herself, and her smile grew to contented laughter.

"Already imagining yourself in the room with Miles?" Ellen asked, and Victoria's face got tinted with a blush. "Oh, please, put that face away and make sure to tell me all about it."

"Ellen," Lisa called and Ellen have her a shrug. "You don't expect she tell you... On a second thought, I think I want to hear it too. In details too."

Victoria chuckled. " We'll see how that goes."

The door to the room opened, and an elderly man walked in beaming with smiles. He went to stand in front of Victoria, and she stood up to be at the same height with him.

"I've always known you'd make me proud." He said and caressed her cheek.

"Thanks, Dad, I'm so glad you're happy."

"I'm happier to see you happy. Come, it's time, I don't think Miles can wait any longer" Ralph said and fixed her veil. She put her hand around her father's arm and headed for the wedding ground.

The wedding ceremony was being held on a beach as Victoria had wanted, she wanted an airy and open place, a place where nature would bear witness to their union, and she got exactly that. The sun shore at a mild temperature, adding both beauty and life to the ceremony.

Her gown dragged along as she walked down the aisle with her father, Victoria saw the guests stand up on either side watching her as she made her way to the altar, and it made her feel like a queen-well of course, she was the queen.

Seeing her man stare at her made her heart drop to her stomach, and a feeling of nervousness clouded her. She saw her man dressed handsomely in a blue tuxedo, his hair combed perfectly with hair falling to the right side of his face.

She could see his blue eyes from where she was, and she guessed happiness made it brighter. Handing the bouquet to Ellen, she climbed the altar, standing in front of the guests and facing her soon-to-be husband, Miles let out a weak smile and Victoria wondered if he was as nervous as she was.

"Please," the priest said, signalling to the guests to take their seats.

"We have gathered here today to join these two young souls as one," the priest began.

Victoria's heart rushed down to her stomach and she prayed that the priest would say whatever he had to say fast so that nobody would interrupt their wedding, not that she was expecting anyone to, but she knew things happen.

"With nobody standing against this marriage, please Mr. Miles and Ms. Victoria, repeat after me. I and say your names..."

They did as the priest instructed.

"Promise to honor and care for each other, in sickness and in health, in wealth and in......" they pledged.

"Wait," Miles said, cutting them short. Victoria's heart dropped to her stomach and the butterflies in her stomach began fluttering with full velocity.

This was undoubtedly how it had happened the last time, and she wished it wasn't what was about repeating. She looked at the guests and met their eyes fixed on them, looking as if they could see their souls, she looked back at Miles and met his eyes, it lacked that shade and tint she had always seen in it, and she wondered what the problem was.

Miles stood stuttering, he wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to put it, Victoria wasn't the type of person to be treated as he wanted to, but he had to, for his life and his mother's, he had to do it. Looking at Victoria right in the eye, he said;

"I'm sorry, I can't continue this marriage, I don't feel satisfied with you, I want something more than just you, I need someone with whom I will feel contented and satisfied, and you are not that person.

I am sorry this had to happen, you are a good person, Vicky, and I hope you find your soul mate soon." Miles said and walked down the aisle, without looking back, he headed for his car and drove off.

The guests gasped out of shock as they heard what Miles said, everyone knew it is not a good thing for one's partner to walk out on them in the middle of their exchange of vows and for the second time in less than two years, Victoria got walked out on by her husband-to-be.

Victoria kept her eyes on Miles' retreating figure as he got into his car, and they kept trailing the car until it got out of sight. With tears clouding her eyes, Victoria turned to look at Ellen and Lisa to find them also in shock. The three of them were quite certain that Miles had been excited about this day, so what made him do what he did was what they couldn't say. Turning back to meet the piercing gazes of the guests, her tears began rolling down her cheeks, she tried to force a smile on her face but, it only led to more tears rolling down her cheeks. Her breath turned labored and shaky, she tried to take deep breaths to calm herself, but she began hyperventilating. Her head began spinning and as the emotions began too much for her to handle, she dropped to the ground.

The light in the room hit her eyes as she opened them, so she shielded her eyes with her hand and tried to sit up but, a sharp pain ran through her back, causing her to scream and fall back onto the bed. Her head and back were sore from the fall earlier, seeing Victoria try to get up, Ellen helped her sit up and placed a pillow behind her for support, and she sat up to see her Dad and Lisa watching her closely as the memories of what happened earlier came rushing back to her.

"It happened again." She buried her face into her palms and began sobbing into it, "Why did it happen again? Ryan left me and now Miles, is there anything I am doing wrong? What am I doing wrong, Ellen? Tell me."

"It's not your fault, Vicky," Lisa said, "it has never been."

"I have been walked out on twice, and you say it's not my fault?" She placed her feet on the bed and hugged her legs as she resumed crying, Lisa drew closer to her and wrapped her arms around her.

"You shouldn't be crying because Miles left you, he should be the one crying and sulking. Leaving you is the biggest mistake of his life, he does not know what he lost." Lisa comforted.

"Yeah," Ellen said, "besides, I've always known Miles was an asshole. He is a bastard, and he doesn't deserve you." Victoria turned to stare at her with widened eyes filled with tears.

"No!" she yelled, "that wasn't what you told me before. You told me he was a great guy and that we will grow a family together, a beautiful family, you never called him names, Ellen! You never did," she fell back onto the bed and buried her face in the pillow. Lisa turned to Ellen with an angry glare, and she shrugged.

"Sorry, I was only trying to make her fell better."

Ralph, who had been watching the ladies while trying to find the right words, sat next to Victoria and placed her face on his lap and began stroking her hair.

"I know this is the second time this is happening, but you shouldn't cry yourself to death because of that. Miles is a man who is undeserving of you, and I bet he realized that and it was why he left."

Victoria jerked up from his laps, "in the middle of our exchange of vows?" Sniffling, she sat up straight and wiped off her tears, "I need some time alone."

"I will stay with you," Lisa offered.

"No, I want to be alone."

Ellen nodded, We will be right outside if you need us for anything," she said and made for the door with Lisa tugging behind her. Ralph placed a kiss on Victoria's forehead and left the room with Ellen and Lisa.

Ralph was hesitant to leave Vicky's door, out of worry, he pressed his ear against the door.

"She is a strong girl, she will be fine." Ellen said with a hand of comfort on Ralph's shoulder. With Ralph concurring, Ellen held Ralph's arm to lead him to his room, as they made to leave, the door to Victoria's room opened and Victoria poked her head out of the room, looking Ellen straight in the eyes.

"Whiskey, the strongest one you can find," she demanded.

"But, Vic..."

"No buts, Ellen, get it for me."

Slamming the door shut, Victoria placed her back against it and slid down it. There was a mixture of emotions going through her mind, she felt pain, sorrow, anguish, and bitterness and a mixture of many other things she couldn't explain, many other things she wanted to drown with lots of alcohol.

A stray tear escaped her eye, but she caught it with her thumb, wiping off her mascara in the process. Looking down at her thumb, a fresh set of tears clouded her eyes. She had been excited about this day, she let Lisa do her make - up just the way Miles liked but, all of those had gone to waste.

Allowing her tears to flow freely, she got off the floor and eased herself off the wedding dress, the same dress she had excitedly worn in hopes that Miles will be the one to take them off her but alas, here she was and not even with Miles by her side.

A knock came on her door as an even fresher set of tears ran down her cheeks and she opened the door, not minding how she looked with her swollen face, disheveled hair and smudged make - up.

"Your whiskey," Ellen said, handing her the short yet fat bottle.

"Thank you," she took the drink and made to shut the door, but Ellen held it back wearing a worried look, "I will call you if I need you. For now, I am fine." she flashed Ellen a weak smile and shut the door.

Reading aloud the brand of the drink in her hand, she uncorked it and chugged the whole drink down.

His steps were brisk and steady as he hustled out of the restaurant, if there was anything he needed at the moment, it was to leave the hotel premises, and he needed to leave fast. On getting to the parking space, his eyes scanned the whole area, and he sucked in his teeth sharply as a realization hit him, he hadn't come in his car, heck, he no longer had a car to come in.

Chewing his teeth, he pulled out his phone to order for a ride but, the 'insufficient fund' message stared right back at his face, he clenched his fist tightly out of rage that his nails left half moon imprints in his palm.

"Fuck!" He cussed as he punched a car parked before him, leaving a dent in the car.

A deep sigh filled the air, but, the sigh wasn't from him. He looked around, but the parking space, which was poorly lit, made it difficult for him to see every corner.

The sigh came again, this time, it was less of a sigh.

"Step into the light if you are brave enough, dimwit."

The voice -he confirmed to be feminine - blew a raspberry before exhaling deeply.

"You have anger issues, and you sure have anger management issues too."

The voice echoed throughout the parking space, but he turned to his right as that was where he sensed the voice came from, "oh yeah? And now you're going to tell me I have no right to be angry, right?"

She hiccuped and blew a raspberry again, "no, nope, but that car did nothing to you and I bet the owner would agree with that."

He looked at the dent he left in the car and sighed.

"Why are you angry?" He heard her ask, and he shrugged, although knowing she could not see her.

"I had a really bad day. A shitty day, some would say," he tucked his hands into his trouser pockets, "and you, why are you hiding in the dark? And are you drunk?"

She hiccuped for the nth time, "I don't know where I am so yeah, I guess I am and this is as a result of a bad life. I have a bad life."

He raised a brow, "so, the consequences of your bad choices are catching up with you?" he stressed on the words.

"Hell no," she chuckled, "I have lived a good life, I just happen to have bad luck. I'm jinxed."

"I guess that makes two of us," he muttered. "Hey, where are you supposed to be right now?"

"Probably on my way to Paris or Dubai or Italy or Qatar, I don't know, it was supposed to be a surprise."

His brows knitted from confusion, "okay," he stressed, "and you are not there because?"

"Because I have a bad life," she said in between laughter.

Lightly shaking his head, he turned to the car that lined in the parking lot as he ran his fingers through his hair. So many cars yet, he couldn't leave in any of those.

Barely two months ago, he had three cars at his beck-and-call, two months ago, he had enough money to order a ride if he didn't feel like driving, but now, now...there was nothing.

Gulping, he turned sharply to his right, "hey, is your car among these lined up here? I could drop you at your place if you are not okay to drive." He tapped his feet as he waited for her response. He was desperately in need of a ride back to his place; a ride which he would have gotten if he stayed longer in the restaurant but, he'd rather get tipped to get a taxi than ride with the person he had gone to meet.

"Hey," his voice and the clicking of his heels against the cemented floor echoed as he made his way to her, "did you hear me? Oh fuck me," he cussed and sucked his teeth sharply.

His said companion and the one he had hoped to get a ride with was passed out at the corner with an almost empty bottle of whiskey in her hand. He narrowed his eyes at the tiny and fragile looking figure that laid before him, as he assessed her from head to toes; her eyes and face were puffed with evidences of tears on it, her skin was pale, probably from drinking too much. A pale pink corsage was fitted around her wrist, with daisies in her hair.

"Just what happened to you?" He said to no one in particular. With his hands now on his waist, he sized Victoria again. He had no clue what to do with her, yet he could not leave her there; alone and unprotected. All he wanted was a ride, and now he's left to take care of a grown human. A grown human who is a human and a stranger.

"Daisy," he called as he shook her lightly in an attempt to wake her up, but, she only exhaled deeply and began snoring. "Wake up," he tapped her cheeks and she closely popped a lid, a gasp escaping her lips.

"You are handsome." She whispered.

He forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "I am well aware." These compliments were what he got daily right now, he was in need of a ride and he was not getting it.

"Or should I say hot? Yes, hot defines you better."

"Hey Daisy, look at me," she popped the other lid and looked up at him with a pouted mouth, "what is your name?"

"I am cold." Tears began to cloud her eyes and she sniffled.

"Hey, hey, don't cry. Here, I got you." He looked down at his coat in his hand. The three-piece suit was an expensive set, and he had planned to sell it with the few other ones he had returned with in hopes that he would have enough change to last him for a month or so but now, he was giving up one for a stranger, a drunk stranger who probably had no clue how expensive the suit was. Sighing, he lifted her gently and hung the coat around her shoulders.

"Come join me, Raymond, I'm going your way." The hairs on his back stood at the sound of the voice, the voice which belonged to his companion back at the restaurant. "I know you are there, man, I heard your voice."

"What do you want now, Desmond?" He quipped through gritted teeth.

His companion scoffed lightly, "must I need something before helping my own twin brother?"

"You tell me, you seem to have developed tactics for everything nowadays."

"Join me and I may consider your proposal, or you can suit yourself, moreover, you have been doing it for years." His companion -Desmond- said with finality in his voice before the headlights of one of the many cars in the parking space came on.

Staring down Victoria, who was leaning against his chest, he pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number as he gently laid her back on the ground.

"You're safe, Daisy," he whispered into her ear before quickly turning on his heels and making his way to the car.