Walk Me Down The Aisle
It was a beautiful autumn season at the wedding day of Danni's friends. She got up from her table to refill her glass of champagne, and as she walked past the head table, she saw Scott sitting there. They exchanged polite smiles, but didn't talk much. Danni had seen Scott before, but had never really talked to him. She knew he was an actor, but chose to keep quiet about it, because she wanted to get to know the real person behind the fame. Over the weeks, they started to enjoy each other's company, and seem to still seeing each other at weddings. Scott never knew that Danni was a writer in the movie industry, and Danni never told him. She enjoyed the anonymity of being able to observe him without him knowing who she really was. One day, while in their hiding place, Danni opened up to Scott about how she was feeling. She told him that she had developed feelings for him over the passed months and wanted to explore a relationship with him. Scott was hesitant at first, because of his past heartbreak, and wasn't sure if he was ready for another relationship. But with Danni's persistence and patience, they started seeing each other and fell in love. They had a whirlwind romance filled with laughter, passion, and adventure. Danni was happy, and she felt like she had finally found her soulmate. She loved him so much that she decided to write a book about their love story. It became a bestseller and the spotlight was on them. But then something happened that she never saw coming. Scott was disappointed about the book, and his father was filled with anger towards her. Scott felt like his privacy had been invaded, and he became distant from Danni. She tried to reach out to him, but he wouldn't respond. She felt like she had lost him forever. But doon reconciled but it was too late. Years went by, and they were both at a mutual friend's wedding again, with their own partners. They locked eyes from across the room and smiled with the idea of their past. They didn't exchange words, but they both knew that they were happy in their own lives. Danni looked over to her companion and felt thankful for everything she had. She still loved Scott, but she knew that they were just characters in each other's stories now. She realized that sometimes, life doesn't go as planned, and the person you thought was your happily ever after, wasn't meant to be. But she was grateful for the memories they shared, and for the love that had filled her heart for a time. As the night went on, Danni realized that sometimes, the best love stories don't have endings that make sense. And sometimes, the best love stories are the ones that you hold in your heart forever.
Chapter Twelve
Scott chuckled, his eyes lighting up with fond memories. "I always thought you were up for any adventure. And I guess I'm just so typical. I'm different in the daylight, and I'm different at dusk. I'm calmer than you might imagine when we're in bed, right?" Feeling slightly annoyed, I lightly slapped his back, hoping he would just let go of the topic. "You're so annoying, Scott. Can we just forget about what happened?"
A calmness washed over Scott as he gazed at me intently. "Of course I'll do it just for you," he reassured me.
"So, can you tell me more about your big upcoming project?" I asked, realizing how poorly I was keeping a secret that I don't know him.
He purposely withheld the truth that he was a renowned Hollywood celebrity from me, and I guess it wasn't because I fizzled to address him by his stage name, Scott Clinton. Instead, I continually put on an act, pretending that our first encounter was as it were at Vanessa and Don's wedding. I long for the day that he will understand why I'm keeping the truth about my job from him. I fear he might assume I am manipulating him into getting to become one of the characters in my story, which is far from the truth. But the fact that what I am currently doing and showing to him is unimaginably heartbreaking. Is there anything more painful than the torment I am causing him?
"We're in the last phase of work, so it's already wild enough. And on top of that, we hardly ever get any sleep because the adrenaline keeps us going. Don't you think that could make us squeamish?" Scott conveyed as he looked up at the night sky, his gaze thoughtful.
"Well, I suppose you have a point," I responded.
"But we're in the same boat, aren't we? As a musician, your voice might need some rest, and you should be getting proper sleep. Plus, staying away from beer would be beneficial for your vocal cords," he summed up. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of surprise at his retort.
"You're the one who introduced me to beer, remember?" I challenged him, my voice laced with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "So why are you suddenly concerned about me avoiding it? It's almost like you want me to avoid you too."
Scott chuckled at my words, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "That's not the point at all," he countered. "I just care about your well-being. Do you think what we're doing is unwholesome?"
Without skipping a beat, I answered firmly, my gaze locked with his emerald eyes. "Yep," I replied. "So maybe, instead of overworking ourselves, we should take some time to unwind and enjoy the sun."
Then a playful grin tugged at the corners of Scott's lips. "Have you ever been to Hawaii?" he asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
In the time that I have been here in America, there are still places that I have not had the opportunity to visit. One such place is Hawaii. When Scott finished dealing with the project he had been working on, which I knew was related to a major movie, I mustered up the courage to approach my boss again, asserting approval to take a leave of absence.
"You're planning another leave? Where to this time?" Mitch inquired casually as he organized some papers on his desk.
"Hawaii, boss." I confidently expressed, causing him to pause momentarily. "Hawaii? What exactly do you intend to do in Hawaii? We have a ton of jobs to do here at the office," my boss polled, his shock evident in his voice. "It's about the story I am writing. The narrative is currently set during a vacation, and I just can't accurately depict Hawaii without having experienced it firsthand," I eloquently inferred.
"Hawaii, really? Why not just stay in Santa Monica for inspiration for your novel? It won't demand as much money and time," Mitch pressed, attempting to dissuade me.