I Do

Chapter 34

I don't know what to say, except that I am going to miss each and every one of you so much. This story has been the pride and joy of my life since September 9, 2012, and it has grown so much. I've gained so many amazing friends, beautiful fans, dedicated readers and beyond lovable cakelets. You all have changed me SO much and I hope this chapter was worth the wait.

I'd like to thank a few people before I do the dedication, for their hard work to get each chapter to 50 comments. You should thank them, because they completely dedicated themselves to my goal: @Stop_And_Stare_ , @LuluMussabAlJundi , @Kendall1D , @xSuddenlyYours , @YouWouldThink and @ImJustNadine ! There were quite a few more, but honestly these girls must have commented at least 50 times each. So, huge thank you to them! <333333333

Dedication goes to... @destinyfall for her brilliant comments/messages. huge thank you to her for being so incredibly sweet! <3

Now, believe it or not, it's time to read the last chapter. Fingers crossed that you'll like it <3

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Chapter 34 *Wedding in: 2 hours, 38 minutes*  

-Hallie-

   I'd like to claim that as the time remaining before Harry and Arabella say their vows trickles relentlessly away, I've managed to attain a sort of inner peace; something of a balance for the helpless despair pounding persistently within my heavily damaged heart.  That, however, would be a lie. I can hardly breathe. A stomach-knotting concoction of panic and dread sends icy waves of adrenaline coursing through my veins to pierce my lungs. 

  Is the fact that I spent two painstaking hours applying my makeup in a careful imitation of Arabella as nauseatingly pathetic as it seems? Yes? I figured as much.

  Jittery with dizzying nerves, I stalk towards the edge of our ornately wallpapered room, eyes flitting to the doors surrounding me. I teeter precariously for a moment on my shimmery, delicate high heels before swiveling around and returning to the opposite corner. Hoping to convey some semblance of control -- the florist is eyeing me with a mixture of apprehension and concern -- I whip out my phone and hastily dial Louis' number.

   "Lou! Where the hell are you?" I exclaim the instant he answers, my anxiety burbling out in a torrent. "You're the best man, you were supposed to arrive over an hour ago and the damn wedding starts in two hours. Oh, please God tell me you've got your tuxedo, at least."

   "Hal," he interjects cautiously as I pause, eyes swimming with unshed, unreasonable tears. "Er, of course I have my tux. But uh... I was thinking... that maybe, if you agree, I shouldn't arrive on time. Y'know, I could be 'late'." 

   Shuddering and startled, I grit my teeth in frustration; I solemnly swore to myself not to get weepy and just look at me now. Mind reeling, I spit out in a low, venomous voice, "Louis... what the hell are you talking about?"

   Louis hesitates, seemingly recognizing the serious, if not caustic quality of my tone. One brief instant passes by, agonizingly quickly, considering each second that escapes is another moment closer to watching my inaccessible true love declare in front of everyone that he takes Arabella to be his lawfully wedded wife. "Unless you've forgotten... we... we have a wedding to stop," he stammers, evidently perplexed. "And if I don't show up on time, it'll buy us an opportunity to create some sort of plan that'll disrupt everything and--"

   "You're joking." His silence refutes my statement, affirming it's opposite. "Louis... the wedding is happening. It's happening. In two hours, Arabella will be strolling down that aisle towards her picture-perfect future, and... oh my God, there's absolutely nothing we can do to stop it. It's happening," I repeat, a tart, acidic combination of hysteria and orange juice climbing steadily in my throat.