Hide Me In The Woods

Part XV

"So, how long should I wear these per day?"

"I'd say no more than eight hours. I also wouldn't recommend wearing them every day. I don't want you to damage your ribs. You can wear them for the wedding. Here, I can help you. Try them on."

After Emile covered Andrew's eyes, he guided him to the wall mirror. He wanted to surprise his best friend by making him feel and look more masculine. Emile moved his hands, as Andrew couldn't help but stare at himself in the mirror. He turned to Emile with a big smile. Then, back to Brie to get measured.

"Good Lord, Brie," said Emile. "You'd be up for hours."

"I never said I would be alone," Brie chuckled. "It would take weeks for me to finish this alone. I have a crew. I should have this done by tomorrow, okay?"

The boys waved goodbye, as Andrew went back to the mirror to look at himself. Emile laughed at how adorable it was, seeing Andrew feel the happiness he deserved to feel from the moment he was born to present day. Andrew found it difficult to twist his body, but Emile assured him that he felt the same pain. "It's okay. When you get your surgery, you don't have to worry about this. And I mean 'when', not 'if'."

"What are you talking about?" Andrew asked.

"Well, I may or may not have a surprise for you later on in life," Emile snickered.

So many surprises and so little time. What would Andrew have done without Emile? The sun being set completely made Emile's knees start to shake. He grew even more nervous, knowing his best man was also his new fiancé. It was impossible to fall asleep.

He slowly got out of bed to avoid waking Andrew up. Downstairs, Brie and her team were working on exactly what they promised Andrew. Emile was in awe. He tried to stop himself from spilling a glass of grape juice on the jacket. The tie was a nice, velvety shade of red.

"We need to do one or two more things, Emile," said Brie. "After, we'll throw it on a mannequin, and you can surprise Andrew tomorrow morning."

"Thank you again, Brie," Emile replied with a smile. Brie's kindness was the thing he missed the most when she disappeared.

The wedding was the one thing keeping Emile up at night. He knew he was about to make a mistake, and he knew it well. After coming out of the kitchen, the suit was done. He smiled, knowing that Brie did this for Andrew out of the kindness of her own heart. He took the mannequin and tried to get back into his room without making a sound.

The door flung open really quick, as Emile dropped the mannequin on the ground. Thankfully, the suit was still in good shape. He noticed Andrew moving around, so he tried to convince him that he was only dreaming. Andrew lifted his head and rubbed his eyes; the first thing he saw was Emile.

"Hey," Emile stammered.

"What's going on?" Andrew yawned. "Am I dreaming?"

"Yes, don't worry. Go back to sleep."

Emile climbed into bed to try and get Andrew back to sleep. He had no problem doing that, but struggled to get himself to sleep. Emile began to have nightmares of his future with Crocus again. Only this time, he dreamed about Andrew being bludgeoned to death. When the sun came up, Emile couldn't help but sob, until he was woken up by a gentle shake.

He turned around to see Andrew's smiling face looking back at him. That and the reassurance that he was okay was just the thing he needed to wake up to. Emile remembered the suit, as he directed Andrew's attention towards the mannequin in front of him. He loved it. But what he loved more was knowing that Brie took time out of her life to make it for him.

Emile tossed him a binder to go with the suit. After trying everything on together, Andrew felt like a new man. He was the man he was supposed to be at birth. He looked back at Emile with a grin. The final touch was an Annie's Echo boutonnière. Anne Coyote was brave and courageous, just like Andrew.

"Here, try this," said Emile, as he handed Andrew a comb.

"Wow, this works," Andrew chuckled. "Thank you, Emile. Whoa, are you okay?"

"I can't stand up. I mean, I've had cold feet before, but it wasn't that bad."

"Don't worry," said Andrew. "Like we said, as soon as the officiant tells us to speak or forever hold our peace, I will object to the wedding. Still don't know why Vegreris frowns upon the two getting married objecting..."

"Probably because they're the ones getting married."

"That's beside the point. I will object to the wedding, and we'll see what happens."

Agreeing with everything Andrew said, Emile walked into the closet. He came out with a white button up and the top half was undone just for laughs. He could easily grab Andrew's attention with that, since he was looking in the mirror again.

"Hey, turn around," Emile chuckled.

When Andrew turned around, all he saw was Emile with his shirt half done up. He rolled his eyes and let out a good laugh. The love Andrew had for Emile and his sense of humour was like no other. Emile checked the time, since he and Andrew had been goofing off for a while. He went back in the closet to get everything else on.

"I'm about to make a huge mistake," Emile sighed.

"That's why you have me," Andrew said. "I'm here to stop you from making that mistake."

Lola entered Emile's room to see both boys all dressed up. She was in awe at what Brie made for Andrew. Emile was not hesitant to tell his mother one last thing after the conversation with his father. "I just thought of something. Apparently, Crocus must've killed Father out of pure hate. Remember when Aarelyn was poisoned?"

"But, Emile, that was on accident," said Lola.

"Doesn't matter," said Emile. "What Father did to Aarelyn was a mistake he made. Now what Crocus did to him was completely on purpose. Why else would she have his head in a box as a 'wedding present' for me?"

Everything Emile was saying made sense; Lola had to agree with him. She left and told the boys to be downstairs in no more than five minutes. Andrew looked at Emile after Lola shut the door. He had those eyes that sent a message to never see Crocus again after. He moved his thumb along Emile's jawline, which was so sharp, it could cut somebody.

Emile felt a tear run down his face. The thought of having to go to a wedding to be married to somebody he didn't even have feelings for was upsetting. Andrew kissed Emile passionately and assured him everything was going to be alright.

"God, I can't wait to marry you," Emile whispered.

"Soon, Emile," said Andrew. "For now, let's get you to the Sequoia Woods. Are you ready?"

"Let's do this," said Emile.