Chapter 55// "That could be us if you weren't playing the field"
"Jesus fucking Christ, what the hell is going on here?" Someone shouts as I hear the front door close. I groggily turn in my sleep. It was so warm and cozy in this bed.
"Wake up Tiffany is looking for you Cress" I peel one eye open and see a strong arm around my waist.
Oh shit, no.
Oh please don't tell me...
"God Daniel keep it down, it's 3 am" Elliott deep sexy voice comes from behind me. We were practically spooning.
I literally fly out the bed and on the way end up hitting my head on the table beside the bed. I hear Elliott laugh behind me.
Yeh, he would want me to have amnesia!
"What happened to our pillow barrier?"
"Don't ask me, you were n MY side of the bed" He smirks with his hands behind his head, looking all cocky.
"Did you like the feeling of my arm wrapped around your waist? Did you know our hands were just clasped?" I throw the coaster beside me as his face.
"Cress pull your top down,over" Daniel says with his honhis face. Whoops.
"Daniel, we shared the womb together and we used to bathe together. Don't be dramatic'
I hear Elliott give a proper snort at that.
"Cress, Tiffany is looking for you. Actually so was Conner"
Oh no I forgot about Conner.
"This never happened" I snap at Elliott picking up my stuff.
"Whatever you say babes" Elliott winks at me.
I was just about to leave the room until I hear my brother's voice.
"Crescent is that a hickey on the back of your thigh?"
I touch the area that I though he was talking about and I wince in pain.
"Daniel what do you think of me?" I pretend to sound shocked at him.
"I just found you sleeping in bed with Elliott, so right now, nothing"
*
I finally find Tiffany in one of the hotel rooms. Inside were masses of bridesmaids. I see her mother there and also her grandmother. Currently Tiffany was getting her eyes down. 112 colors of eye shadows. How were her eyes going to withstand that? Crazy girl.
She sat there in her dressing gown, attempting to keep a straight face, but she cracks the slightest smile when she sees me.
"Funny that you and Elliott go missing at the same time" Was all she says before a hair stylist drags me away for a tortuous few hours of hair styling and make up.
*
"You look so pretty" Winter squeals as she places another bobby pin in my hair because a piece of hair had fallen out.
My make up was done just as the other Bridesmaids, to match the dress.
I could barley see over my fake eyelashes and my eyes kept on watering. It wasn't like I could rub my eyes either.
"Elliott and the other boys should be waiting downstairs", Winter tells me.
And eventually we are called out the room to go down the stairs in to separate cars to the wedding venue.
Everything was being filmed, because Tiffany wanted to have the best wedding video. I better start writing down tips for my future wedding because this was so cute and perfect.
I gently walk down the spiral stairs of the hall, after a couple of girls in the same dress as me. All the bridesmaids were going down in order and then to be escorted by a guy or girl.
The dress every bridesmaid wore was a icy blue, it was long and had a slit in the right corner along with lacy sleeves. All in all it was gorgeous.
And the heels well they were a joke, they were lightly blue sandaled heels that were impossible to walk in.
I put all my weight on the banister. I see Elliott standing there in a black suit with a white shirt. His hair wasn't falling in his face as it usually did, instead it was swept backwards.
This made it that; you eyes were first attracted to his eyes I keep on having to remind myself to breathe.
As soon as he sees me his face light up and a smile breaks out on his face. Aw bless him, why does he have to have these cute perks.
I see Conner as the side along with his family and some of the other guests. I quickly remove my eyes from his direction, trying to avoid awkward eye contact.
"Are you not going to help me down?" I roll my eyes. I'm sure I said something along these lines when Conner had taken me to the Winter ball, a few weeks earlier.
Conner had then came and helped me down the stairs. Elliott comes up the stairs and I put my arm out for him ready to take until he does something I would never expect.
Elliott swiftly places a hand under my legs and the other on my back and drops me in to his arms and he carries me down the stairs. I put my arms around his neck clinging on for dear life. Gosh this boy knew how to make a scene.
And Conner didn't look ever so happy.
I hear aww's come from the crowd and I see me dad looking at the pair of us, as well as Elliott's dad.
Outside Jack gets in a car with his Mom, I knew Elliott would be in the car seeing as he was jack's brother but I didn't expect to be in there as well.
Well I was Elliott's date (ish).
Outside, I saw something I didn't expect. There were tiny unique snowflakes falling from the sky. There were large cars parked out front with ribbon on the front.
Inside the car Jake is in between Elliott and me, while his parents were in the front.
"Jack you look nervous as fuck" Elliott comments.
"Elliott, no swearing" His mother scorns him.
"She wanted it so badly to snow, she's probably so happy, " Jack says. He was practically shaking.
I legitimately wanted to cry, they were so cute.
"Well, Jack there's no turning back now" I joke.
"I'd never want to turn it back,, " he says seriously. Well, then I think someone needs to grab me a tissue.
The main venue wasn't that far from the hotel. And it was also outside.
We were all going to freeze to death.
I exit the car until Jack stops me. I look at him, wondering why he stopped me from leaving the car.
"I don't know, what happened in your and Elliott's relationship when you were together or what is going on between the 2 of you right now. But I want to thank you for doing this for my brother"
I smile and nod at him.
That's when Elliott forcefully links arms with me.
"Don't be so violent Elliott, I'm going to break my neck in this damn heels"
"You know what that could be if you weren't playing the field"
I give him an odd look, what was he talking about.
"Elliott, what are you talking about, have you taken something?"
"That depends, is love a drug because when you're near me I'm highly intoxicated"
I roll my eyes at him, which makes a smirk turn at the corner of his lips.
"What I mean is that one day we can be married like Jake and Tiffany, if you weren't so stubborn" And with at the unlinks his arm from mine and walks ahead of me.
What, did Elliott just propose to me? That boy better come back here right now.
*
"I think Jack has cold feet, look at him he's going to make a hole in the floor" I state sitting on a counter top as I swing my legs.
"I hope I'm not like this at our wedding", Elliott says looking up from his phone.
"Elliott s top it. We're never going to go out again let alone get married. Unless you want to propose"
"All I need to do is propose! Holy shit, someone get me a car so I can go get a packet of Haribo's with a ring in it" He says jumping up from the chair he was sitting on.
The sad thing was I didn't know if he was kidding or not.
"I'm joking Elliott. It's not like I believe in marriage anyway"
The way I saw it was that couple could be happy without being married. Marriage is just too official
"What? What is wrong with you Crescent?" Elliott says looking at me bewildered. I can the only person who doesn't believe in marriage?
"Marriage it too 'happily ever after' and there's no such thing as that"
"I swear I'll change your opinion", Elliott says deadly seriously all the humor gone from his voice as he looks deep in to my soul.
"Your both not helping me" Jack sighs, sitting down across from Elliott.
The outside venue was gorgeous and I saw from the window that it was filling up with people.
"Jack I don't think you can put this off any longer, grow some balls and go out there", Elliot tells his brother as he begins to walk in the direction of the door.
*
First were the flower girls and the little Paige boys, waddling down the isle. The little girls threw petal all over the place looking cute asf.
That's when Jack comes out the doors of the church and walks down the isle down the isle of the outdoor wedding with Elliott and me following closely behind me.
Elliott was holding the rings as he walked beside me. I don't think Elliott should be given such a huge responsibly.
In the crowd of guest I see Ryan and Aribella. Ew.
Then I see Conner looking at Elliott and me. I smile at him sweetly and it looks like for a second he puts his annoyance aside and smiles back at me. He mouths at me that I look beautiful.
Finally Tiffany came out the back church doors in a long white lace dress. The chain was ridiculously long and the people holding it were her 2 best friends.
Her hair was up in a curled bun with white roses placed in it. And in her hand was a white bouquet of roses.
I think all these flowers were going to set off my hayfever.
I look over at Jack and was stunned to see that he was tearing up at the sight of his soon to be wife.
That's it boys, take notes because this is how you do it.
Tiffany's arm was on her fathers, as he walked her down the isle, she looked like she was also on the verge of tears.
And that's when the priest of whatever he's called begins to speak, and then the vows are said.
Eventually, they call Elliott for the rings. Elliott being Elliott nearly stumbles his way to them.
"Cress are you tearing up?" Elliot asks quietly laughing at me.
"They're just so cute" I pout.
"We can be cute too"
"No. You bring out the worst in me" I respond.
"I bring out the real you"
I try and ignore him but it was somewhat impossible.
"Dawson, all I need is one chance. No funny business. Just you and me Dawson"
And for a small second something inside me was telling me to says yes.
"...you may now kiss the bride" That's when the whole crowd break out in applause and I see Conner in the crowd clasping. I couldn't hurt him.
*
The wedding is coming to a close as the final dances begin. I lean against on the the walls, my eyes trailing after Jack and Tiffany. I'm jealous.
I envy them.
Out of nowhere I'm being pulled away from the reception hall. Before I can recognise the stranger I'm pulled in to a dimply lit small room.
"Thank you" The male in front of me says. "For doing this for me, for coming to the wedding and dancing with me"
"And thank you Elliott for not letting me fall in these crazy heels"
He smiles at me. A smile that melts my heart and it's like I don't remember how to breathe.
I pull him in for a hug, he wraps an arm around me letting me pull him close to me. Until his other hand stops him from letting me pull him forward. I prepare to look up, but I don't have the chance as his lips are on my jawline. He's placing fast butterfly kisses everywhere on my face. My checks. My nose. My forehead. A light kiss on the corner of my eye.
I wouldn't be standing up right now it if wasn't for his tight grip on me.
"Elliott" The words are like a prayer. A prayer for something I can't have.
Kisses on my neck. Along my shoulder.
"Crescent please let me. Just let me kiss you. Tell me I can kiss you" He begs from me in between kisses.
"Tell me I can kiss you. Tell me, to hell with the consequences"
A kiss on my chin just below my bottom lip.
"I just need you to let me..." His voice breaks.
Tears well up in my eyes as I take his face in both his hands. His expression is so raw, the mischievous glimmer in his eyes is fading.
IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou. I just don't know how to tell you without getting you hurt.
"Elliott. You know I can't. I can't do this to Conner"
He grabs my wrists and roughly pulls my hands away from his face, instead he gently places his hands on my cheeks.
"You're my Crescent. You understand that?" There's nothing possessive about his words. They're raw and heartbreaking.
"Please Crescent" He pleads pressing a feather of a kiss on the corner of my lips. His chest is pressed against me. He places his forehead against my forehead, rubbing the tip of his nose across mine.
His eyes are closed and his breathing is unsteady. He's unsteady, as I feel him shiver against me.
I shake my head face, two tears dripping from my eyes. He drops his hands like he's been burnt.
"Honestly Dawson I hate" His eyes are filled with so much hurt and sadness. "Yet I love you so much"
"I hate that I love you" He shakes his head.
"Let go of me then Elliott"
"I can't. I keep trying. I just can't unlove you and it's killing me"
He walks towards the door and turns the handle.
"I'm scared" I blurt out.
He turns to look at me. The back of his shirt collar is turned slightly up and I want to fix it but I know I no longer have the right to.
"I'm scared that you'll leave me again. I'm scared that I'm not good enough for you. And I'm terrified of what Aaron will do to you, if I let myself love you again" Tears stream down my face.
"Cress..." He whispers.
"No Elliott you weren't there when Aaron kidnapped me. You weren't there when he told me about how he forced you to leave. YOU WEREN'T THERE WHEN HE PROMISED TO KILL YOU IF I EVER LET YOU IN AGAIN"
The words are out and I can't take them back. It's like a game. Elliott might be trying to protect me but I'm also trying to protect him. I've not told anyone about what when down that night. We're all on very unsteady ground and Elliott will be the first one to fall.
"I don't know what happened that night Cress but you think you're saving me. You don't realise that you're destroying me... and I'm letting you"
*
I sit at a nearby table and swirl around a glass of wine. A glass of wine too many. I use my finger to skim the rim of the delicate glass. I look around the crowd seeing people laughing. Why are people smiling? How do they smile?
I just sat there as the clocked ticked by, I placed with my hoop earring spinning it around nervously. So many thoughts were running through my mind and it was all making me go insane.
Soon enough I see a crowd building up in the large room. I curiously go and see what's going on. I sort of stumble around in my heels, trying to see in.
I didn't expect what I saw.
Aaron was standing there. I hadn't seen him all day at his cousin's wedding, yet there he was standing there. I thought he hadn't came and that thought had made me happy all day. Looks like Aaron just killed my mood.
Aaron was across from Elliott. Now that I was closer I could hear they were in the middle of an argument.
"...and I have fucking had enough of your bullshit" Elliott swears. He looked like he was shaking with anger.
"You fucked it all up for me you bastard" Elliott continues.
Aaron takes a few steps closer to Elliott. "You don't want to do this here Elliott" Aaron says his voice low and sinister. Aaron had a smirk on his face and looked like he was very happy in this situation.
"I'll do it wherever I want. Just stay the fuck away from her"
Her.
It was obvious Aaron had set Elliott off about something.
"NO can..." But Aaron doesn't get a chance to finish before Elliott slams his fist in to Aarons face. You heard the sicken thud of the sound.
The force was so hard, that Aaron moves to the left and falls in to the nearby table.
Elliott walks up to him and grabs him by the collar.
"This is for making Carter tell her about the bet" Elliott says as he hits him again. There was blood, lots of blood.
"This is for hurting her" The sound of another blow makes me cringe. I could see that Aaron was going to fight back, but Elliott was so angry that I could actually see that Aaron stood no chance.
Before Elliott can throw in another punch Daniel and Jack drag him away from Aaron.
Elliott shakes out their grips and leaves the hall.
Everyone is just standing there stunned. Well thank you all adults you were all very NOT helpful. Most people wont understand what happened, but I did.
I look for Conner to find him standing with Alec.
"Crescent I need to talk to you" He beings. I furrow my eyebrows. Was this about the fight that just happened?
"I think we should take a break" He says without a hint of emotion. His face was blank and his light blue us looked at me calmly.
"I can't do this anymore. I can't watch you with Elliott"
"But I like you Conner" I tell him. No way was this happening.
"Cress tell me, that you have no feeling for Elliott"
I open my mouth ready to lie to him but I couldn't. I couldn't even lie and say I didn't love Elliott.
"I don't know"
"Well until you know, don't use me Crescent. I saw what Elliott just did for you. I didn't think you still had feeling for him until I just saw the look on your face. You care about him too much"
"Conner..." I begin trying to explain that I properly cared for him, but he was gone. He just left me.
"Cress what just happened" Winter says from beside me.
I didn't even care about my makeup, because I was already crying.
"Conner just broke up with me and every time I'm around Elliott I break his heart"
"Oh Cress"
"Come on girls get behind the bride" Someone shouts, Tiffany was about to throw her bouquet of flowers behind her.
Winter drags me along with her as we stand in the crowd of people.
"1...2...3" But there is nothing flying in the air. Instead I look to find Tiffany standing in front of me holding the flowers but to me.
"Go get the boy Cress" She smiles.
Everyone's smiling at me, waiting for me like it's simple and easy.
Maybe it's because I've had one to many drink. Maybe I've been scared all along, so scared that I've kept my heart locked away. And maybe Elliott will be okay.
Conner and me aren't together right now, actually I don't even know what's between us right now.
And maybe just maybe it's simple and easy. I take a deep breath as I give life one last shot.
I can get Elliott.
I trip as I run up the stairs at full speed.
Second room to my left.
I'd had enough so I kick my heels off and lift up my dress. I throw open door to them empty hall.
I stop in the doorway shocked, my mouth hung open and I felt my heart drop in to the pits of my stomach.
Elliott was inside the room, but he wasn't alone.
Aribella.
He was kissing Aribella.
Elliott was kissing Aribella.
I stand there for a second as he runs his hands down her side and she runs her hand through his hair.
That's when I choke out a sob. I didn't mean for it to be so loud, but it causes them to both jump away from each other.
"Dawson" Elliott says utterly stunned.
I look him deep in to his, dark blue eyes, they were filled with shock. I could see his lips where slightly swollen and this makes me cringe away.
If I thought Elliott leaving me was heartbreak then what is this? Because it is 100x times more painful.
I came to Elliott to fix me after what happened with Conner yet he just broke my heart even more.
Before he can say anything else I turn around and leave. I wouldn't let him see me shed any more tears on his behalf.
In the hall, I'm lost for a moment, I can't think straight and my head was spinning like crazy.
I feel someone grip on to my arm and see him standing there.
There was something odd about the way he looked, his eyes weren't the deep oceans blue, that I loved; instead they were darker and red rimmed. His jaw was clenched.
What was I thinking, thinking Elliott and me could be together again?
His grip on my arm was so tight that it hurt.
"Dawson..." He begins.
"Elliott have you bee drinking?" I ask him appalled. He just didn't seem right.
"What does it matter to you" He barks at me. I was taken aback by the anger in his voice and for once I can say that I really was afraid of Elliott.
"Elliott you're hurting me" I refer to his grip on my arm. I was never usually afraid of Elliott but it was the way he beat up Aaron today. Was I really afraid of Elliott?
"And you don't think you hurt me whenever you're with Conner, every time you kiss him it makes me burn on the inside. Well Crescent Bay Dawson, I give the fuck up on you"
I feel a tear unwillingly slip out my eyes, Elliott was literally hitting me in the heart with every word he said.
What had caused Elliott to reach such a breaking point? Something was seriously wrong with him, he wasn't acting right.
"I'm the guy so I'm not supposed to show how hard it is for me. I'm supposed to bottle it up on the inside while you go on and fuck around with other guys. You make me hate you Crescent...you fucking"
I slap him across the face. He was talking downright nonsense.
The sound echoes in the hall.
Elliott's grip loosens from me, as he stands there stunned.
I take this chance to run, far away from him. Elliott.
I rush to the bathroom, and break down. Luckily there was no one in the bathroom. On the nearest wall, I sink down to my knees. I put my face in my hands and cry.
I cry away the mascara I cry away the eye shadow and the foundation.
The sobs were causing me violently shake.
*
I leave the bathroom, with dark red eyes and looking like a wreck.
"Cress, Cress I've been looking for you" Winter breathes heavily. Something was seriously wrong. She stops when she looks at my face. She knows I've been crying.
"Winter, what's going on", I ask worriedly. She looked such with worry, as frown lines framed her face and she was twisting the ring on her finger
"It's Elliott...He's been drugged"
Author note:
Wow what a chapter. A wedding, 2 break ups and the devil returns. I'm completely lost for ideas after this chapter lol.
See that wee bit in the middle where Elliott is begging Cress to let him kiss her. Hands down that is my fave scene in this whole book !