Chapter 43: I don't wanna be a Kardashian

That's the first time I've ever sworn. Apart from saying it to Siri in fifth grade. I still feel bad about it. Should I really have stooped down to her level? Anyway, it's over now.

"Ready to go?" Alex asks, piling my suitcase into the car. I nod and hop in. Bubbles and Callum are in there with us, they'll drive Alex's car back. Our parents are all working, so they've already said goodbye.

"Are you guys sleeping in the same bed?" Bubbles asks, giggling, her hands intertwined with Callum's in the back seat.

I roll my eyes.

"There's a king bed in the apartment," Alex says, wiggling his eyebrows at Bubbles in the backseat. She laughs. Its Callum's turn to roll his eyes.

"She has a nice dress!" Bubbles says.

"Does she?" Alex asks, raising an eyebrow at me. I roll my eyes again and look out the window. We drive along the highway for a few minutes before Callum speaks.

"What's your cousin's name?" He asks.

Alex doesn't turn around. "Her name's Beth. She's marrying Jason."

Callum nods. I look back at Alex. "Who else will be there?"

"The whole family. My aunts, cousins, uncles, my Grandma. Their friends. Ed Sheeran," he shrugs. I do this big jumpy thing of surprise in my seat.

"Ed Sheeran?" I shriek. He grins at me, eyes probably sparkling under his Ray Bans.

"Yeah," he says. "Grandma's paying."

I must look flabberghasted because Alex laughs and we spend the rest of the trip in silence. My silence, obviously, a shocked silence.

***

After saying goodbye to Bubbles and Callum, Alex and I pass through security and board the plane.

We take our seats. I look around. "Alex, is this first class?" I ask, turning around in awe.

"C'mon, Nat, you lived in Paris, you have money, how can this not be normal for you?" he asks, reclining his seat and drawing the blinds around our small cabin thingo.

"We usually just fly economy," I say, reclining my seat as he does, but further. He nods. The flight attendant comes up to us.

"Hi!" she says, overly cheery. "Would you like some beverages? We have sodas, spiders, champagne, water, and juice. Do any of these options suit you?"

"Lemonade, please," I say. She nods and turns to Alex.

"Your best Champagne please," he says. "Oh, and a muffin."

"Of course, what flavor?" she asks.

"Choc-chip," he says. She nods curtly and walks away. I turn to him.

"Alexander!" I say. He smiles. "You're not twenty one! How can she even allow that?"

He laughs. "It ain't like you've never gotten drunk before, Nat. Live on the edge, you boring girl," he says as the woman returns with our orders. We thank her and I turn back to him, biting my straw.

"I'm not boring," I say. He shrugs and tears a piece off his muffin.

"Maybe not always. But don't you ever wanna do something... reckless? I'd do it with you," he says.

"I can be reckless!" I say. He shrugs.

"You better show me," he says, eating his muffin.

"I will," I say. He looks at me. I grab his champagne glass and drink it. I don't stop at just one gulp. It burns down my throat and tingles my tongue. Before I finish the glass Alex lightly pulls it away from me.

"Nat, not that kind of reckless. I mean... sky diving, graffiti, trespassing, stuff like that!" he says, sipping what's left of his champagne. The taste is actually okay, though it's still burning my throat.

"Tres-" I'm about to finish my sentence when I remember that that's what he means. I shut my mouth. He laughs.

"We're doing something tonight," he says, finishing his champagne. I sigh and sip my own drink. Alex plugs in his earphones into his phone. He listens for a couple of minutes while he eats his muffin. I shuffle over.

"Can I listen?" I ask. He nods. Before he passes the earphone over, he presses the button and makes the small armrest in between us go down. Huh, I didn't know it could do that. He clicks another button so the footrests kick up. I shuffle over. He puts the earphone in my ear.

Physco by Post Malone is playing. I put my feet up and wrap both my arms around his waist. He wraps one around my shoulder. I close my eyes and rest my head on his chest, falling asleep.

***

"Smells good."

That is the first thing that comes out of Alex's mouth as we step off the bus. I laugh as we walk past a pastry shop. I take my phone out and call Adele.

"Hey! You here?" she asks.

"Yeah," I say.

"Awesome! I'll pick you up. Where are you?" she asks.

"Uhm... In front of Madame Louisa's pastry shop? What's her opinion on the Miss/Madame debate, anyway?" I ask.

"Shut up, Nat, I'll text when I'm near," she says.

"Don't be danger-" I start but she hangs up. "She's coming," I tell Alex.

He nods. I see the park opposite us with a bunch of kids playing on it. I take his hand and drag him across the road. He stumbles then laughs. I smile at him. The kids turn and look at us, but I don't really care. Alex looks at them. They continue playing. Obviously, his toothpick, Ray Bans, and leather jacket aren't enough to intimidate little kids. They didn't really notice me. I'm just wearing some black leggings and a maroon and black plaid shirt tied in a knot at my waist.

"Ooh, look there's dandelions!" I say, pulling him along. He stumbles again. I pick one up and look at it. Ah, so many memories. I look up at Alex evilly. He tilts his head in a 'why are you giving me that look?' way. I take out my phone and click on the camera app.

I hold the camera behind both Alex and the dandelion. "Ok, blow on three," I say and click play "One, two..."

He opens his mouth to blow it and I shove the dandelion into his mouth. He stumbles backwards and spits it out. I laugh at him, still taping. He turns his back to the camera and flips up his sunnies, wiping the fluff off his tongue. I laugh harder. He walks back over to me and I stop recording.

He pushes my head to the side and I laugh. There's a beep behind us. I turn and look at Adele's red convertible. I smile at her matching car and hair, just like it used to be.

We walk over. She grins and pushes the passenger door open for me, flicking her sunnies up onto her head. "Hey, boo!"

"Hi, Adele," I grin and get in. Alex pouts and hops into the back seat.

"So I get the backseat?" he asks. We nod and Adele hits the accelerator.

***

The apartment we arrive at overlooks the Eiffel tower and my old building. There's a chandelier in the living room and the TV is as big as an elephant. The four-poster bed is grey like the walls of the bedroom and there is an ensuite as well as a walk in robe. The kitchen has marble benches and an electric stove top. The balcony is made of stone and stretches out four meters.

"Nice," Adele says as she walks into the room, whistling. Alex chucks our bags down on the leather couch.

"Cool," Alex exclaims as he walks out of the room and onto the balcony, eyes focused on the tower. I walk up behind him.

"I've missed it," I say, turning back to Adele. She smiles sadly at me.

"Mum and Dad said to say hi. They'd come to visit, but you're only here for the weekend, so they'll see you some other time,"  she says, chucking her bag on the dining room table. I nod and she comes to stand outside with us.

Alex admires the structure for a little while longer until he goes and checks the pantry and fridge.

"There's no food," he says, picking up the two water bottles to show that's all that's in there.

"You, idiot, course there's no food! This isn't Hell's Kitchen!" I say, walking over to him and whacking his forehead. He groans.

"I'm going to the little grocery store downstairs to get some. I'll buy it all. Even your gummy bears," he says, holding a finger over my mouth when I start to tell him about my requirements. I smile. He grabs his keys, winks at me, then heads out.

I plop down on the couch. Adele sits on the armrest. "He has a girlfriend, right?" she asks. I nod. "Why?"

This time I shrug. "Dunno."

"C'mon, Nat, even a blind person could see that he's in love with you!" she says. "You must have some idea why."

"He's not in love with me!" I exclaim. She puts her hands on her cheeks and pulls them down in frustration.

"I am shipping you two way too much! I'm going to have a talk with him!" she says, clapping her hands and standing up to go and get a glass of water.

We chat for a while, eating some chips I saved from the plane. Alex arrives back half an hour later with three shopping bags.

"Hi, Dude," he says when I open the door, shoving a bag into my arms.

"Oh, um," I put the bag on my shoulder.  "Hey, babe."

He walks over to the counter and places the bags on the bench loudly.

"What's wrong?" I ask. Adele sips her water and watches us over the top of the glass suspiciously.

"My step-cousin was in the store," he says through gritted teeth. "He's going to the wedding."

I sit down on a stool and look at him. "Who's that?"

"An annoying douche bag," he says. "I'd use another word but you wouldn't like that, Greg."

I nod, getting back up to unpack the groceries. "Do you have a problem with him? I'd be happy to hold you back from another fistfight," I say as I reach up and stack a packet of two-minute noodles in the top of the cupboard. My shirt reaches up to just below my ribs.  I close the pantry and pull my shirt back down.

Alex's eyes are glued to the knot of my shirt but he quickly looks back up at me and I blush. "Uhm, uh, yeah. He ruins most of the family gatherings and stuff. Mum and Dad aren't going because of what happened last time. I forgot he was going."

I walk back over to him and wrap an arm around his shoulder. "Well, you better just ignore him and focus on something else," I say. He looks up at me and I grin. He rolls his eyes and playfully shoves me off himself.

"Well," Adele says, walking over to the table and picking up her bag. "I'll leave you two lovebirds to it."

She gives us a wave and walks out the door. Alex starts helping me unpack the small number of groceries. I reach for a box of cereal and put it in the pantry.

"I bought your Weet-Bix!" he says, pointing to the box.

I laugh. "Thanks."

We finish unpacking the groceries. I check the time, it's eight o'clock. Alex sees too and walks over to me.

"I have to get up early tomorrow, g'night dude," he says, softly kissing my cheek. He walks off and I hear the shower being turned on. I plop myself down on the couch and turn on the TV. My phone buzzes beside me. I unlock it and look at the message.

Hey, Nerdy Natalie, hope Alex stands on your feet tomorrow so you won't have to come to school. No one wants to smell your putrid smell, pls stay away! See you... never. lol.

I sigh and put the phone down, curling up on the couch while my phone buzzes three more times. I don't bother checking it, instead, I quickly put it on do not disturb and chuck it on the carpet.

Finally, I get up off the couch at around nine and walk into our room. I softly pull out my singlet and navy shorts and walk back outside. I'm not going to use the ensuite since Alex is asleep. I turn on the water and wash my hair, trying to wring it out when I hop out of the shower.

I put on my clothes and walk back out, locking the door and windows. I go into the bedroom and lie down on the bed. I crawl over to Alex and in his sleep, he wraps an arm around me and I bury my face in his black shirt.

***

An alarm buzzes and I open my eyes. Alex isn't in the bed any longer. I sit up and look over at the alarm clock beside me. I find a button to turn it off and see the note underneath it.

I pick it up.

Dude,

Beth made an appointment for you at 68 Farrell avenue. Your hair and makeup and stuff. She said its at 12:00, so I set you an alarm. Take your dress. Apparently, it takes a long time so she organised a taxi for you to go to the wedding. I'll see you there.

Patricia.

I smile at the name he signed off with and get myself out of bed. It's 11:00. He knows me too well.

I change into jeans, a navy jumper and some converse. I grab my keys and eat some breakfast before locking up and taking a taxi to the shop.

I've seen this store before, it does clothes, makeup and hair. Mum came here when she was going to a job interview. It smells like nail polish and hair curlers. I walk over to the counter and inform her of my name.

"Oh, yes, Sasha over there will be with you in a moment, take a seat," she says in English. I nod and sit down.

I read through a French magazine and wait until the forty-year-old woman with the brown, poofy hair comes over to me.

"Hello!" she says excitedly. "Oh, aren't you a masterpiece!"

I blush and sit the magazine on its table. "Come on, come," she takes my hand and pulls me up. "Now, Bethany left a few things for you and she's paid for the whole thing so you can just sit down and then... vwala!"

She leads me over to a comfy black seat and I sit down. "Now, could you show me your dress?"

I nod and take the dress out of it cover thingo. She takes the hanger and uses her arm to put it in front of her and examine it. "Now, for your hair, I'll have to get you to put it on since we don't want to mess anything up when you take off your jumper."

I nod and she leads me into a change room. I close the door and get dressed. She frowns when I step out.

"No, this is not right! We shall have to find you another one," she says.

"Oh," I nod.

"You can wear that one to the after party, though," she says. I smile. "This one shall be free too!"

She tells me to sit down while she finds a dress, and so I do. I wait for a couple of minutes before she comes back with three white dresses. Before she can speak, I say, "White?"

"Oh, yes, dear, Bethany is wearing a red dress, you can wear a white dress! Which one would you like?" she hands them in front of the mirror on the lightbulbs. I look at the options. One is made of silk and looks as though it wouldn't fit me if I tried. The bottom of the skirt fills out at the end.

The next one is made of lace. Well - the top is. Its a V-neck with a very fine mesh over the top to cover the chest area that can be seen. The skirt is separate, and its made of something I can't name and looks like it would reach down to around my toes.

The third one is short and made entirely out of lace. It looks like it shows way too much chest though, so it's definitely not for me.

"That one please," I say, pointing to the second one. Sasha smiles.

"Good choice," she says, handing it to me to go and try on. I do. It feels nice against my skin, and the meshy bit on the top is satisfying to touch. A small bit of my stomach is showing, but it looks almost normal, so I'm okay with that.

I walk out and Sasha beams. "Splendid! Now, onto the hair!"

***

After about an hour and a half of Sasha playing with bits of my hair, sticking things into places and curling random pieces, my hair is finished. There's a braid on the right side of my head that moves into a curly bun complete with a fancy, white, flowery hair accessory. A few curly, sort pieces stick out around my face, framing it.

She moves onto my make up, getting me to close my eyes and purse my lips and patting my faces with powders and brushes. Its the most make up I've ever had on in my life, but when I look into the mirror, I'm surprised to say it looks fantastic. The person in the mirror barely looks like me, but I know I'm there somehow. My skin looks completely clear and my cheekbones look pinkish. My eyes look darker than ever and my lips are painted a pinky-beige.

"Oh, honey, quickly, the taxi arrives in five minutes!" Sasha says, quickly running off to get something. She comes back with some shoes, earrings, a bracelet and a purse. She takes my phone and keys from my hands and stuffs them into the clutch. Then she clips on the earrings and bracelets and helps me put the 3-inch stilettos on.

"Gifts from Beth," she informs me. Damn, that's why these expensive things were instantly free. I remind myself to thank Beth.

I stand up and she leads me over to the mirror. I look at my reflection. I look like a completely different person, someone Kardashian worthy. Jokes, I don't wanna be a Kardashian... Ever.

"Thank you," I turn to Sasha and she gives me a hug.

"Thank you for being the best client ever! Would you mind having a photo for our website?" she asks.

"No, that'd be cool," I say. She directs me to stand in front of the mirror and she takes the photo at an angle that the camera can't be seen at that.

Then she ushers me out the door and with one last, "Merci!" I hop into the taxi. There's a twenty-year-old man driving it and he eyes me down. I look out the window, my cheeks heating up.

We arrive at the venue and I hop out of the car, thanking the cab driver. He grunts a response. The police are there, checking the guest lists and giving people access. I walk up to them.

"Name?" he asks.

"I'm Alex Collin's plus one?" I say hesitantly.

He scoffs. "Sure you are. Guys, we've got another fake."

Some other police officers start walking over to me. I look back at the police officer, "Oh, no, officer! My name's Natalie Bennet!"

He squints at me from his short height. "Really? Prove it."

I take out my phone, unlocking it and showing him my home screen. He reluctantly nods and lets me in. Wow, I didn't know that people in Paris knew Alex, let alone wanted to be with him so much that they faked being his plus one.

I walk up the stairs and take in the view. There are benches with white stretchy stuff covering them and flowers spread out on the pastures. There is a patio set up just before the undercroft of the tower and there is a banner that says 'Beth and Jason' on it.

There's a bar and tables set up just beside everything. The guests are all milling about there. I spot Alex's dark hair with his back to me. I walk over to him. He's drinking a beer with another boy around his height and age. The boy has brown eyes and light brown hair, almost red in the afternoon sun. He looks at me and his jaw forms an 'o' shape. Boys.

I tap Alex's shoulder and he turns around. He's wearing an extremely well-fitted tux. His tie is black and his suit is too. He's tried to style his hair, but it didn't work. Though maybe it did because he's looking hotter than ever. One hand is in his pocket and his other is dangling by his side, the beer left on the table.

His jaw drops open. "F***ing hell," he says. He looks at my face as though I can't see him staring. I'm not about to say, 'what?' because that ain't humble.

"Excuse your french," I say. His jaw drops open even more. What? I only said a sentence! He groans and puts his hands over his face. Ok, there's something actually, seriously wrong with him. "Are you ok?"

"You look so f***ing good," he says, pulling his hands off his face and looking at me again. I blush and look down, twiddling with my clutch. He uses his finger to pull my face up to be even with mine. I'm nearly as tall as him now.

"Alex," I mumble. "Stop swearing."

"Sorry, sorry," he says, putting his hands back over his eyes and squatting down, shaking his head. He looks a little like a frog, but I like it. He pulls his hands off his eyes and looks up at me. "You look like a.... freaking Goddess."

I blush again but smile at him, proud he didn't swear. He stands up and hooks an arm around my bare waist, pulling me into him protectively.

"Kadin, this is Nat," he says to the guy.

"Hi Nat," he winks at me and Alex scowls, pulling me in closer. I shove at Alex and laugh at his reaction. He rolls his eyes and loosens his hold on me, but doesn't let go.

"Hey Kadin," I say. He grins, a similar grin to Alex's.

"Could everyone please take their seats?" someone near a microphone says. Alex takes my hand lightly and pulls me into a seat next to a pair of old people. He wraps an arm around my waist and doesn't let go.

I lean into him a little since he's got heaps of his really good smelling cologne on. I'm such a creep. He turns to me and whispers into my ear, "You look gorgeous, Dude."

I blush and lean my head on his shoulder. "And you look handsome."

"Really? Not sexy?" he says, turning his head down and to the side to look at me.

I smile. "Maybe."

"Ding, ding, ding, that's the right answer," he says. I laugh lightly. Someone walks up the aisle. A guy with short black hair and maybe Indian heritage takes his spoke on the patio nervously, shaking out his hands and letting out a deep sigh.

"Oh, look at little Jason," the elderly woman next to us says.

"Hi Gran," Alex says. The woman turns to him. She has blue eyes matching her Grandson's exactly.

"Ah, Alex, my boy!" she says, pulling him off me and kissing his cheek. The man next to the woman looks over.

"Alexander!" he says, putting his hand out for Alex to shake.

"Hey Pops," Alex says, shaking the man's hand.

"Who is this beautiful lady beside you, son?" his Grandpa exclaims.

"This is Nat," Alex says.

"Hi," I say, shaking the old man's hand.

"Darling, you're gorgeous!" Alex's Grandma says. "Come sit by me, I want to chat!"

Alex moves over and I stand up to switch seat. The woman gives me a big, warm hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"How is Alex treating you as his girlfriend?" she asks, placing a hand on mine and looking at me from under her old fashioned hat, something the queen might wear.

"Oh," I say quickly. "We're not together."

"Really?" she asks, leaning forwards to look over at Alex, who's watching us. "Alex, why isn't this beautiful young woman your girlfriend?"

I turn around when Alex doesn't answer. He's opening and closing his mouth. When he looks at me something unsaid comes between us. I don't know what it is. Does he want to be with me? No way, I'm so out of his league. He couldn't. Alex is way better looking than me. He deserves a model, someone who would make him happy. Someone that he loves. He doesn't love me.

"Ah, yes," his Grandma says. "It's complicated. I see."

"Oh, we're just friends," I say to her, looking back at Alex for confirmation. He's looking at me and quickly swallows than coughs.

"Uh, yeah, we're just friends," he says and looks in the other direction. That was strange I turn back to the woman.

"Well, I'm Lola, this is John," she says, motioning to her husband. I nod. Then she leans in front of me again. "Alex, you better swoop this young lady up very quickly, or she may end up with someone else very quickly, and you'd hate it if the girl you love wasn't with you. Thank you, Nat, you can go and sit back with Alex again."

I nod and walk over to the other side of Alex as he slides over the bench. We don't speak and he doesn't wrap an arm around me like I know he usually would. He puts his elbows on his knees and runs his hands through his hair. I look away.

Music starts playing. I look up and everyone's heads turn the other way. I don't check to see if Alex's does, though.

Two small children walk up the aisle, a little bit older than Liam. They stumble on their small, fancy shoes and the girl grabs flower petals and scatters them on the grass. Then there's a bunch of bridesmaids dressed in beautiful yellow dresses who look about twenty or twenty-five walk up.

Then there's the bride. Beth is around my height, and her hair is bleached blonde. She's got smile wrinkles around her forehead and mouth and is beaming, showing her dimples. Her green eyes are twinkling with tears and she hastily wipes them away. She looks around twenty-four roughly, and her hair is tied back in a skilfully styled messy ponytail.

Her dress could definitely compete with Kate Middleton's for the most expensive in the world. The top is white and the skirt red. There are red poppies going from the waist down to the end of the dress.

A few of her friends in the crowd squeal and clap. She smiles at them and reaches her husband at the patio. They join hands and he pulls her veil over her head. They both have tears in their eyes. Wow, those two must really be in love.

***

The ceremony lasts for around one and a half hours. Then the bride and groom walk down the aisle, hand in hand, both crying happy tears, and get in a limo.

The crowd soon disperses and gets into their separate cars we stay waiting for an hour for a taxi before we decide to just head straight to the afterparty/dinner in an hour.

Alex makes a move to grab my waist but when he touches my bare skin, he recoils. I whip my head around to face him in confusion. When he sees me he looks at the ground and shuffles over to the bar. When he looks back he sees the pain in my face and moves his head around to face the bartender, completely ignoring me.

What a jerk.

Kadin - Alex's cousin from earlier - comes to sit with me and hands me a glass of water.

"Thanks," I say and sip it.

"So, you and Alex are going out?" he says. I shake my head.

"No."

"Really? I'm surprised, not sucking up to his 'charms' are you?" he says. I shake my head.

"Wanna come meet my parents?" he asks. I'm not sure why he's asking me this, but I nod anyway. He holds out his hand and I take it. Then he leads me over to another table filled with people. I think we're gonna stop there, but he leads me further, to the furthest table.

"Uh, Kadin, I don't think this is where-" I start but he cuts me off by putting his hands around my waist and pulling me into him, placing his lips on mine.

_______________________________________________

Hiiiiii!

I haven't done a cliffhanger in soooooooo long! So I did!

Anyway, sorry about the few swear words in this chapter. Promise the next chapter won't have any more!

Vote and Comment!

-Abbey