Bella boutique sure housed some plush furniture which I instantly fell in love with because I was exhausted standing so long after looking through all most all of their dresses. I guess Celine was pickier than me.

It was not like they didn't have dresses. Either the dresses were far too fancy or the one which we loved were way about Celine's budget. All in all, there was one dress we loved, to my surprise even Celine, but not that much. It was a beautiful ivory lace tulle wedding dress in Vestidos de novia's collection. It was elegant and brilliant. But it seems like Celine was not looking for something like this. "It's simple and elegant. I am looking for something sophisticated and with highlights."

"Oh my dear God, I showed you all our sophisticated dresses with highlights for the past half an hour which you were simply ticking off. What are you actually looking for?" it came out snappier than she expected which irritated Celine.

"Maybe your store doesn't have what I am looking for. Sorry for taking so much of your time."

"I hope you may get what you are looking for." She said that with a tight smile. Of course, she has every right to get pissed off because this store possessed scores of dresses than overwhelmed me. But, it's also a known fact that brides at their time of marriage get to be picky wanting to wear the best dress on their big day. 'I can't believe that b*itch; she grimaced to every dress, god, I pity the man she is going to marry.' Thought she muttered it under her breath, I was the last one to exit and I was the only one who heard that.

"Excuse me, she is going to marry my brother and they are perfectly in love. I have never seen her being this picky but it is a known fact that women get to be dangerous at their time of the lives. For my brother and me, marriage is special and it's once in our lifetime, so does Celine. So it would be better if you be the good old salesgirl and never... talk ill of brides to be." I completely felt like an old grandma giving a preaching but what she said was bad and I wonder what would have happened if Kat or Tina heard her.

"What took you so long dear? Did you see any dresses that female piranha didn't show me?"

I chuckled at her comment; it was the first time I heard Celine talking ill of someone. "God no, it was nothing. I was just looking at that one dress which was on display; that one with the roses."

"I loved it, but when she said I cannot take some of those copious roses from it as I intended, I didn't want that. Because of look at it, it-it has way too many roses. With that many, I shouldn't be holding a bouquet." We all giggled with her. But Kat eyes me suspiciously and waited till they were ahead of us by few steps and dragged me to slow down. God, I should explain to her now.

"Listen, young lady, I saw you talk to that piranha who eyed my sister like she didn't deserve to be a bride. What did she say?"

I had to tell her, her reaction was really surprising. She cursed which came out like a rap song astonishing me about how fast and how much a girl could actually curse. Later when she heard my reply she laughed. Yea, she laughed real hard. "My God, I should say you did good back there but it felt like you were talking to her with a flowery summer dress with those big granny glasses wagging a finger at her." I laughed. Yes, it was the exact picture I had in mind when I thought about what I said to her. Dang, I should have said something wittier and snappier.

"Come on, you did well because I saw her face when you walked out. The next store is a good two-mile walk. Wanna catch a cab, y'all?

"No, we will walk. It will be fun." I chirruped.

"Cool..." everyone hollered together along with intense chatting of many things.

"I'm hungry."

"Oh come on cupcake, you said we are about to reach there." Celine pouted.

"Oh, that's cute. But look at that cute vintage looking diner and it's opposite to our boutique. Pretty please, we can have a milkshake. I completely forgot in the excitement to have breakfast and I have only had one snickers bar. See, it's two o clock. I'm starving!"

"FINE" Celine agreed reluctantly glaring at her playfully. Nat made us sat in the far corner of the room next to the window showing the other side of our street and ordered food. Just as I was about to turn, I saw Kat wink at me then looked at her phone. Ok, that was weird but then I felt my phone vibrate to see a message from her. When I looked at her, she motioned silently asking me to look and I opened the message.

"Hee-haw, you are about to see the love of my life."

I stared at her widely but she glared at me to zip it up. Tina was once again explaining her pink glittery nail polish antics and dreamily said she would wear a pink dress for the marriage, thus, it covered our secret exchange. Annie and Cory eew'd but I smiled. 

After a while, I saw six intimidating guys that were over six foot walking in with another three of them tagged along. Kat had this cheeky foolish grin on her which others didn't notice. I too ignored it but then saw them advance to where we sat attracting the other girl's attention. Even Celine was distracted by their magnificence. I heard one of my gang whistles at them. Man, I was squirming.

"Huh... kids, this is our place." He certainly had that wicked smile knowing well we will get infuriated by using the term, 'kids'.

"Well, this is not high school grandpa, scoot over, duh!"

Oh, I can assure you Kat had this awesome grin on her like she liked this anonymous play. The guy with cute dimples, who earlier addressed us', kids' had the most intriguing hazel eyes which drew holes on Kat. His chocolate wavy hair reminded me of Alex and I instantly missed him. He bends down and looked straight at her.

"Well, I guess grandpa should punish you for misbehaving then."

"Oh grandpa, I am scared."

"I will spank you making you go red like the strawberry that I love."

I laughed out loud watching how embarrassed Kat looked gulping. But the horrified look on others switched on the bulb in me that I only knew about her endeavor.

"Oh, quit beating around the bush Steve. I am so astonished you guys planned this. Can we join you ladies?"

"Kat... what was that about?" Celine twitched her brows in confusion but there was a playful tone as she was suspecting the answer to come.

"It was meant to be a surprise. Guys, he is Steve, my boyfriend. Ta-da"

Celine had no problem with him but she clearly said it was so bad ass to address her with that pickup line in front of so many audiences.

"Oh sis, teach him some manners, will you? He lacks some."

"Ouch, you hurt me bumblebee."

The boys sure were a fun pack. This feeling must be because I have never been out with such large group, especially boys. keeping my social charms at the lowest level possible. So, when Denver, one of the guys had an interest in me, it scared me. It's true. it didn't feel right for him to flirt with me but it felt good. 

It was the first time a guy was showing interest in me. to be very honest, he was the most handsome guy I have ever laid my eyes on. His features were carved to perfection making every girl in the room drool over him. Finally, as the boys bid adieu, Denver gave me his number and I said I had a devoting fiancé. He eyed me incredulously thinking I was bluffing. To my rescue, Nat piped in and made it clear that I was an expired single; whatever that means. With a charming smile, he winked and walked away looking at me dreamily.

"Ah, none had looked at me like that when I was single."

"Oh, has any second thoughts girl?

"On Alex, Never..."

Kat had a hard time to leave Steve, but she eventually agreed. At last, we stood inside Princess Wedding Boutique. It was grand, elegant and reeked extravagance. Celine was at ease in the shop and walked to the first rack, gasped as she picked out her first dress. 

She set aside the dress as picked. Walked out to another dress and picked it too and then another one and another one and another one. Finally, she had loads to pick from. It was a magical experience, looking at the dresses. The dresses had an ethereal fragrance. I mentally planned that I will pick my dress from her. Even though I concluded that this shop was expensive, but astonishingly the price was something Celine could afford. Bur definitely not me.

At last Celine started to try the dresses that she pulled out. Every dress fitted her perfectly like a second skin. After trying out the five dresses she looked at all of them neatly placed on the bedding that was positioned for this special purpose. All five of them looked beautiful, it was as if they smiled at her but her heart didn't allow her to pick.

"Oh sweetie, I know that look. Come on, it's not like you are running out of time. Come, let's tour around the place, shall we?" this woman sure knew how to handle a frustrated customer. She snapped her fingers and another brightly smiling woman walked in with refreshments and drinks. Hmm, they are pampering their customers. 

After two hours of putting on many dresses, she finally saw that one dress making her declare this is it; that one dress capturing your heart. It was sophisticated and was a wonder. With the glimmer in her eyes, she could almost see her in it. She could almost see Fabio with her. Wow, that moment was truly magical and heartwarming.

The dress was from the Essence of Australia wedding dress collection; a superbly featured gown with a figure-flattening asymmetrical ruche bodice and soft billowing layers of royal organza throughout its A-Line skirt and body train. The beauty of it was, we can add up to our taste on the sophisticated look with a corset closer or zipper closer under crystal button and also add it up with a lace up too. 

Celine chooses a corset closer with lace up. Plus it was available with a 1.5-inch Grosgrain ribbon sash in different colors and Celine picked orchid; her favorite flower. Of course, Tina enquired if pink was available and the answer was a no; to our relief. With that dress, Fabian hadn't had any trouble to get a matching dress in a white tuxedo. But the color shaded to lavender a little. Celine didn't mind... so, did we? No.

Everything was perfect. The wedding was perfect. A first formal wedding for me! It was a long day; fun and extremely enchanting. Alex dashed in his tuxedo making me drool over him.

At last when the cake and food and everything vanished to thin air, Fabian picked her up to throw her into his car and dash off to Hawaii. Before she left, she threw her bouquet on us and luckily it hit me on the head and fell down to Kat's hand. This can't get more perfect. The day ended with Alex murmuring to my ears,

"I can't wait to have our day."

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