Nobody Compares
The Wedding
Lou’s POV
It was my wedding day. Everything was perfect, planned months in advance. The guests were all seated, the procession ready to begin. But why did I not want it to? Why were there butterflies in my stomach, begging me to not do this? Was it because I knew that we were only getting married because I was pregnant? Because I knew, that the vows I was about to make today, were going to be insincere? Was it because I knew that I was in love with Harry? Maybe. But whatever it was, I ignored it. I took three deep breaths, held on tight to my father’s arm, and walked down the aisle with shaky feet and wobbly knees.
I saw Tom standing at the altar, and if I was being honest, he looked hung over. He wouldn’t admit it to me, but I knew that he was drinking again. Not that I would ever confront him about it, I could only imagine what he would do. From the outside, we probably looked happy, which was depressing. It was depressing because we were not happy. I wasn’t happy. The most memorable moment of my wedding day, was when Harry turned around, looking dashing in his tux, wearing the most hauntingly sad smile I’d ever seen on his face.
Harry’s POV
She looked beautiful. Her gown flowed out behind her, her hair tied up naturally, with loose pieces framing her perfect face. In those short few moments of eye contact, I imagined that it was me she was marrying, and not Tom. But she wasn’t. As she reached the altar, and stood by Tom, everyone sat down, and the minister began. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and when she regretfully spoke the words “I do” I felt a tear escape. Liam patted my back, and subtly handed me a Kleenex. I nodded at him, and he smiled at me kindly. “It’s alright, Harry” he whispered. But it wasn’t.
“You may now kiss the bride!” The minister finished, and the room erupted into joyful cheers. From this angle, I could just see Lou’s baby bump, something no one else knew about yet. I’d been so shocked when she told me, but I honestly never thought for a second that she would marry Tom. Sure, the first couple years of their relationship had been fine, but she told me things that no one else knew. No one else knew how he hurt her, how his drinking had become a problem again. Only I did, and yet she wouldn’t let me help her. She was so beautiful, but I could see by the look on her face that she was scared, sad and full of regret.
Lou’s POV
Tom and I walked back down the aisle together, this time as husband and wife. I tried to look happy, pretend that this was what I wanted but then I saw Harry. Seeing his face made this lie so much harder, all I wanted to do was run to him and tell him everything that I was feeling. He’d always been there for me. Even in the early days, when we considered our relationship to be “professional”, I could tell him everything. Even when I realized I was pregnant, he was the first person I told.
Tom ushered me to the dance floor, where he left me with my father before stumbling over to the bar. I saw Harry watching him, and he did not look impressed. The song came on initiating the father-daughter dance, and my dad and I started moving back and forth. My dad didn’t say anything, being a very intuitive man he knew something was wrong, but he also knew that he was too late to stop it. I saw Niall dancing around, the typical life of the party. He had out his phone and was snapping pictures no doubt destined for instagram. I relaxed into my father’s arms, closing my eyes for the first time in two days. A loud bang interrupted this solitary peaceful moment, and I spun around to see that Tom had dropped a champagne bottle and was about to get into a heated argument with the bar tender. I was about to go over there when all of a sudden, Harry was supporting Tom’s weight and ushering him outside. I started to get panicky, and began pulling away from my dad but someone grabbed my elbow.
“Lou,” Liam whispered gently. “Let them go, everything’s gonna be fine. Don’t let it ruin the moment.” He smiled sweetly, and my father continued leading us around the dance floor, and sadly, I couldn’t enjoy it for one second.
Harry’s POV
Tom’s arms were slung around my shoulders, not even trying to walk out of the room with any dignity. He was babbling like an idiot and stunk like alcohol. Normally, this wouldn’t have even upset me, but I’d seen the look on Lou’s face, the outright embarrassment that clearly labelled her features. This was supposed to be the best day of her life, but I could tell that it was one of her worst. We finally made it outside, just in time for Tom to start heaving into a garbage can. I started pacing, running a hand through my hair. I was so mad at Tom, even though I knew I had no right to be. But I was, and I knew why too. I was mad because I was in love with Lou, but I’d never be able to tell her. Yes, she probably knew it already, but I wanted to be able to tell her, wanted to be able to sweep her off her feet and tell her that everything was going to be alright. I wanted to be by her side, help her raise her baby. I wanted Tom out of the picture and out of her life, and not just long enough for him to go get sober again, but gone for good. Tom rolled over, and laughed like an idiot. He started trying to get to his feet, but was failing miserably.
“Alrighty,” he said as he finally managed to get up, using the garbage can like a crutch. “Let’s go and have a looksie and my new wifey.” I closed my eyes tightly, fighting back my anger.
“Tom,” I said calmly. “I don’t think that that’s such a great idea.” I opened my eyes and stared at him, daring him to test me. He saw the expression on my face and started laughing again. I was getting angrier, but finally his best man showed up.
“What happened, Harry?” John asked me. I put my hands in my pockets and started walking away.
Without looking, I called back, “Nothing out of the ordinary, that’s the problem, John!”
Lou’s POV
People kept approaching me, offering their congratulations, forcing me into making small talk. I honestly tried to keep up with the conversations, but my eyes were glued to the door looking for any sign of Tom or Harry. Finally, the door flew open, and Harry strode through it. His lips were pursed, his brow straight but he looked unharmed, and I sighed in relief. I watched as he sat down at the bar. The bar tender brought him a drink but he just stared at it for a while before placing his head in his hands. I saw Liam looking worried, and watched as he went over to Harry, placing a hand on his back. They exchanged a few words before Liam left with Danielle, and Harry slowly stood, and surveyed the room. When his eyes found mine, a slow smile spread across his lips, and he began making his way to where I was on the dance floor.
When he reached me, his one hand slid to my hip, while the other entwined my fingers and he slowly began moving our bodies to the music. It was the first time all day that I truly felt relaxed, leaning my head against his chest. “Tom’s outside,” Harry said softly. “John’s with him now, he should be coming in soon.” He looked down at me, trying to see my eyes, but I didn’t move or speak. I just stayed there, pressed against his body.
Harry’s POV
I walked through the door, possibly opening it with more force than necessary. I moved towards the bar and sat down, feeling mentally exhausted. The bar tender brought me a drink, clearly seeing that I was in need of one. I looked into the glass, gazing at its contents; the contents that made Tom an even bigger asshole, the contents that were ruining Lou’s life. I couldn’t even drink it right now, as these thoughts made me so angry. I lowered my head into my hands, trying to clear my head. Then, I felt a hand on my back, and I lifted my gaze to meet Liam’s.
“Is Tom alright?” he asked me. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head, lowering my gaze back to the drink in front of me, my fingers absentmindedly circling the rim of the glass. Liam sighed sympathetically, “I know it’s hard right now buddy, but try to make the most of tonight. Poor Lou looks really overwhelmed.” I nodded. Liam patted my back again, “I’m gonna go find Danielle, you gonna be okay?” I started to get up, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Liam gave me a knowing smile, and walked away. I turned around, looking for a familiar face in the crowd. That’s when I spotted her, looking lost and forlorn. I could feel a smile on my face, and I began to approach her, maintaining eye contact the whole time. When I finally reached her, I didn’t hesitate, I just put my arm around her waist and claimed her fingers with my own, swaying to the music. I immediately felt her relax and lean into me. This moment was perfect, and I never wanted it to stop. But then I thought of Tom outside, how he could walk in the room at any minute and fly into a rage.
I leaned my head down to her level, “Tom’s outside,” I whispered. “John’s with him now, he should be coming in soon.” I waited for her to say something, but she didn’t. I peered down, trying to read her face, but she had it tucked against my chest. I smiled warmly, and continued dancing with the girl I loved at her wedding.
It was my wedding day. Everything was perfect, planned months in advance. The guests were all seated, the procession ready to begin. But why did I not want it to? Why were there butterflies in my stomach, begging me to not do this? Was it because I knew that we were only getting married because I was pregnant? Because I knew, that the vows I was about to make today, were going to be insincere? Was it because I knew that I was in love with Harry? Maybe. But whatever it was, I ignored it. I took three deep breaths, held on tight to my father’s arm, and walked down the aisle with shaky feet and wobbly knees.
I saw Tom standing at the altar, and if I was being honest, he looked hung over. He wouldn’t admit it to me, but I knew that he was drinking again. Not that I would ever confront him about it, I could only imagine what he would do. From the outside, we probably looked happy, which was depressing. It was depressing because we were not happy. I wasn’t happy. The most memorable moment of my wedding day, was when Harry turned around, looking dashing in his tux, wearing the most hauntingly sad smile I’d ever seen on his face.
Harry’s POV
She looked beautiful. Her gown flowed out behind her, her hair tied up naturally, with loose pieces framing her perfect face. In those short few moments of eye contact, I imagined that it was me she was marrying, and not Tom. But she wasn’t. As she reached the altar, and stood by Tom, everyone sat down, and the minister began. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and when she regretfully spoke the words “I do” I felt a tear escape. Liam patted my back, and subtly handed me a Kleenex. I nodded at him, and he smiled at me kindly. “It’s alright, Harry” he whispered. But it wasn’t.
“You may now kiss the bride!” The minister finished, and the room erupted into joyful cheers. From this angle, I could just see Lou’s baby bump, something no one else knew about yet. I’d been so shocked when she told me, but I honestly never thought for a second that she would marry Tom. Sure, the first couple years of their relationship had been fine, but she told me things that no one else knew. No one else knew how he hurt her, how his drinking had become a problem again. Only I did, and yet she wouldn’t let me help her. She was so beautiful, but I could see by the look on her face that she was scared, sad and full of regret.
Lou’s POV
Tom and I walked back down the aisle together, this time as husband and wife. I tried to look happy, pretend that this was what I wanted but then I saw Harry. Seeing his face made this lie so much harder, all I wanted to do was run to him and tell him everything that I was feeling. He’d always been there for me. Even in the early days, when we considered our relationship to be “professional”, I could tell him everything. Even when I realized I was pregnant, he was the first person I told.
Tom ushered me to the dance floor, where he left me with my father before stumbling over to the bar. I saw Harry watching him, and he did not look impressed. The song came on initiating the father-daughter dance, and my dad and I started moving back and forth. My dad didn’t say anything, being a very intuitive man he knew something was wrong, but he also knew that he was too late to stop it. I saw Niall dancing around, the typical life of the party. He had out his phone and was snapping pictures no doubt destined for instagram. I relaxed into my father’s arms, closing my eyes for the first time in two days. A loud bang interrupted this solitary peaceful moment, and I spun around to see that Tom had dropped a champagne bottle and was about to get into a heated argument with the bar tender. I was about to go over there when all of a sudden, Harry was supporting Tom’s weight and ushering him outside. I started to get panicky, and began pulling away from my dad but someone grabbed my elbow.
“Lou,” Liam whispered gently. “Let them go, everything’s gonna be fine. Don’t let it ruin the moment.” He smiled sweetly, and my father continued leading us around the dance floor, and sadly, I couldn’t enjoy it for one second.
Harry’s POV
Tom’s arms were slung around my shoulders, not even trying to walk out of the room with any dignity. He was babbling like an idiot and stunk like alcohol. Normally, this wouldn’t have even upset me, but I’d seen the look on Lou’s face, the outright embarrassment that clearly labelled her features. This was supposed to be the best day of her life, but I could tell that it was one of her worst. We finally made it outside, just in time for Tom to start heaving into a garbage can. I started pacing, running a hand through my hair. I was so mad at Tom, even though I knew I had no right to be. But I was, and I knew why too. I was mad because I was in love with Lou, but I’d never be able to tell her. Yes, she probably knew it already, but I wanted to be able to tell her, wanted to be able to sweep her off her feet and tell her that everything was going to be alright. I wanted to be by her side, help her raise her baby. I wanted Tom out of the picture and out of her life, and not just long enough for him to go get sober again, but gone for good. Tom rolled over, and laughed like an idiot. He started trying to get to his feet, but was failing miserably.
“Alrighty,” he said as he finally managed to get up, using the garbage can like a crutch. “Let’s go and have a looksie and my new wifey.” I closed my eyes tightly, fighting back my anger.
“Tom,” I said calmly. “I don’t think that that’s such a great idea.” I opened my eyes and stared at him, daring him to test me. He saw the expression on my face and started laughing again. I was getting angrier, but finally his best man showed up.
“What happened, Harry?” John asked me. I put my hands in my pockets and started walking away.
Without looking, I called back, “Nothing out of the ordinary, that’s the problem, John!”
Lou’s POV
People kept approaching me, offering their congratulations, forcing me into making small talk. I honestly tried to keep up with the conversations, but my eyes were glued to the door looking for any sign of Tom or Harry. Finally, the door flew open, and Harry strode through it. His lips were pursed, his brow straight but he looked unharmed, and I sighed in relief. I watched as he sat down at the bar. The bar tender brought him a drink but he just stared at it for a while before placing his head in his hands. I saw Liam looking worried, and watched as he went over to Harry, placing a hand on his back. They exchanged a few words before Liam left with Danielle, and Harry slowly stood, and surveyed the room. When his eyes found mine, a slow smile spread across his lips, and he began making his way to where I was on the dance floor.
When he reached me, his one hand slid to my hip, while the other entwined my fingers and he slowly began moving our bodies to the music. It was the first time all day that I truly felt relaxed, leaning my head against his chest. “Tom’s outside,” Harry said softly. “John’s with him now, he should be coming in soon.” He looked down at me, trying to see my eyes, but I didn’t move or speak. I just stayed there, pressed against his body.
Harry’s POV
I walked through the door, possibly opening it with more force than necessary. I moved towards the bar and sat down, feeling mentally exhausted. The bar tender brought me a drink, clearly seeing that I was in need of one. I looked into the glass, gazing at its contents; the contents that made Tom an even bigger asshole, the contents that were ruining Lou’s life. I couldn’t even drink it right now, as these thoughts made me so angry. I lowered my head into my hands, trying to clear my head. Then, I felt a hand on my back, and I lifted my gaze to meet Liam’s.
“Is Tom alright?” he asked me. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head, lowering my gaze back to the drink in front of me, my fingers absentmindedly circling the rim of the glass. Liam sighed sympathetically, “I know it’s hard right now buddy, but try to make the most of tonight. Poor Lou looks really overwhelmed.” I nodded. Liam patted my back again, “I’m gonna go find Danielle, you gonna be okay?” I started to get up, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Liam gave me a knowing smile, and walked away. I turned around, looking for a familiar face in the crowd. That’s when I spotted her, looking lost and forlorn. I could feel a smile on my face, and I began to approach her, maintaining eye contact the whole time. When I finally reached her, I didn’t hesitate, I just put my arm around her waist and claimed her fingers with my own, swaying to the music. I immediately felt her relax and lean into me. This moment was perfect, and I never wanted it to stop. But then I thought of Tom outside, how he could walk in the room at any minute and fly into a rage.
I leaned my head down to her level, “Tom’s outside,” I whispered. “John’s with him now, he should be coming in soon.” I waited for her to say something, but she didn’t. I peered down, trying to read her face, but she had it tucked against my chest. I smiled warmly, and continued dancing with the girl I loved at her wedding.
@LadyLu
Thank you! I'm a bit busy lately, but hopefully within the next two or three weeks I'll have an update on here :)
8/6/14