Chapter Text
On the third Saturday in the month of September, stood in the lobby of the Hotel La Maison in France a very deranged and exhausted 27 years old George Russell. The day just started, and he cannot wait to get cosy in his comfortable bed back at his humble little apartment in London. He has promised to meet Alex exactly at 7am, and now that he thought of it who the hell would start their wedding reception so early in the morning.
Are people really that excited to decide and tie themselves up with someone for the rest of their life. Honestly, it can’t be him because clearly, he can’t even decide whether to just strangle Alex for making him get up super early in the morning when he’s not even here in the first place or to bear hug him first thing after not seeing him for more than 2 months.
George train of thoughts were interrupted by a loud shrieking voice of someone calling his name from the distance. “Georgieeeeeeee” called Alex as he flapped his arm around while running towards George with full speed ready to attack him with a soul-crashing hug.
George caught him just in time before they both could potentially dive face first to the floor. “Woahhh okay hello to you too Alex” George giggled and let out a breath of relief. “Heheeh I really miss you Georgie I have not seen you since my reception with Lily, why didn’t you pick up your call or reply to any of my messages?”
Alex pulled away to get a better look at George before continuing “You’re not avoiding me aren’t you?” with a suspicious look. George looked away for a second trying to hide his guilt and wished he didn’t get confronted too early in the day. “Well, there’s just stuff going on back home and I need to handle them
Lies
I am really sorry, I didn’t mean to avoid you, I just wanted you guys to spend time together after the honeymoon”
Truth – sort of.
Alex took a longer look at the boy that was an inch taller than him and squeezed him one last time before deciding to let him go, “Alright if you say so, Lily really misses you too”. George flinched a little and quickly hid it after hearing Alex’s wife's name. Upon seeing the reaction with a lower voice, he asked “Is everything okay Georgie? You know you can tell me anything right?”
George really wishes he could tell his best friend of 15 years that he really wants him. From the bottom of his cold little heart, he only wants Alex to himself. That he has been in love with him since when he couldn’t even remember when because that’s just who Alex is, he makes you feel warm, complete and forget all your worries. His smile can brighten up the normal gloomy day in London, his laugh oh George could die any day to hear that laugh any day.
But with Lily, his smile has never been brighter, his laugh never been louder, his eyes never lit up the way they do when land on the sight of Lily. From the moment Alex first laid eyes on Lily he knew, he could never be a match to her. Part of him still hold on to the hope that maybe, just maybe Alex will look at him the same way he does for Lily…
“Georgieeee, earth to Georgeee!” George snapped himself from the split-second daydreaming he didn’t even realize he just had. He’s faced with a very concerned Alex that apparently has been trying to get his attention. “Uhmm sorry I was thinking about just how fast the time flies it as if it was just yesterday you met her” George said while trying to plaster a genuine smile.
Alex chuckled a little and that just spread a warm feeling in George’s chest involuntarily. “I know right, it felt like a dream, couldn’t believe four years ago she was our first anonymous client for our runaway bride gig who wanted to escape her crazy fiancé that time”.
George remembers the day quiet vividly when he got the email in his inbox for a very first request gig. He and Alex have been posting online for a willingness to do any kind of job (as long as its legal and safe, of course) back then 4 years ago as they both struggle to land any full-time job or part time job to keep them both afloat. (Damn you capitalism!) The request was very… odd but it was crazy amount of pay for such a weird gig.
Honestly, George did not hesitate to accept that offer but Alex on the other hand was more cautious and told him “We need to be a reliable adult George”. Seriously, posting a job online and stating ‘willing to do anything’ is far from being reliable George thought.
After going back and forth and weighing the pros (getting the money to cover their expenses for more than 2 months) and the cons (cashless and homeless) they decided to just go with it and pray for the best.
The request was simple; on the promised date Alex will wait for the so-called runaway bride outside her hotel room at 9 in the morning right after she is done with the make-up and George will be in the car waiting to hit the gas . Why after make-up you ask, well who doesn’t want to look good while dramatically fleeing their own wedding with some strangers you met online. Might as well make the best out of it (George was told after that the make-up artist was non-refundable).
It sounds simple and easy to execute but on the day of the event, George got cold feet (how ironic) and almost aborted the mission. But with how head over heels George is for Alex, he decided to abandon the idea entirely and focus on getting it together. George really can’t stand the idea of seeing the disappointment plastered on Alex’s face.
He would say the mission did fail successfully, the runaway bride forgot to mention the most important detail which is her hotel room number. Thankfully in the email, it was mentioned which level she will be at on that day, and it took Alex almost an hour to find the room and honestly George was surprised just how they manage to not get in trouble at all. Let's just say its a beginner luck.
Right after finding the room, Alex accidently heard a very private conversation of the bride and groom. The bride, Lily, did confess saying she didn’t want to continue with their ceremony and relationship. But the groom however, with hurt ego started to lash out and flip things around dangerously.
Hearing that, Alex couldn't stay still or wait any longer so he tried to take matters into his own hands but Lily was one step ahead took charge and slapped the groom across the face. While the groom was still in shock, with no hesitation Lily grabbed her belonging along with Alex hand and flee the scene. And George could say the rest of their love story is not an important piece of information worth mentioning.
Now this business gig has been running on smoothly for almost 4 years anonymously. Shockingly the business thrived so well that made George wonder if he accidently manifested and channel all his remaining luck to this gig. Wedding Crasher™, what they have been calling themselves is a small but very successful business that provide several services.
Ranges from assisting with a runaway act for a bride, groom or both, exposing cheater(s), wedding disruptor, spill red wine on guest’s white dress or on today’s agenda object the wedding entirely.
But this gig hits differently than the others, because this will be their last run together since Alex has told George before his wedding that he will want to settle down with Lily somewhere in the countryside of the UK. At first George thought he heard wrong, he really can’t comprehend what has just been told to him. Playing pranks is a usual occurrence in their daily life but not this time said Alex.
It took George a good minute to gain back his conscious surroundings and really digest all the words he just heard. He really thought of leaving the space and just cry his eyes out somewhere behind a random bin, but he decided that matter could wait. Honestly, what can George do? Of course he’s going to support whatever dream Alex wants to pursue despite all the urge to just be the most selfish person and tell him off.
“Okay so first sorry for being late, I know I told you to meet me here at 7 O’clock but before you say anything I have a valid reason why I’m down here at 8.30” plead Alex while trying to convince the man. “You’re lucky I love you and you’re my best friend, if not I will just fly back right at this moment” George while trying to hide his small smirk.
“I know you love me, heheh so yeah what happened was Lily-” George cut him off before he could finish his reasoning while pulling his arm with him “Doesn’t matter, we are late now and we have some poor man wedding to ruin let’s go” and start walking to the direction of the hall.
“Wait George I-”
“Come on I know it’s our last gig, but I'm not going to leave things on a bad note” said George with no intention on making a pit stop for another chit chat about Lily "It's really bad for our branding and reputation".
“Okay but can we slow down abit and shouldn’t we go through the plan one last time?" said Alex while struggling to keep up with George’s pace despite having a long leg himself. George stopped abruptly causing Alex to almost collide with his back and he turned around dramatically to face Alex “Ughh fine we can go through the plan again for I don't know the hundredth time”
As much as George wants to get this gig done with, he couldn't ignore this somewhat hollow sad feeling in his chest. It sounds way too dramatic but it might be his last time seeing Alex for quite some time. Alex is a married man now, with an unfortunately loving and thoughtful wife standing close by his side with no sign of leaving.
If it's for George he won't let go of him either, it's Alex he's talking about right here. George needs to move on at some point, with this gig ending he thought it will do him good. In what way? He has absolutely no idea and if only he knew what's coming for him. The next few hours will change his life, and let's say it will be for good.