BETWEEN VOWS & VENDETTAS ˖⋆ ˚❆
˚₊‧꒰ა ✦ ‧₊˚ childhoodbestfriend!ellie x childhoodbestfriend!reader ˚₊‧✦ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
⋆⁺₊❅. synopsis. the year before your wedding is a race against the clock, not only for you, but for Ellie too. Your bestfriend has been in love with you since she first met you. She just has to prove to you that theyre not right for you, she is.
⋆⁺₊❅. content warnings MULTIPLE ACTS, no use of y/n, reader is engaged, idk shit about weddings so ready for some insane inaccuracy, no mention of readers partners gender, Ellie is in-love with reader, established childhood best friends to lovers, swearing, pure fluff, i lied, theres a tad bit of angst but a happy ending is provided!, Ellie and reader are clocking tea every four minutes its insane, POC friendly - OBVIOUSLY. Jesse and Dina are the best friends ever. Ellie basically tries to sabotage your wedding, lovingly. Your partner suxxxx balls, Ellie and reader stop serving cunt challenge😭 queeeerrrrrrrrr so gay it hurts… lowkey no smut, baby they dont even kiss, a lot of phone calls?? For some reason, Reddit??? Like actually insane, set over about a year, flashbacks, alternating POVs, inaccurate wedding planning, more to be added. comments critiques, and reblogs are widely appreciated, talk to me and i’ll talk back! ⋆. ୨୧˚⋆
──── ❆ ACT I ; DECEMBER.
It was late into the year. The holiday season was coming to a close, some people eager to start fresh, and others dreading the start of the new year. The December air was still crisp and the streets were still full of gleeful children. The scent of cinnamon and gingerbread took over the house, the proposal was perfect.
Perfectly curated. curated, and planned.
Most of the things your partner did were. They prioritized perfection over authenticity, they planned things in advance that didn't need to be planned. to describe your partner, some go as far as saying they were boring.
Ellie's seemingly unjust prejudice towards your partner has never faltered, the first time they met she looked at you and said; “I didn't know regular people.. weird.” and said a prayer that you wouldn't end up long term.
When they got down onto one knee you were unsure, but you quickly brushed aside your doubt. You accepted with a loud Yes! Oh my god! and that was it.
When you showed Ellie the glistening gem adorning your manicured finger, she laughed as if it was some sick prank. She wasn't sure how to feel, when you confirmed the reality. You were getting married.
Her body welcomed the familiar feeling of disgust. She wanted to be happy for you, she really did. but she couldn’t shake the uncomfortable pang in her stomach, which made any emotion besides overwhelming anguish near impossible.
Ellie wasn't evil, of course she was happy for you, but her avid disdain for your partner keeps her excitement at arms length. Ellie loathed your partner. You two were polar opposites, and not in an opposites attract way, more like ‘how do they even get along way.’
To Ellie, you couldn’t be with a worse person, a demon has their claws in her best friend. Ellie was positive that her ongoing vendetta towards your partner wasn't obvious, but anyone else would say otherwise. Don’t get her wrong, she was a great bestfriend, but having to watch you pursue this person was actively killing her, And now that you had shown her that ring, she was sure she was already dead.
Your partner yearned for a winter wedding, a fancy, cold, celestial ceremony in the depths of the ice and snow.
You weren’t quite sure what you wanted, although the winter wedding sounded amazing, you had always dreamed of a spring ceremony.
When you were young, you gathered your closest of friends into your bedroom with a giggly whisper of Shh, I need to show you something. You sat Ellie, and a few other kids who you now can't seem to remember the names of down on your frilly little bed and proposed the idea of planning your dream wedding.
A small binder was purchased with all of your best friends allowance and adorned with stickers of flowers, animals, and all things spring., courtesy of the box of stickers you’ve been collecting since you started school.
The first page of the binder had only one thing, a beautiful wedding gown designed by your best friend, Ellie. You swore up and down your entire life that the gown Ellie designed would be your wedding dress. She often brushed you off, but you knew you didn't want it any other way. The rest of the binder was full of your future plans for a small spring ceremony surrounded by your closest friends and family. There were so many things that you dreamed of in that book, and in that moment Ellie promised herself that she would give you every single one of them.
Ellie was young when she realized she was in love with you, young enough to confuse her romantic devotion with platonic feelings.
You had met for the first time before even starting elementary school. Your parents were good friends with Joel, having him babysit you a few times before he adopted Ellie. You were five when she was adopted. That summer before starting kindergarten, a new kind of flower blossomed, one you hoped would keep growing forever. You clicked instantly.
To say that Ellie Williams Miller was enamoured with you was an understatement. She spent every waking hour rambling about you to her adoptive father. Joel laughed at her most of the time, brushing it off as her excitement of having her first friend.
Eventually, you and Ellie began middle school, still attached by the hip no less, but things had begun to shift. People were drawn to you because of your positive nature, liked by everyone. You were popular, not mean popular, but someone that people enjoyed talking to. Ellie on the other hand was quiet, shy, and had quite the vulgar mouth, all things opposite of you. She oftentimes questioned if her friendship was worthy, you always reminded her that she was.
High school was quite different from middle school, your popularity quickly diminished, as people tended to put the cliche mean girls on that pedestal. You didn't mind, however. You were entirely secure with biking home with your best friend, and reading comics underneath the bleachers. Throughout the years you two grew content with only having each other, that was until you didn't have to. Jesse and Dina came around in ninth grade. Ellie had gym with Jesse, and you met Dina at the one student council meaning you attended.
Now there were four of you. A tight nit friend group that somehow survived the pandemic that was high school. You had a few ups and downs, but you always came out stronger, and that was something you cherished more than anything.
When you were in junior year, Ellie called up Jesse and Dina sobbing, only being able to muster a few words. From what the pair could make out, Ellie was confessing her undying love for you. It barely came as a shock, it was clear to anyone that Ellie had been in love with you for years. Anyone but the two of you, apparently.
Even with Jesse and Dina in the picture, you and Ellie remained impossibly close, you were sure that nothing could break your bond. That is until university.
You had all applied to the same university, nothing particularly special, but enough for all of you to find your footing. Once you started university, you flourished again. You met loads of people, went out to parties and excelled academically. This is where you met your partner, and Ellie met a girl, Eleanor.
Eleanor was a beautiful girl, Ginger locks and mesmerizing brown doe eyes that nobody could deny. You wanted to love her, you wanted to get close with her and be in her life, but you just couldn’t. This led to one of the biggest arguments of your entire friendship with Ellie. You accused her of choosing Eleanor over you, claiming she didn't value your friendship, and Ellie shot back, calling you a hypocrite.
You didn’t talk for weeks and it killed you both. You wanted to reach out, to tell her how sorry you were and how much you missed her, but your stubbornness got in the way. Ellie was beyond crushed as well, just waiting for the moment of reconciliation between the two of you.
Eventually you two came back to each other, you eventually found your weeks of silence to be doing nothing for your friendship. You apologized with a lengthy phone call, a phone call that Ellie answered at recorded breaking speed. You two talked for hours, admitting your faults and apologizing for your shortcomings. Ellie even admitted that she broke things off with Eleanor, claiming she was a great girl but not quite her type. Unfortunately for her, you and your partner still stood, your relationship only getting more serious by the moment.
You and Ellie had your ups and down, but at the end of the day you had each other. You were eternally grateful for Ellie, she was the one person who knew you through and through, you often referred to the hotheaded aubrunette as your platonic soulmate. Her heart breaks a little bit more each time.
“How do you feel, el…” Dina grimaces. Ellie can hear her expression through the brick in her hand, she was cursed with the most expressive friend she could ask for.
“Just— I'm agitated. Why the fuck do they need to get married? They just met.” The sleepy eyed girl grumbles, rubbing the palm of her hand over the socket of her eye.
She clears her throat as Dina answers. “5 years ago…”
“Whatever, dude. I'm pissed.” She barks. Dina can hear her performing her morning routine through the call.
She brushes her teeth angrily as Dina talks her through her anger like a modern day therapist, the kind that charges an insane amount for weekly zoom calls.
“I’m sorry, Ellie… I can't imagine how you're feeling right now.” She sighs into the device. Ellie shrugs, spitting a glob of spit into the sink.
“It’s fine…I don't care—No—I dunno. ” She scoffs, her stomach curdling at the thought of you walking down the aisle to anyone but her.
“You don't seem fine.. I mean—they got engaged.” Dina's outwardness towards the topic makes her shrink. Flinching at the words.
“Hmm.: Ellie hums. She can hear Dina’s flat tsk through the device. She kisses her own teeth, scooping through her kitchen in dire need of sustenance.
“Alright, well.. I've got plans today—” Ellie quickly says, rushing Dina off the phone so suddenly.
“Hold on, Ellie—” the girl on the other line tries to squeeze in.
“It was so nice talking to you Dina, bye!” Ellie laughs sarcastically, quickly pulling the phone away from her ear and smashing down on the end call button.
She scoffs as she tosses her phone onto the counter, she needs a smoke.
Things were getting hectic.
Valentine’s Day was the day that you gathered everyone you knew and assigned them a role. Jesse was in charge of booking the photographer, Dina assigned to searching for venues.
When you approached Ellie, colourful planner in hand, and told her that you had a ‘special job’ for her, she flinched.
You wanted her to take your engagement photos.
“Please!” You begged, "you're the best with a camera—and, it would be so much more sentimental!” You reasoned, and fuck you did have a point.
Not only would it be cheaper, but it would also be so much more sentimental. You were always sappy like that.
“Yeah, I can do that.” She agrees.
A few weeks later you dragged her and her Nikon DSLR out into the snowy forest by the edge of Jackson.
You had probably thanked her a thousand times during the car ride alone. You opted for riding up with Ellie instead of your partner, who was visiting family close to the site.
Why couldn't you have travelled all together? Well Ellie wasn't sure. But she was certain about one thing, this wedding can't happen.
She's spent so many nights picturing you walking down the aisle, elegant white dress trailing after you, as you walk to them. She can't think about it for too long, or else the tears will start flowing.
When she looks over to you in the passenger seat, you're staring out the window, thinking. You don't look excited, or happy. You look nervous. Part of her thinks this isn't what you want.
Ellie brings a hand to your thigh, a soothing touch. “You okay?” She questions, green puppy eyes begging you to look her way.
You lift your head from the window, giving her a forced half smile. “Yeah, just…scared, I guess?” It sounds more like a question than an answer.
Ellie raises an eyebrow, and her brain lights up. She doesnt wanna marry them! Shes gonna call off the wedding, for you! She doesn't let any of that cloud her worry, she knows it’s untrue. “What do you mean?” She opts for instead.
“I just…i really want this to go well, and everything feels out of my control..” you vent, lifting your sock clad feet onto the seat with you. “I feel like I have no say over my wedding…everything is what they want. And—I want it too, but..” You emphasize, trailing off as you shake your head.
This was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Ellie really wants to ask you if this is a good idea, to finally confess her distaste for the idea in its entirety.
She fought so, so hard to keep it in, but after you revealed your lack of interest in the whole ordeal, her mouth opens, and her words slip out faster than she can control.
“Maybe it's not a good idea then.” An avalanche of feelings covered up by just seven words. Christ, Ellie. You're an idiot.
You turn to her, your face plastered with offense. “What?” You ask, voice sharp and immediately defensive. Ellie curses under her breath, looking between you and the snowy street as she debates her next move.
“Like—fuck, no. I didn't mean that—I meant, like—” she fumbles. Her brain screaming at her to please, shut the fuck up.
“Ellie, just…stop.” You sigh, lifting your hand in the air, shiny diamond ring flashing in her face. Another small fuck you to the girl in the drivers seat.
Guilt swallows her like quicksand.
Your partner is already there when you arrive, standing against their truck like the world owes them for their presence.
Ellie rolls her eyes as she walks around the car to collect her camera and tripod. This was gonna be a long couple of hours.
There’s always been an grating tension between Ellie and your partner, you arent sure why or how this came to be, but it was evident the second the camera started going off.
“Can you move a little to the left, please.” Ellie requests, peering through the eye of her camera. Your partner scoffs, unwilling.
“Why can't we stand here?” They scowl, you grimace at the interaction.
“Just ‘cause the lighting's better if you move— that tree is blocking the sun and from where I'm standing—” Ellie rambles, there's no malice in her tone, only frustration.
“Why don't you move then?”
You sigh, pulling your partner a tad to the left. Ellie shoots you a thumbs up, giving a few moments to prepare before taking the picture.
No. Your hair was everywhere it shouldn’t be. Take another one.
A little better, but your partner looks like they want to kill Ellie through the camera.
Ellie's heart flutters at the third take, your eyes are closed in that soft, elegant way that makes it look like you're resting. Your smile is natural and the most enthralling part of the picture. Nevermind them, nevermind the ring. Her muse was you.
She takes a couple more photos, one of just your hands with a heart drawn into the snow, another of your partner lifting you off the ground into a deep, loving kiss. Ellie would never tell you, but she thought it looked fake.
You don't travel back with Ellie, leaving her to wallow in the pool of emotions you had accidentally set off.
Truthfully, the pictures came out okay, at best. She wasn’t particularly interested in contributing to their happiness, like at all. She focused on you for most of the shoot, even failing to capture the ring in most photos.
she was addicted to you, sue her.
It's not like her prejudice was unwarranted, your partner instilled a kind of anger in her that not even ares could handle. They were the polar opposite of you, and the whole opposites attract theory has been proved to be a myth. You were gentle and docile when it came to them, letting them take the initiative, even when it meant neglecting your own desires. Ellie hated it.
Her mind beats her up for it, for loving you.
She hasn’t really said it out loud before, even when she vaguely confessed to Dina, she did it over text and refused to talk about it when the curious girl brought it up in person.
When she realized, she cried into her dinosaur stuffed animal and plugged in her headphones. That’s when the playlist was born. A long intricately crafted piece that was titled after your names put together. It carved a quiet hole into her heart, tainting her soul with want. She would never show you.
She was fifteen then, and 25 now. She's spent the last ten years of her life silently pining over you, yearning, if you will.
She sighs as she drives down the icy road, the sun setting behind her car as she struggles to beat the darkness that will soon swallow her whole.
Tears run down her face, a guttural sob following close behind. She continues to drive, the only quiet she’s able to get being the silence between heartbeats.
Her head aches when she unlocks her apartment door.
Your partner lays into you on the drive home.
You knew it was coming before you could pull your door shut, the cold breeze kissing the top of your nose and the apples of your cheeks as you try your hardest to warm up.
The car is silent, but not just quiet; there was something in the air, a loud tension that interrupts your every thought. You don't dare make eye contact, it's better to just leave it.
You don't blame them for being upset, its wedding season, everything is overly stress inducing.
“Why the fuck would you ask her? And without telling me?” The tower built up of every silent moment comes crashing down. Let the fight begin.
“She’s my best friend. It was so much more convenient than paying a random who I don't trust.” You fire back, your tone isn't as angry as theirs, more unamused.
“What about my trust?” They ask, face morphing into a scowl. They press their palms into the steering wheel, you're sure it’ll break any second.
“Babe, the entire wedding is ‘your trust!’ I literally don't get a say in anything. The photos turned out amazing, let it go.” You push, your brain fights you on the decision, but someone’s gotta be mature, right?
they continue; “I’m not just gonna let it go! You didn't even ask me. I wanted our photos to be done professionally, not by your pathetic friend who’s clearly into you.” They rant, face hot with anger.
You scoff at the mention of your best friend. Nobody talks about her like that! Even if you're mad at her.
“The fuck? Don't talk about her like that!” Your volume is raising at this point, you turn to your partner now, your eyes peering at them with some sort of disgust.
They scoff at your defensiveness, the sun had gone down by now, and home was near.
Their silence is deafening, so you keep going. “And she's not into me, she's awkward, you know that. I’ve known her my whole life, you’ve known her a couple years, you don't know what you're talking about.” You don't care about your harshness, you don't care if it stings, it needs to be said.
Your partner blows a condescending raspberry, rolling their eyes as they turn down your street.
“When I said she's my best friend I meant that. I would not hesitate to pick her over you.” You click your seatbelt off before they even pull into the driveway.
They kissed you later that night as an apology, hands roaming freely as they plead for forgiveness.
The ground was damp from a mix of the ongoing rain and the everlasting wetness left by the snow. Flowers begin blooming in every garden, and Ellie's birthday is right around the corner.
She hasn’t heard much about the wedding since she took your engagement photos a few months ago, silently thanking god for the lack of information provided. She asked about the planning process a few times, simply out of curiosity, but nothing interesting was revealed.
Ellie wasn't a birthday party person, she never had been. Since she was young she would’ve rather spent the day with you and her family than have a fancy party with a bunch of peers she didn't actually like. Birthday parties were too much stress for not enough fun.
You often argued against her, trying to break her out of her shell during the spring months. You knew how to make someone feel special. This year, being the best friend that you were, you had planned a surprise party for her. The age Ellie was turning was important, and you wanted it to be special.
You even ignored your own wedding plans for a few weeks in order to make this moment ultra special for Ellie. You talked to Dina, Jesse and even roped in your partner to help, assigning everyone a role that you expected them to take very seriously. Luckily for you, Ellie wasn't the most curious person, so when Dina sneakily inquired about cake flavours and Jesse wondered out loud about potential gifts, she thought absolutely nothing of it.
“Ellie being a spring baby doesn't make sense at all… Jesse—what are you doing?” Dina struggles to speak as she adjusts the horribly lopsided HAPPY BIRTHDAY banner. Her boyfriend was currently sticking his sticky fingers into the grocery store veggie platter.
“Nothing..” he speaks through a mouth full of carrots. You and your partner giggle at the two of them while you sloppily lob a concerning amount of green icing onto your homemade cake.
“This looks so bad…” you giggle, licking up the butter knife before passing it to your partner. They give you an unsure look, lightly pulling the cake closer to them.
“Let me..” they say, adjusting the fondant letter to their own liking. You sigh, letting them take the lead. You don't have time to complain about the action before Dina’s beckoning you to her side.
“What did you get her?” The raven haired woman asks, a small bead of sweat running down her tanned forehead. She flicks her finger towards the container of thumb tacs, gesturing for you to pass her a couple.
You think for a moment before smirking. “You’ll see..” you confirm, bringing the container up to her height. She thanks you through the cardboard between her teeth.
You wander away from Dina, awkwardly standing in the middle of the room. Most of the jobs were already done, besides surprising the birthday girl you were basically complete.
You clap your hands as you walk back into the kitchen, basically vibrating with excitement. “I’m so excited, you guys!” You jump, a toothy smile appearing on your face.
“Okay…stay on the ground.” Your partner chuckles, pulling the cake off the counter. They quickly transport the cake into the freezer, dusting their hands off on their jeans afterwards.
Your phone buzzes in your pocket twice before you pull it out. You had told Ellie the group was meeting up for a small kickback at Jesse’s at six, an easy lie that the woman had no reason to disbelieve.
Els🩷: just got out of class
Els🩷: what time r we going?
You don't unlock the phone, just read the texts from your lock screen.
“Shes on her way!” You tell the group, quickly hopping onto the couch. You pull the curtains closed as if she would be able to see through them.
“Mind you, we're on the seventh floor..” Dina chuckles at your excitement, pulling her hoodie off to reveal a more elegant looking shirt.
You flip her off as she takes down her hair. You admire her beauty for a second, cooing at her completely candid expression.
You think back to the time that Ellie confessed her ‘love’ for the girl back in high school. She confessed to her via a candy gram. You all laugh about it now, your best friend's short lived crush leading to a tighter bond than ever.
“Is that her car?” Someone asks,
“Yeah, I think so!” You hear Jesse answer as you run down the hallway and set up your camera.
“Kay, get the lights!” You shout, grabbing a few balloons and running behind the counter to take cover. Dina quickly turns off the lights while Jesse rushes to lock the front door. You rise to take a quick look around the room for any signs of your presence, when you don't, you slide back down.
A few moments pass before you hear the jingling of keys. You struggle to contain your laughs as Ellie mindlessly wanders into her place. Before you know it you're jumping up from behind the counter and screaming “Surprise!”
Her eyes widen as she takes in the scene before her. She can't let anyone know that her heart is practically melting at the sight of all her closest friends doing something purely because they love her.
“Oh my god, you guys.” She groans, trying her absolute hardest to contain her appreciation. You're the first one to run up to her and pull her into your arms, squealing a ‘happy birthday, cutie!” Into her chest.
“Happy birthday, El.” Jesse smiles, patting her shoulder as he joins the circle. Dina joins too, chuckling as you plant a foot smooch on her cheek. Your partner passes her a curt smile, a soft ‘happy birthday’ leaving their lips as well.
If Ellie had to settle for playing a game of cards in her living room and irresponsibly passing around a bottle of some mysterious liquor while you laid in your partner's lap for a birthday celebration, she would.
Because to her, this was the closest you were gonna get.
Jesse gestures to you and your partner, “How’s the wedding planning going?” He inquires.
Ellie fights the groan that builds in her throat. But she pushes her pessimistic mindset to the side when she sees you smile.
“It’s going well!” You start, your partner nods as they run their fingers through your hair. “I’m starting to look at dresses soon! Dina, Ellie… you're coming with.” You exclaim.
Dina's eyes twinkle at the idea, Ellie’s not so much. Truthfully, the idea of you in a white wedding dress, walking down the aisle to them, made her sick.
Your partner smirks down at you, a lovesick grin making its way up onto your face.
Ellie clears her throat, “Excuse me.” She smiles, excusing herself to the bathroom. She can feel a pair of eyes on her as she walks down the dimly lit hallway, she's almost sure they're yours.
──── ❆ ACT II ; JUNE
A few days ago you called Ellie up for coffee, her stomach’s been eating itself alive ever since.
So much so that she can't help but trip over her regular routine. You planned to meet up at noon, when the air was soft against supple skin and the world was bustling with only those motivated enough. Then you would meet up at the coffee shop on main and talk about whatever it was you had on your chest.
But since nothing ever went as planned for Ellie, it wasn't that easy.
She woke up later than she had planned, tripped down the stairs of her building and forgot to wash her favourite shirt the night before.
She stares at the clock on her car stereo, contemplating if this is even worth it. 11:54, her brain screams at her to get out of the car and bury herself under the striped duvet on her bed.
She huffs a cloud of air, letting her head fall against the headrest of her seat. Her phone buzzes; it's you.
You: lmk when youre on your way! I can order for you.
You: not coffee… i know you dont want coffee
She breaks a small smile at the messages, the anxiety in her stomach finally beginning to disintegrate. She sighs one final time before pushing the key into the ignition.
The drive to the coffee shop was short. Short and overly tense.
She sighs when she finally steps out of her car, spotting you at a circular table outside the coffee shop, 2 cups standing before you. She smiles, relaxing her shoulders. She’ll be fine.
You greet her with a loud grin, hopping out of your chair to wrap your wraps around her. She chuckles and hugs you back, exhaling deeply when you release her. She sits down silently, nodding along to your immediate chatter. Small talk didn't exist in this friendship.
“So. We need to have a serious talk.” You interrupt. Ellie's mind goes blank. A series of self deprecating thoughts plaguing her mind.
Jesse or Dina slipped up, she knows. She's gonna end the friendship, she hates you.
“O—Kay…” she nods, here come the tears.
You reach out for her, wrapping your hand around her own. You swallow harshly, Ellie swears her brain is malfunctioning.
“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, and I knew I could only ask you… okay? You're the only person I would ever want to do this...will you be my maid of honour?..” you ramble, squeezing her hand reassuringly as you speak.
Ellie's heart drops at the question, she lets her shoulders visibly drop at the relief she's feeling. When she realizes what you’ve proposed to her, her eyes widen.
“Oh my fu—what?!” She shakes her head, fighting not to jump out of her seat.
You giggle, “will you be my maid of honour? You're my best friend and I couldn’t imagine anyone else…” you sigh, a small and entirely over dramatic tear appearing in your eye.
“Do I have to wear a dress?” She inquires, half joking, half not.
You look her up and down, your lips forming into a straight line, “Seriously?” You raise an eyebrow. “I would never make you wear a dress, that's just plain weird.” You chuckle at the last bit, so does she.
Ellie shrugs her shoulders. “I had to make sure!” She jokes, slouching back into her seat. She gently taps her foot against your calf, bringing your attention back to her face as you work to get rid of the incoming string of tears in your eyes.
“Of course I'll be your—maid of honour.” She smiles. You nod, another hot wave of tears flooding your vision. You sniffle, pushing yourself out of your chair and practically throwing yourself onto her.
Ellie coos, essentially sweeping you off your feet as she hugs you back. You cry into her for a few moments, the casual on lookers giving you a plethora of different expressions. A few old women put their hands on their hearts and jut their lips out in awe, while their husbands scoffed and gestured them along.
You pulled away after a few moments of laughter and tears, Ellie’s hands releasing you reluctantly.
You sniffle once more and settle back into your chair, smiling at the sweet smile on Ellie’s face.
You catch up for the next few hours, loitering at that round table outside the coffee shop while you chatted each other's ears off. You brought up anything but the wedding, and Ellie silently thanked god for his mercy.
The conversation shifts a total of seventeen times, sometimes it went backwards, sometimes you skipped over topics that should’ve been explored. You laughed as you reminisced on the time you tried to start a paramore cover band and the side parts and eyeliner that came with high school, and you nodded silently as Ellie ranted about her evil ex girlfriend Cat, for the fifth time.
“Oh my god..okay, confession.” You say, your laugh interrupting with your words. You smack your hands on the table, causing Ellie to jump back a tad.
Her eyes widen. “Okay, go for it.” she encourages, crossing her arms and nodding for you to continue to speak.
“In…highschool” she watches you hesitate, the apples of your cheeks plumping up as you smile loudly. “Remember when you had that stupid side bang, like Hayley Williams' evil, gay twin, and you always wore long sleeves under your t-shirts?” You start, giggling coyly as you think back.
Ellie winces at the thought, “you mean me all of highschool? Yeah, I unfortunately do remember.” She awkwardly chuckles, shifting in her seat.
“Well…i had the biggest crush on you, for like..ever.” You confess, sucking your lips into your mouth as you wait for her reaction.
Ellie's mouth drops to the floor, it seems like she just can't catch a break. She swears the universe is out to get her.
“O-oh..” she stammers, and you rush to her comfort, reaching for her hands over the table.
“Did I make you uncomfortable?! I didn’t mean to i just thought it was funny—Ellie, I—” you ramble, eyes searching for any sign of discomfort on her face.
Ellie laughs. “No, it was just—surprising. I actually—uhh—liked you then, too..” she confirms, slowly pulling her now sweating palms out from underneath yours.
You laugh, bringing your hands to cover your face. Giggling into your skin. Ellie chuckles too, looking down as her brain searches for an escape.
“That’s so…my goodness” you chuckle, Ellie’s sure there’s a sudden awkwardness, but you quickly suck in a breath, and completely change the subject.
When she gets home, she's not sure how she feels, her head is pounding and there is an unfamiliar yet so familiar longing in her chest.
She feels like you just slipped back into her grasp, like she suddenly somehow has a chance to make things better, like you're finally hers again.
A thought popped into her head, a bad one, a morally corrupt one — but one that could ensure that she gets the girl.
She calls Dina and Jesse fifteen minutes later.
There’s six months until you walk the aisle and Ellie is absolutely petrified.
The trio met up the next day after their final classes, the school year was about to come to an end and all Ellie could feel was dread.
“You wanna sabotage her wedding?” Jesse asks, eyes gawking out of his head as he looks up from his backpack.
Ellie nods silently. Her two friends looking at her with an immense amount of concern.
“Are you insane? Okay this is not the graduate, you realize that right? She's not just gonna—leave her wedding ceremony and ride off into the sunset with you.” The man bargains, zipping up the bag and tossing it to the side, this was a serious matter.
“You don't know that!” Dina jokes, kicking her legs up onto the couch with her. Jesse scowls in her direction.
“Whatever—I—as long as she's not with them.” Jesse snorts, and names her salty.
“Ohhh.. so like an ‘if i cant have you, no one can’ type thing? Yeah you're insane.” Dina chuckles, obviously unaware of Ellie’s complete sincerity. When she makes eye contact with the green eyed woman, she realizes.
“Oh shit, you're serious? She cocks her head towards Ellie, her face laced with actual pity.
Ellie nods again, and the room stills.
Dina speaks up after an awkward moment. “Well, are they legally married yet?” She asks, turning to Ellie.
Jesse stands. “Dina! There’s no way you're considering this.” He exclaims, voice booming inside the apartment.
The two girls ignore him.
“They’re not. Not yet. They're planning on doing all that after the ceremony.” Ellie confirms, bringing her thumb to her teeth. She picks at the skin as Dina contemplates the idea, like really thinks about it.
She grabs her phone from her pocket, typing a few things in and humming. Ellie tries to peer at the screen, but doesn't catch a glimpse of anything besides Dina’s notes app.
Dina turns off the device and drops it into her lap. “Let’s do it. Let's sabotage a wedding.” She agrees, expression dead serious.
Jesse throws his arms up in the air, “Seriously?! What the fu—”
August comes with a soft breeze and a save the date.
Maybe it arrives a little later than it should, maybe Ellie just let it sit in the mail box for too long, who knows.
All Ellie is worried about is the ceremony that is less than four months away. It drills her, she thinks about it in the shower, in bed, and even when you're right in front of her. It torments her day and night, when she breathes in and when her heart beats.
She cries when the sun goes down and dry heaves whenever she has to stay In a room with the two of you for longer than five minutes. The pressure is on, and shes not sure she's ready.
On Dina’s birthday, she gets a call.
She's playing video games in the living room, eyes red and faded from her short lasting high.
The contact is unsaved, that default grey photo that makes your brain think spam, and a plethora of unmemorized numbers cover the screen. She quickly clicks decline, not bothering to deal with the interaction.
But, the number shows up again. They call back. Ellie scoffs, pausing her game and tossing the controller beside her.
“Hello? Who’s this?” She opens the call with hostility. Can you blame her? She's frustrated and eager to get back to her game, Nathan needs to save Chloe! She doesn't have time for this.
“Is this Ellie?” The person on the other line asks, and their voice is oddly familiar. She raises an eyebrow, standing from the plush seat beneath her.
“Err—yeah…who's asking?” She questions, wandering to her room to collect her rolling appears and grinder. She needs another joint, asap.
Her heart drops when the other person speaks their name. It's your partner. Your partner is calling her.
“Oh? How’d you get my number?” She flexes her jaw, deciding to take her entire weed tray into the other room with her.
“Well considering you're my girl's number one pinned and emergency contact on everything, it wasn't hard.” They speak, in that condescending tone you hear from a coworker who's secretly out to get you fired.
Ellie rolls her eyes. “Why are you calling?” She asks, her tone reeking of uninterest. She balances her phone between her shoulder and ear as she twists her grinder.
“Well. There’s no ‘nice’ way to say this, but… I don't want you at my wedding.” Your partner declares. Ellie's heart drops at the confrontation, so much so that her grinder slips out of her hands, letting little bits of her purple haze fall to the floor.
She curses under her breath, “What? What the fuck? Why not?” She asks, her mind moving a million miles a minute. She's ready to get in her car and drive to your shared apartment, just to see what the hell was going on.
“I see the way you look at her dude, its fucking pathetic, really. We don't want that shit interrupting our big day.” They use the words we, and our like you would ever contribute to this decision, Ellie knows you better, you did not approve this.
Ellie chuckles into the speaker. “Well, dude… Im her fucking maid of honour—so, thats not gonna work.. kinda have to be there.” She snarks, awkwardly kicking at the pieces of discarded marijuana that have now intertwined themselves into the carpet like burs.
“Yeah. That’s not happening anymore. I never agreed to that in the first place. Sorry to get your hopes up, kid.” Ellie scoffs, who the fuck were they to be calling her kid? As if they weren’t the same fucking age.
“I’m not missing my best friend's wedding because you're an insecure, controlling, asshole. I know she didn't agree to that either, so don't even try.” Ellie argues back, sitting down on the edge of her bed.
She can hear the frustration building in your lover's tone, but she interrupts them before they get the chance to speak again. “I’m sure if I called her right now and asked about this ‘decision’ she would be fuming. Do you want me to do that?” She asks, obviously rhetorically.
Your partner takes a breath. Ellie smirks, trying her hardest to hold in her laugh.
“Williams, if you show up at my wedding, you will never see her again.” They threaten, and Ellie laughs. A genuine hearty chuckle.
“Okay… is that a promise orr?” She wanted to let her ego take the wheel and notify them that she could in fact take you in a second, but she wasn't gross like that.
Your partner only scoffs and hangs up, clearly upset with Ellie’s choice of humour. Ellie laughs, tossing her phone into her sheets as she runs her hands down her face.
She knows it's just a bunch of empty threats, but part of her brain sinks down into uncharted territory. Fine, she's a bit worried.
When she calls Dina and explains your partners weird behaviour and the phone call that could be classified as attempted psychological torture, she laughs. Loudly.
“No fucking way, Ellie. They really said that? you’ll never see her again? That’s pathetic. Oh my god!” She pretty much screams, Ellie can hear her jumping up and down through the phone.
Ellie scratches the back of her neck, awkwardly snorting into the phone. “Yeah, like.. I think they're insane…genuinely.” By this time she's plucked almost all of the weed crumbs out of her carpet, she just hopes her cat, princess, doesn't try too hard to find them.
“That's kinda scary though…what if you show up ready to be the maid of honour and get your ass kicked by Timmy tough knuckles?” Dina poses, laughing quietly after the words leave her mouth.
Ellie starts the sentence with your name, “she would never let that happen. Are you kidding?” She confirms, almost too confidently.
“Yeah, you're right. She really loves you… I'm surprised she hasn’t come to her senses yet.” The raven haired woman contemplates as she scrubs down her dishes, the water being louder than her voice.
“What? What do you mean?” Ellie raises an eyebrow, sitting back down on the couch and finally picking up the controller again.
“Just—nevermind, I gotta go, we’ll talk soon!” Dina hushes, all but rushing to get off the phone.
Ellie shakes her head, that woman gives her whiplash sometimes. Back to you, Nathan Drake.
When October arrives you are writing your vows and Ellie is writing her speech.
Your document sits blank in front of you, your screen blaring into your eyes. You didn't know how to do this, your brain was hurting.
Your partner was staying with their parents, you decided you needed some time apart after a plethora of petty fights that had come from nothing. Last week it was about guests, the week before it was cake, the week before that it was Ellie.
You cussed at them, and told them not to speak her name in vain, as if she was some sort of god. They yelled at you, asking if you even heard yourself. They slept on the couch that night. And for many nights after that.
“Fuck…” you curse under your breath. You slip off your glasses, rubbing a hand down your face. You were twenty five and felt fifty. Your back hurt, your bra was too tight, and you missed your best friend.
You sigh, eyes beginning to well. You were marrying this person and you couldn't think of a single thing you liked about them. You felt stuck, like when you're in a nightmare and didn't have control over a single part of your body.
You re open the screen. Hoping, praying, for anything.
“In sickness and in health” No, too religious.
“I choose you in every-lifetime” No, that’s ridiculously corny.
“I love you.” But do you?
Little did you know, Ellie was going through the exact opposite problem.
She palms at her chest as she hunches over her notebook, burning cigarette stuck between her fingers. She’s compiled every journal entry, every note in her notes app, every rant to Dina. She had too much to say.
She drops her pen, sighing as she turns to crack her back. She had been slouched over the notebook for the past hour, over seven pages filled with her declaration of devotion.
She runs her hands down her sweats, standing up to pace around the room. She lifts her thumb back into her mouth, chewing on the skin. She wants to jump around and scream, and call you right now and tell you how she feels.
She can't risk things going sideways and never seeing you again like your partner threatened.
She needed this to go perfect, it sounds evil, but she was dead set on ruining your wedding. No matter what.
She tosses her cigarette out the window, not bothering to put it out completely. She sighs again, you havent spoken in days and shes about ready to say fuck it to everything. She still needs to grab her suit from Joel’s.
By the time she lays down her left hand is stained with ink and passion.
You, on the other hand, are blank on anything besides food and sleep. Your mind is clouded with disdain, a sudden distaste for the situation entirely.
You whip out your phone, hopefully this would help.
You: how far are you on your vows? ♥️
You add the heart to soften the random break in no-contact. You should probably be together right now, giggling as you try to hide your words from the other. But it wasn't that easy, at least not for you.
As you wait for a reply that you didn't really expect to receive, you venture off into the internet. Advice from strangers is exactly what you need right now.
I need help writing my vows, and. I don't think I love my partner.
You type and type and type, pouring your heart out into a length post. You explain your situation, your complicated best friend, your controlling partner, and your intense desire to cancel the entire thing.
You get a few quick reply’s, some bots, other unhelpful, but one specifically sticks out to you.
It doesn't sound like your partner loves you either, unfortunately. It sounds like they’re competing with said bestfriend—who’s already won the fight for your heart.. maybe you should just talk to them, it might help. But, this could just be the pre-wedding jitters. I’ve been married to my wife for 40 years, and we went through this exact crisis right before the wedding. Sit with your feelings, trust your gut!
You gawk at the screen, their reply shocking you, but not surprising you. You sniffle, pressing a hand to your heart. You're not sure what to do, who to call, where to go.
You pick your phone back up, opening it up to your contacts and clicking on the first one you see.
It rings for a moment, before a familiar voice greets you.
──── ❆ ACT III ; DECEMBER.
The day has come. Your wedding is upon you.
You spend the first half of the day getting pampered and pretty, getting your hair styled to perfection and your makeup done to a tee.
You barely see your partner that day, and Ellie and Dina are running around l chickens with their heads cut off. You know the ‘groomsmen’ are a group of your partner's friends that you don't know, and haven't yet had the chance to get to know. Crazy, right?
You chose to not let your party see the dress, nobody besides your mother getting to lay eyes on the gown. It shakes you to your core, a beautiful an all too familiar dress, your dream dress. Your nails are perfect and your hair is freshly touched up. You know you should feel beautiful, you are beautiful!
You eat, pamper, and move on autopilot. The entire day felt like some sick joke. Aren't you supposed to feel elated? You felt that way when they proposed.
Your vows are written, poorly. But still written. They're tucked into the pocket of your jacket like a final decision, like you’ve made your choice.
You've made your bed and you're terrified to lie in it.
The clock switched from months to weeks slowly, but from days to hours in the blink of an eye. The more you dreaded it, the faster it came.
You look around at the decorations, snazzy white and gold decor that screamed rich, something you absolutely weren’t. You counted the people, you probably knew about eight of them, and have met maybe twelve. You scoff, shaking your head as you crawl back into the room.
It's just anxiety, you tell yourself. You're not repulsed, just nervous. Your mind screams at you to trust the sizzling heat in your stomach, but you don't.
The rehearsal dinner was a shit show, an awkward tension fell between everyone in attendance and your partner threw scowls at Ellie the entire night. You wanted to sink into a hole and die.
And you were fucking freezing.
“Alright.. It's almost time. How are you feeling?” Dina asks, she looks fucking phenomenal. Her thick curls are tied up into a ‘messy’ bun, with the front strands hanging in front of her face to give that effortless look. Her light blue silk dress hugs her perfectly, outlining the exact places it needs to. You hope Jesse loves it as much as you do.
“Im scared, but…excited, I think.” You lie, looking up at the doe eyed girl. Her eyes have this glint of emotion that you can't quite name, like hope, or mischief. You don't question it.
“It’s gonna go fine, even if—nevermind, we gotta get you ready. Where’s your bouquet?” She fumbles, lifting you from the tiny stool. You point to the arrangement of flowers. Giant, blue, entirely not you.
“Cmon, go get em tiger.” She pushes, you swear there's a hint or unsureness in her tone, you turn to her as she ushers you to the door.
“Is there something you're not telling me? I'm scared, Dina.. I don't need extra surprises.” You argue, turning to her with a certain desperation. Your eyes say what your mouth can't. Just tell me.
Dina denies, putting her hands on your shoulders and kissing your cheek. “Youre getting married. You've got this. Its just nerves, and anxiety. You're gonna be so happy after this. I promise.” It sounds like a prophecy, so you chose to obey.
“It’s my queue, I've gotta go. I love you. And if anything goes wrong you have my full permission to punch Ellie…and Jesse.” You watch her walk out to the song, a tune that you didn't know. Seems that was a theme of today.
You hoped to god Reddit user was right.
The day had begun on a terrible note, your partner cornering her and making one final attempt to exile her from the ceremony.
Ellie held her weight, arguing back that she would kick their ass if they kept talking to her. It was crass, sure. And definitely untrue, but they layed off.
She was worried she would lose her chance to be your maid of honour, but Dina came to her defence, shouting that if anyone had a problem with Ellie you would quite literally kick them out. It wasn't a lie.
She walked out on queue, lined up with a smile and made sure everything was done right, to the best of her abilities.
It was already a strange feeling, to watch her best friend emerge from basically nowhere, ready to walk down the aisle. But when she takes one look at your dress, she breaks down.
She starts crying before anyone else, before your partner, before your parents, before Dina and Jesse. You were wearing the dress she designed for you when you were young. A beautiful gown with embroidered flower petals at the bottom. Your veil was long and designed the exact same way, following you like a promise.
She peeps your soon to be beloveds face, a confused look on their face as you slowly walk down the aisle. Looks like they didn’t know, nor approve.
Ellie sniffles, trying her hardest not to draw attention to herself. It wasnt hard not to, because the spotlight was on you. Phones and gazes focused on the darling you.
Your smile was soft, your eyes full of shimmer and your pupils sparking. Another quiet sob leaves her chest.
The song hums in the background, a lovely tune from the 60s, it was nothing she knew, but regardless. Dina places a hand on her shoulder, shushing her with her soft, maternal voice.
You coo at the tearstricken girl, holding your hands out to gesture towards her face, mimicking pinching her cheeks. You take her hand and squeeze it when you take your place at the altar.
You turn to your partner, your smile growing wider. Ellie looks you up and down, maybe this plan is a terrible one. She curses under her breath, looking down as the officiant starts to speak.
His voice booms. “We are gathered here today, to celebrate the love and commitment between these two beautiful people…” He starts, his presence bearing excitement in most and fear in her.
“Thank you for joining us as we embark on this incredible journey.” You're vibrating in your spot at this point, silently dancing on your feet anxiously.
Ellie squeezes your shoulder, your partner sends her a glare.
The officiant rambles on a very uninteresting story of your story, how you met, when you bonded, when you fell in love. blah, blah, blah.
“Marriage is a profound promise to build and give life, support dreams and navigate challenges together as one. Today, we will make this promise official.” Ellie scoffs, tapping her foot against the ground. Its almost her time.
“Do you take each other to be your lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, as long as you both shall live?" He questions. Ellie squeezes her eyes shut. So do you.
Your partner replies immediately, almost too quick. “I do.”
you hesitate for a moment, lips stuttering over your words. the officiant interrupts you.
“Before we proceed, are there any objections? Speak now or forever hold your peace.” Dina and Ellie exchange a look, Jesse looks up from the crowd.
There's a beat of silence. The officiant stands before the room, loud, intimidating. Ellie isn’t quite sure what to do; she rises.
“I object.” She steps forward, eliciting a gasp from the entire crowd. The officiant steps back, his face surprised. Your partner looks up, absolutely fuming.
You quickly turn around, eyes wide and ready to burst. “Ellie?!” You shriek. You look to Dina, and to the rest of your bridal party. The older woman bites down on her bottom lip, looking away from any and everyone.
Ellie whispers your name, her eyes desperate and yearning. You can tell she's about to cry and she knows the tears are coming, but she continues.
“I cant— I’m in love with you….” The crowd practically screams, a few people on your side of the family whistling in support, a few of your partners' people booing. “And even if—even if you don't feel the same, I can't let you go through with this. You deserve so much better.” She continues.
Your partner steps forward, the man between the two of you holding them back.
“You are the smartest, funniest, kindest, girl I've ever gotten the privilege to get to know. From the day that I met you outside of Joels’ house. Every bike ride, every sleepover, every graduation, every time youve cried to me over this fuck!” She gestures to the person behind you.
“I love you… and I can't keep it to myself anymore, not when you’re standing here in the dress I designed, about to marry them. I’m sorry..” She pleads, grabbing onto your hands. You let her hold you, her words making the crowd ooo and aaa.
“Babe, don't let—” Your partner starts, reaching out for you. their face is red with anger and their fist is clenched at their side.
“I—I wasn't sure, and when I was writing my vows I just, I thought of you, every time! Ellie, I love you so, so much. God, I don't even know why I'm standing here!” You shout. Ellie's smile is building, and your partner's frown is appearing.
Dina cheers under her breath, slowly bringing half the people in the room to a loud cheer.
“Kiss! Kiss!” Maria yells from the crowd, Dina copies her, pushing the two of you together.
“Wait I—” You start, bringing your hands to your stomach. Your anxiety quickly switches to butterflies.
You turn to your partner, “We’re done. I never wanted to marry you. Infact, you repulse me. I wasn't lying when I said I wouldn't hesitate to choose her. I’m sorry-ish.” You berate, pointing a single finger in their direction.
You then turn back around and jump into Ellie's arms, letting yourself melt into her lips.
Dina cheers, Jesse jumps up from his seat, and your now ex throws their arms up in hostility.
“I love you.” You whisper into her mouth.
“I love you more. mine.” she declares, pulling you closer to her. She wraps her arms around your waist and dips you low, lips working against yours feverishly; passionately.
“Are they just gonna make out, orr—”
“Shut the fuck up, Jesse.”
