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Relive the Moment
For the promise he made long ago is broken, and instead of a groom, he is nothing but the ring bearer, and it turned out the woman he loved all along was about to marry his best friend.
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Ring: check. Italian dress shoes: check. Tuxedo: check.

The dark-haired man cleared his throat in nervous anticipation and thumbed the velvet box in his hand, a feeling he couldn’t fathom settling in his chest. It was a big day. Not life changing, mind you—but definitely huge.

Glancing at the box, even he could not fight the smile that was working its way across his lips as he relived that moment, many years ago.

“Cam! Hey, Cam!”

Nine year-old Cameron Fisher turned to see his best friend hurrying towards him, her dark hair flowing in the wind that was picking up. He stopped short and patiently waited for her. He had promised his mother he wouldn’t run and ruin his best suit. He glanced anxiously at the damp patches on the ground, and made a note to tread carefully.

“I can’t believe Danielle is getting married!” The brunette gasped when she was in earshot of him, clutching her side. “Dylan gets to be the flower girl,” she said, traces of envy in her voice. She took a deep breath and straightened the white ribbons tying her hair back, and flipped her curled locks over her shoulder.

“Pshaw, who wants to be a dumb flower girl?” Cam rolled his mismatched eyes and continued on his way, eyes intent on the ground. His shoes weren’t even smudged with dirt yet. Mama would be proud, he noted with happiness. “Besides, you look much better than Dylan, anyway, Massie.”

Massie blushed at this, and felt slightly better. “Well, let’s go. Dylan said to come around nine. And it’s already eight-thirty-four!” she informed with importance, flaunting her new pink Gucci wristwatch.

“My mom is already there. She went ahead to help Mrs. Marvil.” Cam said as both of them jumped over puddles that had formed during last night’s shower and walked around suspicious looking things. Massie nodded, and although her nose was wrinkled in determination to not ruin her white lace sundress, he knew she was listening. She always was.

“My mom went early, too.” Her shiny black Mary Janes barely touched the ground before they rose again. She glanced up for a brief moment at the bright summer sun. “It’s really hot today, don’t you think?”

“Kind of,” Cam said, and he could feel trickles of sweat make their way in the back of his neck. They picked up their pace, laughing and chattering mindlessly about how they thought Derek was a real goof ball, how much they both hated Math class, and how they would stay friends forever.

Massie’s amber eyes danced merrily in the bright summer day, warm sun kissing her bare shoulders. Cam’s smile was wide and joyful, his arms spread out as he described with great pains of the new episode of I Love Lucy he had just watched. Their animated chatter caught the eyes of many a passer by, and they smiled at the sight of the two charming friends.

At last, they reached Dylan’s estate, covered in vine and filled with flower beds and great sprawling lawns. White wicker chairs had been set up near the rose bushes, and blinding white clothes covering the tables flapped almost happily in the wind. The place where the minister and everyone else would be standing were separated from the guests by garlands of flowers stuck between poles. Behind the would-be minister’s place was a sort of arbor, covered with more flowers, mostly rich red roses.

Massie sucked in her breath. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever set her eyes on. Cam said nothing, but took in the wonder around him. Suddenly, Massie grabbed his hand and they found themselves examining every single nook and cranny, whirling round and round until the became dizzy and their surroundings were no more than bright splashes of colour against a vast white canvas of their life. They lay side by side on the soft grass, taking it all in.

“Cam! Massie!” Dylan ran toward them, a lively little cherub in a lace dress with fairy wings. She held a basket filled with delicate white rose petals. Her curls bounced with every step she bound, and in no time she had reached the both of them, emerald orbs sparkling with excitement. “My sister is getting married today! Can you believe it?”

Massie and Cam politely shook their heads, stood up hurriedly and brushed themselves off. Walking along with Dylan, they passed through the arch where the bride and groom would stand, walked past tables groaning under the weight of extravagant presents, and towards the naturally-shaped pool, where most of the guests were standing, eagerly waiting for the ceremony to start.

“Hey, Cam!” Josh waved, and the three of them made a beeline for him, Kemp and Chris, grabbing little hors d’oeuvres along the way. “Hi, Massie. I like your fairy costume, Dylan,” Josh nodded to each of them, as he had been thought.

“This,” Dylan informed him, “is not a fairy costume. It’s my flower girl costume. Danielle said I could wear whatever I want, since this is her special day and she wants everyone else to feel special, too,” she finished with a hint of pride.

“That’s…nice,” Josh cracked a smile and turned back to Chris who was telling them about the monkey his father promised to buy him when he turned twenty-two. Cam was about to tune into the conversation, when the unmistakable voice of Derek Harrington cried, “Heads up!”

Cam knew what it meant. ‘Heads up’ was basically code to get the heck out of there, and fast. But in the moment of shock, he found himself looking up, and SPLAT—

Massie gasped in horror, as did Dylan, and Chris, Kemp and Josh sniggered. All Cam could do was stare at the front of his bestest, best suit. It was ruined. Mama would never be proud of him now. With a sinking feeling, he took the napkin Massie had wordlessly handed him and tried his best to wipe away the mud caked there.

“Hey, buddy! Should’ve looked up,” Derek appeared, laughing nervously. Cam looked up at him with hollow eyes, and continued to spruce his suit up.

“Well, now I know. At my wedding, I’m going to hold it in a hotel,” Massie said, trying to lighten the mood.

“With air-conditioned halls,” Dylan agreed, swatting her slightly damp bangs away from her forehead.

“And better food,” Kemp flicked his canapé into the pool, earning a glare from Dylan.

“You can be the groom, Cammie,” Derek laughed.

Massie turned red as the boys laughed along. Cam felt his face grow hot, and he found himself snapping back. “Well, why not?” He watched in satisfaction as Derek’s face grew sour. He knew of Derek’s little infatuation with Massie. As they say, revenge is truly sweet.

“Really?” Massie asked shyly, peeking out from under her lashes. Her face turned a darker shade of crimson.

“Yeah,” Cam said, nodding, forgetting for a moment about his ruined suit. He turned to Dylan, “You can be flower girl again, if you want.”

“Goodie!” the red-head air clapped. Chris immediately spoke up. “Well, I want to be ring-bearer.”

“No, I want to be ring-bearer,” Kemp argued as Derek rolled his eyes.

“Well, you can be my best man, Kemp,” Cam said. All the while, he had been staring at Massie, whose face was slowly turning back to its normal colour.

“Do you really mean it?” Cam only then finally understood why people often used the phrase, ‘stars in their eyes’. That was the best word to describe how Massie looked then.

“I really do.” Cam nodded, looking down at his shiny shoes.

“Pinky promise?” Massie held out her little finger. Cam wrapped it around his own.

“Pinky promise.”

Now twenty-six year old Cameron Fisher stared at his reflection in the mirror. He straightened his tie, and took deep breaths to calm his rattled nerves. His eyes fell upon his cell phone, which was ringing.

“Yeah?” he asked, putting the little velvet box into his pocket.

“Are you done prettifying yourself, Cam my man?”

“A-all done, Derek. Big day today, huh?” Cam flicked the light close and walked out of his makeshift dressing room, closing the door soundly behind him.

“You can say that again. How are you feeling?” Cam could hear the nervousness is his best friend’s voice, and he immediately felt guilty of the thoughts that had been running through his mind as of late.

“No more nervous than you are, Derek.” He stopped right in front of the bride-to-be’s room, fingering the brass doorknob. He glanced up at the high ceiling of the church, swallowing the bitterness that was making its way up his throat. Everything was okay. Everything was alright.

“Do me a favour and talk to her. She needs it. Later, dude.” And with that, Derek hung up. Cam took a deep breath, and silently pushed open the door. He caught sight of Massie immediately. She had blossomed from the tiny, adorable girl into a mature, attractive woman. Her eyes were as bright as ever, and he took it (with a pang in his stomach) as a good thing. Massie was sitting at the vanity, laughing as Alicia, Dylan, Kristen and Claire, her bridesmaids and best friends, fussed over her. Her eyes lit up as she saw Cam, and immediately jumped up to hug him.

“Congratulations, Massie,” Cam whispered in her hair. Alicia, Dylan, Kristen and Claire exchanged knowing glances and walked out of the room, bidding Massie luck.

“Thanks, Cam.” Massie wiped away the tears of joy that had collected in the corners of her eyes, looking up at him the same way she did fifteen years ago. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Nonsense,” Cam scolded, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “So, how’re you feeling?”

“Extremely edgy,” Massie admitted, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. With her hair swept up in an effortless way, and the way her skin was glowing, she looked beautiful in Cam’s eyes. “Thanks for being here.”

“No problem, Mass.” Cam walked over to the wall and leaned against it, feeling the coolness on his back. “I am, after all, your… best friend.”

Silence greeted this. Cam rushed on, anxious to break the awkwardness. “You know, I suddenly remembered something extremely weird…”

“Hmm?” Massie sat back on the stool, and for a second, Cam wondered if there was a trace of forlornness in her eyes—but he immediately dismissed it as wishful thinking.

“You know what?” Cam shook his head, pasting a smile on his face. Perhaps, if he made himself believe he was happy, he would truly feel it. Happy. He was happy happy happy. “Forget it. It was nothing, anyway.”

Massie nodded and stood up, and for the first time in his life, he saw a side of Massie she had never shown anyone: she was scared. Her hands were trembling, and she was tugging on a strand of her hair. But her face shed no emotion. None whatsoever.

“Well, let’s get this show on the road,” Cam cleared his throat, and Massie chuckled at his lame phrase usage.

“Let’s.” Cam reached for Massie’s hand, and she squeezed it tight. It’s showtime.

Cam tried his hardest to concentrate, but he found himself staring yet again at the huge doors of the church. He wanted nothing else, to just rip off the formal clothing, burst through the double doors, sweep Massie off her feet and—and—

Don’t. Don’t think that. Don’t you dare. So he didn’t. he risked a peek at Derek. Oh, how happy he looked. He had really changed, Derek. No longer was he the weedy, mischievous boy. Sure, there were still traces of his younger self in those twinkling brown eyes of his—some things never changed. But Derek had matured, in more ways than one, and Cam supposed that was one of the many reasons why Massie was attracted to him.

The music suddenly swelled, and he turned to see Massie walking down the aisle. She doesn’t walk. No, she glides. And suddenly, he is grateful for her veil. He didn't have to look into her eyes, because knowing that mere minutes from now, that she was going to marry someone who wasn’t him pained him in ways he wished didn’t. And so she walked on, slowly, one step at a time, while he watched, quietly, one breath at a time.

Everything’s okay. Everything’s fine. Or so he tried to tell himself. For the promise he made long ago is broken, and instead of a groom, he is nothing but the ring-bearer, and it turned out the woman he loved all along was about to marry his best friend. His goddamned best friend.

During the ceremony, throughout their vows, their pledges, the priests' sermon, she only turned to look at him once, and he can’t help but feel wistful; that the look of adoration she was directing at Derek was secretly meant for him. But no, he can’t think that, can he? He had already convinced himself that it was all in the past, and Massie probably didn’t like him the way he did her, and already felt like his old self again…

Until she said I do,she looked at him once again, and it scared him. It was a look of betrayal, hurt. She knew. She remembered. She wanted. And he wanted too, more than anything else. Once again, his urges went into overdrive. He had to do something, anything. He had to stop it al—

But then, Derek responded to the minister’s question, beaming all over his face. And then it's all sealed and all his longing, his emotional wrestling is put at rest. Once and for all.

And he has nobody but himself to blame.

So I wrote this to convince myself I'm not stuck in writer's block—again. This is written for Maddie (heartstoppin') and if she reads this, I don't really care whoever else does... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

And this is also for my good friends WingsOfBetrayal, angelmusiclovebaby, and Casa! Why? Because you guys are simply amazing. And for a fellow Sandle lover, Honour Society, too :).

Oh, and I almost forgot the disclaimer - I don't own the characters of Clique, nor do I own the song that inspired me to write this: Aplogize by One Republic feat. Timbaland.