Dylan was treated for two cracked ribs, a sprained ankle and a few mild bruising. Sophia refused to leave his side the whole two days he was admitted in the hospital. News about the band's attackers traveled fast through the grapevine. Soon, The Avenue found themselves being hounded by news crews, journalists and papparazis watching their every move. It was suffice to say that the incident changed The Avenue's lives.
But no one was affected the most than Dylan. At nights as he lay down to sleep, he would reminisce that fateful event and feel a huge hole gnawing at his chest. Though scared to admit, Dylan now realized how much Sophia meant to him and how he would rather lose a limb than see her suffer.
Damn those immoral perverts! Damn them to hell! Dylan silently cursed the offenders for laying a finger on Sophie.
Dylan shifted a little on the bed, holding back a groan of pain, to observe the sleeping beauty next to him. He absentmindedly traced a fingertip from her red mane to the soft skins of her arms before it finally comes to a rest on her hip. A soft sigh escaped between his lips when Dylan understood what he must do now. Life was too precious to wait any longer, scratch that, Sophia was too precious to be taken advantage of.
It's going to knock her socks off though. In a good way hopefully, prayed Dylan before burying his face in the crook of Sophia's neck and letting sleep claim his conscious.
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"Hey guys, how's it rolling?" greeted Sophia in her usual chipper way as she stepped inside the set of their new music video. The boys grunted in response as they were kept preoccupied with their instruments.
Sophia was about to head to hair and make up when she realized she hasn’t heard of that certain gruff voice responding. Turning hotly on her heels, she eyed the circle of boys and her suspicion was confirmed.
"Boys, where's Dylan?" she inquired. Hunter glanced at her with curiosity, finally immobilizing his fingers to pay attention.
"Have you checked your car? Maybe you forgot to take him out of the boot after you stuffed him there" came the sarcastic reply from Hunter.
"Ha ha, very funny," Sophia rolled her eyes, "Seriously, Hunter, where is he? Dylan told me this morning he was going to the set early to finish some work."
The other two boys were now giving Sophia their full attention, their guitars and drums laid forgotten on the floor. "Now that you mention it," Zach voiced, "I haven't seen his brown tuft anywhere and I was the first one who got here."
Sophia's brows furrowed at this new information. Why would he lie to me? she pondered. Before her mind could drift any further though, said boy rushed in but stopped abruptly when he noticed four set of eyes trained on him.
"Er, good morning?"
"Where have you been?" Sophia jumped in, hands planted firmly on her hips.
Dylan lowered his gaze to his shoes and shoved his hands into his pockets, a sign of nervousness acquainted to him. "I ah, I had some stuffs to settle," he muttered sheepishly. Sophia huffed in dismay at his answer, or lack thereof.
"Why did you lie to me?"
Dylan sighed frustratedly, knowing he had no way out of this. Luke, Zach and Hunter felt the crackling tension in the air between the two of them and they shifted on their chairs unpleasantly. Luke cleared his throat and at long last, spoke up.
"I suddenly have the urge to shoot some hoops. Anybody wanna join me?"
Zach literally jumped from his seat and shouted, "I do! I love myself some football!" The three boys later proceeded to shuffle to the exit in what can be interpreted as rush. Luke's voice could be heard faintly scolding his younger brother. "It's basketball, you idiot!"
Dylan suspired heavily again before closing the distance between Sophia and him. He gently untangled her arms that were then crossed in front of her chest. Sophia continued to frown at him despite her anger dissipating at the sight of his big brown eyes.
"Sophie, I didn't purposely lied to you," Dylan pouted, "I have a very good reason for it."
Sophia merely raised an eyebrow while continuing her scowling. Dylan reached a hand inside of his pocket again and pulled out a black velvet box. A shocked gasp promptly left Sophia's mouth when he began to kneel on one knee in front of her. Her heart was hammering frantically until it nearly drowned out Dylan's voice.
"Sophia, you have been the most important person in my life, even before I knew it myself and--and crap!" Dylan stuttered. The next thing he did strayed way, way far from the typical romantic proposal you see in movies but Sophia was still reduced to tears.
"I'm not good at all this romantic word stuff," Dylan muttered almost angrily. "But, I love you and we don't need a bunch of words to make us realize that. So I'm gonna shut up soon before I make a complete fool of myself in front of my future wife. That is! If you will accept it! You will, won't you? I totally understand if you don't--"
Dylan's excessive babblings were cut off by Sophia's lips pressing against his own. They broke apart, gasping for breath and wide smiles on their faces. "I'll take that as a yes," Dylan grinned.
As Dylan slipped the one carat diamond ring onto Sophia's fourth finger, she couldn't stop the tears that rushed to her eyes. She quickly enveloped him with her famous bone-crushing hug until he was left breathless.
Dylan laughed before leaning down to capture Sophia's lips with his in a brief yet passionate kiss. It wasn't long before he hollered the boys' names and ordered them inside.
"Hurry up, guys! We have something to tell you!" Dylan ushered. The boys scurried over to the duo where Sophia showed them the ring with a Cheshire grin.
"Dude!"
"No way!"
"Holy crabfish!"
Dylan landed a quick kiss on Sophia's head while their friends were busy gawking at the now engaged couple. He noted that Sophia had never looked so happy in all the 10 years they've been friends. A shot of pride jolted over his heart at the thought that the grin on her face was the cause of him. Alas, after many exchanges of hugs and congratulatory, the band's producer strutted in and broke apart the happy circle.
"Break it up guys, it's time to work!" Kevin ordered, oblivious to the newly engaged couple. They quickly scrambled to their places and resumed shooting their new video without any commotion, just smiles adorning Sophia's and Dylan's face.
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"You're what?!"
Sophia cringed, pulling the phone away from her as her mother shouted through it.
"Yes, mom, Dylan and I are engaged now," she calmly repeated herself. When her mother shrieked loudly, a startled Sophia struggled to catch the phone that had slipped from her fingers. She managed to capture the falling item just in time and cradled it closely to her chest.
"Mom, don't shout!" she protested when her ear had stopped ringing.
"Sorry honey, but wow!" Natasha gasped in amazement, " I can't believe my little baby is going to get married!"
"I'm not a baby," she mumbled meekly, blushing faintly. While Natasha kept rambling about wedding preparations and--god forbid--the wedding night, Sophia hummed in agreement when compelled to and leaned her chin on her open palm. Even though the humiliation was evident in the redness of her cheeks, Sophia couldn't help but smile as she listened obediently to her mother.
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After months of planning, rehearsals and heart palpitations, the big day was approaching fast. Tonight was Dylan's bachelor party, courtesy of Hunter Mayer who turned a blind eye on the groom's protests and brought Luke along to their usual pub. Zach was still underage so he begged on his knees to attend Dylan's bachelor party but the boys wouldn't take him.
"Kinsley!" Dylan growled threateningly as he eyed the crowded pub, "I told you no parties!"
Hunter rolled his eyes before pushing Dylan to the bar. "Relax, Dylan. I'm not going to throw a stripper at you."
"That's what you said," he grumbled under his breath, reluctantly sitting on a bar stool next to Hunter.
"The usual, Bob!" Hunter shouted to the bartender over the deafening music. He sneaked a glance at the sulking Dylan when his heavy suspire caught his attention.
"Dude, lighten up!" said Hunter, "This is the last night of your bachelorhood! Zach cried to let us sneak him in here."
Dylan threw Hunter a frustrated glance before finally relenting to his persuasion. "Fine but it I see one bare skin of a pole dancer near me, you are not going to live to see our wedding," warned Dylan.
"Deal!" Hunter grinned. When the bartender returned with three glasses of tequila, Hunter and Luke whooped in excitement.
"Bottom's up, my man!" Luke pushed a glass towards Dylan. He took it in his hands and drowned the whole thing in a single go. As the burning liquid seeped down his throat, he gnawed on a piece of lemon to contain the sensation.
"I hate shots!" coughed Dylan when he finally regained his breathing. The other two threw their heads back in laughter before pushing more glasses to Dylan.
"The night has just begun," Hunter smirked mischievously. Dylan didn't bother masking the look of horror plastered upon his face.
*********************************************************************************
Dylan stumbled outside of the nightclub, giggling like a school girl. "Guys, hey guys, check this out."
When Hunter and Luke had given him their attention, Dylan proceeded to blow a bubble from his mouth into the night sky. The trio burst into uncontrollable drunk laughter.
"Dude, that's epic talent!" slurred Luke, "It's even better than your guitar. Maybe you should quit being a guitarist and become a bubble-blowist. You can blow bubbles all day long then come home and blow bubbles to Sophie. Your kids will have your talents and you can be the amazing bubble-blowing family!"
"Shit, Sophia," groaned Dylan when the subject of his bride entered the conversation. He risked a fleeting look at his watch and was horrified when it read 4.30 a.m.
"Guys, I have to get back," uttered Dylan hurriedly while shrugging on his coat, "Sophia would kill me if I have a hangover during our wedding!"
All boys cringed at the memory of an infuriated Sophia releasing her wrath on them when they arrived drunk for her Christmas dinner a few years ago. Long story short, the four of them saw stars in their eyes that night and vowed not to get on her bad side, ever again.
"Dude, you better hurry back. We're gonna get it too when she finds out we brought you here," urged Luke who seemed to have snapped out of his alcohol-induced haze. Suddenly a Cheshire grin formed on Dylan's face.
"On second thought, maybe I should grab a few more drinks," Dylan teased, biting back laughter at the sight of his friends' pale faces.
In mere minutes, Hunter had a cab waiting at the curb and Luke pushed Dylan into the yellow vehicle. "See you at the hotel, bud!" hollered Hunter while waving animatedly at the moving taxi. Dylan snorted but waved back nonetheless.
"Where to, sir?" asked the Indian driver.
"Hilton Garden Inn, please," answered Dylan. As the taxi drove off, he leaned back and started imagining the wedding that was only ten hours away. They will get married at Saint Peter's church, a 10 minute drive from their accommodation before the wedding reception which will be held at the hotel's own ballroom.
Dylan closed his eyes and imagined Sophia in her white dress walking down the aisle. No doubt she would take his breath away. He wouldn't be able to stop a few drops of tears that would spill from his eyes while reading his vows to her as their friends and families witness it. He couldn't wait.
CRASH!
Dylan's eyes snapped open at the loud noise. Instantly he was blinded by bright headlights from a car that seemed to be heading their way. Cursing loudly, the driver immediately swerved to avoid the car. The tires skidded against the frozen road, causing a loud screech to break the silence of the night. Dylan grabbed blindly for any support when he was thrown around in the car as it rolled on the road. The yellow cab finally came to a halt on its roof, its occupants dangling from their seats.
Dylan was surrounded by pieces of glass, broken metal and blood. His head was pounding and his vision began to swim. Just before he succumbed to the white light that diminished away all the pain, an image of Sophia flashed through his mind. Then he thought no more.
Labels: It's Just You and Me Honey