Forget the Mistletoe
Summary: Lily Mills is all grown-up and eager to attend another wedding this Christmas. But she is not too eager with the wedding tasks given to her by the bride and the groom, and with their insistent meddling on her love life. She doesn't need anyone really mainly because she likes someone else already. The fact that he doesn't like her back doesn't matter, at first. She realizes she wants her chance underneath the mistletoe too. But she's not close to experiencing that so...maybe she should just forget the mistletoe.
A/N: Hi everyone, I'm back:) Well, here's another Mistletoe Story (MS), and I hope you'll like this one too. I actually didn't plan on writing another MS but I couldn't resist! I wanted Lily to have her own story too, and let's just say, I was inspired to write again. Read, Enjoy and Review:)
Prologue – A Wish Come True
She was nervous.
But she was excited, happy and very much delighted with everything she saw.
Eight year old Lily Mills clutched the basket of blue and white rose petals tightly, feeling afraid she would drop it in the middle of walking down the aisle. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of all the Daniels after all their hospitality and kindness to her. And she definitely didn't want to embarrass herself in front of all the millions of people she saw! She didn't even know most of them.
As she took a peek around the archway decorated with flowers and with a sprawling white velvet carpet, she watched the guests as some were already seated while some were still arriving and just going to their seats.
She stared longingly and dreamily down the white velvet carpet, imagining herself walking down the aisle. She giggled as she conjured up an image of her in her dress with a matching white veil. With the Wedding March, she would walk gracefully down the aisle like a princess.
Frowning slightly, she debated with herself whether she wanted to be a princess or an angel. Then after a few minutes, her face relaxed. With a wide smile, she murmured to herself, "Lizzie's an angel and I want to be like her!"
Lizzie Daniels had been a prayer answered and more. Ever since she was a little girl, Lily always envied her schoolmates and friends who had older sisters. She remembered asking her parents why she didn't have an older sister. Ethan and Jordan, her two older brothers, would pretend to be hurt and act girly for her benefit.
Lily smiled giddily at the memory of her two older brothers pretending to be girls. But she always insisted on wanting to have a sister to talk to about girl things. When her parents explained to her that they could no longer give her a sister, they explained how Ethan and Jordan could give her one. So ever since that day, she kept on asking her two brothers to give her. Ethan eventually introduced a lot of possible sisters but Lily never liked them. They seemed too polite and they would always tell her she looked pretty but they never talked to her.
Lily had asked Jordan why, and he answered that it was because she was young. She didn't like the sound of that. One day, two years ago, Ethan introduced Dana Rodriguez to their family. Lily had thought Dana would also tell her she was pretty and then not to talk to her, but she was wrong. One of her prayers was finally answered.
Now, she was hoping another prayer would be answered, and it was her prayer for Jordan. Lily didn't know what he meant but he had said, "I'm waiting for the right one, Lily. I want to make sure she'll be the big sister you've always wanted."
The day Lizzie found her at the mall, Lily had felt her prayers were answered. Lizzie had approached her, smiled at her and talked to her. Of course, it turned out that Jordan didn't know her. But all that changed a few weeks ago, when she and Jordan went with Ethan to the Daniels.
Lizzie was just like Dana, and even better. She accompanied Lily around the house, to the frozen lake and even to Fair Hair, to get Lily's rainbow hair. She giggled at the memory of her rainbow hair but sobered up when she remembered the reaction of the grown-ups. Ethan got mad too, a little.
She even let me sleep with her that night, Lily thought. And she made sure no one got mad at me.
Lily remembered too her confession to Lizzie, before she, Jordan and Ethan left for the church. She had said it out loud. She had said the very thing that had been on her mind ever since she and Jordan arrived at the Daniels. She wanted her brother and Lizzie to be together, just like Ethan and Dana.
She heard her confession in her head. I just wanted to tell you that all I've wanted was for you and Jordan to be together. I wished every night and every day that he would fall in love with you and you would fall in love with him. And I know, I might be asking a lot when I say that I want you to marry him. I want you to be my sister 'cause I really love you.
She looked around forlornly, wondering what Lizzie thought of her now. She had felt so shy after her confession that she ran out of the room. She felt nervous too because Jordan kept asking her why she was quiet.
She hadn't told him her big confession to Lizzie. She was about to but Ethan stopped her because as he told her, Jordan already liked Lizzie. But when Ethan said that Jordan just didn't know it yet, Lily got really confused. She kept asking Ethan what he meant but his only reply was, "You'll understand when you grow older."
"Are you sure, Ethan?" she had asked, highly doubtful that she would understand something if she didn't understand it now.
Ethan had laughed and hugged her fiercely. "You will, Lily, you will."
Now, Lily looked around the beautiful church and held her chin up. Whatever Ethan meant, she did hope she would understand it when she was older. And she hoped her wish would come true.
She searched the sea of faces for her brothers, who told her they would just check on the groom, and parents, who had arrived already from their business trip. She felt a little lost and alone standing at the foyer of the church, not knowing most of the people around her.
She spotted her parents and waved enthusiastically. They both smiled widely at her and waved eagerly too.
Lily didn't want to look away, afraid she'd lose them again but she heard her brother's voice behind her. "Hey there, Rainbow Girl!"
Lily turned around and squealed with delight as she jumped up Jordan's outstretched arms. "I want to be an angel, Jordan! Just like Lizzie!"
He looked at her, his eyes twinkling. "Angels don't have rainbow-colored hair."
Lily gasped, and looked extremely shocked. "They don't? Well, I'm glad I washed out my hair already, Jordan!" She held out her hair for him to see. "It's no longer rainbow-colored right?"
"Definitely not," Jordan agreed. "Alright, you'll be my Rainbow Angel."
Lily let out a squeal of delight and wrapped her arms harder around Jordan. He staggered slightly at her sudden weight. "There are so many people, Jordan!"
He laughed as he cradled her in his arms. "I can see that."
"Aren't you nervous? I sure am! I was just thinking I might drop the basket! Or, now that I'm so nervous, what if I vomit all over the white carpet, Jordan? I'll ruin this beautiful wedding! Sally will hate me! What will Lizzie think?" Lily said in a rush words, her forehead scrunched and her lips pouting.
Jordan kissed her cheek. "You'll be the best flower girl."
"You're just saying that because you're my brother," she said almost accusingly except she was smiling widely.
"And I don't see what's wrong with that," Jordan said grinning.
Lily smiled happily back at him. "Mommy and Daddy said that too. Mommy kept adjusting my-," she paused, "Jordan, what do you call this?" she asked, pointing to the crown of petals on her head.
"A headband?"
"A headband goes this way, not that way," Lily demonstrated how a headband goes down the head but the crown on her head went around. She sighed. "And she kept fussing over my dress and shoes. Daddy was just looking at me, with a smile on his face. He kept taking his glasses off and wiping his eyes. Mommy said he was getting 'emotional'. What does that mean, Jordan?"
"That he's very proud of you, and he loves you very much," Jordan responded affectionately.
Lily smiled dreamily again, very happy to have her family. "Oh, it's such a beautiful day, isn't it Jordan? I know I keep saying I love spring because of all the flowers blooming, but I think I love winter too! And I love weddings too! I love weddings in winter because everything is white!" She giggled. "White weddings in winter, or white winter weddings, how does that sound?"
"It's called alliteration," Jordan remarked, "if all the words start with the same letter. And, how about winter white weddings?"
"Wonderful winter white weddings," Lily repeated, trailing off and adding a new word. She was deciding which sounded better. "I think I like yours better," she announced happily, "When do you think this wedding will start?"
Jordan shrugged and set her down. "It may take a while. Sally's not yet here, and so are Becky, Lizzie and their mom."
When he mentioned Lizzie, Lily's face lit up. She looked up and tugged at Jordan's black tuxedo. "Have you seen Lizzie today? She looked so beautiful! Really for sure like an angel, Jordan! And the blue on her dress looks like the sky! Her hair had blue glitters on them, like we use at school, and it's perfect and makes her look so much like an angel from heaven!"
She was ever careful not to mention her big confession.
Jordan looked down at her and held her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "I did see her, Lily," he said softly with a strained smile as his eyes clouded.
She looked up expectantly at him. "Well? Don't you agree she looked beautiful like an angel?"
Jordan was saved from answering by the arrival of Ethan and Dana. "Lily, you look like a princess!" Ethan gushed bending down to kiss her.
Lily smiled brightly at him. "Thank you, Ethan. You and Dana look like a king and queen!" They grinned at her.
"She wants to be an angel," Jordan quipped.
"Well, you definitely look an angel and you're definitely the best flower girl among the rest," Ethan amended, pinching her nose warmly before straightening up.
"And I definitely agree," Dana said also bending down to hug Lily.
Lily beamed. "Thank you, Dana. Mommy and Daddy didn't give me a sister before so now, they're giving me a real beautiful sister like you!" she gushed, making Ethan and Dana look at each other fondly while Jordan pretend to gag. "I already wished they'd give me another beautiful sister," she said, looking pointedly and quite innocently at Jordan who coughed.
Ethan and Dana burst out laughing. "She is definitely clever," Dana praised, while Ethan shot Jordan a triumphant grin. "Gotcha," he said to Jordan before he winked at Lily and asked, "Is that your Christmas wish this year, Lily?"
Lily scrunched up her face, thinking. "I think so."
Jordan didn't say anything so Lily continued to talk. She had only remembered she was still holding the basket of petals. "Am I holding this basket right? Is there a right way to throw the petals? I wish I throw the petals right!"
"Whatever way you hold the basket or throw the petals will be alright, I'm sure, my dear lovable sister," Ethan said reassuringly. He smiled at her. "We'll go and find Mom and Dad."
"They're over there." Lily pointed. "Mommy and Daddy were with me but the Clari-Clarinet woman told them to sit there."
Jordan, Ethan and Dana all laughed.
"Clarice," Jordan corrected.
"Clarice," Lily pronounced slowly but correctly.
Ethan and Dana wished Lily good luck again before Ethan ushered Dana to one of the pews where their parents were waiting. He was then going to take his place next to Spencer Ridge as the best man. Jordan led Lily again to the back of the church where the other flower girls were waiting.
"I'll see you after the winter white wedding, okay?"
"Wonderful winter white wedding," Lily corrected. Then she nodded, suddenly out of breath. She smiled one last time at Jordan before he waved and left her.
Clarice, the wedding planner, began to arrange them by height and because Lily was the oldest and tallest of the five flower girls, she was at the back.
She took in the sight before her. The bridesmaids all clustered around each other, talking and laughing excitedly with the groomsmen stood clustered close to them too. She saw Matthew and Mark Daniels waving and making faces at her. She giggled.
A little boy was being placed in line by Clarice, the wedding coordinator. She shooed away three other boys. Lily giggled at the memory of calling her Clarinet. Still smiling, she turned her attention back to the four other flower girls.
"I'm nervous."
Lily looked at Dina Daniels, the first grandchild of Mr. and Mrs. Daniels. "Oh, me too," she said without hesitation, "I keep thinking if I might trip or drop my basket or throw flowers into the people's faces that they might get angry at me!"
Dina paled. "I never thought of that."
"Well, it doesn't have to happen," Lily said meekly.
Then Dina suddenly giggled and Lily, surprised, looked questioningly at her. Dina pointed and said, "Uncle Mark and Uncle Matt are being silly!"
Lily looked towards the direction where she saw the Daniels twins and giggled too. The twins were pantomiming flower girls – one was eating the flowers from the invisible basket while the other was vomiting on the basket.
"You're so lucky to have uncles like them!"
"But they're always teasing."
"That's okay if they make you laugh."
"And they made me feel much better now."
"Not anymore nervous?"
"Not anymore."
"Well, I do too, although I feel very much excited too! This is my first wonderful winter white wedding!" Lily rushed out breathlessly. "It's really my first time to wear something like this! It's absolutely positively beautiful and amazing!"
As if to emphasize her point, she held up a side of her dress with two fingers and then with a giggle, she spun around.
"Lily, look out!" Dina suddenly cried out.
Lily didn't see the two people entering the church and she collided with them. "Oh no!"
Lily felt a hand reach out to her shoulders to prevent her from falling. She nearly dropped her basket but held onto it just in time, although some petals had fallen to the floor.
"Sorry," the boy apologized. Another boy with him bristled, looking angry.
But Lily barely heard the apology and she didn't notice the other boy because she bent down to retrieve the fallen petals. She carefully picked up each piece while another pair of hands helped her. One boy, the apologetic one, had crouched down to help her.
"Be careful," Lily said to the boy who was helping her. "Don't crush them."
"I won't," he promised as he presented to her with open palms the petals he picked.
"Put them here," Lily held out her basket and as she dropped some of the petals she got, he also dropped the petals he got.
The boy straightened up, and offered her his hand. "I'm sorry we weren't looking."
Careful again with her basket, Lily took his hand and stood up. "It's okay. The flowers are all safe," she said with a smile.
He smiled shyly at her too. "Good luck!"
Lily thought it was a mean thing for him to tease her but then she thought maybe he wasn't. She was about to thank him when Clarice came running. The two boys left and Lily couldn't find them amongst all the people.
"We're starting!" Clarice whispered loudly.
She shivered deliciously inside and felt giddy. The wedding was going to start! She turned around and instantly felt the luckiest girl in the world because she got to be the one who was going to be standing right in front of the bride!
The Wedding March began and Lily watched ahead of her as the bridesmaids and groomsmen started moving. Then she saw Lizzie come out from one of the rooms, and her eyes followed Lizzie as she met up with her partner…
Jordan!
Lily bounced with delight as she peered around Dina in front of her to watch Lizzie and Jordan walk down the aisle together. She could only see their backs but she smiled even wider when she saw their arms link together. If her hands were free she would have clapped her hands.
Maybe her wish was going to come true after all!
She was still on cloud nine for Lizzie and Jordan when Clarice told the flower girls to start moving. She suddenly grew nervous because it was their turn, and she wished she would drop the petals right.
Lily was so careful to walk and shower the white carpet with the petals from her basket.
Her wish came true indeed
What do you think:D