Music Recommendation: Clouds- Before You Exit

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  "What do you think about this?" asked Olivia, holding two dresses that were peach and lilac in colour and were of similar design.

  Julie, who was talking to the store owner, turned to Olivia and nodded, "I think I like these better than the ones we saw in the other store."

  Julie had come with the vampiress and her best friend to shop for Piper's wedding.

  "I think this is a good one indeed," agreed Melanie.

  "Do we have more colors in these? Maybe each of us can wear one color that way," said Julie, and she turned to look at Ms. Dante, who was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed.

  Sensing Julie's gaze, Ms. Dante turned to look in her direction and said, "I would prefer it in beige."

  "I would like to pick lilac," Melanie picked the colour.

  "Blue, please," Olivia told the saleswoman, who was showing them the bridesmaid dresses. "It would go well with the color of my eyes. What about you, Tori?"

  "You should wear the peach one, Tori," suggested Julie, and Victoria's eyebrows furrowed.

  "I don't think it is a color that suits me," said Victorian, "Also, if I wear it, you would run out of color options. You don't need to sacrifice everything," the vampiress muttered under her breath, which both Julie and Melanie didn't catch.

  Julie then said, "I think peach is something that suits anyone. You should definitely try it."

  The woman waiting on them then asked Julie, "What color would you choose for yourself, miss?"

  Julie wondered what other colours would suit well for the wedding, which wouldn't stand out oddly. It was Victoria who suggested, "Olive green. It suited you well during the time of play."

  Julie smiled, and she nodded before turning to look at the woman, "Olive green it is."

  Olivia walked to where Victoria was and put her arm around her best friend's shoulders, "I didn't know you had such a big heart."

  Victoria rolled her eyes, "I was just being fair."

  "Mhm," smiled Olivia, hugging her friend, "It seems like you like her."

  "I never despised her," muttered Victoria before adding, "Now stop cuddling me. I know how to be civil."

  While everyone discussed the possible changes in the bridesmaid's dresses, one of the doors of the trial room opened, and Piper stepped out of it, wearing her old wedding gown that had been modified.

  Everyone stopped talking, the look in their eyes turning to an awed expression and their words falling short.

  Piper's wedding gown had a boat neck with intricate designs and little pearls that were weaved into it. With sleeves that reached to her wrists and the translucent veil fixed on her head.

  "Is anyone going to say something or should I buy a new dress?" questioned, Piper, raising her eyebrows slightly.

  Soon the girls and the women broke into compliments.

  "This looks absolutely perfect."

  "You look beautiful, Piper."

  "That's true. You will be a very beautiful bride, Ms. Piper."

  "I thought the wedding gown might have turned a little dull, but it hasn't lost its shine," remarked Olivia, and the others agreed to it.

  "If your parents were alive, they would have been very happy to see you like this, Piper," it was Ms. Dante who complimented and on receiving the shower of compliments, Piper turned pink.

  "So this is fine?" asked Piper, to make sure it was still okay to wear something so old.

  "Yes!" came the collective voices in the room.

  Days were quick to pass, and the wedding day of Piper and Tristan finally arrived.

  The wedding ceremony was going to be held in the forest, and amid the beautiful scenery. The place where the couple would be taking their wedding vows, a wedding arch had been decorated with flowers. String lights hung above, where the bulbs were placed in mason jars that had been tied in lines, below which tables and chairs had been set up.

  The vampires had helped in getting the wedding venue ready, making sure the lights were working and the food was ready. A band had been called, who played instrumental music just like the weddings that took place a century ago.

  "Where is the cake?" demanded Mr. Borrell. "It was supposed to be here an hour ago, but there has been no news about it."

  "Maximus and Mr. Evans have gone to get it, Mr. Borrell," informed one of the students.

  "And where is our priest?" questioned the professor, pushing his glasses up his nose.

  The student looked a little conflicted and replied, "I am not sure, Sir."

  Mr. Borrell raised his hand to take a look at his watch and instructed, "Make sure everyone is seated in their seats. Also our guests today are special, so don't try to compel them. I will go take a look at what's going on the other side."

  In one of the closest buildings, the Moltenore family was ready with the groom in his black suit. Lady Lilian had joined the family with Azazel Donovan. At the moment, Lady Petronile stood in front of Tristan, fixing his crooked bow, and she placed her hands on his shoulders.

  "I cannot tell how happy and proud you have made us," said the woman, tenderly smiling.

  "I didn't know marriage could do that," murmured Tristan, and Lady Petronile lightly hit his shoulder. "I am joking, mother."

  "Of course, you are," she gave him a pointed look. "You could have got married sooner, if only you had told us. Did you really think we would not agree to it."

  Tristan gave her a sheepish smile. He said, "I didn't know how to break the news then."

  "Have you planned where you are going for your honeymoon?" came the blunt question from Donovan, and Lilian turned to give him a look. "What happened?"

  "You need to give them privacy," said Lilian, and Roman shook his head. Donovan didn't understand the word privacy when it came to others.

  Donovan nodded his head and then asked, "If not a honeymoon, have you guys planned on where you are staying? With the mansions that have been turned into Dormitoriums. Did Dante arrange a place?"

  Malcolm Moltenore addressed this, "We haven't thought about it yet. As there are still a few weeks before the academic year starts. But we should be able to find a decent place."

  "How about we have a mansion built right next to the Elder's mansion? I am sure you would like having us for neighbors," Donovan suggested, and the former Lord of Veteris smiled.

  "Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Donovan," Malcolm gave a short nod.

  Roman just heard them speak without interrupting their conversation before he heard a knock on the door. "Let me get it," he said, walking to the door of the large room and opening it. It was Mr. Borrell who offered everyone a bow.

  "Everything has been prepared and is ready," Mr. Borrell coughed, "Except for our priest, whom I am yet to look for. I have to go and check if the bride is ready."

  Roman offered, "I will go and see if the bride is ready," he turned to his family, who gave him a nod, and he left the room.

  Roman could hear the music that carried itself in the air, and he made his way towards the building where the bride was. On his way, he met Maximus and Mr. Evans, who were making sure not to drop the cake.

  "Are you looking for Julie? She went to get her aunt and uncle," informed Mr. Evans.

  Though Roman did hope to meet Julie where Piper and the others were, he was glad to be informed, and he said, "Thanks."

  Before he decided to walk further and towards where the bride was, he decided to make a small stop. Once it was done, Roman then went to see Piper.

  "Rome! What are you doing here?" questioned Olivia.

  "Came here to see how the bride was doing," replied Roman, entering the room where the girls were ready.

  Piper, who had been standing in front of the mirror, turned to meet Roman's eyes, and she turned. She gave a bright smile before asking, "How is he doing there?"

  "He's doing well. How are you doing?" Roman asked Piper. He walked to where she stood and said, "Your dream of marrying him is finally going to come true. You must be ecstatic."

  Piper's eyes shone in excitement, and she replied, "You bet. I did tell you long ago, I am going to legally be your sister-in-law, didn't I?"

  "Unfortunately," remarked Roman before they both laughed. "You were already my sister-in-law when I caught you and Tristan. You look beautiful, Piper."

  "Thank you, Rome," Piper smiled wide.

  "Looks like the time is approaching. Let us give the bride a moment," Dante announced, ushering the others to leave the room.

  Near the entrance of Veteris, which was decorated in flowers, Aunt Sarah murmured, "I never thought I would be attending a wedding here. I had to even double check to make sure that we were invited."

  "Don't worry, Aunt Sarah. The vampires in here are really cool and they won't harm you," Julie assured her aunt.

  Aunt Sarah gave a nod and a smile, but she was still nervous.

  "I hope we aren't late. What time did they say that the wedding was going to start?" inquired Uncle Thomas.

  Julie checked her watch and replied, "We still have a good forty minutes." And when the Dormitorium appeared, she asked the driver to stop, "I will be getting down here. I need to get the hairpins, but you can go in and settle down."

  Getting down from the car, Julie made her way toward the girl's Dormitorium. She opened the dorm, which was nearly empty, and she was about to head towards the cupboards when her eyes fell on a letter near the window and a small box.

  The letter gently wavered because the window was left slightly open. It seemed like the thief had returned, and with a smile on her lips, she walked towards the window. Picking it up, she unfolded the letter and read—


  'To my dear Troublemaker,

  I suddenly happened to miss you, especially with the hours apart from each other as we have been busy since yesterday with the wedding. I cannot wait to see you in a few minutes. I will be under the large tree with red leaves, waiting for you. I brought you something, hoping it would match today.

  —Your Letter Thief'

  A warmth spread in Julie's chest, and she picked up the box. Opening it, she found a golden flower hairpin. Walking to the mirror, she fixed the hairpin to her tied hair.

  Before Julie left the dorm, she stared at it, her brown eyes roaming as it picked up the memories she had made here. Taking a deep breath, she finally closed the door, heading towards the wedding venue.