Chapter 20: 18 ♜ Rehearsals

As Spencer entered his apartment, his phone buzzed. It was Amelie.

He sighed. Maria really did not take her time telling Amelie she met him.

He didn't want to answer. But he realised how much of an asshole he was being and pressed the green button.

"Hello?"

"Oh. Kingsley, hey. I didn't think you'd answer..."

Spencer sighed. He actually felt ashamed that he treated her so badly. She didn't deserve that. "Hey. I'm sorry I didn't answer. I just had a bad day. But I'm glad to hear your voice. I missed you."

"Oh. Uh, I missed you too. Is everything okay? Anything I can help with?"

"Um, nah. I'll get over it though. I'll be fine." He didn't believe himself but he was a real believer of speaking things into existence. "Can you come over?"

"Oh, I'm sorry Kingsley. I'm staying with my dad tonight. But I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Um, I'm busy tomorrow."  Yeah, busy sulking. "Sunday?"

"Perfect. I'll see you then, babe. And if there's anything I can do let me know."

After saying goodbye, Spencer hung up and sighed. He felt such a flurry of emotions. He just wanted to lie down and sleep. He had enough drama for one day.

It was only a rehearsal dinner. Spencer shouldn't have been offended. But deep down Spencer knew that it would probably be the last chance for him to talk to Madeline. Maybe even try to convince her not to get married. But Charlie was right. He had to move on. And he was perfectly content with Amelie. Maybe some day he would learn to love her like he loved Madeline.

Spencer looked into the mirror of his bathroom. Maybe he was tipsy but his mind felt clear. "I'm done," He announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to get over you, Madeline Lockhart. I have to or else it will destroy me."

♜♜♜

Spencer woke up to the sound of his phone's ringtone.

"Hello?" He answered groggily. He had a very restless and sleepless night. It took him hours to finally go to sleep but even after he did his dreams were plagued with distorted memories of her. His eyes flickered to his watch which revealed it was almost two o'clock. Wow, he really slept in.

"Spence? It's Nora."

Spencer didn't expect Nora to call him. But it was hardly a coincidence that she was calling him on the same day of Madeline's party. A pit of dread settled in his stomach. "Hey. Are you at Madeline's thing?"

"Thing? It's not just a thing Spencer. It's her rehearsal dinner."

Like rubbing salt on a wound.... "Okay, well, what do you want?

He could hear Nora scoff. "I'm doing you both a favour. You need to come tell Madeline how you feel about her."

Huh? He wasn't expecting that at all. He had to sit up and rub his eyes, making sure he wasn't still stuck in a dream. "What feelings are you talking about, Nora? We're not even friends anymore! She didn't even invite me to the rehearsal dinner."

"Look, I shouldn't even be talking to you because if Madeline finds out what I'm saying she'll kill me. But it kills me to see how much you two love each other. It's been like this since you were seventeen. If you let her get married without telling her how you feel you'll regret it forever. Spence, come today and tell her."

Spencer was silent for a few seconds trying to make sense of what she was saying. Was this a sick joke? Or was it just really obvious how much Spencer loved Madeline. But it would be a douche-y move to just crash her rehearsal dinner.

"Spencer? Are you still there?"

He swore to himself the night before that he was done chasing her. He said he was going to try to get over her. Going to her then and telling her he loved her wouldn't do anything to help his heartbreak. Not unless she miraculously changed her mind about the wedding. There was no point. He would be happier if he stayed at home.

"Uh, yeah. Okay, I'm on my way."

♜♜♜

Spencer was terribly underdressed. He was in such a rush to get there that he didn't even think about changing into more suitable attire. Clad in grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt, Spencer stuck out like a sore thumb. However, despite not changing, he was still three hours late. Madeline chose a very distant hotel. Maybe it was because she didn't want Spencer to find out. But he was probably only being paranoid.

He didn't know what to do when he reached the gorgeous and lavish hotel. Granted he wasn't actually invited to the thing but no one would kick him out. He was Spencer Kingsley. They wouldn't dare.

The hotel was overflowing with guests trying to find their way and Spencer wondered if the wedding rehearsal was over. Of course there would be a dinner afterwards followed by a night of joy and dancing and potentially heartbreak depending on how his conversation with Madeline went.

What was he even doing? Madeline knew how he felt.... probably. He was acting recklessly. What about Amelie? This was definitely cheating. He was about to cross the point of no return. This wasn't him. Spencer was an earnest believer in staying faithful in relationships. He was surrounded by cheaters like Kamil and Oliver but he always tried to be different. But if he told Madeline how he loved her, he would be no different than them. What if he became just as twisted and immoral as them?

No. He couldn't go through with this. He had to leave. Amelie didn't deserve this.

But as soon as he turned around, his mind became blank. There she was. And suddenly, replacing all the doubts and worries, Madeline became the only thing on his mind. She was walking along side some hotel employee, instructing him to do something. She wore a silk, cream-coloured off-the-shoulder piece with brilliantly blue teardrop earrings and a matching turquoise pendant. He didn't know how she managed to glow so radiantly but she did. And it was spectacular.

She turned to point to the door when her eyes fell on his.

She paused for a few moments, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Then, after getting over her initial shock she stormed upstairs.

Spencer felt his legs move quickly towards her. All his previous doubts were concealed by one goal; telling Madeline he loved her.

"Maddie! Wait."

He ran up the stairs and followed her. The employee she had been talking to stepped aside to let him pass but not before peering at him in confusion.

"Maddie!"

"You're not supposed to be here, Spencer!"

"Please!" He cried.

She sighed and turned around. "What?" She spat bitterly.

"Why are you angry?! You're the one that invited me to your wedding!"

"Yes, my wedding. Not the rehearsal. I've had such an exhausting day. I can't do this right now."

"Can we talk? I have a lot of things I need to get off my chest."

She rolled her eyes and looked around. "Fine. Not here. I don't want anyone to see me losing my shit."

She wordlessly led him to one of the hotel rooms. From the makeup and fabric scattered everywhere, Spencer guessed it was where she got ready. Hopefully she wouldn't end up 'losing her shit'.

She sat down and looked at him, cocking her eyebrow. "What."

He took a deep breath in and out to ease his nerves. "I still don't understand why you're angry at me for being here."

"I didn't want talk to you. Not before the wedding. I didn't want to see you. I-"

"Madeline... I can't let you get married without telling you how I feel about you."

"Spencer-"

"Choose me," He blurted. "It's meant to be us. Spencer and Madeline against the world. You're my soulmate and-"

"First of all, I don't believe in soulmates." Madeline stood up furiously. "Second of all, are you still with Amelie?"

"Um, yes but-"

"Then we shouldn't even be having this conversation! Spencer, why can't you just me happy for me! My life had been so messy up until I met Blake. I love him. Not you-"

"Bullshit!"

"Spencer, I choose him. I want to be with him. You're acting really selfish right now. I can't believe you're putting me in this position again. I'm not going to be the mistress!"

"You won't be! I'll break up with Amelie," He declared a bit too easily.

Madeline sucked her teeth and thought for a moment before speaking. "Spencer, listen to me very closely. You're acting just as entitled as you were in high school. Just because we loved each other doesn't mean I have to choose you. I love Blake too. And I choose him. Let me be happy."

"Nora told me-"

"Nora?! Nora got involved in this absurd attempt to get me to leave my fiancé for you?! Wow, you both are idiots!"

"She's not an idiot. She can see how perfect we are for each other. You're lying to yourself if you don't believe that!"

"So what if I am? The fact that you can't be happy for me and you can't let me go means that even if I was single, I still wouldn't choose you!"

Like a dagger to the heart.

Spencer retreated like a hurt puppy. He could see the look on Madeline's face. It was a look of anger and realisation at what she just said. But she didn't retract her comment.

'Even if I was single, I still wouldn't choose you'.

"And..." Her voice trembled. "If you can't be happy for me then don't even come to the wedding. I said I wanted my best friend there but I don't even know who you are anymore."

She maintained eye contact long enough to hit the message home. Then, after taking a second to catch her breath she walked to the door and swung it open.

"Goodbye, Spencer," She said before slamming the door shut behind her.

♜♜♜

My crush unfollowed me on Instagram loooooool

Next update in two weeks xx