Lyle was glaring at the clock. Maybe if he willed it hard enough time would turn backwards a few minutes or at least stand still. But the minute hand kept moving forward. 9:05 it said unapologetically.
Where were they?
Mel texted to say they had found Addison ages ago and that's the last Lyle's heard.
His father, who had been pacing anxiously, stormed over to him, "We've waited long enough. He's not coming. You'll propose to the woman I picked for you."
As soon as the words were spoken the actions were put into motion. His dad wasted no time in quieting the hall and calling the girl he picked for Lyle up to the area occupied by Lyle and his parents. The girl stood in front of Lyle expectantly. She had obviously been told what was going to happen ahead of time. Maybe if he acted like he was going to propose and rally drew out how long it would take Addison would miraculously appear. Lyle knew it was a horribly plan but that's really all he had to go with.
The girl already knew she was a second choice so what did it matter if Lyle drew out the motions then took them back? He slowly got down on one knee and reached for the girl's hand. Everyone in the crowd was watching murmuring to one another at the prospect of Lyle Prince finally proposing. Lyle wondered if any of them were surprised to see someone other than Daniella on the receiving end.
Christ, I don't even know her name, Lyle rolled his eyes.
He took a deep breath.
"Lyle!" A startled voice breathed, standing out from the quieted crowd, by the entrance to the hall making Lyle look in that direction from his kneeling position.
It was Rachel, Mel and Eva with... Addison.
He looked beautiful standing there in a feathery flame dress and Lyle couldn't help the immediate physical reaction that came at the sight of him.
That's the man he loved.
To his dismay, Lyle watched as tears started to fall down Addison's face. Then the beautiful man turned and fled. Eva immediately ran after him.
He couldn't believe it. His angel had been here only to turn around and leave when they could finally be together. Why would Addison leave like that? Lyle had to only squeeze his hand which was still grasping what'shername and realize he was still kneeling to see how his actions were perceived by Addison. Lyle was too shocked by Addison's quick disappearance to register that anything else was happening around him. That is, until Mel came bounding across the ballroom and slugged him across his face hard.
"You bastard!" Mel shrieked kicking him in the shin, "I can't believe you'd do this!"
Lyle scrambled to his feet, "Woah!" he dogged Mel's flying fists. "Woah, Mel! I'm not proposing to her," he finally managed to shout, silencing the growing noise in the hall.
"You're not?" said girl pouted. Lyle just shook his head apologetically. "Pooh!" she stomped away from them.
"Sure looked like a proposal," Mel griped.
Lyle blushed, he was afraid of that, "I was stalling."
He turned to face the crowd. "Listen up, everyone. Tonight I planned to propose to the love of my life, and he just ran out the door," Lyle gestured to the door amidst the mumblings of party guests. "I know I'm the host of this party, and it's in bad taste to leave before everyone else does," even though the party officially ended at nine, "but... I hope you'll agree to let me chase after him."
There were words of encouragement from a vast number of the crowd. Lyle felt a gently hand grab his. Turning, he saw it was his mother. "Don't give up on him."
Lyle nodded and made his way through the crowd and out the door. About halfway out the walkway Lyle spotted something glistening on the ground. He realized it was a shoe. A fairly large shoe. It was gold with little pearls expertly sewn into the hemline. He knew without a doubt that it belonged to Addison.
"And now the prince must search for Cinderella," Lyle joked to himself as he picked up the shoe and went to his car.
He'd begin his search at Eva's.
Three Days Later
Addison sat slumped at the bar. "Daniella," his manager whined, "You can't sit at the bar looking all depressed," he stomped his foot for emphasis. "Nobody will wanna order from you with that attitude." Addison rolled his eyes, the man was practically pouting.
"Sorry, but this is all the enthusiasm I can muster tonight," Addison smiled thinly.
"Rough day?" his manages asked sympathetically.
"Rough life," Addi answered with a littles sigh.
After he saw Lyle proposing to someone else he fled the masquerade. Eva immediately took him to the hospital for his injuries where he found out they were worse that he thought. He ended up missing three shifts at the grocery store he worked for and they fired him. He was staying with Eva for now because his stepmother kicked him out of his home. And to top it all off, he hadn't heard so much as a word from Lyle. He understood that Lyle picked someone else, didn't expect him to magically appear and make what happened at the masquerade go away. But Addison thought he deserved some kind of apology or at least an explanation.
Yeah, his week wasn't the greatest.
He rested his head in his hands content with staring into the amber liquor bottles until his manager forced him to actually earn his paycheck. Addison kicked his shoes off, which was probably against all kinds of health code rules, but he didn't care his feet were killing him, and rested them against the cool metal of the barstool.
"Is this seat taken?" a familiar voice inquired.
Addison blinked in alarm. What was Lyle doing here after all this time? He had no reason to visit Addison anymore.
"What are you doing here?" he asked guardedly. He studied Lyle's face closely as the man answered the question, wanting to remember exactly how and what Lyle would say to this question. Lyle sighed and ran a hand through his hair, a sure sign that he was nervous. Addison found himself smiling at the little idiosyncrasy despite the situation.
"I... uh, I found your shoe," Lyle produced the shoe that had fallen off of Addison's foot as he fled that horrible party.
"And?"
"Can I put it on you, you know, to make sure it fits?"
What is this, Cinderella? Addison thought. Instead of voicing his snarky come back he held out his foot for Lyle to slide the shoe on.
There was something in the shoe. A piece of paper, maybe? "Lyle, there's something in the shoe," Addison decided to point out even though it was pretty freaking obvious.
Taking the shoe and looking in it Lyle asked, "Is there?" all the while trying to hide a grin that was threatening to escape his façade. The jerk thought this was funny. "I don't see anything."
Addison rolled his eyes, "Give me that," he grabbed the shoe from Lyle. Sure enough, inside was a folded piece of paper. Actually, it was an envelope, Addison realized after he pulled it out.
He gave Lyle a questioning look. The man merely shrugged openly grinning now. Addison carefully opened the envelope and saw account information.
It was all the information for the account that Addison's father left for him. "Oh my God," Adison could scarcely believe it. He thought the thugs had taken all of that when they had stolen the money he had.
"Mel found it in the alley where-
"Thank you so much," Addison wanted to hug the man so badly but didn't know how Lyle'd react to a hug from him now. After all, he had proposed to someone else.
A few awkward seconds passed before Addison realized that Lyle was still on the floor. He was kneeling just like he had been when he had put Addison's shoe on his foot. No, scratch that, Lyle had changed positions slightly. He was now kneeling on the floor one as if he were about to...
"What are you still doing on the floor?" Addison managed to ask around the stupid butterflies that suddenly appeared in his stomach.
"If all goes well, proposing," Lyle answered keeping his eyes focused on Addison.
"What about that girl?" Addison asked ashamed by the biting edge of jealousy he could recognize in his voice. And even so, his heart began to hammer excitedly in his chest as he began to hope like he never hoped before.
"I'm not marrying her. I don't love her."
Addison felt tears brimming in his eyes as Lyle pulled out a box that obviously contained a ring.
"I love you," Lyle grabbed Addison's hand gently. "Daniella, Addison, will you grant me the greatest happiness imaginable and agree to become my husband?"
Addison choked back a joyful sob, "Yes."
It was a simple word that changed so much. A grin erupted on Lyle's face. He gently slid the ring on Addison's finger and leapt from the floor.
Addison laughed, unbelievably happy, as Lyle pulled him close and they shared a kiss that promised a long wonderful future together.
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