One Night Stand

“I wish you could come with me mum. It would make me so happy if you showed up at my wedding,” Elena told her mother, Mia Robert, who was laying on the hospital bed, a sad undertone to her voice.

Mia smiled sadly, “I’ll be with you even if I'm not there darling,” she squeezed her hand reassuringly.

Tears rolled down Elena's eyes as she held her mum's hand as well, “You can't come to see me at my wedding, and Dad…” her voice broke, “Dad won't walk me down the Aisle,” she cried.

Two years ago, when she was 23, her parents had gotten into a ghastly accident that took her father's life on the spot and led to her mother being hospitalized. Her mother needed a bone marrow for the transplant and she had been saving up for it.

Since she had gotten her mother admitted into an expensive hospital so as to stabilize her condition till she could afford the bone-marrow operation, most of the money she was saving for the operation went to paying the hospital bills.

Mia wiped the tear from her face, “Darling, you shouldn't cry on your big day,” she smiled, “Instead of focusing on the bad memories, focus on the good ones and anticipate making amazing memories with your future husband, Jared.”

“Future? We're getting married today,” Elena chuckled, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks.

Mia gave her a bright smile, “I’m so glad you've decided to marry Jared,” she let out a deep sigh and then said, “You should stop crying and get going. Your wedding is in a few hours and you don't want to keep your groom waiting,” she told her.

“I love you mum,” Elena told her mother, “And I promise you'll soon be out of this bed,” she assured her as she planted a kiss on her forehead.

Mia held her daughter's hands, “Make sure you don't fall,” she teased.

Elena rolled her eyes, “Is this your way of comforting me, mum? Because all you've achieved is making me even more nervous than I already am.”

“Don't be nervous, you'll be fine. I know you will,” Mia assured her  daughter. They both exchanged goodbyes and Elena made her way out of the hospital and towards the car that had brought her to the hospital.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered in disbelief as she saw Jared's Limo parked outside the hospital, the car that had brought her was nowhere to be found.

Jared Meade was a millionaire and New York's most eligible bachelor; the heartthrob of many ladies and Elena's Fiance.

He was a guy who loved flaunting his wealth and that was the reason why he and Elena would always argue because he always made a big deal out of the littlest things. Despite his personality, he didn't involve himself in the payment of Elena's mother's hospital bills  because she had told him not to.

She didn't want him to feel she was with him for the money and so refused his money and focused on building herself.

“I should have known he'd do something like this,” she sighed as the chauffeur that had brought her earlier stepped out of the driver's seat to open the door for her.

“What’s going on Simon? What's with the Limo? What happened to the car?” she questioned him in irritation. It was bad enough that she was having a large scale wedding but now she'd be driven around in a Limo.

“I’m acting on Sir Jared's instructions, Miss Elena. He said to take you to the hotel to get prepared for the wedding in the Limo and not the car,” Simon explained to her.

Jared is so dead. She thought as she got into the car and settled comfortably in one of the seats. She was reading a book when the screen of her phone lit up and ‘Wild things by Alessia Cara’ began blaring from her phone.

The name ‘Medusa’ danced on the screen of the phone as Elena wondered if she should pick it or not.

“Don’t even talk ill of Jared,” Elena warned immediately she picked the call, “It’s my wedding and you're not going to sour my mood. Not after you decided not to come for my wedding. Some best friend you are,” Elena scoffed.

A hearty chuckle came from the other end of the phone. It died down after a while and a fruity voice spoke, “Take a chill pill Mrs.” she chuckled, emphasizing on the 'Mrs', before continuing, “I called to congratulate you… for the umpteenth time.”

Elena scoffed, “Can I hang up now, Eva?”

Eva let out a deep sigh from the other end of the phone, “Really, Elena? I've explained this to you times without number. I can't make it because of my tight schedule and I won't damage my work reputation because of Jared,” she paused, realizing she had said too much.

“Look, Elena, I'm happy for you, really, and that's why I'm calling to congratulate you and apologize. If I could have been there, you know I would. My love for you is stronger than my hatred for Jared.” Eva concluded making Elena sigh.

“I know that Eva. It's just I feel really sad because my family isn't here with me. My mum is on the sick bed and you're stranded by work…” she was already breaking down, “It’s my special day, but no one is here,” she was now crying.

Eva shushed her from the end of the phone, “Babe, it's your wedding day and you shouldn't be in tears, okay? You'll be fine and please, don't cry. Enjoy your day and don't forget to send pictures of you in your wedding dress.” Eva chuckled.

Elena laughed at Eva words and although she wasn't there, nodded, “Thank you honey,” and they continued talking about different things till Eva had to hang up. Elena continued reading her book, now excited about her wedding as her heart pounded in her chest.

The limo pulled to a halt at the hotel and Elena got out and was led to her room where the make-up artists and a few of her other friends were waiting.

They immediately began dressing her, while cracking jokes and making her happy and in two hours, she was ready. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and a smile made its way to her face, “Finally, I'm going to be Mrs. Meade.” she muttered to herself.

She took several pictures and sent them to Eva before she was led out of the hotel and black into the Limo, “How do I look?” she asked one of her friends.

“You like a beautiful but nervous bride. You'll be fine. Just relax,” the friend assured her and everyone kept trying to make her feel less nervous throughout their journey to the church.

They arrived at the church just on time and Elena was told to sit in the car till it was time for her to walk down the Aisle.

“Do you think Jared is already there?” she asked one of the people inside the Limo with her.

“Of course,” the person answered, “He’s most likely nervous as you and excited about the wedding.”

That calmed Elena down a bit and after a while of waiting, she was brought down from the car by one of Jared's close friends, Sonny. Since Elena had no father and didn't know her distant relatives, Jared had told Sonny to serve as her father. He was the one who would walk her down the Aisle.

“Are you ready?” Sonny asked her.

She took a deep breath, “Do I have extra time?” Sonny chuckled at her words and brought her out of the car.

“Wait, where's Jared?” Elena asked as they stood in front of the door to the church. The guests were seated but the groom was nowhere to be found.

She suddenly heard footsteps coming from behind and turned to see the greatest shock of her life, “What is going on?” she questioned Jared, who was holding Lora, Elena's arch-nemesis hand.

Lora was dressed as a bride and Elena felt as if her world was spinning.

Jared chuckled slightly, “I’m getting married to my bride.”

Elena fell to the ground at his words, “Is this supposed to be a prank?”

“You couldn't possibly think I'd marry you, right? You have nothing to offer. You were just there for me to pass time. Now, I have a wedding to attend,” he bypassed her and walked towards the altar with Lora by his side.

Elena rushed out of the venue and took a taxi home. She fell to her bed in tears and took out her phone to call Eva, “He betrayed me. He's getting married to Lora.”

There was silence at the other end of the phone, “That son of a bitch!” Eva cursed, “I just knew he was a bastard. Fuck! Look, I have an idea.”

“What?”

“Are you sure you don't want to talk?” Eva asked Elena who was brooding in the front seat, as she drove them to Sin city, a club in Las Vegas.

Elena nodded, “I don't want to talk about it now, Eva, but I definitely will talk to you about it eventually. Right now, I want to forget about it for a while,” she told Eva.

“Whatever you say then,” Eva muttered and pulled up at Sin City Club.

The day before, Elena had been in New York but after what happened between she and Jared, Eva had suggested she come to L.A to relax and forget about it for a while, especially since Eva herself was in L.A.

Elena had gotten there a few hours ago but hadn't said anything and so Eva had decided to bring her to Sin city so she could drown her sorrows.

“Do you come here often?” Elena yelled out to Eva as they weaved their way throughout the sweaty bodies.

“Not really,” Eva told her as they took a seat at the bar, “Here’s a toast to you not being married to