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This is really not Todd’s kind of thing- this was more Charlie’s thing- but he was already in there, he had no need to sneak in. Todd felt anxiety, panic, and guilt as he snuck through the back window of the church. It all felt wrong- and yet what he was doing felt right…
Todd snuck towards the door and peeked out, looking around, Todd spotted Charlie and the others, perfect. He went over to them and did his best to blend in.
“There he is.” Charlie grinned and clapped Todd’s shoulder. Each of his friends had a sad smile on their face as if they were attending a funeral and not a wedding. “Neil seems nervous,” Charlie noted- and with one glance, Todd could tell that Neil wasn’t nervous. He was very upset.
He didn’t want to be doing this- but he didn’t know how to say no to his father, and his dad had hand-picked this girl for him. What else was he supposed to do? Her entire family was wearing stupid pastels that hurt Todd's eyes to look at.
Their conversation paused as they heard the faint noise of the soon-to-be bride shouting at a bridesmaid. Charlie scowled at the ground and scoffed.
“I bet she looks like a muffin in her dress…” he mumbled.
Todd looked down the hall towards where the bride was, then back up to where Neil was standing with his father behind him. Neil had wanted Charlie as his best man- but his father insisted it was ridiculous and that he stand there instead.
Todd tried to imagine himself walking up to Neil, telling him to run away with him, to drop all of this stupid stuff, not say any of the vows his father wrote for him and just run right out the back door of the church-
But just the thought made Todd’s hands shake. He looked down. Neil hadn’t spotted him yet… maybe that was a good thing.
As people continued to greet each other and make pleasantries Todd did his best to avoid any of the bride’s family. Finally, the organ started to play a song that sounded like a death march and Todd slipped behind some curtains at the end of the bench Neil's friends were sitting in.
Todd would have liked to be invited- and technically he was… but Neil's bride specifically took him to the side and let him know she was un-inviting him and Todd wasn’t allowed to be there.
Todd watched through a crack in the fabric as the flower girl went down, tossing petals, followed by the bridesmaids and then finally the woman herself.
Charlie was right, she looked like a pastry in her dress. She smiled as she slowly walked, Todd couldn’t help but feel like she was walking slowly just to taunt him. Finally, she reached the steps and stood up in front of Neil. Neil's father put a hand on his shoulder and Neil immediately forced a large smile.
Todd can see the sadness on Neil's face as he looks at the girl and takes her hands. And Todd can just tell how much Neil wishes he was looking into his eyes instead of hers. He wishes it was him too…
Todd listens to the preacher drone on and on for a few minutes, then slips out of the curtain and sits next to Charlie, no one is watching him. Then-
“Speak now or forever hold your peace.” the preacher's words echoed in his head. The room fell completely silent. Todd knew what he had to do-
Todd stood up-his hands shaking wildly. Todd could feel the eyes of everyone in the room looking right at him as the bench creaked from his standing up. Neil’s bride looked furious- not to mention her family. But Todd did his best to keep his eyes on Neil. just Neil.
“I-” Todd's voice cracked and he cleared it, Neil’s father scowled. “I’m not the kind of person to show up where I was told not to really- it’s not me- but Neil- you’re not the kind of person to marry the wrong person.” Todd clenched his fists, trying to make them stop shaking.
“What is this?” Neil’s father barked. Neil let the girl's hands drop.
Neil's face was flooded with relief and happiness- he couldn’t believe Todd was here- at his wedding- making him stop. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You aren’t supposed to be here!” the bride stomped a foot.
Todd took a deep breath, hardening his face, they can’t make him leave without Neil. “Neil- don't say yes- don't say I do, come with me, run away with me, right now, no more waiting, let’s go.”
Gasps filled the chapple and Neil’s father looked so angry he just might kill someone if he weren’t in a church.
“Neil?” The girl in a white dress reached out for Neil- but Neil took a step forward, out of her reach, then another, and another till he was running down the aisle. Todd met him at the end of the bench.
Neil grabbed Todd's face and smashed their lips together out of pure bliss.
“Stop this!” Mr Perry shouted. But no one did anything, too stunned at what was going on. When Mr. Perry started to head in their direction himself, all of the poets stood and blocked his path.
“Go.” Charlie hissed at them.
Todd laced their fingers together with a grin and then pulled Neil towards the doors. He pushed them wide open and the two of them lept from the stoop, grinning like two men in love.