The Wedding Date

Chapter 1: The Call

Disclaimer: I own nothing, unfortunately :(

Thank you all for reading, I would really appreciate it if you could review :) Thank you :)

I picked up the phone and quickly dropped it again. No. There was just no way I could do this.

I looked at the number Santana had scribbled down for me on a piece of paper. Had it really come to this?

I shook my head one last time and finally picked the phone back up. I had no choice, I had to do it.

Shakily I typed in the number, taking deep breaths with each ring.

"Good afternoon Perfect Ten Escort Services for Ladies. How m-" I hung up. Ugh this is humiliating.

I'm twenty-five and couldn't even scare up a date to my best friends wedding. I had checked plus one when I had a boyfriend, so now if I showed up alone, people, namely, Quinn, Blaine and Kurt would all happily play a round of twenty questions about why I was alone.

It was easier this way. I hoped.

I breathed deeply again, dialling the same number, this time reminding myself why I was doing it.

"Good afternoon Perfect Ten Escort Services for Ladies. How may I help you?"

I closed my eyes. "Hi my name is Rachel and I'm looking for a date"

I winced in embarrassment.

"Well that's what we're here for Rachel" the woman on the phone laughed "What kinda date you looking for?"

Huh? I thought I just rang up, gave my credit card details, crawled back into bed and died.

"Um a man" I stammered

The woman on the phone laughed again. "Not too fussy then?" The woman must be used to callers like me then.

"Any other specifics darling, you know appearance and such?"

"Oh" I was beginning to realize how much I really wanted to kill Santana for not warning me about this.

"I like tall guys, dark hair, green eyes and under thirty " my cheeks were burning. This had to be nearly over!

After a few moments of awkward silence and keyboard tapping, she responded "Ok dear I think we have a guy for you, Lucas"

"Great, is he available the week of the tenth?"

"Sure is dear, I'll book you in shall I?"

I didn't know what I was supposed to say "Um great, do I pay you now?"

"No, you pay your date when he arrives at your door, I'll email you Lucas' profile and you can discuss his price and travel arrangements with him on the email address provided"

Oh God more embarrassment.

"Thank you bye"

I'm sure I sounded abrupt and rude, but I didn't care, I had actually sunk so low as to hire my own date, I needed to crawl into bed with a tub of ice-cream and never come out again.

Unfortunately, I had no such luck, I had barely got my Ben & Jerry's out of the freezer when my phone pinged.

I closed my eyes and signed. Surely not already. I thought, and secretly hoped. But no such luck, it was the email from Perfect Ten

Re: Your recent order

Dear Rachel

You have selected Lucas B. as your date for the week of the 10th-17th of June 2013. Please see below attachment for Lucas' contact details. I have made him aware that you will be in touch.

Regards

Lisa Sanglioni

Perfect Ten Dating Services

I died quietly inside as I read the Lucas' profile. This was the lowest point in my entire life, nothing, not even the time I threw up on Broadway in my opening number of Les Miserables could compare to this moment right now.

Lucas B

Age: 26

Height: 6' 1"

Build: Athletic

Eye Colour: Green

Lucas is currently attending NYU, with a major in Psychology, his love of the theater and fine arts, makes him a stand out date that your friends/colleagues will never forget!

His contact details were listed, thank goodness, like Lisa had said, no phone number but an e-mail address, he would be expecting me to write back, and soon. I suppose, I mean the wedding was only a week away.

I groaned quietly to myself, my ice cream would have to wait just a few more agonizing minutes.

I popped him a quick e-mail, letting him know where to pick me up, his flight arrangements and asking about his fees. I had a feeling that this would set me back.

I ignored the quick response in favour of putting Moulin Rouge on the tv and chocolate fudge ice cream in my stomach.

I really wanted to ignore it for the day, but as the credits rolled on the screen, I knew I had to look.

Re: Wedding Date

Hi Rachel

My fees for the week are $1,500.00, I hope this is ok with you, this is payable upon my arrival or part payable at the start and end of the week, whichever you prefer.

I note your address and a pick up time of 8:45 am on the 10th of June with a flight at 11:15 am in JFK Airport to Port Columbus International Airport. I also note the attire will be black tie and will need the colour of your ensemble to get a matching tie, continuity and all!

Looking forward to hearing from you Ms. Berry.

Regards

Lucas Brennnen

I breathed deeply, relieved, though not at the cost, that was a little more than I had expected, and I expected it to be high! I was relieved because, although this was humiliating to the highest degree, nobody, bar Santana would know that he was a paid date. That way they would keep to themselves, though with the odd question about "us" which I knew we would have to work out when we finally met in person.

The days leading up to the wedding passed quickly, though I kept myself busy with rehearsals for my part in the Broadway revival of A Street Car Named Desire.

The day has come for me to leave for Lima, Ohio and I hadn't heard from Lucas since the day I had booked him as my date, which worried me a little, but then again I couldn't focus on that I had way too much to pack and get ready before he came to pick me up.

Like not dying of embarrassment.

My phone abruptly rang, disrupting the silence I usually favour this early in the morning and frightening me.

"Hello" I answered warily

"Hi dear this is Lisa from Perfect Ten"

I hung my head, fuck, was Lucas cancelling on me right before we were supposed to leave? Was I that bad that I couldn't even keep a paid date?

"Um hi" Please don't cancel please please please.

"Dear, I'm afraid Lucas has been called last-minute by one of his usual clients in an emergency"

Fuck.

Yes. I really was that bad.

"So, what does that mean" I asked, trying to imagine how I would put up with all of those pitying eyes

"Well, if you wish, we can send over another date, he's 6' 4" and dark with blue eyes, we will of course pay for the flight, to try to compensate for the inconvenience this has caused you"

I thought it over for a moment. I really had no choice. "Sure that's fine"

"Ok, dear he'll be over in just a few, Lucas has passed on the details"

I mumbled my thanks and hung up the phone. I didn't even get a name too humiliated to ask.

I continued my packing trying my best not to focus on the fact that Quinn and Pucks wedding was in just a week, that Blaine and Kurt would be there gushing about their new baby and Tina and Mike would be talking about their latest adventure as sickening newly weds, and what was I doing? I was bringing a paid date, great story to tell there.

Suddenly the doorbell rang. I groaned quietly to myself, knowing it was my "date".

My heart was beating violently in my chest as I opened the door. "Hi Ms Berry?"

I nodded, taking him in, the woman in Perfect Ten wasn't lying, he was tall and as far as I could see handsome, but he seemed very familiar to me. Those sparkling blue eyes, the shy smile and the unmistakable combination of Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss aftershave.

It was him. "Finn Hudson?"