The evening of the party had come and Cece had by far surpassed any expectation Honey had for the party.
The apartment was even more lavishly decorated than usual; beautiful flower centre pieces spaced along the twenty seater glass table, with luxurious light pink velvet chairs to match the flowers. Four bespoke crystal chandeliers hung above the table. Around the room large modern candelabras were filled with white candles to make for a more intimate setting.
It was perfect. Honey was in awe.
"Cece, this looks so amazing, indescribably so. But you do realise we are going to be in fancy dress right?"
"Of course Hon, but its not like we are going to be dressed up ridiculously! More prince charming than a giant frog."
"Oh I do love you Cece! What time is everyone coming?"
"About eight I think, so we better go and get ready."
- - - -
Everyone had arrived and Honey could hear everyone laughing, talking and clinking glasses.
Everytime she went to wheel herself out she just froze, she felt so nervous seeing her peers, she looked awfully frail, she hadn't been around big groups of people since the fateful night and mostly, Matt was out there.
He had been so helpful and kind, more from what she had heard than what she had seen but was this because that was his nature as a consultant or was their more to it.
The more she thought about it, the more confused she was.
Knock Knock
'Shit someone has noticed I'm not there' She knew it was only a matter of time before someone realised the person they were welcoming home wasn't there.
"One second" She shouted out.
"Alright Hon, but you better come out soon. Everyone is waiting. Sure you don't need any help?" Cece replied, clearly getting slightly inpatient with how long Honey was taking.
"No thanks, I'll only be a sec."
- - - - - -
Earlier that day
"Really Cece, fancy dress? Why would you think of that for a dinner? A fancy dress party, yes. But a fancy dress dinner? That is odd." Matt stated with a look of pure confusion on his face.
"Well I wanted something to make Honey more comfortable, then at least you won't be looking at her like some kind of invalid, you'll be staring at her for her sexy costume!"
"Why do you always do that?"
"Do what?" Cece said with a twinkle in her eye.
"You know what Cece. I looked after her like I would any other patient, you are making it seem like I'm more attached to her than I am."
"Matt, I don't care how many times you try and tell me that you don't have feelings for her. It doesn't change the fact that you do and you know it.
When she came out of the coma, I finally thought you would admit it to yourself.
Obviously I was wrong and you've gone back into denial. That's ok, but remember, at some point she's going to look at the whole situation as a lost cause. At the moment, she likes you maybe as a friend, maybe more.
But the way you've acted, keeping your distance and acting clinical with her has planted a seed of doubt in her mind that your kindness and loving towards her when she was ill, was nothing more than a kind heart."
And with that, before he could argue. She left.
Well now he really was in a pickle, He didn't know why he had backed off so much since she had woken up. At the time, he put it down to seeing her in the coma, causing him to act on any small feeling he had for her. In the back of his mind, he knew that he didn't want to face her, to how he felt and how admitting how he felt would effect his life. But also what if she didn't like him or just saw him as a friend.
He decided on a plan of action, he would be her friend and take it from there, then what happens, happens and what doesn't, doesn't and he can really work out his feelings. Without anyone getting hurt.
Now to finding what he was going to wear.
He didn't want to wear anything stupid like a mankini, but he also didn't want to wear anything that was too discreet, that no one would know.
So he thought he would consult with the shop assistant.
She was a small, quiet girl, with light brown hair. For some reason she reminded him off a mouse, shy and nervous. Not what you would envision as a shop assistant but he was sure she could help.
"Welcome to Costume City, is there anything I can help you with today?" She said not looking at him but preferring to look at her shoes.
"Um, Yeah. I'm looking for something to wear to a fancy dress party. I don't think I want anything too comedic or silly." he said trying not to sound intimidating.
"W-well you could be umm go as the mad hatter, prince charming, batman, the mask, wolverine? Do you like the sound of any of them?"
"Yeah, The mad-hatter, prince charming and the mask are my favourite for sure. Prince charming also seems kind of fitting."
"Why?" she whispered finally looking at him.
He didn't know what made him do it, but he blurted out everything about himself and Honey.
He told her everything, how they met, the accident and his feelings for her and when he finally finished, she simply asked "Then why haven't you told her?"
It was then he realised with everything he had told her he hadn't mentioned his wife once. The memory that he was married was sobering.
"Anyway, I think I'm going to take the wolverine costume."
"Oh, okay that will be Β£40."