Chapter 001: Gimme that bottle
A/N: Okay hi guys. Sorry for the crappy summary. But it was all I could think of. I had this idea for ages now but college was in the way. It's spring break though so I'm back with writing stuff. Enjoy? Thanks for reading btw!
x
After tying my hair in a bun, I grabbed my shears and headed downstairs towards the garden. The very first image that greeted me when I entered the living room was that of my dad slumped in his chair holding today's newspaper but he didn't seem to be reading it. His eyes stayed on one point and it wasn't hard to tell that his mind's too occupied with something else more important than the current events.
"Good morning Daddy," I chirped at him.
He started ever so slightly and gave me a shifty grin. He didn't like being sneaked upon especially at this time of the morning.
"Morning Pet!" he arranged the reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose and pretended to focus his eyes back on the paper.
"Stop calling me 'Pet' Dad. I'm not five years old anymore."
I pretended to be insulted but I was giggling. I actually liked it when he called me by his nickname for me.
"Ah but you'll always be Pet to me," he rebuked gently as he turned the newspaper pages.
"I know, I know."
I went outside to the porch to tend to my potted roses. With my shears, I snipped some leaves here and there whilst admiring the buds.
"Who's the pretty little roses? You are, you are, you all are."
Okay. I was being childish and Daddy seemed to have a point in calling me by my nickname when I was five years old. But it does help when you speak to the plants! They grow more beautifully!
Carefully, I positioned the shears on a stem that was growing a little bit awkwardly.
"This won't hurt. Just a little bit trimming is all I'm doing."
Out of nowhere, a car engine roared loudly and a familiar three-honk rhythm sounded. Surprised, I accidentally cut off the rest of the rose. It fell to the floor, quite unnoticed because I was looking at our gate apprehensively.
Slowly, a purple convertible parked in front of our house. Melanie was back. Dark Ray Bans were perched at the top of her brown hair and I could already see a smile from where I was standing. She got out of the car like a movie star. She was so glamorous all the time.
No that was not a twinge of envy that you heard from my last thought.
Definitely not envy, I thought harshly as she came up in full view with her long legs and slender body in a cute white little sundress.
As soon as she was in close proximity, she gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Hi Wanda! Where's Papa?"
"Living room!" I chirped happily. "Looking good as always Mel!"
Her smile grew even wider. "And you're looking cuter Wanda!" She pinched my cheek and strode towards the living room.
Cute? That was not even a compliment. I tried not to harrumph as I picked up the fallen rose and followed Mel to where our Dad was still sitting on the sofa. He abandoned the newspaper he was supposedly reading and was frowning at Melanie.
"Oh come on Dad! It's already on the plans and we can't afford to be late," Melanie was saying.
"Why? I'm not the groom this time aren't I?" Dad picked up the newspaper again and tried leafing through the pages but his hands were shaking and he couldn't get it right.
Mel rolled her eyes at him. My hands clenched into fists.
"Mel leave him alone," I said wearily.
"Oh please. Not you as well," she cried at me. "Can we please stuff the bitterness elsewhere and just be happy for Mom? And I believe that you approved of the divorce along with her Dad?"
"Mel!" Okay she was going too far. Our parents are divorced. Out of lack of love, my mom reasoned. But it was just because she found someone else really. My Dad let her go even though it was painful. And now Mom's remarrying. This exact day actually.
"I did Melanie," my Dad wasn't looking at her. "But it was because I loved her."
Melanie's face softened. "I know Dad. I know. But we need to get you ready. You too Wanda."
I stood there saying nothing. I was kind of waiting for a reaction from Dad. Whatever he says, I'll back him up. Yes I am a Daddy's girl.
Dad sighed. "Fine. But am I allowed to change into proper clothes first? I don't think going to the parlour or wherever that is, in just boxers is allowed."
Melanie smiled again and hugged Dad. "We're going to a spa. It's already been paid for. All we need to do is go there. Thanks Dad!"
Dad shuffled out of the living room to his bedroom so he can change. I just stood there staring at Melanie. Things haven't exactly been peachy between the two of us ever since we've been separated seven years ago. I was ten and she was thirteen. Jamie was only five. She's changed. I've changed. Everything was suddenly different. (Not Jamie though. He remains sweet that kid.) It was difficult to deal. But we try to be civil as much as possible.
"You too Wanda," she tried smiling at me.
"Me too what?"
"Go change," she laughed at me.
I looked down and realized I was wearing pajamas with chubby cows plastered all over them. "Oh! Right!" I flashed a grin at her and started to go to my bedroom upstairs.
She held my arm and stopped me. "Hey."
I widened my eyes at her. "Hey."
"We're cool right? I mean…"
She didn't need to finish her sentence. I hugged her. "'Course Mel."
She hugged me back and watched me go. Yeah things weren't exactly peachy. But she was still my sister after all. And sometimes a hug is all you need to know that that wouldn't be different.
x
"I'm not going to get a haircut am I?"
Mel's laughter pealed across the room. "Oh Dad. What's there to cut?"
I stifled a giggle and forced my eyes closed. I head Dad's grunt to tell us that he was offended. I heard Mel's answering laughter. "No Dad. You're just going to get a little foot massage and other massages and whatever the staff thinks you need. They're very good. Leave it all to them, close your eyes, enjoy their gratifying skills, and stop worrying."
Very good advice. I bet Dad was placated since later on, we could hear his soft snores. I had to smash my hand against my mouth to stop from giggling uncontrollably.
"Enjoying yourself?"
I opened my eyes to see Mel towering above me.
"Yeah definitely. They have magic hands here."
I was sitting on a very plush chair and someone was giving me a mani/pedi. This was the life.
"Good. Later on, we'll get our hair done."
"The motif's pink right?"
"God no! Pink so would not suit me. It's silver this time. Mom protested but then I told her that she wouldn't be wearing the silver dresses anyway which, you've got to admit, will clash horribly with her hair."
We both giggled. Mom's hair was becoming more and more silver. Not that I would know much. I only visit her every six months. Twice a year. I try to see Jamie as much as possible but it's not that hard since Mom hasn't pulled him out of his current school (which is connected to my high school). He lives at Mel's flat though.
"Oh look there's Sharon."
I opened my eyes and saw the pink-dyed hair of our cousin Sharon.
"She's a bridesmaid too then?"
"Yeah. Hey Sharon!"
She waved back at us albeit with a small frown on her face. I think the stylists wanted to know if she wanted to strip her hair of that pink color.
"I bet it would look good." I commented.
"Yeah it probably would. Pink on silver. Now there's something you don't see everyday."
"I was thinking of dying my hair blue. You know. Just at the ends so even if I needed to have it cut, I wouldn't have to hack a lot of my hair."
Mel squinted at my blonde hair falling in waves and almost reaching my backside. It's the longest I've ever had it. I hadn't had it cut for more than a year now.
"Eh. I wouldn't do it if I were you. It's beautiful enough without all the shenanigans you know? Natural look really suits you."
I blushed happily. "Aw thanks Mel."
She just smiled in return. "You about done there? We need to get ready! Only two hours left can you believe it? I'm getting more and more nervous! But of course I bet nobody's more nervous than Mom!"
I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to think of the fact that she'll be someone else's wife in just two hours.
I looked down at my nails – freshly painted black – and told Mel, "Yeah I'm done."
x
The silver dress fell to my knees. I smoothed it down nervously. I was wearing silver high heels which gave me a few inches. I was not a supermodel. My height is really… Well, I would've wanted something taller but meh whatever. Be content with what you have and all that. The stylists debated whether to put my hair up since it was so long but then they said that the bridesmaids' hair needed to be uniform. So up it went. I look decent. Okay I look kind of good. It's not everyday, I get to have a makeover.
There was a knock on my door. I took a deep breath and saw that it was Mel. She was dressed like me – well, duh – and her hair was up like mine as well. She was really beautiful.
"Aw Wanda! You're so beautiful. Like a tiny angel!"
Of course she had to squeeze the word "tiny" in there.
"Thanks Mel! You too!"
I bumped hips with her and we almost danced. Almost.
"Let's go find Mom!"
Uh-oh. I was not ready for this just yet.
She was there. Standing like the most beautiful statue ever looking at her lovely reflection. Jamie, sweet sweet Jamie who was in a suit, was standing next to her.
I couldn't help but cry at the sight of them.
"Wanda!" Mel chastised me. "Not yet! Good thing the mascara's waterproof though."
Are you kidding me? Even she was dabbing at her own tears.
There was this moment where we just stared at each other and then we hugged.
"Oh girls, Jamie!" Mom was teary-eyed, forcing her tears to quiet down. "I'm just… so very happy that all of you are here with me."
"Mom," Mel said. "Of course! We're your children!"
I felt obliged to say something. "Mom you're so beautiful."
"Oh Wanda. You too."
"All of us are beautiful duh," Melanie butted in.
Jamie coughed.
We laughed. "Yeah okay. You're handsome!" Mel ruffled his hair and Jamie smiled in return and I couldn't help my heart swelling at the sight of them.
Suddenly a very strict-looking woman burst in. Her black hair was in a bun and she was carrying a clipboard. "You need to be in the aisle in about ten minutes Mrs. Colasanti."
"Not yet I'm not," our mother quipped.
We all laughed while the woman ushered us into the hallway.
I smoothed my dress. I was getting jittery. Suddenly Mel grabbed my hand.
"Yeah?"
Her eyes twinkled. "I can't wait for your wedding!"
Mom overheard the conversation. "If you're lucky, you'll be marrying in ten years at least after your graduation Wanda. With your father always hovering around you…"
They laughed. I meanwhile, blushed.
"Hey! Let's talk about your wedding Mom, not mine in the distant future," I managed to say.
They were still laughing when the few notes of the Wedding March began.
We all looked at each other. Brown ones – Mel and Mom's – to gray – mine – and black – Jamie's.
"Well," my Mom said. "Onwards we go!"
Onwards we went.
x
Everything happened in a hazy blur – the wedding ceremony, the kiss, the toasting, everything! – and I just found myself sitting with my father outside the reception building steps.
"Dad give me that bottle."
"No," he slurred.
"If Mom found out that you nicked one of the wine bottles, she'll be very angry."
"I didn't nick it."
"A likely story. Just give it to me. This isn't the time to mope about."
"I told you I didn't steal it. One of them gave it to me."
"Really? Well, he shouldn't have."
"He said I looked like I needed it. "
"That was an insult Dad. If he said you looked like you needed a drink, he's insinuating that you look really awful. So awful that you need to forget how awful you look like by drinking."
I finally pried the wine bottle from his hand. Suddenly Mel came rushing out. "Wanda! Uncle Jeb and Aunt Maggie were looking for Dad –"
I waited for the exclamation.
"Aw Dad!"
"Stop shouting please. I'm not that drunk to not hear 'ya."
"Come on. We'll get you inside now."
I was glad to have Mel take care of him. Not that I didn't like taking care of my Father. Just… well, I needed a breather.
I sighed and looked at the black sky peppered with tiny stars.
"You comin' or what Wanda?" Mel asked.
I shook my head without looking at her. "You go on."
"I can't believe you're leaving me alone with the adults. I'll come back for you later okay?"
"Okay."
By this time, I couldn't hold back my tears.
Some fell on the wine bottle I was still clutching.
"Crap."
I looked for my handkerchief and tried to wipe off the evidence of my melancholic state.
Some of the dust came off and next thing I knew, I was staring at eyes. Eyes from inside the bottle. Eyes that stared back.
I gasped.
And the bottle fell from my hands.
"You okay Wanda?"
I gaped at the owner of the voice. Jared Howe. My History professor at high school.
"Yeah. Yes sir" was all I could get out.
"Stuff the 'yes sir'. I'm here as a friend." He sat down at the steps with me. I was very aware of him. Yes. I had a crush on my History professor okay? It happens all the time and besides, he was fresh out of graduate school. You can't just help not being attracted.
"Okay Mr. Howe."
Jared laughed. "How about just 'Jared'? You make me feel older than I really am."
"Sorry… um. Jared."
That was very awkward.
In situations like these, you can choose fight or flight. I don't know about you but I always choose flight.
"Um. Oh would you look at that. A message from Sunny!"
She's my best friend in high school. "It says… oh! It seems I've forgotten my… um. My clutch back at her house! Jared, this has been a wonderful talk and all but I really need to get my clutch."
He raised his eyebrows. "Sunny? But she's here…"
"Yeah. She's only realized that I forgot my clutch. I left my… present… my letter there for Mom. I really need to get it back."
"Oh. Want to me to give you a ride? My car's in the back – "
"Thanks! But her house is walking distance from here! I'll be right back okay? So you go on right inside and enjoy the festivities!"
His face was puzzled. I realized I was making a fool of myself.
I stood up abruptly and grabbed the wine bottle on my way and drank from it.
Ugh!
Oh that burns! How could Dad stand this stuff? Also, how weird was I? There was a chance to talk to him and I blew it! But then he's my History professor so… that would seem weird.
I wasn't kidding though when Sunny lived nearby. Just… it was ten blocks and all. With my high heels, it wouldn't be an easy feat though.
Remembering the weird incident with the wine bottle, I threw it away in the nearby trash can.
After a few steps, something rolled near my feet –
The wine bottle!
"What the – "
I grabbed it quizzically then proceeded to dump it on the next garbage can that I saw.
A hand reached out to grab mine and when I turned around, I saw a man dressed in a tuxedo.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Let go of me."
"Is that your first wish? Are you sure?"
His blue eyes crinkled at me.
Blue eyes.
Eyes.
Eyes that I've seen from behind the bottle!
ACK!
WHAT?
A/N: Any questions? :) Overall that was sappy. And kind of long. My word processor says 3,000 words. I am not comfortable with this many words in just one chapter. But I needed to introduce Genie Ian to you. Now that you've read it, can you please let me know what you thought of it? If you guys hated it, then okay I wouldn't continue. Let's leave it right here where it wouldn't harm anyone anymore. But if somebody likes it… Well tell me! I've got it mapped out! Okay bye thanks for R&Ring (hopefully!)
And OH YEAH! The movie adaptation was so cool. It finally came out after the many years that we've spent waiting for it. It left out A LOT of parts but it was still cool. I'm probably biased here since I like Max Irons and Jake Abel A LOT but still. But why Emily Browning? Okay. She's cool yeah, has a really beautiful voice and I liked her a lot in The Uninvited and Sucker Punch but why didn't they dye her hair blonde at least? And okay. Jake Abel totally was blonde from the start and I kind of pictured him with black hair. Black hair? Doesn't Ian have black hair? Or did the book say dark? But anyway it's fine. He's still sexy (TOLD YOU I'M BIASED).
