Chapter 1: Christmas Bells Are Ringing
"Is there anyone in this assembly that believes this man and this woman should not be married?" The priest asked, looking at the entire church.
Izzy looked out, hoping to see Race. Nothing happened. She basically deflated and looked at the ground. Shelley and Elle looked at each other. They just couldn't believe Race didn't do anything.
"Well, if no one objects, we will go on with the ceremony. Steven Hawthorne, do you take Isabelle Lexington to be your -"
The huge oak doors to the church burst open and blinded the whole congregation. They turned to see two figures standing in the doorway.
Izzy squinted and noticed one was Race. She smiled and saw he was with a girl. They walked down the isle and eventually made it Izzy and Steve.
Race smiled and hugged Izzy. She pulled away, "Who's the chick?"
"Izzy, I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Amanda Stanton. We've been together for three years now." Steve said.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you." Amanda said.
"Same here."
"All those business trips were actually trips to see her." Steve admitted.
"Well, while you were on those trips, I was seeing Race." Izzy said.
"Well, I guess we're even then." Steve said, hugging Amanda.
"Izzy, I have to tell you something." Race said, getting down on one knee.
Izzy brought her hand to her mouth as Race took her left one.
"Isabelle Guinevere Lexington, will you marry me?" Race asked, looking up at her.
She smiled, "Yes, Tony Romeo Higgins, I will marry you."
He stood up, "We have horrible middle names." He said.
She laughed, "Yes, but you picked yours."
"Touché." He said, smiling.
"Oh." Izzy said, taking off the ring Steve had given her. "I think you're going to need this someday."
He took the ring. "Thanks. I hope we can get to know each other as people." He said.
"I think I can manage that." Izzy said. "Now, get out of here." She laughed.
He laughed and smiled. "I'll see you later, Izzy."
And with that, Steve was gone.
Izzy turned to Race and he put the ring on her finger. "I love you." He said, hugging her.
"I love you, too." She said.
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"Roz, thanks for throwing this party on such short notice." Izzy said.
"No problem and congrats!" Roz said, hugging Izzy.
"Thanks."
"Congrats man." Blink said, hugging Race.
"Thanks. Sorry for keeping this a secret and for acting like a royal prick." Race said, to all the guys.
"No problem." They said.
"Shelley, where's Parker?" Elle asked.
"Oh, he's with is girlfriend." Shelley said.
"Oh, Shelley."
"Actually, I don't care. I didn't like him anyway. He was really just arm candy." Shelley said.
Elle laughed, "Well, get in here, they're going to cut the 'wedding' cake."
"Alright." Shelley said.
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Blink and David walked into Barnes & Noble and saw Izzy and Shelley at the front desk.
"Why'd we come here?" Blink asked.
"Because, I need this book for class." David said.
Shelley walked out and took her post at the center desk for customer service. David and Blink walked up to the desk and stood there. Shelley looked at them. "May I help you two?"
"Hey Shelley, I need this book." David said, handing her a paper with a book name on it.
Shelley looked at the paper. "Hmm. Let me check it on here." She looked it up on the computer. "Well, it says it's in non-fiction, so let's go hunting." She said, coming out from behind the desk.
They walked over to the non-fiction section and searched for the book David needed. Once found, Shelley handed it to David and he took it graciously.
"Thanks. I'll just have Izzy ring it up." David said, scurrying to the front of the building.
Blink and Shelley stood alone in the non-fiction section. You could have heard a pin drop.
"So, how have you been?" Shelley asked.
"Alright, you?" Blink asked.
"Okay. Parker broke-up with me." She said.
"Why?"
"He had another girlfriend."
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Blink said.
"Don't be. I'm not even sad about it. I didn't even like him like that. A big brother yes, boyfriend, no. I really was dating him just to get back at you." Shelley admitted.
"Really?"
"Yeah." She said, looking at him. "I still love you, Blink. And I shouldn't have broken up with you. I was just so angry with you and that's the first thing that popped into my head and it sounded good at the time but it really wasn't."
"I love you too, Shelley. And, don't blame yourself, I should have actually thought before I did that. It was stupid and I'm actually learning to control that." Blink said. "Now, I'm not saying that I'm not stupid, but I can keep it under control... sometimes."
She laughed. "So..."
"So... can I make it up to you?" Blink asked.
"How?"
"Dinner party?"
"That'll do." She said, smiling.
"Or, how about dinner on Saturday night; just the two of us." Blink asked.
"Sure, I'd like that." Shelley said.
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"Shelley, you are looking at a changed man." Mush said.
"And by that you mean?" Shelley asked.
"I, Nicolas 'Mush' Moore, am taken!" He said.
"Mush, that's great!" She said, hugging him.
"Yeah, well you know we went on that date and we're both in the musical. So we went on a few more dates and I asked him and he said yes." Mush gushed.
"I'm so happy for you." She said.
"Thanks. And what about you?" He asked, smiling.
"What about me?"
"Well, I heard from a very reputable source that one Mr. Jared 'Kid Blink' Kingsley asked you on a date on Saturday." Mush said.
Shelley smiled. "That he did."
"Aw! I'm so happy! You two really are the greatest couple. Now, we need to get Davey and Elle back together." Mush said.
"Since when do you plot?" Shelley asked.
"Since I started hanging out with you." He said, laughing.
The door opened to reveal Blink in his Levi's, white shirt, and leather jacket. "You ready? Oh sorry, I thought we were..."
"Oh! I'm ready. I was just talking to Shelley here until you got here. I lost track of time, I'm sorry." Mush said.
"And I should be going. I'll see you later Mush." Shelley said, standing up and grabbing her purse.
"If you guys were busy, I can come back later." Blink said.
"No, you guys had plans and I have to go meet Izzy and Elle anyway." Shelley said.
Mush hugged her, "Thanks again for coming and I'll talk to you later."
"Alright. Bye guys." Shelley said, winking at Blink on her way out the door.
"Bye." Blink said.
Mush stood there looking at Blink as he watched Shelley leave. "You two really are a cute couple."
Blink looked at Mush. "You think?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I'm not messing this up again. I'm taking things slow and I'm going to listen to her." Blink said.
"Yeah, let me know how that goes." Mush said, laughing.
"Shut up and come on." Blink said, smiling.
