She blinked and flinched as the police officer took her picture.
"Turn. " The officer said sternly. More pictures were taken.
"Gee, look at me. And I thought my yearbook pictures sucked."
Amber said, looking at the torn dirty dress and her hair like a rats nest. Her makeup was all smudged, running down her face.
"And that's me. Man, that dress does not look good on anybody."
Patricia said, picking up the pink fluffy sleeves. It was her turn for a picture. She stepped up.
"Turn? What if I don't want to turn? Who's gonna turn me? ….You?"
She said.
"Why don't you turn this?"
Patricia said. Right as the picture was taken, she flicked off the officer.
"Something you should know about me… I have a little problem with authority."
"Turn!"
The officer said again, with a little bit more annoyance in her voice. She eventually turned to the side, rolling her eyes.
"In second grade, I told my music teacher Ms. Johnson that if she wanted us to sing like birds, she might as well get herself some freaking birds."
"I laughed so hard I peed and had to sit in the corner during recess."
"We've been friends ever since." They said together.
"And that's Nina- sweet Nina. I feel so bad we dragged her into this."
Amber said.
Patricia's pov.
The thing is we did it all for her. Really we did.
That was the idea anyway. But I better explain. Were bridesmaids. Not the good kind, who loves the bride like a sister for her most special day ever-no. Were more like the avenging angels who are gonna give you what's coming to you kind of bridesmaids.
Maybe I should back up, say….20 years?
Back to when we were just little girls. It was me, Amber, oh…and Joy. We went to her house almost every day after school. Tea parties on the lawn hide and seek, but then Joy would tell us what she wanted to do. Make up stories…about Joy. Once she even wanted to play wedding. She walked out of the house with the most expensive dress a six year old could own. I stood there in a suit. She walked up and asked me what I was supposed to be.
"The groom, of course."
She replied. "No, you're all bridesmaids."
" But there has to be a groom. "
"Mother! "
She would complain loudly. "You look pretty in your dress, Joy."
Amber said.
"Well, of course I do! Mother!"
She would yell back. "
"Honey bell, what are the girls doing to you?"
"There has to be a groom. "I simply stated.
"Ok, let's use this chair. "
She took the suit from me and draped it over the chair.
"Isn't he handsome?"
She said.
"And from a wealthy family if I may add."
We were constantly reminded of how lucky we were to be there. Did I mention she lives in the biggest mansion in Liverpool, England? Yeah, it had a structure like the white house-even with its own secret passage that led right out to the backyard. Even with servants. You need service when your house has its own zip code.
And her royalty still lives in it today.
This was how our life was like-all through high school. She called the shots-we played the parts. Why? We- as said before-were constantly reminded of how lucky we were to have what we did. And what we had was Joy mercer. Even when Nina came late in the game sophomore year, she became closer than I ever was with Joy. It was the same all through college-I even got a book published-not to toot my own horn or anything. The 2nd one's coming along-slowly.
Meanwhile Amber was trying to make it as an actor. She did a bunch of plays off Broadway-well, maybe off -working back stage-but still.
We always kept in touch with Nina, who said her and Fabian were going as strong as they ever had. Looking at her Facebook wall, it looked convincing. Pictures of Him giving her flowers, the kissing on the beach, you know. Couplely things. She was crazy about him! With Amber, she goes home-a lot. She actually likes her parents. That is how we all ended up in Merseyside. It was her parent's aniversity and she dragged me along. We all sat down to an awkward dinner where the parents always ask who is famous! Or successful yet..urg.
"Amber you have been in many plays so far, haven't you dear?"
Her mom said.
"Ugh, I um…I audition all the time! Hahaha….."
This is why I don't get back home much. I decided to cover for her.
"Amber is constantly in plays and is fabulous. You gotta tell them what they want to hear."
The last part I whispered to her.
"So, what about you Patricia? Got another book coming out?"
Shit. I just got a blank face. Amber covered for me this time.
"Yes, of course she does. She has a huge one coming out. Right Patricia?"
"Ummmmyes. "
Her parents nodded. Suspiciously.
"I'm….I gotta…go pee."
Amber said. We walked out of the restaurant.
"I need air. Without relatives."
She said, taking a huge sip of wine. I patted her back. "I feel your pain."
That's when we heard her. "
Patricia, is that you? And still with that hair….and you! Amber Millington. Haven't seen you two in forever!"
"It's Joy. Run while we still can." I whispered to Amber. She just made a face and turned around with a huge fake smile. "I can't believe it's you….Joy." She said.
"What are you two doing in town? Momma! You remember Amber and Patricia.!"
After scanning us up and down, she said simply with a frown, yes. And walked away. Then we saw Nina, poking out from Joy's…..posy.
"Hey Nines! Nina, hey."
We said, rudely walking around Joy. We both hugged her; we truly missed her. Then the devil turned back around.
"You guys don't even know why I'm here…these are my bridesmaids and I'm getting married!"
She said squealing and showing us her ring.
"To a groom or a chair?"
I said sarcastically.
"Oh,…Patricia…I so missed your…creative sense of humor. The wedding is in 10 days...I so wanted to invite you guys but Mum said she couldn't find your addresses anywhere!" she said, with fake concern.
"I'm sure you could have called Amber's parents, what that's 20 some years in the same house?"
"Oh... Yeah…your right!"
She said, turning back to her friends.
"So Nina…your Joy's bridesmaid! I've always wanted to see Fabian again…is he coming?"
"Oh…yes..."
Nina said, looking at the ground…
"Oh, is that him? "
I saw a man walking down the sidewalk toward us. He walked between Nina and me and gave Nina the longest gaze ever possible.
"Well, there's our groom!"
Said Mrs. Mercer. Fabian went up and gave Joy a little kiss on the cheek. Amber and I looked at Nina questionably. They started kissing again and Nina looked away uncomfortably. Nina quietly excused herself and walked away. Joy turned to us, saying,
"Good seeing you guys."
Her mother whisked the group away. Then Alfie walked up to us.
"They used to date, and then something happened that they can't seem to share; now I don't know what is happening."
He said, checking us in on the latest gossip.
"Something's not right. They were always love birds in high school."
I said. I noticed Amber starring into his eyes. I pulled her away.
"Nice seeing you!" She called out. "Let's go find Nina."
I said to her. We started walking to her when Joy crossed paths with us and stopped us.
"You two are staying in town for the wedding, aren't you? " She said. We made up some stupid excuse.
"Oh don't kid around. You guys are staying."
We all shared an awkward laugh.
"Well, think about it."
She said in that annoying little voice. She walked away.
"Let's go find her."
I said. We found her in the bathroom.
"Nina, open up. What happened?"
She mumbled something. Amber said,
"I thought you said he was the one!"
She came out and said,
"Well, she is happy with him now."
She said, tears running down her face. She paused for a minute, probally thinking about the good times with him back in high school.
"You can't leave."
Fabian said to Nina.
"I have to."
"But I just got you back..."
Fabian said. He started leaning in, and lightly touched his lips to hers. All that remorse, sadness, and loneliness he felt when she fell down that chamber, he poured with love into that kiss. It started out soft and light, and soon got more intense. He lightly placed his hands on her delicate waist and depened the kiss. She whisked her arms around his neck. She felt his toungue lightly ask for entrance. She granted it, and smiled against the kiss. He smiled back.
"Fabian...I...pack."
She said. He broke away to let her talk, but only to move to her sweet spot on her neck. Fabian had a confidence in kissing that would surprise you. She tried to talk, but moaning only came out. He smiled against her.
"Fabian..I can't even think let alone talk when your doing that."
He laughed and pulled away.
"Now, what was so terribly important that you had to interrupt me?"
He said, smiling.
"I have to pack."
"But you don't leave for another day."
He said, creeping back on her. Nina put a hand on him, pushing him away.
"No, no kissing. I have to focus."
She came back into focus. "And I am going to walk down that aisle to prove to everyone that I am completely over Fabian fucking Rutter."
She said, erupting into sobs again.
I promise this will get better. Jara comes in and some Fabina and even Peddie come in next, and a gigantic secret! Hope you like it! If you are reading this very sentence, review. Please.
~Fruity