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Chapter 1 - The Blushing Bride
(...a church bathroom...21 years into the future...)
"Am I really ready for this?"
That is usually the primary thought running through the mind of any given person on the day of their wedding, and the woman looking in the mirror is no exception.
This woman, in particular, is quite attractive: flowing blonde hair, inviting eyes and a beautiful body that her lovely white dress accentuated perfectly. To look at her, one would never know that she once had pigtails, a unibrow and lips that seemed to form a permanent scowl.
She had felt this way before, for a number of reasons, but this was a truly life-altering choice to make. She tried to deny these feelings, but it was no use: Helga G. Pataki was nervous.
As Helga tore away from the mirror to sit down, the door flew open.
"There you are, Helga."
It was Phoebe, who, herself, had grown more attractive as well. Her fancy pink dress fit her well.
"What are you doing in here?"
"Y'know. Just freshening up. No big deal.
With a wide smile, Helga tried her best to hide her apprehension, but the slight smirk on her friend's face let her know that she was caught.
"I was wrong, Phoebe. This is a big deal."
"I know, Helga, but..."
"It's just...it's such a big step, you know?"
Phoebe sits down beside her.
"Yes, I do. I went through it myself, remember?"
Helga's mind immediately goes back to three years ago:
[...Just as Phoebe was her maid of honor today, she filled the role then. The frantic way she was pacing, Phoebe felt just as nervous as Helga does now.
"What if I trip while walking down the aisle? What if I forget my vows? What if I say the wrong name?!"
Helga stops Phoebe mid-pace and grabs her by the arms.
"Pheebs, you're making way too much out of this. It's only your wedding day, for cryin' out loud."
"But, Helga, this is a big day for me. It might happen to you, someday."
Helga laughs.
"Yeah. Sure, Phoebe."
Helga throws her arm around Phoebe's shoulder.
"You're a smart girl. When it comes to marriage, I know you'll do fine."
"Yeah. I feel so nervous, but at the same time, I feel excited; the idea of starting a new life with the man of my dreams."
Helga sits down, rolling her eyes slightly as Phoebe seems to dance around the room.
"The way he smiles. The way he makes me feel whenever we're together. His voice. The way he..."
"Phoebe, please. I ate before I got here."
"Sorry."
Just then, the familiar strains of "Here Comes the Bride" fill the air.
"Sounds like it's showtime."
Phoebe grabs her bouquet.
"I guess so."
The two friends walk into the crowded church hall...]
"Yeah, I do remember."
Helga looks at Phoebe, then at the floor.
"Phoebe, I've got something to tell you."
"What is it?"
Helga looks up at her.
"You've been so helpful and supportive of me all these years. You've always been there for me, and I've taken you for granted."
"Come on, Helga."
"I'm serious. All the stuff that's happened. The errands, the favors, that time you were hit by that bus - God, it still makes me sick that that happened."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I just want to say that I truly cherish our friendship. You are the best friend a girl could ever have."
Phoebe looked into Helga's eyes and saw tears forming; she was serious. The two of them hug, Phoebe tearing up as well.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Both women wiped the tears from their faces.
"Are you ready in there?", a gravelly voice inquired.
"Just about. Come on in."
To Helga's surprise, it was Big Bob and Miriam, a good deal older and grayer than usual. Given how neglectful they were to her in childhood, there was no mystery as to why, after graduating high school and heading off to college, Helga moved away. She hadn't spoken more than a few words to them in years, so she was less than enthused to see them.
"Oh. Hello. I didn't think you'd come."
"There's no way I'd miss my girl's special day."
"But I thought Olga's wedding was six years ago."
The old but still quite burly man approached his daughter.
"Look. Your mother and I...we haven't always been there for you. We wanted to be here for you now."
"Wait. How did you even know I was getting married?"
Helga looks over to Phoebe.
"What? Don't your parents have a right to know about your wedding?"
She looks back to her parents.
"Well...we wanted to say that...we..."
"We're both very sorry, Helga," Miriam finished.
Helga looks away.
"You know, it still hurts, all those times when you never paid attention to anything I did; like I didn't even exist."
Helga stands to her feet.
"But seeing you here now...at my wedding..."
Helga runs to her parents and hugs them.
"Oh, I've missed you so much!", she exclaimed, tears in her eyes.
"Actually, we brought someone else with us."
Helga looks toward the open door and who should walk in but Olga.
"Olga?"
"Baby sister!"
Having just hugged Big Bob and Miriam for the first time in who knows how long, Helga was taken aback by seeing her 'practically perfect in every way' older sister, who nearly squeezed the life out of the bride-to-be.
"You don't know how long it's been. How much I've missed seeing you."
"Yeah. I missed you, too", Helga squeaked out.
Olga releases Helga from her hug. She, again, looks toward Phoebe.
"Guilty."
Just as "Here Comes the Bride" starts up on an organ, Phoebe rises to her feet.
"So what do you say, Helga? Are you up for getting married?"
Helga looks to her family, then back at her best friend.
"Yes, Phoebe. Yes, I am."