Hi peeps!

It's been a long time. I hope you enjoy! :)

Fine

Casey shrugged into her coat and pulled her hair free of her collar. Maybe she should have worn it up. The curls were already threatening to flatten and she wasn't even out of the house yet. Lovely. She blew out a breath to calm herself. If this was the worst that was going to happen it would be fine. Better than fine; it would be great. Somehow, though, she doubted that her hair would be the biggest problem. Tonight was going to be a nightmare.

Everyone thought that this was a terrible idea. Her mother had called three separate times already, and Liz had interrogated about every aspect of her life this afternoon.

"Stop trying to psycho-analyze me, Lizzie," Casey complained as she debated heels in her mirror. "She was my friend first."

"Case, I'm just not understanding why you are torturing yourself like this."

"It's a wedding, Liz, it's not like we're going to have to talk about anything. Plus there is an open wine bar."

"I thought you were driving."

"I am driving. I'm just hoping that everyone else likes the idea of a free wine bar."

"Casey," her sister sounded tired.

"It's okay, Liz; I'm a big girl. I can handle it."

"I dunno, I wouldn't want to go know he might show up."

"See, that's just it! It's a might. He might be there, he might not. And I'm leaning more towards the not side, because I'm pretty sure he's on the lam or something."

No one had heard from him in a while. Even Marti said she hadn't heard anything since June, so she was pretty sure he forgot there were other people on the planet besides himself. Or he was seeing someone. Which was cool; he was an adult with free will and all that. Everyone was allowed to date. Marti, however, was completely offended.

"Are you going by yourself?"

"Yeah, I think so," Casey decided on the black boots. They pulled attention to her dress and would hopefully keep her feet warmer than the red peep-toes. "I mean the invite was only for me and I really don't know anyone that would want to be there. And Gwen said she'd meet me there, so I'll have someone to talk to, so that'll be fine."

"Weren't he and Gwen friends?"

"I don't really know. She's just more on my side than I am, so that has bizarre-o potential."

"Casey, I just don't want you to feel like you have to go." Maybe Liz needed a nap; she really sounded exhausted.

"Of course I'm going to go! My first college roommate is getting married; of course I'm going to be there."

It took a couple of tries to convince Lizzie that she was fine. Nora had been more difficult, but eventually had a screaming five-year-old to attend and let Casey go. At least she knew her opinionated family cared. Everything was going to be okay. She'd even purchased the perfect gift for Amanda, so everything was going to be just fine.

She found her keys and looked up directions on her phone before pulling on her gloves and winding her scarf around her neck. Her hair was probably a mess. Maybe she should spray it down one more time? She didn't want it to be crunchy, but she also didn't want to look like she'd arrived in a convertible.

She and Amanda hadn't ever been extremely good friends, but they had been friends and had a great college relationship. Granted, when Casey had broken up with Jay, they'd become a little estranged, and when Casey graduated a year early, they'd sort of lost touch but when they were in the same town, they'd always take time to get coffee and catch up. They were friends.

And Casey had totally seen this wedding coming. The minute she'd mentioned Nathan their freshman year of college and had called him "not-a-date-Nate" she figured there was something there. At least one of them had been right.

Casey shook her head to clear it. That was years ago. Several. Several years ago. She was older and wiser and more mature. And she would handle herself as such. If only her hair would handle itself as such, she'd feel completely prepared. Whatever. She'd endured worse. She swallowed hard. She logically knew that she was on the highway, but felt like she was hurtling along at 100km per hour towards disaster.

Marti texted her as she pulled up to the venue.

'Hey KC…hes an idiot so if he shows feel free to ignore him…I fully plan on ignoring him until hes smarter…which could be awhile'

That was nice. Apart from the lack of punctuation, it was lovely to have Marti's words of wisdom. She was probably more upset about the stalemate than Casey was, but everyone ignored it so, Casey couldn't be sure. Edwin sent her a picture of a duckling in a teacup; his version of support.

She checked her face in her visor mirror, decided on a little more mascara, just for show, and finally pushed her door open.

It'd stopped snowing for the time being, and she adored how beautifully the fairy lights in the shrubbery made the entrance. It was like a dream. If only the sick, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach would agree to the dream and keep it together.

She took a deep breath as she stored her coat-check coupon in her purse. She smoothed her skirt. Maybe she should have brought someone with her. Maybe then she wouldn't feel so isolated. She looked around the circle of chairs, looking for a seat where she could hear and see the ceremony. Or at least see Amanda. She'd only actually met Nathan once.

She chose a spot in the third circle of chairs back from the archway built in the center of the room and adjusted her purse on her shoulder. She didn't recognize anyone.

And then she heard him.

She shrunk in her seat and looked around. She'd know that voice anywhere.

He was here.

And then she saw him. His arm draped over a girl laughing at a man in the row behind.

He was here.