Viva Las Vegas
Chapter 1: (Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry
"What do you think about this one?" Brenda Walsh stepped onto the platform in the center of the bridal salon and pivoted slightly in front of the tri-fold mirror. She adjusted the strapless bodice over her chest and smoothed a wrinkle out of the skirt. Donna Martin raised a critical eyebrow and bit her lip.
"I don't know, Bren. I think the cut is all wrong along the neckline," she proclaimed. "Kel, what do you think?" Donna paused. "Kelly?"
"Hmmm?" Kelly Taylor looked up from the bridal brochure she was flipping through. Brenda and Donna exchanged a glance.
"Brenda wants your opinion on the dress," Donna explained. Kelly tossed the booklet aside and rose from the chair she had been slumped in. Kelly looked Brenda up and down, tilting her head slightly to the right as she studied the gown.
"I don't see how it's that much different from the third one she had on," Kelly replied, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Donna, I know you're the fashionista here, but these dresses all look the same to me." Brenda furrowed her eyebrows and turned back to the mirror, examining her reflection thoughtfully.
"She's right, Don," Brenda agreed. "And I think I want something simpler anyway." She gathered the full skirt of the gown in her palms and stepped off the platform, shuffling back towards the fitting area.
"I can't believe you're marrying Stuart Carson," Kelly shook her head. Donna glared at her.
"Kelly, just because some of us are having relationship issues doesn't mean we have to belittle Brenda's happiness," Donna chided. Kelly sighed.
"This has nothing to do with Dylan and me," she retorted. "It's just we're still so young, and she barely knows Stuart. We're barely done with our first year in college!"
"I know enough to know I want this," Brenda called from behind the closed door.
"What else can I show you?" the heavily-perfumed sales associate appeared at Donna's side and smiled sweetly. Donna smiled back.
"I think we might be done for today, thanks."
"We've got time guys," Brenda announced as she reemerged from the fitting room. "There's really no need to rush. I want things to be perfect, and Stuart and I haven't even agreed on a date yet."
"Yeah, but this is the fun stuff," Donna clapped her hands together. "Are we doing anything else today?" Brenda shook her head.
"I don't think so. I've got a ton of stuff to do for my dad, and like I said, we've got time."
"I still can't believe you're getting married," Kelly echoed absently, running her hand along the line of a gown on a mannequin. "I figured Donna would be the first."
"Hey!"
"That's not an insult, Don," Kelly shook her head. "I mean, I guess I just meant you've had the most trauma-free relationship out of any of us. And just one relationship at that!"
"David and I have had our problems," Donna said softly. "And I'd say sex continues to be one colossal problem in the middle of our relationship."
"David loves you, Donna. Unconditionally," Brenda smiled. "We should all be so lucky."
"Do you not think Stuart loves you?" Donna looked alarmed. Brenda laughed and shook her head.
"No, I know he loves me. I just…I don't know. We're not you and David, that's all. No one is."
"Who would have thought David Silver would have become the touchstone of all things romantic?" Kelly snickered. Donna swatted her playfully.
"Come on, ladies, let's go," Brenda declared. "I think we can squeeze in a quick lunch before Jim the Slave Driver beckons me back." The three friends laughed and followed each other out the bridal salon door, bells tinkling as it swung closed behind them.