Black tie adorning waiters hustled past the tables on the side of the barn, with trays of largely empty champagne glasses. Hanna Marin, walked out of the toilet door which was laced with twinkle lights, and made her way back into the main barn, grabbing two glasses from one of the passing waiters. Downing both in two swift movements she set both empty glasses on an unhabited table.
'It's all a bit much don't you think, Em?' She whispered stumbling towards the front of the dance floor where Emily stood.
'What are you talking about? It's a wedding Han, what did you expect?' She replied, quickly grabbing ahold of Hanna's arm before she tripped over.
'What I mean isss-'
She paused to swallow hard and attempted to regain her balance '...we're technically at our old teacher's wedding .' She continued in a whisper, which wasn't a whisper at all.
'Hanna you're drunk, just please come... Come and sit down at the table with me.'
Emily tried to escort her friend off the dance floor, to somewhere less populated and sober her up before the bride saw her.
'Get- get off me Em.' She pulled her arm away. 'Ouch. Em. Stooop-' slurring her words she moved backwards and in the process tripped over a cord belonging to the live band.
'You know what? Fine. You stay there, on your ass. I'm sick of being your babysitter.' Emily looked down to the girl at her feet and strode off in anger.
Spencer traced the rim of her glass with her finger.
Who would have thought that at the end of the day, it was Aria and Ezra that had the most stable relationship?
She sighed and took took a sip from her martini. Looking back up to scan the room she saw Emily walking towards the table.
'Em? What are you doing back here? I thought you were dancing? Where's Hanna?...Not that I'm actually worried about her.' She asked snarkily.
'I really don't care. I'm sick of taking care of her. She's a big girl now.'
Emily sat down in defeat.
'Do you realise the irony here? Aria thought it would be A.D ruining her big day in some shape or form, turns out its one of our own...'
She takes the drink in her hand and uses it to gesture towards Hanna, who was now climbing onto the stage.
'...Though I'm not surprised. Hanna never does know when to stop.'
Emily narrows her eyes at Spencer's comment, but chooses to ignore it, not wanting to add to the feud.
3 clinks on glass and a tap on a microphone fill the room.
'Wow. Well, hi there everyone. For those of you who don't know me-' the speaker looks around the room
'which is aalotttt of youuu... My name is Jared. Jared Hardy, best man... Although Ezra here just calls me Hardy... Not sure why-'
He winks and thumps his hand down onto Ezra's shoulder, who in response winces both in pain and dread of what's to come.
'First though I gotta apologise in advance. The bride and groom obviously thought a free bar was a good idea... I'm not so sure, but rest assured I have made the absolute mooooost of it. Waste not want noottt and aaaaalllll' He continues, slurring his words.
'I've known Ezra since college, where he... He got a degree in English...' He looks down at his seated friend and smiles.
'and I got a degree in English... girls... and American girls and Spanish girls and-'
Aria coughs to somewhat divert the existing train wreck from becoming a wreck of multiple trains.
'Oh. Yeah. Sorry. Anyway. Where was I? Oh right. Yeah.'
He points at Aria who has apparently just jogged his memory.
'I actually met Aria here, once... But that was a looooong time ago. Actually...-'
He looks back down at Ezra and points to him, who has his head in his hands.
'Wasn't that when you were her tea- ...OUCH.' He grimaces in pain as Ezra steps, quite hard, down onto his foot from under the table.
Aria shoots Hardy a death glare.
'Ehem. Yes.'
He continues to try and address the crowd of seated guests.
'...He was her tea-... teeee... Teeeeee-nage love. Her teenage love. Yes. Good. Okay. That works.'
'Nice save'. Mutters Ezra under his breath.
'And now they're married! Wow. Yes. And we're all here... Because… They're married and now they can do all the-'
He grabs the mic off the stand and shuffles to the edge of the stage, away from the table and Ezra's foot.
'...They can do all the sex and have all the babies, that will probably be quite short maybe probably I mean Aria is so tiny and Ezra is kinda average height I guess-'
He looks smiling towards the happy couple who look equally, if not more shocked than the entire room.
'Hardy out.' He says as he drops the mic onto the stage and stumbles halfway off before running back, picking up the mic again and shouting into it.
'ALSO IF ANyone is wondering. I do have a hotel room, down the street and would encourage any female admirers to help me make use of it, be it bridesmaids-'
He motions towards Hanna and the girls' table.
'Or anyone really I'm not-'
Ezra pulls the mic off him and pushes him in the direction of his seat.
'Thank you, Hardy for that speech. It was... It was quite something.'
Hardy had ended up, shockingly, back at the bar.
'That was some speech.'
He turns around and is greeted by one of Aria's bridesmaids. Which one, he's not sure, but he isn't one to complain.
'Thank you. I assume you are here regarding my advertisement.'
She scoffs.
'Shocking as it may seem, no.'
Hardy raises an eyebrow.
'So why are you here?'
The bridesmaid looks up and gestures towards the giant lettering above their heads.
'BAR'
'Fair point' he sighs.
'Although the timing of my visit may have something to do with the company.'
Hardy smiles.
'I don't believe we've met. I'd introduce myself but you clearly bore witness to my speech. You are?'
'... Hanna. My name is Hanna. Hanna Marin.'
'Well Hanna, it's a privilege, and probably one I won't remember tomorrow.'
She smiles.
'What can I get you then?'
'Uuh a martini please, dry.'
'Has anyone seen Hanna? Or Spencer?' Aria strides into the small crowd of her friends.
'I'm doing the bouquet. I would have thought they'd want to be here for this.'
'Last I saw, Hanna was on the floor somewhere and Spence was at the bar.' Emily says in an attempt to calm the obviously very stressed bride.
'Great. Great. I'm missing half of my bridesmaids on my wedding day!'
'Calm down honey, I'm sure they're here somewhere.' Ezra attempts to and fails to calm his new wife down.
'I'll go check the bar.' Alison tells her, noticing her panicked state.
'I suppose I'll go check the loo's... It's fine Aria. They'll show up.' Emily shouts back as she half runs in the direction of the toilets.
Alison approaches the bar, where Spencer is sat, alone.
'Spence, Aria wants us all for the bouquet. She's having a meltdown. Can you please just come and participate before she explodes?' Alison begs.
'Yeah, fine. Whatever.'
She stands up, ruffles her dress back down and follows Ali through the crowd.
'I found Hanna, she was outside underneath the chairs singing some Taylor Swift song, I think.' Emily sighs, clearly out of breath as she explains to Aria.
'So where is she now?' Aria asks, confused, looking behind Emily.
'She is...-' Emily turns around.
'She was... Right here.' She closes her eyes and sighs again.
'Thanks, Em. Look don't worry I'll go try and find her.' Aria puts her hand to her head.
Why was Hanna so insistent on ruining her wedding day with her drunken, dramatic ways?
Aria smiles briefly at Emily before she exits the barn via the bar, picking up a very strong G&T on her way out.
'So then... Get this. Then I told him I didn't wanntttt.-' Hanna looks up.
'I said I... I didn't want to marry him anymore because I think I love Caleb. Calebbbb. But Caleb loves Spencer and do you see? Do youuu?-'
The elderly woman Hanna had told her life troubles to was clearly asleep, though she didn't notice, and continued to ramble.
'But the thing is like Spencer. Spencer is my fff-. She's my frrriend and I don't kno-'
'HANNA!'
She looks up quickly, to see a bridezilla striding towards her.
'Jesus Christ Han, I have been looking for you everywhere. Why are you harassing poor Ezra's grandmother?! Can you please just come with me for 2 minutes and try not to ruin my day, please?'
'Mmmmmkay' Hanna nods, before burping and following Aria.
'Okay. Finally. Now, can I please throw this damn bouquet behind me before I get tempted to throw it at you two?' Aria had gathered all of the girls outside and pointed out Spencer and Hanna with her bouquet.
'Yesss. Oh my god. Please Aria. Just throw the damn thing. I need a drinkkkk!'
'Hanna.' Emily whispered, elbowing her.
'Fine! Fine! 3, 2, 1!' Aria threw the bunch of flowers behind her and walked to the side of the courtyard in annoyance.
'Knock yourselves out! ... Please.' she half muttered, half growled.
Ezra was sat on a bench on the edge of the courtyard, holding two glasses of champagne.
'Figured you'd need this after throwing the meat to those bulls you just gathered.' He stood up.
She took the glass and looked up at him.
'See this is why I married you.'
He laughed and used his free hand to hold hers, while she buried her head into his shoulder.
'No surprises who got the bunch then, eh?' He said, a few moments later.
Aria looked out from his shirt to see Spencer and Hanna on the floor each with clearly ripped pieces of the bouquet, messy hair and dirty dresses.
'Hm. Looks like bridesmaids can be bitches too.'
Hardy catches sight of his bridesmaid on one of the outdoor chairs and approaches her.
'So you caught the bouquet then? Or at least-'
Hardy fingers the ripped seam in the ribbon and looks down at her dirt covered dress.
'... some of it.'
'Yeah, one of my friends really wants to get married too. Clearly.'
'Wow. Yeah. That sounded bitter.' He gives her a questioning look.
'No. It's nothing. She just. She had... Has feelings for a guy I'm seeing... Was seeing... It's all a bit messy...' She looks down at her dress.
'I mean clearly it's messy.' She laughs, brushing the dirt out of the lace in the fabric of the dress.
'You know, Hanna. I can get that dress cleaned for you...' Hardy puts his hand over hers.
She pulls away at the mention of her name and touch of his hand.
'I'm sorry. I don't think that's appropriate. Sorry.'
'We're at a wedding. I'm best man, you're a bridesmaid. I think it's pretty much the law that-'
'Spencer! Hey. Could you give Aria a hand with her dress? She needs to pee and doesn't want my help, or Han-' Ezra interrupts the conversation, but is interrupted himself.
'Sure yeah of course.'
Hardy shoots both of them a confused look.
Spencer darts towards the toilets.
'Well that was weird.' Ezra says taking her seat.
'Tell me about it... Wait... Speaking of weird… You won't help your own wife pee?'
Ezra looks up at him.
'Don't tell her I told you, but she's a very stressful bride. I'd probably accidentally rip a button off her dress and she'd file for divorce... that's if she hasn't killed me already.'
'That's not true...-' Hardy replies.
Ezra smiles thankfully at his friend, who although drunk is attempting some sort of support.
'...I'm sure you'll rip many buttons off her dress tonight and she will be nothing but thankful.' Hardy says as he bursts into a fit of laughter.
Ezra hits his knee in annoyance, gets up and heads towards the bar.
Typical Hardy, he thinks to himself. Only ever has one thing on his mind.
Aria washes her hands in one of the sinks. She looks up at her reflection in the mirror.
'Spence?'
'Hmm?' Spencer looks up from the corner where she was stood.
'Do you think I made the right choice?' She asks.
Spencer and walked closer to Aria.
'Right choice in what?' She asked, confused.
'Not Ezra. Ezra is perfect, he's always been the right choice... I mean marriage. Do you think I made the right choice getting married?'
Spencer swallows and goes to fix Aria's slipping veil back in place.
'I think...-' she pauses to look at her friend in the eye in the reflection of the mirror.
'... I think that you followed your heart. I think that some people are the marrying type, and others aren't but that's okay.'
'You mean like Hanna?' Aria asks.
'No. I think Hanna is the marrying type... I just don't think she thought Jordan was the right choice...' She mentally debates whether to continue this conversation further, before deciding against it. She'd tell Aria everything. Just not today. One of them deserved to be happy.
'Look.' She said quickly, almost interrupting herself. 'You look so beautiful, Aria.'
'Thanks, Spence. Really. Thanks for everything.' Aria gave Spencer a hug.
'Now go on, get out there. Your groom is waiting!' Spencer dried tears that she didn't see coming and motioned the bride out of the door.
As soon as Aria left the toilets she felt a tap on her shoulder and knew instinctively who initiated it.
She turned around and was greeted by the beaming face of her new husband.
'So, Mrs Fitz. Are you ready to take to the dance floor with me?' He held out his arm.
'That's something I'll never be ready for... You and your dad dancing!' She grasped his arm, giggling.
'Hey!' He gently tapped hers.
'Hmmmm' she mumbled, looking up at him.
'Let's see what you've got then, Mr Fitz.'
Aria and Ezra, now Mr and Mrs were dancing on the dancefloor, at their wedding to their song.
'Sweet, isn't it?' Alison whispered to Emily as they stood in the crowd around the newlyweds.
All she got in reply was a sniffle.
Alison looked at her and chuckled.
'You're such a soft touch, Emily Fields.'
'They're just so perfect.' Emily snivelled back.
'I know.' Ali replied, setting her head on Emily's shoulder.
'Oh hello there, you two.' Hanna emerges having pushed her way through the crowd and winks at the cozy arrangement of the pair.
They instinctively pull away from each other.
'Hanna. You seem... Slightly more sober.' Emily says looking at her friend.
'Yeah. The whole cat fight bouquet thing kind of knocked the alcohol out of me.' She replied.
'You still stink of it.' Ali retorts, pushing up her nose.
'Charming, as always, Alison.' Hanna replies.
'Will you lot be quiet.' Spencer's voice pipes up from beside Emily.
Hanna rolls her eyes.
'Look at them. They can't even keep from fighting for two minutes.' Aria sighed into Ezra's arms as the pair danced.
'Aria. Sooner or later you're going to have to let them find their own way.' Ezra whispered.
'I know.'
'It's our wedding day. Please, let me have you 100% here today. Ignore them.' Ezra finally grumbled in frustration.
Aria pulled out of their embrace and into a position where the pair could dance face to face.
She looked at him in the eyes.
'I'm sorry.' She said and sighed.
'God, Ezra I'm sorry. I love you. I'm here 100% I promise.' She took her hand and stroked his cheek, before replacing it back into his.
'I love you too, Aria. Even though your friends are behaving like toddlers.' He whispered and the pair continued to move across the dance floor.
'What do you think they're talking about?' Hanna whispered to Emily.
'I don't know. Love?'
'God, Ali is right. You're such a softie.'
Emily rolled her eyes.
'It's their wedding day, what do you think they're talking about... Murder?' Emily scoffed quietly.
'I mean... All of us but Spence and Ali have killed people, so it's possible.' She sniggered.
'Hanna. Shut. Up.' Emily scolded.
'And there are the newlyweds sharing their first dance, to Happiness... You'll all now be happy to know, pun intended, that the main course is being served so if you would like to return to your tables that would be great.' Byron Montgomery announced through the microphone on the stage.
'Come on you.' Aria took Ezra's hand and led him back to their table.
'But it hurts!' Ezra replied, hopping after his wife.
'I stepped on your toe, hun. You didn't exactly lose a leg.'
'Aria! Look at your shoes!' He gestures down at her very, very high heels whilst hopping towards his chair.
'I said I was sorry! It's not my fault I'm short!' She looked at him as they sat down and put on a sad face.
'Can I have a kiss then?' He smiled.
She leant in towards him
'But of course, Mr Fitz.'
She quickly kissed him before lacing her fingers in his.
'I still can't get over them...' Aria looks towards her brother, and his date, Mona.
'I think it's sweet… in a creepy cute kind of way.' Ezra replies.
Suddenly, Hardy approaches their table, setting both hands down onto it in frustration.
'Have either of you seen... seen... Hanna? Her name is Hanna. About yey high... Brown hair...-'
'You mean blonde, Hardy?' Ezra replies, not surprised at Hardy's lack of coloured vision due to the amount of alcohol in his system.
'Right, yeah.' Hardy responds, clearly still very drunk.
'Did you check the floor?' Aria retorts, raising an eyebrow.
'...Or failing that, the food is coming on. Hanna was never one to turn down a meal. Check the girls' table-' Ezra says, almost chuckling to himself. His chuckles are greeted by a strong elbow to the ribs from Aria.
'Nope. I will now...' Hardy stumbles off the stage where the pair are sitting.
'I'm not sure your parents will have any money left after the cheque for that bar gets in...' Aria looks at Ezra, concerned.
Emily, Hanna and Alison are sat at their table, awaiting the main course.
'Where did Spencer go?' Ali says after a few moments of silence.
Emily and Hanna both look up, scanning the room.
There is no sign of Spencer.
Emily narrows her eyes.
'She was in the crowd by the dance floor earlier, I haven't seen her since.'
The trio get up from the table, just as Hardy arrives.
'I'm missing a bridesmaid! Yey high. She has hair. Could be brown.' He shouts to them.
'So are we...' Hanna replies.
'I've checked everywhere.' Hardy explains.
Suddenly the foursome are met with a choir of text alerts.
'Why would I miss coming out to play, on Aria's big day? I've taken Spencer for a ride, who knows what dirt we'll find? -A.D'