The hotel events hall was decorated with white, cream and pink balloons and streamers, the tables covered in long cream table clothes and the staff, getting the room set up for the wedding and the reception the next day, were rushing around, getting the finishing touches to the room, putting the flowers in place and setting up the name places to the sitting arrangement they'd been given. One of the staff went out of the events hall to pick up a few boxes that had arrived. Just as he reached the boxes, he saw something snakelike sliver past. Instead of ignoring it, he went to investigate, following the creature as it headed down the corridor. It stopped by a cupboard, and slid under the door. The staff member put his hand on the door handle and took a deep breath. He even opened the door, and his eyes widened in fear as he looked up, a shadow of a large lizard like creature looming over him. The staff member screamed before everything went black. He fell to the ground as the large lizard shaped shadow slid it's way over him and disappeared down the corridor.
The day of the wedding, and the Smith household was a buzz of activity. Sarah Jane had allowed Chrissie to get ready for the wedding at the house, mostly because Ivan-Chrissie's future husband-would be getting ready at the house they shared. Chrissie was so grateful to Sarah Jane for allowing her to almost take over the house that she even bothered to get Sarah Jane's name right. Alan-who was giving Chrissie away, was dressed in a grey morning suit, and walking around the kitchen, hoping to get his speech right for the reception. Sarah Jane-dressed in a smart trouser suit, was making coffee, listening to Alan's speech for what must have been the tenth time that day. Clyde-in the same grey suit he'd warn to Sarah Jane's wedding, complete with trainers, Luke-also in the same grey suit he'd worn to his mum's wedding, and Rani-in a dark blue dress with matching shoes, were in the hallway, watching as the make-up artist put the finishing touches to Chrissie's make up. Chrissie's wedding dress was all white, with a long vial and huge skirt. "Why is she wearing white?" Clyde wondered. "She's hardly a virgin bride!"
"What's that?" Luke asked as Rani gave Clyde a slight kick in the leg. Clyde opened his mouth to answer, but then thought better of it. There was a time and place to explain and now wasn't it.
"I'll explain later." Clyde said instead. He was glad for the distraction, when Maria came down the stairs, wearing her bridesmaid's dress. It was pink, with short sleeves and a long skirt, simple compared to her mother's wedding dress.
"Wow," Luke gasped as Maria reached the bottom of the stairs. "You l-look b-beautiful."
"Thanks." Maria replied with a smile.
"Come on Clyde, I think I can hear Sarah Jane calling us." Rani said grabbing Clyde's arm.
"I can't hear anything." Clyde said as Rani pulled him away to the kitchen, leaving Luke and Maria alone in the hallway.
"Maria-" Luke started, knowing that if he should tell someone how he felt about Maria, it might as well be Maria herself. But before he could finish, Chrissie came out of the living room and on seeing Maria, gave her a great big hug.
"Oh you look lovely Maria!" she exclaimed. "A perfect picture!"
"Thanks mum." Maria said as her mum let her go. Luke hoped Chrissie would go back inside and give him the chance to speak to Maria, but then Sarah Jane came out of the kitchen, followed by Clyde and Rani.
"Time for us to get going," she said. "Come on Luke."
"Thanks again Sarah Jane for letting me get ready here." Chrissie said as Sarah Jane got her car keys out.
"Oh don't mention it. It's a pleasure. I'll see you at the hotel." And with that, Luke, Rani and Clyde followed Sarah Jane out to her car. As Rani and Clyde got into the back, Luke and Sarah Jane got into the front and soon they were driving off towards the hotel where the wedding and reception was taking place.