Sean heard pounding on his door, and it wouldn't stop until he pulled himself out of bed and ripped it open.
Ellie stood there, coat on and purse in hand. His mouth hung until he felt the reminder of Emma and looked away, guilt covering his face.
"You haven't answered my calls." Ellie said quietly..
(((*)))
She sat there, on his couch, thinking about all he had just told her and he told her everything. Well, all about what he did with Emma behind her back, but not Emma's problems, that was her buisness.
"Wow." Ellie finally spoke after a long time. She sat on the couch as he sat on the coffee table in front. He looked up when she finally spoke, seeing her eyes burning with tears. "Emma Nelson.."
He too cringed and nodded, swallowing hard. "I'm really sorry, Ellie." he wished she knew that.
"I could never compete with her, could I Sean?" her voice turned bitter, until she turned sad again, "Not even when I was just a stupid teenage girl. Guess I'm still stupid though huh?... Wow, of course she would come back when we are thinking about marriage."
He looked away, wincing and not knowing what to say to that.
He looked back and whispered, "I never wanted a wedding, Ellie. You know that-"
"fine." she bit, then sighed and leaned closer, "Fine, That's fine, baby. Lets just stay together a-and-" she cupped his face for him to remove her hands.
"Ellie I cheated on you." he gave her a crazy look.
"I gave you the break."
"I love her."
"You love me too."
"No Ellie." he finally stood up and she gasped. He shut his eyes and ran his hands down his face, "I'm sorry but I-I .. ." he locked eyes with her, hating to say the truth, "I can't ever love another girl the way I do with her. Nobody can replace her."
"What does she have, Sean?" her voice cracked.
"I don't even know Ellie." he looked confused as well, "She was just the first girl who ever really knew me. Accepted me. She didn't even want to change me but I felt the need to until the pressure built up, and my insecurities got the best of me-"
"Oh my god." Ellie looked slapped in the face, "You broke up with her because you thought you weren't good enough. Not because you were over her."
He looked down, ashamed, and nodded.
"When you were with me, back then when we started dating, did you still want her?"
He looked horrible as he nodded, filled with guilt and agony.
Ellie looked away numbly. "I guess that's it then. All I need." she snickered and stood up, "In the back of my mind, I knew."
He looked up, shocked. She nodded.
"I've seen her pictures in the magazines out around your place sometimes. I'd insist you probably didn't even notice when you bought it but why else would a guy buy Vanity fair magazine?" she even laughed at herself. He for sure wasn't looking for new make up products..
Sean smiled sadly and walked to the door with her as she took a deep shakey breath.
"Tell me one thing."
He turned, leaning on the door.
"Are you two back together now?" she asked.
Sean rubbed the back of his head, shaking his head no.
Ellie smiled so sadly, a tear running down her cheek. "What's wrong with her? You're perfect."
Sean looked at Ellie and promised, "you'll find a better guy than me, you deserve better."
Ellie nodded, and finally went out the door. Sean closed it behind her.
(((***)))
Manny sat at a table with Emma in a diner while Jay was working down the street the next day. She laid out wedding pictures on the table and pointed at a brochure for Emma.
"It's this cool thing wedding couples do now who want to get a taste of what other peoples weddings are like. So you go, and you're part of their guest list, and you just check out their decor, and band, and theme."
"So you can get a picture for your own weddng. That's cool." Emma admitted, looking at the brochure and really looked interested.
"Will you go with me?" Manny begged.
"You said you needed to be a couple." laughed Emma.
Manny winced, "Ya. So, you come, and Jay brings his best man, and we act like engaged couples so we can all go see it together!"
Emma was sending her a death look now, putting down the brochure.
"Em, what's the big deal?! You said you're over it, last night you even went home with some guy from the club."
"don't remind me." muttered Emma and then swallowed her fear, "Fine. Lets go. I am over it."
Manny raised an eyebrow.
"I'm over it, Manny! He made it easy. He's still with Ellie Nash." Emma said the name like it was poison, "now stop looking at me like I'm not over it."
"Can you be friends?"
No. Emma squinted her eyes at Manny. "yes." she lied.
"Good! I'll tell Jay!"
(((((*))))))
Manny left Emma after they ate, and walked to the autoshop with some donuts for them.
"I come baring gifts." she teased, raising the box as she entered the motor shop that played music while men in mechanic suits drilled and worked.
Geez, if she wasn't engaged.. Just kidding. She was too inlove to even THINK a thing.
Jay greeted her with a kiss, then stole the box, grabbing a donut. "Franky, Chad, Mike- donuts?" he raised the box, setting it on the table for everyone.
Sean looked up from his office, wondering what the sudden cheer was and noticed Manny here. He turned back to signing some papers on his desk as the bad reminder of Emma popped into his head.
Over by Manny and Jay, she peaked in Sean's office and muttered, "He still brooding?"
Jay whispered back while snaking an arm around her waist, "He's never stopped." he sighed and then raised his eyebrows. Should he tell Manny about Ellie? Sean told him it was over. Little too late, but, at least over.
"Hey!" Manny cut him off, "Emma is down for the wedding stuff. I get to have my maid of honors opinion"
Sean was now walking out of his office, and came over to them. Jay spoke so he could hear, "I wish MY 'maid of honor' was that nice."
Sean gave him a wierd look, stopping in front of them. What were they talking about?
"Donut?" Manny asked sheepishly, pointing to the box that was near empty now. He frowned, noticing her being TOO friendly. Emma must of told her what happened. She probably told her how she hated him too. Was that why he was getting the pity look from Manny?
"Wedding stuff." Jay told Sean, "Manny wants Emma to come so they can girl out, but it needs to be couples."
"To pick out cake?" Sean snickered, not understanding.
"No, to go to someone else's wedding." Manny explained it all to Sean.
"So . . Emma can't go, unless she has a date that poses as her fiance .. "
They nodded.
"Does..she have a date?" Sean looked so obvious as he tried not to be a nervous wreck. He hated the thought of Emma with another guy.
"That's you Bam, bam." Jay told him, "That is if you can handle it."
Sean blinked, and looked around, licking his lips nervously until he shrugged his left shoulder, "Well, its your wedding, I'm best man. I need to help."
"Sure Seanny." Jay taunted, knowing what was really up. Manny laughed too
"so what time? What day?" Sean looked a little eager.
Jay raised his eyebrows, "Jesus man, relax. You're some school boy again when it comes to Greenpeace. Man up."
Sean growled at him, "I'm your boss, you know?"
"I don't get it." Manny now had to say, realising Sean wanted Emma too, that it wasn't just a hook up that her friend insisted it was, "If you want her back, dump the wicked witch of the west, and go back to the good witch."
Sean snickered, "Don't think I've tried, scare crow?"
Manny mouthed 'scare crow' with a confused look. "No brain." Jay whispered to her.
Manny gasped and pointed childishly at Sean, waving her finger in his face, "Well you're tin man!" No heart.
"Now you're getting her upset." Jay warned Sean, trying to pull Manny into his arms and put down her hand in Sean's face who rolled his eyes. Jay explained slowly to Manny, "Did you miss the part he said he dumped Ellie?"
Manny stopped, and gasped, looking back at Sean, "You did?"
Sean was looking uncomfortable, making sure his workers weren't listening, "Can we not talk about this?"
"This Saturday, you'll come?" Manny asked, raising an eyebrow. He stalled, looking unsure. She shrugged and went to leave, "Fine, I'll just ask the guy Emma went home with the other night to come. It's not hard for her to find a date-"
Jay cringed and Sean's mouth hung, grabbing MAnny before she turned to leave, "She's been with someone else?" his stomach turned, his blood boiled.
"She's been with a few. You broke her."
"I think Peter did that." Jay intervened. They both frowned at the reminder of that asshole. Jay scoffed and snapped at them both, "You guys are going to make do the smackdown aren't you?" he gave Manny a pointed look, "You don't know what's going on between them, so stop getting into it."
Mannys mouth fell.
Jay turned to Sean, "You have no damn right in getting mad at Emma for who she hooks up with or dates. You were with Ellie all along when you hooked up with her and made her fall for you again." he took a deep breath, "now I'm tired. That was my one good deed of the year."
"What about our wedding?" Manny asked.
"Yea yah, I'll be good that night too... until later on." he smirked, she did too. He then scoffed, "I hate being the one who has to do smackdown, now I'm tired and filled with emotions." with that, he left, and Manny and Sean stood back with shocked looks.
((((***))))
Emma sat on her couch, her tv on but her not focusing on it. She stared at her hand, picking at this one part of the couch near her feet that was slightly ripping and she was pulling the yarn.
She hated this feeling of guilt and depression, with her history, it resulted in turning to bad things and if she was alone for one more minute, she might just think about doing it-
KNOCK KNOCK.
Saved by the bell. Literally. Emma turned to her door and got up, going over to it. When she opened it, Jay stood there.
"Alright, good little witch, lets talk." he entered.
Emma stood there, confused. "Good witch?"
(((**))
He and Emma sat down on her couch, watching some Adam Sandler movie but both not watching it. Emma wondered what he was here for, must be important. They didn't always hangout alone.
He finally spoke, "You need to figure out if coming to this wedding with us is going to be too hard or not."
Emma blinked, and looked at Jay. "it's fine."
He gave her a knowing look. "When it comes to not handling things right, me and you connect on a level." he admitted, "I use to turn to things, before I met Manny, and- I don't want you doing the same."
"Awwww, you really care about me." Emma teased.
He gave her a look, "Emma." he said seriously and she frowned. "If it's going to be too much to be around 'him', then tell me now. We can make Spinner go instead or something."
"It's fine." Emma swore, closing her eyes and wanting the reminder of Sean to go away.
"I'm asking not just for your good health, but Manny's too." he looked dead serious now, and almost threatening. "If this blows up on you, who picks up the pieces? Manny. If you do anything to ruin her fun day-"
"You think I want to do that, Jay?" Emma finally snapped, looking at him with tears burning her eyes. It shocked him. She snickered bitterly, "I know I have issues. Will having to be around Sean again hurt? Yes. Always will. I can't avoid that forever, he's your best friend. But I can live with it, I'm a big girl."
Jay frowned, and felt a bit bad, slowly nodding at her. She sighed, and nodded back.
"It'll be fine.
((((((((((*******))))))))))))
The wedding that Saturday was in a big church. Emma wore a pretty black lacey sleeve dress as Manny wore a tight little red dress. Jay dressed his best too, not even wearing his backwards hat, and Sean too wore dressy black pants, shiney shoes, and button up blue shirt with his hair pushed naturally back. A little facail hair on his chin now that Emma didn't notice before. Must be new.
He looked really, really, good. But he had a brooding, quiet vibe going on. But it didn't look bad on him honestly. He had the 'tough quiet guy' look.
They sat on the bench, side by side, Emma and Sean looking tense, Manny and Jay actually watching the wedding and holding hands.
It was the after party that now Emma and Sean had to force themselves to talk as they waited in line to go into a white tent where the wedding party was. Manny and Jay had just entered from stating their names for the guest list. One couple was ahead of Emma and Sean so he took his chance when their friends finally weren't there to watch a show.
"Can we talk?" Sean asked Emma, finally trying to get her to even just look at him.
She spoke without even doing so, "Sure. We can even be friends .." she shrugged as the word stung him, "just as long as you forget anything and everything that ever happened the last few months."
He paused, but nodded "..fine."
She finally looked at him, but weirdly, "Why did you hesitate?"
He cleared his throat but had to be honest, "Kinda hard..forgetting some parts."
Emma tried not to blush. She huffed and just insisted, "Forget them. Throw them in a tiny bag inside your brain, and toss it in the trash can."
He smiled softly and nodded, "Tossed." . ..but not really. How could he forget that one stormy night and the next morning?
"Good." she said, eyeing him now and not believing him but trying to.
"Good."
Finally the doorman asked them, "Names?"
"We aren't part of the family or friends list." Emma told him, "We're the guests that are just watching."
He nodded as he found their names, "Mr and Mrs Cameron I presume?"
Both of them stiffened, and Sean gave the guy a tight nod who nodded back and waited for them to go. Both their feet seemed glued to the door.
Emma sighed, "Lets just go." she led him inside.
He muttered under his breath, "This is going to be a long night."
Inside, they met up with Manny and Jay in the wild crowd, rocking out and dancing to the live band on stage. "What's up?" Emma asked Manny, seeing a troubled look on her face and Sean noticed Jay looking quite pissed.
"I think the 'live band' is a big no." Jay said sarcastically and Sean looked back at the band, Craig Mannings as the singer.
Emma and Sean even shared a look.
Uh oh.
Author note: I won't be continuing without any reviews.
