This is the chapter where most of the explaining is done, so it might be slightly confusing. Hopefully you'll understand it.

Wow, two chapters in a night!! I hope that makes up for me not updating for a few days. Enjoy.

Gretchen Explains All

"Alright, I'm coming!" The cranky voice from the other side of the door yelled.

TJ Detweiler opened the door, wearing only a T-Shirt and boxer shorts. He didn't have his cap on and his brown hair stood up at all ends.

"Gretchen, it's seven thirty in the morning. I was doing stand-up last night and didn't get in till two. This better be good." TJ said.

"Well TJ, as a matter of fact, I'm here to talk to you about an issue of great importance."

Then TJ remembered something. It was the big day. "Aren't you supposed to be at Spinelli's house, getting ready? You're one of the bridesmaids, aren't you?"

Gretchen nodded. "But that can wait. TJ, this is important."

Gretchen and TJ sat on TJ's sofa.

"I need to talk to you about Spinelli."

TJ sighed. All he wanted to do was forget about Spinelli. Forget about Byron. Forget about the fact that in a few hours they would be husband and wife.

"Well, I don't"-

"Last night, we were at the bar and Spinelli- told me something."

"What, that she wanted to use the restroom?"

"Don't try and be funny, TJ. This is serious."

"Well, I'm too tired to be serious."

"Just shut up and listen, TJ! Do you want Spinelli to marry Byron?"

TJ's eyes widened.

"Tell the truth," Gretchen said, knowing what the answer would be.

"No," TJ whispered.

"Well, I have some information for you. I believe that Spinelli told you she didn't love Byron, but she loved another man?"

TJ nodded.

"Well- last night she revealed who that man is."

"Good for her," TJ said glumly. He didn't know why he felt so miserable. He had tried to tell himself that Spinelli deserved to be happy, and if he couldn't make her happy, then he would be OK with any other guy that could. But having that kind of attitude was easier said than done. He still wanted Spinelli, even though he knew he had no chance. He didn't want to know who Spinelli was in love with. It would hurt too much.

"It's you, TJ." Gretchen suddenly said.

TJ was gobsmacked. Was Gretchen playing a trick on him? Did she have a hangover from last night? Did she have the right TJ?

Gretchen carried on. "She's been in love with you since kindergarten. But she thinks that you don't feel the same way. She thinks you don't love her back, and because of that, she has to marry Byron, or she'll have no one."

"But… how do you know she was telling the truth?"

"Would she really lie about a thing like that?"

"It was her hen-night. She would have been drunk."

"Exactly. When you're drunk, you confess things you never would have if you were sober."

"So- what's your point, Gretchen?"

"Spinelli is in love with you. She thinks you don't love her- and don't start the 'just friends' nonsense, I know that you've always had feelings for her. So because she thinks you don't love her and she doesn't want to be lonely, she's marrying Byron, even though she doesn't love him and is unhappy with him. And if you don't make a move right now, then she'll marry Byron and that's it, every chance you ever had with Spinelli is gone."

"But- I did try to make a move on Spinelli." TJ said. He bit his lip remembering it. "Remember how when I moved out ten years ago we never kept in touch? Well, that was because the day I moved out, I… I tried to kiss her. But… she pushed me away and said she never wanted to see me again. Sure Gretchen, drinking can make you fess up to stuff- but it also messes with your head. Spinelli doesn't see me as anything more than a friend."

Gretchen sighed, TJ was just not getting it. "But don't you see? Spinelli probably didn't want to fall any deeper in love with you! She was already dating Byron, she already knew one day she'd have to marry him, she knew that you couldn't be together. She didn't want to get her hopes up- or yours."

"But if you say she knew we couldn't be together, then we still can't be together now."

"That's what she thought. What you said to her about choosing between her head and her heart put things into prospective for her. She now knows that she doesn't have to marry Byron just because her parents want her to. But now all that troubles her is what decision she's going to make. Well- she decided last night. And that's why I wanted to talk, TJ. She's going ahead with the wedding. And it's only because she thinks you don't have feelings for her."

"So you're saying that if I don't tell Spinelli how I feel before the wedding she'll marry Byron and be stuck with him forever?"

Gretchen nodded.

"I dunno. Spinelli might still choose to marry Byron. And I don't want her to think I'm an idiot."

"TJ, look me in the eye and answer this question truthfully. Do you love Spinelli?"

TJ looked Gretchen in the eye. He hated lying. "Yes," he replied. "From the bottom of my heart."

"Then, you'd want her to be happy. Byron can't make her happy. You can. But only if you tell her how you feel."

TJ smiled, trust Gretchen to sort everything out, to be the fairy godmother. "OK. Thanks Gretchen. I've made up my mind now. I know exactly what I'm going to do."