Chapter Twelve
Tris
I smile at the welcome to Chicago sign as we approach it. Flashes of the good times I've had in Chicago flood my mind as I get off the highway. I do my best to keep within the speed limit, but I'm so excited to be back I want to rush home to see my parents. And change my clothes. I've been in the same clothes since Omaha and I feel gross.
Al and I easily agreed to see our parents first and then go out with Will and Christina. Al texted her earlier and told her that we'd call as soon as we got settled in.
I drive to Al's parents house first since it's closer. I'm slightly nervous since I haven't seen Aleena and Lyle since Al and I left for college. They didn't come down to Colorado to visit or anything. But I know they like me enough.
Al takes his bag of clothes and some other belongings with him. He is staying at his parents house while we visit for a couple of weeks. I will stay with my own parents.
Aleena is already at the door when we walk up the pathway. She smiles and is quick to wrap her arms around Al in a hug. I know that Aleena isn't the tallest woman in the city, but she sure looks tiny compared to Al. I think she's an inch or two shorter than me, but at the moment she's also in heels.
"I'm so happy to see you again."
Al moves aside and I walk inside the house. It looks exactly the same since I was here last. The furniture hasn't change in the slightest. No new pieces of art hanging from the walls. Everything is the same.
Aleena gives me a hug too, but she certainly doesn't have the same interest to see me that she does Al. But then again, Al is more interesting and nicer than I am.
"How are you, dear?"
"I'm doing well," I say. "How are you?"
Aleena sits me down on the couch and words pour out of her mouth. She describes how she sees my wedding day to go. All of her ideas are rather extravagant and expensive. She didn't answer my question and she doesn't stop talking to let me explain how Al and I planned out the wedding.
Lyle walks in from the other room and smiles sweetly.
"Give her room to breathe, Aleena," he says. "Hey kiddo! How are you!"
"I'm good! How are you?" Lyle squeezes my shoulders instead of giving me a real hug, which I am totally okay with.
"I'm just fine. Little more than a year. Excited?"
"Thrilled."
After a while of sitting awkwardly with Al's parents who keep talking about the wedding, in fact they talk to each other about the wedding more than they do me, Al walks down the stairs with fresh clothes on. I smile and he sits in the chair opposite of the couch the rest of us sit on. I am in between Al's parents and I feel kind of awkward. He just smiles at me, which makes me blush.
"Do you have a location in mind?" Aleena asks.
"We have an idea," I say, "but we're waiting to make sure it's available before we do much about it."
"What have you done for the wedding so far?" Aleena's eyes shine. I don't know what to say. She imagines the fanciest wedding since Kate Middleton and Prince William's. And the wedding Al and I have planned is nowhere near her expectations.
I don't care if Aleena doesn't like the choices we have made, but I understand why that article was pro eloping.
"Not much," Al says. "We have a while. We're checking on the venue. We have the wedding party and guests figured out."
I am literally saved by the bell. The clock chimes five and Al "reminds" me that we have to get ready to meet with Will and Christina. I nod and slowly stand. Aleena and Lyle give me an awkward hug and hug Al with more ease and comfort.
Al offers to drive to my house and I let him. I am kind of tired, but I bet he is too.
"You're still nervous in front of my parents," he says with a smile.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Not at all," he says. "I think it's endearing. Shyness is cute on you."
"I'm not shy," I protest, "I just don't know if your mom likes me. I want her to."
"Don't take it personally. She doesn't think anyone is good enough for me."
"My parents don't think anyone is good enough for me and they love you." He just chuckles and that ends the conversation.
Driving down the familiar streets is calming and it gets me excited to see my family. My parents know I am coming down and of course that I'm staying with them, but does Caleb know? Is he going to be here? If not, I'll see him in the next few days, but it would be nice. I miss my brother.
We park in front of my old house and sit in the car for a moment. I unbuckle my seatbelt and Al pops open the trunk. I grab the bag I brought and carry it to the front door. And just like Aleena, Mom is waiting at the door with a smile. I drop my bag by the door and give her a hug. Dad comes downstairs and embraces Al in the bro hug. How has that not gone out of style? No matter how many years it's been, I still think it's stupid. In fact it gets stupider each year it hasn't died out.
Mom releases me and practically shoves Dad out of the way to hug Al. Dad wraps his arms around me and pulls me close.
"How are you?"
"I'm really good." He smiles and pats my shoulder in a dad way.
"I'm going to change," I announce. "I've been in these clothes since Omaha. I'll only be five minutes." Dad laughs. I don't see what's so funny, but I head upstairs and walk into my old bedroom.
I set the bag on the bed and look through the clothes I brought. The rest are back at school. I toss my clothes on the bed. Ugh. I have nothing to wear. Will and Christina won't care what I wear, but I do, for once.
Finally I settle on a gray shirt and black jeans. It's not going to be a fancy affair.
I walk down the stairs to hear Dad tease, "That was five minutes?" I look at the clock and it's about five forty.
"Time means something different to women," Mom says. I smile and sit down next to Al.
"I texted Chris," he says. "She said she's ready whenever you are." I am about to interject, but Mom opens her mouth before I can.
"Go hang out with your friends," she says. "We have a while to talk about anything you want." She adds on a wink at the end. I try to subtly roll my eyes.
Not long after, we head out to the mall where we agree to meet Will and Christina. I tell Al the story of my shopping trip with Christina in sophomore year.
"Of course I wanted to protect you from Peter," he says. "I still will."
"What happened to him?" I ask.
"You know, I don't know. I think he left for college."
At least he won't be around for the wedding. I had a nightmare that Peter was there. He wasn't doing anything wrong per se, but just him sitting there made me uncomfortable. I woke up sweating.
Pulling into the parking lot, we mentally prepare for Christina's loud voice and Will's calming effect which has little effect on Christina when she's excited about something.
I decide to text Will when we walk inside. I ask him where would be a good place to meet up. Once a decision has been made we walk in that direction. It happens to be the department store I bought my brown jacket from.
"Almost a year to go," I say.
Christina almost starts crying when she sees us. She flings herself at me and squeezes me so tightly it's hard to breathe. I notice, and am thankful, Will and Al actually hug instead of bro hug. I rarely cry and this moment is convincing me that I should.
"How are you?" she starts. "What have you been up to? What have you planned? I've missed you so much! Tell me everything!"
"I'm good. We haven't planned much, we're trying to cut back on expenses, so that's been interesting. I've missed you too. You have no idea."
She hugs me again.
"Don't crush her, Cotton Ball," Will says.
"Sorry," she says as she pulls away. She then rushes over to Al and Will gives me a hug too.
"How have you two been?" Al asks.
Once Chris lets go of Al, we take a stroll down the mall.
"We're doing great," Will says. "We're going to move in together this summer."
I gasp. "That's wonderful. I'm so excited for you."
I can imagine the cuteness now. Them waking up together every morning, making breakfast together, staying up late and watching scary movies. Ugh, cuteness overload. I can't wait to actually hear about these things. Decorating for the holidays and cute cuddles and then in twenty years from now, adorable kids running around that are the perfect blend of their parents.
I just ship them so much.
"How are Skyler and the others?" Chris and Will have never met Skyler, Victoria, and Gage, but we've talked about them. Just like they talk about their new friends.
"They're good," Al says. "Skyler's going back to New York for quite a while, I think Gage is going to the mountains, Vic is going to a cousin's wedding in Montana."
In turn Miranda is doing well. She's got a nice boyfriend. I hope he's better than Drake. At least he cares about Skyler.
"Have you picked out your dress yet?" Christina asks randomly.
"No, not yet," I say. "I'm assuming you want to be there for it."
"Can I?" Her smile begs me to let her tag along. Of course I want her there, but the problem is that Gage wants to be there too. I don't want to pick out my dress in Fort Collins and then drive it all the way back up here. But there isn't a chance Gage and Christina are going to meet in time for both of them to be there.
"I would love it if you were."
"That gives me an idea," Christina says with a devious smile.
"I'm not a part of this," Al says with his hands in the air. Will laughs and I have a gut instinct that I'm going dress shopping soon.
