"The Wedding" – part 14

Summary and additional notes in part 1.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! :D

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi.

14-

"Hey guys!" Adam said brightly as he reached the table.

"Shhh!" Drew hushed him. "They're doing the first dance."

Adam looked over at the dance floor. Gia and Eddie were smiling in the center as the music began to play. The couple took starting positions and began to slow dance to 'At Last' by Etta James.

Drew turned to face his brother. "Is everything okay, bro?" he whispered. He had been more than a little worried.

Adam grinned as he sat down. "Better than I ever could have dreamed."

Drew studied him for a long moment, searching for any hint of deception.

Adam stuck out his tongue. "I'm serious! Now, turn around. You're missing the dance!"

Drew peered at him for a moment longer. He exchanged a quick look with Eli before facing forward again.

"Where is Fiona?" Adam whispered to Eli. He was disappointed to see her seat empty.

"She and Clare went to the restroom," his friend responded. "They've been gone for awhile."

"Oh," he said.

"I don't think they wanted to miss the first dance," Eli continued. "After this the dance floor is open to all."

Adam returned his attention the couple in the middle of the floor. Gia looked radiant. Eddie looked overcome with happiness. The two of them stared lovingly into each others' eyes. Eddie confidently guided them across the dance floor. He and Gia made the steps look effortless. Adam smiled.

He couldn't help but think of Fiona and what their wedding day might be like. He never gave weddings or marriage much thought before. It was always an abstract idea, way off into the future. But since he met her, his future started to come into focus. He wished he could travel in time to when all the minor details and problems would be already sorted out. Where there were no impending separations, or sudden curveballs. Where they could finally be starting their lives together, drama free.

"Dude, are you crying?"

Adam quickly wiped at his eyes but found them dry. He glared at his friend.

Eli laughed heartily. "I was just teasing. You looked a little too sentimental, looking at the happy couple."

Adam shrugged. "I was just thinking."

Eli looked at him. "About what? Is everything okay?" he pressed.

Adam grinned at him. "Everything is perfect. Really."

-oOo-

Clare and Fiona breathed a sigh a relief as the door opened. After waiting in line for fifteen minutes to use the women's restroom on the main floor, they decided it would be quicker to look for another one. However, the corridors in the building were confusing and they ended up getting lost. When they finally found a bathroom, the door had been locked. Fortunately they spotted this one further down the hall.

"It has two stalls," Clare noted. "But I think they're occupied."

"And just when we thought the wait was over," Fiona grumbled. It wasn't fair how there were never any lines to use the men's room.

Suddenly they heard two voices, confirming Clare's hunch.

"Here, take this extra roll," Shauna told her friend, Gloria Mercado, as she passed a roll of toilet paper under the stall divider.

"Awesome! You're a lifesaver," Gloria thanked her.

"Yep! So anyway, yeah it's weird," Shauna said continuing their earlier conversation.

"I still can't believe Gia's cousin is a guy now," Gloria commented. She had met Grace a few times. Adam looked so different from the kid she knew.

Fiona realized who they were talking about and immediately stiffened. Clare shot her a look of concern.

"I thought this kind of thing only happened on daytime talk shows," Gloria remarked. She didn't know anyone who was transgendered. Until now.

Clare turned to Fiona. "Do you want to go?" she pressed. It was amazing the kinds of things that flew out of peoples' mouths when they thought no one was listening.

Fiona's expression hardened as she glared at the two stalls. She was angry and hurt that they were talking about the love of her life this way.

Shauna shrugged. "I don't know… looking back it kind of makes sense. Grace pretty much hated me growing up. I was all about boys and make up."

"Was? You're using past tense," Gloria teased.

Shauna laughed. After a moment she remarked, "He grew up to be hot, though."

Gloria raised her eyebrows. "You did not just say that!"

"What?" Shauna questioned innocently. "I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking!"

Clare and Fiona exchanged a look of surprise at her words.

"Wow, you're serious?" Gloria said shaking her head.

Shauna laughed. "I may not be Spanish, but I know what guapo means!" All morning she had heard the word sprinkled in conversation in reference to Adam.

Gloria laughed. "You're crazy, you know that?"

"Whatever. You know I'm right!" Shauna teased.

"Okay, I'm not going there," Gloria refuted. "You know, I wouldn't put it passed you to make a pass at him!"

Again, Shauna shrugged. "If I did Gia would kill me! She already hates my running commentary about Young Andrew," she laughed.

The two friends exited their stalls at the same time. Shauna headed straight to the mirror to check her make up. Gloria paused when she noticed Clare and Fiona standing near the doorway.

"Oh, we didn't know anyone else was in here!" she told them, slightly embarrassed.

Shauna looked over her shoulder and registered their presence for the first time. She was relieved they weren't overheard by some of Gia's older relatives. That would have been awkward. "The stalls are free. Now they both have paper," she told them as she began to wash her hands. Gloria had freaked out when she realized her stall was empty but they got lucky with the extra roll.

Fiona narrowed her eyes. "He's a person, you know."

.

tbc

A/N: I guess we know what Shauna thinks… Will add part 2 later today!

FYI, translation:
guapo = handsome, good-looking, attractive