Hey new chapter! Wippee! I hope you enjoy it, I know it took a while, I've just been busy, haha. So please review, I enjoy reading all of your reviews.
Chapter 20
The air reeks of hair spray, Sweet and Flirty perfume by Pink, and one other thing, stress. Everyone is so freaking stressed, the air is so thick because of it. Lynn and Shauna are yelling at each other. It's a mess. "Tris!"
McKenna, Shauna's old college roommate freaks out when she opens the door. Her hair is in curlers and her makeup is only half done. Tris walks into the hotel room, and the smell hits her like a brick wall. "I am so glad that your here, everything had been a mess."
"I can see that. What's going on?" Tris asks rounding the corner. The hotel room is a complete mess. You can't even see the white bedspread because there is so much stuff on it.
"There was a huge blow up between the two of them. None of them are happy. I'm not even for sure what it's about." McKenna rubs her arms, truss understands that she grew up in a house with all brothers, she didn't know how to act when two sisters argue.
"Great. I'm going to go into the belly of the beast, wish me luck." Tris marches towards the two women. "Hey Shauna."
Shauna's head snaps around and the fighting stops. "Oh great, your here. Everything has been a mess. My dress isn't the way I thought it would be, my hair isn't cooperating, and my mother refuses to be here to help me get ready. She says that she wants to be surprised when she sees me. It's a bunch of bull shit." Shauna lays her face in her hands and sighs deeply on the verge of tears.
Tris looks at Lynn who just shrugs. "Well, okay. Lynn, you start getting ready. McKenna get Shauna's makeup ready, I'm going to set up the dress and see if there is anything I can do to fix it."
"To Zeke, may his last hours of single hood be well and prosperous." Uriah says taking his second shot. He's super nervous about today, he thinks that he's going to screw up. When he screws up Zeke's going to notice and his mother is going to be pissed.
The groom, is in no better shape. Zeke is shaking like a leaf. He's tongue tied and a bit hung over from hanging out with Tobias last night. The played everything from Madden, Halo, Call of Duty, Mario Bros, and they drank. They drank too much.
Hector is the only one who is in good shape. He isn't doing much though. He is the only one who is dressed and he sits on the couch, fiddling with the silver tie in his hand. Tobias spits out the tooth paste he had in his mouth into the kitchen sink. For some reason the bathroom sink is full of empty beer bottles.
"What the hell did we do last night Zeke?" Tobias sticks his he under the sink quick to rinse, gurgle and spit again. Zeke just shrugs.
"I don't know, but it looked like you had a heart to heart, because you two were clutching each other when we came in." Uriah answers from his spot on the couch by Zeke.
"That's what happens when you get some rum into our systems." Zeke mumbles sitting up stretching. He looks like shit. "What time do we have to be at the church again?"
"1:30."
"What time is it?"
"1:20"
"Well shit."
Tris finds Tobias right before the wedding starts. He stands next to Lynn, and he's giving Zeke a once over. "Hey beautiful aren't you going to get a seat." He says turning her direction when he hears her heels.
"I have to stay here until Shauna comes out, that's part of my job. Don't worry, I'll sit somewhere close." She pats him on his chest, and the music starts. Zeke starts out by escorting Shauna's family in, then his. Then him and Uriah wall up the aisle together. Hector and McKenna are soon to follow, then it's Tobias and Lynn. Everyone gets settled, and the big wood doors shut. It's all part of the surprise.
Shauna's father wheels her out and Shauna whispers in his ear. She looks at Tris and nods. Her father looks confused, but quickly hides it when the doors open again, and the wedding march begins.
It starts out, Shauna's father wheels her up to the aisle. She stops and pushes her way out of the chair and stands. A collective gasp from the crowd forms. Zeke and Tobias look down the aisle awe struck, neither can believe their own eyes. Shauna's father has tears in his eyes as she grabs his arm to stay herself. Tris takes the wheel chair, and hands her one of the canes. Shauna takes her first step forward and Zeke ends up in tears.
She marches down the aisle proud, her family looks so happy, and Shauna is too. Tris hides walking down the side aisle with the wheel chair do Shauna had something to sit in by the time she gets there.
Tobias sees her gray dress out of the corner of his eye and he winks at her. She did something beautiful that people are going to remember forever. Tris takes her seat and Shauna is at the front of the church. "Well then," Uriah says as her father gives her away and she gets into her wheel chair again. "That was probably the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I'm sure Zeke feels the same way. Tobias owes me $20. You see, we had a bet going on to see who would cry first. I said Zeke, he said Shauna." Tobias hands him the twenty from his pocket and the crowd laughs. "Thank you."
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage between these two crazy kids, my brother, Ezekiel Jacob Pedrad, and Shauna Olivia Gates. If anyone has any thing against this marriage speak now or forever hold your peace." No one says asking and Uriah smirks at his brother. "So I'm pretty sure these two had some vows written up to say to each other, so I'm going to let them exchange those now." Uriah backs up by Tobias.
Zeke smiles, he's not smiling, he's beaming, glowing even. "Shauna, I have never known a life without you, and when there was I'm glad I wasn't there or don't remember it, because it would've sucked greatly. You've always been there for me, like that time when we were five and I got stuck in the tree at recess and ended up peeing myself on the way down. Even though I embarrass myself time, I'm glad that your there to make it all better. Shauna Olivia Gates, you are definitely my better half, I love you so much." Zeke's speech gets a few laughs from everyone. That's Zeke for you though, no one expected anything less.
"I don't know how I can top that but, I'll try." Shauna sighs and beams asking with Zeke. "Ezekiel Jacob Pedrad, you are the sweetest guy that I have ever met. You have always been there for me, even when it was hard with your job. I don't know how you do it, but you always manage to put a smile on everyone's face. You are strong, and sometimes really bull headed, so much it's annoying. But I love you, I love you so much that sometimes it hurts." She smiles and squeezes his hand.
Uriah returns up front and asks for the rings. Tobias hands them to Zeke and Shauna gives Lynn the bouquet. Uriah soon wraps the ceremony up, and Zeke kisses his bride.
"This is a great party, how did they do it all in barely a month." A voice rings in the ear of Tris. Vanessa sits in front of Tris, at the place where her name card is set.
"I don't know, but it is pretty nice. How are you doing Vanessa?" She puts on a fake smile and pretends to act like she cares about anything that she's saying.
"I'm fine, perfect actually. My boyfriend and I had the most amazing Christmas ever. He even gave me this." She points to her necklace. It's a silver chain, with a circular band with a few- wait a minute. Tris looks closer, it's a ring. It looks like the same ring that was worn on her finger for a few years. "Don't you love it? My boyfriend gave me a promise ring, it was his grandmother's ring. Oh speaking of my boyfriend there he is now." She gestures for him to come over and Tris tries not to look around to see who it is. "This is Turner, my boyfriend. Turner this is my friend Tris."
Tris stops moving instantly and looks up. Turner? Of course, it is him. He doesn't look any different. Hair still has its same shine and combed over the same way he always combs it over. He looks wide eyed at first but then slowly eases down again. "Hey Tris, you look well."
"Turner."
"Burr, it may be December 26, in Chicago, but it is only 35 degrees outside. It's not that bad."
"I'm still pissed."
"How do you two know each other?" Vanessa interjects moving her hand away from Turner's chest.
"Well honey, Tris and I used to be engaged."
Vanessa's jaw sets as she glares at Tris, who just shrugs. "That's very interesting, you never said anything about being engaged." Vanessa gets very defensive, trying not to act jealous when she is very jealous.
"That's because we never talked about my ex's." He says defensively. "We haven't even talked about your ex's before either. I didn't think it was that important."
"Well it is."
Tris can't resist, getting back at someone who has done her wrong is the best thing in the entire world. Turner just hat found out how much she loves revenge. "You know that is very important, your an idiot for not doing it. Just like your an idiot for giving her my old engagement ring. You didn't think I would notice, but it wasn't hard not to."
His mouth twitches, he doesn't know what to say.
The next second later the DJ comes on. "Would everyone please take a seat? We are about to announce the wedding party and start the meal." That would be the beginning of a very awkward meal.
"Did I tell you that you are the most beautiful girl that I've laid eyes onto tonight?" A whisper tickles in Tris's ear as she sips her beer.
"I hope you know I have a boyfriend that can kick your ass." She says back with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Damn, I'll just have to be sneaky." She can smell the alcohol on Tobias's breath.
Tobias sits next to her in the empty chair assigned to Rosa Meadows. He sets his beer beside hers and wraps an arm around her shoulder. "How many have you had?" Tris asks looking at him worried. His face is blotchy and his eyes look a bit red.
"A few, we went around town bar hopping for a bit."
"Oh Tobias, come on, let's go outside for a bit. You look like you need it."
"You're going to get cold."
"I'll steal your jacket."
She leads him outside grabbing a few glasses of water on the way. "Here drink this." She hands him the water and grabs his jacket from him. It's boiling on the inside.
"Did I mention that you look good, Tris?" His eyes slide lazily slide her body, making her feel a bit uncomfortable. But she knows that he's not coherent right now, so he has a small pass.
"Your just saying that because your not in the right state of mind."
"No, you may be a tad fuzzy around the edges, but I've been thinking about it all night. You should wear that dress more often."
Tris can't help but blush, this dress really isn't anything special. It's an old gray dress that falls down to her knees and has sleeves that falls down to her elbows. It's relatively plan. She just wore it because she didn't have time to find another one.
"Well," she says finally after a few minutes of silence. "You don't look to bad either. That's not a bad color on you." She says referring to the orange tie that he's wearing. She only ever sees him wearing blue or black. The orange makes his eyes pop, and seen bluer that they usually are.
"Let's face it babe, we are just attractive people." He says causing Tris to laugh. To her it seems ridiculous.
"Let's start the speeches." The DJ says as Tobias gets back up to the head table, looking so much better. His face is no longer blotchy, eyes not so blood shot. Zeke looks at him, and Tobias just shrugs. Those two start to whisper at each other when Tris returns her seat again, Vanessa and Turner return, both looking wild eyed and breathing heavily. It almost makes Tris feel jealous.
Lynn goes first, her speech going by in a blur, there is nothing really memorable about it, but it's enough to bring tears to Shauna's eyes. Lynn hugs her sister and hands Tobias the mike. "Well, to be honest, I'm not a good speaker, Zeke is so that's why we're friends. Only reason, I swear." He gets a few laughs from everyone and Tris smiles. When they were outside not too long ago, Tobias admitted that he was scared to do this. "Well as some of you know, my name is Tobias Eaton and I'm Zeke's friend, even though he calls it partner in crime. We've been friends for 15 years now I think. And I know he met Shauna way before then. So in those 15 or so years, I've never actually heard Zeke say the word, marriage, until about last year. I literally didn't even think it was in the guy's vocabulary." Zeke blushes as he laughs and looks at Shauna whispering something in her ear. She laughs and smiles too.
"Okay so it was a year ago, and Zeke and I were in Afghanistan, doing what we do. We were just about to hop out of a plane, which neither of us like doing, when I hear him say besides me, "if I survive this damn thing I'm going to marry Shauna." Then the idiot jumped out without another word. I was awestruck, for a second then I hopped out of the plane after him so I could figure out what the idiot was thinking. So we landed, both alive, and I walk up to him to ask him what he's thinking, and he just said, "I knew I was survive, so I know I'm going to marry Shauna." You know I'll never forget that day because that's the day that he surprised me the most. So you know, after everything you two have been through I wish you two the best of luck, because I know you can do it." He gets done aside as he sits down. Zeke whispers in his ear, and makes him blush more.
"Can we get another hand for those speeches? They were wonderful. Now if everyone it's ready, it's time for the father-daughter dance."
Tobias disappears from the head table again, to be by Tris. This time they aren't alone.
"That was a wonderful speech." Tris says with a small smile on her face.
"Eh, it was okay. I kinda made it up on the spot."
"How are you feeling?"
"Things are clearer."
"Good."
"To be honest Four, I didn't think you had that in you. I'm mean, you and talking, that isn't exactly your strong suit." Tobias turns his head away from Tris, finally acknowledging the two other guests at her table.
"Oh, thanks Turner. How are you doing man?"
"Not bad, but it has been a while. I thought that we were going to have a beer together one day. What happened to that?"
Tobias has no recollection of this, but he nods and comes up with an excuse. "Sorry man, things got a bit hectic. I finally moved into my apartment, got out of the chair, this week was the first week that I could finally take Tris on a real date."
"Yeah, it is a small world isn't it? You are dating my ex fiancee, I'm dating your ex high school sweetheart. Who knew that these would be some off the people we would end up with." Turner sips his beer and Tobias stiffens up a bit. He hasn't seen Vanessa all night, and this is his dangerous chance to see her. "You're moving around pretty well, considering your condition that you were in earlier."
Tobias nods slowly, agreeing with him. "Yeah," he draws out the first word. "Thanks to Tris, of course. Without her, I don't know where I would be. Probably miserable in that chair."
"She is a miracle worker, I've seen it happen in person. That's one of her many great qualities about her. She'll put anyone in front of her own needs, and help them even if they are to stubborn to see it."
"Okay guys, you can stop talking about me like I'm not here." Tris says interrupting them, pinching Tobias's thigh as a point. He squirms a bit, but tries to hide the fact that it hurt. Tris can see it when he turns to look at her.
She looks at the dance floor and notices that Zeke and Shauna are dancing now. She is standing on his toes and he holds her up. They look absolutely happy, both smiling and laughing, and letting out a joyous feeling around them. It's contagious.
A fast pop song starts playing and Lynn runs by pulling Tobias. The wedding party is now aloud to join the dance floor. Turner looks at Tris and says, "do you think that our wedding night would've been like this?"
Tris looks at him dead in the eye, and shrugs. "I don't know. Maybe. You and I were in love weren't we?"
He stops for a few moments of silence. It's a long pregnant pause. "Yeah we were."