Disclaimer: Ok I am not claiming Katie in this chapter. She has gone over board. Will claim Jessica and Jordan though. Not making any money off this story, which sucks by the way.
Chapter 26
Mermaid Parade Wedding
Katie wailed with laughter as she looked at the announcements. They had not yet sent out invitations to the wedding. Jessica glanced at them confused by the explosion next to her.
"What is so funny?"
Katie hiccupped through tears and laughter, "Look at the name."
Jessica glanced at the announcement again focusing on the name. Kitie Hawkes was beaming out in the pick ink. They had mistyped her name.
"Just call me Kitty Hawkes!" Full tears were running down her face. "Now I am a plane."
Jessica finally caught on and snickered, before bursting into hysterical giggles. The front door to the apartment opened, Danny, Jordan and Sheldon filed in.
"What is so funny?" Sheldon looked confused as he glanced from Jessica to Katie who were both now sitting in the floor.
"I think they have finally lost it. I told you this wedding is going to be the death or crack up of one or both of them," Danny piped in shaking his head at the women in the floor.
Jessica handed him the announcement as Jordan rolled her eyes and went into her room to unpack. Danny studied it closely.
"They misspelled Katie's name," he handed it over to Sheldon. "I would have expected anger not roaring laughter."
"I'm a plane." Was all Katie could snort out. "Kitie Hawkes."
Realization crossed Danny and Sheldon's faces. Sheldon was the first to speak.
"I think you two need a break," he said while taking the envelopes and announcements from Katie. He was starting to smile as their laughter was quite contagious.
"Can I at least call her?" the snotty voice from the hallway penetrated the laughter like an icy breeze. Jordan was standing with her hands on her hips staring Danny down.
"Not when you are going to talk to me like that." Danny stood his ground and Jordan vanished with a thud as the door shut.
The laughter quickly stopped and Jessica stood up wiping the tears off her face, "What was that all about?"
Danny's stance relaxed a little and he turned to Jessica, "She is mad at me, because I said she couldn't go to Karli's for the night."
"The wedding's tomorrow," Jessica said with out hesitation.
"That's what I said. I told her she could go tomorrow evening. She proceeded to start yelling how it was unfair she had been sent to nowhere Ohio for two weeks with people she didn't know and was now not able to see her best friend."
Jessica smirked, "Being a parent is so much fun."
Danny just shook his head, "What happened to the cute kid who used to hang on my every word and wanted to be seen with me?"
"She got used to you as a parental figure and is now pushing limits." Jessica hugged him.
"Is everyone ready for the parade tomorrow?" Katie bounced up out of the floor changing the subject.
"Thrilled," Danny said with mock excitement. "Cause I want to be the butt of every joke forever."
Katie shrank and Sheldon grabbed her chin, "I for one have never been more ready for anything in my life, and as long as you are happy I am happy." Katie bounced again.
A couple of hours later, Jordan had sulked herself to sleep and Jessica and Katie had finished addressing the announcements. Danny and Sheldon had again gone over all the plans for the next day. Danny packed his overnight bag and kissed Jessica.
"I will see you tomorrow at the parade." He kissed her again.
"I'll be there with neon pink hair and a fin." Jessica put on the best smile she could muster at the idea. Danny grinned and he and Sheldon left for the hotel.
"Whose dumb idea was it that I couldn't spend my last single night with Sheldon?" Katie was sulking on the couch.
Jessica handed her a shot of tequila and set beside her, "It is tradition for the groom not to see his bride till she is coming down the aisle."
"I think it was someone's excuse so they could run and no one would miss them. They could get a better head start then. You know marriages used to be arranged. I would have run to." Katie grinned.
Jessica knew she was getting nervous and going to have a hard time sleeping. So she gave her a sleeping pill and glass of water. A little while later Katie closed her eyes. The excitement and lack of sleep had caught up with her and she was now snoring on Jessica's couch. Jessica covered her and went to bed.
--
The alarmed screamed in Jessica's ears as she rolled over and hit the small clock that was sending the offensive noise out. She sat up and rubbed her eyes not sure if she was truly ready for the day's events. Jessica climbed out of bed and went to wake Jordan.
She opened Jordan's bedroom door to find her bed empty and made. Jessica panicked and started looking around the apartment. She checked the bathroom and kitchen before waking Katie to see if she had seen her.
"Katie! Wake up, have you seen Jordan?" Jessica was shaking Katie vigorously.
Katie sat up and looked around, "No, is she not here."
"No, and when I find her I am going to kill her." Jessica was fuming as she picked up her cell phone.
She dialed Karli's house first. "Hi, is Katie there?"
"Yes, she is still asleep. Do I need to wake her?" Karli's mom asked.
Jessica sighed, "Can I ask you what time she got there last night?"
"Sure, she arrived about ten. Said her dad dropped her off."
Jessica rolled her eyes as she walked into Jordan's room and found the window partially opened, "Can you please wake her and tell her that I will be there in twenty minutes and she needs to be showered and ready." Jessica said as calmly as she could.
"No problem." Karli's mom answered.
"Bye."
"Bye." Jessica hung up her phone.
Katie was standing be side her now eating a piece of cold pizza. "Everything alright?" she asked with a mouth full of food.
"Fine." Jessica said through clinched teeth, "At least until we get home tonight after the parade."
Katie walked away slowly and got dressed in her jeans and t-shirt. She was going to change at the board walk in one of the stores. Jessica was fuming mad. She said nothing just showered and gathered her things. They grabbed a cab silently headed to pick up Jordan. The cab pulled up to the apartment and Jessica asked the driver to wait one moment. He nodded and Jessica got out.
She walked to the door and buzzed Karli's apartment and her mother said she would sent Jordan down. A minute later a slouching Jordan walked out the door tears in her eyes.
"Jessica." Jessica held up her hand to stop Jordan from speaking and shook her head no.
"Not now." Jessica ushered Jordan into the cab.
An hour later they were standing in a changing room putting on fins and letting Enrique fix their wigs and makeup. Jessica had not said a word to Jordan since she picked her up. She fulfilled her maid of honor duties with precision and a smile.
"Time to go." Jessica said enthusiastically, more excited to get it over with than to do it.
Katie jumped looking amazing considering she was wearing a tail fin and star fish were the only thing covering her breast. She was beaming, "Let's go."
Enrique walked out and let the musicians on the float know that the bridal party was now ready. The parade was about to begin. Under the Sea rang out as the musicians started to play.
"Jordan you're up, smile," Jessica grinned at her and shooed her out of the dressing room.
Jessica was next, "Okay Katie, when I get on the float they will change the song to Kiss the Girl. Walk out when the music changes. You look beautiful and I am so happy for you." She grabbed Katie into a hug and stumbled as she tried to walk out the door.
"I told her it was too tight," she mumbled through a smile as she walked out.
Danny just grinned at her. He and Sheldon were shirtless with silver tail fins. Their chests were shimmering silver with body paint. Sheldon was wearing a crown on his head. Jessica reached the float and climbed on board, with a little help from Danny who almost had to pick her up since her fin was so tight she could not fully bend her knees.
Jessica reached her spot on the float and the music changed. Jessica only looked at Katie for fear if she looked into the crowd and saw anyone she knew she was going to crack or run, if she could in this stupid fin.
The minister, to Jessica's surprise, never cracked a smile and was able to make it through the whole thing. Jessica was not sure how long she stared at him, until he said, "Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Hawkes. You may now kiss the mermaid." Cheers erupted from beside the float and it started to move. Jessica set in her assigned seashell next to Danny.
"I may go hide under a rock for the next few decades after this," Jessica said through a smile all while waving at the people she passed.
Danny grinned and then became more serious, "What is going on with you and Jordan? I can feel the tension and neither of you have said a word."
"Can we discuss this at home when I am showered and in regular cloths?" Jessica avoided the question the anger boiling to the surface as she spoke.
Danny just dropped the subject and continued to wave trying not to make eye contact for fear of someone recognizing him.