Chapter 5: I Am Finding Out That Maybe I Was Wrong

Vanessa hummed happily as she sat in the fanciest dress boutique, sipping on complimentary champagne, as she watched her friends try on dresses for the bridal shower. Vanessa already picked hers out first, but Grey, Secre, Mariella, and Charmy were far more difficult to get into dresses. Thankfully, Noelle, Mimosa, and Nebra took that as a challenge and went all out picking out many choices for each to try.

"They're having fun, don't you think," said Charlotte, returned from speaking with the shop owner about payment. Charlotte, being the sweetheart she was, will be buying everyone's dresses.

"It's going better than when we shopped for the actual wedding day outfits," said Vanessa, cheerfully. After Charlotte and Yami announced their engagement, they had come to this very same boutique to get dresses for the wedding, so there'd be enough time to make any modifications just in case anyone gained or lost weight.

Charlotte grimaced. "Yes, I recall. Are you sure you don't want to try on anything else?"

"Nah, I got my choice," said Vanessa. "Besides, I need to rest. Nozel and I are recording the last song later today since he had a meeting or something."

"Then should you be drinking," Charlotte said, mindfully.

"It's champagne, Char, it ain't the hard stuff," said Vanessa, smiling. "Did you know Nozel can sing? You didn't tell me that."

Charlotte gave a small grin. "Nozel can sing but he doesn't do it often. I can't believe you convinced him to do a duet."

"Well, it was appropriate for this song," said Vanessa, cheekily.

"I'm glad it worked out," said Charlotte. "Thank you again, Vanessa."

"You are paying me and Nozel and you bought both me two fancy dresses. We're even," said Vanessa, mildly. "I can't wait to see the look on your hoity-toity family's face at the reception."

"It'll be quite satisfying," said Charlotte. "Lerola will be back too, so she'll think it's funny."

"Ah the mysterious little sister," said Vanessa. Charlotte spoke only of two relatives—her little sister and her aunt. Charlotte's little sister was some kind of prodigy and she lived abroad while attending college. Vanessa knew that Charlotte was quite proud of her sister, having been the one to argue with their parents to get the education Lerola wanted and needed. "You told me she doesn't like parties and crowds, much like Mariella, Secre and Grey."

"Lerola will get along with Secre. They both bring a book everywhere," said Charlotte. "When we were younger, Mother would take away Lerola's books for when we had to attend dinners and events. It always upset Lerola and she'd hide under the table by me the entire time."

Vanessa frowned and scoffed, "Mothers." Vanessa's own mother had her own brand of belittling Vanessa—locking Vanessa in the basement, taking away her first guitar (a gift from her long-gone father) and ripping up the music Vanessa created, but never hit her. Abuse, Vanessa knew, came in all forms, not just physical.

Charlotte nodded and agreed, scoffing "Mothers."

Vanessa smirked. "Can't wait to see the look on her face this Sunday." The bridal shower was going to be a clash between Charlotte's real friends and Charlotte's extended female family members and "society friends."

Charlotte chortled.

"Charmy! Don't gnaw on the dress, it's not cheese!"

Vanessa and Charlotte immediately stood up and went to the dressing room doors. After all, Charmy became unreasonable when she was hungry. Vanessa still smiled. She loved her friends and their eccentricities.

Vanessa had to hand it to Charlotte—she was a boss at planning a party.

The bridal shower took place in the swankiest country club ballroom. Charlotte went with a blue and white rose motif, which was just like Charlotte. The place settings, the atmosphere, and the food were remarkable.

Charmy was in seventh heaven, eating as much as she could—the chefs indulging her since they loved people who loved their food. Mariella stood sulking in the corner, avoiding everyone. Secre and Lerola, Charlotte's little sister, struck up a conversation about some books they both read on the mythology of Clover. Grey sat between Noelle and Mimosa, hiding her face in her hands and trying to make herself as small as possible.

Unfortunately since Charlotte was the guest of honor, she was busy talking with everyone. Vanessa found a great spot at the bar to watch everyone. She didn't worry about her friends making trouble, since they all knew to be on their best behavior. The rich snobs, on the other hand, were giving such looks at Vanessa and her bandmates.

"Make sure you go easy on that," said Nebra, appearing at the bar. Nebra was a conundrum—bitchy in all the worst ways, but not a horrible person. "My mother would like to meet you."

"Oh, your mom is here," asked Vanessa. She heard tales of Acier Silva, but never had the pleasure of meeting her. Acier was well-known in the kingdom, as well as Acier's sister (Mimosa and Kirsch's mother) Nickole, and Mereoleona, Fuegoleon and Leopold's mother Solace.

"Yeah, so are my two Vermillion aunts," said Nebra.

"Ahh, Mimosa's mother and Mereo and them's mother," said Vanessa. "Guess all the rich and noble families know each other."

Nebra nodded. "We're over there when you're ready. I've got to go and make sure Mom and my aunts behave themselves." Nebra pointed to the table, clearly for the Vermillion and the Silva women, though Noelle and Mimosa moved over to where Vanessa and her bandmates sat earlier. Nebra hurried back over to them.

Vanessa smiled to herself. "Hey, Mr. Bartender. Get me a glass of water with ice."

"Yes, miss."

When she had enough water in her to stave off the alcohol buzz and after she made a pit stop at the bathroom, she made her way over to the Silva and Vermillion table. Nebra saw her coming and said something to her mother. Acier Silva rose from her seat, as Vanessa reached the table. Vanessa was surprised at how much Noelle was a spitting image of her mother. She had thought everyone had been exaggerating their likeness!

"You must be Vanessa! My children have told me so much about you," said Acier, immediately shaking Vanessa's hand and then pulling her into a hug. She made Vanessa sit down in one of the open chairs at the table. Acier smiled widely. "Noelle just adores you! And I heard that you and Nozel have been working on the music for Charlotte's wedding. I can't wait to hear the songs! I can't believe you got Nozel to agree to sing a duet. I've been trying for years to get him to sing more."

"God, Ace, give the girl time to breathe," said the other silver-haired woman, who Vanessa assumed was Nickole Vermillion, Mimosa and Kirsch's mother and Acier's sister because the woman's hair was the same type as Mimosa's except silver instead of vermillion.

"Shut up, Neeks," said Acier, mildly.

Vanessa let out a nervous laugh. "You two sound like Noelle and Mimosa."

"Bwah-haha, they do, don't they," laughed the other woman at the table, who was clearly Mereoleona, Leopold and Fuegoleon's mother, Solace Vermillion, who had the same sharp overgrown tooth as Mereoleona and Leo. "Thanks for looking out for Leo. He's a good boy, but a bit dense like his siblings."

"It's nice to meet you all," said Vanessa. "I can see where your children get their good looks from."

"You're a charmer," said Acier, smiling.

"Thank you," said Vanessa, nerves disappearing. "I try."

"Well, thanks for looking out for our kids. They're all a bit awkward and dense, you know," said Acier, smiling.

Vanessa giggled. "Yeah, I know, but they're all sweet, even under some prickly or extreme personalities."

"Rude," interjected Nebra. "My personality isn't prickly."

"Sweetie, you're a bit disagreeable sometimes," said Acier, without an ounce of meanness in her tone, only fondness. "Solid's completely crotchety, though."

"My kids all have extreme personalities," said Solace, cheerfully. "Extremely serious, extremely insane, and extremely enthusiastic."

Nickole and Acier laughed loudly. Nickole said, "Well, at least, you didn't have a son who had been so obsessed with "his beauty" that we had to remove every mirror in the house when he was a teen. Thank God, he grew up a bit and found himself a good man that can deal with his nonsense."

"I remember that. He didn't talk to you for like a week after you did that," said Acier, giggling.

"Did you really? That's hilarious," said Vanessa.

"Oh, we have lots of stories," said Acier, grinning. "Once when Nozel was sixteen, I left him to watch his siblings for an hour. I came back and toddler Noelle was sleeping in a kitchen cabinet, Solid was covered in flour pretending to be a ghost, Nebra raided my closet to dress up, and Nozel laid on the couch with a warm washcloth on his face, muttering "never again.""

Vanessa burst out laughing. "How did Noelle get in the cabinet?"

"No clue," said Acier, cheerfully.

Vanessa and an embarrassed Nebra listened to the stories from the three mothers, even if Vanessa glanced over at her friends to make sure they still were okay. Thankfully there was no incident with them.

After learning about Mereo's efforts to make a birthday cake for Leo's fifth birthday, Charlotte came over to the table. "Please hide me," said Charlotte, exhaustion in her eyes.

"Yes, of course dear," said Acier. "Primrose being a pain again, I see."

Vanessa patted the seat of the chair next to her.

"She just doesn't stop," Charlotte said. She sat down and leaned her head against Vanessa's shoulder. Vanessa patted Charlotte on her head.

"Charlotte! Come and speak with the Minister of Finance's darling daughter," said Primrose Roselei, the mother of Charlotte and Lerola. She had blonde hair and blue eyes, which she passed on to both her daughters. She dressed in the most high-end looking dress, probably a fresh new design straight from the designer themselves. She had a severe looking face, as though she never laughed or smiled or emoted anything other than disgust. "Ah, Acier, Nickole, Solace, charmed to see you. Nebra, dear, you look just like your mother." Vanessa was very obviously ignored, which suited Vanessa just fine.

"Primrose, I think it's time for a break for Charlotte," said Acier, placing a hand on her daughter's arm to calm her. "Charlotte has worked very hard to make this a nice event, but she needs some rest."

"She's fine. What happens when she takes over House Roselei? There are no breaks," said Primrose.

"Aunt Ruth will never retire," said Charlotte, calmly. "Anyway, I haven't gotten a chance to speak with Aunties and my friends yet. I think the Minister's daughter can wait."

Primrose sniffed, put out by Charlotte's response. "Friends? Oh yes, I forgot, your poor friends that came along with your fiancé." She said fiancé like she never used Yami's name and thought it was distasteful to even call him Charlotte's fiancé.

"Mother," Charlotte said, scandalized.

"Don't be rude," said Acier, glancing at Vanessa, who was unfazed by the insult. She was poor, she knew it, it was a fact and it wasn't embarrassing.

"Still should have married Nozel," said Primrose, haughtily. "When you're done with your guests, come and find me. Charlotte darling."

Charlotte grabbed Nebra's wine glass and downed it one go. "I think I need something a bit stronger."

"Easy there," said Vanessa, smiling tightly.

It figured that Charlotte's parents really didn't want Charlotte to marry Yami, but now it made sense to Vanessa why Charlotte and Nozel were childhood friends—they were supposed to be the ones getting married. Rich people disgusted her. She suspected that it was only Roselei that wanted the marriage since, after speaking with Acier and Nickole, they both wanted their children to be happy with whomever they wanted. It shouldn't have bothered Vanessa that Nozel and Charlotte had been intended or whatever.

"You can't hold your liquor, Char," said Vanessa, reminding Charlotte when Charlotte went for Solace's brandy.

"How did I come from her," Charlotte asked, a bit hysterical.

"A great mystery," said Nickole, sighing. "I think we all need a drink after that."

Later that night, Vanessa had way too many drinks in her, as she crash landed on her bed. She spent the rest of the bridal shower consoling Charlotte, but they wound up drinking a bit much after the majority of the guests left. Charlotte got weepy, and then Vanessa got weepy. But eventually Yami had been called to take her home, leaving Vanessa to be dragged away by her bandmates.

Vanessa's stomach churned, as she thought about her unnecessary jealousy of Charlotte springing up once again. She honestly thought she got over it. And this time, it was the thought of Charlotte and Nozel marrying that got her upset. What did it matter? She knew they were just friends, very good friends, who had more things in common than she did with either of them. Vanessa sat up and held her head.

Charlotte was beautiful and wonderful and Vanessa was a mess. This, she knew. If there was a choice between Charlotte and Vanessa, everyone would pick Charlotte.

"Shit," said Vanessa. "Do I like Nozel?"

"Yes! Now rest," scolded Charmy. She and Charmy shared a room, while Secre and Mariella shared another. Grey got her own room because she couldn't sleep in the same place as someone else unless it was Gauche, but Grey's anxiety made it so that she wasn't ready to move in with Gauche and his sister Marie.

"Charm, seriously?"

"You talk about Nozel a lot. And you were definitely annoyed about the Lily thing. Now you're being unreasonable about Charlotte again. You got a big crush, maybe it's love. What did you tell me when I fell in love with Henry? "Get a grip and get your man.""

"Charmy, you're the wisest foodie I know."

"Thank you. Now go to sleep."

~to be continued