Perfection, Chapter 1 - All Girls Together

Abby stood in front of the mirror. She cocked her head to the side and looked hard at the woman staring back at her. In the past few months she'd grown up a hell of a lot and had gone through so much. With Carter, Luka, her mom, everything.
She smoothed down the ivory coloured dress she had squeezed her naturally slim but now curvy figure into. She looked at every detail of the dress, every diamante stud, every tiny satin rose sewn around the hem. She wasn't usually a vain person but she had to admit she looked stunning. She was pretty and she never really forgave Luka for the comment he made the night they broke up. Her self esteem went up no end when he told her "You're not that pretty, you're not that special." She had felt bad enough for leading him on, knowing full well she didn't love him. She was in love with John Carter and if she was honest, she always had been. Just as she always would be.
It was just a shame that the dress she stood in wasn't a wedding dress, merely a bridesmaid dress.
Susan walked in and at that point Abby had to catch her breath.
"Oh Susie, you look beautiful. It's absolutely perfect."
"You think? Oh I don't know. I've never done this before, he has. Will it all go all right?"
"You love him, he loves you. What else do you need?"
"I guess. I just... It's... I'm just nervous. What d'you think? Am I doing the right thing?"
"Susie, you've brought me to Hawaii and you're now asking me if you're doing the right thing. Could we not have had this conversation in Chicago? Of course you're doing the right thing, you wanted this, it was your idea"
Susan smiled. "You're right Abby, as usual. And I hate it."
A big grin spread across her face as she asked "So hows you and Carter?"
Abby loked down. They were closer than ever before, they knew everything about each other possible but they still hadn't done the inevitable, well not properly anyway. It had been four months now, same as Susan's relationship. And look at that, she's getting married while Abby hadn't even got into bed yet, well not sincew the lockdown.
"Well, um, it's okay. We're in love but y'know. It's not gotten very far. Not past the lounge, if you get what I mean. Not apart from the night of the lockdown, but that was different. A spur of the moment thing."
"Really? Second date rule gone out of the window then!"
Abby laughed remember ing the conversation they'd had what seemed like years ago.
"There's chemistry all right but it just never happens. I mean it's not me, I don't know, I don't think he wants me."
"Oh Abby" Susan said pulling her into a hug. "He adores you but he's got a lot of things to contend with. He got stabbed remember. He wants to wait until the time's right."
"What?" Abby pulled away.
"I mean, he probablt wants to... Oh all right. We had a little chat the other day. He's worried that you won't want him when you see the scars."
"How could he think that? I love him so much, he'll never know how much. I didn't even think it was possible." A tear rolled down her cheek slowly.
"Well you never kow. Tonight may be the night." Susan told her with a wink. "You're smudging the make-up!"
"Come on Susie. Luka'll be waiting."