Disclaimer : I don't own nothing so there!

MEADOW567 : Thanks for all the ideas of what he could do in Michigan, though I pretty sure he won't be going to any of those places lol. No, I haven't seen her in that, though I have seen her in 'Wet Hot American Summer', though watching her in that kinda spoilt the idea of her as a duck lol, and I've seen her in a few scenes of 'Queen of the damned', though I haven't had chance to watch the full movie. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!

xXxSARAHxXx : I wouldn't go as far as saying that Guy and Charlie are the best – ADAM is the BEST lol – but that's just my opinion lol. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!

AGEL15 : Yeah, Charlie and Guy's detective work is something to read about lol. Well, you'll have to wait and find out what's up with Brian won't ya lol. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!

ANE : Don't worry about it, I know exactly how the school thing goes lol. I'm real glad you're enjoying the story so far, though I can't make any promises about the Guy/Connie thing lol. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!

A : Yeah that's probably pretty much it, the whole 'her names Julie, not babe', though I suppose people have based things on less. Personally, I pair them because I think they've got similar personalities, you know they both seem studious, both good players, they look not too bad together – though at the moment I'm really into Adam/Connie lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!

BLONDE-BRAIN : Ok, I'll try and keep the cliff hangers to a minimum, but you gotta understand how hard this is going to be for me, shall we call it a mere impossibility – but I'll try just for you lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!

C-CHAN96 REVIEW #1 : Bloody hell girl, your review was like a bloody essay lol – not that I'm complaining lol. What did you do to make your parents wanna do this – however if they do, just use the computer lab at school – if they have one lol. You can tell me about your personal life if ya really want to, I don't mind lol. Anticipated – you bet, I'm absolutely dying to know what you've got up your sleeve – I can only imagine how good it's going to be. 7 is early to me lol, though when I was at college, I used to have to be up for 6, on a bus at 7 and college by 9 – they were long days lol. Oh yeah, I can totally see you dedicating a song to me on your best selling album and stood centre stage in front of millions of people lol. I knew you wanted it to be a C/C, because well I'm a mind reader lol. Yeah you stalk Charlie, so your reward is well Charlie lol – if I stalk Adam, can I have Adam lol. Well if you're a silly/loony/psycho then what am I lol. Now those ideas to get rid of Brian are great, but I'm not sure I want to get rid of him, he's kinda growing on me lol. Right anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!

C-CHAN96 REVIEW #2 : Oh you just happen to casually stab poor ole Brian lol. I don't think there's only Connie that has to admit about her denial lol. You're mad, d'ya know that lol. Yeah, you go get yourself some sleep lol. Anyways thanks for the support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!

Chapter 8

CONNIE'S P.O.V

"Julie, no". I told her, as I stood on that little platform thing, in front of the mirror, dressed in what I can only describe as something little bo peep would wear.

The dress pure white, had a bodice top and long flowing skirt, which you might think isn't that bad, but half way down the skirt on the left hand side, was a rather large collection of pink hearts. Around my waist, was a pink ribbon that tied in a bow at the base of my back.

"Why? I think it's cute". Julie told me, admiring me, or rather the dress I wore.

"You really want me to answer that". I stepped down a little unsteadily. "Does Adam know what he's marrying"? I joked and headed toward the changing room.

As I was undressing, she brought me another dress in, and I couldn't help but hope, this one was more, not little bo peep wear. I handed her the last dress to go and hang back up, and began stepping in the new one. Once I was in, She came in and zipped me up. Again I went through the ritual of trudging over and climbing onto the platform and gazing into the mirror.

The dress was ivory in colour, again bodice top, though the skirt wasn't as bushy but seemed to drape just right toward the floor. There was a slight train to it, but nothing too dramatic, just simple. If you looked carefully, you could see a gentle pattern that cascaded throughout most of the material. I stood there, just gazing at the reflection that stared straight back at me.

"Well"? Julie asked impatiently, obviously already in love with the dress, just like the past 15 other dresses.

"I think I've just found the perfect dress". I smiled.

"Really"? She was bounding around in front of me.

"Yeah". I was certain now. "But I can't buy it", I said.

"Why the hell not"? Julie said, sighing loudly.

"Well, I can't have this dress without a bridesmaid dress that goes with it". I left the sentence open, hoping the penny would drop.

"Of course you could, all you have to do is find a pretty dress, that matches the same colour". Julie informed me.

"Well you better get looking". I told her, seeing that she still hadn't realized exactly where I was going with this. "For something in your size". I clarified even more.

"Ok". She said and dashed off.

I looked at the sales woman that had been helping us. She was laughing silently, as I folded my arms, holding one hand up, counting on my fingers, how long it was until she returned. I got all the way to three before she dashed back in, nearly slipping as she hurtled around the corner.

"Are you sure"? She asked, her eyes wide.

"I wouldn't have said so if I wasn't, now get going". I laughed along with the sales woman as she dashed off again for the perfect dress.

We spent the rest of the afternoon, looking for a dress for her, finally finding a dress at the back of the rack that more or less matched my own, I bought them, and we left, finally feeling relieved that, I had one less thing to do. We headed straight back to my apartment, where we found the guys sat around, chatting would you believe, though there was something suspicious about how they all sat. I stored the dresses in the back of my closet, before returning to see Julie squashing herself between Adam and Goldberg.

"Anybody ring for me"? I asked, as I sat on the arm of the chair Guy was sat in.

"Just someone called Nicky, but she said it wasn't important". Charlie told me.

I nodded and reached for the phone, dialing her number. It rang a few times before she picked and even then I could heard Eve giggling infectiously.

"Nicky, it's me. I just got the message you rang". I told her.

"Oh hi, um yeah, I just rang to let you know that David and his band, got a gig tonight, but if you've got company it doesn't matter". Again, she said everything faster than normal people could comprehend.

"Oh that's great. Do you want me to watch Eve or something"?

"Well I have managed to get a babysitter for Eve, and thought you'd like to come".

"I'd love to".

"That's great, um bring your friends and whoever, and I'll meet you at the Tapas bar". She said then phone went dead.

"Right, who would like to go out tonight"? I asked, replacing the phone on it's hook.

"Like where"? Guy asked, but it sounded more girly, than I'm sure he intended.

"Like a club where Nicky's husband's band is playing". I said back equally girly, then found myself being jabbed playfully in the ribs.

Everyone agreed to go, and shortly after, left to get ready, leaving me with Charlie and Guy, who being men, were ready within half an hour. I wasn't ready too long after them, dressed simply in jeans and a vest top. We sat around, laughing and joking around, just like we had in the past. The three of us had always been the closest of the group, growing up within a few blocks of each other, and we had been the very first members of the team, though as we aged, we broke off a little, making more friends, though I didn't think mine and Guy's stint at dating particularly helped our friendship with Charlie, whom I imagine felt rather left out. Though when Guy and I split up, we all kind of went back to the way things had been when we had been much younger. Now, I saw my two best friends more as brothers than anything else.

An hour later, all the ducks had returned, and were ready to go. I lead them down to the street, where I hailed a few cabs, giving each driver the address, before being dragged into the back of one of the cabs. When we reached the Tapas bar, Nicky was waiting outside, dressed casually, she looked far younger than her 28 years. I quickly introduced her to the ducks, before allowing her to lead the way through the stage doors, where we met the warm up band and then David's band.

Though David was now 29, he the same as Nicky, looked younger than his age. Although a lot of people thought the band were now too old to be doing 'gigs', it wasn't anything serious. They spent one hour a week practicing, and had regular 'gigs'. They only had a few songs of their own and most of the time, they just sang other artists songs, so in a way, it was just like a karaoke.

After visiting with the band for a few minutes, we headed back out into the main bar, finding a few tables near the front, and ordering some drinks. The warm up band was really good, regaling us with remixes of some of the newer songs that were on today's charts. They were on for about an hour, before there was a 15 minute interval before David's band set up.

Silence fell upon us as soon as they started playing the first song, and every time I glanced over at Nicky, I could see the proud smile that played on her lips. By the second song, they had everyone joining in, as they sang 'there goes my first love' by the drifters. For the next two hours, they played old favorites like Nickelback, REM, the drifters, Mike and the mechanics. They had a few more songs to do, but took a quick break, where David jumped down from the stage, guitar in hand and headed straight for us. He embraced Nicky, then sat with us, throughout the 5 minute break. After the break was over, he stood up, looking at me in a weird way.

"What you stood there for, c'mon". He told me.

"What are you going on about"? I was confused, but deep in the pit of my stomach, I knew what he was referring to.

"Yeah, the main reason I wanted you down here, was because David organized with the band to let you do a set". Nicky finally informed me.

"You have to be kidding. I haven't picked a guitar up for years". I whined. David had given me lessons when I first became friends with Nicky. He had then picked out a song with a solo in it, especially for me, and though I had only ever played it once in public, David usually played my solo. "I probably can't even remember how to play the right chords at the right time". I said defiantly.

"I know you can still remember you're solo perfectly well". David argued, placing the guitar around my neck, and reaching for my hand.

"Yeah, c'mon, we wanna hear it". All the ducks chorused, but before I had time to refuse, I had been dragged up to the stage by Nicky and David, before being pulled up onto the stage by David's band mates, followed closely by David.

"I can't believe you're making me do this". I stood off to the corner of the stage

"Yeah well, this is the biggest gig we've had in ages, with you doing you're solo, it'll seal the deal of further gigs". David laughed. "You ready". He asked, and I nodded in response.

"5, 6, 5, 6, 7, 8"! Kevin on the drums shouted as he tapped his sticks in the air.

On him reaching the 8, I immediately began strumming and the strings, a rough, metallic sound exited. I strummed about 3 times, before Christina, the singer began singing.

"Yeah, Yeah

Get up, Get out
Were number one there's no doubt
I'm all wrong, you're right
It's all the same with you
I'm too fit, too fat
You ask why
So why,
So why,
So why,
So why

On and on,
And on and on,
On and on,
And on and on,

Don't want to grow up
I want to get out
Hey, take me away
I want to shout out
Take me away,
Away,
Away,
Away,
Away,

Round and round here we go again
Same old start, same old end
Turn my head
And turn back again
Same old stuff never ends
Do this, do that
Can't deal Can't deal with that
I tune in, tune out
I've heard it all before
Hello, goodbye
Never asking me why,
Goodbye,
Goodbye,
Goodbye,

On and on,
And on and on,
On and on,
And on and on,

Don't want to grow up
I want to get out
Hey, take me away
I want to shout out
Take me away,
Away,
Away,
Away,
Away,"

Then my solo, came up, I had already entered the rhythm of the music, forgetting that there was a crowd watching me intently. I strummed the strings hard, feeling the beat of the music pound throughout me. At the end of the solo, I glanced out at the crowd, everyone cheering bar the one table at the front that were sat opened mouthed, wide eyed and star struck.

"Don't want to grow up
I want to get out
Hey, take me away
I want to shout out
Take me away,
Away,
Away,
Away,
Away,

Don't want to grow up
I want to get out
Hey, take me away
I want to shout out
Take me away,
Away,
Away,
Away,
Away,

Round and round here we go again
Same old story, same old end
Turn my head
And turn back again
Same old stuff never ends". And with that, the song ended, a cheer and clapping almost shook the building.

David helped take the guitar away from, me before enveloping me in a hug, followed by the remainders of the band. Allowing them to get on with the last few songs, I jumped down, and headed back to Nicky and the ducks.

"You were great. And here you were worrying that you wouldn't remember your solo". Nicky beamed with pride. "So did you enjoy yourself"?

"More than I thought I would". I laughed, sitting down and reaching for my glass, noticing it shaking with adrenalin.

"Connie, advance booking, my wedding". Portman told me, obviously agreeing the type of music I had played.

"How advance are we talking here"? I asked playfully.

"Oh at least a couple of decades". Julie replied.

We stayed for another few hours, before we all headed back to mine for a few more drinks, before everyone bar me, Guy and Charlie left.

So what do you think? PLEASE R&R!!!!