'I just can't believe you came dressed like that!' hissed Andrea.
'What? What?' Stephanie said, 'These are my best clothes.'
'You look like a funeral!'
'I'm not, I'm not wearing any black at all,' Stephanie protested.
'I told you last night what to wear,' Andrea said. She was trying to keep her voice down but failing. Joey, who was hanging around the entrance couldn't help overhearing and wasn't the slightest bit embarrassed.
'Get out of it, I'm not wearing something you chose!'
'Don't you care about Emily?'
'Yes I do, that's why I'm not wear that stuff you left out.'
'You're impossible! You're just doing this to embarrass me. Stay out of the way.' Andrea swept past, and Joey jumped back.
'Stay out of the way, I'm staying out of the bloody way aren't I? My own sister gets married and I have to stay out of the way,' began a monotone grumble.
'Hey,' Joey said. A thin and pale black haired teenager stared back at him. She was dressed in a long purple dress.
'Hey,' she said. 'Be careful. Everyone's got to stay away from me because I've got Ebola virus or something.'
'Oh,' Joey said. 'So you're Emily's sister.'
'Yeah. I'm Stephanie.'
'You don't look like her.'
'No, she had plastic surgery when she was eighteen,' Stephanie said.
'No kidding.'
'The nose job was the hardest part.' Joey frowned, and Stephanie grinned. 'So you're one of the Americans.'
'Yeah,' he said, feeling more confident. 'I'm one of Ross's friends. And Emily's I suppose, she's all right,' Joey said. 'I mean, we're going to be friends too.'
'Joey,' called a female voice.
'Oh you've met Felicity,' Stephanie said, with a knowing voice. Friendly Felicity - but why should Joey have a problem with that. He obviously enjoyed her friendliness.
'Yeah, er.'
'Go on then,' Stephanie said, 'Don't keep her waiting.' She grinned. Joey forgot Stephanie as soon as he turned away.
Stephanie had wanted to get rid of Joey because he was stopping her from keeping an eye on the guests as they slowly arrived. She heard the sounds of raised voices. That would be her mother, stepfather and the Americans. Oh typical, she thought, I wish I was adopted.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a woman with streaked blonde hair approach looking nervous.
'Hello,' Stephanie said.
'Hi,' the woman said, her accent instantly identifiable as American, 'I was looking for a wedding - Geller and er, Waltham?'
'This is it,' Stephanie said, walking up to her. 'You're invited?'
'Yeah, I'm Rachel Green.' Stephanie smiled. Just then they saw Emily cross into the hall and they watched her interaction with Ross.
Stephanie could tell that Rachel hated everything she saw.
'Sickening isn't it?' Stephanie said.
'W-What?' Rachel turned to her.
'I can't stand her.' Rachel's eyes widened. 'Come on, let's go and have a drink,' Stephanie said, dragging her away from the door.
'But - ' Rachel said, not resisting out of pure surprise. 'I've got to say hello.'
'You can do that in a minute,' Stephanie said, 'I've just got to get out of sight of all this mushiness. Ergh!' Stephanie leaned in closer to Rachel. 'I could tell you a thing or two about Emily, I really could.'
'Emily?' Rachel asked, interested, in spite of her hurry to get to the wedding.
'Oh yeah, Ross is going to be so sorry...' They had got to another door and into the kitchen where Stephanie swiped a bottle and then led Rachel up the back stairs.
'Should we be here?' Rachel asked nervously.
'Relax,' Stephanie said, 'There's plenty of time and I've got to tell you about Emily, or I'll just die,' Stephanie said. 'I can't stand the way everyone is going on about her, like she's perfect. You know I'm her stepsister don't you?' Rachel nodded. 'Yeah well, I know the real Emily, and let me tell you, it's not pretty.' They had reached the top of the stairs and entered the attic. 'No-one will disturb us up here. If you look out the window you can see everyone arriving.' Rachel went to the window and turned around when she heard Stephanie put the bottle down.
'Aren't you too young to drink?' Rachel asked nervously.
'It's not for me, it's for you.'
'Me? But...' Stephanie slammed the door shut and turned the key in the lock. She stood for a few seconds listening to Rachel beating on the door. 'Hey! Let me out, this isn't funny...' She thought it was very funny. With a satisfied nod, she went downstairs to wacth the wedding from the back of the room.