September 15th, 2003

Jing-Mei lay on the couch staring at the ceiling. She was so goddamn tired lately. Her wedding was a year away and already she was getting majorly stressed about it. Greg walked in.

"I thought you were going to go look at wedding dresses."

"I have time." She looked up at him; "We have a year."

"And so much to do." Greg said. Jing-Mei shook her head.

"I can't think about that right now." Greg pulled her to her feet.

"Go look at dresses. Go have fun." He said leaning over and kissed the top of her head.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"I have a poker game planned. Go shopping." Greg smiled.

"Great. Okay." She kissed him back and grabbed her purse.

"Have fun, but not too much fun." He winked.

* * *

She couldn't believe she was actually looking for a wedding dress. Jing-Mei stepped into the Le Bordeaux Bridal shop. God, her palms were sweating. Why were they sweating? She smiled.

"Ma'am, may I help you?" The sales person named Antoinette asked her.

"Um…I guess." Jing-Mei smiled nervously, "I'm getting married next year and my fiancée suggested that I start looking for a dress." Antoinette nodded.

"Well, when are you getting married? It'll help us narrow down the dresses." Antoinette said. Jing-Mei glanced around her.

"September 9th of next year." Jing-Mei said.

"That's a lovely time to get married, not too cold and not too hot." Antoinette said as she led Jing-Mei into the store further.

"Yeah, but you know Chicago. It could surprise us." Jing-Mei said.

"Oh yes. Very true. Have you and your fiancée discussed any colours or themes or anything like that?" She asked. Jing-Mei shrugged.

"Not really, but I know I don't want out wedding to be any run of the mill stuff." Jing-Mei said, "Is there such thing as Shakespearean wedding?" Antoinette nodded with a smile.

"Yes, we've had them before." Antoinette said. "You interested in that?" Jing-Mei nodded.

"Yeah. I would like to look at something in that category. My fiancée and I love Shakespeare and he proposed to me during a Romeo and Juliet play." Jing-Mei smiled.

"Then a Shakespearean wedding is perfect." Antoinette led Jing-Mei to a dress rack and pulled out a cream coloured dress. "Size four?" Jing-Mei nodded with a smile.

"Yeah." She said taking the dress, "I love the colour."

"It's perfect. The dressing rooms are right there." Antoinette said, "I have a book that lists all the things you need for a wedding like this. Let me get it for you." Jing-Mei nodded.

"Thank you." Jing-Mei went into the dressing room and started to get undressed. She couldn't believe she was trying this dress on. It was so beautiful. Jing-Mei slowly slid the dress onto her. It fit snuggly around the right curves. The silk felt like heaven against her sink. The sparkles on the breast made her look even bigger.

"Is everything okay in there?" Antoinette asked.

"Oh yes." Jing-Mei said breathlessly. "I absolutely love this."

"I knew you would." Antoinette smiled, "Is this the dress?"

"Yes. I want this one." Jing-Mei smiled, "Is there any way for me to pay for it and you to keep it here? I don't want Greg to see it." Antoinette smiled and nodded.

"Of course." She said as Jing-Mei began to remove the dress. "Let me just draw up the holing receipt and you can fill that out."

"Thank you so much." Jing-Mei said. She couldn't believe she found the dress. She would be getting married in this dress. It was amazing. And here she was moaning cause she had nothing to do that very morning. Boy was she very wrong.

September 29th, 2003

Greg stuffed his hands into his pockets as he walked down the street. The day was a very dreary day. It had rain all night and had left puddles of mess everywhere. It wasn't a day to be out in, but Greg was. He opened a door to a big run down building and walked in. Jing-Mei would freak out if she saw him here.

"Hey guys." Greg walked into a room where several African-American men were playing pool. They turned and looked at him.

"G, what the fuck are you doing here?" Donell grinned brightly.

"I've come to play some pool." Greg took off his jacket.

"Pool? You think you can come here whenever you feel like coming to play a game of pool?" Trey put his cue stick down.

"Sure. Haven't you guys missed me?" Greg grabbed a stick.

"Missed you? Hardly." Donell chuckled as he lined up his shot.

"Funny." Greg chuckled, "You care to make this game interesting?" The men looked at Greg and smiled.

"Interesting?" Trey took out a hundred-dollar bill from his pocket.

"Oh…A hundred dollars?" Greg arched his eyebrow.

"Yeah. Too much for you?" Trey asked, "Is the little lady keeping her purse strings too tight?" Greg frowned slightly.

"No. I will bet you a hundred dollars." Greg said, "I'll break."

"Go ahead." Donell smiled. Greg leaned over and aimed the cue ball to the triangle of coloured balls. "See if you still have the magic." Greg chuckled and hit the ball. Two solids went in. "I guess you do."

"I may be getting married and out of this group for awhile, but my magic is not gone." Greg smiled. Trey narrowed his eyes.

"Great." Trey said pushing Greg out of the way to make his shot.

"Watch it." Greg growled.

"You watch it." Trey shot the ball.

"What's your problem, Trey?" Greg looked at him; "I just came by to see my old friends." Trey threw the pool stick down.

"Old friends? Who do you think you are, G? You left us and you expect us to accept you back?" Trey growled "Too much has happened since you left us." Greg narrowed his eyes.

"What are you talking about? You're pissed off at me because I made something of my life?" Greg asked.

"And I didn't?" Trey asked stepping up Greg.

"Hey, Guys, not now." Donell said.

"Why not now?" Trey asked, "You've gone pansy on us, Greg, haven't you??"

"No! I just have priorities." Greg said, "I'm not getting back into this and hurting my family."

"We were your family!" Trey yelled.

"You were my family until I watched you kill Chanterelle right in front of me. You weren't my friends or family when that happened." Greg growled, "You gonna cut me? You gonna beat me? Go ahead. I could careless. I know I'm better than you."

"Get out of here." Trey yelled as he pushed Greg.

"Don't touch me!" Greg pushed him back; "Don't you ever touch me, Man."

"Guys, don't do this." Donell said.

"SHUT UP, DONNY!!!!" Both Trey and Greg yelled. Donell held up his hands. Trey narrowed his eyes.

"Why bring Chanterelle into this? Why even go there?" trey asked

"Because she was your sister and my girlfriend." Greg growled, "And our stupidity got her killed." Trey gritted his teeth.

"No….We didn't get her killed." Trey said. Greg nodded.

"We were standing on the corner with Chaz and his boys. I watched you and Chaz get in a fist fight and Chanterelle got in the middle." Greg said, "That was the worse day of my life."

"Just go home to your slanted eyed bitch." Trey growled.

"Shut the fuck up." Greg pulled his arm back and punched trey. Trey fell back against the pool table. Blood trickled from his lip. Greg smiled smugly. He still had a rocket punch.

"You son of a bitch." Trey pulled out a switchblade. Greg shook his head.

"You haven't changed one bit." Greg said. Donell got into the middle of the two angry men.

"Greg, you need to leave right now." Donell said.

"This isn't over, trey." Greg growled.

"Now, G." Donell said. Greg glared at Trey and walked out. He couldn't believe Trey was still acting the same way. Three years and he was still an immature asshole. Greg sighed as he walked back out into the dreary day. He certainly wouldn't tell Jing-Mei about his visit with his old friends. Greg growled. Maybe this was his fault. Who was he kidding by going there just for a game of pool?

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