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Rory brought her fingertip to her lip in thought, gazing at the clothes assembled on her bed. She'd narrowed down her selection to two pairs of jeans and three sweaters for her lunch date that afternoon, but from there, she was indecisive.

She picked up a red cardigan and held it in front of her as she stared in the full length mirror next to her bureau. Shrugging, she set it back down and pulled her sweatshirt over her head.

"Hey, Rory, I just wanted to sa-" Tristan's words died off suddenly as he threw open her door. Rory flushed as his eyes trailed down her body, her skin burning beneath his gaze. "Shit."

Rory pulled the red cardigan over her torso quickly, fiddling with the hem as embarrassedly avoided Tristan's gaze.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd- I didn't think." Tristan glanced back toward the door uncomfortably. "I'll just go. We can talk later."

"No," Rory reached out quickly and laid her hand over his forearm. "It's okay. What's going on?"

Tristan was silent, and Rory realized he was staring at her hand. She pulled it away quickly.

"Uh..." Tristan swallowed and looked away. "I just wanted to apologize for Wednesday morning. I can't avoid you forever, so..."

Rory nodded, studying him. His hair was a bit messier than usual and his normally bright blue eyes lacked their luster. Olive-brown circles were forming against tan skin under his eyes. "Have you slept?"

"Nah," Tristan shook his head. "I tried to but I felt too guilty."

Rory sighed. "Me, too."

"What? You look great." Tristan's jaw tensed as he realized what he'd said. "I mean, for someone who can't sleep."

"Girls get to use makeup."

"Yeah... Well, uh, I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for everything that happened. It won't happen again. I was just drunk and I, uh, didn't know what I was saying."

Tristan's words came back to Rory suddenly and she frowned. "You know, it's completely normal to get cold feet before a wedding. You should talk to Amelie about it; she's probably feeling the same way."

Tristan groaned, collapsing onto Rory's bed. "No, she wouldn't be. Amelie's always so sure of...everything."

"I don't know about that. Maybe she's just a better actress than you?" She took a step closer to him before realizing her jeans were under him. Sighing, she tapped his shoulder. "I have to get ready for my date, and you're sitting on my-"

"Sometimes drinking gives you a moment of clarity," Tristan interrupted quietly, looking up at Rory through darkening eyes.

Rory gulped, taking a step away from Tristan as if he were a venomous snake. "Don't do this."

"No, I'm not going to." Tristan paused. "I love Amelie, I do. Just... I get jealous when you..." He trailed off.

Rory met his gaze, her cloudy azure eyes filled with hurt. "What? Am I supposed to just not date to keep you happy? How's that fair?"

"No," Tristan leaned forward and grasped Rory's hand in his, running his thumb lightly in circles across the top of her hand. "I'm happy for you. It just hurts."

Rory pulled her hand away quickly, shaking her head. "Don't do this, Tristan. I'm tired of it. Just go back to Amelie and let me get ready."
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"Amelie, Amelie! I need you to stand still. I can't get accurate measurements if you don't stop moving. You want your gown to fit like a glove, don't you?"

"Something that doesn't fall off my shoulders would be fine," Amelie responded, hiking a piece of fabric over her shoulder.

Kaleigh Henley 'tsked' Amelie, clucking her tongue disagreeably as she measured Amelie's waist. "Have you ever considered modeling, darling? You've got the proportions."

Amelie laughed. "Not the cup size."

"Yes, well, that is rather unfortunate. But we can remedy that in a hundred different ways. Something as simple as tape would give you cleavage you don't think you have."

"I'm honestly not that concerned."

"That's why you hired me. This is going to be the wedding of the year, darling. Probably the decade. We must pay attention to details. Did you choose a pattern for your train?"

"They all looked the same to me. I was hoping you'd choose for me."

Kaleigh clucked again and let out an annoyed sigh. "Fine, dear. Don't worry about that." She shuffled through her rack of gowns before pulling one out. "Aha! Try this on, dear. I was thinking something of this style."

Amelie did as she was told, only grumbling a little as Kaleigh zipped her up and adjusted the corset. "I hope breathing's optional."

"Dear, dear, just look at yourself, and you answer that for me," Kaleigh murmured, nudging Amelie toward the mirror.

Amelie almost fell over at the weight of the dress, and again when she saw her reflection. "My God."

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When Tristan arrived at the office, Joan was waiting for him impatiently, twirling a hand through her dark hair. "You were supposed to be here an hour ago," she informed him, jumping up to greet him.

"Did I forget to do something?" Tristan asked.

Joan shook her head. "But you'll never believe it! ABC called and they want to do a one-hour special on your nuptials. Like, interviews now, some video of the wedding, some stuff afterward."

"Why?" Tristan was puzzled.

"Tristan, do you still not get it? Everyone's looking at your marriage to Amelie as some kind of business merger, and no one's sure of the angle. They just know it will be huge."

"A business merger? Joan, it's not-"

"I know that," Joan assured. "But accepting this offer, filming this show, that could show the rest of the world. Then everyone would understand."

"I don't want people invading my private life like that, Joan."

Joan sighed. "Just think about it, okay?"

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Rory stood uncertainly outside the sitting room door, which Amelie's designer had taken over early that morning. Amelie had called her down, and Rory was worried.

Had Tristan told Amelie? If he'd decided to just come clean with his fiancée without even warning Rory, well, he certainly wouldn't have to worry about producing offspring, that was for sure.

She knocked lightly on the door.

"Rory, is that you?" she heard Amelie's strained voice from inside. "Come in."

Rory took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The sight that greeted her made her heart stop. Amelie was sitting on a stool in the center of the room, yards of white silk and lace surrounding her, tears streaming down her face.

"Are you okay?" Rory asked tentatively, waiting for the other girl to snap.

Amelie sniffled, pulling herself to her feet. "Yeah." She tugged on the top of her gown, offering Rory a small smile. "What do you think? I think I found the dress."

Rory stared at her friend in shock. The bodice was white silk, encrusted with tiny silver seams and uncut diamonds. It was low-cut but still respectable, and from the bodice trailed white silk and lace, holding a girth of a few feet. It sparkled with diamonds, and Rory had to step herself from laughing as she realized Amelie was standing barefoot.

"Of course, this isn't the actual gown," Kaleigh said quickly, gesturing at Amelie. "The seams still have to be taken in, and the train will be longer than this one's."

"Do you like it?" Amelie asked quietly, raising her tear-stained emerald eyes to meet Rory's cobalt ones.

"It's perfect, Amelie," Rory said honestly, taking in her friend in the lavish wedding gown.

When a single tear slipped down her cheek, Rory wasn't sure if it was for the happiness of her friend or the loss of her own dreams.
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