A/N: I know I took ages to get to this…...here it is…..

Chapter Two: A Toast

Ben and I met up with Courtney and her boyfriend at her apartment. We drove to the hall together with our boyfriends. The minute we walked in our families were all over us with "Congratulations!" and "Oh! You look gorgeous" s.

We finally settled into our seats, all of us at one big table. Courtney's little twin sister and brother were sitting and having fun with Cee and Adam (going out now, and engaged) and Doc, while Gi and Sleepy were in each other's arms (also going out, and engaged). Mom and Courtney's mom were talking about mom-stuff, and Andy and Courtney's dad were talking about dad-stuff. Courtney's boyfriend, James, was talking about Red Sox vs. Yankees with Dopey, who would have a broken nose by James tonight. And lastly, me and Ben where sitting next to each other talking.

"Hon, I'm really happy for you. All of this, meeting your family and all, it's wonderful," he told me, smiling.

"Well," I said, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek, moving closer to him too. "I'm happy that you got offered the role in that Quentin Tarantino movie! I really am happy for you!"

"I'd like to present a toast," Andy said. "To these two beautiful young ladies, going out into the world after knowing you for all these years. Us parents and siblings and friends couldn't be any happier." So what if I was almost crying! Like Andy said, I was 'going out into the world.'

"And another toast," Mom began, "To Gina and Jake. You're finally getting married in a week-"

"A week! How come I didn't know about-"One week? That was in seven days! How could they not tell me! I didn't even have my Maid of Honor dress!

"Aw, c'mon Suze. I didn't want to stress you, with all that was goin' on this week. We already have a dress, you just need to try it on for adjustments. And the hall was only open that one day. And we-"

"Hold on. Just wait one minute. I can't go! Ben has try-outs, and I can't miss-"

"I'll cancel it, Suze. Anyways, I already told them I couldn't do it, with episodes being made so often. And we only have a break for a few months."

"No, no. This is just-oh my God. Oh. My. God. This is in New York, right it has to be!" I looked around at everyone pleadingly. "I mean, you can't have it in Carmel! You just-no. Oh my God, you guys! Screw the stress! This is just-"

"Susie, the wedding is in Carmel. Anyways, that's a good thing! You can go to the Reunion with Brad and see all of your old friends too! Won't that be wonderful!" My mom wanted me to go to the Juniperra Serra Mission Academy Reunion for the class that I was in. And I mean I couldn't turn her down. That would just be too mean. Shit-this was so bad. I had just been a major ass to these guys, and they were getting married! My bestfriend was getting married in 7 days to my step-brother, and I didn't even say one god-damned thank you. I really am a bitch.

"Oh, Jake, Gina, this is wonderful! I'm so sorry for being rude about it! Just so…surprised! But this is wonderful! The sooner the better, right? Of course I'll go-"

"Great, then. Is the 8AM on Sunday good for you? All of us have to go tonight, but two days is good to pack, right? Oh, and you all got the invitations right?" Everyone-even Court's family-nodded to Gina. "Fabulous! Then, Suze, we'll have Brad's friend come and pick you up. Wonderful! Ben, we got you a ticket too." Gina handed him two tickets, for the 8AM on Sunday, from Logan to San Francisco to Carmel. My whole life was going by and I just nodded and smiled. Just like when I was let down from a part or a deal. Smile and nod. Smile and nod.

But all I could think about was this reunion. I mean surely he couldn't be there, could he? He must have left Carmel and gone back to his parents place before graduation.

And my room-must be empty. He had to have moved on. I mean, he figured he couldn't lay me 'cause I wasn't interested since he didn't even have feelings for me, so he had to have gone.

Right?

Ben and I went home from dropping everyone oof at the airport in silence, both thinking about what Carmel held for us. We got changed and went to bed.

As he was shutting the light off, I asked him," Ben, you don't mind, do you? I mean going to Carmel. It is a totally foreign place to you. It's quiet and pretty, but it's quiet. And it's not like Newport, it is windy and cold sometimes. And it rains more there-"

"I'm fine with it, Suze. But are you?" He asked me. I could see his worried face shining from the light coming through the window. The world still went on, even while Suze was being a scared loser. "I've never seen you so anxious about anything. We can just change the flight and go there for the wedding day. I mean Gina won't mind really."

I sighed. If Gina did that on my wedding day, I would pull a cold war on her. She wouldn't be so light. She would just flip out on me and tie me to a plane so I'd stay longer. "No," I said. "That would be mean. And anyways, my mom really wanted me to go to that reunion thingy with Dop-er-Brad. I'll stay there for a few weeks I guess. Would you mind that? I mean if you want to stay with your family for a while, that's fine. You don't have to stay the whole time with me."

Ben chuckled and kissed me neck lightly. "You are way too nice. I'll stay with you; I can see my family another time. So, why don't you get some sleep, tomorrow is packing day. Anyways, we all know how might you pack…" His lips were curled in a smile.

Hahahahahaha-

I lightly pushed him on the shoulder. "Haha…I don't pack that much! And anways, how did I know that we were camping for just a week. I didn't know if they could even wash clothes there!"

He chuckled again. "I love you, Suze Simon."

I sighed happily. This man I loved wasn't afraid to say 'I love you'. "I love you too, Ben Mackenzie." I said, lying down comfortably, my head on my boyfriend's chest.

He started kissing my neck again. I fell asleep, with Ben holding me securely, keeping out all bad memories of the past, keeping me safe.

The kindest, selfless, most wonderful man I had ever met.

A/N: it's short but I hav a bit of a wee writer's block. Meh. Puh-lease review and tell me what u think should happen(paul changes, jesse over, jesse w/ jsuze, paul asshole)

Well, whatever u think should happen I will think about and maybe put it in.

If ppl like ben as the bf then let moi know, and tell me if I should-well, just review the person with the writer's block

Toodles!

Lub moi!

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Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo