Part 3

Married Life

Chapter 16-

"Oh, so this is your sister?" said Marissa, running a hand through her hair.

"Yeah," said Ryan. "Uh, Jupiter... meet my fiancé, Marissa?"

"Nice to meet you," Jupiter snorted sarcastically. "Well, whatever happened to Theresa? I bet you're the reason she killed herself."

"What?" said Ryan and Marissa in unison. Kaitlyn just stood there playing with the three kids.

"Oh, and meet your daughter," said Jupiter, rolling her eyes angrily. "Her name is Yvonne. Not that you'd care. I mean, you haven't ever seen her before. You left your pregnant girlfriend to care for the baby all by herself."

"What?" said Ryan. "But Theresa told me–she told me that the baby had died..."

"I'm sure..." Jupiter lifted Valentine into her lap. "Well, here's what's happened since you've gone. Theresa has killed herself, no big surprise there. I mean, nobody wanted her or anything. Her mother and you abandoned her...so did Eddie. He is with some girl now in Portland. They have three kids together. Have you seen him lately? Of course not. Oh, and Sarah, your ex-girlfriend, got pregnant by Eddie and now she and Arturo are dating...That's basically all...Trey's out of prison...Mom got high one night and got in a major wreck and is paralyzed...that's basically everything. So," she said sarcastically, "How's your life?"

"First off," said Ryan angrily, "Theresa told me that the baby had died. Obviously, that as a lie... And I didn't know about any of this because lately, I've had problems of my own."

"Yeah," said Jupiter, "I'm sure. Well, anyway, I just came by so that you could meet your daughter. She's leaving with me. Obviously, you can't take care of her. You have problems of your own to take care of, right?"

"Don't be a bitch, Ju," said Ryan, walking over to Yvonne and taking her in his arms. He sat down by Marissa and put her in his lap. "Hey..." He looked up at Jupiter. "What's her name again?"

Jupiter rolled her eyes. "Yvonne. Her name is Yvonne."

"And those are your two kids?" said Ryan.

"They're twins...Valentine and Christmas. I call them Vali and Chris. Don't ask...I was pretty high when I had them..."

Ryan chuckled softly. "I'm sure. Listen...They can come to our wedding..."

"Wedding...oh...you and her?" She motioned to Marissa. "When is it?"

"In a week...we want to have the wedding before we go off to college."

"Right," said Jupiter. She glanced down at her feet. "I'll ask Trey if he wants to come."

Ryan's eyes got wide. "Trey? Is that really nessecary?"

Jupiter glared angrily at him.

"Okay, okay," said Ryan, lifting his arms into the air as if he was giving up.

Jupiter stood and took Yvonne into her arms. She told Chris and Vali to follow her. "See you at the wedding," she said. "Have a nice week."

Seth and Ryan stood staring at each other. They had on their tuxedos, ready for their double wedding. They were in the dressing rooms outside the glass cathedral. "Five more minutes," said Ryan anxiously.

"Yeah," said Seth, hands in his pockets.

"It's been two years," said Ryan. "Since I came..."

"Yeah... It has...It seems like a century..."

"More like a millennium," said Ryan, "with everything that's been going on."

The wedding director popped her head inside the tent and said, "It's time guys."

"So, my best man," said Ryan. "You've got our rings?"

Seth flashed them before Ryan's eyes. "Yup."

"I've got your's."

"Then it's time to start the wedding from hell," laughed Seth, and led the way out of the tent.

The seats were filled. Jimmy, Trey, Kirstin, Haley, Sandy, Nana Cohen, Grandma Cooper, Jupiter, Valentine, Yvonne, Christmas, Luke, Luke's parents–in separate rows–Sarah, Arturo, Eddie, Eddie's wife Mona, their three children, and even Alex came. It was one grand union, bringing together everyone from different worlds. Chino and Newport and Corona and Portland and Riverside–altogether to witness the holy matrimony.

Ryan was flabbergasted as he watched Marissa make her way down the isle in her long, white silk dress, the train leading several feet behind her, Kaitlyn and Yvonne paving the way in front of her as flower girls. Summer was next, in a white dress, almost identical to that of Marissa's. They both stood before their husbands as they said their vows and they were pronounced husband and wife.

"If you have any objections–" began the preacher.

That was when Alex stood. "You stupid bitch!" Her words were slurred. She was drunk.

Kirstin motioned to Sandy for someone to get her out of there.

"I'll fucking kill you, Ryan. You took my girl!"

Marissa's eyes grew wide. "What?"

"I'll get you! Marissa, I still love you! Marissa!" she cried as she was dragged from the wedding ceremony. "Marissa!"

Ryan turned to Marissa. "It's okay, sweetie."

"Who is that freak?" said Marissa.

"No one," said Ryan. "No one at all."

Ryan and Marissa shared their first dance as husband and wife at the reception. They played the slow song Honey and the Moon. Marissa leaned her head against Ryan's shoulder, eyes closed. "I love you..." she said, her words trailing off. "I love you, Ryan..."

"Thank you?" said Ryan. They both laughed softly.

Summer and Seth danced across from them. Summer glanced up at Seth and said, "We're married, Seth...and we're going to have a baby..."

Seth nodded. "Yes we are, Summer. Yes we are..."

Across from the reception hall, a small convertible sat outside. There was a woman sitting in the car, staring through the window. "I'll get you..." she said. "For killing my daughter." It was Lindsay's mother...and she knew...about everything...

That was when a very drunk Trey drove his car right into her convertible, killing her instantly. "Oops," he said drunkenly. Trey quickly pulled away and drove off. Jupiter was in the passenger side of the car.

"Oh my God, Trey! You hit that woman's car."

"Shh...you can't tell anyone."

And they disappeared down the interstate.