Chapter Five

"Straight or curly?" asked Jenny as we sat together in front of our bathroom mirror. I considered.

"Just leave it, or tie it back," I said after a pause. She shrugged and simply brushed out my hair. We stitched places.

"Up or down?"

"Up," she requested. I put her long, straight, brown hair up in a bun in the back of her head, leaving some strands to dangle around her oval face.

I straightened Lauren's ringlets before we all went back into Jenny and my room to put on our dresses. Mine was simple, but I loved it-it was knee length, spaghetti strapped and white silk. I happily put on my heels, which made me several inches taller.

We admired ourselves in the mirror. I looked fondly at my sisters-they were both so beautiful and I loved them so much. Sometimes I wondered if normal families were like us, so connected. I told Jenny everything, Lauren most things. I even talked to my parents, when they weren't driving me crazy. I told Mom all about the guys I dated, and I told Daddy all about the gossip at school and my fears. Was it because they were young? Mom and Daddy had only been sixteen when they'd had Jenny, my age.

"We look hot," declared Jenny. Lauren and I nodded.

"We do. Let's go find Mom and Dad," said Lauren. We left, holding hands in a long train.

They were kissing when we found them by the door, having forgotten their argument of only a few hours ago. It was nice, in a weird way, how much they loved each other.

"Guys, get a room," said Lauren. They broke apart, blushing. Mom playfully swapped Lauren's head.

"You guys look beautiful," said Daddy.

"You look good too," I said truthfully. Daddy was in a suit, and Mommy had on a nice green dress. She was nice looking, especially for someone her age. I'd seen pictures of her in high school, she'd been very pretty. And they both had nice curly hair, like Lauren's. My hair was how my Dad's would look if it was longer, and Jenny's was bizarrely very straight.

I squabbled with Jenny and Lauren about the middle seat before the five of us got in the car. Eventually the inevitable argument came-I was the smallest, so apparently it made the most sense for me to be in the smallest spot.

Later, at the wedding reception, we were with the Scotts. Some of my parents other high school friends hovered around us-Tim Smith, Bevin, Mouth, even Lucas, Sawyer's Uncle.

"Auntie Brooke!" I yelled excitedly as I saw her and her daughter and husband enter. She turned to me and grinned, opening her arms. I ran to hug her.

"Uncle Tonio," I said fondly, after I'd greeted Brooke. Antonio was Auntie Brooke's husband. He was a lot older than her, but it didn't seem to matter in their relationship. He hugged me as well.

"Callie, it's good to see you. How have you been?" he asked.

"Good! I'm on the squad again this year, which is fun," I said.

"Bet your mother loves that," said Brooke, laughing. I giggled before kneeling down to greet their six year old, Kylie.

By this time, Mom had wandered over and hugged her best friend. Daddy hugged Auntie Brooke and shook Uncle Tonio's hand. He turned to Brooke as a slow song came on.

"Want to dance?" he asked. She nodded and took her husband's hand. The rest of them quickly paired off-Uncle Nathan and Aunt Haley danced, Mom sat down while Daddy took Jenny's hand, Lauren playfully began to dance with Kylie, her feet on Lauren's. Lucas seemed about to ask Mom but then looked as though he thought better of it and asked his niece, Tess.

I sat down with Mom, who began to tell me about the bride, Theresa, in her high school days. I looked up to see Uncle Nathan conversing with his son in a whisper. Nathan shook his head in my direction, Sawyer glanced over and blushed. Nathan gave him a slight push, and he appeared at my side.

"Want to dance?" he asked awkwardly. I giggled.

"What do you think I am, blind? This sure is flattering," I said, remaining seated. Mom prodded me with her finger.

"Go on, Cal," she requested. Sighing dramatically I stood and accepted the hand he offered.

"You should have asked Jenny," I said as he began to lead me around to the music.

"She was taken," he said, laughing. We both looked to where Jenny and Daddy were talking, giggling occasionally.

"Well, you should learn to act quickly," I teased.

"I'm not good with girls who don't throw themselves at me," he admitted. I suddenly became aware of his arm, holding me close. It was weird, like dancing with a relative.

"There aren't many," I said softly. I glanced covertly at Lauren, who was staring at us. She'd be mad at me later.

"Well I am pretty damn good looking," he said. I rolled my eyes, but he was right. Girls were always after him, and his broad features, short black hair and blue eyes paired with the occasional puppy dog look were endearing.

"Right, in your head. By the way, since when do you own a suit?" I asked curiously. It was obviously of good quality, and his tie was silk.

"Mom said we should buy it. She's weird," he said.

"Your mom's right," I said, looking to my left to where she was dancing, occasionally singing along to the music in her beautiful voice.

"Maybe. How long did it take you to get your Dad to buy you a new dress?"

"About thirty seconds," I said proudly.

"That's quite a feat, even for you," he admitted. Sawyer knew me well.

"Yeah. I went shopping with Jenny and Lauren last Saturday," I explained.

"Did you have a good time?" he asked.

"Of course, always. I just love Lauren's dress," I said, hinting. I saw him glance at her, saw her smile at him.

"She looks nice. Mom and Tess went shopping last week as well," he said.

"Yeah, she was telling me," I said. I'd never been as close to Tess as I had been to Sawyer, but I loved her anyway.

"So is Lauren still talking about Jason whatever?" asked Sawyer.

"Oh, Tess' boyfriend? Not so much, I think she's wary of me telling you, and Tess doesn't want you to know. He's fairly harmless," I said, laughing.

"I don't trust him," he said staunchly.

"You're paranoid-you never trust any of my guys, either," I reminded him.

"Well, your heart gets broken every time, so I learn from experience," he said.

"Ouch. By the way, what's this I hear about you and Kimberly West?" I asked. He looked down.

"Well. I was rather drunk," he explained. "As was she."

"Sawyer! This is why Jenny doesn't think you're available you know!" I said, angry at him for more reasons than one. She was a good friend of mine, and we were on the squad together.

"I talked to her the next day, she's fine with the one time thing. And how did you know about that? You weren't there," he said.

"Yeah, well, be more discreet about it next time," I advised.

"Okay, new subject. Do you notice Lucas being weird with your Mom?" he asked.

"Yeah, you did too? Like he's afraid of something," I said thoughtfully.

"Maybe she rejected him," he suggested. After a moment, I shook my head.

"That doesn't fit. I know Mom and Daddy have been together since they were sixteen, and before that she was with Uncle Nathan, so I don't know how they'd all fit in. But look at Mouth," I instructed, swiveling him around. He did, and followed his gaze.

"He's staring at Brooke!"

"Weird, huh? I've been noticing. It's weird, because obviously they were never together, so why would he still care about her?" I wondered. The very idea of Brooke and Mouth was laughable.

"Uncle Tonio's good for her," remarked Sawyer.

"Yeah, he's great. And you'd think the age difference would matter-he's what, fifty-three? But it doesn't. He's youthful, and kind of a fox for someone light years too old for me. And he's so great with Kylie," I said. The song ended and we broke apart.

I watched happily as Sawyer hurried to Jenny and asked her to dance. Lauren walked quickly over to me and shot me a pained look.

"Why were you dancing with him?" she demanded.

"Because he asked me, because his Dad asked him to ask, and because he's my best friend. Not because he's in love with me, don't worry," I said under my breath.

"Wait, he's dancing with Jenny. What does that mean?" she asked suspiciously. I avoided my sister's eye.

"Oh my God! Sawyer likes…" I clapped my hand over her mouth and forced her down under a table.

"Jenny!" she gasped finally.

"Yes, he always has. But you cannot say anything," I ordered.

"Of course. Sawyer and Jenny?" she said incrediously.

"Sawyer would like to think so. How are you feeling?" I asked, squeezing her hand.

"Surprisingly I'm fine-I guess deep down, I never thought that we'd actually be together. So you new about this and didn't tell her?" she asked in surprise.

"Yeah, I always keep his secrets," I admitted.

"Wow. I have to say, I always thought he was in love with you," she said. I scoffed.

"Ew."