CHAPTER 8

"Li-iz." Liz laid there not moving. "Liiiiiiiiz." She groaned and pulled the covers over her head. Liz felt tugging on her blankets and she tried to pull them back up over her head but gave in when the jerking didn't stop. "C'mon Liz. Time to get up." Liz slowly opened her eyes and saw her three roommates standing over her. Liz sighed and sat up.

"I really am going to have to put a lock on my door if I ever want to get some sleep." The other girls laughed. Becky threw a pillow at her and said,

"C'mon sleepyhead, time to get up." Liz made a noise of protest, and then fell back into her pillows. She put one over her face to block out the sun light and mumbled something unintelligible. Brooke's eyebrows rose,

"What was that, roomie? We couldn't quite understand you." Liz lay still not saying anything. She pulled the pillow off of her face and repeated,

"Why are you waking me up so early?" This caused the girls to brake out with laughter once more. Allie managed to squeak out through her giggles,

"Liz, it's 12:10. That's not very early." Liz looked at her friend skeptically. Allie continued talking, "Now c'mon. Get up! You're getting married in less than a month and as maid-of-honor it is my duty to help you. We haven't got much time, so let's start shopping." Liz sat up once more and looked at her friends.

"Shopping?" They pulled Liz out of bed. Becky went to the closet and grabbed a shirt and jeans. She threw them to Liz.

"Yes, shopping. If you remember, we all need dresses." This caused Liz to smile. "But you haven't told us what color ours are going to be. Obviously, we already know what color your dress is." Becky smiled at her friend and patted her on the shoulder, "Get dressed. We'll go fix some grub." The girls went to the kitchen to make a breakfast while Liz got ready. Shortly, the smell of eggs and bacon lured Liz out of her bedroom. She walked to the kitchen and jumped up on the counter.

"Do you guys need any help?" Brooke shook her head.

"Nah, we're about done. Just go sit down." Liz hopped down and went to the table as Becky and Allie brought plates of food over. Finally, they were all sat down and ready to eat.

Becky was driving down the road to Mariah's Bridal in the next city over. Liz was in the front seat controlling the radio. Allie and Brooke were in the backseat looking at a bridal magazine.

"Liz?" She turned around so she could see Brooke behind her. Liz focused on her friend, waiting for her to speak. "You still haven't told us what your wedding colors are." Allie noticed some of the excitement leaving Liz's face at Brooke's question and wondered why.

"Well to tell you the truth, I'm a little embarrassed. That is the one thing Lando and I haven't determined yet. He said that he didn't care. That it was up to me. Honestly, I have no clue what to chose."

"I guess that we will have to help you decide then. What were you thinking?" Liz just shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

"I'm not sure…you know what my favorite color is but…" She trailed off as she tried to keep in a laugh when she noticed Allie envisioning herself wearing pink. "Don't worry Allie, fuchsia just isn't your color." Liz could visibly see the relief on her best friend's face. "I don't want my wedding to look like it was drenched in pepto-bismol. I want it to be classy. Maybe a pale peach, royal blue, or even…" Liz was interrupted by Becky pulling up to a small shop on Main Street.

"We're here…and I think that pale peach will be very elegant. We could do a lot with that color as far as decorating goes."

The four girls got out of Becky's blue Ford Escort and walked up to the door. A bell went off when they went through. The woman behind the counter smiled and greeted them warmly. After she introduced herself she asked what she could help them with. Allie smiled and placed an arm around Liz.

"Well, Sara we're here to look for a wedding dress." The young store clerk smiled and turned towards Liz.

"And you must be the lucky bri…" She stopped mid sentence and gapped at Liz. Not knowing what else to do Liz just stood there nervously. When she could take the silence no more she spoke up,

"Is there something wrong, Sara?" Sara blushed and looked away. Then looked again, eyes blinking, not believing. Then once more she looked at the floor.

"It's just well…it's…" Sara looked up directly into Liz's eyes. "You're her aren't you? The lucky girl who is going to marry Orlando Bloom." Now it was Liz's turn to blush. She hated when other people recognized her. Liz didn't give the young woman any encouragement to continue, but Sara did just the same. "It's incredible. How did you manage to nab him? How on earth did you…" Liz cleared her throat indicating her desire for Sara to stop. Her other roommates stood their speechless, waiting for Liz's reaction.

"I'm sorry but my fiancée and I like to keep out private life just that: PRIVATE." Sara blushed a deep shade of crimson this time.

"I'm so sorry I over stepped my bounds. It's just that I recognized you from the TV. Orli and yourself were on Extra last week. And I have seen news clips and magazine articles about you two for months." Sara grinned. "Right now you are Hollywood's favorite couple and I'm honored to be able to sell you a wedding dress." Realization hit Liz as she rewound what Sara had said in her head. Liz squeaked out,

"We were on TV last week?" Sara nodded her head 'yes.'

"It was just for the star sightings segment. It showed shots of you guys walking around London." Liz was shocked at this news. They were so sure that they had stayed clear of the media. Becky waved her hand in front of Liz's face.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah…I'm sorry. I was just thinking. It's weird having other people learn about your life, when you don't even know them." Liz turned to face the store clerk. "I'm ready to see the dresses now." Sara smiled and walked towards a room with mirrors on the wall, filled with white gowns. She went to the middle and held her arms out.

"What did you have in mind?" Liz walked around examining the finely made dresses.

"You know I'm not quite sure. I know I want a full skirt. I want capped sleeves." Liz kept walking around looking for things she might like. "Oh…and maybe something that laces up the back." Sara smiled and then led Liz and her roommates to a fitting room. She handed Liz a huge slip to wear.

"Put this on while I go look for some dresses that you might be interested in. You're a size 8, correct?" Liz looked at her astonished.

"How did you know that?" Sara chuckled softly.

"Sweetie, it's my job to know." With another laugh she walked out of the fitting room. A short time later Sara had returned with four dresses. The girls didn't find anything that they particularly liked so Becky went and picked some that she thought Liz might be partial to, but to no avail. Finally, Liz decided to go see for herself what she could find.

Liz walked around as best she could in the slip and a white camisole. She maneuvered her way into a back corner of the store and found a rack with a few vintage dresses on it. Liz flipped through the dresses and when she reached the one on the end she smiled. It wasn't like the other dresses around it, but it had a certain appeal. She picked it up off of the rack and headed towards the fitting room.

"Liz, I have to admit it's beautiful. But you really shouldn't buy a dress from the first place you go. You might find something you like better elsewhere. I'd shop around some more." All of the roommates agreed with Allie. Liz sighed and looked in the mirror. Even she felt stunning wearing this dress. It was a charming satin A-line gown with a square neckline. It had caped sleeves and a chapel train that was exquisitely embellished with beautiful custard beading in a floral motif. Liz turned around again and looked the gown over. When she was facing the huge mirror again Sara knocked to see how they were doing. Being informed that they had found an option Sara entered.

"Wow…that will knock Orli for a loop. You look fantastic!" Liz blushed. "Of course it's a little big and it will have to be taken in some."

"Well, I'm not sure if I will be getting the dress, but I was wondering if I could put it on hold for awhile." Sara nodded her head.

"That would be fine. I wasn't even aware of that gown. Where did you find it?" Liz told Sara about her findings as they all helped her out of the dress. They placed it back into it's bag and put Liz's name on the outside. Sara put it in the back so it would be off the market. They all walked to the front of the store and to the counter.

"How much is the dress, by-the-way?" They all looked at Brooke, who was always the voice of reason. Sara was suddenly quiet.

"You see, it didn't have a tag on it. So I'll have to ask the storeowner. I can call her now if you would like." The girls all nodded their agreement. Sara quickly called the owner and described the dress to her boss. She hung up the phone a few minutes later and turned to her customers. Sara exhaled. Brooke rose her eyebrows impatiently.

"Well?" Sara looked Liz right in the eye.

"It seems that the gown you have found is one of a kind. My manager brought it back from a small shop in Europe. All of the beading was hand done. I must tell you it was in the back because most people around here couldn't afford it." Sara paused for dramatic effect. Liz held her breath. "The dress is 2,500 dollars." Liz's eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets.

"How much? I can't afford that anymore than anybody else in this town could." Everybody in the store started laughing at her reaction, even Sara who didn't even know her. This irritated Liz very much. "Why is everybody laughing at me?" In the end it was Becky who decided to state the obvious.

"Liz, I don't think money will be an issue." Liz knew all eyes were on her. "You know Orlando wants you to have the dress of your dreams. No matter how expensive it is. Whether it is this one or one that is 1,000 dollars more." Liz knew Becky was right. She let out a heavy sigh and then smiled.

"You guys are right. I guess I haven't fully grasped the fact that I am going to marry a millionaire. I just don't like taking his money. It's a pride thing I know I'm going to have to get over." Liz turned to Sara. "How long can I keep the gown on hold?" Sara smiled at the commission she would receive at the selling of this gown.

"I can keep it on hold for as long as you'd like. As I've said before…most people can't afford this dress." The girls left with promises to return in the next few days to let Sara know about the dress.

After a full day of shopping the girls had gone to 5 different stores and Liz still hadn't found one dress that she liked better than the one at Mariah's. They gave up for the day and were sitting in the living room, drinking some soda. Allie, Brooke, and Becky were trying to talk some sense into Liz. She really wanted to go back that night to purchase the first one, but the other girls protested.

"Liz…you should keep looking. Don't settle for what you could only find on the first day." Liz let out an exasperated sigh for what seemed to her the millionth time that day.

"Guys, I know you are just trying to help, but I really liked that dress. It's the one I want. Plus, I don 't have all the time in the world to be looking for my "dream dress" when I've already found it. Remember, my wedding is in less than a month? There are more important thinks that need to be taken care of than a gown." Liz smiled at the other girls. "It looked great didn't it?" They all nodded their heads in agreement. So it was decided that Liz would ask Orlando for the money when they went to dinner that night. "OK…enough about me. Do you girls like your dresses?"

At a little corner shop in the end of town they had found the perfect bridesmaid's dresses in a beautiful light peach color. Immediately, they all decided that this would be the wedding's color theme. The dresses were very simple but elegant. They had capped sleeves and a square neckline like the wedding dress, but they only flowed slightly from an empire waistline with a sheer over skirt that split from the middle going down.

"Heck yes!" All three girls chimed together.

Before they could say anything more there was a knock on the door. Allie walked over and opened it. Orlando streamed in wearing a t-shirt and jeans. His eyes instantly found Liz. He smiled and held out his hand.

"You ready to go?" Liz shook her head 'yes,' placed her hand in his, and without saying a word both of them walked out the still open door. The girls just stared off at their retreating backs and then burst out laughing not believing their eyes.

"How are you Allie?…Oh, I'm doing fine, Lando, and yourself?…Bye girls don't wait up for me…Bye Liz have fun…" Becky and Brooke just rolled their eyes at Allie's conversation with herself.

"Those two are so absorbed in one another I don't think they realize anyone else is alive when they are together." Allie stopped laughing.

"You know Brooke, I believe you are right. They're a lost cause when around each other." Becky spoke up.

"Well, at least they're happy. I think they compliment each other." Allie and Brooke shook their heads in agreement and then they all walked over to the couch. They sat down and stretched out.

"What should we do tonight? Now that the sap machines are gone." Allie asked.

"Why don't we watch a movie?" After agreeing on a Pride and Prejudice marathon, the three girls popped some popcorn and made themselves comfortable for a long night of the ever egotistical, but oh-so-hot, Mr. Darcy.

About 45 minutes in, the phone rang. Allie answered the cordless and grinned at once. Then without saying a word got up and went into her bedroom. Becky and Brooke just stared at each other and laughed at the giddiness of their room mate who now just committed the same sin as Liz. Brooke spoke up in an announcer like voice.

"And then there were two."

Allie lay on her bed smiling from ear to ear. She loved when Johnny called her unexpectedly.

"So how are you?" She asked happy that he was sober. Allie heard a chuckle over the line.

"To tell you the truth, I'm exhausted. But I just wanted to see how things were with you before I went to bed." Allie sat up and commenced to tell her fiancée about the events that happened that day.

"Liz is lucky to have a friend like you, Allie. You have a good heart. And just think…pretty soon that'll be you shoppin' for a fancy white dress." Allie was practically glowing at his words. They meant a lot coming from him. Changing the subject Johnny continued, "So Liz and the Whelp have set a date have they?" Allie told him everything she knew about the wedding until he had to tell her that he would probably hear it all from Orlando soon enough, so they shouldn't waste their time talked about Orlando and Liz. They talked for another 20 more minutes after that until Allie heard him sigh in the background.

"I'm sorry darlin' but I've gotta go. I've got an early call tomorrow." Allie was sad to say good-bye but she knew he needed his sleep. "Don't forget I'm coming up there at the end of this week."

"I didn't forget. I love you, Johnny." She said with all the love she felt.

"I love you, too. Good night, lass." Allie hung up the phone and her heart sang. It was wonderful having an agreeable conversation with him. It seemed like she hadn't had one in a long time. Too, tired to go back out to the living room, Allie got ready for bed. She laid in bed dreamily and whispered into the nothingness,

"I love you, Jack." Soon Allie was fast asleep dreaming of the special pirate crew of her favorite ship, sailing on deep blue ocean.

Important A/N: Hey everyone I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm sorry updates are far and long in between, but such is the life of a college student. Plus, I've kinda been on my own, Allie's been working on other things. I really don't know how this story is going. I can't tell if you all like it or not. I'm not getting as many reviews for this one as Forever Yours. So if you like it let me know I'm not wasting my time, please. I could be working on my homework and finishing this in the fall when I'm not in school. But I try to update frequently for you. Just click that little button below and let me know what ya think. Thanks. Lots of love.

Liz

P.S. I hope everybody had a great Independence Day!