The Wedding Chronicles
Acepilot

AN - There's a moment in the last verse of Nick Cave's cover of "Hey Joe" (on the LP "Kicking Against The Pricks") when these violins pick up over these scratchy electric guitars and a drum/piano combo. It earns my vote as one of the five best uses of a string section in the history of contemporary music. This chapter is dedicated to that moment.

Disclaimer - The characters of AGU are the property of KlaskyCsupo.

I've run out of excuses. I've run out of ways to procrastinate. I've run out of escape routes.

When I left London, Tim drove me to the airport and dropped me off with a sarcastic comment that he'd never see me again. I just grinned at him and shrugged. I don't know what I was thinking at the time. Maybe I would stay here. Make amends with my friends and family I up and left on. Find a new band, diplomatically part ways with the old one. Nathan could finally get his dream of playing with The Novocaine Mutiny.

But now I'm standing in the Airport with my only luggage - an overnight bag and my acoustic guitar - and I realize that everything I've done to this moment has been a delaying tactic. Delaying seeing everyone again. Delaying being a part of this world again.

And now, there's no more delays.

My sister sees me first. I see her first, too. Before I notice Chuckie and Angelica who maintain a respectful distance as we hug, seeing each other for the first time since our birthday. She's got tears in her eyes and they leak onto my shoulder. "I missed you, you big oaf."

I grin. "Well, don't I feel loved."

She shakes her head and leans back to look at me. "I just can't believe you came back."

I manage to look taken aback at that. But she's right. I can't believe I came back either. "Whatever do you mean?"

She frowns at me in pity. "Just...you know...I mean, I totally don't blame you for running away -"

All the happiness and mirth in my face leaves as quickly as it arrived. "I didn't run away."

She smiles softly, almost patronisingly at me. "Phil, it's me -"

"I didn't run away," I cut her off again. This time leaving no room for argument.

She nods. "You didn't run away."

"Come on," I tell her, grabbing my guitar. "Let's go grab Chuckie and Angelica and go to wherever the hell it is I'm staying."

She nods. She's rattled by our little exchange but doesn't drop her loving hand from my arm. Perhaps the greatest thing about my sister is her willingness to forgive. I wouldn't have gotten through on love alone.

"You got into town last," she tells me, "so I'm afraid pretty much everywhere is booked up. We couldn't squeeze you in anywhere. So Suzie, Chuckie, Angelica and I have all pitched in to get you a hotel room."

I shake my head. "That's not necessary. I can pay."

She glares at me briefly. "When you find out where you're staying, you'll know why the four of us split the bill."

Ah. "Okay, sure."

And we're within striking distance of Chuckie and Angelica. For the first time since I left four years ago, I'm actually standing toe-to-toe with two of my oldest friends.

So Chuckie and I share a brief, manly hug, at which Angelica barks out a laugh. I turn to her. "Hey, Angie. How've you been?"

She nods. "Better than when you left."

"Good," I tell her. "So, what's on the itinerary?"

"We're going to take you to the hotel, so you can make up some sleep, then we're going to the party." Chuckie looks me up and down. "If you're up for it."

"I'm up for it," I assure him. "I'm up for it."

Angelica and Chuckie share a concerned glance, but I disregard it.

"Alright then. Let's go."

alright, really short chapter, i know. it's a start. just to establish everything. chapter two was posted simultaneously with this, so it'll make more sense, hopefully.