CHAPTER 18

Sally's Brake Down

Diego was struggling; leading his sister toward the large, wooden, double doors, while weaving in and out of the mass of people. It was tough. They would be moving a lot faster though, if Sally were paying attention to what was going on. From the moment Diego took her from back stage to where they stood now, she hadn't unpeeled her eyes from that gorgeous, brunet bombshell…and his date. Although Sally felt she could choke on her own windpipe at this display of happiness and love that didn't involve her, she became mortified at what she saw next: Gracie was leading her honey out through the doors with hurried pace. Both looked excited and giddy, maybe even more so than when they were dancing, but it was too hard to tell under this romantic dim lighting. Once at the doors, Gracie abruptly stopped to prevent commotion and attention. She looked both ways, probably to make sure no body saw them, then she opened a door only wide enough to slip her skinny figure, as well as Jack's, through the door. There was a slight click as the latch caught when the door closed, but there wasn't a chance of anyone hearing that over all this noise. Sally's legs started to go weak.

Oh god, Sally's thoughts were urgent, they're…they're going to…to do…but they've only been together a month. Jack do you have no self respect! Can't you wait until your wedding night…the wedding night that…

Sally's vision became blurred. She started to feel a little dizzy.

…the wedding night that will never be mine…

That was the final thrown rock that broke the window. Sally collapsed unconscious on the floor. Diego didn't notice until the weight in the hand he was holding increased considerable. Diego turned back to Sally only to find her on the ground, her arm still extended in his hand. He fell to his knees and tried to wake her. Diego became nervous and afraid. He didn't want to lose another member of the Ragsdales.

"Sally? Oh god, Sally! Wake up! Wake up! What's going on?" Diego began to shiver.

The attention of the party-going-town's people was quickly drawn to the pair on the floor. Murmuring passed through each curious onlooker.

Diego's head shoot up to look at them. He franticly glanced around in desperation.

"Well don't just stand there!" he yelled, "Somebody get the doctor! Get Dr, Finkelstain!"

There was some movement in the back of the crowd as people went to fill Diego's command, but the majority just stood there, staring at Sally and Diego, dazed by the situation, and clueless as what to do.

Sally, limp on the floor and thoughtless, kept hearing the last line of her thoughts ringing in her head like an echo, except the thought didn't fade. It just kept replaying over and over again, the wedding night that will never be mine.

"Oh god," Diego moaned into his sister's hand as he clutched it in his palm, "How can her night get any worse?"

Suddenly, with a crack of lightning and a roar of thunder, the double doors bust open to reveal…