Chapter 16:
Twenty minutes later, at the Vanders' home, the ladies there were still going through a bunch of magazines when Angelo, Peter, and Caleb arrived.
"Why am I not surprised that you all are still going through those magazines?", Angelo questioned as he headed up the stairs to the apartment he and Irma shared.
"I only see three of you.", Will said as Peter and Caleb walked up to them. "Where's Matt and the others?"
"Nigel and Eric had to head home for dinner, while Matt went to his grandfather's pet shop to help him with some deliveries that were coming there.", Caleb explained as he sat next to Cornelia.
"So, what did we miss?", Angelo asked as he came walking down the stairs. "Can I sit next to my wife, Ms. Lin?"
"Maybe.", Hay Lin said smiling.
"Maybe?", Angelo questioned with a grin. "There's no maybe! Move your tussy!"
Hay Lin scooted over while laughing, giving Angelo room to sit next to Irma, who was looking through a magazine of wedding cakes.
"You picking a different cake?", Angelo asked as he saw the different cakes in the magazine Irma was flipping through.
"No.", Irma said. "Same flavor different design."
"Oooooo!", Angelo said. "I say we go for oval or rectangle!"
"I can work with rectangle.", Irma said.
"What flavor was the cake?", Hay Lin asked.
"Napolean.", Irma said.
"Napolean?", Susan questioned.
"They were three, three layer cakes.", Angelo began to explain. "The bottom cake was pretty big, while the one above it was half it's size, and the thrid was half the size of the second one. Each of the cakes had three layers. The bottom layers was chocolate. The next layers was vanilla. And the top layers was strawberry."
"And between each layer was whipped vanilla frosting.", Irma said smiling. "It was sooooooooo good!"
"We even had napolean ice cream to go with it.", Angelo added.
"Now that's a cake!", Peter said.
"I think there's a bakery in town that can make that kind of cake.", Anna said. "The size will depend on how many people will be there."
"That will depend on who can come.", Angelo said. "Cause, let's be honest. I don't think some of our friends' parents will allow them to come."
"Seeing as how their parents frown upon us being married.", Irma said in a British like accent.
"Yes! Yes! To right, my dear!", Angelo said in the same accent getting a few laughs out of the others.
"Well, you can count us girls in!", Cassidy said.
"Plus me.", Peter said.
"Same here.", Caleb said.
"You may be the only Best Men I'll have too.", Angelo aid.
"What's that suppose to mean?", Hay Lin questioned.
"Look, Hay Lin.", Angelo said. "No disrespect against Eric, nor any against Joel, Matt, Nigel, and Martin..."
"And Alchemy.", Irma added.
"And Alchemy.", Angelo said adding her to the list. "But, if their parents don't approve of Irma and I getting married, then they may not be allowed to come to the wedding. It sucks to think about but it's something we have to consider."
"I didn't think about that.", Will said.
"It's gonna suck if they can't come.", Irma said. "But if they can't come, we'll have to plan for that."
"But, hopefully they'll be able to make it.", Angelo said. "But if their parents say no, we've come up with a way for Matt, Nigel, Joel, and Eric to come."
"How?", Anna asked.
"Well, besides a DJ, we'll be needing a band to play at our wedding.", Irma said.
"One that we do plan on paying.", Angelo said.
"So who better than one we know plays good music.", Irma said smiling along with Angelo.
"Clever.", Cornelia said.
"We know.", Angelo and Irma said.
"But what about Martin and Alchemy?", Taranee questioned.
"People to work the camera.", Angelo said.
"So, where's the wedding going to be?", Anna asked.
"Well, we thought about it and if it's good weather, Shell Beach.", Angelo said. "But if it rains, a church."
"Let's just hope that there's no Guardian business to call us away before, during, or after the wedding.", Irma said.
"Well don't jinx it!", Will said. "That's the last thing you want to do.!"
"If it happens, it happens.", Irma said. "It's not like we can say, wait until our wedding is over."
"She has a point there.", Angelo said.
"Still, let's hope nothing happens.", Anna said.
"Oh we're hoping.", Irma said. "Believe me, we're hoping."
"Now, let's get back to planning for this wedding!", Angelo said said as he was looking through a limo magazine. "Hey! This limo looks nice!"
"Oh! We have to pick where we're going on our honeymoon!", Irma said. "I was thinking Paris!"
"I can go with Paris.", Angelo said.
"You guys are going to love Paris!", Cornelia said as she began to think back to when she went there during the Summer, when she was fourteen. "The city of love."
"But where are you going to stay?", Will questioned. "I don't think any of the hotels will let two teenagers stay in their rooms unsupervised."
"Will has a point there.", Anna said.
"Which is why we won't be staying in a hotel.", Angelo said.
"We won't?", Irma questioned.
"Nope.", Angelo said as he flipped through a magazine.
"Then where will you be staying?", Hay Lin asked.
"Okay. Let me ask yall a question.", Angelo said as he put the magazine he was flipping through down. "How do you think Uncle John got this apartment building?"
"You bought it cheap.", Peter said.
"Well, yeah.", Angelo said. "But there's more to it."
No one said nothing at first, but then...
"You guiys are rich!", Cornelia said after figuring it out.
"Give her the gold prize!", Angelo said.
"Leave it to Corny to figure out that you're rich.", Irma said sly smile.
"Don't call me Corny!", Cornelia said.
"So, how rich are you?", Elyon asked.
"Rich enough to have a little town house in Paris.", Angelo said.
"Okay. That's rich.", Cornelia said. "But I don't get it. Why keep it a big secret?"
"To keep money grubbers and golddiggers off our backs.", Angelo said. "Plus, we want to be treated like normal people. The only people, in this room, who knew about this are Aunt Susan, that Uncle John told, Will, and of course Irma. Oh! And Cassidy knew from when Gramps and Grandma told her when they were teenagers."
"And I haven't told a soul since you told me.", Will said with a proud smile.
"Like wise.", Susan said with a smile.
"Same here.", Cassidy said.
"And you didn't tell us why?", Cornelia question Angelo getting a bit upset.
"Didn't you trust us?", Hay Lin asked in a hurt voice.
"It's not that guys.", Angelo said. "It's just I've seen a lot of friendships get destroyed over cash."
"Such as?", Taranee asked.
"Okay. When I was about ten or eleven, One of my older cousins had a group of friends.", Angelo began to explain. "And they all were as close as we all are. I had hoped to have great friends like he did when I got older. But one day, when one of his friends needed some help with bills, he told his friends that our family was loaded."
"What happened after that?", Caleb asked.
"At first nothing. My cousin talked his parents into helping his friend with their bills and it was all good.", Angelo said. "His friends treated him like they always did. My cousin thought everythign was alright. But every once in a while, his friends asked him for cash to get something. At first he didn't mind, but soon..."
"They kept on asking for cash.", Peter said.
"Yeah.", Angelo said. "And after a while it kept getting worse and worse. Until one day, my cousin had enough of it. He told them that he wasn't going to be giving them no more money unless it was for something important. But after that day, his friends weren't his friends anymore. And all because of money."
"That's what money can do to some people.", Anna said. "It can do more harm than good to relationships."
"And that's why our family keeps it to ourselves.", Angelo said. "Don't get me wrong, I love you all like family. But after what happened to my cousin, I was afraid to go through what he went through."
"Doesn't matter to me.", Caleb said. "I'm okay with it."
"Thanks.", Angelo said.
Just then, Taranee gets up and punches Angelo in the arm.
"Ow!", Aneglo said as he rubbed his arm. "What was that for?"
"Never think that again!", Taranee said. "Rich or not, you're still our knuckleheaded friend."
"Kn-Knuckleheaded?", Angelo questioned.
"That's right! Our knuckleheaded friend!", Hay Lin said as she reached over and grabbed Angelo's cheeks. "Yes you are! You're our knuckleheaded friend! Yes you are!"
The others busted out laughingat what Hay Lin was doing. Once the laughing died down, some of them had a few more questions.
"So, when did you tell Irma about you being rich?", Cornelia asked.
"A little bit after Christmas.", Angelo said. "And that was because of two reasons."
"And they were...?", Cassidy asked.
"Well, the number two reason was because in January, Irma along with Will were in the the jewlery store where I got Irma's necklace from. It seems the guy who made the necklace was there and told Irma how much it cost."
"So I, being me, kept bugging Angelo until he told me where he got the money for it from.", Irma said.
"The funny part was, it was the same day I was going to tell her about me being rich.", Angelo replied.
"So, what was the number one reason you were going to tell Irma?", Elyon asked. "And it better be a good one."
"Oh, it is.", Angelo said as he held Irma's hand while looking at her smiling as she smiled back at him. "It happened on Christams Eve."
"I don't want to think about that night.", Anna said with a shiver. "To think about what could of happened if you wren't there to scare that man off..."
Susan then placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Just be glad Angelo was there, Anna.", Susan said with a smile.
"Besides, this was before that happened.", Irma said.
"Well, what happened?", Taranee asked.
"Well...", Angelo began.
Flashback, Christmas Eve around 10:08 P.M.
It was around 10:08 P.M., when most of the cookies were cooked, cooled off, and in cookies jars. Angelo was still at the Lairs helping Irma cook the last of the cookies while watching a marathon of Christmas shows and movies. Chris had fallen asleep on the love seat in the Living Room, leaving Angelo and Irma, who were laying on the couch, with a bit of peace and quite.
"He look so peacful when he sleeps.", Irma said as she looked at her brother sleep. "It's when he wakes up that scares me."
"And just think.", Angelo said with a smirk. "Tomorrow's Christmas."
"Don't remind me.", Irma said with a grin. "By the way, I love the necklace you got me."
"I'm glad you love it.", Angelo said.
"I just wish I had enough money to get you something.", Irma said.
"Being with you Irma, is present enough.", Angelo said as he held Irma close.
"Do you mean that?", Irma asked as she turned her body to face Angelo.
"Of course I do, Irma.", Angelo said as he looked Irma in her eyes.
Angelo then saw Irma's eyes water a little. With a warm smile, Angelo brought his hand up to her face and wiped any and all tears away with his thumb. Angelo then claimed Irma's lips with a kissed. Both of them had their eyes closed as they enjoyed their kiss. The feel of being with each other at that moment was bliss for them. Once the kiss ended, Irma looked into Angelo's eyes and tried to say what was in her heart.
"Angelo, I... I... I lo..."
Her voice was caught in her throat. Even after all they've been through, she was still scared of what he would say if she said it. And with all she's been through, when it came to guys, who could blame her. But Angelo took it in stride and calmed Irma with another kiss.
"I know, Irma...", he tenderly whispered to her in between another loving exchange. "I'm... in love with you too."
His fingers then gently brushed through her hair, putting her at ease. He then held her close to him as he continued to hold her close.
End Flashback
"Aaaaaaw!", the females in the room said after hearing what Angelo and Irma told them.
"Mind you guys, that was a girlfriend/boyfriend.", Irma said. "It's different now."
"We know that.", Hay Lin said smiling. "But you know, I wish we were there when you two got married."
"So did we.", Angelo said. "Actually, Irma almoet didn't want to get married. Part of her wanted to wait until we found a way back here."
"And what did you say?", Cassidy asked.
"That I was willing to wait.", Angelo said.
"But after a while I decided to go ahead and get married.", Irma said. "I missed you guys, but I didn't want to wait any longer."
"Well, duh!", Cornelia said. "If it were me and Caleb, We'd of done the same thing. And the wedding would of been beautiful.", she said in a dreamy voice.
"She's already making plans, Caleb!", Irma said as she looked at Caleb, who was turning a shade of red getting a laugh out of the other girls. "Better watch out!"
"Oh boy.", Caleb said as he rolled his eyes.
"I just realized something.", Taranee said.
"What's that, Taranee?", Will asked.
"Something Angelo said earlier.", Taranee said.
"What did I say?", Angelo asked.
"That your grandparents told Cassidy about them being rich when they were teenagers.", Taranee said.
"Then that means that, they both were from wealthy families!", Elyon figured.
"Yeah. So?", Angelo questioned. "What's the big deal?"
"Yes. What's the big deal?"
Everyone looked to see Kadma and Joe standing near the enterance of the Vanders' home.
A/N: Well, the others now know a bit more about Angelo and his family. Wonder what else there is to know? You'll have to read on to find out.
Please review.