2 YEARS LATER
It had now been two years since Louise left. She goes to college part time, she's know a well known model, and has been dating a PR manager called Rick for 6 months.
Darren had formed his own delivery business and has followed Louise's career through magazines. Since they hadn't spoken since the day she left. He is currently single.
-------
Darren was sitting on a white uncomfortable wedding seat in the garden of the Carmichael plantation. He was so nervous he could hardly sit still. It was Jess' wedding day, Louise was bridesmaid, and he was finally going to see her again in person, instead of on the cover of some magazine. He had thought about her everyday since she had left, at first he tried to get over her, he'd gone out with girls in the past two years but he always compared them to Louise and now she was finally back, he was going to tell her, he loved her and wanted her back. He really was miserable without her, it had taken him two years but now he could finally forgive her for the abortion.
Then the music started, Ellie who was the flower girl walked down the aisle first then Louise.
Darren almost gasped when he saw her; she was even more gorgeous in person that she was in magazines. She had always been great looking but the two years she had been away had really changed her, matured her, she wasn't a girl anymore, she was a woman with the body to prove it. She was wearing a silk lilac gown that showed off all her curves and her blonde hair was partly down. Darren couldn't take his eyes off her at all during the ceremony.
After the priest had pronounced Jess and Dave husband and wife, the bridal party walked back up the aisle. The guests started to move, the guy in front of Darren turned to him and said,
"Hey, that Bridesmaid's cute isn't she?"
"Yeah she is," said Darren trying to be polite.
"Yeah, well she's spoken for. I'm Rick Walters, her boyfriend and I didn't particularly like the way you were looking at her"
"What? Her boyfriend" said Darren devastated.
"Yeah, so back off, okay buddy?"
Darren didn't answer, he felt as if his heart had been ripped out, she had a boyfriend, she was over him, she loved someone else.
At the reception Louise was catching up with her family and then she spotted a group of her old friends, she made her excuses to her Grandma and went over to them.
"Hey," she said to everyone.
"Hey, we were wondering when you were goin' come and see us," said Craig.
"Yeah, sorry I haven't seen the family in almost two years, well except Momma, Daddy, Jess and Ellie" explained Louise
"Hot damn girl those two years have been good to you. You look amazing," said Gordon.
"Thanks" laughed Louise a little embarrassed.
"Where's…" started Louise and then she turned round and spotted a drunk Darren, "Oh hi"
"Hi, how are you?" slurred Darren.
"Are you drunk?"
"So what if I am? What do you care?"
Before Louise could say anything, Rick came over and put his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.
'Darren used to do that. He always made me feel safe and special. But when Rick does it, it feels lumpy and almost as if he's showing everyone else not to go near me. It's just not as good a match as…'
Louise tried to pull away but couldn't Rick was holding on tight.
"Well here's Lou Belle's boyfriend now" slurred Darren using the old nickname he had for Louise.
"Do you know him?" Rick asked Louise.
"Yeah, well I thought I did" she answered.
"Yeah, Lou a person can change a lot in two years, especially after their girlfriend runs away cause'…"
"Hey man come on that's enough," said Craig.
"No, I haven't even started yet"
"Yes you have, Darren you're drunk go home and sleep it off" said Louise coldly.
Just then Cindi joined them, just the sight of her made Louise want to punch her. It was because of her Darren had found out about the termination. Louise also noticed that she still looked and dressed like a cheap tart.
"Hey Cindi, Lou here just suggested I go home to bed, care to join me?" said Darren looking at Louise not Cindi.
Cindi couldn't believe what she was hearing; she had loved Darren since she was 14 until he had dumped her for Louise. It had felt great to tell him about the abortion, she couldn't believe her luck when she saw her leaving the clinic. She remembered how frustrated she had been when she tried to seduce him, after she had told him about the abortion and he had knocked her back. He hadn't so much as glanced at her in the two years that that bitch had left.
"Sure" said Cindi without a second's hesitation.
Darren put his arm around her clumsily and led her away.
"Well I can see you've really matured since I left" Louise shouted after him then muttered, "asshole"
Katie had been standing watching the whole thing, she saw how Darren and Louise had reacted to each other and the way they at each other. She knew they were still in love.
-------
The Morning after the wedding, Louise got up early to run, well that was what she had told Rick, she really just wanted to get out of the house and clear her head. As she ran down the street she met Katie.
"Hey"
"Mornin'" said Louise, "Didn't know you knew this time in the morning existed"
Katie just stuck her tongue out in response, and then asked, "Where's Rick?"
"In bed"
"So… Jess' wedding was nice"
"Yeah her dress was gorgeous," said Louise
"Do you think it will last?"
"No I told that when she got engaged, getting married at 19 is a mistake, they'll end up in divorce court in a few years," said Louise.
"No, I meant you and Rick"
"Oh, I um dunno maybe, he's a nice guy and he adores me so…"
"But…"
"What make you think there is a but?" asked Louise.
"I just know"
"Okay, I dunno everything was great until we came here and…"
"And you saw my darling brother again"
"Yeah," said Louise miserably, "I don't know what's wrong with me, I thought that when I left I would leave all these feelings behind, but I didn't I've been carrying them around for the past two years"
"I knew it you still love him, I could tell as soon as you saw him"
"Promise you won't say anything," pleaded Louise
"I'm hurt you'd even ask"
"Sorry it's just complicated"
"I know and for what it's worth I don't think he's ever really gotten over you"
"It sure looked like he was over it last night," said Louise.
Suddenly Katie stopped walking and was looking at the house, they were standing outside of. Louise looked up and saw Darren, who definitely looked hungover, let Cindi out. Cini saw them as walked past and said cheerfully,
"Hi, lovely morning isn't it? Bye, call me later big boy"
Darren winced at blushed at this, and then he noticed that his sister wasn't alone.
"Lou"
"Good morning" she replied coldly
"I'm so sorry about last night, I was out of line, I acted like a total asshole" said Darren
"Yeah you did, but I guess I deserved it after…" said Louise.
"No it was out of order and all that stuff is in the past," he said
"Oh look what got into my bag last night, I'm so embarrassed" said Cindi appearing again holding up a pair of Darren's boxers not looking embarrassed in the least.
Darren blushed and snatched them away from Cindi. Katie looked away uncomfortably.
"I um better go," mumbled Louise then she took off running as fast as she could without appearing to be running away.
Darren stared at her go, he had been so stupid and now he felt as if he had lost the only girl he'd ever loved all over again.
Louise went back to San Francisco with Rick that night, she couldn't bear to be in town if Cindi was going to be all over Darren.