EJ glanced desperately around the private room of the restaurant, looking for someone who could bring him a drink. The rehearsal was an absolute disaster, which was both completely expected and a little bit panic inducing. Nini wasn't getting in until later in the weekend, so they were short a bridesmaid and every entrance and exit was thrown off. The officiant had to ask Big Red to speak up three different times, Ricky briefly misplaced BOTH ring boxes, and Ashlyn's hair kept blowing across her face and sticking to her lip gloss, resulting in a very audible "oh what the fuck" that nearly gave their grandmother a heart attack right there. There were enough theater kids in the crowd to know that a rocky dress rehearsal means a great opening night, so everyone was crossing their fingers the same adage held true for weddings.

Then again, these were East High theater kids… their opening nights didn't exactly have a reputation for smooth sailing, either.

EJ spotted a circulating tray of champagne and quickly grabbed one and downed it, while also practically begging the waitress for a whiskey and soda. He may be on the younger end, but Caswells develop a taste for whiskey early and often. He held onto the champagne flute just to have something to do with his hands while scanning the room for someone to strike up a conversation with, about anything OTHER than the shitshow that just went down at the venue.

And of course, he almost immediately locked eyes with Gina.

That same steely stare that had met him yesterday, unable to read her expression. He tried to hold her gaze, to not let her win this round. But rather than return her blank look, he gave her one of his signature EJ Caswell half-smile, half smirks. She quickly averted her own eyes, turning to chat with one of Big Red's cousins hanging out by the cheese display.

THAT certainly wasn't the reaction he was expecting. He knew he could be a bit disarming, even charming, but that looked like she straight up wanted to avoid him.

He gratefully accepted the glass that the waitress offered with his drink, and made his way through the crowd to talk to his aunt and uncle. Sticking close to family seemed the safest decision tonight.

After the speeches and gifts and rehearsal dinner stuff had been attended to, waiting for the main course to come out, EJ found himself with nothing left to say to the less than exciting great uncle he'd been seated next to. As much as he wanted nothing to do with reliving the East High days that his other friends were busy with, he couldn't take another minute of investment advice, most of which wasn't even any good. He excused himself to head over to the bar, looking for another whiskey to ease how awkward he was feeling.

He busied himself with his phone, checking his email to see if he'd gotten a response from the landlord in Boston with a move in date. He was so absorbed in his phone, he didn't notice that his absent minded shuffle sent him straight into Gina, who was just leaving the bar with a glass of red in her hand.

"Woah, Caswell, can you watch where you're going?"

Of course, he'd literally crash into her, of all people.

"Oh, sorry. I was checking in about an apartment, and-"

"Yeah, Ashlyn mentioned you were moving. Were you planning on telling me yourself, or is she now my go-to source on EJ Caswell?"

"I'm sorry, what? It's not like I know everything that's going on with you. We haven't exactly been talking lately."

"Yeah, I'd noticed."

"Why do you seem so pissed at me? We've barely spoken, what could I have done to make you that mad?"

"Exactly, EJ, we've barely spoken. You couldn't get out of Ashlyn's fast enough yesterday when you realized you were stuck there with me."

"That's not what that was, Gi. You know it's complicated, I'm just trying to… go with it."

"I thought EJ Caswell didn't 'go with it.' I thought he needed to know the plan."

"What is this, homecoming all over again?"

"Yeah, except dumping this red wine on your head might be even more satisfying, knowing how much worse it will stain that suit"

They hadn't noticed that their volume had been steadily rising, hadn't noticed the number of guests that were watching curiously at whatever was going down. They did notice, though. Ashlyn's firm grip on each of their wrists as she yanked them aside.

"Guys, can you NOT? At least not here. Like, everyone is watching you."

"I'm sorry, Ashlyn. This is between EJ and I, and it's a distraction that doesn't belong here."

"We- I didn't mean to steal your spotlight with our drama."

Ashlyn waved her arms impatiently. "I couldn't care less about that. In two days, I'm the one in the big white dress, that's more than enough attention for me. What I DO care about is two of the people I love more than anything being fucking miserable at my wedding."

"Ash, I'm not…"

"It won't be a prob-"

"Nope," she cut them off. "I don't want to hear it. I need you both to get out of here, sort your shit out. I don't care how you get through this, but get through it. And quickly, before the Caswell invasion continues tomorrow night with the welcome thing."

"We can't leave in the middle of dinner, especially after most of the room just watched us fighting."

"Whatever, I'll make your excuses for you. Don't worry, Gina, I'll make EJ the jerk. He's related to half the people here, they have to love him anyway. Contractual obligation," she added, giving her cousin a triumphant smirk at turning his own nonsense back on him.

"And what if the outcome to sorting out our shit is we can't stand the sight of each other?" EJ challenged.

Ashlyn waited a beat before responding.

"I find that highly unlikely. Now get out of here."

Feeling defeated, EJ waited by the bar for Gina to grab her purse and gift from the table before heading out to the car. She marched right past him, and they walked silently to his rental parked in the lot. Gina looked about how EJ felt as she dropped into the passenger seat and buckled up.

"So, where to?" she asked, glancing over at him.

He met her eyes and a familiar smirk appeared on his face.

"Risotto?"