The main entrance of the Westchester Country Club was roped off with red roping, a plus white carpet leading down the entrance and into the grand ballroom.
There were flashing cameras everywhere, photographers taking candid shots of the guests, the food, the drinks, and the bridal party.
The open bar was packed with Massie Mule's and Twisted Tristan's, being the two signature drinks of the event. Massie was a classic take on a Moscow Mule while Tristan's was full of iced tea flavored vodka and bitters. (How fitting was Tristan's signature drink?)
Everywhere the guests looked, there was crystal dripping from the ceiling, pillowy white curtains making guests feel like they were in a dreamland of some sort.
Floral arrangements of white peonies flooded every surface, with classical music being played by one of Manhattan's best orchestras.
Derrick and Dylan worked the room with joy-filled fake smiles, while Massie continued to get ready in the power room with Alicia.
Tristan was already downstairs, schmoozing half of Westchester as Derrick looked on in disgust. William kept throwing his arm round Tristan's shoulders, telling everyone how thrilled he was to be having him as son in law.
"They aren't even married yet," Derrick snarled into his Jameson and Ginger.
"No, but to William and Kendra, they've been married ten years and are inheriting the family fortune. Oh, and the taj mahal."
"Got it. Where's Kemp?"
"Someone needs my services?" The sly curly haired boy popped up, pressing a kiss to both Derrick and Dylan's cheeks.
"Where's my actual boyfriend?" Dylan asked, looking around the room but not seeing Plovert anywhere.
"He's with Massie, trying to keep her calm because Alicia keeps throwing up, but that's neither here nor there."
"She what?"
"Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, it's kind of weird. Like, she hasn't even eaten anything, and she can't keep anything down. I wonder if she's sick?" Kemp thought out loud.
"Where's Josh?"
"He's with Tristan, doing what we asked."
"Thank God. Does he know she's sick?"
"I think so, but we all know there's bigger issues right now so he's handling Tristan the best he can."
"Good thing being fake is Josh's job, or we'd be so screwed right now." Dylan remarked, taking a sip from her champagne flute as Kemp choked on his bourbon.
BREAKBREAKBREAKBREAKBREAK
Josh stood in his fitted navy suit jacket, grinning to the cameras with his arm around Tristan. His burgundy red button down shirt underneath his jacket popped against his tanned skin, and the cameras loved him, per usual.
He was always dressed and ready, as it was basically his job. He could never be seen un-put together. Except when he brought Alicia to the urgent care fifteen minutes away three nights ago after midnight because she couldn't stop vomiting.
Josh knew that once the words 'pregnancy test' came out of the doctor's mouth, it was true. Something he had been hoping and (secretly) praying for for the past three years actually happened, and he tried to contain his excitement for Alicia's sake when they got the results, but he couldn't.
She was distraught that her body would be changing, that she might not be able to film any more segments after six months, that she could only do chest-up shots after that. Alicia was upset she'd be pregnant during the aftermath of Massie and Tristan, not able to really help as much as she wished she could.
Josh, on the other hand, was beyond elated. All he wanted was a little boy to teach baseball, teach how to dress, and just give his unconditional love to. He wanted a mini him for so long, that now that he has it, he doesn't know how he's holding in the news.
Now, though, he's standing next to Tristan, with a bright white grin as the cameras flashed over and over. Paparazzi were covering the entire entrance, Kendra really did make it a big event. Of course, it's probably the biggest social event of the year in Westchester.
William was on Tristan's other side, and it was so fucking hard for Josh to not burst. But, they picked him because it made sense. Tristan needed him on his side, so Tristan would be all buddy-buddy with him while the girls got everything into position. Tristan usually kissed Josh's ass, and tonight was no exception.
"That's such a gorgeous Rolex, Josh, you just have to put in an order for me." Tristan drawled, eyes resting on the solid gold timepiece in question. It caught the light perfectly and reminded everyone just what Josh and Alicia Hotz's social status was, and Tristan knew right away he needed it.
"How are you holding up? Nervous?" Josh asked, tilting his head to the side and removing his arm from Tristan's shoulder once the camera flashes went away.
"Oh, of course. You probably remember how you felt so close to your wedding, right? It's all just so insane, so time consuming. Massie and I don't get a good night's rest with all of the planning we have to do." He told Josh, speaking up a little louder for William now in the background to hear.
Josh raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure Massie and you haven't seen each other in a few days, though? You know, with the planning for this event and all?"
Tristan let out a nervous chuckle, raising a hand to loosen the top button around his neck. "Uh, yes, that's right. Massie said that we'd distract each other too much!"
Josh nodded, before offering to get him a drink since he was heading to the bar, and disappeared into the crowd.
BREAKBREAKBREAKBREAKBREAK
The to-be bride was inside one of the private suites. Her makeup artist Anise and hair stylist Jakkob just left, and she looked stunning. Her eyes were done up and smoked in black to match her dress she was currently covering with her silk robe. Her hair was long and flowing with added extensions, shiny and soft to the touch and cascading curls falling down her shoulders and back. She looked beautiful, but she didn't feel it.
She felt like she was on display, like she was something to be seen and admired but not asked how she feels, it's all about her and Tristan and Tristan's opinion mattering most.
Massie threw her black giuseppe zanotti satin wing jeweled heel at the door, taking great pleasure in the glass vase filled to the brim with white candies it brought crashing down with it. She felt like it was the perfect metaphor for her life.
A clear Waterford vase, with exquisite crystal detail, looking perfect for every human eye that sees it. Full to the top, almost overflowing with candies and sweets and all good things in life. Then, suddenly, some black cloud of darkness throws itself at it, and it all comes tumbling down. It breaks, it smashes, it crumbles into a pile on the ground and everyone just...stares at it.
No one tries to help pick up the pieces. Everyone just watches it, admires its beauty until it crumbles, then moves on to the next one. How is this the life she was given? How is this fair?
"Mass, c'mon, don't be like that." Plovert reasoned, moving to her and sitting down on the ground beside her on the floor while Alicia was in the bathroom throwing up her brains and the coconut shrimp she ate on her way through the set up with Massie.
"I know it's hard, I know it fucking sucks, but you know better than us that we all have to do it tonight. We all just have to bite the bullet, no matter how hard it is, or else this is going to go so far south."
"I know, it just...it's hard, it's hard to look at him, even be in the same room as him. It's so hard pretending we're happy, because I know that I'm basically lying to the entire room of people. There's people I love in there, friends, family…."
"Derrick…"
"I mea-"
"I KNEW IT!"
"Shut up Alicia!" Chris and Massie both yelled, and for a reply, got more puking noises.
"Anyway, I know, you don't need to tell me it, Mass. I just...we're all here for you, and all these people you love are still going to be supporting you while you go through it all. I just...I wish this wasn't your reality, but we're changing it. We just have to play the game a little longer."
"Look, I know no matter how far away you look, you see it. No matter how much you try to escape, you're still here. It's hard, and no one is denying that, but no one is also denying your strength and endurance and drive to do this to start with. I mean, he isn't a great guy, Mass. I doubt he ever was."
"He was, a long time ago. Before the money was that clear, before it was that...close to his grasp? I dunno, I really don't know why it all went so sour. All I know is I cannot let him into this family, he's going to destroy the one thing I have that's just mine."
"And you know that it's someone else's place."
"Yeah."
"Which is it's own conversation, which we ARE going to have after today is done, Massie. But, for now, it's the party and we need to handle this the right way in front of everyone. So we need to fight this, tooth and nail. We can't get frustrated and we can't get sloppy. We can't give up either, but as far as I know, Block's don't give up."
"You're right, Chris. You're so fucking right."
"Let's get you into this dress, then."
"Who's gonna check on Leesh?"
Chris sighed deeply. "I fucking hate vomit."
BREAKBREAKBREAKBREAKBREAK
It was seven o'clock, and Kendra took to the microphone to silence their guests while Tristan and Massie met behind the stage.
"You're wearing black?!"
"I can wear what I want. It's my wedding, isn't it?"
"Yeah, but black?"
"Yes."
Kendra began speaking into the microphone while the couple waited their queue.
"Thank you all for coming. This is such an important and special occasion for us, for now we finally have a son coming into our world! As many of you know, Massie is an only child. Now, we're blessed by the form of a future son-in-law to love like we would our own. Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me in a warm welcome to the newly engaged couple. Come on out, Tristan!"
Massie scoffed at how her mother chose to only address him, the one that's not even in their family to start.
Dylan's jaw dropped.
Derrick's clutch on his whiskey glass shattered the glass onto the floor.
Chris shook his head in dismay.
Alicia choked back vomit, and threw her champagne glass (that she wasn't drinking) to the floor in disgust.
Tristan smirked, offered Massie his arm, and led the couple out.
The look of dismay and pure horror on Kendra Block's face when Massie came out in a black and red sequin deep v-neck ballroom gown with a high slit up the leg was priceless, and Derrick was definitely getting a copy of it when the photographers printed it.
Massie air-kissed her mother's cheek, grabbed the microphone, and 'accidentally' crushed her mothers toes on her way to the center of the stage.
"I would personally like to thank you all for coming out for such a big….show, tonight. I hope you all enjoy it."
BREAKBREAKBREAKBREAKBREAK
By the end of the photos, Tristan was done. His head hurt from all the talking, his jaw hurt from fake smiling, and his hand hurt from all the shaking. Was this what his life was to consist of now? Money, parties, meeting new people and being around such gorgeous women? If so, sign him up.
From being involved in Massie's family and in Westchester for this long, he's pretty much gotten the unsung rules down pat. The man is the soul provider of the house, and can cheat as long as he gets his wife a new chanel. He and his wife are to throw tons of parties to show off their wealth, donate to the local private schools, and get a building named after them. He can do whatever he wants, because the woman has to obey him. He grinned at the thought, leaning against one of the outdoor walls of the country club as he was taking a break from the party going on inside.
"So you're Tristan. Congratulations."
"Uh, yeah, that's me. And you are?"
"Fisher, Cam."
"Awesome."
"Anyway, let's cut to the chase here."
"There's a chase?"
"Who are you, and what is your issue?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know you hit her. I know you do it often."
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Someone who knows the signs, and someone who knows your fiance. You better watch yourself, Tristan, because you'll have a lot of people coming after you."
"Where's security?"
"Oh, those are my cousins, so. Anyways, not to put a damper on this beautiful party, but you better watch where you put your fucking hands, bud. You touch her, you're mine. I see one bruise and I'm coming for you. Oh, and don't bother running to William. We go way back, he's basically like my adoptive father, and if you think he'd pick you over me, you are very wrong."
BREAKBREAKBREAKBREAKBREAK