Disclaimer: All original storyline, and characters of the book 50 Shades of Grey, are property of E.L. James. No copywrite infringement intended.
Later that night as I'm getting ready for bed, there is a knock on my door.
"Come in." I say as I finish removing my make-up. Leslie enters my room, and sits on my bed.
"Hey, I'm just about to head home, so I wanted to come say bye." She says.
"Why aren't you staying?" I ask, because usually she stays the night with us.
"My parents want me home tonight. They used the whole we don't have a whole lot more time with you, so you need to spend it with us card." She tells me laughing.
"Did you guys set a date yet?" I ask, brushing out my hair, and looking at her in the mirror.
"We probably won't get married until the middle of next year. I don't know exactly when your Aunt Mia is due, but I don't want to run the risk of our wedding being the same day she goes into labor, so we'll wait until after the baby is born, but I want a summer wedding so we decided summer of next year.
"Not to mention I want to be 21 before I get married, so I can enjoy the champagne toast." She says.
"I guess that makes sense." I say, hopefully by that time I will have told everyone about Cavin and I by then, and they will have had some time to adjust to us being together, and he can go as my date.
"Actually I was wondering if you would be one of my bridesmaids." She says shyly.
"Seriously?" I ask in awe. I love Leslie to death, but I never expected her to ask me to be in her wedding.
"Of course I want you in it. You're going to be my sister after all! Not to mention you've become one of my closest friends.
"You were always the one assuring me that Ted wasn't going to leave me, and that he loved me more than anything. It's because of you that I had enough confidence to say yes to him when he asked if I would marry him.
"I know that our relationship hasn't been perfect, and I realized that I was blaming Ted for something my ex did to me. That wasn't fair to him, or me, and it was because of your constant reassurance that I was able to realize that." She says, and I almost tear up. Leslie has always seemed like a very confident person. I didn't realize she was so broken up by her past relationship.
"Oh Les, of course I will be a bridesmaid! Nothing would make me happier!"
"Thank you!" She says jumping up and hugging me!
"You're welcome." I laugh, and hug her back.
"So, have you talked to Alex yet?" She asks as she pulls away.
"Not really, mostly just told him there was no way he would get a second chance from me, and that he fucked up beyond repair, and that if he ever set foot on this property again I would have him arrested for trespassing and harassment."
Leslie looks and me incredulously. "Remind me not to get on your bad side."
"I just can't believe that I fell for it for so long. All the signs were there, but I didn't pay any attention to them, because I thought I was in love with him."
"I know I've never told you this before, but I know exactly what you're going through.
"My ex, the one I was constantly blaming Ted for, cheated on me too. I caught him in my bed with my best friend. I was so in love with him at the time I thought I was going to marry him.
"I knew that something was going on between the two of them, because they were constantly flirting, always finding some way to touch each other. I was just too enamored by him to see anything but the good, until I was forced to see the bad.
"I had invited them both over after school, told them that I had a tutoring session, and I would be a few hours late getting home, but they were more than welcome to head over and chill at my house till I got there.
"Well the kid I was tutoring ended up going home sick that day, so I just drove home. Both their cars were there, but when I walked in the house I didn't see either of them. So I walked down the hall to put my stuff away, and then go look for them, but when I opened the door I found him laying on my bed, and her sucking his dick.
"They were so involved in what they were doing that they didn't even hear me come in. I had to draw attention to myself before they even noticed me. They had the good sense to get out of their as quickly as possible, because I went crazy. I started throwing things, yelling and cussing at them, called them every mean name I could think of. They both got pretty lucky that neither of them were hurt worse."
"Oh my gosh Les, I'm so sorry." I say, because I never knew this.
"I'm okay with it now, because I know that had I never seen that I wouldn't have ever met Ted, and I wouldn't know what true love really feels like. So I guess what I'm saying is keep your chin up, because even if Alex seemed like he was the one, someone else will come along, and make you forget what he did to you, and how he made you feel."
"Thank you Leslie, and I'm so glad that you're going to officially be my sister." I tell her, hugging her again.
"Me too!" She exclaims, then asks, "So did I hear Ted call you Smelly Cat earlier?"
I start laughing and say, "Yeah! When we were younger our parents would let us watch the T.V. show friends. And the Phoebe on the show would always sing the Smelly Cat sound. Ted thought it was hilarious, and started associating me with Smelly Cat. It became his nickname for me, just like Teddy Bear was mine for him." I explain to her, smiling fondly at the memory.
"I was wondering if that was the connection." She says laughing too. "Well I should probably go say bye to Ted before I head out. I'm so happy that you agreed to be my bridesmaid."
"I'm happy to do it. Bye Les." I say, as she closes my bedroom door.
When she leaves I pick up my cell phone and quickly type out a text to Cavin.
Thank you so much for everything you've done for me. Thank you, simply for just being who you are.
It's sappy, and it's cheesy, but it's sums up perfectly how I feel. I hit the send button with a smile.
Leslie was right. Someone did come along to make me forget how Alex made me felt and what he did to me. Did that mean Cavin was my true love?
My phone let out a ding, letting me know that I had a new text message.
You are the one I should be thanking. You have given me so much to hope for. Goodnight beautiful, sleep well xoxo.
Goodnight baby. I text back then slip into a sound sleep, and I dream of the day Cavin and I can be together without having to worry about anything.
"Phoebe! Wake up honey! Breakfast is ready, and I have coffee for you!" My mom's voice says right by my ear.
"A vanilla latte?" I ask without opening my eyes.
"Dad made it no more than two minutes ago." She tells me.
"Yummy!" I say sitting up, and taking one of the two coffees that my mom has in her hands and begin sipping on it.
"So I was thinking that you and I could have a girl's day in! We can have a Nicholas Sparks movie marathon. Eat popcorn, do each other's nails, or we can have someone come here to do them for us. Just have a nice and quiet relaxing day at home."
"That sounds so beyond amazing! After shopping with Mia on Friday, and my interview yesterday, all I want to do I chill out."
"Speaking of which, how did your day with Mr. Blumm go yesterday?" My mom says wriggling her eyebrows.
My heart starts to beat rapidly. "Fine I guess, why do you ask?"
"Oh come on Phoebe I know you have a huge crush on him, and who can blame you, the man in gorgeous. I figured you would jump at the opportunity to spend a whole day outside of school with him." My mom says.
"Mom!" I say, flushing bright red.
"Lighten up! I'm just joking. It really is too bad he's your teacher though, because he is quite handsome."
"MOM!" I exclaim again, so not wanting to have this conversation with her. Does she know something about Cavin and I?
"Alright, alright, subject is being dropped." She says. "Come on, let's go see the boys off." She grabs my hand and helps me out of bed.
We go to the family room where my dad and brother are decked out in fishing gear.
"Are you guys sure that you don't want to come along?" My father asks, but he already knows the answer.
"You boys go have fun, and make sure to bring us something back that we can make for dinner tonight." My mom says giving my dad a kiss.
"Alright, you girls have fun, and try to stay out of trouble." My dad say, and with one final wave he and Ted are out the door.
"Alright, let's go make some French toast, and start this girl's day off right!" My mom says, and heads in to the kitchen. I help her a bit, but cooking has never been my strong suit, so mostly I just watch.
"So Janessa, and Renee are available at noon to come do our nails does that sound ok?" She ask me as she's on the phone with the nail salon.
"Sounds good to me." I say, and my mom schedules the appointments. She finishes breakfast up quickly, and she and I head into the family room again to put on "The Lucky One."
There's a knock on the door at 12 sharp, and two women carrying portable foot baths, and cases full of what I assume is assorted nail décor, are shown into the family room by Sawyer.
"You're 12 o'clock appointment has arrived Mrs. And Miss Grey."
"Thank you Sawyer." We both say, and then greet our favorite nail artists.
"So what are we doing today?" Janessa asks me, studying my nails.
"I'm thinking baby pink, with a gold ring finger accent, and rhinestones on the thumbs." I say, feeling a little bit girly.
"And for the toes?" She asks.
"Just the baby pink on the toes." I tell her, and relax as the foot bath begins to bubble around my feet.
An hour later both my mom and I are examining our nails.
"They're so perfect Janessa thank you!" I say happily, and hug her.
"You're very welcome." Then her and Renee begin to pack up their belongings and head out the door.
"I have one more surprise for you." My mom tells me a half hour later.
"What?" I ask, and right then there is another knock on the door, followed by Sawyer escorting two very attractive men into the room, both are carrying a portable massage table.
"Massages!" She exclaims.
"You're 1:30 Mrs. Grey." Sawyer says.
"Where would you like us to set up Mrs. Grey?" One of the men asks.
"In here is fine." She says.
"Take these and both of you can go get undress to whatever point you feel most comfortable. When you come back out we'll be ready for you." He says handing us both towels.
I head up to my room and strip down to nothing but my panties. I wrap the towel around me, and head back out to the front room, my mom hasn't come out yet.
"If you'll hop up here Miss Grey, we can get started." The other guy tells me.
I climb up on the table, and position myself facedown.
"My name is Ryker, and today we'll be doing a massage on your neck, back, arms, legs, and also your face. If at any point you are uncomfortable for any reason please let me know and I will adjust accordingly. Is it alright if I remove the towel now?" He asks.
"Go for it." I say, and he pulls the sheet up so the top of it is brushing my mid back, and he pulls the towel away.
I can hear the guy next to me giving my mom the same speech Ryker gave me, but as soon as he squirts the warm oil onto my back I tune everything else out.
This is exactly what I needed. Recently I have been so stressed out of my mind. What with it being my last trimester of senior year, applying for colleges, breaking up with my boyfriend, and dating someone who my parents would never approve of. I definitely needed something to take my mind off the stress.
All too soon Ryker announced that our time was up. I head back to my room to get dressed, and then make my way back to the family room where Ryker gives me my post massage instructions.
"Thank you gentlemen." My mother says as she shows them out.
I settle back down on the couch with my glass of ice water. I play the movie that we had been watching before the guys came in, and I'm asleep before my mother gets back to the room.
I'm awakened by my father and Ted coming home, and by the looks of it my mom had been napping also.
"How was your guys' girls' day?" My dad asks as he makes his way into the room and gives my mother a quick peck on the cheek.
"It was good. We pampered ourselves all day long." My mom tells him.
"That's what I like to hear."
"How was fishing?" I ask with a yawn.
"Good, really good actually. We got enough fish to last us for a month or two." Ted says.
"So I take it we're going to be having fresh salmon for dinner." I say to my mom giving her a pleading look.
"Yes I suppose we are." She says, then turns to the boys. "Bring one in and I'll start preparing it. You guys can put the rest in the freezer chest. Phebs will you help me out please?"
"Of course!" I say hopping up to help her out.
After the past few days it feels really good to just hang out with my family. All our lives are changing so much, so quickly that it's nice to get back to the basics. If only for a little while.
I go to bed that night, happy and relaxed. I realize that I haven't spoken to Cavin all day long, and I'm sure that he's missing me as much as I'm missing him. I decide to send him a text.
Sorry I haven't talked to you at all today. Mom and I had a girl's day, and I was a little busy. I can't wait to see you tomorrow! Goodnight! Dream of me!
I'm asleep before he has a chance to respond.