Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize.
Author's Note: Wow I got a lot of good feedback for the first chapter so far. I'm glad everyone likes the first chapter, and I want to thank all of you who left reviews, and all of the alerts. It totally made my day to read all of your kind words. So thank you.
The Second Chance
Chapter 2: Formal Wear And Afternoon Antics
Juliet's POV
"So what about this one? This one is pretty." I took a gown from the rack and held it up for Allison, Kira, and Angela to see. It was a floor length strapless white gown with an empire waist.
"It is quite pretty." Angela said, tilting her head to the left and right, expecting it from different angles. "Alright I'll try it on." Kira, Allison, and I sat in the comfy white chairs in the changing room, and Angela came out to stand on the raised platform into from the mirrors.
"Well…?" I looked at her to try and gauge her reaction. Suddenly she smiled and turned around.
"After trying on fifteen dresses in three different stores, I think this is the one!" Kira jumped up and hugged her mom, and all I can think of was, well it's about time. "Ok girls, let's find the maid of honor and bridesmaids dresses." Angela went back into change and she handed the dresses to one of the women helping us, and we went to look for our dresses. Kira was the maid of honor of course, me and Ally were the bridesmaids.
As soon as I had gotten home from Tyler's the other night, Angela had immediately asked me if Allison would like to be in the wedding. I asked her and needless to say Ally was thrilled, and I thought of how nice it was that she was including everyone from school in her and dad's wedding. I mean how many people would do that? Not many.
"Oh hey what about this one?" I shook myself out of my thoughts and shook my head at the dress that Kira held up.
"Ew no too frilly." She put the dress back and my mind wandered to the guys, and I wondered how they were doing with the suits.
Reid's POV
"So how do you think the girls are doing with the dresses?" I asked from the changing room, struggling with the damn suit. Pogue and Tyler were in the room to my right and Caleb and Mr. Carson was to my left.
"Better then us I bet." Mr. Carson said, and I didn't doubt him. Dresses didn't have a million parts to them. Finally getting everything on, I opened the door and went to see how it looked.
Moments later everyone else stepped out and mimicked my movements.
"Not too shabby." Mr. Carson said and I chuckled. We were under strict orders to buy black tuxedos. Mr. Carson joked about renting a powder blue tux just to see Angela's reaction, and I told him if he did, she might call off the wedding. "So men, do we agree about the tuxes?"
We all nodded and a guy came over to let us know he'd ring them up for us. After purchasing them, we left and I got a text from Jules.
We're going to Sonsie for lunch. Meet us there?
"The lady folk are going to Sonsie for lunch, and Jules wants to know if we'll meet them there."
When I got a collective "Yes", I sent a reply to her letting her know we're on our way.
"So I hear you guys don't approve of Angela's daughter." Chris said once we all piled into his Ford Explorer, heading in the direction of the restaurant.
"Ha! That's an understatement. We know she's going to be your stepdaughter Mr. C, and no offense to you, but she could make Medusa cry." I snorted at Pogue's answer and Chris chuckled.
"Yeah she was a bit cold when I first started dating her mom, but she warmed up. So uh where is Sonsie's anyway?" Chris asked, fiddling around with the navigation system.
Caleb laughed and shook his head. "Take a left up here, then go straight for about five minutes, it should be on the right." Sure enough it was and we all piled out. The girls arrived a few minutes later and we got a booth in a corner.
The order went Christopher, Angela, Kira, Juliet, Me, Tyler, Pogue, Allison, and Caleb. Who knew booths could fit nine people.
"So Princess, what's your poison?" I wrapped my arm around her and she leaned into me.
"Hmm I was thinking maybe a veggie burger and French fries. Oh and a strawberry smoothie. Yum." I smiled at her enthusiasm over the menu and we all ended up ordering two large pizzas to share.
"How was tux shopping?" Angela asked us and Tyler spoke up.
"Chris got a powder blue one. We told him not to, but he wouldn't listen." Caleb, Pogue and I hid our smirks and the girls laughed as Angela started beating Chris and Chris was shouting that Tyler was lying.
"I did not get a blue tux, I swear! Relax woman!" Angela stopped beating him and turned her attention to Tyler, who couldn't stop chuckling.
"Not funny." She smirked, pointing her knife in his direction.
"I couldn't resist, I'm sorry." After lunch which included talk of wedding cake, reception location, honeymoon location, number of guests etc, I was in desperate need of something a little less feminine.
"Well I'm full." Jules said, pushing her plate away.
"Let's go for a walk." As I pushed through the crowded booth, I grabbed Jules's hand and we were trailed with a chorus of "awes". Jules laughed and I rolled my eyes at them.
Jules's POV
I thought it was sweet that Reid wanted to take a walk with me. He really is a great guy. Noticing the beanie on his head, I snatched it off, put it on my own head, and laughed as he mock glared at me.
"So where are we going?" I brought our clasped hands up and over my shoulder, so I has holding his hand and he was holding me at the same time.
"To a park. It has a gazebo which is holding a concert right now." He leaned his head closer to mine and kissed my temple.
We arrived at the park a few minutes and true to his word a group was standing in the gazebo playing violins and cellos, and various other string instruments. Couples were in varying locations, enjoying the sunshine, music and dancing together.
I laughed as he twirled me around and brought my body close to his. We swayed to the music and I smiled in contentment, laying my head on his shoulder. It was a slow song, very lovely but haunting as well.
"Go on a date with me." I looked up at him and his look was something I couldn't decipher.
"I was wondering when you were going to bring that up, oh and I'm leaving it up to you to decide what we do." I told him kissing his cheek.
He smiled and kissed me. When he pulled away I laid my head back on his shoulder and he tightened his arms around me.
"So after the wedding, how about we sneak away and have sex in one of the confession booths." I looked at Reid as if he had lost his mind and he laughed, throwing his back.
"It's a good thing I like you." I stuck my tongue out and Reid did the same.
"Come on Princess, there's something I want to show you." We walked away from the gazebo and headed down a path with cherry blossom trees providing shade. We ended up at a lake with ducks and swans enjoying the water. Sitting on a bench, I smiled as one duck swam after another.
"It looks like love to me." I said as the duck finally caught the other one, and in turn got splashed for it efforts.
"The girl duck has spunk." Reid commented as it quacked and swam away.
"You think so?" He nodded and I mused at how people and ducks weren't really that different. The boy duck wouldn't give up on the girl duck who was playing hard to get, much like people.
Reid's POV
As we sat on that bench watching the birds, I began to think of what I could do for our date. There was a carnival coming to town for the summer, and I figured she'd like that. Then I thought of how boring it would be just to pick her up and head over. I figured we could do something ahead of time. Smiling as a plan formed in my head, I noticed she was a hundred miles away, in her mind at least.
"Something on your mind Bookworm?" She looked up and me and smiled.
"I want cupcakes." She nodded her head as if she just made up her mind and hopped up off the bench. Grabbing my hand she pulled me until I stood up. "Is there a bakery nearby?"
"Yeah about a block from here. It's called sweet cupcakes." I cringed at the name, another thing that was a bit too girly for my liking. We went into the cupcake store and Jules had her face pressed up against the display cases like a little kid. Shaking my head, I gripped her shoulders and moved her back. "You act like you've never seen cupcakes before."
"They're so pretty." She said, and it's just one more thing that made the whole female population much more confusing. I mean how can food be pretty?
"What can I get you?" A short redhead asked from the opposite side of the display cases, putting on gloves to handle the food.
"Hmm I would like…a cappuccino cupcake please." Looking at the one she was pointing to, I told the woman to give us two. I paid and then we left the store to continue our walk. "Thanks Reid." She stood on her toes to kiss my cheek. Wrapping an arm around her waist I grinned.
"Not a problem Bookworm." I scooped some icing onto my finger and put on her cheek. Before she could wipe it off, I bent my head and licked her cheek.
"Ew, that's so gross!" She laughed and used her sleeve to wipe her cheek.
"You're sweeter then the icing anyway. Maybe I'll just take a bite out of you." I wrapped my arms around her and dipped her. Lowering my head I nibbled on her cheek.
"Reid! No stop that tickles." I smiled at her laughter, glad I could get that sort of reaction from her. Pulling her back onto her feet, I kissed her nose and grabbed her hand.
"So Miss Carson, think we should get back to the dorms, maybe take a shower?" I looked at her and she smiled up at me.
"Oh I don't know. Hey look a fountain! Let's make a wish." She dragged me over to it and I gave her a quarter. Closing her eyes tightly, she turned around, and threw the quarter in the fountain. Smiling she hugged me and looked into the water.
"What did you wish for?" I asked and something told me I wouldn't like it.
"I wish that we could go swimming." She smiled up at me and before I could do anything she pushed me into the fountain.
"You're going to regret that" I said as soon as I could breathe without breathing in water. Getting up I grabbed her and hauled her into the fountain. Her kicking, screaming, and laughing along with mine drew attention. Especially the attention of someone who obviously doesn't know what fun is.
"Ahem." We stopped and looked at the cop who was giving us the death stare. "Get out of the fountain." Still laughing, I stepped out and gave Jules my hand and helped her out. "Just what gave you the idea that you could go and-"
"Mr. Garwin! I'm sorry officer, It won't happen again."
"Ah Jeeves old buddy! Back as Tyler's chauffeur huh?" I joked, clasping Tyler's private chauffeur on the shoulder. He huffed at me and turned his attention back to the cop.
"Wait did you say "Garwin"? Excuse me sir, I didn't know. Tell your father I said hello." With that he nodded to Jules and left.
"What was that about?" Jules looked both confused and awed at the same time.
"My father donates a ton of money to the police force every Christmas. He must be a cop there. Huh, go figure."
"Mr. Garwin and Miss. Carson, you're friends thought I should look for you incase you got into any trouble. Which I see you have." He looked at me as If I lit a church on fire.
"Oh relax Jeeves, and I've told you to call me Master. Let's go Jules, to the car!" I grabbed her hand and we ran to the car. I opened the door for Jules, bowed and she giggled.
"Why thank you kind sir." After she got in, I went and shut the door. "Is his name really Jeeves?"
"Nah, his name is Richard, but I call him Jeeves just to bug him." I saw Jules start to shiver, since the sun had went down some and the wind picked up. I reached over and turned on the heat, positioning it so it landed on her, along with wrapping her in my arms and pulling her so she was laying against my chest. "Is that better?"
"Mm-hmm, much better thank you." I smiled and kissed the top of her head.
Richard had gotten in the car by now so I tapped him on the shoulder. "Onward Jeeves! Home awaits." Jules buried her head in my arm to muffle to her giggles.
"Don't be mean Reid." She nestled her head against my arm and I looked at her for a little while.
"I love you Bookworm." I said, lowering my head to her ear.
"I love you too Blondie." Jules grabbed my hand and I stroked her hand with my thumb. Before we reached Tyler's house, Jules and I had fallen asleep in the backseat, curled up on the seat with her safely in my arms. Just as it should be.
Author's Note: So I realized I hadn't yet put up a picture of Angela, so I will do that as soon I upload the chapter. Oh and pictures of the dresses, tuxes, and the cake for the wedding will be up too. Even though a cake wasn't mentioned, I'll put up the picture.