Plunk.
A deep, ardent growl arose from the back of James' throat as he furiously tossed another rock into the fountain.
Plunk.
"James?"
The man turned around to see his beautiful Katie looking at him with her big, brown doe eyes. Wrapping her thin, black shawl around her, the woman tiptoed quietly towards James.
"I thought I'd find you in the garden. Are you alright?"
"Absolutely peachy." He muttered under his breath.
Katie sighed, rubbing the smeared lipstick from the edges of her mouth as she spoke. "I'm sorry you had to see that. Tyler-"
"I don't care." James hissed.
"Listen- I know you don't. But I'm still sorry." Katie breathed. James had never been so cold to her before. What was wrong with him? "I just came to make sure that you were okay, and I-"
"You didn't have to check on me. In fact, you should go. Your fiancé is waiting for you."
"But-" Katie murmured, "I thought-"
"You already told everyone you were engaged. Do I have to be present for the actual dinner?"
"Of course you do! You are…like my brother." Katie whispered, forcing the word brother out of her mouth through gritted teeth. "It is important for you to be there at one of the most important stages of my life. I couldn't possibly bear it if you were missing."
James ran his hand across his silky brunette hair, sighing in frustration. "I'm sorry. It's just… hard to see you grow up so quickly. I needed some air. Please understand, Kate. I'll be there as soon as I… feel better."
The woman scoffed. "Since when are you so sentimental?"
"Shut up." James chuckled weakly, giving Katie another one of his charming smiles.
Giving him a teasing smirk in return, Katie reluctantly laughed. "I'll see you inside the restaurant, then."
James nodded slowly, grabbing Katie's shoulder before she could turn around and leave.
"Hey Katie…Do you love him?"
Katie froze. "What?"
"Do you love him?" James repeated, wincing as though the words inflicted physical pain.
"Uhm…Of course I do. I've been with him for the past three years."
"Do you love him enough to spend the rest of your life with him?" James inhaled, frantically scanning Katie's face for any sign of hesitation.
"I'm marrying him."
"That doesn't mean anything."
"James, I wouldn't be marrying Tyler if I didn't care about him. Duh." Katie forced a laugh, although she was not truly convinced by her own response.
Trying to ignore the lump in his throat that emerged as Katie laughed, James forced a smile. "Good. I'm happy for you."'
The woman simply released a shaky sigh. "Thank you, James. Now stop being such a drama queen and get inside. We still haven't finished our dinner."
"Oh, my little Katie is getting married!" Ms. Knight dabbed her eyes with her napkin, clutching hands with Jo as the blonde girl blinked back a few of her own tears. Ms. Knight still could not believe her eyes. She had honestly believed Jo and Kendall would be married, not her baby girl. She really could not help but to get all sentimental as soon as Katie had left to retrieve James. Kendall, on the other hand, was not as touchy-feely as his mother… or at least, not in "touchy" in the way Katie would have liked.
"I swear, if you dare lay a finger on Katie like that EVER AGAIN, I will make sure you don't make it to the altar. If by some miracle you do make it to the altar, you can bet your sorry little butt I will personally make sure Katie won't ever have kids with you. And I'm not talking about birth control. Got it?" Kendall hissed at Tyler, who tried to inch away from Katie's livid brother.
"Katie!" Tyler eagerly greeted his fiancée as she entered the room, wiping away the few beads of sweat that had emerged from his nervousness.
Katie groaned as she walked in to see her brother clutching the knife on the table, looking menacingly into Tyler's eyes. James, however, smirked as he sat down next to Logan and Carlos,
"Kendall, please stop harassing my future husband. You're making him uncomfortable." She frowned as she approached her seat, taking Tyler's soft, warm hand. "Whether you like it or not, I'm getting married. And I'm pretty sure that is no way for a best man to behave, dear brother."
"Wait…Best man?"
James nearly choked on his bread roll.
"Oh, sorry. We forgot to mention that Katie and I decided who's going to be in our bridal party. You want to be my best man, Kendall?"
Damn Tyler. James thought as he swallowed the remains of his roll. Looking at Kendall's stupid expression, he knew he had lost him. Traitor.
"Me? A best man?" Kendall's lips slowly turned up into a smile, beaming at the couple. "Yes! I'd love to."
"That's good news, then." Katie laughed. "Jo is the maid of honor."
Jo grinned at Kendall, kicking him lightly from beneath the table. Her blissful expression, however, vanished as quickly as it appeared. "Oh, Katie… I can't. I would never have time to help you with all of the preparations for the wedding."
James looked up from his plate, letting his fork fall with a loud clink. "We could help!" He bellowed, cause the whole table to turn and look at him.
"Uh… right, Carlos? Logan? Jo isn't busy all of the time. We could replace her whenever she needs to go to work."
Carlos squealed, "That's a great idea! Katie, we'd love to help you!"
"But Carlos…" Katie frowned. "I was going to ask you three to be the groomsmen."
Logan cleared his throat. "Well, that's even better. Now we have even more of an excuse to help you."
The woman's bright, lovable smile returned, making James press his hand against his stomach in attempt to stop the swarm of fluttering butterflies.
He knew it was helpless. He had only offered to help as another excuse to see Katie… but he had forgotten that he would be helping her with her wedding. As if the news itself was not painful enough. Why was James volunteering to harm himself further?
"Well, then. Now that the situation is settled, let us make a toast." Kendall announced, clutching a glass of sparkling wine. "To Katie and Tyler Duncan."
"To Katie and Tyler Duncan!" The others chorused, raising their glasses high in the air. Each pressed the glass against their lips, swallowing the liquid with great satisfaction.
The only exception was James, who merely sipped the wine. He could not utter those horrible words. Katie would never, ever, be Katie Duncan to him. If anything, she would be simply Katie.
Jo narrowed her eyes at James. However, he was looking at the newly engaged couple. No, Jo gasped inwardly. He was looking at the beautiful brunette as she laughed, slowly leaning down to press her lips softly against Tyler's mouth. James Diamond- for the first time in his life- looked completely and utterly… Pained. Heartbroken. Jealous.
Jo's chocolate brown eyes widened.
James had finally fallen in love with Katie, after all of these years. But it was too late.
Thank you weaselonfire, Daisy54254, Loganluvr and babyxgirl921 for your reviews! You guys are great. Please, feel free to tell me if you like or don't like something. I'm always willing to improve!
-Loreli