"How the heck are we going to pull this off?" James frowned at Lucy. Lucy was supposed to meet Katie and Tyler at a tea shop to have some bonding time with the future Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, but the couple believed she would be going alone. James would be a little bit of a surprise.

Lucy adjusted the neckline of her simple black dress to show off a little cleavage. "How do you think?" She retorted. "I'm going to tell them that I have some big news. And guess what? You're the big news."

James briefly looked down at her hands along her collar, then shook his head and looked away. "You don't think it is a little weird that we are dating when you've only been back a couple of days? And do you HAVE to show off your boobs?"

"Hey, why not?" Lucy grinned, tucking her hair behind her ears. "Why must everything be so hard for you, Diamond? It is simple. We kept sending letters to each other over the years and when I finally saw you here- BAM!" Lucy slammed her hands on the dresser drawer. "Love at first sight!"

James simply glared at her.

"Do you have a better idea, lover boy?"

"How about I just leave and never come back?" James frowned.

It was Lucy's turn to glare at him. "Look, if you don't care about Katie enough to fight for her…FINE. But don't go complaining about it years from now. Now is your only chance. If she gets married, you are DONE mi amigo. I'll make sure you never talk to her again."

"But- "

"But nothing. The second Katie says "I do", you have lost any right to talk to her. Both Jo and I know how you feel, and you better bet your sorry ass that we won't let you near her."

James began to feel irritation towards the snarky black-headed woman in front of him. "I should still be able to talk to her. I've known her since we were kids and- "

"But you love her." Lucy snapped. "I know you wouldn't do anything when she is married, but it wouldn't be good for her to see or hear from you again. You can't just keep popping up in her life." The woman became solemn. "You can't keep breaking her heart, and confusing her. Either you fight for her now or lose her forever."

The brunette stared into her sparkling brown eyes. "You can't keep hurting her. It hurt me to see her suffer because of you all of these years, James. You broke her heart."

"You can't blame me for that. I never knew that she liked me." James murmured softly, his eyes shamefully on the ground. He felt like he was saying the truth, but still couldn't help but to feel the tremendous weight of guilt on his chest.

"That doesn't matter." Lucy sighed. "Whether you meant to or not, her heart ached for you and she needed to get away. And now that she finally moved on, you finally love her." She shook her head. "You can't keep going back and forth on this. It is now or never. Are you coming, or not?"

James did not utter a word, and slowly but deliberately took Lucy's hand. Lucy gave him a small, sad smile and gestured towards the door, ready for their first official date with Katie and Tyler.

Katie was shocked, to say the least. "Lucy!" She tried to smile at her bridesmaid, but only managed a grimace as Lucy and James approached.

"Hey girl!" Lucy, on the other hand, beamed at her petite friend, embracing her as soon as she reached the table. "How are you? Tyler, it's been years!" Lucy embraced Tyler as well.

"Why are you here with James?" Katie managed to nervously ask, gingerly hugging James as he came towards her.

"Well…" Lucy grinned slyly. "Why don't we sit down first?"

Katie raised an eyebrow, but wordlessly sat down next to her fiancé. James and Lucy quickly sat across from the couple as well, trading glances as they noticed that both Katie and Tyler were strangely silent.

After a few minutes of small talk and sipping tea, Lucy cleared her throat and asked, "Will you come with me to the bathroom, Katie?" Katie nodded and stood up, getting a weird look from James.

"Why do you girls always have to go to the bathroom together?"

Lucy shrugged, "It's a girl thing, I suppose." She playfully winked at James as she grabbed Katie's arm, dragging her to the women's bathroom.

As soon as they entered the room, Lucy murmured to Katie suspiciously. "Katie, is something wrong?"

"Oh, did you not need to use the bathroom? Cause I definitely do." Katie made a move to dash into the stall, but Lucy blocked her way.

"Seriously, Katie Knight, you need to tell me what's going on. You are never this distant during conversations. What gives?"

Katie pouted. "Lucy if you don't let me pee, I swear- "

"Stop it. You know you're avoiding the question."

Katie looked at her with big doe eyes. Lucy knew as soon as she saw that look that she was 100% right about something being wrong. Katie slowly and nervously drew a breath, as if she was hesitant to talk. Nevertheless, she still whispered, "Tyler doesn't want me seeing James anymore. That's kinda the reason I called you."

Lucy blinked. "What?"

"Exactly what you heard." Katie looked at her sadly.

Lucy stood there, wondering if she had heard wrong. "Are you serious? And you're going to listen to him?" Lucy crossed her arms, her face full of disapproval. "I never took Tyler for the controlling type. Also, ouch. Is that the only reason you called me?"

"No it isn't like that!" Katie cried defensively. "Of course I want you to help me with the planning, and- "

"What about James?" Lucy hissed. "Are you just going to throw him out of your life like he's disposable? I thought he was one of your best friends!"

"No!" Katie's voice began to tremble. "I just didn't want him helping me with planning anymore!"

"Why? Because your controlling fiancé asked you to?!" Lucy was outraged. "I thought you were better than that, Katie!"

"It's NOT like that!" Katie's voice was now laced with anger. "You know exactly why I shouldn't be around James!"

"You're engaged, Katie. Why would James matter if you obviously are in love with Tyler?" Lucy pointed out. "I mean, unless you aren't in love with Tyler and still love James."

Katie momentarily froze. Yet, she quickly regained her composure and huffed, "Of course I'm in love with Tyler. That's why I'm marrying him."

"Then I don't see why James is a threat to you or Tyler." Lucy said coolly. She paused for a second, wondering if she should say what she said next. But she did not give it a second thought and quickly added, "James is my boyfriend, anyway."

Words couldn't describe what Katie felt in that moment. It was as if someone had splashed ice cold water down her entire body, but she felt the ice deep in her heart. It was as if someone had slowly ripped their way open through her chest and grabbed her still-beating heart, squeezing the life out of it. And yet it was also as if someone had burned her at her core, for she felt an aching, stinging sensation in her entire body.

Katie looked at Lucy for what seemed like an eternity. Lucy couldn't help but feel uncomfortable, since Katie's eyes seemed to be piercing through her. Lucy almost shook Katie, to wake her from her trance.

But before Lucy could do anything, Katie whipped around and darted away without a word.

Hey guys! I am so sorry for the long, long break. I had the WORST case of writer's block and I finally felt inspired today! Sorry if I am a little rusty, but I will try to get better and write more :) I missed writing so much! Let me know what you think!

-Loreli