Shane's smile faltered when he heard Antonio say those words.
"Sorry?"
"You're close to Mitchie and since I don't have much guy friends... I was hoping you will be my Best Man."
Shane narrowed his eyes, sipping his coffee slowly as he tried to work out this Spanish man's deal. "You do realise that me being close to Mitchie was because we were together, right?"
"Yes, I know that. I also know that my engagement to her won't be threatened by you."
"How?"
"Because Mitchie loves me and I highly doubt that she'd still love a junkie like you."
The middle Gray child scoffed, standing up and starting to head out of the Mess Hall.
"The answer's no, Delgado. I was going to do it as a favour for Mitchie but you're just unbearable. I'm happy that Mitchie's happy but you don't have to please her by including me in your cloud 9 bubble. I'm not going to be at your wedding."
Antonio followed him, gripping onto his elbow tightly. "You are coming to the wedding, one way or another and you are going to be happy for Mitchie. Happy that she's finally moving on from a lowlife like you whose life means nothing. You will see me and Mitchie have our first kiss as husband and wife and you are going to smile. She's so fucking perfect, she deserves the best and not you."
Shane pulled his arm back forcefully and dumped his cup of coffee all over Antonio before chucking the cup away. "Never and I mean never threaten me or speak to me like that again. Stay out my way and I'll stay out of yours. And guess what, you can't force me to go to a wedding that will never happen."
With that, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked off, leaving Antonio seething with anger and confused.
...
One thing that Peggy hated when they were teenagers was the tendency to get in the middle of Tess and Ella's problems.
"Ella? Why didn't you sleep in your bed last night?"
Ella looked up - a faraway look in her eyes. "Oh, I needed some space."
"Tess was upset. Kept asking for you."
The brunette scoffed, placing her head in her hands. "I'm upset with her too."
"What did you have? A big argument about who's a better model or fashion designer than the other?" Peggy joked.
Ella shook her head. "I'm just sick of the lies. The secrets."
"Wh-what do you mean?" Peggy stumbled. "What lies and secrets?"
"Peggy... You'd never keep anything from me, would you? Anything of great significance?" Ella asked almost timidly and childlike.
Peggy sighed, taking her best friend's hand in hers. "Sometimes, I'd have to if it meant protecting you or anyone else. Let me tell you something. This is the only secret that I'm keeping and it kind of made us drift apart from each other."
"What is it?" Ella sniffled.
"I'm grieving. My grandmother died just before camp started."
Ella gasped, immediately throwing her arms around her best friend. "That's why you were so quiet and reserved! I'm so sorry, Tess and I should have noticed and not picked fights with you. We also shouldn't have kicked you out."
Peggy brushed it off, glad that she had her friends back. At least one of them for the moment. "It's fine. I had Mitchie's tour take my mind off of things because singing was my passion, my safe place to go to in my mind. I didn't want to burden you or Tess with my problems so I left willingly. I'd never replace you guys with Mitchie and Caitlyn or even Mara. You're my soul sisters."
"You're my soul sister too..." Ella whispered. "Since we're back to being close and all... I have my own thing to tell you but you must promise me not to judge or tell anyone."
"I won't judge you, Ells or tell anyone," Peggy assured her, giving her a short hug for good measure.
Ella sighed, picking at her nails as she mumbled quietly, "I had an abortion,"
Peggy's eyes widened but softened immediately as she brought her friend in for another hug. "I'm here if you want to talk about it."
"I do but not now. Tess was really upset when I told her last night because she found the papers and then found out..."
"I'm not here to judge you, Ella. I know you had your reasons."
Ella nodded. "I did. But Tess hates me and honestly... I can't be around her either."
"Well, let's give it time and see where we go from there, okay? I love you."
"Love you too, Pegs." Ella sighed, tightening their hug.
...
Jason's eyes widened. "What are you doing back so soon?"
Nate shook his head. "As soon as we got to the airport, I get a call from dad..."
"What? What did he say?"
"Granddad's dying, Jason. And one of us has to inherit his estate. Preferably, you or me."
Jason's eyes widened even more as he sat back down. "What about the girls and Steve? Did they get off okay?"
"Yeah, Steve's pal is picking them up from the airport back in Honolulu. I couldn't go with them because we have to discuss this. With Shane because... he's being cut out of the will."
"Why?" The eldest Gray child asked. "Granddad loves Shane!"
"Well after his little drug stunt, Granddad thought differently about his Golden Grandchild..." Nate mumbled.
Jason shook his head, suddenly deciding that his cold coffee wasn't all that appealing anymore. "Nate... Forget Granddad for a while and be there for your girlfriend. She needs you and you run straight back here because of a little news?"
"About our family, Jase."
"And Cait's not your family? Not the woman you want to marry?"
Nate frowned. "What do you mean? I don't want to marry Caitlyn..." he replied cautiously. "Who told you that?"
Jason raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Shane told me. He found a CD labelled with 'proposal' on it."
The younger brother started to laugh. "Jase! I'm not ready for that commitment, yet! I don't think Caity is either. It's a joke between me and her. We put together our favourite songs and she joked that if I was to propose, I should play them so she was prepared to say 'no' as a joke. Jesus, you two need to keep out of my things."
"But you guys are so perfect!"
"Like you and Mara?" Nate smirked, crossing his arms. "Caity and I have discussed this. We're not even that intimate or experienced in our relationship. Heck, it's only been less than two weeks!"
The older brother nodded, accepting his answer. "What about going back there and showing her that you support her at least? Regardless of whether or not you two had a joke proposal."
"Yeah, I'm catching a flight this evening once I've spoken to Brown about stuff. Caitlyn's spending a week instead because it's the anniversary of Jesse's death."
"Oh... Shane told me about that and introduced me to Lana, his fiancée. He seemed like a great guy from what they say although Shane's never met him."
Nate nodded, sadly. "He was. He was Cait's everything before he died and she went into depression after. I know I have to be there for her but... sometimes, I don't recognise the man I'm becoming."
"Is the man you're becoming a good thing or a bad thing?"
"I don't know. I honestly don't want to set myself or Caity up for heartbreak. We've been best friends for over ten years and what if our romantic relationship ruins that? What if I ruin that? We can't ever fix ourselves otherwise we'd be like Shane and Mitchie, arguing every damn minute."
"You have to realise that we're all different and not the same, Nate."
Nate rolled his eyes but nodded nonetheless. "I still kind of feel like I'm not just tied to one girl. I get texts from girls that I've hooked up with in the past and I can't bring myself to admit that I'm taken now. I feel as if my relationship is too good to be true."
"That's because you and Caitlyn are forgetting the emotional stuff and are running straight to the physical stuff. Sex doesn't make things great, talking does. You both need physical love right now that you're trying to force that into emotional love and that is wrong. You have to talk and figure out what's really best for the both of you. Also, you have to will yourself into not cheating on the best thing that life has ever given you. She adores you, you adore her so forget about sex for now because I know you, Nate. You're a womaniser and when Cait truly sees you for that, it will ruin things. Just give her the hardcore emotional stuff and she'll be by your side as you will be by hers."
"Damn, Jase..." Nate mumbled, wiping his tears. "Thanks for making me feel like shit."
Jason chuckled, hugging his brother. "You're welcome, little bro." He patted his back for good measure. "Now, get back to that airport. We'll sort out our family issues when you get back - in a week with Caitlyn."
Nate smiled, blushing as he grabbed his bag and left. His girl was waiting for him.