"Are you going with us to the wedding?" Kat asked as they were getting dressed for the day's festivities.
Tanya smoothed out the skirt of her pale yellow knee high dress. "I actually told Adam I would pick him up," she said. She mentally noted Kat's white with pink flowers below the knee garb and Aisha's black and yellow cocktail dress and smiled unconsciously.
"You two seem to be getting back into the swing of things," Aisha commented idly.
Tanya shrugged. "I don't know about that. More like getting reacquainted, just like the rest of us."
"Just be careful," Katherine said with a frown.
She raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Just… maybe that you might still have feelings for him," Kat said cautiously.
Tanya folded her arms across her chest. "Why would you say that?"
"Well… how many songs on your last album are about him?" her friend asked defiantly.
Tanya blushed slightly. "So what? It's not like he wasn't a big part of my life."
Katherine shook her head. "Just be careful is all I'm saying."
"Yeah," Aisha chimed in. "It's all fine for now, but what happens when we all have to leave at the end of the week?"
Tanya took a deep breath, her eyes suddenly wide. "I don't know."
"Well, when were you planning on staying until?" Kat asked.
"I don't know," she said again.
"You said you weren't planning on staying long," Aisha reminded her.
"I guess I did say that," Tanya said. "I don't know, I guess I haven't really thought much about it in the last couple of days. When are you guys here until?"
"I'm catching a late flight tomorrow evening," Aisha said. "Back to reality. I'm planning on sharing a cab to the airport with Zack and I know Tommy and Trini are leaving on Monday," she added.
"I can stay until Tuesday," Katherine said. "But then I have to get back to work."
"Then I guess I have to leave by Tuesday as well. I'm not going to stay here without you," Tanya said.
Aisha shook her head. "I don't want to think about any of us leaving right now. Let's get to this wedding and have some fun!"
"Make sure you tell Adam to bring some clothes to change into," Kat said, throwing a pair of jeans into a shopping bag. "We're doing the bonfire on the boardwalk thing after the reception tonight."
Tanya nodded, hugging her friends and watching them slide into the jeep before she tossed her own set of clothes into the back seat of her rental car and headed off.
The way from Katherine's parents' house to Adam's house was very familiar and she drove around each turn intuitively, without the need of any assistance from the GPS.
It didn't take long before she was pulling into the driveway and knocking on the door, his mother embracing her fiercely and beckoning her inside.
"Tanya, darling, how have you been?" She asked excitedly.
"I've been very well, Mrs. Park," Tanya answered, eagerly returning the embrace. "How about you and Mr. Park?"
"My, you're as gorgeous as ever!" She exclaimed. "Exactly how long has it been?"
"Too long," Tanya said softly. She turned when she heard Adam's heavy footsteps jogging down the stairs and her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him in his dress suit.
"Look at you two!" His mom squealed. "And I can't believe that Skull, getting hitched right here in Angel Grove."
Tanya smiled as Adam reached for her hand. "Kat said to remind you to bring clothes for the bonfire," she said.
He held up his bag proudly. "We'd better go," He said, darting a look at Tanya that clearly said he wanted to leave before his mom broke out the old camera.
"Right, we don't want to be late. It was nice to see you, Mrs. Park," she said with a wave.
"You kids have fun! And tell the others I said hello."
"I will," Tanya assured her as Adam pulled her out the door.
"That was nice," Tanya said softly as she backed out of the driveway.
"Oh, yeah, it was swell," Adam muttered.
Tanya laughed at his embarrassed expression. "You clean up nice," she said, which only made him blush more with a mumbled, "So do you."
When they got to the reception hall, the lights were already dim and the wait staff was bringing out the appetizers. A hostess showed everyone where to go for the ceremony and Adam and Tanya moved to sit with their friends on Skull's side of the venue. They waved to Bulk, who looked happy and a little nervous.
Soon, everyone was standing to greet the bride and they watched the minister say some fancy words about love, the couple exchanged their vows and kissed and just like that, one of their friends was married.
The whole crowd erupted into cheers and applause and Tanya thought she saw Bulk wiping a few tears from his eyes. Then Rocky mentioned how hungry he was and everyone laughed and headed back to the reception area.
Tanya gulped, realizing that Adam was still holding her hand.
"We're sitting at different tables," he commented when they went to read the place cards.
Tanya frowned. "Well, at least I'm with the girls and you're with Rocky and Tommy," she said.
Adam dutifully walked her to her table and said polite hellos to Aisha, Katherine, and Trini before heading to his table, which actually wasn't too far away after all.
Kat hugged her tightly before they sat down. "That was a beautiful ceremony," she said.
"Her dress is so beautiful," Trini added dreamily.
After a few more minutes of idle small talk the DJ announced the bridal party and Bulk came clumsily through the door with his date. Another moment and everyone was hollering loudly as they greeted the happy couple for the first time as husband and wife.
Tanya stared distractedly as they shared their first dance together. She didn't realize how lost she was until the waiter was setting a plate in front of her.
Trini rose from the table to talk to Jason and Zack and Rocky, Adam and Tommy stopped by their table with their plates half full.
By that time many people had gotten up and moved to the dance floor and Tanya laughed at Aisha and Rocky's purposefully exaggerated moves.
Kat whined until Tommy agreed to dance with her and Tanya was folding her napkin on the table when she felt a tap at her shoulder.
Her smile brightened when she saw Adam. "Are you going to ask me to dance?"
"Do you want me to ask you to dance?" He asked. "I mean… um…" He sighed, holding a hand out to her.
She grinned, squeezing his outstretched hand and letting him lead her to the dance floor. They moved to the upbeat tune and Tanya glanced around and was amazed at how well Zack could move compared to their awkward swaying. Even Tommy was holding his own for someone who didn't want to dance.
Suddenly, the music changed to a slow ballad and their friends started pairing off.
Tanya looked up at him nervously, but he just pulled her in, placing a hand casually at the small of her back, the other clasping her fingers and holding her hand against his chest.
She smiled softly, holding onto his shoulder as they swayed to the rhythmic and romantic beat. She half wanted to turn to see where everyone else was, but she didn't take her eyes off of his face, studying the light freckles on his cheeks and his comfortable half smile.
The song continued and she leaned in closer, resting her head in the crook between his shoulder and neck. "Is this spot taken?" She asked quietly.
"No," he whispered. "It's still yours."
She closed her eyes, taking in his familiar scent and nuzzling into his well-toned arms. He tightened his hold on her, drawing her in close and she could feel his breath on her face as she looked up at him, her heart pounding when he tilted his head closer to hers….
Then Skull's loud chuckle rang in her ear and Adam pulled slightly away to shake his hand.
"Congratulations!" She said, throwing her arms around him first, and then his new wife.
Katherine, Rocky, Tommy, and the others quickly joined them and the DJ switched the pace to a much faster beat. Tanya rocked to the music with her group of friends, trying really hard not to think about what just almost happened.
