"God. I never knew I sounded so bad." At the time, Johanna was happy she performed at that music competition. But after Broadway, her performance as a child singer made her cringe.
"You kidding? It's because of this that you are on Broadway!" Julie was incredibly proud of her sister. "You put Sweet Valley on the map."
"You mean the Unicorns." Janet corrected. She didn't notice the knowing looks. Even after all that time, Janet hated sharing the spotlight. The VCR was showing thirteen year old Johanna singing 'Unicorn Rock.'
"Who cares!" Lila exclaims ignoring Janet's glare. "She won." Lila was incredibly jealous that time, Johanna was a geek. But even back then knew Johanna had a hidden talent very little people knew. "She's Broadway's sweetheart, raise a glass."
"To Johanna." Everyone says rising their cans.
Johanna blushed. Her younger counterpart blushing after she got hugged by the television host.
"Thanks." She said shyly. Her and Julie were here enjoying Brooke's bachelorette sleepover. They were flying back to New York the day after, Johanna wanted to audition for Wicked that was opening next summer. "What's next." So far they watched old videos from their days at SVMS, plus the twin's cheerleader competition in high school, especially that video about their former boyfriend's 'performance.' Brooke was laughing with everyone else, she forgot how crazy her fiancé was in high school.
"God I never realized Winston had nice legs." Jessica joked. He was wearing a red wig with his special uniform. "Todd and Ken aren't too bad either."
"Just keep your hands off." Brooke said playfully. She couldn't believe she never noticed him before. "God I can't believe I'm getting hitched."
"To Brooke!" Jessica held up her beer. "May her and Winnie have a long and happy marriage!"
"Here, here!" Brooke blushed as everyone drank, except Lila, Kimberly and Mary who were drinking apple juice.
"Thanks guys." All the former Unicorns were there, including her friends. She was having a great time, her bachelorette party was in full swing, especially after her sister delivered her wedding dress.
"No crying!" Lila begged. She was very hormonal these days, she already used up a box of tissues during the movie they watched. She wasn't looking forward to the next month, Billie and Mary told her it was downhill from there. "I can't be worn out before the wedding!"
"Sorry! But it's your turn next year. Mrs Patman."
"Ms Fowler you mean." Lila and Bruce were still undecided about their baby's name. Bruce wanted to keep his name, and Lila wanted to keep hers. Both were only kids. Bruce wanted to honor his parents, which Lila understood, she knew how much Bruce missed them. But her own name was important. Her father worked hard to give her a great life, especially during his humble beginnings. The name Fowler was treated with much respect, it was more well known then Bill Gates. "Well whatever you have planned, I'm registered at Sak's."
"Of course." Jessica said sarcastically. Knowing her, one gift will cost her a single paycheck. Not to mention her upcoming baby registry. "Enough about that for now, we ordered some entertainment."
"No! I said, no strippers!" Brooke been to a few, she didn't care for them.
"Relax! We didn't forget. Lila, if you please." She and the other Unicorns made a drumroll.
Lila smiled and got up, her small belly showing through her nightgown.
"Brooke, for being there all our lives, we want to raise a toast." She and everyone else stood up leaving Brooke sitting. "We love you, and Winston too. Despite some hardships we all had this year, (she nodded to Cara) we have invited a special guest. Ellen, if you please."
Brooke was wondering what was happening. When she saw her dad, she jumped up and ran into his arms.
"Daddy!" She heard her friends clapping. "I thought you weren't coming till tomorrow!"
"Early flight. I will never miss my daughter's wedding. Peter Jackson will have to wait." He hugs his daughter. "I'm not the only reason I showed up." He gives her a gift. "This was my grandmother's, she always wanted you to have this."
"Woooo." The room was in awe at the necklace.
"Dad, it's beautiful." It was a gold necklace covered in diamonds and rubies, and had a small emerald teardrop on the base. Brooke was staring at it with amazement.
"Something old, she always wanted her daughter to wear it on her wedding day. But since there was nothing but boys, she told us that her future granddaughter would be the lucky girl."
"It's perfect." Brooke loved it. Hmm. "Jess, you ever thought about Checkered Houses yet?" She auditioned several actresses, including that actress Jessica worked with, but she knew Jessica was perfect for the role. The script was done, the sets ready, production was about to go underway.
"When is the audition?" Once Brooke filled Jessica in, Jessica mentally wrote it down. This was her big chance to break it in the movies.
"Well, as much as we love your dad, no offense Mr Dennis, but we have a surprise for Brooke. Girls only."
"I understand." He smiles as his daughter. "I'll see you tomorrow.".
"Bye!" Everyone waves as he left.
Brooke was wondering what her surprise was, but when she saw who came in, everyone screamed.
"Dana!"
Grammy winning Dana Larson strolls in holding a microphone. After hugs and autographs were exchanged, Dana nods to Elizabeth to turn on the stereo.
"Congratulations to you Brooke." She missed Sweet Valley so much, as soon as Winston sent her the wedding invitation, she told her manager that she was heading home. She wasn't due to perform at London for a few more days, so the timing was perfect. "I was supposed to appear at the reception, but I wanted to see my friends get married."
"Thanks Dana." Brooke and Dana were friendly, but never best friends. But they did share the same circle of friends.
"Well, I wrote a song just for you. You ladies will be the first to hear it."
A slow ballad came on and when Dana opened her mouth, everyone started swaying to her song, "Soulmates."
When the song ended, Dana bowed as everyone clapped. Lila was crying. Brooke had tears streaming down her face.
"True love knows no bounds, the sounds the soul controls, soars like a dove. Never fading, always together." Brooke swooned. "Thanks Dana."
"Don't worry, a song will be written for you as well Lila."
"I can't wait." Dana's song was beautiful, although mushy. "You did bring your sleeping bag, right? We do have a dress code in effect."
"You know it!" Everyone laughed when she ripped off her trench coat, revealing a Justin Timberlake nightgown. "What? Justin is a fan of mine, he wore my face on his jacket last concert he did!"
"Have a drink, and relax. We're about to watch high school grad." Jessica pops in the tape.
Brooke and everyone sighed and reminisced about how simple being a teenager was. Looking around, Brooke was glad she and everyone else stayed close. She looked at her ring.
"Mrs Winston Egbert."
"You say something Brooke?"
"Nothing Jess." God, looking at herself walking across the stage, she never thought she'll be sitting at her bachelorette party getting married to her true love. She teared up knowing she was leaving for LA in a few days. She pushed the sadness down, this was supposed to be a happy reunion. She and everyone laughed out loud at Winston's walk across the stage getting his diploma.
"Typical Win." Jessica said laughing. He was wearing his grad gown, but ripped it off when he walked across the stage wearing his cheerleading uniform. When the rest of the male class ripped off theirs, the room was screaming. Almost every male classmate stood up cheering the 'V for Victory!' cheer, wearing SVH's cheerleading uniforms.
"V! V Stands for Victory! Give me a V!"
"V!" The girls scream.
"I!"
"I!"
The women scream along with the men. When they asked for Victory, the women scream "Victory!"
"To us!" Jessica held up her beer.
"To Brooke!" Elizabeth held up hers.
"To Lila, and everyone here! Cheers!"
"VICTORY!"
