Chapter 14

"I can't believe you guys did that!" Jess hissed as she took her place behind Susanne. The church made her whisper echo louder than she expected, and she heard giggles being stifled behind her. Even Alex, who had slid into a pew next to the line of bridesmaids, was cracking a smile. She was just about to whirl around and yell at the others when the priest raised his hands to begin the practice again.

@*@*@

"Like I was saying," Jess began again as the five gathered on the steps of the church. The practice had ended, and after Jess' persuasion, the men had gone to get the cars while she had time to yell at them before the post-practice dinner. "I cannot believe you just left like that."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Susanne replied innocently. The others looked just as confused.

"Oh my gosh!" she cried. "I can't believe you're doing this! You just sneak away without any note or anything, and now you deny it!"

"Sh. Calm down, Jess," Betsy said. "We just thought you would appreciate some private time with Alex. I swear."

"Obviously." Jess replied. "But you didn't even say goodbye. You didn't even leave a note." The cars started rounding the corner, and she cursed their bad timing.

"Alright, we're sorry," Pam said. "We should have said something. But remember that we did manage to repack all our bags, throw them in your car, and then drive away before you noticed we were leaving."

"Don't make it sound like such a long time," Jess protested. "You guys defintely rushed. Your bags must have been a mess." They didn't reply; they left her to meet the cars pulling up to the curb. She ran after them, and was just about to open her door when Katrie pulled her arm.

"But how was it?" She asked, grinning mischievously.

Jess forgot her angry exterior for a moment and smirked happily. "Perfect."

@*@*@

Both families were sitting on their respective sides, the choir was waiting expectantly, and the wedding party was together. Well, mostly. "But that's what I get for having little children in this," Katrie thought to herself. "No need to worry, though. If they screw up, it'll be cute." The music started then, coming in joyously through the closed doors. "Oh my God! It's time!" She hurried to her father at the end of the line, flashing the most brilliant smile she could muster at her best friends.

"Oh, she looks so nervous," Susanne reflected. The doors opened in front of her then, and she remembered her responsibility of leading the ceremony. "I think I can relate." As she started nervously on her way, she couldn't help but think about her own wedding. That was supposed to be the happiest day of her life, but she had a feeling in a few months it would run a far second. She couldn't believe she had been so worried about her baby when she first found out about it. When she got home, Ash hurried her to a hospital to make everything "official," as he put it. Then he rushed her back to the restaurant to surprise her with a party to celebrate the abolishment of their smoking section. He said he wanted her to be in a baby-friendly environment at all times. She had never seen him so excited. When the doctor's phone call came on the day they were leaving for the wedding, she thought he was going to burst with happiness. Yeah, the concept of being responsible for a new life frightened her, but it also excited her, and her original reaction was a blurry memory.

"I am so glad Susanne had to lead us," Jess thought as she slowly left the doorway. "I would never be able to do this." A moment later she almost stumbled over her heels when she realized she was going to be doing this. Soon, if that date she agreed to with Alex was supposed to come this year. The whole thing had just snuck up on her. She never expected to become involved with the man, let alone fall in love with him. And now she was getting married? This wasn't anything like what she had planned for herself. She wanted it, though. He did too, she thought, despite their whole "icky predicament," as he tactfully coined it. Jess quickly scanned the right side of the church, and immediately her eyes fell on Alex. He was grinning at her, and she wondered if the gleam in his eyes was pride or lust. "Just love, leave it at love," she told herself. But her heart was pounding and her step had just a hint of a skip to it. "Well, maybe this wedding-thing is an option."

"Jess should probably slow down," Betsy worried. She stepped it up a little bit to make Jess' speed not stand out as much. A slight misstep reminded her of her tender ankle, and she slowed again to balance herself on her heels. When she finally made it to her parents' house, she had tripped over the step leading into their living room and slightly twisted her ankle. It was just the conversation starter she needed. Her parents were very helpful, almost smothering. And their pity for her pain made it very easy for her to tell them everything she had planned. They listened, amazingly enough. And there was only the slightest bit of tension coming from her father. They could handle it, she was sure. They'd better, after all the hours of worry and planning she had put into it. But things looked good. They even complained to her about George, much to her amusement. As she neared the middle of the aisle, she cast these thoughts away, though. Paul's cousin who was coming to lead her the rest of the way was exceedingly cute and, if last night was anything to judge from, lots of fun. The possibilities pleased her to no end.

"She's such a flirt," Pam noted, amused. "It's got to go in the book." She had been thinking about that a lot lately. This book was going to change her life, even if it wasn't a best- seller. Even if it didn't get published. She was finally going to fulfill one of her dreams. This decision was not logical, nothing like her at all. Her parents were going to freak, and she couldn't wait to tell them. She had finally left the old, predictable way of life she had followed for so long. For once she was going to be free to have fun and do what she loved, without the burden of work weighing her down. With that thought, she felt as light as air. It was going to be a whole new chapter of her life that she was beginning, and this time she would write it completely free verse. Taking her cue from Betsy and her new beau, she smiled very warmly at the man taking her arm just then.

"Eh, they weren't that bad," Katrie decided as she studied the flower girl and the ring bearer making their way to their seats. At the moment she was more worried about her father. Now, maybe she had this wrong, but wasn't it supposed to be the old man comforting the nervous young daughter, not vice-versa? Oh, but she had her own time to worry in Montana. It was not the time to be selfish. The music started. "Ah! This is it!" Her heart fluttered, and she felt on the verge of tears. But with that first step into the aisle, everything became a daze. She noticed the people staring at her, smiling and crying with happiness. She was more aware of her four bridesmaids reaching out to her with their proud gazes, and faintly responded to her father kissing her and pointing her in the direction of the alter. She concentrated on every moment of the ceremony as closely as possibly. The whole time the words "Katrina Stevenson" pounded through her head and she had to resist the urge to grab Paul and kiss him very fiercly. Things were going to be perfectly different from now on, and she couldn't have been happier.

@*@*@

"Um, dear, I'm supposed to lead," Ash reminded Susanne again. She looked up bashfully.

"I'm sorry."

"Again."

"I'm sorry, again," she repeated, sarcastically. To spite her, Ash whirled her around. Jokingly enraged, she attempted to spin him back. They traveled across the dance floor, fighting for control of the dance. When she finally succeeded, Susanne almost flung Ash right into Alex.

"Sorry, bud," Ash apologized. "I'll handle my wife." She scoffed as he took her by the waist and quickly led her away from Jess and the ruffled Alex.

"Did you hear that?" Jess exclaimed. "He called you bud! He likes you!" She shook his shoulder excitedly.

"Oh, don't worry, hon," he replied. "I'm fine."

She giggled and planted a kiss on his nose. "I know. You're so tough. Nothing can get to you."

"Well, I do have one weakness." In response to her expecting look, he drew out his explanation with a few quick dance moves, then pulled her close. "Cute, smart-ass computer nerds with superb typing abilities." He expected to get a kiss from this comment, and was a bit shocked when she pulled away and raised her eyebrows indignantly.

"So, you're saying you're seeing someone on the side!" she exclaimed. He groaned, exasperated, and simply stole the kiss he wanted so badly.

"Aw, the cute new couple, macking in the middle of the dance floor." Betsy's cutesy voice floated up to them from somewhere close by. Then, harshly, "Get a room." That made them stop their display of affection and burst into laughter.

Betsy appeared to their right, on the arm of the groomsman she had been eyeing since the night before. He didn't know Jess or Alex, but his face said he was completely enthralled with the woman clinging to his arm.

"You're just jealous, Bets," Jess accused.

She gasped at that, and turned to her current interest, "Don't listen to her, Jack. She has such a dirty mind!" Then she stuck her tongue out at Jess and led Jack away.

"Good luck, Jack!" Alex called, but then turned his attention happily back to his previous engagement.

@*@*@

"Paul, I've gotta tell ya," Pam gushed. "I love your groomsmen!"

"Anyone specifically, Pam?" he asked, mischievously. "Possibly Nick?"

"Oh, there's no fooling you, Sherlock," Betsy teased. "She's only been with him the entire night!"

"And what about your guy, Besty?" Katrie asked. "Where's Jack?"

"We sent them to refill our drinks," she explained. "I never knew these beautiful acquaintances had so many uses."

"I almost feel bad for them," Paul reflected. "But, no." He was about to say more, but the two men in question chose that time to reappear at their ladies' sides.

"A glass of red wine, for Pamella," Nick began, gracefully handing it to her with a bow.

"And a goblet of white wine, for Elizabeth," Jack finished, copying Nick. Both women giggled, completely won over by this flirtacious activity. Katrie and Paul looked on, very amused.

"Hey, a toast," Betsy suggested suddenly. "To, well, the bride and groom, and their incredible reception. May it forever be remembered as a most excellent beginning to a.." Here she paused and glanced at Jack to collect her thoughts. "Heavenly experience."

"Oh, girls!" Jess' and Susanne's sing-song voices screamed at them from across the room, and they watched as the woman ran over to their group.

"Stop getting yourselves blasted," Jess ordered, "And get your butts onto the dance floor. They're going to play our song!"

"Which one?" Besty asked, confused.

"You Don't Own Me, I think," Susanne told her. "We tried for the others, but they didn't know them."

"Who cares?" Jess exclaimed. "They're going to let us sing!" Betsy and Pam screamed happily at that, and quickly downed the last few sips of their wine. Together, the group scurried out onto the middle of the dance floor, and the band leader announced their presentation. Curious, the five men grouped together at the front edge of the floor to see what they were up to.

They arranged themselves so that Jess and Betsy were on one side, Susanne and Pam on the other, and Katrie right in the middle. This was something they had come up with years ago, during the times of college and the George-era. When the music started, they all started singing the lyrics, very loudly and pointedly. Little choreography accompanied each line, and their audience, though very amused, was also pretty impressed. They were oblivious to this, as it was something as natural as imitating Fred and Ginger in a living room. They spontaneously included their respective boys into the dance, and the whole group had the times of their lives on the dance floor that night.

@*@*@

"What are you up to?" Jess sauntered out onto the balcony, where Katrie had sought refuge for the last hour of her reception.

"Just thinking," she replied.

"About what?" Besty asked, timidly following Jess.

"Life," Katrie replied. "And how it's changed so much."

"Why are we disappearing out here?" Pam whispered loudly, poking her head through the doorway. "Susanne wants to know."

"We're talking," Jess whispered, even louder. "Just come on." The last two hurried out, and they lined up at the railing to stare at the stars.

"I mean, just think about it," Katrie continued after a moment. "When we first met, we were naive freshmen in college, and now we're celebrating at my wedding. I'm married."

"I'm pregnant," Susanne added.

"I just got back from Africa," Betsy reminded them.

"I'm writing a book," Pam commented.

"I'm engaged," Jess said.

"Nothing has really gone according to plan," Betsy said.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Jess protested. "We haven't really strayed that far from our master plan."

"Aha! There you are!" Alex appeared at the doorway, with one arm being pulled out of view on the other side. "Look, Jess!" He pulled back then, and a little girl they recognized as one of Paul's nieces was revealed to be attached to his hand. "We've gotta get us one of these!" He disappeared as suddenly as he came then, when the girl darted away.

"Okay, so I take that back," Jess conceded, giggling.

"Yeah, that's what I was saying," Katrie said. "We had everything totally mapped out by the time we graduated. We knew exactly what we wanted to do with our careers."

"We knew what town we were all going to live in, and what our apartments were going to look like, and when we were going to get promotions, and when we were going to settle down with out Mr. Right's," Susanne elaborated.

"And now," Pam continued for her. "We live all across the country, soon to be all in houses. Two of us are currently unemployed. Of the three who actually believed in Mr. Right, only one has found him. And the two cynical romantics are, or are soon to be, happily married. One of them is pregnant."

"And that wasn't penciled in for at least another two years," Susanne said.

"I never thought about that," Betsy said. "It's so cool how unexpected all of this is."

"It's bothering me, at the moment," Katrie admitted.

"Why?" Jess asked.

"Because if what we worked out so thoroughly isn't coming true," Katrie explained. "Then how do we know what to do next? Where do we go from here? How do we know what decisions to make to reach the same conclusion- happiness- that we dreamed of in college?"

"We'll know the right answers when we come to the questions," Susanne said. "We haven't done that badly as of now. No reason to think it will change."

"After all," Pam supplied. "We'll always have each other."

"And that's happiness in itself," Betsy finished. They all chuckled at that, but Katrie wasn't done with her point.

"Still, sometimes the unpredictability bugs me," she finished. A silence grew around them as the chirps of the summer's last crickets mixed with the jazzy chords floating out of the open doors.

Finally, Jess broke it. "Well, I like it." There were no protests.

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