(July 12)
The show must go on. How fitting for the situation. Despite the fact that their best friend just had an emotional breakdown, the wedding was going on as planned. Alyssa cheered up somewhat when she saw all the beautiful decorations. She joined Trista and Lynn in Julie’s dressing room.
“I am SO nervous!” Julie exclaimed, as she absentmindedly twirled a piece of hair around her finger. Lynn smacked her hand.
“You have no reason to be. You guys are best friends and are meant for each other.” Julie nodded. Alyssa slipped out the door to take a look around the hotel where the wedding was being held. Briarhurst was the perfect place to have an outdoor wedding. Alyssa held up her gown as she walked through the beautiful rose garden. Rose petals and floating candles adorned the pond next to the gazebo under which Julie and Josh would take their vows. The pianist who would play while Julie walked down the isle was setting up, along with the DJ who would play during the reception. The decorators were hanging crepe paper and sprinkling confetti on tables with pristine white tablecloths. The florist was putting up mixed bouquets of fresh and silk white carnations. Hanging lamps would illuminate the tents later that night at the reception.
Alyssa put her jacket down and sat on a bench, careful not to get her dress dirty. The preparations would go on all day until the actual ceremony at five. The sun would be setting by then, making it a starry wedding. Pictures were being taken in a half an hour, something Alyssa wasn’t looking forward to. Lynn came around the corner and sat down next to Alyssa.
“You okay?” Alyssa sighed, and picked at her ravaged nails.
“I guess.” Lynn nodded and looked out at the lake in the distance. The two friends were silent as each assessed their life and the problems in it. Alyssa stood up and picked up her jacket. “We should get back in there and get ready for pictures.” The two women went inside the hotel, to the lobby where the pictures were being taken.
“Ah! The last two girls!” the photographer exclaimed and they joined the pictures. That lasted for about an hour. After taking pictures, the girls decided to change clothes and head for the salon where everybody was getting the full spa treatment, and where Julie would get her hair done. Two hours later, the girls were talking as they got their massages. It was only two o’clock.
“I wonder what’s gonna happen on the honeymoon.” Taylor said, teasingly. Julie blushed.
“Have Josh wear a condom!” Trista chimed in. “You CAN get pregnant your first time!” The girls laughed, despite the seriousness of the topic. Trista had been doing exceptionally well for a teenage mother. Despite the fact that the Morgan children were fighting with their mother, Julie felt obligated to invite her. Alyssa remained quiet throughout her massage, only speaking when telling the manicurists what color to paint her toenails. Julie was getting her hair done in a elegant French twist, accompanied by a French manicure. Baby’s breath was added to Julie’s elegant hairstyle, and the girls headed back to the hotel after five hours of pampering. It was four o’clock when the girls arrived back at their hotel.
Julie went to her dressing room and the bridesmaids changed into their gowns. When Alyssa stepped out of her room, an entourage of males stood out in the hallway, waiting to see the bridesmaids all dressed up. Ryan look handsome in black dress pants and a crisp white shirt, his tux jacket slung over his shoulder. Alyssa started to blush as his eyes drank in her body appreciatively. The peach colored dress had no sleeves or straps, like a tube top, and flowed down to the floor. The clock was winding down and guests started filling the seats out by the rose garden, anxious for the wedding to start. The close it got to five o’clock, the more nervous Julie got.
“I can do this. I can do this.” Julie said, taking deep breaths and pacing around the room. The wedding planner came in a five till five.
“Everything is ready.” Julie nodded and the group of girls filed out of the room. A door to the garden would open and the bridesmaids would walk through, accompanied by the groomsmen, then the door would shut. When the bridesmaids were in place, the door would open again and the flower girl and ring bearer would come next finally followed by Julie, led down the aisle by her father. Alyssa took a deep breath and linked her arm through Ryan’s. The door to the garden opened and Alyssa and Ryan started walking. Sam and Lynn, Trista and Craig, and Taylor, walking alone, followed. Alyssa and her friends took their places and she stole a glance at Josh. He was wearing the same type of black tux that Ryan was, his blond hair slicked back, green eyes shining. Rachel, the flowergirl, came next, walked down by Julie’s mother, and the son of one of Julie’s friends was the ring bearer. The pianist started playing “Here Comes The Bride” and the mass of people stood up, all 400 of them. Julie, holding a bouquet of white roses, slowly started to enter the garden. Her dress was off the shoulder, tight down to her waist then flowing down to the ground, where it trailed behind her. A delicate rose pattern was embroidered along the bottom and top half of the gown. A medium length veil, covered Julie’s face but Alyssa knew that she had to be getting teary right about now. After what seemed like forever, Julie finally reached the gazebo under which josh was standing. The pianist stopped, and the priest cleared his throat before beginning.
“Dear Heavenly Father, we are gathered here today to join Julie Marie Holland and Joshua Matthew Ridgely in holy matrimony. Upon request, Julie and Josh have both written their own vows.” Josh cleared his throat, sure that he was going to cry.
“Ever since you came into my life, I have been blessed. Whenever you weren’t around, I wanted you there. Whenever we were apart, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. And now, when I think about sharing the rest of my life with you, I have this overwhelming feeling of happiness and fulfillment because, you are my destiny, and there is no one I would rather spend the rest of my life with.” Julie started crying but smiled as she began her vows.
“When I was a little girl, I always dreamed that I would find a prince who would take me away to his castle, make me his bride and love me forever. This is no fairy tale. You are my best friend, someone who I can run to whenever I need help, or need to cry, or need someone to just be there. You are my life, my soul, and there is no other way I would have it.” Josh wiped away a tear that slipped down his cheek, and tried to be manly about it, but the crowd caught him and a small laugh skittered through the crowd.
“Do you, Julie, take this man, Joshua Ridgely, to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Julie smiled before answering.
“I do.” Josh slipped a beautiful gold ring on her finger, on which sat five small diamonds, for the month she was born in.
“Do you, Josh, take this woman, Julie Holland, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do.” Julie slipped the matching gold band on his finger.
“Then by the power invested in me by the state of Florida, I know pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Josh lifted Julie’s veil, and softly kissed her on the lips, their first kiss as man and wife.
*********************
Dinner was held, after which the reception would begin, with fun and dancing.
“I would like to make a toast.” Ryan said, tapping his glass with his fork. He held it up and gestured toward Julie and Josh. “May your life be filled with much joy and happiness, and I pray that nothing will ever separate you two for I have never seen two people in love. May you live a long and prosperous life, filled with lots of children!” The crowd laughed, then Ryan got serious again. “I hope you guys have everything that you ever wanted. Here’s to Mr. and Mrs. Josh Ridgely!” Many people were anxious to dance and have fun, so dinner was served while the music started playing so people could eat or dance, whichever they preferred. The fast song that the DJ played started to slow down and “I Swear” came on. Alyssa took a deep breath and willed herself not to cry. Too many memories came to mind when she heard this song. Dancing with Brian Klein, crying on the bleachers, Ryan comforting her. Alyssa felt someone tap her on the shoulder and saw Ryan standing behind her.
“Dance with me?” He asked softly, extending his hand. Alyssa grabbed it and pulled herself up. Alyssa caught a whiff of Ryan’s cologne as he put his arms around her waist. Instinctively, she put her arms around his neck and they swayed softly back and forth. Alyssa wasn’t even aware that she was crying until she saw a tear drop onto Ryan’s white shirt.
“Lyss? Why are you crying?” Alyssa focused her gaze on Ryan and shook her head. The song ended and Alyssa pulled herself out of Ryan’s embrace. He made no move to follow her as she went back to her table. A few minutes later, Lynn and Trista dragged Alyssa out on the dance floor to do the Macarena. No matter how sad she was, Alyssa couldn’t help but smile and dance when she heard the Macarena.
“Go Lyss! Go Lyss!” Trista yelled, making Alyssa laugh even harder. When the song ended, Julie announced that she was going to throw her bouquet. The girls all gathered around her and waited anxiously for her to throw it. Julie counted to three and heaved the bouquet through the air. Alyssa caught it.
“All right Lyss!” Lynn said. Alyssa smiled and went to sit down again. As she drank her punch, another song came on, a song that definitely had a special meaning in the lyrics.
Don't pretend you're sorry
I know you're not
You know you got the power
To make me weak inside
****************
On the other side of the room, Ryan was also paying close attention to the lyrics.
Girl you leave me breathless
But it's okay 'cause
You are my survival
Now hear me say
I can't imagine life
Without your love
Even forever don't seem
Like long enough
Ryan sighed. The Backstreet Boys had always been a favorite group of Alyssa’s and he was sure that she was searching the lyrics of the song for a special meeting too.
'Cause everytime I breathe
I take you in
And my heart beats again
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love
********************
Alyssa couldn’t help it. The lyrics to this song were absolutely true, for both her and Ryan. Every breath that she took, everything that she did, it all came back to Ryan.
Everytime I try to rise above
I'm swept away by love
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love
Everytime Alyssa tried to move on, or pretend that Ryan didn’t matter to her, she felt, well to use the lyrics, swept away by the love she felt for him. It was the kind of overwhelming love, like Julie described in her vows, the one you could never forget.
Maybe I'm a drifter
Late at night
'Cause I long for the safety
Of flowing freely
In your arms
******************
At that moment, Ryan wanted nothing more than to go over to Alyssa’s table and kiss her for all she was worth, to lose himself in her arms. But......Alyssa was still fighting the battle she knew she was going to lose, the battle against her feelings for Ryan.
I don't need another lover
It's not for me
'Cause only you can save me
Oh can't you see
I can't imagine life
Without your love
And even forever don't seem
Like long enough
*******************
Alyssa had to fight hard not to cry. Alyssa wanted nothing more than to forget about the fear of commitment that had recently returned after her parents divorce, and to believe in love again.
'Cause everytime I breathe
I take you in
And my heart beats again
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love
Everytime I try to rise above
I'm swept away by love
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love
****************
Over in another part of the garden, Sam and Lynn were talking, trying to reconcile things, and gain back what they once had.
“I am so sorry Lynn.” Sam told her. “I was an asshole. You did everything you could to see that I was happy, and yet I still complained. I’m sorry.” Lynn nodded, looking down at the ground.
“I’m sorry too. It was always about what I wanted to do. But Sam,” She looked up. “From now on, we need to talk about our problems before it escalates to the point where we have a big fight like we did.” Sam smiled before kissing her softly on the lips.
“I love you Lynn.” Lynn bit her lip before kissing him again.
“I love you too Sam.”
******************
Alexia impatiently tapped her foot against the table, waiting for that God awful Backstreet Boys song to end. She couldn’t even figure out why she was there. Her and Ryan weren’t dating anymore; these weren’t her friends. Yet, here she sat, bored out of her mind and alone. She rested her head in her hands, praying for the music to stop. It was then that she was vaguely aware of somebody standing in front of her. It was Jean-Paul.
“Hello Alexia.” Jean-Paul said, sitting down in the seat next to hers. Alexia shifted in her chair before replying.
“Please, call me Alex.” She shook her head. “This wedding blows.” Jean-Paul chuckled.
“Are we not having a good time?” Alexia smirked.
“That’s an understatement.” Jean-Paul scooted closer to Alexia in order to be heard over the loud music.
“Perhaps you would like to go to dinner with me sometime. Would that help make this so called horrible night any better?” Alexia pretended to ponder the question, then replied.
“I would love to go to dinner with you.” And with her answer, the Backstreet Boys song stopped.
******************
Confetti rained down as Julie and Josh made their way to the limo that would take them to the airport. They were headed to Cancun for two weeks. After that, it was back to New York. The seven friends no longer needed to stay in Orlando. Alyssa herself was heading back to Paris at the end of the week. Alyssa stood, shivering in the cold that suddenly enveloped the night. This was the end. There were no simple answers anymore. And Alyssa was sure that if she waited until the end of the week to go back to Paris, she would not be able to walk away.
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