Chapter 18
"How did this happen?" I asked.
"Well," started Alyse, "on Thursday night we went out to dinner at Le Marios. A strolling violinist came up to us and Justin had him play "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You". Justin got up and started singing, and at the end of the first chorus he proposed and I said yes."
"And by the time we were done eating," said Justin, "it was really late, so instead of driving all the way back to the mansion we got a room at a cheesy motel next to the resturaunt. What was it called, babe?"
"The Sleep Inn."
"That's right. So we spent the night and then hung around town for a little bit, and then we came back here."
"Oh my gosh!" said Erica who had come to her senses. "So you're getting married here? Tomorrow?"
"Yup," said Alyse, "and you're all gonna be in the wedding."
"Oh my gosh! What am I gonna wear!" I said in a panic.
"Nat, you're so shallow," said Nadine. "Your friend is getting married in less than twenty four hours, and you're worried about what you're gonna wear. Natalie Merchant, you are insensitive and shallow."
"You're right Nadine," I said. "Alyse, what are you gonna wear?"
"I give up!" said Nadine.
"Well, I brought a white cotton dress, so I was just gonna wear that," said Alyse.
"Okay, but you need something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue," I said.
"It should be baby blue," said Justin.
"Yea, that's nice," I said.
"I have a locket that's been in my family for fifty years, today when we were out I bought a new pair of stockings, I have a pair of blue underwear, I just need something borrowed," said Alyse.
I thought for a moment. "Is this the white dress that you wore to Mike's party a few months ago?" I asked.
"Yea."
"I have a head band that would look so cute with that dress. You can borrow that," I said.
"Okay."
"Hey, I just realized something," said Nadine.
"What?"
"Allie will actually get to do a religious duty for once."
"Yea, that's right! I wonder if she does Bar Mitzvas," I said.
"Nat, I hate to break it to you, but you're not thirteen, you're not Jewish, and isn't Bar for boys?" said Nadine.
"I dunno. I just wondered if since she was a bishop if she did ceremonies other than Christain."
"I dunno either."
"Well, Nat, we kinda have to go," said Lance making not so subtle motions to the direction of the ballroom.
"Oh, yea! Bye all!" I said and followed Lance. True to her word, when we got to the ballroom Stdney was waiting.
"It's about time," she said.
"Sorry," I said.
"Whatever. Let's just get this over with so I can stand by the food table and not eat the refreshments," said Sydney. She was dressed in spike heels, a tight black dress, and she had her dark brown hair straight down. I saw the other models standing in a corner, and in a second I knew what their costumes were.
"You guys went as the Spice Girls?"
"We couldn't think of anything better," said Sydney. "Besides, some of their clothes are pretty cool."
"Whatever. Are you ready to go to the passage?"
"Okay."
"We have to make sure no one sees us go in," said Lance. We walked over to where the door was and waited. We watched the crown to make sure no one was watching us. Finally the right time came.
"Okay, here we go," I said and pushed the button that opened the panel. Sydney went first, than Lance, and then I went through and closed the door behind me.
"What should I do?" asked Sydney.
"Just sing something or talk to yourself loud enough so that he'll hear your voice and come," I said. It was really dark in the passage and my eyes hadn't adjusted yet, so I could barely tell where Sydney was.
"Okay, I'll sing. What should I sing?"
"I dunno, anything. Just sing loud."
"Okay, let me think," said Sydney. She was silent for a few moments. "Okau, I got it," she said and started singing. It took me a few seconds, but then I recognized the lyrics of "Never Is A Promise" by Fiona Apple. Sydney's voice filled the passage.
"You say you underatand, but you don't understand. You say you'll never give up seeing eye to eye. But never is a promise, and you can't afford to..." she sang, and then out of nowhere she screamed. I lookad at her, and as dark as it was, I could make out the shape of a man that had grabbed her and was holding her tight in his arms.
Chapter 19
The Dying Game
Megan's FanFic Oblivion
E~Mail Megan
