Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
One Month Later
The restaurant was filling up quickly with guests from both sides of the family. The groom looked extra plump and very red in the face because of the hot tight suit “Is he drunk?” Jenna whispered to Erin, who was sitting by the sign-in table. She was the maid of honor for Eve, since she didn’t have another other single friends.
“No, the suit is a just a little tight.” Erin glanced up and looked down at the red envelope as she kept track of who gave what “Cheapskate.” She muttered at the unrecognizable man that gave only fifty dollars.
“Who are all these people?” Jenna smiled at a woman and man that walked in wearing jeans and matching white print shirts.
“I have no idea.” Erin shrugged.
“Chucky!!!” Doug exclaimed as he came with Jessie on his arm. The men hugged laughing while Jessie nodded politely at Eve and congratulating her “Don’t worry, I got your back.” He whispered “I have a getaway car if you feel the sudden urge…”
“Ahem!” Eve cleared her throat with a sweet smile towards Doug.
“I’m kidding.” Doug laughed, “You are one lucky man.” He said to Chuck but the second Eve turned away, he whispered, “I’m here for you.” Patting him on the back, he walked over to the sign in table with Jessie “Hi kid.” He nodded to Jenna “So, where am I sitting?”
“Besides hell?” Jenna said casually as she checked the seating number for him.
“Still mad?” Doug asked, “You punched me!” he exclaimed.
Jenna wasn’t willing to forgive and forget without giving him a hard time “I was aiming for the lower portion.” She said evilly. Erin shook her head at the girl and pushed the book for the two to sign in. Doug reluctantly took the pen and signed in.
“Even I forgave him.” Jessie pointed out.
“Yeah!” Doug chimed in.
“I’d forgive you too if I wanted to get into your pants!” Jenna smirked.
Doug dropped his jaw “Jenna!”
Jessie laughed instead of getting mad, she nudged him and gave him a slight wink “It’s true though.” Walking away, she swung her hips purposely causing her dress to slink here and there.
Jenna turned to Doug “How you got her…is beside me.” She waved him away.
“Erin, I need you in the picture!” Eve called as she waved her over.
“What is with this superstitious thing that three people can’t be in the same picture together?” Erin asked Jenna before getting up and smoothing out her sky blue lace and satin dress. It showed off her bare back and fitted her waist as it dropped around her legs to the ground. She posed and smiled for the camera. But before she had a chance to return to her hideout, another single guest came in.
Matt wrapped an arm around Devin’s shoulder “Beautiful isn’t she?”
“Yeah.” Devin glanced briefly and turned back to Matt with suspicion “What do you want to say?”
“Nothing, just ask your heart.” Matt hinted.
Reina crossed her arms with a smile “It’s never too late.”
“I have a girlfriend.” Devin reminded them.
“Are you going to marry her?” Matt asked straightforwardly.
“No.” he answered without thinking twice.
Reina raised her brows “Then why are you with her?” Devin turned to the floor as he too began to contemplate the question “I’ll see you later sweetie.” She turned her face up to kiss Matt on the cheek. He was the best man for Chuck, who wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Chucky!!!” Mia’s shrill laughter was recognizable as she walked through the front door and hugged Chuck wildly “Lost some weight huh?” she patted his still round tummy.
“Really? See, I told you!” he nudged his new bride with a laugh.
Darren laughed as he hugged the plump groom “You still fall for it every time. Congrats, we’re all very happy for you.” He said sincerely.
“Uncle Chuck!” Bonnie raised her arms to be picked up.
Chuck picked up the bundle of joy in the pink dress “Don’t you look cute. Way cuter than your mom.” Mia’s smile dropped as she rolled her eyes away. She caught Erin’s eye and quickly moved away towards the table.
“Hi girls.” Mia sang sweetly.
Erin turned to Jenna “Uh oh, that’s not a good hello. She wants something, run…run for your life.” She whispered.
“I resent that!” she said defensively.
Erin let out a sigh “Mia, I can read you from a mile away. It took years of practice, but I can totally tell when you want something.”
“Just for that comment, I’m not going to tell you what I found out about someone.” Mia crossed her arms stubbornly.
Jenna grinned while Erin nodded “Okay. Please sign in and Jenna will show you to your table.”
“Erin!” Mia whined as she scribbled a picture in place of her name. Jenna looked at her strangely “He’ll understand.” She insisted, “Just ask me.” She pushed Erin again.
“No.” Erin replied shortly “What table.”
“Ten.” Jenna pointed inside “It’s the same table as Jessie and that guy.”
“Still mad?” Mia turned to see Darren walking over with Bonnie.
“Mad is too nice of a word.” Jenna smiled sweetly at the little girl next to Darren “Hi Bonnie.”
She waved to Jenna shyly “Come on, let’s sit down before Doug drinks all the good booze.” Mia began pulling at Darren and picked up Bonnie with one arm.
Jenna began laughing while Darren scratched his head “Why I married her still remains a mystery.” He laughed when she decided to abandon him while running towards Doug screaming for him to not drink all the booze.
“Where’s Ryan? I haven’t seen him yet.” Erin pointed out.
“He’s running an errand for me.” Jenna said mysteriously. At the mention of him, Ryan came strolling into the restaurant looking rushed. He slowed down his pace and approached the table with his hands behind his back “Did you find it?”
He shook his head with puppy eyes “I ran down ten blocks. Maybe he was closed for the night?”
Jenna was obviously disappointed when her face fell “It’s okay, maybe tomorrow night.”
Ryan smiled as he pulled around his back the brown paper back stained with grease “I’m kidding.”
“You found it!!” she grabbed the bag from his hand with a bright face “You’re the best, Ryan!”
“What is that?” Erin asked curiously.
“Only the best snack within the whole city!” Jenna mixed the contents in the bag and took the toothpick Ryan gave her as she devoured the slimy food.
Erin winced disgustedly “Can you take that somewhere else? The smell is awful.”
“Fine. Some people can’t enjoy good food.” She walked to her table to Ryan.
When the guests were seated the wedding reception began to take place. Erin and Matt were introduced and eventually seated at their own table. Before she took her seat next to Mia, she found Luke and Carmen rushing into the restaurant, dodging the tables “A little early aren’t you?”
Luke was apologetic “I’m sorry. We ran into a bit of traffic.” He pulled out a seat for Carmen and sat next to him.
“What kind of traffic?” Mia asked seductively “That kind of traffic?”
“Not in front of the kid.” Erin advised as Mia quickly cleared her throat and turned away smiling “As long as you two made it.”
The food began coming out as the group dug into the freshly cooked dishes “You give it.” Carmen whispered.
Luke shook his head “No, you should give it.”
“No, I can’t do it…” Carmen replied a little louder.
The group turned to the two of them. Doug chomped away at a pile of fried rice in his mouth as he suddenly raised his hands at Carmen “I’ll give it!”
The two looked embarrassed “I’m sorry…it’s nothing.” Carmen assured as she got back to the food. When the group continued to stare at her, she gave in “Okay.” Pulling out a lavender bag and handed it to Erin “I want you to have this.”
“Carmen found something that belonged to Dai Lou, she thought that you should keep it.” Luke explained.
Erin frowned while shaking her head “If he gave this to you then it means he wanted you to have it. You don’t have to give me anything.” Erin insisted.
Carmen shook her head “Actually, I stole it from him. I was immature and didn’t take it too well when he rejected me. I was a bit angry…” she saw Erin pull out a framed picture of Brad and herself back in high school. Her face was blacked out “That’s just drawn on the glass frame, the picture should be in good condition.”
Her finger traced the frame of his smile “Thank you.” She looked up with a sincere look “This means a lot to me.”
“He used to have that picture next to his bed. When I asked him who the girl was, he always said someone special but never gave me a name.” Carmen explained.
The table grew quiet when Erin didn’t speak up. Tears dwelling in her eyes as she gripped onto the frame “You had to do it right now?” Doug scolded.
Erin quickly looked up “No, I’m okay. Really.” She nodded with an exaggerated smile. Picking up her chopsticks she began eating, a sign that everyone should do the same.
***********
When it came time for the bride and groom’s first dance, Chuck was already near drunk. He looked red and dazed while swaying with his wife. Afterwards, the M.C. announced for the rest of the group to come join the newlyweds on the dance floor.
Darren stood up and bowed at the waist “Would you like to dance, my dear?” he said to Bonnie in his most gentleman voice.
“Yes, yes!” Bonnie jumped on her chair as she climbed onto his open arms.
“I want to dance too!” Mia exclaimed as she rushed out to her husband and little girl.
Matt turned to the rest of the table “Chuck is giving me the eye, I think that’s a hint for me to join him.”
“As long as it’s not in bed.” Reina cracked. The others turned to her oddly “Right, that’s your line.” She smiled at Matt while taking his hand.
“Ahem!!” Jenna cleared her throat obviously.
“I was just going to ask.” Ryan got up with a laugh and pulled her chair out as the two took the dance floor.
Doug suddenly pushed the chair back and took a hold of Jessie’s hand “You two are last!” he pointed to Luke and Carmen as he raced to the dance floor giddily.
Erin shook her head at the silly guy “You two go ahead and join them.” She nodded to the floor.
“No, it’s okay, we can sit with you.” Luke assured her “Right?” he nudged Carmen when she began giggling at Doug and Mia, who couldn’t stop teasing each other.
“Huh? Yeah…” she agreed quickly, not sure of what she was actually agreeing too.
“She clearly wants to dance. Are you going to be a gentleman or a bore?” Erin asked Luke “I thought I taught you better than that, kid?”
“Are you sure?” Luke questioned.
Erin rolled her eyes “You are worst than a woman. Go.”
Luke nodded as he grinned at Carmen “My lady?” he raised a hand to her as she took it with ease.
She watched with a big grin on her face, they were having too much fun. Soon the dance floor turned into a circle with Chuck in the center giving his best moves. The group hollered and exploded with laughter when he attempted a break dance move. Erin winced painfully for her Uncle when he banged his head into Darren’s leg.
“Why don’t you join them?” a familiar male voice asked. Most of the guest had left and she knew her Uncle had purposely sat him somewhere else with his date.
“I don’t need to.” Erin answered without looking up.
Devin pulled over a chair next to her as they got the best view of the dance floor “You don’t want to or you don’t need to?” she turned to him with a tilted head “There is a difference.”
“Where’s your girlfriend?” she turned back to the scene before her.
“Ex girlfriend.” He corrected.
This got her attention as she turned to him “You two broke up?” he nodded in response “Just now?” again he nodded “Why?”
Devin laughed, “Do you want me to say because of you?”
“You are unbelievable.” Erin said sarcastically.
“Thank you.” He replied smugly.
Erin raised a brow upward “That wasn’t a compliment.”
“I took it as a compliment.” Devin said. She refused to comment again, fear that he would twist her words again “Who was I kidding? I never even liked the girl. She was just there to kill time. Matt and Reina were right, I’m not going to marry the girl so why be with her?”
“Glad you cut her loose before it’s too late.” Erin snickered.
“Not like you and Ted?” he reminded her.
She turned to him with a frown “Can you not be a jerk for one minute? It must be hard to think with that ego taking up so much space in your tiny little head.” She snapped.
Despite her insult, he continued to smile “I love it when you get mad.” Before he had a chance to say anything else, she got up and left the restaurant without saying goodbye to anyone. Sighing, he got up to chase after her. He found her outside trying to call for a cab “Erin.” He pulled her hand and yanked her towards him.
She got out of the grasp with a whip of the hand “Leave me alone.”
He was tired of playing games as he reached for her hand again and pulled her into his arms. Without warning, he leaned down and kissed her roughly. She didn’t struggle this time, only melted into his kiss. Her arms moved around his neck as their kiss softened until she felt butterflies in her stomach.