by K. T Fisher
"It's your wedding day. It's like the law to cry on your wedding day."
"And today is the day I meet my future rich husband. The guys are sexy right?"
And just like that we laugh and Sophie's tears have gone for now, thanks to Tanya. Jessica and Maisy disappear and me and Tanya talk excitedly about today to keep her distracted. I don't think it works, how are you not going to notice two girls out of a group of five have gone. She doesn't ask though which is good. When they return there holding three large red bags and a long box wrapped up. The bags are huge, like the size of my 32 inch TV at home! Me and Tanya get up and help them out and Sophie just sits there in silence. We all face her, each holding something and giggle. She laughs back.
"Oh guys! I didn't expect you to get anything."
We ignore her and Maisy tells her,
"We all chose your wedding gifts Sophie. We hope you like them."
Jessica and Maisy lay there big bags on the table. Maisy slides one over to her and Sophie pulls out four blue gift wrapped presents. There all A4 sized and chunky. She rips the first one along the top and gasps, placing her hand over her mouth. We all see her teary eyes and stand closer so we can see which one she has opened. Her wedding presents from us are the pictures from her hen trip to Barcelona. These are four A4 sized canvas prints two in black and white and two in colour. The one she has opened is a beautiful one. There all beautiful but I really like this one, I have had this one printed for myself. In this picture were all standing with our backs to the camera looking out at the sea. Sophies in the middle, I'm on her right hand side with my head resting on her shoulder, arm around her back and she has her arm round me. Maisy is standing close to my side but you can we are holding each others hands. On Sophies left shes holding Tanya's hand and next to Tanya, Jessica has both her arms wrapped round Tanya's waist, hugging her. The sun is shining above us, its really beautiful. Sophie looks up to us all with a mixture of awe and emotion.
"Oh my god guys, I love it."
Her voice breaks a little as she speaks.
"Well, you have more to open honey."
She places the canvas down gently and grabs another eagerly. This is a colour one from my camera, where all on the yacht and lying on our stomachs in our bikinis, hand on our chins and legs criss crossed behind us with our feet in the air. Were all smiling big cheesy grins at the camera, the view of the ocean behind us is amazing. The third is the picture we asked the waiter in the hotel to take of us before we all we went out clubbing on the last night. We all look stunning and sexy each with our sun kissed skin and the fourth canvas is a black and white canvas of us all in the sea splashing and laughing. She sets them down in a large square. The black and white and colour pictures diagonal.
"I love them girls, there beautiful."
"Don't thank us yet, you have more."
Jessica gives her the other red bag on the table. These last two bags are not wrapped. These are two bigger prints but in colour. She slides the first out the bag and smiles.
"Oh my god! I Can remember us all laughing at Sophia making us do this."
Sophia had laid down on the sand with her camera pointed up to the sky. She told us all to stand around her and lean over the camera. It felt really silly and we were all laughing. It made a great picture though, our heads huddled in a circle, hair falling down our happy faces with the sun and bright blue sky peaking out behind our heads. This one I have also a copy for myself.
"It's a great picture."
Sophie stares at the picture with a huge smile on her face.
"Here's another one Soph."
I hand her the last canvas print, we all wanted her to have this one last as it's our favourite picture. She reaches into the bag and tells me to pull the bag off. I do as I'm told and by the look on her face this picture is her favourite too.
"Wow."
It's like the other picture of us where we have our backs to the camera. This one is in bright colour and we are all facing the camera, sun shining on the glistening sea behind us. Were all in the same pose as the black and white one but on this one where all laughing towards the camera. All bare footed and in our beach wear. Sophie looks up at us all.
"Girls I love them. I can't believe they turned out like this and you did this for me. I can't wait to show Rhys."
We all hug it out and then Tanya reminds us were not done.
"There's still one big present left that I'm sure Rhys will love."
We move away so Tanya can pass her the long wrapped present. When she realizes what it is she bursts out laughing.
"Let me guess, this was Tanya's idea."
"Obviously."
"Yea he will definitely love this present."
We pick at more food and reminisce about each picture as Sophie looks at them all again. Sophie puts them back in the bags so there safe and sets them back on the table. Sophie looks up at the clock on the dining room wall. Its 11:00am.
"Right girls, better starts getting ready."
We all jump up and squeal excitedly and run up to the bridal room like teenage girls.
Chapter 23
While me and Tanya were busy doing Jessica and Maisys hair Sophie had turned the music up louder before she had started on her mak-up, so we were swishing our butts along to the music. Their hair looks better than what we thought it would and Sophie gladly loves it too. Sophie did well and found some big and long slide in grips, there about 5cm wide and quite long so they hold the loose curls nicely to the side and there covered in sparkly diomonties. Jessica and Maisy are sitting down at two of the dressing tables busy doing there make-up while I'm doing Sophies hair. Her hair is partially curled because of how I dried it this morning like I did Jessica's hair. It will help the curls stay in better, so I just re curl them and apply some hairspray. A little poof at the top with a little sparkly clip of her own to secure it and her hairs all done. I feel a little emotional right now, I'm getting the bride ready, which is one of my best friends and I'm spending the whole day with my ex who I still love and is the father of my son, who he knows nothing about. Until tomorrow. Weddings just make me emotional anyway never mind the added turmoil.
"Oh Soph, you look gorgeous."
I feel the tears coming and I try my best to hide them.
"Don't you dare Kendal, not yet."
I fan away my tears that are dangerously close to falling and turn away from her. My dam emotions. Tanya does my hair and then I do hers, after we make a start on our make-up. I've nearly finished applying my make-up and there's a knock on the door. It was a long and and loud knock, we all look to each other wondering if we should answer it. I'm not, I still have my make-up to do so Jessica goes to open it and in walks a pretty woman who looks mid-twenty's, tall and skinny with long blonde hair. She's really pretty and stood beside her is a cute mini version obviously mother and daughter. I think of my little boy back at my parents house.
"Steph!"
Sophie quickly walks over to the woman and young girl and gives them both a squeezing hug.
"Girls this is my sister-in-law Steph, Rex's wife and their daughter Milly. Milly is the flower girl."
Milly is very quiet but you can tell she's excited when she spots her small white dress hanging up beside ours.
"These are my four best friends and bridesmaids. Kendal, Tanya, Maisy and Jessica."
We all wave and say hi. When Milly has spent ten minutes with us she comes out of her shy little shell. Tanya curls her golden hair into adorable loose curls. Her mum sits her down on a chair to play on her Nintendo DS while she gets herself ready. I look at Milly happily quiet and playing and Steph gives me a knowing look and laughs.
"I know that look, do you have a child?"
"Yes, Finley. His four next month, how old is Milly."
"She's five. That DS has saved me a lot of headaches."
I look back to Milly smiling at her game.
"Yea I bet it has. Is it OK for four year olds?"
She laughs and sits dow
n at the empty dressing table beside me.
"Yes, there's so many games too. A lot more for boys I think so you're lucky."
I think I just found Finley's birthday present. I finish up my make-up and see the rest of my friends sipping on champagne. Sophie holds out a glass for me and I happily take it, I need some courage to help me face Jax. Steph opens the door to her husband Rex who looks allot like Rhys to receive her dress and she gets dressed with us. We are all ready and stood looking at each other in our white dressing gowns. Sometimes laughing but not talking, I think whatever we need to say is mushy and we don't want to make anyone cry and ruin our make-up. Sophie chucks back her head and gulps down the last bit of her drink and heavily sighs.
"Right girls, lets get you into your dresses."
Jessica wiggles her finger in Sophies face making Milly laugh.
"Uh uh missy, the bride first then the bridesmaids."
Sophie smiles a huge smile and jumps up and down clapping her hands.
"OK."
Tanya and Maisy run to where the huge white dress bag is hanging. They slowly unzip down the bag and we all watch as they carefully take the dress with the hanger out the bag. They hang it where the five floor length mirrors are and we all drift closer to the beautiful dress. Sophie lightly touches her dress and then turns to face us with shiny eyes.
"Soph?"
She shakes her head.
"I'm OK, I'm just so happy."
Maisy places her hands on her shoulders.
"Come on, lets get you into your dress before we all start to cry."
She laughs takes her dressing gown off and Jessica wolf whistles and wiggles her eyebrows. Sophie is wearing her very sexy wedding underwear. We helped her pick them out but they look so much better on Sophie's little body. She has a matching white lacey set on.
"Rhys is going to love you tonight."
I sing at her making her laugh and shrug me away.
"Kendal stop being a lesbian and help me into my dress. Tan pass me my shoes."
Sophie slips into her sparkly heels while I unzip the back of her dress. I hold the dress open for her near the floor so she can step in while Jessica holds her hand to steady her. I slowly pull it over her body, careful not to snag anything. When the bodice covers her bra Jessica zips up the back I fluff out the bottom of the dress. We all step back and admire her. Sophie puts her hands on her hips.
"How do I look?"
We all speak at once.
"Beautiful"
"Gorgeous"
"Stunning"
"Sexy."
No guessing which one of those comments was Tanya's. Sophie grins at her reflection in the mirrors and twirls like a five year old would do in a princess dress. Milly tears her eyes away from her DS and stares with wide eyes at Sophie. She jumps down from her chair and shoves her DS at her mum.
"Wow auntie Sophie! You're a princess!"
Oh my god, how cute is this? We're all smiling like idiots and cooing over Millys admiring Sophie. Sophie thanks her and gives her cuddles making little Millys day.
"Right, now you four get into your dresses."
We all rush to our dress bags and hurry in our dresses. I don't know about the girls but I'm so excited to finally get into my dress but I'm also glad to be doing something so I don't cry. We all zip each other up and stand in front of Sophie waiting for her to speak but she just stands there silent.
"Oh girls, you're going to make me cry."
We all laugh and fight our tears away but my struggle to not cry is forgotten when the next song starts over the speakers. It's a Decoy song and Jax's beautiful voice fills the room. Everyone looks at me worrying what will happen.
"Guys I'm fine. It's weird but I'm OK."
Steph asks what's going on and Sophie fills her in on Jax, not taking her eyes off me once. Once she's finished Steph is now looking at me like the rest. Seeing Jax yesterday and the day before have helped me for today, if I would have came here without knowing Jax was here I would have freaked out and probably ran. Not good for Sophie. Everyone is quiet the only sound is the Decoy song. A knock on the door breaks the silence and makes me jump. Nobody seems to be moving so I decide to get up to answer it. I have no clue who it will be, probably someone reminding us the time or Sophie's dad. His sue to be up here soon. When I open the door and see who it is I freeze on the spot. My two long lost crazy best friends. I knew I would see them today but knowing and seeing them here is totally different. Max and Leo look as handsome as ever, looking adorable in their suits and there black Converse. Even if they do look slightly uncomfortable. They look exactly as they always have done but with a few added muscles and leaner bodies like they now go to the gym. Leo has his signature blonde hair that always looks like he ran his hand through it and his bright blue eyes. Max has dark brown hair that's short but if you ran your hand through it you could still grab some hair, his hazel eyes have always been my favourite part of him because they stand out. He still has his signature facial hair, I wonder if he still loves it to look perfect. It goes from his hair line, pass his ears, along his strong jaw line and under his chin. There both standing side by side and are both looking at me with huge smiles. God I've missed seeing these guys! Leo holds out his arms to me.
"Are you gonna stand there grinning at me all day or are you gona give me a hug Kenny."
I don't even think twice about it, the door slams behind me as I run into his arms. I don't even care if I've messed my hair up, I bury my face in his neck.
"It's good to see you baby girl."
I look up to see his face and I'm sure I can see a trace of water in his eyes. Surely not, manly Leo crying?
"I've missed you Leo."
He kisses my forehead and I feel someone grip my arm that's around Leo's waist.
"Stop keeping her to yourself. Let me have some Kendal time."
I giggle as Max snatches me away from Leo's arms. His grabs me tightly in his arms and I think I can feel him sniffing my hair.
"You don't know how much I've missed you girl."
I love both Leo and Max and I was so close to both of them. I love James, Sam and Mark but Max and Leo are something else. They know how to show me a good time and treated me with respect. There my brothers who were more like my best friends. I can't put it into words but I do know I love these guys and I'm so happy to see them. I feel a little guilty for not giving Jax the same greeting but I suppose it is different for us two. Max sets me back at arms length but his hands still have a hold on my shoulders.
"Let me have a look at you."
I feel a little nervous as there both staring at me, I don't know why.
"What?"
They both lower there heads and chuckle.
"Fucking hell Kendal, why did you have to go fall in love with Jax?"
I giggle and shove Max's hands off me and step back.
"Shut up Max."
Leo rubs his face with his palms fastly.
"I can't believe you're here."
He grabs me in a tight hug again. I laugh against his chest and he kisses my hair.
"Loving the new hair baby girl."
I stand back again and cross my arms over my chest. The subject of my hair is a little tender seeing as the reason I originally died it purple was because I wanted a change from Jax. Seeing as he always told me he loved my red hair.
"Erm, thanks."
Max, ever so protective steps closer and lifts my chin with his finger. When my eyes meet his I see he doesn't look happy and his frowning down at me.
"What's the matter Kendal?"
Before I can answer I hear the thumping of fast feet coming up the stairs and stop next to me, Max and Leo. Max looks toward the new arrivals and then dropping the grip he has on my chin. I turn and see Rhys and a very unhappy looking Jax. What's up with him? Rhys is happily smiling at me, last time I saw him I freaked out a little. Well a lot, so I think I make up for it when he takes a step towards me but I run towards him. He laughs and wraps his arms a
round me.
"You look good Kendal."
"Thankyou."
"I don't mean the dress, I mean you."
"Oh."
What do I say to that? I break away and see Jax looking at me, thankfully looking happier. Can I hug Jax? I feel like shit if I don't because I just hugged his three best friends and I've met him twise now and no hug. Some near kisses but no hugs. I slowly step towards him but he stalks over to me and wraps me in his big strong arms. I sigh from feeling a little relieved and from finally being in his arms. The amount of times I have thought about being in this mans arms again. I feel him groan against me and it snaps me out of it. I quickly pull away from his arms feeling a little dazed. I clear my throat.
