Chapter 47 Pt. 3: Dance Until the World Ends

*AMY'S POV*

The next week went by without incident, and soon it was time for the bachelorette party!  We decided to go to Whistle's where we could dance, play pool, and drink ourselves stupid.

KELSEY: Look out, bitches!  The party has arrived!

Leave it to Kelsey to make an entrance.

REBECCA: Ah, just in time!

KELSEY: What the hell...?

KELSEY: Oh bitch...you better not...

KELSEY: Shit!  I'm going to punch you in your face!

REBECCA: You wouldn't...I'm about to get married.

KELSEY: Wanna bet?

AMY: Yeah, I don't think she's above giving you a black eye to walk down the aisle with.

ZOEY: It'd be something new.

Excuse me while I pick my laughing ass up off the floor.

That's the start to a great evening if you ask me.  We open a tab, order some food, and dance for awhile...which somehow includes Kelsey stripping down to her swim suit.

And we're all living it up until we hear a male voice.

LUKAS: Hey ladies, how's it going?

REBECCA: What the hell?

He walks over to the pool table and starts playing.

*REBECCA'S POV*

I don't know what it is, but there's something really irritating about him being here right now.

REBECCA: Hey babe...what's going on?

LUKAS: Nothing, I just thought I would hang out with you all.

REBECCA: But this is my bachelorette party..

LUKAS: So...guys can't hang out?

REBECCA: No...that's the point.

LUKAS: Are you mad at me?

REBECCA: No...I'm just...

LUKAS: It's okay, I'll go...

REBECCA: I don't want to be a bitch...

LUKAS: You're not being...I was just bored...and I didn't realize you all would be here anyway...

REBECCA: It's my favorite bar...

LUKAS: Yeah, but...I don't know.  Look, I'm going to go home...

REBECCA: Are you sure?  You can stay...

LUKAS: No...I don't know if I can handle all these women anyway...I love you.

REBECCA: Love you too...

He gives me a quick kiss and walks out the door.  As soon as I hear his car pull out, I let out a sigh of relief.

REBECCA: Woo-hoo!

ZOEY: Excited?

REBECCA: Hell yeah...that was a little too much to handle tonight.

I have a few more drinks, play pool, dance, ride the mechanical bull a couple times...but somehow I find myself away from everyone else...and something occurs to me.

*ZOEY'S POV*

KELSEY: What's going on with you bitches?

ZOEY: Nothing much...

AMY: Oh...have you talked to Bec recently?

KELSEY: Yes, to hear random shit about the wedding...why?

AMY: You will never believe who she ran into the other day...

Kelsey looks over at her and shrugs.

AMY: Josh.

KELSEY: Josh...as in...ex-boyfriend, massive heartbreak Josh?

AMY: That very one.

KELSEY: Shit.

AMY: Yeah...

KELSEY: What happened?

AMY: They talked, Mom got pissy, they left...

KELSEY: Mom saw it?

I tune them out while Amy finishes the story.  I look around and see lots of Rebecca's friends dancing and having fun...but...

ZOEY: Uh...guys...

KELSEY: That's effed up...

ZOEY: Guys...

AMY: What?

ZOEY: Do you see Rebecca anywhere around here?

Quick look around...still don't see her.

KELSEY: Amy, did you take her phone?

AMY: Um...

KELSEY: You know how we drunk dial...

AMY: Uh, correction, you drunk dial.

KELSEY: Yeah, shut up...

ZOEY: Think we might call Rebecca?

Amy picks up her phone and dials.  She sits on it for a second, but then she hangs up.

AMY: It's ringing, but she didn't answer.

KELSEY: Hey, that means we can track it...

AMY: How are we going to do that?

KELSEY: Mom tracks us all the time...she gave me her username and password when I lost my phone a couple weeks ago.

AMY: Mom tracks us?

KELSEY: Yup...

AMY: That bitch...

KELSEY: Yeah, well, thank the bitch right about now.  I found her.

We all get into the car and put the address in our phone.  It's not our house, but it sounds familiar.

We drive downtown and past a bunch of the bigger buildings, and finally spot her...walking into one of the buildings.

ZOEY: What the hell?  Where is she going?

AMY: Oh shit.

ZOEY: What's wrong?

AMY: It's Josh's apartment.

ZOEY: Oh shit.

KELSEY: 50 bucks says the wedding is off.

AMY: I'm not going to bet...

KELSEY: 100 bucks...

AMY: You're on.

ZOEY: Damn.

We can't find a parking spot, so Kelsey has to drive around.  Amy and I go inside.  By the time we get to the door, she is in the lobby.

REBECCA: What the fuck guys...how did you find me?

AMY: GPS, bitch.

ZOEY: What are you doing here?

REBECCA: It's my business...leave me alone.

AMY: Look, do what you want...I'm going to be in the car.

I stop her before she leaves.
ZOEY: What are you doing?
AMY: This is none of our business.  If she wants to fuck her life up, that's her business.

I raise my eyebrows.

ZOEY: Um...okay...

AMY: Are you coming?

ZOEY: Give me a minute.

As Amy leaves, I walk toward Rebecca, desperately thinking about what I am going to say.  When I get to her and realize this is the point where I should open my mouth, but I still haven't thought of anything.

ZOEY: What are you doing, Bec?

REBECCA: I just have to see him...just one more time...to know for sure...

ZOEY: To know what?  That he really dumped you, leaving you in such a depressed state, you could barely function for months?

 

REBECCA: I know...but...when I saw him last week...it was just...

ZOEY: Look, I don't normally tell people how to live their lives, that's up to you, and I'm not telling you to marry Lukas and forget about Josh, but don't do it this way.

REBECCA: What are you talking about?  I just want to talk to him.

ZOEY: Bec, it's 3am.  You know good and damn well when you go up to his apartment, you're going to end up sleeping with him.  You're not going to be able to stop yourself.

REBECCA: If that happens than I'll know we're meant to be together.

ZOEY: First off, no you won't.  Secondly, what about the fallout?  What about Lukas?  Do you really want to end your relationship with him this way?  By cheating on him with your ex-boyfriend?

REBECCA: No, but...maybe I'm supposed to be with Josh.
ZOEY: Than do it the right way.  Talk to Lukas, postpone the wedding, take some time for yourself.

REBECCA: What if Lukas won't do that?  What if he says he doesn't want to wait and if I won't marry him now, he doesn't want to marry me?
ZOEY: That's a risk you're going to have to take.  If he's not willing to wait, he probably wasn't worth it to begin with.

REBECCA: You're right...
ZOEY: Seriously?
REBECCA: Yeah, I shouldn't do this.

I breathe a sigh of relief.  I can't believe I actually talked her out of it.

ZOEY: Okay, let's go home.  I'm sure Kelsey and Amy look suspicious as hell circling in this neighborhood.

REBECCA: Go on out and meet them.  I have my car, I'll drive it home.
ZOEY: Are you really coming?
REBECCA: Yes, I'm following you out.

*REBECCA'S POV*

I follow Zoey out the door and start walking to my car.  I have every intention of getting in and going home.  I really do, but as I see her get in the car and take off, I can't help myself.

I turn around, head up the elevator, use my old key to get in, and find Josh...he is in bed, but when he sees me, he jumps up.

REBECCA: I think I'm still in love with you.

JOSH: I know I'm still in love with you.

My wedding is tomorrow.

I am soooo screwed.

Chapter 47 Pt. 2: The World Stands Still

*AMY'S POV*

I'm pretty sure the wino that runs the Wine and Spirits shop ran out of wine by the time we were done with our all day pass.  He mistakenly thought no one could possibly drink all that much...guess he'd never met us.

As we get in the car, Rebecca looks at me warily.
AMY: What?
REBECCA: Are you okay to drive?

AMY: Probably not.

REBECCA: Well, you better get okay quick...
AMY: Why?

REBECCA: There's a cop ahead of us...
AMY: Shit...

REBECCA: Well, I guess as long as he stays in front of us, we won't have any problems.
AMY: Where are we going?  Home?
REBECCA: Nah, let's go to lunch...we can sober up before we head back.

AMY: Or drink more...
REBECCA: Are you serious?  You need a twelve step program...
AMY: I'm sorry, were you present today?
REBECCA: Yeah...shit, you're right.

So we head up to the little bistro up the hill, which probably isn't very smart.  These roads are hard to drive sober...but somehow we make it there alive and get our food.

We eat in silence for a little bit before Rebecca starts ranting.

REBECCA: What the hell was wrong with Mom today?  It's not like I banged Josh right in the middle of the store...
AMY: Right...
REBECCA: Exactly, and it wasn't like I was going to either...
AMY: Nope.
REBECCA: I mean, things between Josh and I are over...they've been over for a long time.
AMY: Yup.
REBECCA: Which I'm glad of..Josh is kind of full of himself, ya' know?
AMY: Uh-huh.
REBECCA: I'm much better off with Lukas...I love him...he is definitely the one for me.

AMY: Mm-hmm.

REBECCA: I mean, I'm a grown woman, how the hell can she tell me what to do?
AMY: Amen.
REBECCA: I guess I should just get over it...it's not like it matters, right?
AMY: Negative.

REBECCA: I mean, I'm marrying Lukas, and that's the end of it...there's no turning back.

AMY: Bec, whatever you want to do...marry Lukas, don't marry Lukas...it's fine.  Tell everyone else to go fuck themselves.  The only person that lives your life is you.  You need to be happy with it.

REBECCA: I just need to worry about me and Brody.
AMY: Exactly.

*ZOEY'S POV*

I spent my day off doing absolutely nothing, which was awesome...it was quiet here for once.  Rebecca and Amy spent the day out and Brody is over at Kelsey & Eddie's...and amazingly Robbie and Jake haven't been coming over here bumming food.

Of course, this all changes when Rebecca and Amy come home.  They look exhausted.
ZOEY: What's going on?
REBECCA: I'm going upstairs to call my fiance' and take a nap.

ZOEY: Oh-kay...

As she leaves, I turn to Amy.
ZOEY: What's going on?
AMY: Shit, it's a hot damn mess...

ZOEY: What happened?
AMY: Everything was fine...we looked at all these places, Rebecca decided on this church up a damn mountain.
ZOEY: I hope you're driving...
AMY: Yeah, or we'll get a limo...although, Rebecca was talking about a horse-drawn carriage before...
ZOEY: If y'all try to get a horse up a mountain, I'm reporting you to PETA.

AMY: Noted...and no, we're not going to do that...

ZOEY: Okay, so what happened?

Amy tells me all about Kyra showing up and that she started drinking from the get-go.  Then she tells me about Josh showing up...holy shit!  Then she tells me about the argument Rebecca and Kyra got into.

ZOEY: Day-um...
AMY: Yup...
ZOEY: What do you think's gonna happen?
AMY: Hell if I know...
ZOEY: Well, shit...
AMY: It's not my problem....
ZOEY: Shit, it's going to be all our problems if we have to move because of a jilted groom. 

***AUTHOR'S NOTE: I DO NOT CONDONE DRINKING AND DRIVING OR DRINKING IN EXCESS...DRINK RESPONSIBLY!***

Chapter 47 Pt. 1: And Still...

*REBECCA'S POV*

I turn around and sure enough, there stands Josh - a man I fell so in love with that he changed me forever.  A man I have only recently gotten over.

Before I can turn away, his gaze lands on me and he gives me that smile that is so big it reaches up to his eyes.  Those eyes that twinkle and laugh and draw me in.  He is definitely the type of guy they write country songs about...of course by "they" I mean "me."

Okay, I can be an adult about this, even though my stomach is in flip-flops.

He starts walking toward me and I walk ahead to meet him.

REBECCA: Hey...

JOSH: Hey...

REBECCA: What are you doing here?

JOSH: It's a wine shop...so...

REBECCA: Buying eggs and milk?

JOSH: Haha!  *chuckle* Yeah, that's it.  How have you been?

Even though I know the first thing out of my mouth should be mentioning my fiance' and my upcoming wedding, I avoid that topic at all costs.

REBECCA: I've been okay...ya' know, working a lot.

JOSH: Yeah, I've seen a couple of your shows.  Your performances get more amazing every time I see them.

I look down and blush.  I'm not normally the blushing type and I very rarely shy away from a compliment, but being here with him is really throwing me.

REBECCA: Thank you...I've caught a few of your shows too...they're awesome, of course.

JOSH: Thanks, we're working on a new sound...

REBECCA: Yeah, I could hear that the last time I saw you...

JOSH: Well, uh, next time you catch one, come back stage and say hi, will ya'?

REBECCA: I'm getting married.

I didn't mean to blurt it out, I really didn't...just...that last invitation seemed a little more inviting than it probably should have been.

He looks shocked...maybe a little sad...and I can't help but wish I hadn't said it.  I know it changes things between us.  I don't think either of us ever felt like it was completely over...but it was...it is...and I had to move on...but for some reason I feel like I'm cheating...on him.

REBECCA: Um...yeah, sorry...I guess I could have had a smoother delivery with that news.

JOSH: Huh, yeah, I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything...that's...a shock...so, when's the big day?

REBECCA: Probably this weekend...

JOSH: Wow...so soon?

REBECCA: You know me, once I've decided on something....

JOSH: All too well...*awkward chuckle*

REBECCA: Yeah...

JOSH: Listen, I'm really happy for you...really...you deserve a good man.

REBECCA: Thanks...

I look over his shoulder and see my mom glaring at me.  She has hated Josh ever since he broke up with me...geez, I'm sure I'm going to hear it from her.  Damn, Amy could have distracted her or something...

Of course, I look her way and she's headed back to the sample bar...great...

REBECCA: Josh, I have to get going...I have a lot of stuff to get ready...um...if you want to come to my wedding, you're more than welcome...

JOSH: I don't know about that...

REBECCA: Well, either way, you're invited.

JOSH: Okay...thank you.

He turns around and glances back at me, looking as though he wants to say something, but he doesn't.  He just smiles a little half smile and walks away.

My mom takes that opportunity to grab me by the arm and haul me over to the corner of the store, like I'm a damn child.

KYRA: What the hell do you think you're doing?
REBECCA: I'm talking to an old friend, Mom, that's it.
KYRA: You were talking to an ex-boyfriend, Rebecca, and don't act so innocent, I know you too well.
REBECCA: What are you talking about?  I am innocent...

KYRA: No, you're not.  I know that look too well.  You still have feelings for him, don't you?

REBECCA: So what if I do?  He doesn't want to be with me, so that's the end of it.

KYRA: It didn't seem like that from what I could see.

REBECCA: You didn't see anything...

KYRA: Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining, Bec.  I'm not blind.

REBECCA: No, but you're crazy.

KYRA: Okay, let's call Lukas and see what he thinks about all this...

REBECCA: Mom!  No...

KYRA: Well, why not?  It was completely innocent, right?

REBECCA: Yes, but you know how he would react.

KYRA: That's exactly my point.  You are about to become a married woman.  That means stopping any activity your husband doesn't like.

REBECCA: He doesn't control me, Mom.

KYRA: If you want to keep him you have to let him, at least to a certain degree.

Amy is standing behind me saying nothing, but when she hears that, she speaks up.

AMY: Mom, could you just shut the fuck up?

KYRA: Excuse me?

AMY: You heard me the first time....but for you, I'll say it again...Shut the fuck up.

REBECCA: Amy, stop, you're drunk.

AMY: Not nearly as much as I would like to be, hearing all this bullshit...Bec's not getting a Daddy, Mom, she's getting a husband, a partner in life, a P-A-R-T-N-E-R.  Do you know what that means?  It doesn't mean he gets to boss her around.

KYRA: Hmph, well, Amy, I'm glad you're never going to be in this situation, because you will never get a man with that attitude.

REBECCA: Mom, you don't have to insult her just because you're mad at me.

KYRA: Look, I'm just trying to make sure you don't make a really stupid mistake and completely ruin your life.

AMY: Damn it...

REBECCA: Amy, please...Mom, I don't understand what you ever had against Josh anyway...

 

KYRA: Look what he did to you...look what he did to Brody.  Brody loved him.  He looked up to him, and he didn't even have the decency to sit down with him and tell him what was going on.  Do you remember him asking where Josh was for almost a month?

REBECCA: Mom, as much as I wish it weren't true, Josh didn't owe anything to Brody.  He's not his dad.
KYRA: Well, that just shows you what kind of person he is.  Who would do that to a little boy and not even care?
REBECCA: Brody is fine, Mom.  He never talks about Josh.  I was hurt at first and mad at him because Brody loved him too, but I was wrong.

KYRA: Look, none of this matters.  All that matters now is that you're marrying Lukas and are never going to see Josh again.

As much as I disagree with her, I just shut up.  She will never understand, so I just walk away.

I have to have a drink after that conversation.