I stood gazing at my dress that lie strectched across my bed. How did all of this happen to me? In just a few hours I would be gliding down the red carpet, Freddie Prinze Jr. on my arm. The lights would be flashing, reporters yelling out assanine questions. My life was perfect again. Well, almost perfect. I just had to get over that whole losing AJ thing.
I held the dress up to me and looked into my full body length mirror on the wall. It was long and clingy. It was polyester with a pale yellow color. It shimmered with flicks of silver all the way down to my toes. The dress drug the ground a bit. The spaghetti straps were made of diamonds. It was beautiful.
"How many times are you going to do that before you actually put it on?" I turned around to face Freddie.
"You're right." I laid the dress back down. "I gotta get in the shower."
"Dammit!" I complained. I threw the eyeliner into a pile of makeup. "Can't ever do anything right, Carly." I scolded myself. I picked up a washcloth and wiped away the 'excess' eye makeup. After almost an hour of sculpting...my makeup was done. It looked half way decent atleast. I spiraled my hair and threw it into a french twist. A diamond clip held it in place. Granted, Paul could have done a lot better job...but, I didn't look too bad.
"You look good, Carly." I told myself. Words of self encouragement never harmed anyone. I stood from my vanity stool in the bathroom and looked myself over once more. I was ready...finally. I slipped into my heels and walked for the door.
" You look great!" Freddie said coming into the bathroom.
"Thanks." I said, a bit shocked.
"I just have to tell you, kid...it's been great."
"Hopefully, we can do it again, Freddie."
"That'd be nice." He smiled. "You know, I think you should leave a couple of locks of hair down around your face."
"Freddie, I don't have time to redo my hair."
"Sure you do." He glanced at his watch. "I'll be downstairs."
"Okay." I said under my breath. Great, another trip down hairspray lane. How exciting. I stood again...done for sure this time. I stepped back into my room to get my purse. There on my dresser...was another vase full of hydrangeas. "Gosh...Freddie is such a doll." I smiled. I couldn't wait to read the card this time. I picked the card from the middle of the bouqet.
"Can you be with me now?" It read. I clenched the dresser for support. "Love, AJ." Oh my god...this couldn't be happening. I grabbed my purse off of the bed and walked for the door, still holding the card in my hand. I walked down the long hallway to the staircase. When I finally got there, I looked down to the foyer. There he was...AJ. He was dressed in a stylish tux, and his trademark sunglasses. I gripped the railing and slowly made my way down the stairs.
"Before you say anything, Carlon...you look beautiful." He told me, taking his sunglasses off. I didn't know what to say, what to do, what to feel, or how to act. I was definetly shocked. It then hit me that he flew all the way to L.A. once to tell me how he felt and all I could say was 'what are you doing here?' I was scared to even open my mouth now. What if I said something like that again. Then, I remembered Brian's words of encouragement. Ever since I'd spoken with him, I was trying so hard to think of what was natural to me. Now was my chance to figure it out. Just open my mouth and speak. Whatever came out was natural.
"I love you." I looked down at the card. "Yes." I answered. My eyes filled with tears. Not really a good thing. I nodded my head. "Yes, AJ...yes, I can be with you." AJ reached out and cupped my jawline and pulled me into his arms. He then...kissed me. Oh, how I'd missed that. I smiled on his lips.
"I've missed you." He said our lips still almost touching. He slid his glasses back on his face. Now, let's get to that premiere." I slid my arm through his and he led me to the car. I assumed Freddie knew all along. How sweet of him.
I sat on a huge rock overlooking the ocean. The waves calmly crashed against the side, splashing water upon my feet. The sky held signs of rain, but to me it was beautiful. I pulled my knees to my chest and smiled. Happiness had to be the greatest feeling in the world.
"Mind if we join you?" Freddie sat next to me, followed by Tipsy crawling into my lap. Freddie looked out at the water.
"Freddie..." I turned to face him. "Do you think I'll ever see them again?"
"Yeah." He nodded.
"Because, when I look out there...I see them." A bolt of lightening struck the sky. The both of us kinda laughed. "That must be when I got into Daddy's art room."
"Carly, your parents would be very proud of you." A tear came from nowhere and trickled down my face. I stood quickly and wiped it away. "So, where to now?" Freddie asked.
"Back home. Florida." I said brushing off any dirt. "Seth has some jobs lined up for me."
"That should be good."
"What about you?"
"The usual. Stick around here for a while." He stuck his hands in his pockets. "How's AJ?"
"Good. He's showering right now. Our plane leaves in a couple of hours." I motioned back to the house.
"Look, kid...you take care of yourself." Freddie pulled me into a hug. I felt a few drops of rain begin to fall. I looked into the sky.
"Thanks, Freddie."
"And, hey...don't let a little rain stop you." Freddie smiled.
"Bye." He kissed my cheek and left. The rain picked up. "I sure hope you guys can see me." I let the rain pour down onto my face.
"Knock, knock." Brian said outside the door.
"Go away!" Angela, Fran, Danielle, Layla, and I all yelled.
"So, I'll just come back later, okay?" Brian casually said.
"This shoe is too tight." I complained throwing it halfway across the room.
"No need to get upset." Aunt Jackie calmed me down.
"I'll just wear one shoe. I can limp the whole time." I said.
"Carlon, calm down. You're gonna friz your hair." Angela told me.
"Okay, okay, okay...I'm calm." I sat down on a stool and took in a deep breath.
"It's time, ladies." Uncle Harold called.
"Here's your shoe." Danielle frantically said handing me another shoe. I slipped it on. Perfect fit. Aunt Jackie left to take her place. The four girls followed her.
"Ready?" Brian slowly peeped his head into the door. I nodded. He reached out and grabbed my trembling hand.
"Brian...it's okay to be nervous, right?" I said, shaking. We were almost to the door. Brian stopped and looked at me.
"He's perfect for you." Brian kissed my cheek.
"Brian, I'm glad it's you." I looked down. "I mean, my father can't really be here. I'm glad you're taking his place."
" My pleasure." We stood at the door. The congregation stood. I couldn't see AJ yet for all the people. Brian guided me down the aisle.
Then I saw him. He smiled at me like the first night we met. I saw a tear in his eye. He reached out to shake Brian's hand, but Brian pulled him into a hug. "Take care of her, man." I heard Brian whisper to AJ.
"My pleasure." AJ said taking my hand.
Half way through the ceremony, my shaking calmed a bit. It seemed to last forever.
"I now pronouce you...man and wife." Finally. "You may kiss the bride." AJ wrapped his arms around my waist, leaned me back, and kissed me. Oh my god...he did that in church. Oh well. The church filled with sobs. Mostly from Aunt Jackie.
"Baby..." I said against AJ's chest. We sat cuddled in the back of the limo on the way to the airport. Three weeks in Jamaica for my, uh, honeymoon. Now, that's exciting.
"Yes." AJ looked down at me.
"We're married." I smiled. He tightened his grip around me.
"I know. I can't wait to get to Jamaica and start working on our family. Six kids. Alexander Thomas, Daniel Scott, Nickolas Dwayne, Jerem--"
"Whoah, whoah, whoah." I stopped him. "Who says we're having all boys."
"I'm not done. Autumn Rose, Carlon Elizabeth..." He looked into my eyes.
"AJ, can we just...take it slow?" I asked.
"You know it." He kissed my forehead.
So,
that was it. I was
married...to AJ McLean. I had a family again, my
acting career, and
even my dog. (Who stayed with Brian during the
honeymoon.) I'd made my
parents proud, and even though they weren't there to
say it...I knew I
had. So, in conclusion...I never really did have it
that bad.
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