When Worlds Collide
Chapter 13
By: Bella
"Oh my God! That's it, that's the one!" Tristen said excitedly as she frantically ran into the bridal shop whose window she, the twins' sister Sarah, and the twins' mom had been looking into just seconds before.
It was the day before Tristen and Benji were going to leave Maryland. The trip had gone wonderfully. Benji was so happy to see his mother, sister, and brothers again, and Tristen got along very well with his family. And, much to Benji and Tristen's surprise, Tristens' partents' stay went well. Tristen knew that her parents were judgemental and vocal, so she was very relieved when they didn't embarrass her by rudely hinting at their displeasure when it came to activities, food, their choice in decorating, etc.
Tristen, Sarah, and Mom were having a girls' afternoon out to search for her wedding dress. Tristen had already ordered the bridesmaid's dresses while she was in California, and they had come just before she, Benji, and her parents had left for the Maryland trip. Because one of them was for Sarah because both Benji and Tristen agreed that Benji's siblings should be in the wedding, Tristen brought Sarah's dress with her. Sarah and their mom loved it.
Tristen had gone on many searches for a wedding dress, but never found the perfect one that jumped out at her. She knew that the moment she saw it, she'd know it was the one. However, she was getting a bit worried that she wouldn't be able to find "the one" before the actual wedding, which was a month away. They passed a small bridal boutique downtown and were looking into the windows admiring the dresses that were being displayed when Tristen found the dress that she had been picturing in her mind since she was a child.
"I want that dress in the window," Tristen said, pointing to the dress as Sarah and the twins' mom came up behind her as she stood at the counter on the far right side of the store. "I don't care what it costs or what sizes you have. I will pay you with my first born child if that's what it takes, and I will make it fit, I don't care what I have to do."
"Although I'm sure that you would make beautiful children and a dedicated dieter, I don't think either of those things will be necessary. It looks to me like that dress might be the perfect size for you," the woman behind the small glass counter said with an amused expression on her face, followed by a short chuckle.
"I'm Barbara," the woman said with a smile as she extended her hand out to Tristen, who gladly accepted it. She also shook hands with the other two as they all introduced themselves and Barbara walked to the front of the store to retrieve the dress so that Tristen could try it on.
"It's going to fit! Ahh!" Tristen yelled from the dressing room a few minutes later. She exited it and walked out into the small sitting area in the middle of the little boutique where Sarah, Mom, and Barbara were waiting for her. The three of them gasped as Tristen walked over to them. It was even more beautiful on a person than it was on a mannequin. Sarah got up and zipped the dress up in the back for her. It fit perfectly, and no alterations would be needed.
"It's like it was made for you," Mom said with a smile as she admired her soon-to-be daughter-in-law.
"You look gorgeous," Sarah and Barbara both said in agreement.
The dress was white with a satin molded bodice, beading around the bottom of the bodice, and a very full tulle skirt. It was somewhat simple, yet elegant. As Tristen admired herself some more in the mirror, Barbara came up behind her with the veil in her hand. She placed it on her head and Tristen felt like a princess. The veil had the same beading that matched the dress and was very long.
"Life doesn't get much more perfect than this," Tristen thought to herself as she continued examining her dream wedding gown in the full-length mirror.
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The next night, Benji and Tristen arrived back to California and Kate met them at the airport. Both Benji and Tristen were tired because of the time difference, and struggled to get all of their luggage and drag it to Kate's vehicle. Luckily, Kate was driving her parents' Ford Expedition, because Benji and Tristen had a ton of luggage.
"I swear, every time we go somewhere you come back with twice as much as you brought," Benji said, shaking his head confused as to how Tristen always managed to bring so much back from even the shortest trips. They all hopped in and Kate drove them home.
Once home, Kate decided to stay at Tristen's. They knew that they would be spending the whole next day together and Kate had been used to staying at Tristen's house often when they were younger. She still felt like it was practically her home as well. After Tristen and Benji threw all of their luggage into their rooms, Benji came into Tristen's room to kiss her goodnight. Both of them wanted to go straight to bed and worry about unpacking the next day.
"Aw Tris, these are so cute!" Kate exclaimed from somewhere in Tristen's large walk-in closet as Benji entered the room. She came out holding up a pair of flannel care bear pajama bottoms with a matching tank top.
"I must wear this," she said as she went into Tristen's bathroom to get changed.
Benji and Tristen hugged, kissed, exchanged "I love you's," and all of that stuff until Kate came out of the bathroom and got into Tristen's large bed. Even though Tristen's house had more than enough rooms to accommodate multiple guests, Kate always stayed in Tristen's room. They liked to talk before they went to sleep, and were so used to it because they had been staying in each others' rooms since Jr. High. Tristen's bed was more than large enough for them both.
"What?! How come she gets to sleep in here and I have to sleep in the other room?" Benji pouted, trying his best to give Tristen irresistible puppy dog eyes.
"Maybe because she doesn't have a penis," Tristen said, which made Kate laugh.
"Ha-ha, you're such a funny girl. You love her more than you love your own husband then, huh?" Benji continued to pout. "It's not my fault I have a penis. Those damn Y chromosomes."
"I know, baby. I'm sorry. You know I love you," she said, kissing him. He kissed her back and then left her room and went into his guest room and hopped in to bed.