*Spring, 1998*

"Tori, your not thinking of not going through with this, are you?"

"I don't know Ashley. I love Howie you know I do. I'm just so scared. I don't think that I can go through with this marriage." Tori responded.

"You can't do this now. The man of your life is out there. Waiting to marry you. You both love each other so much; it would kill him if you didn't go through with this. You can't just think about yourself on this one." Ashley, Tori's best friend said.

"I do. I do. I do." Howie repeated over and over in the mirror.

"Yo D, what are you doing?" Kevin came up behind him and asked.

"I'm trying to decide on a way to say it. I do." Howie said.

Kevin laughed. "Your nervous aren't you?"

"No. Not really, well kind of. All right, I'm scared to death. What if she backs out? What if she doesn't really love me? I know that she's scared and that she's unsure?"

"Howie, that girl loves you so much, and no matter what happens, she will always love you. You guys are so perfect for each other." Kevin said.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Do you have any advice for me?"

"Concentrate on her, and don't lose eye contact. That let's her know that your totally focused on her."

"Thanks man."

As the ceremony began, and the brides maid's started down the aisle, Howie concentrated on the door that Tori was soon to come out of.

Finally all the bride's maids were at the alter and awaiting the bride's music to start playing. The music started all of a sudden and Howie held his breath as the doors began to open.

Tori emerged from the doors, wearing a beautiful long flowing white gown, holding a bouquet of violets. Her veil was covering her face and the back of it was almost as long as her train. She looked up and saw Howie, with the biggest smile she had ever seen in the world. This made her smile and she commenced down the aisle.

Tori and Howie kept their eyes on each other. Both of them were thinking to themselves that they were the luckiest people in the world. Tori was half way down the aisle when A.J. all of a sudden patted Howie on the back. Howie turned to him and smiled.

Tori stopped in her tracks.

Everyone gasped when they saw her stop. Howie turned around to see why everyone was making noise. He looked at Tori, who looked like a deer caught in headlights. She had a look of utter panic on her face.

"Come on baby, your almost here. Just keep going." Howie said as he reached out his hand to Tori.

She began to step towards him, which brought a smile to his face, and then she took a step backwards. Then she broke out into a run towards the exit.

"Someone stop her!" Howie yells, but it's too late she's already out the door and running down the steps. Howie takes off and starts running after her.

Tori ran down the street, and a two blocks up the street and she sighted a bus. She ran towards it. Howie made it down the steps and looked to both sides of the street and saw her running towards the bus. With the guys right behind him he took off after her.

Tori just made it to the bus, right as the doors were about to close. She ran onto the bus, and the doors closed behind her. Just as Howie and the guys got close to the bus, it took off, leaving them out of breath. Howie stood there looking after the bus for 5 minutes. Finally, A.J. said, "Come on man, let's go. She's gone."

(AN: the rest of this story is in the summer of 2000)