Chapter Twenty - Eight - I Love You

I think I hate myself.

I think I hate myself for several reasons. One reason is that Nick hates me. I know he does. I think he may have some feelings for me but he acts as if he hates me. I’m scared because if I were to say something to him and he didn’t have any feelings for me and was really just thinking I was making a mistake by marrying Michel, then I’d be so embarrassed that I could never, ever face him again.

The other reason? I’m getting married today.

Yeah, it does seem a little rushed but I wanted to get it over, so because obviously everybody is going to find out about me being pregnant here soon and it’s best to just hurry up and get married, even if I’m not marrying the father of my child. I mean really, can you see Nick as a father? That’s about the funniest shit I’ve heard all day.

So yeah, the wedding is today. Nick’s been ignoring me. I hope he’s coming to the wedding. He’s supposed to come with his family and with the guys because they’re coming since they’re in town to record. I’m nervous as hell. I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing or what. I mean, what I’m doing isn’t selfish really. I’m doing something for Michel too, not just myself. He’s a friend and I’m helping him to stay in the country. It’s a good dead.

I’m just scared, that’s all. I’m just really, really scared.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++“Miss Melinda!” Maria yelled from the bottom of the stairs, “Are you up already?”

“She’s up Maria!” Bianca yelled as Maria shook her head and started to walk back into the kitchen. She cussed at herself in Spanish and saw Nick sitting there at the counter, eating his Frosted Flakes and watching the little TV that was on the counter.

“Mr. Nickolas, are you ready for the wedding?” Maria asked as Nick cut his eyes over at her and put a spoon full of cereal in his mouth.

“I’m not going.” Nick mumbled as he looked back at the TV.

“Of course you are going to the wedding.” Maria said as she looked at him and leaned over on the counter, “What is wrong Mr. Nickolas?”

“Nothing.”

“No.”

“Nothing.”

“No Maria. I’m fine.”

“Okay.” Maria said as she looked at him, “You better get ready.”

“Yeah I know. It starts at 2.” Nick said as he shook his head, putting the spoon back in his mouth as Maria shook her head at him and went back to cleaning.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++“Melinda, your hair looks like shit. Why don’t you just hire someone to do it?” Bianca said, standing there with her hands on her hips, “It would look so much better.”

“Excuse you.” Melinda said looking at herself in the mirror, with curlers all wrapped in her hair, “I think I look pretty damn good so far.”

“Speak for yourself. Are you still going to go through with this? I mean like HELLO?!?! Have you seen this boy? He’s French. He hardly speaks English and I’m sorry, but you’re picky who you sleep with and I don’t believe for a second that kid is his.” Bianca said as Melinda stared at her, “Tell me I’m right.”

“I’ll tell l you that you’ve lost your mind.” Melinda said as she walked over to her closet, unzipping the dress jacket to show her off white, simple wedding dress with a high waist that was strapless, “I love this dress.”

“Well don’t use it for him. God don’t waste it on that. Marry Nick.”

“Bianca! You’ve lost your mind!” Melinda said as she turned around, looking at her, “I’m marrying Michael so like just shut the fuck up.”

“You’re making a mistake.”

“No I’m not.”

“Yes you are. Now just shut up and stand beside me and be my maid of honor okay?” Melinda asked as she put her hands on her hips, “I mean I can always go find someone else.”

“No, it’s fine.” Bianca said as she sat down on the edge of Melinda’s bed, “I’ll stand beside you but atleast don’t lie to me okay? I know you and I don’t think you would sleep or be involved with this Michel guy.”, she said as Melinda looked down at the floor, “So is it really his?”

“No.” Melinda said as Bianca’s mouth dropped to the floor, “He’s going to be kicked out of the country if he doesn’t get married to get a green card and I want him on my tour.”

“Oh my god, it’s Nick’s isn’t it?” Bianca asked as Melinda stood there with her back to her, “Isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” Melinda said as she turned around and leaned up against the wall, “He’s the only person I’ve been with. I can’t be with anybody else.”

“Why not?” Bianca asked as Melinda looked down again, “Melinda?”

“I’m in love with him. It’s just so wrong.” Melinda said as she looked up at Bianca, “So yeah, you were right all along. I didn’t realize it til not long before the tour ended and then I found out I was pregnant.”

“Why don’t you just tell him?”

“I can’t.” Melinda said as she crossed her arms, and looked back down, “I just can’t.

“But -”

“Can we just finish getting ready? We have to leave for the church in two hours.” Melinda said as Bianca nodded her head agreeing with her.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++“I so don’t wanna be here.” Nick said as he walked into the church with AJ and Howie, “Can’t we just go shoot pool or some shit?”

“Dude, I’m telling you just tell her.” AJ said as they walked over, and took a seat on the bride’s side.

“I can’t.” Nick said as he took a deep breath when he heard someone calling his name and looked behind him to see Jane running up, “Great.”

“Nick!” Jane said as Nick cut his eyes up looking at her, “Have you talked to Melinda yet?”

“She knows too?” Howie asked as he shook his head and looked at Jane, “What has the boy gotten himself into now?”

“God only knows.” Jane said as she looked up and realized she was in a church, “Nick you need to talk to her.”

“I’m not talking to her. Nothing is going to make me stop this wedding and none of you had better do it either.” Nick said as he looked back to see his family sitting down, “Just go back and sit with them. I’m gonna stay here with the guys.”

“Nick -”

“Mom..”

“Okay.” Jane said as she shook her head, “I should go back and see Melinda.”

“Mom, no. You can talk to her after the wedding.” Nick said, “Go sit down. Now.”, he said as Jane looked at him and then walked back to where Bob and the other kids were, “God she won’t give up. She’s always wanted Mindy and me together. I know she has.”

“She told me a long time ago she wanted that.” Howie said as Nick looked over at him and leaned his head back, looking at the ceiling.

“I want this day over with so I can go on with my life.” Nick muttered as Kevin, Kristin, Brian, and Leighanne walked up, taking their seats on the row with the other guys, “Great, more people.”

“Hey Nick.” Brian said as Nick cut his eyes over at him when Michel walked up with Matt, who was the best man, and talked to the preacher, “Is that the guy she’s marrying?”

“I so know him from somewhere.” AJ said as he looked at him, “I just can’t place it.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++“Baby, are you sure you wanna do this?” Ed asked as Melinda nodded her head at him, while Bianca put on her diamond necklace, “Are you really sure?”

“Yes, I’m really sure.” Melinda said, “I’m going to marry Michel.”

“Okay.” Ed said as he looked at her, “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Melinda said smiling as she turned around and looked at Bianca, “I think I’m ready.”

“I think you are too.” Bianca said as she smiled a little when Maria walked in.

“Miss Melinda, Miss Bianca, Mr. Edward, they are ready.” Maria said as she ran up and gave Melinda a kiss for good luck on the cheek.

“Well okay let’s do this.” Ed said as he smiled fakely and walked over, putting Melinda’s arm around his and walked out of the room.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++“God.” Nick muttered as “The Wedding March” began to play and Bianca started walking slowly down the isle, “I should just leave.”

“Either speak up or shut up boy.” Brian muttered as Nick looked over at him. He closed his eyes and looked over at AJ who was still staring at Michel when Melinda and Ed began walking down the isle, “Whoa.”

“Damn.” Howie said looking over at Melinda as they passed them and she cut her eyes over, looking at Nick at the same exact time he looked over at her.

“For the love of God say something.” Kevin said as Nick stood there in shock looking at her. Ed and Melinda walked up to the preacher and everybody sat down in their seats and they began the wedding.

AJ just sat there rubbing his chin, trying to remember when it hit him.

“Baby, I wanna go to that Chinese place.” AJ said as him and Sarah were driving through some cheap part of Los Angeles, “Where the hell are we?”

“Not anywhere near that Chinese place. I told you that you got off the freeway on the wrong exit.” Sarah said as she pulled out a little map from the glove department, “AJ look.”

“What?” AJ asked as he looked over to where Sarah was pointing, two guys standing against the wall kissing each other, “Damn freaks!”, he said as he blew the car horn and both the guys stopped kissing and looked over at the car.

“Oh my god.” AJ said as the guys looked over at him and he stopped up, “STOP THE WEDDING!!”

“AJ!” Nick yelled as AJ pointed over at Michel.

“AJ, what are you doing?” Melinda asked as she looked over at Nick and then back at AJ.

“You can not marry him!”

“But why not?” Michel asked as AJ shook his head at him.

“Because you’re gay!!” AJ yelled as everybody in the church gasped and Nick looked over at AJ with his mouth hanging wide open.

“AJ!” Melinda yelled as she looked over at Michel, “Michel?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about Mr. McLean.” Michel said in his accent as AJ shook his head at him.

“I saw you! About 3 months ago, you were in some low part of LA and you were against the wall kissing you’re boyfriend -”

“I don’t have a boyfriend.” Michel said as some guy stood up in the back row on the groom’s side.

“You bitch!”, the guy yelled in a gay tone of voice as he ran out of the church.

“Angel face! Wait!” Michel yelled as he ran through the church, chasing after the guy.

“Oh.. my… god..” Bianca muttered, standing by Melinda who was in shock while everybody in the church stood up, looking around.

“Did that just happen?” Melinda asked as she looked over at Bianca who started to laugh, “It’s not funny.”

“Melinda.” Ed said as he walked up to her, “If he’s gay, then why were you marrying him and pregnant with his baby?”

“It’s not his.” Melinda said as she looked over at Ed who was about to say something when Jane walked up to him, grabbing his arm and pulling him away, “God.”, she muttered as a few people started leaving the church. She held onto her bouquet of flowers with her right and turned around, with her back to everybody so she wouldn’t have to face them. She looked back over at her right shoulder to see if Nick was still standing there with the other guys and he wasn’t. She moved her head back in front of her, looking down at the ground, “Bianca here.”, she said as she tossed the flowers over at Bianca and put her hands over her face, crying.

“I love you.” Nick whispered as Melinda moved her hands away from her face, and turned around slowly, seeing Nick standing there behind her, looking her in the eyes.

“What?” Melinda asked as Nick rolled his eyes.

“I’m in love with you.”, Nick whispered again as Melinda smiled, and walked forward a little, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

“I love you too.” Melinda whispered to him as Nick smiled and they both moved back from hugging, leaning in to kiss each other slowly.

“What the hell is going on here?” Ed asked as he looked around with a confused look on his face.

“Shut up Mr. Edward.” Maria said as Ed looked over at her and back up to Nick and Melinda, “I knew this was going on. They thought that they were hiding something.”

“What was going on?” Ed asked as Jane looked over at him.

“I can see why I divorced you now. You’re stupid.” Jane said as Ed looked over at her, “She’s pregnant by Nick.”

“Nick?” Ed asked as he looked at Maria and Bianca who nodded their heads yes as they looked back up at Melinda and Nick.

“It’s mine isn’t it?” Nick asked as they backed away from kissing and Melinda looked around, “I mean it is right?”

“Yeah.” Melinda said as Nick smiled and looked around at everybody in the room, “Are you mad?”

“No.” Nick said as he looked back at her and took a deep breath, “Wanna get married?”

“Huh?”

“Do you wanna marry me?”, he asked as he looked back around, “I mean, you’re in a beautiful wedding dress, I’m in a suit, everybody’s here, there’s a preacher God dude, you’re having a baby, whoa, and we love each other.”

“You wanna get married?” Melinda asked as Nick pressed his lips together and looked up at the ceiling.

“Yeah, let’s do it.” Nick whispered as Melinda smiled, leaning up to kiss him. He kissed her back and then turned back around, facing everybody, “Alright ya’ll sit back down, I’m taking the groom’s place.”

“I think he’s lost his mind.” Kevin said as the preacher cleared his throat, everybody sat back down, and he began reading the wedding vows.

“Alright, I’m taking bets right now on how long this marriage is going to last.” AJ said as he pulled a little notepad out of his jacket and started writing down numbers.

“Two months.” Howie said as AJ rolled his eyes at him, writing it down.

“Three years.” Brian said as AJ smiled a little a little, writing down his answer.

“A year.” Kevin said as AJ wrote that down and turned around in his seat, facing Aaron.

“Yo, little man, you wanna make a bet on how long this marriage is gonna last?” AJ asked as Aaron rubbing his chin, with a little smirk.

“They’ll get it annulled next week.” Aaron said as AJ cracked up laughing and everybody turned around looking at him.

“What? Go on with ya business.” AJ said as the wedding continued and he wrote down the bets in his notepad, writing down 4 months beside his name, “I guess we’ll see just how long this will last, won’t we?”