Planning Your Future

Just Breathe (Part 1)

May 30, 1992

Veronica's POV

Erika and I tackle our packing together. We can't wait to get home for the summer. Alyssa decided to spend the summer with her grandparents to be with me. I think she also didn't want to stay in Indiana. I don't blame her from what she's told me. As we're loading the stuff into my trunk, she hugs me. "I'm gonna miss you!" She's really squeezing me. "I'll see you in August. You'll be fine." I say. "I know. Just... have fun. And I hope the wedding goes well, Miss Maid of Honor!" I am going to be super busy this summer. Luckily camp will be my week off from my duties. Heather said she'd take over for both me and JD that week.

I help to get her stuff into her car before we hug one final time. I get to Sherwood at midnight. I don't unpack or even wake my dad up. The next morning, there's a knock at my door. My dad comes in, "I didn't know you were home! You should've woke me up." He frowns. "I'm sorry. I was really tired so I figured I'd talk to you in the morning."

We talk for a little before I have to go to the Dean house. Jill hugs me, "Veronica! I'm so glad to see you! You got your dress picked out right?" I nod. I searched every store in Boston for the color. Our bridesmaids dresses are a dark green color. We were allowed to pick different styles since we didn't look good in the same things. I'm bringing it to the tailor's tomorrow. The only time I could be here for her was when she was getting her dress.

JD comes downstairs, stopping when he sees me. He doesn't seem to be upset that I'm here. He seems more confused. It's obvious he just woke up. "Good morning, sleepyhead! Are you ready to help me and Veronica with planning?" She grins. "Yeah." Jill excitedly guides us into the living room which is covered in wedding things. We spend the next couple of hours helping organize things.

Once she lets us take a break for today, she looks at JD, "Honey, are you two okay? You don't seem as friendly. You're normally much more... intimate." JD cringing at his mom using the word "intimate" while talking about his love life. I do the same. He looks at me as if he's afraid to tell her that I broke up with him. I motion for him to just do it. "We actually decided to be friends." Jill gasps, "What?" This is what I was afraid of. "It's okay, Mom. We are both in relationships with other people." That makes her gasp again. "We're fine and we can work together on the wedding." He assures her. "Well that's sad." She sighs and goes into the kitchen.

I leave, feeling sad for Jill. She was the one that was always rooting for us. But she'll move on, especially when she meets Zoe. She'd be crazy not to like her. Though she'll probably never meet Alyssa as my girlfriend. At least not until I'm sure I can trust her.

JD's POV

I cautiously go into the kitchen. My mom's pouring herself a glass of wine, more than she should drink though. "Are you okay?" I'm tempted to take the glass away from her, for her safety and mine. "I'm alright. I'm just a little stressed over wedding plans and then I'm a little sad my baby broke up with a girl I considered my daughter." She puts her hands on  my cheeks in the way mothers do. "Well she broke up with me. But I don't care about specifics. We're happy as just friends and we're both happy in our relationships." I tell her. "Who are you dating?" She asks. "Her name's Zoe. She also goes to Harvard." I probably should ask Zoe if she wants to be my date to the wedding. "Then I'm happy for you." She goes to take a sip of her wine but I take it from her. "You do not need this. Let alone this much." She barely even protests.

May 31, 1992

Veronica's POV

I drop my dress off at the tailor's along with my measurements. After I pay, I walk outside. All the college students are running around, ready to start their summer. I go to Beanie's for coffee. I barely slept last night. I stayed up, planning the wedding ceremony out. As I'm in line someone covers my eyes with their hands. "Guess who?" A familiar voice whispers in my ear. I turn around and Alyssa hugs me. "I missed you! I couldn't wait for you to get back here." Alyssa left Boston a week ago. "So apparently Dan's mother is really sick, so we're getting a new counselor." She tells me. "Cool. Do you know who it is?" I'm sad about Dan but I didn't really know him that well.

The bell on the door rings, signaling that someone has come in. I don't bother seeing who it is until I hear him scoff. I know it's Henry so I don't turn around. "So Ryan and Natalie are coming back right?" I'd be sad if it was only me, Alyssa, and JD. It'd also be really awkward. "I know Ryan is for sure. I'm pretty sure about Natalie. Is JD coming or is it still super awkward?" He said he was but he could change his mind. "I think so. But it isn't awkward as much as it was on New Years Eve. But now he's in a new relationship and I am as well. The wedding planning is doing nothing but making us better friends." Speaking of which. "So do you want to..." I'm afraid to fully ask in case someone hears. "Yes." She can't hold my hand so she subtly wraps her finger around mine.

After I get my drink, we start to walk out. Henry grabs my arm. "Hey! Get your hands off her!" Alyssa tries to pull my arm away from him. He shoves her and pulls me outside, into the alley. "What the fuck!" He pushes me against the wall. "What?" What did I do? I haven't seen him since December. "I just found out Heather got transferred to another prison. I can only imagine that's your doing!" So she did decide to leave. Good for her! "Well technically it's your doing since you're the reason she wanted to be transferred. If you didn't out her, she wouldn't have to go to a different prison." At least he can't torture her now. "Of course you helped her. You're probably a dyke like her. I heard you say you and JD broke up. Let me guess: You dumped him for that girl you've been spending so much time with." Fuck him. "No. We just decided to break up. And I'm not dating that girl. She's just my friend. It's none of your business." I cross my arms.

He grabs my face with his hand, "If I find out that's not true, I will ruin you. And that girl." I dare you asshole! I'll kill him if he hurts her. I don't care what he does to me, but he better not ruin her life. "Threaten me and I'll fuck you up." I push him away from me. Alyssa is waiting around the corner. "Are you okay?" She asks. "Fine."

Once we're at my house, she starts getting stressed out. "Alyssa, it's going to be okay." I try to stop her pacing. "I heard him. If he finds out, I'm screwed." She begins hyperventilating. "Hey!" I take her hands. "Just breathe, Alyssa. He's not going to find out, I promise." She calms down. "Come here." I hold her.

June 1, 1992

JD and I sit on the couch, trying to figure out where everyone would stand during the ceremony. "So what about the order of how we walk down and back up?" JD looks at the names of the groomsmen and bridesmaids. "I'd say we do me, Kevin, Drew, then Tim. And for bridesmaids we do Beth, Rebecca, Heather then you." He writes that down on a piece of paper. "Perfect." I look through the binder I made. "So I heard Henry cornered you at Beanie's." JD says as he hands me the notes he wrote. "Who told you that?" I take it and put it in the binder. "Alyssa. I ran into her this morning. She was really worried because apparently he threatened you both. What did you do?" He asks. "Heather was getting attacked in prison after Henry outed her, so I helped her get transferred. And Henry's mad I did that." He rolls his eyes. "He needs to get over himself." I nod. He really does.