Jess and Darcy

Before the Big Day

I put my knitted hat on and ring the doorbell. My parents answer the door and explain to me that Cassidy and Tristan are already out in the barn. Darcy and I trudge through a foot of snow to the barn where Cassidy waves to us. We stand and talk for a while, waiting for the others. Once they arrive Becca assigns jobs to everyone. Tristan and Darcy are going to hang the twinkle lights all around the barn. Cassidy and I are going to shovel and lay wood planks from here to the back door of my parent's house, so the guests don't have trudge through snow to get to the bathroom or to wait for us to set up the reception after the ceremony. Becca and Simon are going to set up the chairs and Emma is going to set up the flowers. There's a lot of 'setting up' happening. Theo is going to set up and decorate the altar, and Stewart is going to put the tables and tablecloths in the backroom, ready to be brought out after the ceremony. Megan is going to set up the dressing room in the keeper room and make the finishing touches on the wedding dress. We all get to work, and after a while we finish.

I hug everyone. "Thanks so much guys."

Darcy nods, "We couldn't have done it without you."

"You really think we'd let you help with all our weddings, and not help you with yours." Becca shakes her head.

Simon laughs. "Yeah who do you think we are, Stinkerbelle?."

That afternoon, I grab my duffel bag and put on my coat. "I'm going to Megan's, Darcy!" I call up the stairs. He runs down and hugs me.

"I'll see you tomorrow when you're looking all fancy." He waggles is eyebrows. I laugh and open the door. "Hey!" He points to the mistle toe hanging on top of the door frame. That wasn't there a few hours ago. I roll my eyes and give him a quick kiss. I try to pull away, but he wraps his arms around my waist. "Darcy, I have to..." I lose my train of thought as he tugs my braid telling me to shut up. I go along for a few seconds and then I start to forget why I had to go in the first place. Then he takes the duffel bag away and I remember I have a bachelorette party to go to. I lightly shove him away, "I have to go."

He grins. "Sorry." He doesn't look very sorry. Correction: He looks the opposite of sorry.

I roll my eyes, take back the duffel bag and walk out the door. "Love you."

"Love you too."

I close the door and then run to my car, Megs is going to be angry if I'm late.

I pull into the driveway of Megan and Simons ginormous house. Megan's fashion design career is taking off, she's even working with people like Stella McCartney, Vera Wang, and of course Wolfgang. I meet Simon at the door, he's putting on his coat.

"Hey Jess, they're inside."

"Where are you going?"

"Darcy, Kyle, Stewart, Theo, Tristan and I are all going to Home run." Home run is a sports bar, with a bunch of games like pool, foosball, and air hockey. They have like 50 tv's with every sports game on imaginable. They do like arm wrestling tournaments and of course watch the Bruins, Red Socks, Celtics, and Patriots.

"Don't do anything too crazy, I need a conscious, functioning groom at my wedding tomorrow."

Simon salutes. "Yes ma'am. He will return to base unscathed."

"Thank you, general." I salute back and then head into the house.

I'm greeted with a whole lot of glitter, champagne, confetti, and squealing.

"The bride to be is here!" Becca wraps a boa around my neck and places a tiara on my head. The foyer has streamers hanging all over, and Becca ushers me into the kitchen. Emma and Cassidy shove a pink cup in my one hand and a cupcake in the other. The ginormous kitchen island is lined with desserts. Megan's house has an open floor plan, making it look even bigger than it already is. The living room has a little karaoke station set up, along with a chick-flic marathon on the big flat screen tv. 10 Things I Hate About You is playing currently. I catch Emma sighing at the dreamy Heath Ledger. Megan takes my duffel bag and brings it up stairs to one of the guest rooms. Savannah blasts Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and every other artist my chickens are named after. Cassidy starts dancing on the couch, and Megan shoves her off.