Wedding in Neverland (Sequel to You're Gone and I've Gotta Stay High)

Chapter 10- Scumbag Mark

"Jack, that is the girl from that night!" I whisper screamed as I pulled him into the men's restroom. Jack's face fell immediately.

"You don't think that has anything to do with why she's...."

"Jack, I think it has everything to do with what's going on."

Jack and I shared a look of partnership and a nod as we silently agreed to grill her.

We walked back out and Angela had her arms positioned so that her chest was popping out. This woman just didn't know how to quit. Jack mumbled something under his breath and we scooted back into our booth.

"Hello gentlemen. Now where were we?"

Jack took control of the situation before I could even collect my thoughts. Impressive for him. "You were just telling Alex that New York was a lovely place to have the wedding and he was telling you how he tended to stay away from the Big Apple recently."

Angela's eyes flickered and she licked her lips. "I don't recall that."

"It's true though. The last time I was there, I got into quite a big tussle."

"Yeah, what was that guy's name again? Matt? Mac?"

"Mark."

"Right! Scumbug Mark!"

Angela became noticeably more nervous. She fiddled with the straw in her drink and slouched in her seat.

"Have you ever been to New York, Angela?"

Jack and I both stared at her intensely. She took a long sip of her drink and looked out the window.

"I..."

"You whore! Alex recognized you so you might as well tell the truth! What the fuck kind of game are you playing?" Jack snapped. I flinched away from him and my mouth hung open.

Angela looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Alex, Jack, you don't understand-"

"I don't understand what?! I understand that you're trying to sabotage my two best friend's wedding for a disgusting fucktard that raped someone I care about!"

Angela stared at Jack in shock. "Please, let me explain" she begged.

Jack and I both leaned back and crossed our arms. "You have 5 minutes" I said sharply. Angela nodded and straightened up to begin her bullshit story.

"I'm not trying to sabotage your wedding. Not really. It's Mark."

My jaw tightened and I squeezed my hand into a fist. "Angela, you left that night in the bar. So why would you help him?"

"He came to me. After he got out of the hospital, I may add." She smirked a little and lifted her eyebrow. I smiled in pride and urged her to go on. Serves that bastard right.

"He came to me and threatened me. You see, they're setting up a case against him for his sexual offences. He recruited me to lie for him because he has something on me..."

"You aren't getting off that easy. I want the whole story" I spat.

Angela tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and suddenly, she didn't look so revolting.

"Your friend is right. I'm a whore... I used to be a prostitute..."

We both flung forward and Jack coughed like he had lung cancer. "What?!"

"It was just for two years! I was really down on my luck. I have a kid... I didn't know what to do. Then one day, Mark 'bought' me. He told he'd help me if I repaid him some day. He gave me enough money to quit and helped get me my first interview at the agency I work for. I really am a wedding planner. I never knew what he meant about repaying him until after the bar fight. He has pictures and evidence from my prostitute days and he's going to release them if I don't lie for him."

I sighed and rubbed my temples.

"Man Angela, I'm so sorry..." Jack whispered.

"But what does that have to do with me and Val getting married? What's the ploy there?"

Angela took a deep breath and shrugged.

"When Mark found out about you getting married, he said something about being able to spin the bar fight and get you in trouble. So he made sure I was hired to take your wedding and he wanted me to tempt you. He wants to make it look like you're some possessive dick who cheats on Val."

The color drained from my face. Val and Mark were friends right after we broke up... he probably knew about Lisa. Fuck, that guy could ruin my life.

"So you only went along with all of this to protect your own hyde?"

Angela threw her hands up in defense. "No! I mean yeah... but mainly for my kid. I can't go to jail, Alex. She needs me. But I hate this. I honestly do. I think you and Val are perfect and what you did that night was heroic."

I bit down on my tongue and thought for a moment.

"That doesn't explain what Val saw though."

She raised an eyebrow and waited for me to explain. I sighed and told her about how Val saw her rip off her glasses and make a face the other day.

Angela seemed almost amused. "Oh that? The glasses are fake and give me a headache. As for being disgusted, I am! I hate having to do this. I'm more like the Angela you guys see when Val is around."

Everyone was quiet after that. I believed her, of course. She just had the look of someone who was desperate and had no other choice. But what did this mean for the wedding?

"So what do I have to do then? To protect Val until Mark can get punished for what he did?"

Angela pursed her lips and stared at the table.

"Honestly Alex? Cancel the wedding... just for now."

My heart sunk. How could I do that? This was Val's dream wedding.

"But..."

"I know. But if you can hold off the wedding long enough for Amy to get all the witnesses together, Mark will get put away. Then, I swear I will personally make sure your wedding is the best it can be."

"Amy the bartender?" I questioned. Angela nodded and I noticed Jack suppress a grin. He remembered what I said about Amy being hot.

Jack put a hand on my shoulder and Angela offered me a weak smile. I had to do it. I had to protect Val and I had to make sure that our wedding wouldn't get ruined.

"Alright..." I agreed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You okay?" Jack asked as we pulled up to my house.

I looked over to see Val's car and rested my head against the window. "I have to go in there and tell Val we can't get married. Of course I'm not okay."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

I shook my head. "No, but after this, I'm sure she'll call you."

Jack tapped the steering wheel. "Or Roxy."

That made me remember something. "Yeah, about her. Are you ever going to tell me what happened between you two to make it awkward? You used to be close."

Jack cleared his throat and fidgeted. "She uh... told me she was in love with me before you and Val got back together."

"WHAT?! Does Callie know? What did you say? What happened?"

Jack laughed and punched me lightly in the chest. "Dude, calm your man titties. Nothing happened. I told her she meant way too much to me to complicate things and she was okay. We still talk but it's only strained because I feel bad. No, Callie doesn't know. Just because I want her and Roxy to be friends. Besides, Roxy and Jeremy are kind of..." then he started imitating like he was making out with someone.

"Oh yeah, Val told me about that. So you guys are okay?"

Jack nodded and looked at me, then to my house.

"Good luck..."

"Thanks man."

I double updated. Oops.