Omniscient POV:
Seasonal cheerfulness was in the air for most of those in the wedding as they all drove to Dylan's parent's house in Tallahassee for their next gathering.
His parents were out of town for the month, visiting Europe, and he thought it best to use the house's multiple rooms and vast space to host tonight's hangout. Aria, Sade, and Lauren were excited to be back home to see family. Hunter, however, had been dreading this day ever since Dylan suggested this location to use. Unlike everyone else except the other three bridesmaids, she no longer felt this place to be her home. Aside from her senior year of high school, Tallahassee, Florida no longer held any significance in her life or heart.
"All right, we've got the fridge stocked, snacks in the pantry, the bedrooms are stocked.....babe, what am I missing?" Aria asked her fiancé who was adjusting the TV while she stood in the kitchen.
"Uhhh, did you ask everyone what they wanted to eat?" Dylan muttered through the tool in his mouth. "Or did we settle on pizza?"
"Shit, let me ask Hunter real quick," she said, pulling out her phone. "Okay what else, is that it?.... I feel like we're forgetting something..."
Just as Dylan finished up with the TV, he let out a breath while stepping down to face her. The two looked at each other, then around the room to mentally go through their checklist. Silence had fallen since they seemed to have everything.
Aria's eyes then fell to the empty coffee table between the two sofas and three large chairs. Dylan followed her gaze and a moment passed before he slightly gasped and quickly picked his head up, finding his fiancé's expression matched his.
"The gamess!!" The two yelled across the room to each other before both rushing to the door.
~~~~~~~~~~
Two hours later, Joi and Ivy were the first to arrive. Silas came about five minutes after that, and the five of them conversed at the kitchen island while waiting on everyone else.
"So, how long have you been a chef Silas?" Joi asked, subtly eyeing his appearance. Aria caught the look and smirked.
"Well, I've been a professional one for about five years now, but I've been cooking all my life."
"You went to culinary school?" Dylan asked, and he nodded,
"Dropped out of FAMU my junior year to attend this school in Seattle. But that only lasted six months because I left and just started my own restaurant."
"Wow Si, that's impressive," Aria complimented, but he shook his head.
"Oh believe me it took a lot of work to get where I am. I failed more times than I could count, and almost just gave up. But cooking was my dream, and I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else, so I kept trying."
"Honestly, that sounds even better," Joi commented and the group laughed.
The sound of the door opening and female voices coming from it caused all five of their heads to turn. Aria smiled and squealed, running to hug them all. And Lauren did something similar, after hugging Aria, running to hug Silas.
"Oh my God, I've missed youuu," she said with a giddy smile against his chest. He hugged her tight, smiling as well while they subtly rocked in their embrace.
"I'm so glad to see that you're okay," he whispered before pulling back to kiss her forehead. "I don't see you enough Bubs."
Lauren poked out her bottom lip, then playfully punched his chest, making him laugh. "Stop it before I start crying Si-"
