Consequences

16

The outside of the church was like a circus. It was the biggest event Miami had seen in a while. Athletes and celebrities piled into the church. Photographers snapped pictures of all the A-list wedding guests as they walked up the Tiffany Blue carpet rolled out over the steps of the church. The bride's room was buzzing. Fantasia stood in one spot as her style team primped her for her special day. Zaria and Armani also enjoyed the special treatment. They were both picked as maids of honor. There was a knock at the door. Mckenna and Taraji walked into the room. Mckenna was dressed in an all-white suit. Taraji wore black.
"Hello, beautiful,"
Mckenna said as she hugged Fantasia.
"You ready to do this?"
"Yes, Mckenna, I am ready."
Fantasia turned around and looked at Taraji. Armani, Mckenna, and Zaria knew it was time to make an exit. They pulled the style team into the adjoining room.

Taraji looked at Fantasia. It was the first time they had seen or talked to each other since their incident.
"You look beautiful, Fantasia,"
Taraji said in a sullen voice.
"You look quite dashing as well."
Fantasia smiled.
"Look, Taraji-"
"Shhhhh."
Taraji put her finger up to Fantasia's lips.
"There is no need to say anything, I am still your friend, I love you, Fantasia."
Their eyes locked.
Taraji knew it was wrong, but she wanted to kiss her. She leaned in for the kill, Fantasia received the kiss with no hesitation. Her nails grazed Taraji's chin as she grabbed her neck to deepen the kiss. Unaware of how long the kiss lasted they heard the sound of someone trying to get into the room.
"Will someone unlock this door!"
Kelsey yelled from the other side.
"Shit!"
Fantasia and Taraji scuffled to get Armani and Zaria back into the room.
"We will wait in there."
Taraji walled in a small office with Mckenna.

Zaria opened the door to find Kelsey looking upset.
"Were sorry, Mrs. King, we just wanted to have a special best friend moment with her. Forgive us."
"Oh, it's perfectly all right. Now let me look at my baby."
She put her hands on Fantasia's shoulders.
"My baby, you are about to become Mrs.Kendall Taylor."
She hugged Fantasia.
"Oh, mother, come on."
She turned to see Zaria crying. The makeup artist was quickly trying to stop her tears from messing up her makeup.
"Zaria!"
Fantasia exclaimed.
"I'm sorry. This is just so special."
Fantasia walked up to Armani and Zaria to give one last group hug. They heard the sound of the processional music playing. It was showtime.

Mckenna and Taraji waited till the coast was clear. Mckenna looked at Taraji.
"Bruh, are you going to be all right?"
Mckenna asked as she put her hand on Taraji's shoulder.
"Yeah, I am going to be fine. But I can't lie. I wish I was Kendall right about now."
They headed out of the room to find their seats.
The sanctuary was draped in the Tiffany colors of white and blue. The white roses were lined with the signature Tiffany Blue ribbon. Taraji smiled at the sight. She remembered Fantasia saying that she was going to have the Tiffany signature color for her wedding. She remembered them watching a special on celebrity weddings. Fantasia fell in love with Toni Braxton's wedding cake. It was shaped like little Tiffany and Company jewelry boxes.

The bridesmaids and groomsmen began to come into the church.
"Damn, I didn't know we were getting a concert too,"
Mckenna whispered and nudged Taraji. Suddenly K-Ci & JoJo approached the front, singing, "This Very Moment." It was Kendall and Fantasia's song. The crowd stood as they continued singing. Fantasia was standing in the entryway. Taraji felt butterflies fill her stomach as Fantasia began to walk into the church. Taraji had never seen a more beautiful sight. Fantasia made it to the front, and her father placed her hand in Kendall's. Taraji took a deep breath. She really had to give her up now.

The wedding ceremony was refined. The preacher talked about love and the union of marriage. Taraji tried to concentrate, but was constantly interrupted with Mckenna whispering things about the various celebrities in the church. Taraji looked at Zaria and Armani. Both of them were crying. Soon the preacher made it to the famous line. "If anyone objects to the union of these two, speak now or forever hold your peace."
"Bruh, if you speak we will instantly be at the most entertaining wedding ever,"
Mckenna whispered to Taraji causing her to snicker. She was glad no one noticed her.
"OK then."
The ceremony went by in a flash. Within minutes it was time to kiss the bride.
"Well, by the power vested in me and the state of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss your bride."
Kendall leaned in and kissed Fantasia passionately.
Taraji felt her heart break. Kendall and Fantasia turned to the crowd as the preacher introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Kendall Taylor. The crowd went wild with people clapping and yelling. Taraji sank down in the pew, trying not to let a tear fall.

There was a loud bang on the right side of the sanc-tuary. An informally dressed woman rushed into the sanctuary.
"No! I can't be too late. No!"
she yelled as she ran toward Kendall and Fantasia.
Fantasia took a look at the woman, recognizing her as the same woman who'd approached her in front of the restaurant.
"No! I have something to say."
Kendall looked as though he had seen a ghost. Suddenly the bodyguards bum-rushed the woman, carrying her out of the church. She yelled the whole way.
"No, no, this isn't right, this isn't right!"
The woman's cries were finally silenced by the closing door. Peaches, Kendall's publicist, ran to the front of the church.
"Everyone, let me have your attention. We are so sorry about that spectacle. She was a disgruntled fan who is not too happy about seeing her favorite basketball player marrying someone. But since there are so many of us that are happy about this wonderful union, let's let our happy couple go, and we will see you all at the reception."

Everyone cheered as Kendall and Fantasia ran down the isle out of the church. Mckenna and Taraji sat in their seats for a few minutes. Nic quickly joined them.
"Wow, that was something, wasn't it?"
Nic said as she took a seat next to Mckenna.
"Hell yeah, but I ain't buying what the lady had to say. I bet that's some bitch that Kendall has been fucking that is pissed that he is married now,"
Mckenna said as she eyeballed a cute girl, who was obviously eyeing her as well.
"Well, I am about to head out to this reception so that I can get more acquainted with a few of these high-society bitches up in here. T, you coming?"
Taraji was in a daze. She looked up at Mckenna.
"Nah, I think I am going home. I have had enough to last me a while."
She got up and headed out the church. Mckenna and Nic headed off to the reception.

"Armani Renee Davis."
Armani got goosebumps when she heard a deep voice call her full name. She turned around and smiled.
"Rome, it really can't be you,"
Armani said as she looked at the tall, handsome man standing behind her in the cake line.
"In the flesh."
Rome hugged Armani.
"I thought that was you in the wedding."
"Oh, my goodness. What are you doing here? Who do you know?"
"The groom. We went to school together. I can't believe I am standing in front of my first love."
Rome smiled. Armani noticed he still had the most adorable dimples.
"I can't believe I am standing in front of my first love as well. This is so surreal."

"Hey, Armani,"
Carmen said as she walked up to the two. She noticed the large smile on Armani's face.
"Wow. Who has you smiling like this?"
Zaria looked at Rome.
"Zaria, this is Roman Robinson. Or as I used to call him, Roro."
She smiled as she looked at Rome's eyes. He was blushing.
"Oh my goodness, I can't believe you just did that." Rome shook Zaria's hand.
"Please forgive my beautiful ex. No one called me that but her."
Rome locked eyes with Armani. They couldn't stop staring at each other. Zaria noticed the connection.
"Well, I guess I will leave you all to catch up, OK." Zaria walked off when she realized they did not hear her.

Armani and Rome quickly made it to an empty table and began to catch up on old times. Rome was now a sports agent.
"I am so proud of what you have become, Rome. You know I thought you were destined to be a thug for the rest of your life."
Armani laughed.
"No, no. I outgrew that as soon as we got to Atlanta.
It was the best decision that my mother ever made." Rome and Armani were inseparable for three years. She was the good girl who fell in love with a neighborhood thug. Only Armani was able to see his sensitive side. After his brother was shot and killed, Roman's mother moved them to Atlanta. He was her first and only male lover, the only man she ever had sex with.
"The only regret was that I had to leave you."
Rome looked at Armani with a very serious look. She felt butterflies in her stomach. She wanted to change the subject.
"So where are your wife and children?"
Armani said, trying to stop herself from staring into his deep brown eyes.

"No such luck. I have never been married, and I have no children. So where is the man that I am going to have to beat up?"
Armani and Rome laughed. He always used to beat up any guy who tried to look at her.
"I don't have a man. Actually, um, there is something that I think you should know."
Armani knew she had to tell him she was a lesbian. She looked into his eyes. She had forgotten just how beautiful his eyes were.
"Armani?"
Rome calling her name snapped Armani back to reality.
"What did you want to say?"
"Oh, I think you should know. You should know..." Armani looked into his eyes again.
"Um, I don't have a man. I am single as can be."
Rome smiled.
"Well, that has got to be the best news"
Armani smiled. She knew she had to tell him, but she didn't want to spoil the reunion. They spent the rest of the night catching up.