The Strength of Love

Chapter One: The Lucky Girl

 Aidan held the cream colored manilla invite. It blandly shouted out in silver font: You are cordially invited to Chandler Kedrian's bachler party! Aidan stared at the words. Why the heck did I get this?! Sure.... he'd known Chandler in high school, but who hadn’t? He was good- looking, smart, and charming. Basically, the school's super star. It's not like I'm friends with him.... Aidan didn't talk to Chandler. Once upon a time, they had been inseparable. But that was long, long, ago. Stuff had.... happened. Why do I even care? Deep down inside Aidan knew why he cared. Because Annette did. The feeling sunk inside of Aidan like he was a dark pit. Annette liked him, and Aidan caught her staring at Chandler more times than he was willing to admit. So hey, why not go to this jerk's party? Take a couple drinks, party a little, and see what kind of fool would fall for Chandler. It'll be just like old times. And when the time was ripe, Aidan would gently break it down for Annette. She would thank him and they'd be together like they were meant to be. Who would marry Chandler anyway?

"Yo man! I didn't think you'd make it!" Chandler clapped Aidan's back hesitantly. To be honest, Chandler hadn't thought Aidan would come. He had only really invited him for old times’ sake, and for Annette of course. Everything would always be for Annette. Aidan tensed up, then relaxed again, breaking into an easy grin. A caterer walked by and Chandler grabbed two champanges for the both of them. Aidan drank the carbonated white wine gladly.

"So, who's the lucky girl?" Aidan flashed a wry smile. Any girl would be lucky to NOT get involved at all with Chandler. That backstabber. Ok.... so it really hadn't been Chandler's fault that any of that had happened. After all, it'd only been freshman year of high school. He actually hadn’t done anything at all…except stand there and let it happen. But, still. We were best friends! Nothing was supposed to come between us... ever. Not a girl, not sports, not anything. The girl would always pick Chandler. Just like in freshman year. The new girl, Evangeline, had been beautiful, exotic, and Annette's best friend. Chandler and I both liked her, but she chose Chandler. True, he was the better person, but still. Left alone, Aidan and Annette had become best friends. Annette didn't know it yet, but she loved Aidan. Aidan could feel it in his bones. They were meant to be.

Chandler coughed. Ha. Ha. Inside Aidan laughed dryly. He looks like a lovesick fool. "Well, uh, you know.... that gorgeous girl Annette from high school?" Aidan's heart stopped. No, duh, idiot. Please, please let this not be going where I think it is. "Of course you know her, you guys are best friends! Well, I'm actually the lucky one. I love her, and as fate would have it, she loves me too!" Chandler smiled, looking amazed at his own luck. Aidan wanted to punch something. This is high school… again.

Aidan could hear the blood rushing in his ears.  Chandler’s voice sounded distant and far off.

"Hey, dude, you alright?" Chandler's voice colored with concern. Aidan smirked, fake concern, of course. What else would it be?

"I... uh... I'll be back." Aidan backed out nonchalantly until Chandler turned, shaking his head. Aidan felt like he couldn’t breath. Then, he ran.

Aidan fumbled with his cell phone. It was happening again! Freshman year all over again. Numbly, he punched the buttons.

"Hello? Hello?" Through the ear piece Annette's voice pierced the chilled silence. It sounded pinched and strained. What had that creep done to her? Aidan's blood pounded.

"HOW COULD YOU NOT TELL ME?!" Aidan screamed, letting all his anger at Chandler resurface.

"Aidan, calm down. What are you talking about?!" Now Annette sounded exhausted and irritated. What had I said wrong?

"YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED TO THAT CREEP!"

"Aidan, I thought you knew... I told you! You laughed! And that ‘creep’ has a name, it’s Chandler. I happen to love him very much! I thought you would have supported me! You're my best friend!" Annette’s voice dropped to a whisper. “If it slipped my mind, I’m sorry. But maybe it’s because I knew you’d react like this.”

Aidan thought back. Yes, she did tell me, but I'd laughed it off as a joke. Now he knew it was real. The joke was on him and it wasn't funny anymore.

"Yea! Well..." Aidan nearly spat out YOU WERE WRONG! but instead he heard something he hadn't expected to hear. Annette was crying.

"Well, what?" Annette sniffled, "I can decide things for my own you know! I appreciate the concern, or whatever that is, but no thanks."

"Well, congratulations. I'm happy for you. I'm sorry. " Aidan knew he sounded fake. He didn't care. He hung up his phone.

On the other end Annette was speechless. This was her best friend.

*                                              *                                              *

Annette stormed into the party room in the restaurant where Chandler's bachelor party was. Her wedding shower wasn't until the next day, so she had been home not doing much of anything. She smiled when she saw Chandler; it wasn't him she was mad at.

"Hi babe," she greeted him happily. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. Chandler wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.

"Hey," he replied just as happily. He wasn't upset Annette had come to his party, just curious. Her face seemed a little tear streaked. "Um...something wrong?" Annette nodded a little. Chandler frowned, concerned. "Can I help?" She shook her head.

"No, I think I have to handle this," she replied. She angrily walked over to Aidan, who had come back in and was drinking champagne. She tapped his shoulder, and he turned around.

"Annette..." He said, surprised and a little uncomfortable; he had just made her cry.

"Ever since freshman year you've hated Chandler and have wanted nothing to do with him.  That was 10 years ago! Just let it go. You won't let me make my own descisions without getting mad that I didn't tell you what I was going to do! It's my life so let me handle it! I’m not a little girl anymore!" Aidan scoffed and shook his head, as rage bubbled up inside of Annette.

"Well in freshman year," Aidan replied smugly, "Chandler chose Evangeline over you. I was just trying to protec--" Just then Annette wound up to punch Aidan in the stomach. Aidan quickly put his hand to Annette's forehead as she ran towards him, swinging her fists.

Annette yelled at Aidan, "Stop!" It was humiliating. Half the room was watching her run towards Aidan without any progress. She didn't remember Aidan being so strong. Aidan let go of her forehead. Annette punched him in the stomach and she bounced back a little from the force. Aidan winced just a little and quickly shoved Annette away from him, gently, or so he thought. Annette went flying backwards and one of her flailing arms hit a tray a caterer was holding. The champagne glass shattered and a shard of glass cut deep into her fingers. She let out a cry of pain. Before she could even take a step towards Aidan, Chandler had run over to Aidan and had him pinned against the wall.

"Don't you dare touch her!" He bellowed.

 Aidan smirked. "Or you’ll what? Tell your mommy? Don't tell me what to do." He kicked Chandler in the gut and Chandler doubled over. The small brawl turned into an all-out fist fight in seconds.

"Stop!" Annette shreiked, running in between them. "Stop it right now!" Chandler stopped at the sound of Annette's voice, but Aidan took longer to calm down. Annette looked at both Aidan and Chandler. Chandler had a bloody nose and Aidan had several cuts littering his cheeks. Annette shook her head. "I've never been more disappointed in you two." She looked at Chandler. "I'll see you tomorrow when you're in a better mood." She turned and quickly walked out, tears begining to stream down her face as she left a trail of blood from her fingers.

"Annette..." Chandler said, sighing as he took a step towards her. Aidan clamped a hand down on Chandler's shoulder, stopping him.

"She obviously doesn't want to talk to you right now." Chandler shook Aidan's hand off his shoulder, disgusted.

"At least she'd rather talk to me than to you." Aidan face changed to a look of hurt. "Get out of here," Chandler said. Aidan turned and stormed out to his car. He had a plan.