Waking Up in Vegas

Chapter 12

“I can’t believe the summer is already halfway over.” Rydel said dejectedly. Kristen nodded in agreement. “More than halfway technically, we’re already well into July.” She pointed out. Rydel shook her head and clamped her hands over her ears. “I don’t want to think about it! The end of summer means Carly moving out and I’m not ready for my new roommate to abandon me.” She pouted. Carly looked over at the two girls and smiled sorrowfully. She was sitting in the recliner across the room; they were both perched on the couch looking through wedding ideas on Kristen’s laptop. “I don’t want to think about it either.” She said sadly. “But we’re still going to see each other! After all, we all live here in L.A. And apparently I’m a bridesmaid now so I’ll be over here for wedding planning all the time.” She reminded her. Kristen nodded happily. Rydel nodded as well, still halfway frowning. “Yeah, but it won’t be the same.” Carly quickly turned her attention back to the thick textbook in her hands before she could dwell too long on the thought of moving out of the house she’d grown so accustomed to. With the summer coming to a close, she’d begun preparing for her final year of college at UCLA. Earlier in the week she’d gone to the school to discuss changing her living arrangement, given her current situation with Nichole. Rocky and Riker had accompanied her and been kind enough to move the rest of her things out of her old room while she dealt with working out new arrangements in the residence hall office. It had been nearly two weeks since the Vegas ‘scandal’ had erupted. Just as Kristen had predicted, the press had long forgotten Ross’s drunken Vegas escapade; they had moved on to some new stunt Miley Cyrus had pulled. After Ross had posted his apology to the R5 family, Carly had gone on Tumblr herself, just to see how the fans were reacting to the situation. Surprisingly, most of them were rather amused by everything.

‘Oh, Ross. I truthfully would have expected Rocky to pull a stunt like that rather than you!’

‘Who’d have thought Ross would get married before Riker?! ;D’

‘Why does this sound like the beginning to a really good fanfiction…? Someone make that happen!’

‘Awh Ross, maybe you should stay married awhile. Your mystery lady is gorgeous!’

‘Why is Ross apologizing? He isn’t the first 18 year old to get drunk. Enjoy your youth, sweetie; don’t let those Disney doofs get you down!’

‘I really want to know what this girl’s name is, ‘cause I’m shipping it like FEDEX!’

Carly felt herself grinning just thinking about the different comments she’d read. The R5 family had truthfully done a lot to lift her spirits over the past few days, though they still technically had no idea who she was. “So do you guys know when the final hearing is yet?” Kristen asked absentmindedly; she was focusing all of her attention on perfecting her wedding board on Pinterst. Carly shook her head. “No idea yet. It could be anytime between now and the end of the month. Or it could be sometime into August. The judge just told us someone would call the house when he got the finalized papers back for us to sign. He didn’t give us a specific date.” She frowned slightly. “Will that affect you starting classes? The annulment not being final?” Kristen questioned again. Carly shrugged as she turned her attention back to her book. “I have no idea, honestly. I don’t think so. Stormie told me just to act as if nothing happened until we get the papers signed. Since an annulment would technically mean the marriage never happened, there won’t be any record of it.” She shook her head and looked back up at the two girls across the room. “It’s weird…I know I’m married. But I don’t feel like I am. You know what I mean?” she asked. Kristen nodded. “You’re married on paper. You have a marriage, but not arelationship.” She pointed out. Carly nodded thoughtfully. “I guess that’s true.” She said quietly. Kristen smirked. “Or at least…it isn’t a relationship yet.” She teased. Carly glanced up from her book again and gave her a look. Rydel reached over and smacked her future sister-in-law’s arm. “Anything that may or may not happen between them needs to happen naturally.” She scolded playfully. Kristen smirked again and glanced back over at Carly. “Well a little nudge never hurt…” She teased quietly.