Thick & Thin

Chapter Forty-Two; Through Thick...and Thin

A friend is one who walks in when others walk out

At the front of the room, Michelle stood parallel to Brian while he spoke up the big announcement like he was making some big toast. With a smile plastered on her face she clasped her hands together in a shaky manner before folding her arms over her chest next, then biting down on one particular acrylic covered nail. It was evident she was excited about something.

"Get to the point boy." Vita, Brian's mother blurted out making everyone laugh. "Either she's knocked up or you all finally decided to tie the knot. In some cases it may even be both..whatever it is I don't have the patience to sit through this longwinded speech you got going."

"Vita!" Tina snatched the cup of eggnog from her sister and shook her head in shame.

"I'm just sayin."

Everyone chuckled but decided to keep it to themselves that they actually agreed with her. Whatever it was had to be important or urgent, they couldn't wait much longer.

"Come on Ma, stop being like that.." Brian frowned.

Michelle noticed the sly looks she kept receiving from everyone to hurry up and take center stage with the news before they beat it out of her.

She smirked with a sigh and decided to cut Brian off. She loved him dearly but sometimes he did tend to get off track with his conversations.

"Okay so listen, think back two weeks ago when Brian and I basically disappeared for the entire weekend."

"Yeah.." The few people who were aware of their little getaway replied.

"What are you saying?"

Chelle scrunched her face up and bit her lip. "Yall promise you're not gonna be mad?"

"Child!!"

Vita through a pillow their way indicating that her patience were growing thinner by the second.

"We kind of eloped."

"YOUWHAT!" Half the women shrieked while the men basically looked on in a nonchalant manner. They saw it coming sooner or later. But the ladies on the other hand were of course a little hurt by the fact that they weren't able to take part in the ceremony. They were all about tradition. All except for Michelle that is; she'd always been the independent one and very strong willed.

"Well when did he propose?"

"Where's the ring?"

Questions were being thrown left and right while the room's population lessened to that of just the women and an apprehensive Brian. The guys had discretely relayed their individual congratulations before filing out and going back to watch the big game on the TV in the basement. However the two wanted to display their love for one another was the least of their worries as long as they were happy. Eventually Brian followed their lead leaving the ladies alone.

"The ring is at home. I couldn't wear it around you all until I filled you in and I didn't want to do that until today!" She smiled in a pleading manner. The last thing she wanted was for her friends and extended family to be angry with her. "And we've been thinking about this for a while now, I just didn't want to tell anyone because I know how excited you can get about a wedding. I just wasn't in the mood for all of that stress. Ya'll forgive me right?"

They all gave her a sideways look before cracking smiles. Kelly stood up and hugged her best friend. "I for one am ecstatic right now. I didn't think you had it in you!"

"Kelly!!" Beyoncé shook her head and followed up with a hug of her own. "I'm not mad at ya boo. Not to sound all narcissistic or whatever but my fat ass stuffed in a bride's maid dress would not have been a pretty site anyway." She chuckled rubbing her belly.