UNBREAKABLE

Twenty Five

             "Stop it JR."

"I can't breathe. I feel like this damn tie is trying to choke me man"

"Then take it off but stop fidgeting you're driving me nuts"

"Go Fuck yourself Nick. You don't know what it's like to be in my place. Why isn't she here yet?"

"Women are always late to their weddings stop checking your watch." Nick whispered but he wasn't listening.

JR checked his watch for the umpteenth time. Hayley was taking too long to come out. Of course most brides were fashionably late to their weddings but it had been an hour already and he wasn't a patient man. "Nick go and see what's taking so long" he told his friend who just rolled his eyes. Earlier that day Nick had called just to make sure he was still the best man. He didn't want to show up just for JR to kick him out. But then again they'd been friends for so long that whatever fight they had was forgotten almost immediately. That's how friendships worked.

"Calm down. She'll be out any second now" Nick said but he was already leaving to go and check on the bride before the groom had a meltdown. He had never seen his friend so nervous. JR kept fidgeting with his cuff links and adjusting his tie. Nick had to slap his hands away to make him stop. Bumping into Jasmine in the hallway he asked "Hey Jazz where's Hayley?"

"I don't know" she shrugged her shoulders.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I left her in her room to go check if they were ready for her to come out and when I came back she was gone"

"Gone where?" Nick could feel a sliver of panic crawling up his spine.

"I don't know......"

"Stop telling me you don't know. Go find her, she must be somewhere around h......" he stopped when he heard Shree's voice.

"Hayley you can't be serious. Please stop and think about this"

"Where is she?" Hayley asked not really caring what her friend thought. She was leaving and no one was going to stop her.

"Is something wrong?" Nick asked the two women. Shree looked worried while Hayley looked murderous.

"No. Nothing is wrong. Have you seen Alexis?" Hayley asked him.

"I think she's outside mingling with the guests. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm peachy Nick. Can you bring her to me please?"

"Hayley......"

"I just want to see her. Can you do that or do I have to go out there?"

"Fine I'll be right back with her." Nick left and Shree picked up where she had left.

"Hayley think about this please. Everyone is out there waiting for........"

"I don't care Shree. Leave me alone"

"Is there something I should know?"

"No. Nothing that concerns you" Hayley told Jazz who was taken aback by the tone of her voice. Even when she was mad, Hayley had never spoken to her like that.

"Where is my....." JR stopped. Hayley, Jazz and Shree were standing by the staircase but he only saw one person. She looked stunning almost ethereal in that white dress. For a moment he forgot how to breath. "Wow" he muttered then shook his head. Later he would enjoy taking that dress off but first they had to say 'I do'. "What are we waiting for? The guests are becoming antsy" he said waiting for an answer but they didn't answer him.