In Dreams She Came

Chapter 20: The Point of No Return

Catherine paced the room nervously. "Gerard Butler is going to be there."

"So?" Ashley laughed. "I mean, it's wonderful, but why are you nervous?"

"Hello? Gerard. Freaking. Butler."

"Catherine, if you don't sit down and let me finish, your hair won't look right," Mari sighed. "When does Matt get here?"

"I don't know," Catherine sighed.

"I swear, if Josh was here-"

"Josh?" Scarlett question, making a face. "I still don't understand what you see in him."

"He gives me confidence," Mari sighed, "to speak my mind. He's a good man."

"If he gives you confidence to speak your mind, then why don't you just tell him you like him and start dating?" Catherine sighed.

"If I did," Mari sighed, "I wouldn't be able to do anything with him. Probably wouldn't be able to kiss him when I wanted, be too freaked out. I don't know how you and Matt can be so calm about it. It seems more horrifying than enjoyable."

Catherine shrugged. "The first time he kissed me, it came out of nowhere. After that, it almost seemed wrong not to. When you're truly in love, kissing just seems natural."

"Oh," Mari said with a twinge of worry. "You don't get nervous at all? About doing something wrong or stupid or messing it all up?"

"All the time," Catherine laughed nervously. "But sometimes you just have to trust the other person and know that they are going to love you no matter what."

"Just go for it?"

"Yeah. I mean, not aggressively," Catherine chuckled. "But when the time feels right, go for it."

"Right."

"Is there something you aren't telling me?" Catherine asked slowly.

"I'm just lonely, I suppose," Mari lied quickly. "I haven't spent much time with you since forever."

"We should plan a day at the mall," Catherine smiled. "Remember when we used to go into the stores where the cute guys worked and pretend to be all helpless?"

"It horrifies me now," Mari laughed. "Those poor men. Besides...I think I'm happy the way things are."

Catherine was about to respond when there was a knock on the front door. "I'm not ready. Ashley, can you get it?" Catherine sighed.

"Sure," she smiled, running off. "Scarlett, stop twirling in your dress. You'll make yourself dizzy."

"Okay."

Ashley opened the door and smiled. "Hi Matt. Catherine's almost ready."

Matt checked his watch and gave a little frown. "Almost? It's getting late."

Ashley shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you. You've been dating for like a year now. You should be used to this."

Catherine came rushing out. "I'm ready! Scarlett, stop spinning and put on your shoes."

The group quickly made their way to the opera house. Upon entering, Catherine blushed and whispered, "I'm going to die. Somebody slap me."

"Only if you can slap me first," Mari whispered back. "Gosh, he's so much hotter in person."

"I know, right?" Catherine gasped.

Matt slipped back to the sound booth through the shadows. "Why aren't you ready?" He whispered to Josh.