True Colors

Sharing The News (Part 2)

"Get in frame. Come on!" Leila demanded. "You're not avoiding this." 

Apollo groaned. "Why do I have to do this? She scares me."

"You proposed."

"Don't make me regret that." He wagged a finger at her. 

She flashed a cheeky grin as the video call was accepted. Her best friend appeared on the screen. 

"Leila!" Jaycee exclaimed. She then noticed Apollo and her expression hardened. "Apollo." 

"Cut it out, Jaycee," Leila sighed. "You're going to scare him away, and then I won't be able to tell you the big news." 

Her friend’s amber eyes widened, and her jaw went slack. She shook herself, schooling her expression into indifference. “And what would this ‘big news’ be?”

“Oh, nothing much,” Leila said airily. She waved away the question with her left hand. 

Jaycee, ever the attentive reporter, furrowed her brows. “What’s on your left hand? Specifically the ring finger?”

Leila could practically sense Apollo’s eyes rolling as she held up her hand. “This? Oh, yeah, Apollo and I are engaged now.” 

She resisted the temptation to laugh as her friend’s eyes practically popped out of her head. “Since when?! Is this another one of those things you thought you told me, but you never actually mentioned?!”

“No, this is her being dramatic,” Apollo piped up. 

“You know, he’s not wrong,” she admitted, shrugging her shoulders. “It happened two days ago.”

“I was going to say, if you hid something big from me for months again…” Jaycee shook her head, her dark hair swishing from side to side. “So, how totally romantic was it? Rose petals and candles in that gazebo in the park on your anniversary?” 

“Why does everyone keep asking that?” Apollo asked. “For your information, that was the plan, but it didn’t quite go according to… plan.” 

She face-palmed. “How bad was it?” 

“Well, the anniversary of the day we met is actually today. Leila moved in with me two days ago. I had the ring box all ready to go in the pocket of my nicest suit jacket, but it must have fallen out when I rearranged my closet,” he explained. “She found it and figured out what it was, so I didn’t really have a choice but to do it then.” 

“It still made me cry, in case you were wondering. Happy tears, of course.” 

“I mean, as long as you said yes, I guess it doesn’t really matter.” Jaycee sighed. “I swear, you two and your relationship… It’s something straight out of a fanfic.” 

“Oh, shut up.” Leila rolled her eyes at her best friend since high school. “My turn to be the reporter. What’s the scoop on Jaycee’s love life?”

“Well, it’s still nonexistent, so…” She shrugged. “There are more important matters right now. Like when’s the wedding? And when are we going dress shopping? For you and me, because we all know I’m going to be the maid of honor.” 

Leila grinned. “Check with your sister, too. At this point, Nadia is practically my little sister. I want her as one of my bridesmaids.”

“Who else is going to be in the wedding?” 

“Apollo’s sister and sister-in-law will also be bridesmaids,” she listed. “His brothers and two of his friends are going to be groomsmen. His niece and nephew will be the flower girl and ring bearer. And I’m pretty sure his mom is dead-set on planning the whole thing.” 

“Wait, I knew about the niece, but since when does he have a nephew?” Jaycee asked.

“Since two days ago,” Apollo contributed. “I put the ring on her finger and got a call that my sister-in-law had gone into labor.” 

“Like I said, fanfic.” 

“Like I said, shut up.” 

“So, you’re going to have two friends as groomsmen? Tell me about them,” Jaycee demanded, setting her chin on her hand. “I need to know if I even have a shot.”

“Didn’t take you for the desperate type.” 

“I’m just wondering, that’s all!” She sighed. “At this rate, Nadia’s going to find her soulmate before I do.” 

Leila cocked her head, grinning. “I don’t know about that.” 

“I’ll bet you twenty dollars.” The bronze-skinned girl crossed her arms over her chest. 

“Accepted.” 

After a brief staring contest, Apollo interrupted. “Okay, I’m leaving. You two have your own language, and I don’t understand any of it.” 

Leila kissed his cheek before he left the room. Jaycee faked a gag. “Sorry, I’m allergic to cuteness. Also, that is not fair, because I’m still very, very single.” 

“You sound like James,” she laughed. “You sure you don’t want to give him a shot?”

“If he’s as much like you as you say he is…” Jaycee’s grimace told her all she needed to know.

She raised her eyebrows. “Fine, Nadia can be my maid of honor while you hand out programs.” 

“No, no, that’s not how this works.” 

“Don’t tell me how this works. It’s my wedding,” Leila teased. 

Jaycee rolled her eyes. “You know I’m your best friend.” 

“Unfortunately, you’re correct.” 

“Excuse me?” Leila’s friend pressed a hand to her chest, feigning offence. “You want to rephrase that?”

She smirked. “No, I don’t think I will.” 

“Nerd.” 

“Loser.” 

“Your friendship is weird.” 

“No one asked for your opinion, Sunshine.”

A/N: Honestly, I continue to surprise myself every time I update this story. I never meant for it to be as long as it is, but I'm so glad that I have expanded it to this point. I originally wrote this for an eighth grade English assignment. It consisted of the first part, half of the second part and a two years later flash to the future. Everything was way too fast and the characters had no depth or personality. I'm so glad I decided to basically rewrite this whole thing. I'm so glad I posted it to Wattpad and was able to share it with you. Thanks for reading this and I hope to see you next week!