Exit Wounds

Chapter 2/19

Veronica looked around the ballroom. It was a massive room settled in an old hotel. The walls were a soft, dusty rose color and lined with round tables. Large spheres of white flowers topped each table, but they stood tall so they wouldn't block the views of those sitting. The center of the room was cleared, but lined with long, curvy, cream couches with rose and white throw pillows. Small tables joined the couches and offered guests a place to set their drinks. To the back of the room were two bars, one in each corner. The room was filled with guests all dressed as if they came right off the runway of a fashion show.

With a soft sigh, Veronica offered a smile to a group of friends already seated at a table. She strolled over, her gold pumps thumping on the carpeted floor. She was wearing a well-fitted orange evening gown. It cinched in the center, around her naval and gave her small hips a little drama. At the neck, it spread into two pieces that wrapped around each other and her neck. There was a tiny train on the dress that gently caressed the floor. She wore her long blonde hair down and straightened and only enhanced her look with a couple white and gold bangles on a wrist, simple, but small, gold hoop earrings and a small, gold clutch. She greeted her friends with cheeky air kisses. "Can you believe Joce chose a gala over a normal reception?" She set her purse down and adjusted the dress a bit.

"Can I? Yes. This is her dream." Lana Kirkman grinned widely. She was a beautiful redhead who had blue eyes that rivaled Veronica's. She was taller than Veronica by half a foot, but she never looked down at her. Lana's body was slender, like a dancer, but she certainly had a hippie or bohemian vibe to her. Her hair even had small braids in it.

"Marrying that guy shouldn't have been anyone's dream." Paige Whedon snorted and finished off her champagne. Paige was closer to Veronica's height, but almost her opposite in every other way. She was athletic and it showed. Her muscles were dense, but defined. Her black hair was short and tickled her shoulders and often hung in her green eyes.

"Oh stop! He turned his life around and has been amazing to Joce. We should be happy for her." Claudia Gunn slapped at her friend's arm playfully. Claudia was beautiful, like the other women at the table, but she was certainly more voluptuous. She didn't mind having curves and showing them off whenever possible. She wasn't chubby at all though. She worked out and stayed in shape, but her shape was just rounder than the others. Her hair was light brown with near blonde highlights. Her green eyes were pale and soft.

Veronica sat at the table and watched as her friends rushed off to dance. She watched the gala, feeling happy and relaxed and in the mood for a girls' night out. She, however, was feeling pretty parched. Scooting the folding chair back, she stood and made her way to one of the bars. She leaned against the bar and waited for the bartender to see her. She smiled to him and watched him move down the line towards her. She turned a bit to giggle at her friends while she waited.

"Hey, nice ass. Want to get out of here?"

She froze and her breath caught silently. She knew the voice, but it had been a long time since she heard it. It was California surfer in it's truest form, all bravado with a chillax undertone. She slowly turned and looked up to Richard "Dick" Casablancas Jr. leaning against the bar with an ankle crossed over the other. He seemed pretty shocked to see her as well as he clumsily straightened to stand on both legs. His normal grin was dropped as recognition flashed in his blue eyes. She noticed he was in a tuxedo. He must have been a guest as well.

"I didn't until ten seconds ago." Veronica replied, sighing softly, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Now? So much!" She widened her eyes as she spoke, trying to will the ability to disappear. She wondered if Jocelyn would be that upset if one of her bridesmaids ran out of the reception.

Dick's eyes widened and his lips perked up. He looked down her body slowly, obviously checking her out again, and nodded. "Yea, miss the old Dick, huh?"