don't let go • jenzie

chapter 9

• Third person •

First day of the wedding in Georgia

Annie is in her dressing room getting ready for the exciting night. In a few days she's going to marry the love of her life. Everything was perfect. She just hoped for one specific person to come.

She hears a noise coming from her room. She enters the room and smiles immediately.

''I almost thought you wouldn't show up.'', she says as Hayden turns around.

''I wanted to. But if I missed your wedding you would've been mad at me forever.'', he said as they hugged.

''How are you?'', Annie asks smiling. They were still best friends but since everyone build their own life they couldn't find the time to hang out anymore.

''How do I look?'', he asks ignoring her question. She laughs at his question not answering it.

''What about your bar? How is it going?'', she asks.

''You know me... bad.'', he answers. That's honestly no surprise for Annie. Hayden opened a bar a few years ago but he can't afford it anymore since he always plays poker and loses his money. ''They say I have to renovate it.''

''How much would it cost?'', she asks.

''200.000. Do you have that much?'', he asks sarcastically.

''If I had it I would give it to you.'', she says serious.

''Come on Annie. I didn't even take money from my dad. Why would I take it from you?''

''Why didn't you take it?'', she questioned.

''Because he said no.'', he says. Hayden's dad was not dumb to give him his money so he could waste it all on playing again. ''He said he could rinse it in a toilet as well.'', he says as he stands up grabbing a bottle to pour himself some vodka.

''It's only 8pm, Hayden, and you're drinking already. Why are you doing this?'', she says in a tone of disappointment.

''Do you have to get married?''

''Don't start with this again.'', she rolls her eyes.

''What do you find in this idiot.'', he asks.

''Asher. He has a name.'', she says shaking her head.

''He's a little weird.''

''Why would you say that?'', she wonders as they suddenly hear a splash from outside.

They both go outside to see what it was. They saw Asher diving in the pool with his clothes on.

''Asher? Asher!'', Annie calls.

He comes out of the water catching some air. ''Oh, hey Annie. You look beautiful.'', he smiles as he sees her.

''What are you doing there?'', she asks concerned.

''I did-...my wedding ring dropped in the pool and I need to find it!'', he explains. Hayden just watches the scene keeping himself from laughing.

''Baby, come out there, let an employee look for it.'', she says motioning for him to come out.

''No, Annie. I won't let my beloved wedding ring getting lost.'', he says as he dives into the water again.

''Annie... Who will you marry if he drowns?'', Hayden whispers as she glares at him.

Asher then pops out of the water again. ''Got it! You see!''

''Great, now come out of the water please.'' He climbs out of the pool while Annie helps him. He looks up and widens his eyes as he spots Hayden.

''Hayden!?''

''What's up bud.'', Hayden acts 'cool'.

''Annie, Hayden is here!'', Asher smiles happy as he pulls him into a hug. Hayden twitched at the sudden coldness of the water as Asher soaked his tuxedo. ''I am so happy to see you!'', Asher says as he pulls away from the hug.

''Okay, baby, we have to go.'', Annie pulls Asher as he hugs Hayden again. ''We're gonna be late for the party.'', she pulls him inside again and waves at Hayden.

''I told you Hayden would come! Didn't I tell you!? And I also have the ring!'', he says happy, the smile not leaving his face.

''Yeah yeah.'', Annie laughs.

-

Later at the party

''And now Annie's best friend wants to tell us something about the bride. Your turn Kenzie!'', an announcer says as Mackenzie stands up.

She really changed. Not only on the outside but also on the inside. From a shy girl she turned to a confident young woman. She was very pretty 8 years ago, now she knows how to show it and became beautiful. She also doesn't wear her old used clothes anymore but wears modern clothes.

-

''Then Annie told me 'I will meet a wedding candidate.' And I'm like 'What!? You really let someone choose for you!?' 'I'm bored' she says 'He's some engineer guy. Will certainly be funny.' '', Kenzie tells on stage as everyone laughs. ''Not even a month after that conversation Annie calls me. 'I'm getting married!' she says 'With whom?' I ask. 'You'll never guess. The engineer.' '', she continues as the audience including Annie and Asher laughs. ''A few years ago Annie and I went on a trekking tour with some friends. When we returned I didn't think that we would stay in touch. Suddenly my door bell rings in the middle of the night. I wake up, open the door and there she stands. Annie, in one hand a beer bottle and a cigarette in her mouth. She plays loud rock music, I cover my ears and go back to bed. Then we became best friends.'' Everyone awws, Annie smiles. ''I endured everything! Her stubbornness, her weird quirks, her leather jacket biker phase, her 'I am a painter' phase.''

''Hey, I am an artist!'', Annie exclaims.

''Her hair color phase. Pink, yellow, green, purple. But no matter how crazy and flipped Annie is, she's also my loyal and wonderful friend. I love you, Annie. And I will miss you.'', she finishes as everyone claps.

Kenzie was about to walk off the stage as she hears a noise from the back. Then music started playing and a microphone turned on. Everyone looked around to see who it was.

''It says there is never the right time to get married. No matter when, the fun always ends afterwards.'' Kenzie looked down and smiled already recognizing the voice. ''Annie! My lion, my cat! I let you be for a few years and you make such a nonsense! Naughtiness is like a sickness. A sickness that goes away slowly when you get older. But I think while we're still young, we should be naughty sometimes!''

Then the lights turn on behind Kenzie and everyone turns to that direction. Then a figure comes out as a smile immediately formed on Annie's lips as she jumped up.

''Johnny!'', she screams.

He smiles as she walks down the stage passing Kenzie. He stopped and turned around to face her. He smiled as she returned it and he walked over to Annie and pulled her into a hug. Then he greets Asher too.

For the rest of the night they were singing, dancing and having fun as they reunited again. Hayden wasn't there though since Asher ruined his tuxedo earlier.

author's note
it took a little bit to update.. but i hope u like today's chapter! <3