chapter sixteen – tony's maid of honor and charlie's ticking time bomb

"Oh Thea!" Mrs. Preston cried out as she got out of the car.

She looked sad. Really sad. She was crying.

"I forgot to call Elizabeth" She sobbed.

"It's okay, Mrs. Preston" I shuffled uncomfortably. "I've only been here for a half hour. Mommy and Daddy let me walk here"

I noticed that everyone looked like they were crying and scared.

"Boys, stay with Thea while I call her parents" Dr. Preston looked tired.

"Hi Eric" I smiled at the triplets older brother.

Usually he would say something funny when I greeted him but today he just smiled at me with tear filled eyes.

"What's on your hands?" I furrowed my eyebrows as Marc.

"Matt's blood"

"Well Marilyn is obviously going to be my maid of honor" Summer spoke about the wedding while we all sat around the table, eating family dinner.

Marc had invited me tonight since everyone was home. Summer, Tony, Eric, Marilyn, their kids, Matt, Brielle and their son, May and her girlfriend (who looked very uncomfortable to be here), Sage and of course the rest of the clan.

"And Brielle, May, Sage and Tanya are going to be my bridesmaids" Summer stated obviously.

"Oh my god! I'm so excited!" May spoke at the same time Sage said "Do I have to?"

"Yes you have to, Sage" Mrs. Preston rolled her eyes playfully.

"Eric's gonna be my maid of honor" Tony spoke with a mouth full of food.

"Best man" Eric glared at his best friend.

Tony used his fingers to make air quotes.

"I'm just so glad you guys are getting married!" Mrs. Preston laughed. "It's been 8 years for Christ's sake!"

"We just didn't want to rush anything" Summer laughed.

"She didn't want to rush anything. I proposed to her our sophomore year of college and she laughed" Tony scoffed.

"You were drunk and were using a ring pop" Summer rolled her eyes.

"Hey- it was cherry flavored" Tony defended himself making everyone laugh.

"I'm just saying! You've infringed on my pestering Sage and the boys about their love life" Mrs. Preston laughed.

"What about May?" Piper raised her eyebrows.

Suddenly the air was filled with tension.

"I mean- uhm" Mrs. Preston cleared her throat, glancing at Dr. Preston.

"It's different, Piper" Dr. Preston spoke.

"No it isn't" Brielle crossed her arms over her pregnant belly.

Dr. Preston glanced at Brielle with a look that said he didn't want to have this fight.

"Piper and I are engaged" May blurted out, surprising everyone but Piper and Sage.

Everyone was silent. Absolutely silent. Nobody knew how to react. Sage opened her mouth, ready to start a fight but Marc cut her off.

"Thea and I are also engaged" This time all shocked eyes were on us.

"No we are not" I gasped. "Why would you say that?"

"I felt left out" Marc laughed, and the rest of the table laughed with him. But it wasn't as carefree as before.

The rest of the time, I watched as Kevin kept sending glares at Marc whenever he would talk about me or hold my hand.

I guess my talk with him didn't help...

****

"This is my best friend in the whole world, Myrna" Sky stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "She wants you to make her hair look like yours"

I laughed at the serious faces of the 8 year olds in front of me.

"This is not funny, Thea" Sky wagged her finger. "You have pretty hair and we want pretty hair"

"C'mon Tee" Marc laughed from where he sat on my left. "Make their hair pretty like yours"

I glared at him.

"Sky, leave Thea alone" Devin rolled his eyes. "I'll curl your hair tomorrow"

"Yay! Thank you Dev-Dev" Sky climbed into his lap to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"What about me?" Myrna whined.

"You too" Devin snorted.

"Dude what are you gay?" Kevin laughed at his brother.

"Shut up, Kevin" I glared at him.

"Screw you, bro" Devin looked uncomfortable.

"You're such an ass" Marc snorted.

"Mommy! Marc said a bad word!" Myrna and Sky ran out of the room to tattle and I giggled.

"Have fun in Westview" Kevin gave Marc and evil grin that made my stomach turn. That's where the boarding school is..

****

I had an amazing last Sunday, after dinner with the Preston's.

I was going to force Marc and Kevin to have a sit down and talk. Actually talk. Because they both need each other and right now they're acting like jackasses.

All week I watched them make subtle and not-so subtle jabs at each other. From slight shoulder bumps to all out arguing. Nothing was helping.

Devin actually helped me come up with the plan.

I was going to throw a party tonight. Dad was in Westview for the night and Wyatt had went out somewhere and told me he'd be back in the morning. So this was the perfect time.

I invited about 20-25 people, including Marc and Kevin.

I was going to lure Marc into my room while Devin was going to lure Kevin to us and we were going to lock them in there until they work things out.

It's perfect. They can't be stuck in this stupid rivalry forever.

"Party-Party-Party" Laurel danced around while pouring chips into bowls around the living room.

"We gonna party tonighttt" Charlie continued the terrible singing as he pushed the couches against the wall.

"I'm only here for the food" Millie shrugged while eating a bag of chips.

"You guys are annoying" I laughed as I continued to lock up all of the valuables.

"Oh we're annoying?" Laurel put her hand on her hip. "Mrs. I hate Marc Preston one day and then Mrs. Preston the next?"

"Shut up" I roll my eyes.

"What actually changed?" Laurel asked.

I stood there for a second. Thinking. What did change?

"I don't think anything changed. I just realized that Marc was the only guy that's stayed by my side throughout everything I've been through" I smiled.

"Wow" Charlie snorted. "What about me? Why couldn't you fall in love with me?"

Millie and I laughed at Charlie's obviously dramatic joke but Laurel squinted her eyes at him.

"God Charlie" Laurel cried out. "If you're in love with Thea just tell her already!"

The four of us stood there for a second, stunned by Laurel's obvious anger. She never got angry at us. I was about to laugh at how oblivious she was to Charlie's feelings for her but he spoke before I could.

"I'm not in love with Thea. I'm in love with you!" Charlie all but shouted. The frustration evident on his face as he stormed out of the house.

"Wait what" Laurel whispered.

"Girl, you're so slow" Millie shook her head, popping a chip into her mouth.