Trying to hold back tears, you lean back on the door, sliding down to the floor. It couldn't be true, there must have been a mistake of some kind. This was just some sick dream, right? Looking back down at the invitation, your brain pointed out the reality your heart refused to accept.

You are invited to the wedding of James Rodriguez and Carmen Pena.

How? Why? You didn't know what James saw in her. She wasn't at all who you expected James to end up with. Then again, you had hoped he would realize that you two were meant for each other. James was perfection in your eyes whereas Carmen was not. James was an angel, Carmen was a devil in disguise.

She constantly put you down and threatened you. If it wasn't for your love of the Colombian or your ancient ties, you would have shipped out long ago. You and James had met when he was just starting out his footballer career. Your father had been one of his first coaches and you had met him through your father. Nearly ten years later, here you were sitting on your bathroom floor clutching his wedding invitation in one hand.

She was a model for lingerie, which you didn't really care about. What you did care about was the fact that she was having an affair with her photographer. In a jealous rage, she had told you. She spat it in your face, literally. You told James, but he was in denial and refused to talk to you for two days, which for the two of you felt like an eternity.

You were angry. Angry at James, how could he have not seen that she was trouble? Angry at Carmen, all she would do would hurt James. Angry at yourself, for not telling James your feelings first. You were undeniably in love with your best friend and you had been since that time in high school when he stood up for you in front of the school's bullies.

Your anger and sadness all boiled until you finally relieved it by sobbing. You sat there, like the pitiful person you were and cried like a little baby. The ringing of your phone disturbed your self-pity. Grabbing your phone, you looked at the caller ID. It was James. "Hello?"

"Hello! How are you, (Y/N)?" James asked.

"I'm good, how are you?"

"Great, you got the invitation right?"

"Yeah, congratulations," you forced yourself to say.

"Thanks. By the way, are you free Tuesday? Carmen is going shopping for a wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses, can you go with her?"

"Yeah, I'm free," you replied.

"Great! Oh, I almost forgot, you're a bridesmaid! See you soon, (Y/N)," he responded. You said good bye before hanging up. James' blatant ignorance is what hurt you the most. Tuesday rolled around and you arrived at a bridal salon. It also happened to sell bridesmaid dresses. Walking in, you quickly found Carmen and her posse. She glared at you.

"The only reason you're here is because of James. Don't forget that," she threatened.

"No problem," you replied. Sitting down, you stared at the floor, bored out of your mind. You waited for a few other people to arrive before Carmen went back to try on dresses.

"Hello Mrs. Rodriguez," Carmen stated with a sickly sweet smile.

"Hello Carmen," she responded. Taking a seat next to you, Mrs. Rodriguez smiled at you. "How are you, (Y/N)?"

"I'm good, thank you for asking. How are you, Mrs. Rodriguez?"

"I've told you thousands of times, call me Maria," Mrs. Rodriguez corrected. You apologized and returned your attention to the bride to be. She came out in a very, very revealing dress. You couldn't care less what she wore but the frown that plagued Mrs. Rodriguez's face told you she cared very much. Carmen modelled the dress, fluffing her fake blonde hair.

"Hmm, not enough sequins," Carmen sighed, walking away. The rest of the appointment went on like this, with Carmen not coming to a decision because nothing fit her description. You followed Carmen and the rest of her posse into the bridesmaid section of the store. You were one of five bridesmaids. Carmen handed, well more like threw, a red dress at you. Walking to the dressing room, you pulled on the dress. It wasn't horrible, you thought you actually looked good in it.

Walking out of the dressing room, you modelled the dress under Carmen's inspection. "I think you look beautiful," Mrs. Rodriguez stated.

"Hmm, could use some work though. Red isn't your color, (Y/N). Go try on the green one," Carmen ordered. You rolled your eyes and went back to the dressing room. That was how the appointment ran. In the end, Carmen picked out a purple dress that made your eyes hurt by looking at it. On your way out, Mrs. Rodriguez dragged you to the side.

"She really is horrible," Mrs. Rodriguez commented. You agreed. "James deserves a better girl, a girl like you."

Blushing, you shook your head slowly. "No, I don't think James would go for a girl like me."

"Well, then he needs a nudge in the right direction. Follow me," Mrs. Rodriguez called, leading you towards the front door. "Yes, do you have any openings in your schedule," she asked the lady.

"We have one in ten minutes, would you like to book it?"

"Yes we would," Mrs. Rodriguez agreed.

"What are you doing?"

"Maybe all James needs is seeing the right girl in a wedding dress," Mrs. Rodriguez stated. The lady led you to a room where a woman was waiting.

"Hello, I'm Lucy, and I'll be your consultant," the woman smiled. Patting your back, Mrs. Rodriguez told you she would go looking for dresses. Lucy pulled you on your own adventure. Trying on dresses, you wrinkled your nose. None of these dresses were what you had ever imagined yourself looking when you walked down the aisle.

"I just have one selection. Try it on, (Y/N)," Mrs. Rodriguez said, holding out a dress. Pulling it on, you gave a little twirl, a smile erupting on your face. Walking out to the hall, Mrs. Rodriguez clapped her hands together. "Now this is what I imagine my son seeing on his wedding day." You left after that, reality hitting you that you weren't marrying James, that you would never marry him.

Cleaning your home, you were about to start vacuuming when a knock sounded at your door. Walking over, you opened the door to see James standing there. His eyes held anger and you were initially scared, you weren't accustomed to seeing this side of James. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? Funny you should ask that, (Y/N). You wouldn't happen to have anything to do with my mother trying to stop my wedding, would you?" he asked.

"Look, James. Your wedding is not my concern. Problems between your bride and your mother is not my problem."

"You're jealous."

"Of what?"

"That I'm happy, about to be married. My career has taken off. I expected people to disagree with me and Carmen. Didn't know that the snake would be so close to home," he spat.

"You think I'm jealous of you?" Laughing, partially angry and partially hurt, you looked up at James. "Rot in hell with the bitch for all I care James!"

"Don't call Carmen a bitch!"

"Well that's what she is! A sneaky, manipulative, cheating skank! That's all she's ever been. She's cheating on you. She doesn't love you, she loves the idea of you," you responded.

"She loves me!"

"Really, because you don't sound so sure of yourself," you stated. "Look, if you want to throw your life away with this girl, don't expect me to sit and watch it all go down in flames for you." And with that you closed the door. James' wedding day came around and you sat in your bedroom. You refused to go, refused to see the man you loved sign his soul to the devil. Wallowing in self-pity again, you were surprised to hear the doorbell ring.

Pulling on a sweater, you descended your stairs. It was raining, down pouring outside, and you wondered who would trek up your driveway. Opening the door, you were surprised to see James, his hair ruffled and the top buttons of his dress shirt undone, showing his undershirt. "What are you doing here? Your weddings today!"

"The wedding was called off about an hour ago."

"What happened?" you asked, concerned for your best friend. He may be oblivious to a tee, but you still cared for him.

"I realized Carmen was a bitch, like you said. I'm sorry I was a jerk, I guess I was just blind."

"All that matters now is that you've realized what was right in front of you."

"I did," James agrees. Leaning in, he kissed you. In shock, you pulled back.

"What?" you stammered.

"I love you, (Y/N). And I'm an idiot," James stated.

"About damn time," you smiled, pulling him into another searing kiss. Turns out that wedding dress shopping did some good after all. Mrs. Rodriguez had bought the dress behind your back so when you and James got married, you didn't have to worry about wedding dress shopping.