Isolation
The wedding planners arrived on time and they all sat down around Anastasia’s small kitchen table.
“Will your future husband be joining us?” Melissa asked
“No…he’s busy but he trusts my judgment so we’re good.”
“Don’t tell Meghan that,” Justine said pulling her long brown hair into a tight bun, “She’ll start freaking out.”
Melissa laughed slightly and Anastasia looked up confused, “Yeah if you don’t mind me asking, what’s up with that?”
“Meghan just can’t seem to find love, she was stood up at the alter and now she pledges she has given up men.”
It was Justine’s turn to laugh, “Yeah but I’ve seen her checking out the personals more than once.”
“Well let’s get down to business.” Melissa pulled out a new notebook, “How many guests do you want to come?”
“Adam and I expect around 125, between us both.”
“And I’m not sure if you gave this any thought but do you know who your bridesmaids and such are going to be?”
Anastasia laughed, “Are you kidding? I’ve been ready for this wedding half my life! My maid of honor is going to be my best friend Elisa and as for my bride’s maids….” Her thoughts were interrupted by a pounding on the door and a familiar voice letting herself in.
“Oh Anastasia!! It’s your mother!!” She called out in a singsong voice
Anastasia groaned, “Can you excuse me for a minute my mother apparently decided to stop by.”
“ANNIE!” her mother gave her a hug, “And where’s my future son-in-law?” she looked around her shoulder
“He’s not around today, but mom, you didn’t tell me you were coming.”
“And leave my baby on her own to plan her wedding?”
“Congratulations, Annie.”
Anastasia looked up in the commotion she had over looked Ray. “Oh, thanks Ray”
“Mom, the wedding planners are here right now, why don’t you go get yourself some lunch and come back later.”
“Oohhh they’re here now?” her mother pushed her daughter away and made her way into the other room Ray followed however when her walked into the room the blood rushed from his face and a word barely escaped his lips, “Melissa.”
Melissa looked up not making the connection, however Justine did and leapt from the table in surprise, “Ray?!”
Now making the association Melissa too turned white, “Oh my…”
Anastasia’s mother looked back and forth with a worried look on her face, “You two know each other?”
“I had the biggest crush on Melissa when I was in high school…” he ran over to Melissa and the two friends hugged
“So that’s the girl you are always talking about…” Anastasia came to understanding and received a dirty look from her mother
The rest of the few hours they were all together everyone was on edge, with the 3 friends bonding and Anastasia’s mother cutting in every few seconds to over dramatically laugh or shoot Melissa a dirty look. After Anastasia shooed everyone out the door she wasn’t sure she could take any more of anything.
She sighed and collapsed on the couch as Jinx proceeded to jump onto her lap, “You love me, huh, Jinxes?” she patted the cat on the head and closed her eyes. About 1 hour later she woke up with a start as someone pounded on the door, “huh?!” The cat jumped from her peaceful slumber and clambered down of her lap underneath the couch. “I’m coming!” Anastasia shouted checking her appearance in the mirror as she made her way over to the door.
“I’ll be right there!” she silently prayed it wasn’t her mother to bother her again, she opened the door and her mouth fell open in surprise, “Nick!”
“Piggy!” he picked her up and set her down in a hug
“What are you doing here?! Come in!” she ushered him inside
“Oh Anastasia, I missed you!” he hugged her again
“I missed you to, how was your New Year?”
“Ohhh…I have so much to tell you!”
“Me to!” she smiled
“Oh you go first.”
“Look.” She pulled out her hand and Nick looked at it curiously, “Adam asked me to marry him!” she said jumping slightly
Nick’s face fell and he mentally slapped himself in the head, Adam he had forgotten about Adam.
“Well what did you say?” Nick said flabbergasted
Anastasia giggled, “Yes, silly.”
“Ohhhhh.” Nick felt as if his world was falling down, his head spun and his heart sank to his feet, “Congratulations” he spoke barely above a whisper and looked down feeling tears form in his eyes. Why was he getting so upset, he had just assumed she would feel the same way about him he scolded to himself.
“What did you want to tell me?”
“Uhh…Aaron got a record deal…”
“That’s great! Oh …tell him congratulations for me!”
“Yeah…well I got to go…”
“So soon?” she questioned
“Yeah…I’ll umm…talk to you later.”
“Well ok.” Anastasia confused opened the door for her friend, “Bye.”
“Bye.” He walked away feeling worse than he ever had before on his life
Nick drove to his hotel in utter misery, it took every bone in his body from breaking down right there on the road. He booked a flight home for that night and arrived home around 1 that morning. He crept back into his room hoping not to wake his mother but it didn’t work.
“Nick?” she asked gently he didn’t look up, “Why are you home so early?” he didn’t responded and assuming he was asleep left it at that.
“Brian?”
“OH, umm…hey Mrs. Carter….what’s up?” Brian turned down the TV set so she wouldn’t hear the chorus of ‘JERRYs!’ in the background
“Brian!” she scolded his attempts to hide what he was watching failed and he laughed nervously
“Uhh…sorry…”
“Let’s not get into that now, I need your help.”
“My help?” he now turned off the TV suddenly interested
“It’s Nick….I’m sure you know how he was going to talk to Anastasia.”
“Yeah…”
“Well he left 3 days ago….”
“And he hasn’t called? That is so like him…don’t worry though I’m sure he’s ok.” Reassuring his friends mother
“No, listen, he left 3 days ago and came back the same day…he’s locked himself in the bed room. I can’t get him to come out…”
“Not even for meal?”
“No…no one has seen him. Once in a while he’ll answer us if we call long enough…but I’m real worried I thought since you’re his best friend you could talk to him or at least make contact.”
“Sure, Mrs. Carter, I’ll help you out.” He tried to comfort the worried woman
“Thanks so much.”
“I can be over there in about an hour….”
Brian was about to ring the doorbell when Jane opened the door and ushered him inside with a grim look on her face, “Thanks so much for coming…”
“I’ll do what I can, but I must admit Nick can get real stubborn.”
She laughed: a loud sound that started in her stomach and erupted into a somewhat insane sounding cackle. Brian glanced at her nervously and laughed himself slightly to ease the tension.
“Stubborn isn’t the word!” she stopped laughing and sat down on the couch, “I’ve just never seen him act like this…I don’t even know if he’s alive up there. I tried to open the door but it’s impossible from the outside…I’ve thought of taking it off it’s hinges but it’s unfeasible with my husband for help…” her voice trailed off and she buried her face in her hands
“I’ll try my best…” Brian said no starting to doubt his own abilities to help his friend
“Should I take you to him?”
“No I have an idea….”