Trace stood, and quieted everyone down, before beaming. �I just wanted to propose a toast to my best friend and his beautiful new wife, Monica. I have to say, I�m jealous. Jealous that they have found something so wonderful, that most of us dream of. We dream of finding extreme happiness such as theirs, and we dream of finding someone who can love us completely with no regrets, whatsoever. So, to Justin and Monica. May your lives be filled with undeniable happiness and joy.� Joey nodded, and raised his glass, before loudly saying, �Here, here.�
Charlotte grinned, and stood after Trace had sat. �Well, I guess it�s my turn. Um, although, I haven�t known Justin for that long of time, I have known Monica. Besides being my roommate in college, she was my best friend since freshman year in high school. I�ll never forget those days in which we used to wish on stars and birthday candles, praying we�d find that special someone. Well, Mon, you found yours. I, like Trace, wish you two the best out of all things and may your love never grow dim. Now, I think it�s time the bride and groom had their special dance.� She turned to the band and nodded, before Brian McKnight stepped out onto the stage, nodding to Justin and Monica, before launching into the first verse of �Never Felt This Way�. Justin held out his hand to Monica, who in turn took it, and the two made their way out to the spacious dance floor, to lose each other in the other�s eyes.
There will never come a day
You'd ever hear me say
That I want and need to be without you
I want to give my all
Baby just hold me, simply control me
Cause your arms, they keep away the lonelies
When I look into your eyes
Then I realize
That all I need is you in my life
All I need is you in my life
Everyone in the room was fixated on the loving couple that slowly moved to the melodic music and the breathtaking voice of Brian McKnight, himself.
Cause I've never felt this way about lovin'
Never felt so good
Never felt this way about lovin'
It feels so good
JC found himself torn between his best friends and the woman sitting beside him,who was watching the two in complete awe. He sighed to himself, then glanced back at the happy couple and wondered just when he�d be able to be in Justin�s position, if ever.
How it takes my breath
Starts a burning in my chest
Make me weak, when I think about you
Makes me want to give my all
Life wouldn't mean a thing
Not a happy song to sing
Just emptiness if I had to live without you
When I look into your eyes
Then I realize
That all I need is you in my life
All I need is you in my life
Corinne glanced over at JC and smiled softly, at his wonderous expression. She reached over for his hand and squeezed it, before smiling at him warmly. He smiled back, and she looked away to avoid that look in his eyes. She wasn�t blind, nor was she stupid. She knew he had feelings for her, but she was still scared. Scared of ending up alone again. Though, she knew she had nothing to fear with JC, for he feared the same thing. Only he had somehow been able to quelch it. She knew he wasn�t going to wait around for her forever. She was going to have to choose and it was going to have to be soon.
After the dance ended, the music began swinging at full speed, as Justin and Monica went to talk to Brian and thank him for coming to sing for them. Corinne headed over to the floor, where Joey spun her daughter around. �Joseph Fatone. May I remind you that if my daughter pukes, YOU are the one to clean her up. Understood?� Joey nodded, and saluted. �Yes ma�am!� She nodded, walking to get a drink and Joey leaned down to the little girl. �Is your mommy always a Nazi?� Kaela looked at him shrugged. �Uncle Joe� what�s a Nazi?�
Corinne sat at a now empty table with her drink and scanned the room, observing her surroundings. Everyone appeared to be in total bliss. She couldn�t help but laugh at Chris and Rae and his crazy antics, smile at Lance and his girlfriend Laura, who looked completely dazed by each other, Joey and her daughter, and Isabella who was dancing with Trace. She jumped, as she felt JC touch her shoulder.
�C�mon, Cor. Dance with me?� She looked at him and sighed. �I suppose so. Though, I was kinda waiting for Hayden Christiensen to come sweep me off my feet.� JC laughed, as he led her out to the floor. �So, you go from married men to teenagers, I see?� She threw her head back and laughed. �No, I just prefer blondes.� He shrugged. �Fine then.� He dropped her hand, and turned to leave, but she grabbed him, pulling him to her. �Silly boy.� She took his hands in hers, and they began to sway slightly to Sarah McLachlan�s �Angel�.
Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always one reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memory seeps from my veins
let me be empty
and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
Corinne sighed, as she rested her head on his chest, wishing for nothing more, than the silent release she needed to allow herself to finally love again. However, that invisible hand that held her so firmly in its grasp, wasn�t ready to let go, yet.
in the arms of an angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort there
JC lifted her chin to look him in the eyes, and sighed. �Corinne. How long are we going to fight this? I�ve fallen in love with you and I want nothing more than to hold you, to take care of you, and to protect you. As well as Kaela. What are you so scared of?� She sighed, as the song ended and pulled away. �I�m sorry JC, I�m just still not ready yet.� She touched his cheek, and drew in a breath as he leaned into her palm. �Wait for me. Please. That�s all I ask. Wait for me.�
Eleven