It was the day before Howard and Josephine�s wedding and everyone was at the church for rehearsal. Sunshine and Nickolas were late and everyone was waiting patiently. Josephine and Howard were discussing last minute honeymoon plans as the others sat and talked about anything and looking at their watches.
�Sunn and Nick better soon get here,� Josephine said, as she and Howard joined the others. �Or I�m picking a new maid-of-honor.�
�They�ll be here,� Kevin said. �Sunn�s been waiting for this day since Howie proposed.�
�Why?� Josephine asked.
�I don�t know,� Kevin lied then prayed for forgiveness.
�You and D belong together,� Danielle said. �It�d be wrong if you two didn�t get married.�
�I guess it would be wrong,� Josephine said and Howard kissed her.
�Are they here yet?� the Preacher asked interrupting.
�Not yet, Father,� Howard replied. �They�re flying in from Kansas, because they�re working��
�Sorry we�re late,� Nickolas interrupted when he and Sunshine walked into the church. �The plane had to make an emergency landing in Tallahassee and we had to drive the rest of the way.�
�Traffic was terrible,� Sunshine added.
�Yeah right,� Alexander said not believing their story.
�Would we lie to you in the house of God?� Sunshine questioned.
�Well�I guess not,� Alexander answered.
�And you expect me to walk down the aisle with him,� Sunshine said and Josephine only smiled.
�Let�s get this show on the road,� Alexander said.
For the next hour or so they practiced for the wedding. They practiced a total of five times until Josephine was satisfied. After they were done they all went downstairs to the dining room for the rehearsal dinner. They just kept it simple with sandwiches, chips, cheap beverages and the like.
�Sunn, Nick,� Venus began, �did you guys really have to make an emergency landing?�
�Yes we did,� Nickolas stated. �We ain�t lying.�
�Watch your grammar, Nickolas,� Kevin said.
�If I could see my grammar, Kev, I�d watch it, but since I can�t see it I can�t watch it.�
�Don�t get smart either.�
�Just stating the facts.�
�You don�t need to get smart.�
�I wasn�t getting smart. I was merely stating some facts.�
�And I was merely using a figure of speech. All I want you to do is use proper grammar.�
�I know what you meant,� Nickolas rebutted. �I was just having a little fun and you get pissed right away. You haven�t seen me for over a month and ya have to start on me right away. Why is that?�
�I wasn�t starting on you,� Kevin said, as Sunshine and Venus just looked at each other. �I�m glad to see you.�
�Then don�t tell me what to do,� Nickolas said.
�I think someone needs laid,� Alexander blurted out and everyone looked at him. �What?� They just shook their heads. �Sunn, when was the last time you took care of Nicky�s needs, Baby Girl?�
�Don�t call me that,� Nickolas snapped.
�Nickolas,� Sunshine said and he looked at her. �Alex, that really ain�t none of your business.�
�Watch your grammar, Sunshine,� Kevin stated.
�Don�t start with her either, Kevin,� Nickolas replied.
�Calm down, Nicky,� Sunshine said.
�Why do you guys insist on calling me �Nicky�?� Nickolas wanted to know. �You know I hate it.�
�What is your problem?� Sunshine questioned. �I�ve always called you �Nicky� and you didn�t care.�
�Well, I do care,� Nickolas snapped. �I wish you would just stop with calling me �Nicky�.� Sunshine slowly turned away from him not knowing what to say.
�Nickolas, apologize to her,� Danielle demanded.
�It�s all right, Dan,� Sunshine said getting up. �He doesn�t have to. I�ve come to learn and accept when Nickolas doesn�t want me around.� She picked up her plate. �If you�ll excuse me I�m going to go to the condo.� She looked at Nickolas. �Alone.� She walked away from the table and threw her stuff in the garbage. She walked to the door and before going out said, �I�ll see ya tomorrow.�
�Sunnie,� Nickolas said turning around, but Sunshine went out the door.
�Thanks for ruining my rehearsal dinner, Nick,� Josephine said. �I appreciate it.�
�Why is everything my fault?� Nickolas questioned. �Kevin started on me.�
�Grow up, Nickolas,� Josephine snapped. �Everyone knows it�s your fault, because you jumped down Kevin�s throat right away.�
�That�s why it�s my fault? Kevin�s not Mr. Perfect like you think, Josephine. He jumped down my throat about my grammar.�
�Don�t yell at her,� Howard warned.
�Don�t you tell me what to do.� He got up and walked away from the table.
�She�s my fianc�e and I won�t have you or anyone talk to her like you just did.� The two guys stood face to face the best they could with their height difference.
�This coming from the guy who is still in love with my fianc�e. The only reason you�re marrying Josie is because you can�t have Sunnie.� Before Nickolas knew it, he had a fist in his face and Howard tackled him to the floor. The two guys started fighting and rolled around on the floor. It took the other guys awhile to get them apart, but when they did Nickolas and Howard just glared at each other.
�What just happened here?� Kevin questioned, as he and Alexander held back Howard.
�The end of our friendship,� Howard answered.
�And me finally realizing the group ain�t big enough for us both,� Nickolas rebutted trying to free himself from Brian and Aaron�s hold.
�Then one of us has to go.�
�Yeah, me.�
�Good; we don�t need ya.�
�You guys,� Danielle said. �Knock it off.�
�Leave me go,� Nickolas said freeing himself from Brian and Aaron. �I�m out of here.� He started walking to the door. �I hope the ceremony�s beautiful, because I won�t be there.�
�Well, you�re not invited!� Josephine yelled after him.
�Such a shame,� Nickolas said sarcastically and going out the door.
�Are you ok?� Josephine asked Howard and stepping in front of him, as Kevin and Alexander left him go.
�I�m fine,� Howard said. �My face is just a little sore, but it�ll pass by tomorrow.�
�Are ya sure?�
�Yeah; don�t worry about it.� He kissed her and everyone else started cleaning up.
�I can�t believe that just happened,� Aaron said to Brian and Danielle, as they cleaned off a row of tables. �Poor Sunn. I never seen Nick get pissed at her like that. Actually I never saw him get pissed at anybody like he just did.�
�None of us have, Aaron,� Brian said. �I just hope Sunn�s all right though.�
�She will be,� Danielle said. �Sunnie Jo�s a tough girl.�
�Hey, if you don�t mind,� Aaron started, �I�m going to bail and go find my brother.�
�Not at all,� Danielle said. �Go ahead. Make sure he�s not lying out there unconscious or anything.�
�Knock on wood, Dani,� Brian said then Aaron walked away.
�I think Nick received a bad batch of luck this past year,� Venus said and Brian and Danielle just looked at her. �Think about it, ever since he proposed to Sunn he�s had the worst luck with her.�
�And everyone else,� Destiny added joining them. �Do you think their relationship�s bad luck?�
�Not even,� Danielle said. �Everyone knows they belong together. Maybe he just broke a mirror or something.�
�Then let�s find a four-leaf clover and give it to him,� Destiny suggested.
�That might work,� Venus said sarcastically.
�Perhaps him and Sunn just need some time apart,� Brian stated. �They�ve been together every second since February, minus those two and a half months Nick had that stick up his ass and being a jealous idiot.�
�You could be right,� Danielle agreed. �And so could Alex. He just might need laid.�
�Whatever it is,� Kevin began interrupting, �he better get over it and fast. The wedding�s tomorrow and I really don�t want to tell everyone that the key ingredient to this group left, because he was having some hormonal problem and flipped out on everyone. It won�t be good for the rest of us.� They just looked at him not knowing what to say.
CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 11
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