"The language of love does not make distinctions. Everyone has a place in your heart."
- Jennifer Betts
I probably didn't think this through. When I called Noah and Hailey to tell them that Stephan was also helping out, they both seemed Reluctant. No, Hailey was wary, Noah was upset. But I was able to get them both to meet Stephan again. Hails said she wasn't coming without Cole and Noah threatened to hit him again if he even tried anything.
The five of us are looking at ourselves as if we all sat with a gun cocked at our heads. Noah is dressed in a casual red top and jeans, something he doesn't usually wear. Cole and Hailey have on white, Cole a white shirt and grey pants, and Hailey dressed in a casual gown. Stephan was dressed in black joggers and a laid-back vintage shirt. I had on a pink skirt and blue T-shirt with a brown jacket on.
I break the silence. "Come on. We are gathered here as friends"
"Not me", Stephan objects
"Me neither", Noah agrees.
"Okay, as enemies then?"
No reply.
"I think it will be faster if you told us what you want us to do", Cole suggested, he was the only guy within our circle that did not have any problem with anyone, so the tension was obviously getting to him.
Hailey was quiet the whole time, just staring at Stephan. She was doing it again, Psychoanalyzing him. She had a look pass across her face. Usually, when Hailey stares intently at someone they get really uncomfortable and before looking the other way, but Stephan stared right back at her as if daring something to transpire between them.
I was already over with the weirdness
"I think it's better if we all work on one project at a time", I plead for unity.
"I think it's much faster if we split the tasks. We can always come back and check with the others", Stephan pipes in.
"I second that", Cole says. "The wedding is this month, working on one project at a time together is really going to waste precious time that we don't have. Plus, we all have different tastes. We could end up arguing the whole way. For peace and my- I mean, our sanity, let's break it down"
"Have I met you before?", Hailey asks Stephan out of the blue, clearly not listening to what Cole was saying. "I feel like I know you"
Everyone stares at Hailey, her expression dazed.
"I don't think I have" He replies, looking straight at her. Thanatos had said that no one in this world will remember who Stephan was, I am the only person who has memories of alive Stephan. Although Hailey is nowhere near ordinary, she is more of a clairvoyant and a sprinkle of psychic. It's hard to lie or hide anything from her, the ease at which she can perceive the truth puts all the lie detectors and body language readers to shame.
"You are lying. I do know you, don't I?" She was not going to let it go.
Cole shakes Hailey, "Babe, come on, snap out of it". Cole was pretty much used to the mystery that came with Hailey, it was hard not to love the girl, even with the mystic aura she proudly emits, she was a fun and beautiful person.
Hailey clears her throat, "Anyways it will all come to me sooner or later"
"The wedding...", I began to say again.
"Well we'll have to break it down we got food, decorating, music, wedding site, tables, and chairs, hmm what else?", Hailey listed out.
"Oh yeah, we'll need an MC. And the theme for the wedding", Cole puts in.
"Yes, we have to determine which color will go with the theme, I was thinking blue, but this isn't their first wedding so maybe blue is too much" Noah joins in.
"Booze, you forgot the alcohol", Stephan cuts in staring intently at Noah, obviously looking to start something
"That's usually with the food", Noah replies back with a forced smile Stephan.
"Food is food. Booze is booze, no one combines the two, dumbass"
"How is your jaw feeling? Dislocated?" Noah retorts. Stephan lets out a curse and was about to sit up.
"Okay, time out big guys, give it a break already." Hailey says, "We are here because we want to help a really dear friend of ours, Beth. Planning this wedding is something that requires hard work and cooperation, and we all need to work as a team. You-", she points at Stephan, "I really don't know what your deal is. But you know if you want to help you actually have to start socializing with us like we human beings and stop poking people with your antisocial comments, we aren't bratty teenagers"
Stephan sits up a little, obviously feeling embarrassed. The whole table goes quiet again, but this time everyone's head was going in the right direction. I mouth a "Thank You" to my savior. She winks at me and continues her speech.
"How about Cole takes charge of the food and drinks. He's really good at organizing that for parties",
"Roger that", he answers winking at his girlfriend. "Stephan, it's obvious that you are very much familiar with drinks, so you would be working with Cole to get that sorted out"
"Sure, whatever"
"Let's not forget picking out the wedding dress too", I started to feel excited. Granted, I am not happy that my parents dumped this huge task on me, but if it works, which it definitely will with Noah and Hailey by my side, it just might be the ingredient I need to get Stephan to open up to me.
"Yes the wedding dress is something I am in charge of Beth, we all know we can't leave that to you", Hailey mocks me, and Noah bursts out laughing, I send him a hard glare.
Things began to feel normal and we continued to talk more about the wedding plans and the division of tasks. Hailey and I were working together for the most part. Cole and Stephan seemed to be getting along quite well. Since I was the only one with the knowledge that they were best friends I advised them to choose the drinks and food together so it would be 'easier, instead of working alone. Noah had the least tasks and he mainly just supported the groups we put ourselves in, and that's because he is usually very busy. After talking at length about the wedding plans, Cole went rambling about that one time he went to Egypt. I was quite grateful for the fact that Cole was here. He eased up everyone with his stories and even Stephan looked interested in the things that he was saying.
We ended the meeting on a good term and at the I was quite surprised that it went well. I was expecting a full-blown fight between Stephen and Noah, but that didn't happen, they basically ignored each other and enjoyed the rest of the meeting without crossing their path. Maybe they'll learn to like each other.
"Well I guess that's all for today", Cole stands up dragging Hailey up with him. "We have a date to catch up on. See you guys next time"
Hailey hugged me and whispers in my ear, "You have a lot of explaining to do"
They both left shortly after, leaving me and the two sworn enemies.
The tension began to stir up again.
"Did you apologize to her?" Noah asks Stephan without pretext but we both understood where he was headed.
"I don't go around assaulting women. In fact I hate it. Of course I apologized. I guess I owe you an apology also". This time Noah and I look at him confused.
"I made it seem like I was uncultured and a threat to your girlfriend. It must have taken all your trust to leave her with me knowing what had happened. I'm grateful you knocked me out and I'm sorry you had to witness that"
"I'm not his girlfriend", I add.
Noah was quiet for a while, speculating what to say.
"Apology accepted. I guess you are a man after all"
"That being said", Stephan continues, "That will be the last time you would ever hit me, and the last time I would apologize to you about anything"
Noah scoffs, "A proud man"
"Okay", I stand up immediately, "I have a lot of work to catch up on. I would love to juggle words with you guys but I'm sorry, not today, Stephan, you're driving", I say handing him the keys.
"No, I'm not," he said throwing it back to me. He stands up and heads to the car.
"Uncultured brat", Noah mumbles loud enough for me to hear.
"You should go home too, Noah", I ruffle his hair.
Noah smiles tenderly at me.
"Thanks, Beth but I do have a few places I want to hit before heading home. Don't worry about me."
"Call me later",
"You know I will"
I enter into my car and veer it to life.
"I want to go see Jasmine," Stephan says without skipping a beat.
"What? Why?", I try to hide the disappointment in my voice.
"I promise I won't come back home drunk", he replies without answering my question.
"I guess that's good enough for me".
And it was.
Just for this night.