“Thanks for doing this,” Valerie told Saul as they stood alone. The rehearsal party was pretty nice. She still hadn’t spotted Howie or Leigh.
“Hey no problem,” Saul said as he took a drink from his champagne.
“Val?” Howie said spotting her.
Valerie turned quickly as she heard Howie, she smiled when she saw him carrying little James in his arms. “You look nice,” he said as he stared at the man standing by her.
“Thanks you look handsome yourself, oh right this is Saul. Saul this is my friend almost like brother Howie.” She said as she reached for little James.
Howie extended his hand to the young man as Valerie took James. “Nice to meet you.” He said politely just as his wife came back.
“I see you found Val,” she said as she came to his side. “Hi I’m Leigh,” she said surprised to see the young man.
“Uhm,” Howie said swallowing hard. “Val can I talk to you for a minute alone?”
“Yeah sure,” she looked at Saul. “Do you mind staying with Saul for a sec while I talk your husband?” she asked smiling at Leigh.
“Ok,” Leigh said nervously as she took her son from Valerie’s hands.
******
“Ok so who is that?” Howie asked once they were outside.
“That is Saul I met him today. He is a really nice guy and well I invited him here with me.” Valerie said as she took the opportunity to light a cigarette.
“Why are you doing this?” Howie asked concerned. “See this is what I was fearing when you and Alex got involved.”
Valerie shrugged trying to not let his words hurt her, “Alex broke up with me because he didn’t believe me. I have to move on, those things happen in relationships Howie. Look relax he is only my date, I really like him and I want to get to know him.” She told him.
“You know what you’re right forget that I know you well enough to know you have something else up your sleeve with all this. Do as you please but don’t come to me for comfort when your heart gets shattered worse than it already has. Val you deserve so much better then all this.” He said before walking away leaving her there.
She knew what she was doing and she just hoped he gave AJ the same lecture she had gotten. She finished her cigarette and went to find Saul.
*******
“Hola mami,” Valerie said hugging her.
“Vale, you look preciosa. Now dime, why you did not stay with us here at your house?”
Valerie rolled her eyes and kissed her mother’s face. “I am here now and we have no time to argue mami we have to get ready. We have a wedding to get to.” She kissed her mother one more time before walking up the stairs to find the rest of the bridesmaids and of course her sister.
She smiled as she heard the laughs coming from her sister’s room well it hadn’t been her room in a long time but it still looked like it did when she did sleep there. “Don’t worry the maid of honor is here.” She said as she opened the door.
“Val,” Sandy said running to hug her. “I have to present you to my friend Joy she is one of my bridesmaids I met her after you left for college.”
“Yeah I remember her from yesterday,” Valerie said eying her sister and the glass of margarita in her hand. “How many has she had?” she asked taking it away from her and drinking some.
“That will be her fourth one,” Rose said as she came back in with a freshly made pitcher of margarita.
“Rose,” Val said as she went to hug her cousin. “Now about this.” Val said looking at the face her sister had. “No more. Ladies my sister is about to get married and she can’t get married drunk. She will kill us all for allowing her to get drunk. Besides we have five hours to get ready and be at the church.”
“She is right you know,” Leigh said walking in with bags in hands. “Now come on I volunteered to come help you all get ready.”
“Really?” Val asked as she hugged her.
“Well the bridesmaids, the bride she has an appointment with a professional. Howie is waiting for you to take you.” Leigh told Sandy.
“Oh right, I’ll see you ladies later.” Sandy said as she walked out of the room.
“She’ll sober up,” Leigh assured us as she put the bags down. “Ok so who’s first?”
*******
Several hours later and almost an hour late they made it to the church. “Ok I can totally now understand the whole wedding jitters.” Sandy said pacing in the room where she and her bridesmaids stood.
“Mija don’t worry it will go away,” her father said as she hugged him.
“Ok bridesmaids and maid of honor you are needed the ceremony is about to start.” The wedding planner said as she walked in.
Valerie took a deep breath as she grabbed her bouquet of orchids. “Everything will be fine Sandy you’ve waited long enough to be the missus to Javy.” She kissed her sister before following the bridesmaids and the wedding planner.
“Ok maid of honor meet Ramon the best man and your escort down the isle. Everyone else should know who is there partner.”
Val smiled as she extended her hand to him. “Hi Ramon I’m Valerie Sandy’s sister.”
“Yeah nice to meet you I am Javier’s co-worker and best man.” He said shaking her hand. “You look nice by the way.”
“Thank you.” Valerie said as the wedding planner began to set them up in line.
“Ok listen up, “When the music begins, Val and Ramon will start marching in.”
Valerie bit her lip she was nervous and she didn’t know if it was because she didn’t know what to expect with the whole AJ situation or how she really looked in the dress. She had no time to think though as the music began and Ramon took her arm as they began to march down the isle. She smiled at the transformation of the church as they walked down the isle.
She could hear the whisper’s as she walked along and she tried to concentrate on walking and not trying to find AJ in the seats. A few minutes more of torture she thought as she and Ramon separated she went to the left and he to the right. The same thing happened as all the bridesmaids and groomsmen came filing down the isle and then the music changed and she finally looked up in time to see her father and Sandy at the entrance. She never felt more proud of her father than at the moment as he walked her sister down the isle.
That’s when she caught the glimpse of the brunette sitting beside AJ. His mother on the other side as well, suddenly she didn’t want to be here. She turned quickly when she felt AJ look at her; she hoped he had not seen her staring.
*******
So far nothing out of the ordinary had happened. She had been able to avoid all of the boys and she was in the moment. Maybe because they had just finished dancing and now she watched the first dance together of the bride and groom.
But of course knowing her sister she had everything planned out and there they were the guys including Kevin singing “I promise you” as they danced. She had always known Sandy was a big Backstreet fan but she always tried to play it out. But now her secret was out as she smiled happily in the arms of Javier. She was trying hard not to roll her eyes, but yet she was happy for her sister.
“You know Javier told me Sandy was into them, now I know what he means. How the hell did she get them to come sing at her wedding?” Ramon asked Val as they watched them dance.
Valerie giggled and then she stopped when AJ began to sing and she felt a light shiver. She shook away the thoughts and turned to answer Ramon’s question. “Well you see the shortest of the guys singing?”
He nodded and then Valerie smiled mischievously, “We know him his family is really close to my family. We knew him way before he was famous, so she asked him and he agreed to get the rest of them to come sing at Sandy’s wedding.”
*****
Many speeches later Valerie stood with the microphone in hand, she cleared her throat and smiled. “Ok so I will make my speech short because well I want to dance.” Everyone laughed as she raised her glass. “Sandy mi amor you are my favorite sister… well more like the only sister. I am so happy for you and that you found your Principe Azul. Those are hard to find and I know Javy for a while now he is a good catch. To Javy and Sandy may your love last forever and even longer.” She choked a little but managed to smile as she heard everyone clap.
“Ok let’s get this party started,” Sandy said standing up.
Valerie smiled as the first song began to play. “So I think it’s about time you join me. Want to dance?” Saul asked as he made it to her table with a smile on his face.
“Yeah ok,” Valerie said taking his hand and allowed him to lead her toward the dance floor. “I am not the best salsa dancer but I can give this a try.”
“Oh trust me by the end of this song you will be an expert.” Saul said as he twirled her.
*******
“So are you going to dance at all?”
Alex smiled at the woman sitting beside him. He couldn't believe he had agreed to bring Mackenzie with him. His manager had convinced him to and now here he was trying to pretend he was having fun with her there. “I don’t want to, I like watching besides its funny to watch Howie make a fool of himself, he may have Latin blood but he is whiter than Nick.” He chuckled as he stared at Howie dancing with Leigh.
“Maybe we could dance another song?” she asked him.
“Maybe.” He said as he saw Valerie walk out. “I have to go the restroom I’ll be right back.”
He didn’t have any trouble finding her she was smoking away just outside the building. He sighed heavily as he walked up to her. “That was a very touching speech you gave in there.” He said smiling when he startled her.
Valerie shrugged and stomped on the cigarette butt with her shoe. “Thanks I guess.” She said as she turned to walk away. She stopped when she felt his hand on her arm, she turned to face him. “You need a cigarette?” she asked rolling her eyes.
“No…well yes but I have my own.” AJ said as he sighed. “I owe you an apology.”
“For what?” Valerie asked anger suddenly coming out. “You did nothing wrong and it was my fault. Don’t worry there is nothing to forgive you for. I have to head back in Saul is waiting on me.”
“I do owe an apology,” AJ said sternly making her stop. “Because I allowed my management get to me and so I used those pictures as an excuse to break up with you. I did believe you about the whole Raul thing. I just thought that maybe everyone was right about us. I didn’t want people to hurt you… I am sorry.”
“If you want to hear me say you are forgiven. Fine I forgive you,” Valerie said in a very irate tone. “Now I really have to go.” She said as she held her tears.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Ok at the request from sbrown21 here is the update.
Chapter End Notes:
Oh and by the way more drama coming. :)
