It was two days before the wedding and to say Jessica was nervous was an understatement. Her and Loren were in Jess's hotel room. Actually it wasn't a room it was a suite, Sean rented for her. Actually he might have rented the whole hotel. They were trying on their dresses for the last time. Since it was summer they went with as cool as possible. They were never able to fine a dress for Loren so she designed hers and then took it to a seamsterist. Jess on the other hand had this big puffy princess looking thing. She had made the mistake of taking her mom with one time and this was the result. They both fit perfectly. Jess put on her veil and looked in the mirror.

Jess - "I think I'm going to throw up."

Loren - "Oh god quick some one get a towel." They both run to the bathroom. Some one throws a towel over the front of Jess's dress just before she pukes in to the toilet. Its been like this for about two weeks now. They even went to the doctor to see if she was pregnant. She wasn't, he said it was just nerves. Jess sits down on the floor and put her face against the cool tile. The dress lady comes in.

lady - "Um maybe we should take your dress off now."

Loren - "You have to take the dress to be cleaned anyway. Give us a minute." She sits next to Jess and takes the veil off. "You okay."

Jess - "Yeah I guess just seeing myself all dressed up like this... It's kinda scary."

Loren - "You're sure you want to this."

Jess - "Yes, I love Donnie. I want to get married."

Loren - "Every time you say that it's like you're trying to convince yourself."

Jess - "Loren please I'm holding on by a very thin thread. Let's not push it."

Loren - "Okay. Come one let's get this off before that lady has a heart attack." So they take off the dresses and then take them to be cleaned. They then go for a walk and end up at the mall. Shopping helps Jess forget her nervousness about the upcoming nuptials.

Finally the day of the wedding had come. Jess and Donnie were getting married in Donnie's grandma's church. She used to take him there when he was little. She died three weeks ago and this way it felt like she was there with everyone. The whole family was in one of the Sunday school rooms. The girls were dressed and Jess was suprisingly calm, which made Loren really nervous. She taps Stephen on the shoulder and he follows her.

Stephen - "What's up?"

Loren - "She's too calm."

Stephen - "Well maybe she just got all the jitters out these past few weeks."

Loren - "I don't know. She's got that I'm going to die calm."

Stephen - "Relax she's fine. And if I'm wrong I'll buy you a drink at the reception."

Loren - "It's an open bar."

Stephen - "All the better." Then the wedding coordinator comes in and tells them its time. Now it's just Loren, Daddy, Donnie's niece and Jessica. Jess stands up and goes give Loren a hug. She looks at her checking to see if she's on anything. Nope eyes are clear, and she's not slurring her words.

Jess - "Thanks for being here I couldn't do this with out you."

Kurt - "Hey what about me I paid for this little shin dig."

Jess - "I know daddy thank you."

They go out to the entrance, the music starts Loren goes down followed by the flower girl. Then the music changes and Kurt and Jess stand at the entrance. She freezes, looking in the church she doesn't see anyone she knows, even though she knows them all. Kurt nudges her to walk and she still can't move. Loren sees the look on her face. "Oh fuck, please don't Jess." Jess looks at her daddy.

"I'm sorry," she hands him the flowers and runs out the door. Everyone is in a state of shock. Donnie, Loren and Stephen are the only ones who are thinking enough to run after her. They get outside just in time to see Jess get in a cab. Donnie is not is good shape. He takes off in the other direction. Stephen and Loren look at each other.

Stephen - "Now what?"

Loren - "I guess we go back in and tell them there's not going to be a wedding."

Stephen - "You tell dad, he can't kill you."

To say that Kurt didn't take it well is an understatement. He blames Loren and Stephen for not seeing that Jess didn't really want to do this. Goldie and Alma were crying in a corner. No one can find Donnie or Jess. Alma secretly hopes that they find each other and elope. Donnie's brothers go and tell everyone that they can go to the reception and enjoy themselves but there is not going to be a wedding that day.

Meanwhile Jess is on a plane in her wedding dress heading for California. She had her credit card number memorized. Donnie is in a bar getting drunk. Stephen sneaks away to the phone and calls his girlfriend Reece.

Reece - "Hello "

Stephen - "Hey it's me."

Reece - "Hey honey, how's the wedding?"

Stephen - "There wasn't one. Jessica took off."

Reece - "What? Are you serious?"

Stephen - "Yeah. Um if I know my sister she's coming your way, call the airport here and see when the next flight to LA is then go wait for her. You'll recognize her she's the one wearing the dress."

Reece - "She took off in her wedding dress!"

Stephen - "She was standing at the top of the aisle, they were even playing 'Here comes the bride.' She looked at my dad handed him the bouquet and ran."

Reece - "Oh shit."

Stephen - "Yeah well I got to go before someone misses me I don't want to get her busted."

Reece - "Okay well I'll find her."

Stephen - "Thanks sweetie. I love you."

Reece - "Love you too." He hangs up with her. Reece thinks for a couple minutes then calls her friend Karen who works at the airport. She tells her the story, and asks for her help. Karen says she'll work on it and call her back. After about 15 minutes she calls back with Jess's flight info.

When she got off the plane in LA Jess looked like hell. She's really beginning to question her sanity. What was I thinking, taking off to LA? Stephen's not here, where am I going to go, she thinks to herself. She goes sits on one of the benches. People are staring at her but by then she's use to it.

Reece - "Jessica?"

Jess - "Yeah." She looks up. "You're Stephen's girlfriend."

Reece - "yeah hi." Jess gets up and hugs her. "It's nice to meet you too." She starts crying again. "Come on let's get you out of here. Do you have any bags?" Jess shakes her head no. They leave and head back to Stephen's apartment. When they got there Reece put Jess in bed and pages Stephen.

Stephen - "You got her?"

Reece - "Yeah, she's not doing to good. I gave her a sleeping pill and put her to bed."

Stephen - "Okay, did she say anything?"

Reece - "Not really. I'll call you later." They hang up then. Stephen tells everyone Jess is safe and sound in LA.
Well he tells Goldie, Kurt's still ready to strangle her. By then the whole wedding crowd had gone home, they were sitting around wondering what to do.

Chapter Eleven