Nick - "So how is she really?"

Loren - "Well you know Jess.  By all outward appearances she seems fine.  But inside she's heartbroken.  She's selling her house."

Nick - "That little tiny house.  Brian always said that she loved that house.  It was the first place she ever lived by herself."

Loren - "I know but that's where they spent most of their time together.  Stephen told me she hasn't been back since New Years Eve.  She showed up at his house the day after New Years with Mud and asked him and Reece to go get her things she couldn't go back."

Nick - "I hate him.  How could he do that to her?"  He slams his fist down on the rail of the boat.

Loren - "come on Nick you don't hate him."

Nick - "Yes I do."

Loren - "no you don't.  Look this is going to be hard for awhile but you know Jess wouldn't want you throw away your friendship with Brian because of her."

Nick - "I know.  I should go see her."

Loren - "I got the feeling she didn't really want company."

Kevin - "Hey there you guys are.  What's up?"

Loren - "Oh nothing Nick was just showing me around his boat."

Nick shows them around while Christine is putting the pressure on Brian.

Christine - "So can we tell them now?"

Brian - "I don't know Chris, its Nicks birthday party."

Christine - "So.  Come on we've been engaged for two and a half months now and ever time I wanted to announce it you have come up with a reason not to.  First it was cause Kevin and Loren were announcing theirs and then cause it was Christmas and your brother said he was having a baby.  Then on New Years you didn't do it cause everyone was too drunk and no one would remember it."

Brian - "Well yeah but this is Nick's house and everything."

Christine - "Are you ashamed of me?"

Brian - "No baby that's not it at all."

Christine - "Are you having second thoughts about marrying me?"

Brian - "You know I'm not.  I love you."

Christine - "Then prove it.  If you don't announce our engagement to your friends tonight I'm not going home with you tonight."

Brian - "Come baby, don't be like that."

Christine - "I'm serious Brian.  I'm sick of everyone asking Loren how her wedding plans are going.  I'm getting married too and no one knows it.  She's getting all the attention and I might need help too."

Brian - "okay, I'll tell them tonight I promise.  I'll do it before the cake comes out okay."

Christine - "Thank you."

Brian - "I'll be right back."

Christine - "Where are you going?"

Brian - "Bathroom."  He leaves and she sits there smiling to herself.

Christine - "Well I think I need a drink to celebrate."  She heads over to the bar.

Brian lied, he didn't have to go to the bathroom.  He was looking for Loren.  He found her still with Nick and Kevin on the boat.

Brian - "hey Loren can I talk to you for a minute?"

Loren - "Yeah sure."  She had been half avoiding him all night.  She just didn't want to give him the chance to ask about Jess, she didn't want to blow up at him.  The two of them walk to the side of the boat that is facing out to the water and away from the party.  "So whats up?"

Brian - "Well there's no easy way to do this and you are going to be madder then hell at me so I'll just get it over and done with.  I've asked Christine to marry me and she said yes."

Loren - "I figured you would."  She is playing with her engagement ring.  It helps her remember that this is Kevin's cousin and that is the only thing that is saving him from being thrown over board.

Brian - "She's been pushing me to announce our engagement but I kept putting her off.  But she wants to tell everyone tonight so I thought I would give you a little notice."  Loren thinks back at how Christine had been acting at the family functions over the past months.

Loren - "How long?"

Brian - "What?"

Loren - "How long have you two been engaged?"

He swallows hard and looks at the floor.  He was hoping she wouldn't bring that up.  "Since the week before Thanksgiving."

Loren - "What!  You were engaged to her the whole time you were with Jessica.  What kind of pig are you?  What gives you the right to do that to her?  Did you love her at all?"

Brian - "Yes Loren I loved Jessica.  Jesus I still love her.  But I had made a commitment I couldn't break."

Loren - "I can't believe you.  Do you know what this is going to do to her?  You have no idea what you've done.  You know what you're not a pig youre a coward.  You chose the easy way out.  Staying with Jess would have been too hard for you.  She is too independent for you and that scared you so you chose Christine who is nothing but a pretty doll that dresses up and does everything you want her too.  I can't even look at you."  Loren turns and walks off the boat.  Kevin sees her and runs to catch up.  By the time he does she is close to crying.

Kevin - "Hey what happen?"

Loren - "He's going to marry her."  Kevin doesn't look shocked.  "Did you know?"

Kevin - "He said something to me on New Years."

Loren - "And you didn't tell me."

Kevin - "It wasn't my place."

Loren - "What is it with you guys?  You just pick and chose what you want us to know."

Kevin - "Loren he's my cousin.  He came to me cause he needed someone to talk to.  He thought long and hard about his decision and decided to stay with Christine.  He's my family, I have to support his decision even is I don't agree with it."

Loren - "I've got to get out of here.  Cause if I'm here when he gets up and announces them getting married I'm going to lose it."

Kevin - "Then maybe we should go."

Loren - "No Tristen's having fun.  I'll borrow Howie's car.  I'm sure he can get a ride home with some one."

Kevin - "Alright.  We'll talk about this all later okay."

Loren - "I'm not sure if I'm going to be in a talking mood.  I've got to call Jess.  She should know."

Kevin - "Its just going to hurt her worse."

Loren - "I know but she should hear it from me.  Instead of reading about it in the paper or hearing it on the news."

Kevin - "Okay.  I'll be home soon."

Loren - "Alright."  She leaves and Brian comes off the boat.

Brian - "Hey."

Kevin - "Hey."

Brian - "Is she going to tell Jessica?"

Kevin - "Yeah.  She's going home now to call her.  So once again its something you don't have to deal with."

Brian - "What do you mean by that?"

Kevin - "You know what I mean.  Ever since we were kids you never had to deal with your decisions."

Brian - "I'm trying to do the mature thing here and stick to my word.  You said you understood."

Kevin - "No I said that I would support what ever decision you made.  I never said I understood how you could choose her over Jessica."  AJ and Nick come up then.

AJ - "Hey you guys want to either keep it down or tell everyone whats going on?"

Nick - "Yeah you're attracting attention."

Kevin - "You might as well tell them."  AJ and Nick look at each other.

AJ - "I don't think I want to know."

Brian - "Christine and I are getting married."

Nick - "You're what!"  Brian looks at his friend.

Brian - "Nick please try to understand.  I love her and we're getting married."

Nick - "I got to get out of here."  He turns to leave.

AJ - "Hey man but its your party!"  He hollers after Nick, who just throws his hands up and turns around.

Nick - "I'll be inside if anyone needs anything."  He goes in to the house and walks towards the stairs.  Several girls try to get his attention but he ignores them and goes up to his room alone.