A Trip Down Memory Lane by Amicia Bianchi (classic fiction .txt) 📕

"Thanks. I'm just glad it's all over now and I can finally enjoy the fruits of my stress," I said looking out at the guests.

"That's why I tried to stay as far away from the planning as possible," she confided.

"Is that why I couldn't find you most of the time?" I joked.

"I had enough of a taste when you asked me to help arrange people at tables," she laughed. That had ended in absolute disaster. I had to figure out seating arrangements for some 'pre-wedding party', that his family claimed was a tradition, and the reception. Besides offering a few suggestions, as far as who most likely shouldn't sit together, Nicholas did not want to help so I'd enlisted my sister. All of our organizing and agonizing had gone to waste every time we'd been informed that a there was someone else to be considered. After we'd finally finished we never thought to check it over with anyone. When the day of the pre-wedding party came we found out how disastrous that decision was as drama unfolded, apparently because of the seating assignments, and that led us to consider revising the reception arrangement. Then once everybody else came in with their opinions all our work had been completely in vain.

"Yeah, some pre-wedding party that turned out to be, right?" I nudged her. It was funny now but it hadn't been then.

"I'd already thought the whole pre-wedding party family tradition thing was a bit weird and excessive. Now I'm really not having one," she responded.

"Aww," I tried to make a sad face but couldn't stop laughing.

"If I were you I wouldn't have do it, especially not when you're to pay for it, they're really the ones that want it, and if anything goes wrong it's your fault," she complained. After the fiasco that night there had been many complaints from his family and even some talk about making us have another one to make up for the one that'd been "ruined".

"It's not like I could said 'no'. It was going to happen regardless but we both would have been much happier to just show up to watch since I had no clue what we were supposed to do and he didn't care to plan it. The whole time I was trying to find out what is a "pre-wedding party" for and I still don't know. Because his family offered no help and he didn't really say what is was then told me whatever I did would be fine," Apparently out both of our parents are supposed to be in charge of doing the engagement party, then we throw the "pre-wedding party". That's as much information as I able to get.

"Really all it did was add undue stress," she laughing.

"Well, I wasn't too worried about it anymore once his parents said we didn't have to put on a second party," I sighed.

"Is that Ben Mariani?" my sister pointed out, laughing.

"Well, yes, it's not like I could just not invite him. His parents are practically family and we grew up with him. I didn't see a problem inviting him and even though his parents couldn't make it uninviting him would've been rude," The Marianis had been some of my parent's closest friends. Growing up thinking of him as a cousin we'd thought nothing of laughing at him from afar about being nerdy. At get-togethers we made jokes about his lack of social skills and awkward approach with girls. Suddenly the subject of our conversation started heading toward us.

"Do I look okay?" Mary turned nervously toward me for appraisal.

"Your dress looks fine-"

"And my hair and makeup?" she cut in impatiently. First I thought she was simply being paranoid over her makeup disaster this morning but then something occurred to me.

"You like Ben?" she didn't have to answer as her blushing gave her away, "how long have you had a crush on him?" I nudged her side and she swatted me away.

"A couple years," she admitted quietly, averting her eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me? I could have orchestrated something for you," I teased.

"No! I don't need you to orchestrate anything," she hurriedly declined.

"If I'd known I would've at least stopped making fun of him. But does he know?"

"Well we flirt when we see each other at events and we sort of hooked up at the last one," she mumbled. My eyes nearly came out of their sockets. I hadn't expected that one.

"What?!"

"He'd invited me to go check out his new place and after a few too many drinks we shared a cab and went to his apartment. I mean, we didn't really hook up, it was just making out and heavy petting before we passed out," she divulged. Wow. Before we could say anything else he'd reached us.

"Hey, Ben," I greeted him warmly with a hug and he reciprocated.

"Hey, congratulations," he said after pulling away.

"Thanks," I smiled.

"I didn't think you two would ever get serious," he laughed referring to our vows. If our parents hadn't been so adamant about how the wedding was "theirs", and we needed to do it "right", our vows wouldn't have come out worded the same way.

"We're trying it out for a while and we'll see how it goes," I shrugged. "Anyway, I'll just disappear and let you guys do your thing," he smile gratefully, finally turning to Mary and at first the two were just staring at each other for a long moment.

I left them to go in search of my husband but I kept an eye on them. Once they'd started talking they seemed a bit awkward but when I looked a few minutes later they were laughing. Satisfied I was turning to resume looking for my other half when I heard a bit of commotion.

"What do you know? You can't tell me anything you old witch!" Frankie, one of his cousins, shouted at grandmother Judice.

Frankie was Barbara's daughter's son who I'd honestly been hesitant to invite seeing as I didn't personal know him and the things I've heard weren't particularly flattering. I wasn't entirely sure how he'd come in contact with my grandmother but by the looks of it wouldn't end well. She had been saying something that I couldn't quite make out from where I was and as I got closer Barbara got involved. Frankie was forgotten as the two grandmothers got into it.

"And who exactly are calling a reprobate?" Old barbs' face was completely red and she was shaking

"You and your shiftless thieving crack-head grandson," good old grandmother Judice retorted.

My husband managed to get the two old ladies quickly separated and ushered to the opposite ends of the reception hall. Somehow Frankie escaped in all the upheaval and no one seemed to notice.

"What was that all about?" I asked once everything settled down again.

"Apparently Frankie stole some money from your grandmother's purse when she caught and tried to confront him he started arguing with her. You know how she is, she made some comment about him being a reprobate and I'm still not sure what my grandma took offense to but she allied herself with Frankie in refuting the fact that he'd done anything. She stuck up for him but it's no secret that he has a drug problem plus he always ends up stealing from somebody at every family function and even at the last one he stole from her." He took my hand and led me to the edge of the dance floor. We'd been standing there looking out at everybody when suddenly he started laughing.

"What's funny?" I inquired.

"I just saw your sister," he explained and I rolled my eyes. He'd nearly choked on his food when Joey and I had told him about what her makeup malfunction. Charlie, hearing us talking about it, produced a video of the incident that he'd apparently taken by accident. Now it seems everytime he sees her he can't stop himself from laughing about it. "Who's the guy she's dancing with anyway? Is that your cousin Ben?"

"He's not our real cousin but, yes," I answered still watching them, "I remember when we were like that."

"Like what?"

"Being awkward around each other and not really knowing how to initiate things in your relationship," I elaborated.

"When were we like that? Because I'm so sure we had that particular problem. Maybe you did," he remarked.

"And you didn't?"

"Of course I didn't, If you remember, from the beginning, all I had to do was this," he said before leaning down to kiss me. "We should start making our way to an exit about now," he suggested.

"We can't just sneak out of our own wedding reception. If you're trying to kiss me and make me forget about where I am you you're going to have to do better than that," I teased.

"Well right now we have a flight to catch but after that we have at least a week where you can help me perfect my wooing. And has anyone found a better substitute for practice when aiming for perfection?"

July 25, 2008 ~part 1~

He tossed his duffle bag on the floor, "finally I have you all to myself," the look in his eyes was predatory. I giggled girlishly. "And what do you plan to do about it," I called to him over my shoulder.

He loosened his tie as he slowly advanced toward me with that same devious gleam. He caressed my arms and I could feel his breath fanning my ear, "exactly what I've been wanting to do all day."

"Can you guess what it might be," he whispered. I couldn't help but let lose another giggle when he pressed a kiss to a rather ticklish spot behind my ear.

"I'll have to say that you've wanted to tickle me all day," I offered humorously.

I felt his smile against my skin he knew I was joking, "guess again," this time he kissed my neck.

I leaned back against him as he wrapped his arms around my waist, "ooh," I exhaled. "I think I know where this is going," I spoke encouraging him. He chuckled before kissing my bare shoulder,

"So you've finally figured me out, have you," he taunted.

I wrapped my arms around his neck when he turned me around, "you're trying to please me," I proclaimed smiling at him.

The wicked twinkle in his eyes kicked up a notch, "I aim for more than just to please," he had a wolfish grin on his face as he looked down at me.

He leaned down and kissed me, just as things were finally getting hot and heavy my phone rings, effectively cutting through the mood. I groaned, he wasn't too happy about it either. Slowly I pulled away from him to go retrieve my phone, "hello," I answered not bothering to check who it was.

He followed me across the room so even though I was on the phone he continued to make himself the focal point of my attention. He unexpectedly picked me up and carried me to the bed, starting another fit of giggles. Once he'd sat me down on the edge of the bed he started taking off my shoes slowly watching me, gauging my reaction. His gaze was unnerving and it was hard to focus on the voice on the other end of the phone I distractedly recognized