Chapter 1
*FLASH*
A girl is momentarily blinded by the flash and she blinks her blue eyes, her long curly black hair sticking up in multiple directions with leaves, chunks of mud and even a pinecone scattered throughout it.
“Turn." The bifocal girl follows the direction, prison license hanging around her neck and the height paper behind her, the long fascia dress dragging around her, torn and caked in mud.
"Geez, look at me! And I thought my yearbook photo sucked.”
“NEXT”
Another girl takes the first girls place, her usual blond beach waves and ratty fascia dress caked in the same grime as the brunette.
“And that's me. Man, that dress does not look good on anybody!”
*FLASH*
"Turn." The blond snarled. "What if I don't wanna turn? Who's gonna turn me? You? Why don't you turn this."
*FLASH*
The camera captures a picture of the girl throwing up her hand and flipping the bird.
"Something you should know about me, I have a little problem with authority."
"Turn." The voice verbalized again with more authority before the blond reluctantly turned.
*FLASH*
"In second grade, I told our music teacher Mr. Trask that if he wanted us to sing like birds; he should get himself some freakin' birds."
"I laughed so hard I peed, and then we had to sit facing the corner during recess."
"We've been friends ever since."
“NEXT!”
Lastly another brunette moves to take the blond's place, She looks very similar to her friends, except she had short black hair and a darker shade of blue eyes.
*FLASH*
"That's Charlotte. The only nice one of the bunch of us.”
"Turn." Charlotte turns without saying a word.
“The thing is we did it all for her, or at least that was the idea anyway; You know what maybe I'd better explain."
"We're bridesmaids. Not the good kind, who love the bride like a sister and want to make her wedding the most special day ever. No."
"We're more like the avenging angels who are gonna ‘give you what's coming to you’ type of bridesmaids. You know what you're coming up in the middle of things, maybe we should back up a bit. Say about 20 years."
“So you can meet the fourth member of our little sisterhood.”
…
Three younger versions of the girls come out and push open a huge iron wrought gate revealing an absolutely beautiful mansion.
"This is where she lived. Still lives. It's such an amazing house, it has its own name. Belle Fontaine."
The girls make it to the front of the house where they are met by another girl with almost white blond hair and matching icy eyes.
“Emma Frost lives here with her mother. And an occasional stepfather. Oh and servants. Of course, you need servants when your house has its own zip code."
Small snips are shown of all the girls playing around the estate.
"Oh! And by the way, Belle Fontaine is French for my house is so much nicer than your house will ever be.
It's a good thing Emma was an only child. She didn't do sharing very well. She was much better at taking.
But we didn't mind, we were just little girls, blinded by the magic of Belle Fontaine. Could you blame us?
There were tea parties on the lawn, with homemade biscuits. And a secret staircase, you got to it from the inside of this huge wardrobe and it led all the way to the backyard."
The girls are shown coming out at the other end of the staircase, running towards the garden.
"We felt so lucky to be there. Oh and when we didn't Emma would remind us just how lucky we were to be there."
"8-9-10" Little Emma counted. "Ready or not, here I come."
"So then we'd play our own little version of hide and seek."
The other three girls hid behind a bush that was out of Emma's sights.
"Charlotte. Raven. Henrietta." Emma called as she ran right past the bush they were behind. When they were sure she was gone and then they ran away to their favorite spot on the property.
"And we called it ‘I know a place where Emma can't find us.’ It was a pretty spot under a cherry tree. But then, either Charlotte would feel guilty and we'd all go back."
The group of girls sat on different tree branches. Charlotte, Hank and Raven listened to Emma.
"And then we'd listen to Emma. Talk about Emma. And make up stories… about Emma.
Her house, her rules, her ego."
Charlotte and Hank throw flowers on the ground as they walk down the front path of the house. walked in front of them, Raven wearing a large suit jacket over her clothes.
“You who, here I come." Emma calls walking down the path wearing a white dress with a veil and carrying a bouquet of plastic flowers. She stops short when she sees Raven "Wait, what's that?"
"I'm the groom." Raven informed bewildered. A wedding needs a bride and a groom.
"No, you're all bridesmaids."
"Emma, there has to be a groom." Raven declared.
"Nu-uh, it's my wedding. Mom."
Raven rolled her eyes.
"Your dress looks really pretty." Charlotte murmurs.
"Duh, of course it does. MOTHER!"
"There she is. Like most normal 9-year olds. Wearing a wedding dress. Right now, we're playing her favorite game, Wedding. And we're losing."
"Darling." Out comes an older woman with thick dark hair, tall stiletto heeled sandals and large dark sunglasses. Ms. Agatha, Emma's doting and enabling mother. "What? What are these girls doing to you?"
"They're not listening." The girls whined. Voice grating on the others.
"It's a wedding, Emma." Hank explains. "There has to be a groom."
"My…" Agatha stoops down to Hank's level and tilts her sunglasses, showing her eerie icy eyes. They made her look so empty. "Don't you think a lot?"
"Well, doesn't there?"
"Well, yes technically dear. But he's not very important. Here, let's use this chair." Agatha takes a chair from a nearby table, while Raven takes off the suit Eriket and then hands it to her. "Thank you, Raven." She puts the Eriket on the chair. "There, isn't he handsome? And from a wealthy family, I understand." The older woman moves some hair out of Emma's face. "Lovely."
"Thank you mother."
The girls continued to play wedding.
"This was our life with Emma. Pretty much through high school. She called the shots, we played the parts. Why? It's a small town. You take what you can get. And in Westchester, Louisiana, we got Ms. Emma Frost.
After college, my folks moved out west and both Hank and I headed to New York. I got a book published. It sold okay… for a first novel. The second one is coming along…slowly…very slowly.
Meanwhile, Hank went the academic route, she's currently studying for her second doctorate in… something, I don't know, I've never fully understood what she'sml talking about.
Up comes Charlotte's Facebook profile. Pictures of her with a man with dark hair, and a stern face.
"But, we always kept in touch with Charlotte, who never left Westchester. She was going out with this guy, Erik, she was crazy about and that seemed to be enough for her. I mean, from what I knew. I don't get back much. Hank goes back pretty often, she actually likes her parents.
And that's how we ended up in Westchester last week. Her parents' 30th anniversary and she dragged me along.
Hank's dad was taking her mom on a cruise she always wanted but first a mandatory party where every living relative can ask us why we aren't married or famous yet."
Raven and Hank are seated at a table in a fancy restaurant with many older adults, trying to make it through the lunch.
"And Henrietta is practically teaching her class; she is so smart." Hank's mom bragged. She's been gushing about Hank's studies for the last Forty-Five minutes, about how much of a genius she was and how she got it all from her.
"And how bout you Raven? Got another book coming out?” Hank's Mother suddenly inquired, turning to the blond. Raven's eyes opened in nervousness, staring back at the group across from her, speechless on what to say.
"This is why I don't get back much."
"Yes, she does!” Hank jumped in, noticing her friend's stupor. “She has a Huge book coming out. But, she's sworn to secrecy by her publisher."
“Yeah! Speaking of which, I should check my voicemail and see how everything is going!” the blond jumps up, grabbing her bag and pulling the tall brunette to follow.
“Good luck!” Hank's parents call out after them,
Outside the restaurant, the girls quickly hurried to the patio, each snatching a mimosa from one of the passing waiters. "Great being home isn't it." Raven sarcastically remarked. "Surrounded by familiar faces that will never understand you."
"Air. I need air."
“We’re outside.” Raven commented.
"Air without relatives." the brunette stated, taking a rather large sip of her drink.
"Oh, oh. Is that Henrietta McCoy I see? And Raven, no Raven Darkholme." The twosome heard a nasally voice from behind them. They knew that voice anywhere, which made Hank almost spit out her drink.
"Oh God, it's Emma. Run for your life." Hank pleads.
"I can't. I'm in heels." Raven sighed begrudgingly. They turned around with fake smiles plastered on their faces. Their suspicions were correct. There was the almighty Emma Frost with Four other women.
"Oh my goodness, get over here. It has just been forever." the blond urges until the two make their way over. As soon as they are in reach, the other woman wraps them both in what could only be considered a bear mauling.
Hank cringed at the contact and Raven tried to get away as fast as possible.
“Mother, mother, you remember Raven and Henrietta.” Emma said, addressing Agatha, who had maneuvered around the other to stand in front of the girls.
The older woman takes off her sunglasses to get a better look at the two, before giving an exaggerated smile. “Yes.”
Raven resisted an eye roll at Agatha's obvious fakeness, as she turned her attention away from them and back to the blond headed bimbo that was her daughter.
Suddenly though while observing Emma’s entourage a very familiar face caught other girls' attention, and not just any face, Charlotte's face.
"Hey Charlotte!" Hank greets happily noticing the storter brunette, eyes lighting up and walking over, Raven following behind, pushing past Emma, who looks almost appalled at being snubbed, to get to the short haired girl. “I didn’t even see you there.”
“Did you change your phone number?" Raven starts, pulling Charlotte into an almost crushing hug, "I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for weeks?”
Charlotte pulls out of the hug slightly, arms wrapping around her midsection "I'm sorry, I've…"
“Oh my goodness, you don’t even know why we’re here," Emma suddenly interrupts. "This is my bridal party.” The blond flashes an absurdly large ring. “I’m getting married!”
“To a groom or a chair?" Raven inquired.
"Oh, Raven, you and your little quips.” Emma laughs. Running a hand through her white blond locks, “You know the wedding is 10 days and I really wanted to invite you, but Mother said she couldn’t find your numbers anywhere.”
Raven only smiled, placing her well manicured hand on her hip. “I’m sure if you had asked Hank's parents they could have told you.” She looked between the two, smile holding firm “What's that, 30 years in the same house? I'm sure they could've told you."
“Oh god, well of course Mother.” Emma said, looking to Agatha.
Agatha fakes another smile, eyes still holding no apologies. “Goodness me. You’re right.”
“Next time huh?” Raven commented.
"Oh, let me introduce you to everyone." Emma pointed to Charlotte. "Charlotte you already know, of course. And these are my other super bridesmaids Angel, Ashlie and Ashley."
"Oh you're not hearing double." Angel explained. "They're both really named Ashley."
"I spell it ie and she spells it ey." Ashlie explained.
"Some people get confused but not us. Right Ash?" Ashley queried.
"You got it Ash." They giggled in unison.
Raven looked at them in disbelief. "Oh my God."
As Emma went back to admiring her ring, Angel decided to initiate a photo op.
Raven smiled and turned “So Char, you’re a bridesmaid, I so wish I could come to the wedding. I could meet Erik. He's gonna be there right."
Suddenly Charlotte looked uncomfortable. "Uh, yes."
From behind her, Raven noticed a tall stoic faced man coming towards them, three other males following close behind. "Oh, is that him? I recognize him from all the pictures you've sent. Nice sista."
Erik walked up and past the three, giving a quick glance at Charlotte, and continued on towards Emma.
There's our gorgeous groom." Agatha addressed Erik as he stopped in front of Emma
"Oh Er-Bear." Emma celebrated. "We've been waiting for you."
Raven and Hank looked at Charlotte in shock.
"Alright bridesmaids, groomsmen. Let's get this lunch moving." Erik ordered with a tight lipped smile.
“Oh you stop, someone has a baseball game they want to catch at three.” Emma said with a smile and then proceeded to wrap her arms around Erik’s neck and kiss him with passion.
Angel, Ashley and Ashlie looked at the couple in adoration, hoping one day they could have a relationship like that.
Charlotte looked down at the ground sadly and pushed through the group. “Excuse me for a moment,” She all but sobbed, rushing past the couple, who had finally broken apart and disappearing into the restaurant.
“Alright, let’s get going.” Agatha motioned for the group to follow her into the restaurant.
“So good seeing you both.” Emma said following the rest of the wedding party.
"Close your mouths." A voice from behind Hank and Raven instructed. They both did so, not realizing that their jaws had dropped. They turned around and saw a handsome young man with light blond hair and piercing blue eyes.
“So Charlotte, an old friend of yours? And I’m guessing you haven’t talked to her in a while.” He asked. Realizing they were still in shock and he probably wouldn't get an answer he continued. "So, yeah, that's the Erik that Charlotte used to go out with, but we can't officially acknowledge that that ever happened, so this is me not acknowledging it.”
“You’re Alex Summer; you used to have a bad temper and an annoying best friend.” Raven commented.
“I've learned to handle my temper and I’ll tell Sean you said hi.” Alex replied with an easy smile.
“Thank you.”
“I don’t remember you.” Hank stated, looking the blond up and down as if trying to find some memory of the young man.
“Really because we had bio together twice and I asked you to prom.”
“What???”
“Nah I’m just kidding, I was a in the same year as you, but I spent most of high school in detention. Surprised I actually graduated.” Alex said and looked to Raven, who nodded in confirmation.
“So you still live in Westchester?” Hank asked in shock.
“Yeah I still live in Westchester.” Alex said, his smile falling.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean it like that.” Hank defended.
“Yeah you did.”
“Yeah you did.” Raven agreed, dhe pulled the other girl along away from Alex and towards the house. “Let’s go find Charlotte.”
“See you around." Alex called out after them
“Cute.” She said nudging the taller girl, who just smiled shyly.
“Yeah.”
They were close to the door when they were stopped by Emma “Now you two just have to come to the wedding.”
"Aw, we would love to, but I have to get back to my book.”
“And I need to… get back to my... studies…?”
“Oh come on, y'all know you want to come to this wedding. And we would just be delighted to have you. Mother?” Emma said, turning to address her mother.
Agatha was making her way into the restaurant with a half-filled flute in her hand and a bottle of champagne in the other. "Have a safe trip back."
“Well we would, please think about it.” Emma said, smiling sweetly, then proceeded into the establishment.
Hank and Raven rolled their eyes and went back to their original task.
After they searched for a bit, they found themselves in the rather large restroom, knocking on the door to one of the stalls.
“Charlotte?” Hank called out concerned. “Charlotte, is that you?"
“Charlotte sweetie are you ok?” Raven also questioned knocking on the door.
“It’s ok, I’m fine.” They heard the other girl blowing her nose from inside.
"You have been dating Erik forever; you said you thought he was the one, what happened?"
"Yeah, why didn't you the hell didn't you call us?"
“Cause you would have been mad and come down here!” Charlotte yelled back, the sound of more nose blowing following.
“You’re damn right!” Raven said, opening the door in a rush of aggravation.
A teary Charlotte came out and sat down at the mirror wiping at her eyes
“She stole him from you, didn’t she?” Hank asked angrily
"No, no Emma's a good friend. After all, she asked me to be her bridesmaid."
“And why did you agree?” Hank asked, confused.
"Because I was brought up well.”
"Oh Char," Hank realized. "What are you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna put on that ugly fuchsia dress, and march in that bridal procession and show the whole world that I am completely over Erik Lehenshrr." Charlotte said with determination and a big fake smile.
Thinking over her plan Charlotte frowned and buried her head into Hank’s chest, letting her tears fall again.
All of a sudden, the girls heard giggles coming into the room, as Ashlie and Ashley entered, immediately noticing Charlotte 's tears.
"What's wrong?" Ashley asked.
"You know what?" Raven started. "Charlotte, just found out that she signed up for a phone plan that doesn't have 5g." The girls gasped. "3 years, no refund."
"Aw, you should've asked me.” Ashlie exclaimed.
"Yeah, Ashlie knows all the best Phone plans." Ashley informed.
"It's true, but Ashley knows where to find the best frozen yogurt anywhere."
"So wait, let me get this straight." Raven commented. "One of you fills in what the other doesn't know."
The girls looked at each other and smiled. "Mhm."
"That's pretty awesome."