"This place looks amazing!" Evelyn, gushed as the three friends stepped into the large, brightly lit ballroom which would, in just a few hours, play host to the biggest moment in Joe's life.

"Jesus," Joe gawked. "I knew what to expect but seeing it in person is . . . shit! I'm getting married today!"

"Nervous then?" Evie asked.

"Absolutely. Is it just me or is it roasting in here? Sweating like a bitch."

"Aye, that won't be the nerves, that'll just be all this shite we have to wear!" Michael complained, gesturing to his outfit, which matched Joe's perfectly in all but size. "Honestly, three layers in the middle of summer. Recipe for disaster."

"Yeah kilts look cool and all but what a nightmare they are to get on," Joe agreed.

"It feels great not being the one with outfit problems for once," Giggled Evie, feeling elegant in her flowery, summer dress.

"Seriously, no wonder our ancestors all got enslaved by the English. They probably weren't ready for the fucking battle on time!" Michael joked. Partly.

As the guests began to arrive and take their seats, Joe took up his position at the front to wait for his bride while Michael and Evelyn greeted people at the door after the photographer had gotten some perfect shots of them in the beautiful sunshine.

At a rare break in the proceedings, the photographer approached the two.

"Busy day huh?"

"I'll say. It's been nonstop so far," Mike agreed, straightening his tie.

"Have you two had your picture taken yet?"

"Uh no, but we'll get later," Evie uncomfortably shifted her feet.

"Nonsense! Come on get up close together, I'll get a picture of the second happiest couple of the day," He insisted.

Michael stammered "Oh we're not-"

"No we aren't a-" Evie joined in.

Despite their protests, the photographer edged them closer together so that their shoulders were touching.

 Knowing that resistance was futile, the two sucked it up and smiled, Michael putting his arm around her waist to indulge the photographer. This happened way more often than they'd like so they were kind of used to it by now. A few flashes later, they parted.

"Beautiful. You two look great together!" He purred.

After the remaining guests arrived and took their seats and the photographer took his position inside, Michael and Evelyn walked in together too.

"I hope he's going to be alright," Mike said of a nervous looking Joe.

"They love each other; it's going to be perfect. Are you all ready for your best man's speech?"

"I think so. But I think I'm more nervous than Joe is!"

"You're gonna do great. Trust me. I believe in you."

"Thanks buddy!" Mike smiled warmly, this time voluntarily putting his arm over her and pulling her in for a hug.

*

Over the next few hours, the new Mr. And Mrs MacDonald were officially married, more pictures were taken, Michael's speech went off without a hitch and many drinks were consumed.

"Thank you guys so much for being here. It really means a lot to both of us," Angela, Joe's new wife said.

"It's our pleasure. You look stunning, really," Evie gushed.

"Hey what about me?" Joe balked.

"Sexy as always my friend," Mike patted him on the back.

 "Thanks but I'm still not forgiving you for telling that story from my stag do in Prague. You know how embarrassing that was!"

"Aye, exactly! It's not a real wedding if the groom doesn't get a wee bit roasted at the speeches!" Michael laughed, his native slang coming out more with every pint.

"Roasted? I thought my glasses were going to steam up!" Joe moaned while the others laughed.

"That story was pretty steamy!" Angela continued the joke, her radiant smile giving away that this was in fact the happiest day of her life.

Although Michael didn't have a bad word to say about Joe, he wouldn't have described him as a sex symbol by any means. So he had been more than a little surprised when Angela had agreed to go out with his best friend.

Joe had met the blonde bombshell on an online dating app, as most people did these days, and they hadn't looked back since. It was a truly happy situation for Joe, who for the longest of times had worried he'd never find someone to share his life with.

Now, he was living proof that there is always hope for large men with unkempt hair and glasses.

"Arite, enough slagging me off. Did you guys enjoy the meal?" Joe asked. They all nodded.

"Did you?" Evelyn asked.

"Have I ever not enjoyed a meal?" He laughed. "But don't worry, there's still plenty of energy left for dancing later!"

He wasn't lying either.

After he and Angela had their first dance as a married couple to a slow, beautiful song, he began throwing out some crazy dance moves to the Bee Gee's, inviting his close friends up to dance with him. It took little hesitation for them to do so.

"Looks like too much fun not to!" Michael shrugged.

*

As the night wore on and people came and went from the bar and the dance floor, Evelyn took a seat for a moment of rare rest.

She watched Joe and Angela making their way around the room, talking to various distant family members that neither had seen for god knows how long. Everyone was having the time of their lives. Just as she was disappearing into a daze, she was awoken by a glass of wine and pint of beer being placed in front of her.

"Here you go," Mike said, taking a seat next to her.

"Thanks."

"You ok?" He asked, taking his beer back and having a large sip. Dancing was thirsty work.

"Yeah, of course. Today has been great! Why?"

"I dunno, you're just staring off into space."

"And so you bought me another  wine?" She joked, drawing a laugh from her friend. Though, after a brief silence, she decided to say what was really on her mind. "Hey, do you ever think that'll be us up there?" She asked, looking longingly at the husband and wife.

Michael almost choked on his beer. "What?"

"Oh!" She cried, realising how it had sounded. "Not . . . us us. But you know, any of us."

"Where's this coming from?"

"I dunno. Weddings make me sappy I guess," She cringed. "But I sometimes feel like I've missed my chance. I'm not exactly getting any younger, you know?"

"Evie, you are a million miles away from being an old hag," He laughed.

"Do you not think I'm . . . I dunno, a crazy cat lady without the cats yet?"

"You absolutely are!" Mike laughed. "But that's why you're so great. Trust me, you'll meet somebody soon and you won't know what hit you. Look at Joe! He met Angela when he didn't expect it at all! Someone once told me, that love comes when you least expect it."

"What movie is that from?"

"I can't remember but it must be pretty good if I remember that, right?"

"I guess."

"You'll find something, I'm sure of it. When you know, you know. You know?" He laughed, succeeding in cheering Evelyn up again so that she was back to her usual smiling self. "Come on, want to dance? Whitney is my jam."

"Sure," Evie grinned, shooting out of her seat and onto the dance floor where she danced with one of her best friends to cheesy eighties tunes for the rest of the night.

Of course, just because Michael was easily able to put Evie's mind at ease, it didn't necessarily mean that it had worked for his own. . .

________________________________________________________________________________

Woohoo! Chapter two! And the first time we're visiting flashback land!

It was a completely random idea for me to include these flashback scenes but they are going to be very important. I wont tell you why just yet though.

What I will tell you, is why I changed to third person for it. One of the struggles I've had as a writer is that I sometimes struggle to put certain points across for my supporting characters when writing from the main characters point of view. And for the end of this story (miles away) I have a very specific way to end in mind, and I feel that this is a cool way to build up and let you all know some more background about the characters, without dumbing it down too much. Does that make sense? Basically, showing and not telling.

Plus its a pretty bitchin' thing to do for this story to stand out!

I'd love your thoughts on everything so far and will answer any questions you have!