Back Again

I met John at my sister’s wedding and I have to say that he was the sweetest boy I have ever met since the boys in my school are all practically scumbags. When I was introduced to him I just tried to hide my infatuation and I’m guessing it wasn’t very well since he… well I might as well tell you the whole story.

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I sat here in my chair forcefully keeping a smile on my face instead of what I really wanted to do which was to run to my favorite spot which was the lake and it was just over the small hill. I wanted to walk over that hill, sit by the lake, and just relax like I always did when I was there. I groan as I see my apparently drunk sister walking towards me with a woman I didn’t know supporting my sister's weight.

“Ashley!” my sister Jolie shrieks as she as falls on top of me in which I think was suppose to be a hug. Somehow I managed to stay upright and I heaved my sister up into a standing position. “I‘m sooo lad o ore a duess.” she slurs and I translate it to I’m so glad you wore a dress. “And fo da fwist time in ou life.” And for the first time in your life. I look at her to see her eyes glisten over. “I’m so gateful ou look buaful, Tank ou.” I’m so grateful you look beautiful, Thank you.

I move the hair that has fallen in her face away and see that tears have already started to fall. “Jolie please stop crying.” I beg her. I hated it when she got emotional especially when it was an emotion that made her cry. I wrap my arm around her waist so I could carry her to the chair that I was sitting on and made her sit down. “I was happy to wear a dress for you Jo.” I kneeled down in front of her and tried to make eye contact as I did my best to console her.

“She‘s beautiful Jolie and you should not be crying.” I forgot that the woman was there until she came up and softly rubbed my sister’s upper arm. I look up at her. Oh I remember who she was. Now that I can look at her properly.

“O goh I’m so sowie.” Oh gosh I’m so sorry. My head turns to my sister as she speaks. “I oly had two rinks.” I only had two drinks. She pauses and looks away thoughtful. “Oay I lied it was selven.” Okay I lied it was seven. She giggles.

“Jolie its okay you just wanted to have fun.” the woman moves next to Jolie and began to rub her back. “After all it is your big day.” she adds cheerfully. I give the woman a weak smile not knowing what else to do.

As I look back at my sister I couldn’t help but scowl at her. Jolie was never much of a drinker since she could barely keep anything in her belly when she did start to drink. I remembered one time at a New Years Eve party, Jolie had a shot of Tequila and she was instantly tipsy, dancing crazy, slurring her words a bit, and even throwing up about ten minutes after the shot. I laugh at the memory and both women look down at me confused. “Oh nothing I just thought of something funny.” I waved it off.

Jolie stares at me for a while as if knowing it was her I was thinking about but just shrugs. “Ellen!” my sister shrieks and placing a heavy hand on the woman’s shoulder as if just noticing she was here the whole time. Come to think of it my sister is drunk so she probably did just notice her. “Get John. Ash ill ove him.” Jolie becomes excited because she attempted to get up but fell back down on the chair, not able to support her own weight.

I did remember Ellen, we were introduced when Jolie needed help making a decision on the wedding dress that she should where. She was three years older than Jolie, so that makes her twenty-eight, married to a loving husband, star athlete of a son, and lived in Chicago. I’m guessing that John was her son the one that played the sports, got excellent grades, and was popular with the ladies, yadda, yadda, yadda. But why would Jolie think I would like a guy like him.

“Oh, yes of course.” Ellen nods her head, gets up, and walks into the crowd of dancing people and I knew most of them were drunk just by the grinding and touching that was happening.