Red-Heads On The Battle Front

9. My Cousin's Getting Hitched and I'm Getting Revenge

"I knew you'd be excited" Celia said reprovingly, standing over us like it was too childish to be on the ground rolling about. Probably not proper etiquette. Gabby simply rolled her eyes and pulled Celia down to the floor with us.

"Lighten up, Celia" she said, smacking her on the arm lightly. I snorted.

"Any lighter than this and we'll have to shackle Helium to the ground" I said and Gabby cocked an eyebrow at me.

"Aah, I heard about that!" she said in the tone of a very satisfied cat "It's true then? The Whitfield's are back in town?"

"Yep" Celia said, popping the 'p'. Then with a sly, sideways look at me, she added,

"Gwen here simply adores Devon Whitfield" I glared at her and opened my mouth to tell them exactly what I thought of Devon Whitfield when the mother appeared and it was no longer the safest option to utter such unladylike words in her presence.

"Up, up all of you" she said briskly pulling us up by our elbows and then ushering us into the sitting room where Aunt Janet sat. "I should've known where all that ruckus was coming from" she said, but her eyes twinkled and she opened her arms. I hurried forward to hug her. "It's good to see you too" I said, but I was genuinely happy to see her. Mum gestured for us to sit down and then turned to Aunt Janet and Gabby. "Now, what was it that was so urgent that Gabby had to fly all the way back from Paris for?" she said, worry tinting her voice. My eyes widened. "You were in Paris? You never told me-"

"Gwen..." said Celia warningly, looking at the look on Mum's face, and I fell silent. Gabby and Aunt Janet exchanged significant looks and Gabby faced us, with the looks of someone readying herself to drop a bomb on the lot of us.

"I'm getting married"

A moment of silence greeted this impressive statement and then:

"What?" shouted Celia, her eyes bulging. "How? When? Where?" she was sitting at the edge of her chair, as if poised for flight. Mum just looked shell-shocked and had slumped back weakly into her chair at this announcement, opening and closing her mouth like a goldfish Mr. Mittens had accidently swiped out of the bowl and onto the ground. Oh and I was screaming. Just, you know, full-blown, banshee howling. I think there was some pointing and gasping too, I'm not sure. I was too busy freaking the fuck out.

Aunt Janet and Gabby looked as though they'd wished they'd never been born and just as the latter was about to say something, Dad burst through the doorway with a baseball bat in his hands shouting 'Freeze!' like some daft cop. But I've got to say, it worked marvelously well.

The whole room went silent like someone had switched off the audio and we all sat gazing wide-eyed at the baseball ball in Dad's hand.

"I didn't imagine that my official cause of death would be by baseball bat" I said. Silence. Then Gabby let out a small giggle and we erupted into peals of laughter.

Finally, Aunt Janet said, wiping the tears from her eyes "That...was not the reaction we expected"

"Is it too late to say congratulations?" I managed to say before another fit of the giggles overcame me. Gabby just shook her head, smiling and held up the hand where a glittering stone lay. My eyes widened despite myself. Wow. Marriage. My mind whirred frantically as it put together an image of and older version of me, all decked in white. I shook my head and mentally snorted. How stupid.

"Congratulations, Gabriella" Mum said warmly, snapping me out of my fantasies. I nodded. I sincerely was happy for her. Gabby smiled at her "It's sure as hell a pain in the butt to plan though"

Aunt Janet nodded thoughtfully, "We still haven't invited most of the guests. We're trying to keep it as personal as we possibly can but some people you just can't go and knock on their front door" Aunt Janet sighed "The internet is a timely invention but it sometimes makes me wonder..." she shook her head "Thankfully, most of the people are here in town, and the Whitfields are right next door!"

I tensed at her last words. The Whitfields? Mr. Moron was coming? Why? My eyes narrowed.

"You and Celia, you guys'll be bridesmaids, yeah?" Gabby asked hurriedly, to diffuse the obvious tension that had crept into the room along with Aunt Janet's words. It worked.

I must've looked the picture of shock as Gabby laughed at the look at my face "Who else did you expect me to ask?" she said, grinning. Celia was already nodding frantically and so I nodded too. Wow. Bridesmaid. That's got to be an experience. "Great" Gabby grinned. "Who's going to be the maid of honor?" Celia asked excitedly. "One of my friends from college. Another one's going to be a third bridesmaid." Gabby said dismissively. "Wait wait wait. You still haven't told us who you're even marrying yet" Mum said, amused. "Remember the artist guy I was telling you about? The one I met in Rome? Marcellus?"

Nobody could miss the glow that entered Gabby's face when she talked about her husband-to-be. Her dark eyes had lit up and a faint blush had creeped up onto her face, clashing magnificently with her fiery hair. She was clearly, irreversibly, most surely in love.

I smiled a genuine smile. I was a grouch, sure, but seeing Gabby happy? That made up for the icky sappiness that was love.

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"Celia, you're in charge, honey" Mum said as she put on a hat to ward herself against the heat. My mouth fell open "That isn't fair!"

"Oh shut up, Gwen" Celia snapped.

Mum and Dad were going with Aunt Janet to help with the wedding details. Celia had wanted to go too but, unfortunately, Mum decided that unless I was straitjacketed, there was no way I was going to be alone ever again. Not after successfully giving Mr. Moron a (much-needed, in opinion) makeover.

The bad news was that I now had a very grouchy Celia to keep me company and babysit me. But the good news? Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield were going with them and this, therefore, was the best time to get Devon Whitfield back for that stupid shower.

All I had to do was get rid of Celia first.

As the door shut, I turned to walk upstairs.

"And where are you going?" Celia said, her voice far from pleasant.

"To the bathroom?"

"What for?"

"To open the Chamber of Secrets, Celia" I deadpanned and she snorted before turning and walking into the living room. Drat. I would have to use my room ladder now. I scowled at the thought of more physical activity and dragged myself upstairs. Ugh. I hope this is worth it.

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 A/N: Whoo Gabby! Yay Gabby! I like Gabby. I wish Gabby was my cousin. And does anyone watch Buzzfeed over here? Gabby from Buzzfeed = Gabby from this story. :3 I'm a little hyper - just had my first sip of morning coffee. I wrote this up last night and I was too tired to update but now I am not =D AAAAALSO I'm getting new bookshelves installed because I have too many books and too little space xD Expect weekly updates guys. Love you loads and tell me down in the comments below what YOU think Gwen's going to do with Dev's underwear.

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Okay that sounded so wrong. But anyway, yeah. Vote, comment and, if you haven't followed yet, do that too! Love you my munchkins.

xxx
Sage