14. Planets Departing

                                    

                                          
"You may kiss the bride." 
                          
It was the last thing I heard before the world went quiet. When all else shut down. The flower petals I order were being thrown into the air were streaming down in front of our faces. The cheers were so loud at first but his smile drove them away. 
                          
I saw him standing at the end of the flowery tunnel with a smile on his face while staring right back at me. 
                          
That's him. My friend. I didn't think you could like such vile creatures in such a way. Men had always let me down, Dox seems to be a good one. 
                          
One of James' friends tugged at my arm breaking me away from Dox and walking me back up the alise behind Mars and James. His name is Toby, he is a econ major. 
                          
I don't see us together, at all. But James thought I good way to bond with Mars friend would be to drag a over grown daddy's boy with a drug problem to the wedding. Toby has been shaking since I first saw him, he is already in the withdrawal process. 
                          
Not my scene. Drinking sure, but drugs. That would only ruin the last unique thing about me. 
                          
***
                          
Toby left early, no shocker. Now it was just me at the white table in the corner. Mars was chatting with our other otherwise engaged or coupled up friends. Ines was dancing with the Clyde, and the whole town seemed to have brought someone to accompany them. 
                          
Then there was one lone wolf. 
                          
"The princess sits alone. In her peaceful paradise to watch over the townspeople. The champagne bottles seem to be opening up every moment and laughter is echoing for so long, it has become an infinite sound. The suns already on its way down, so the little lights dangling from hooks have flickered their way on. Through all this wonderful madness, the only still, blank face is the one of the princess. Parties were never her scene, and it seems as though, no stable boy could change that." 
                          
"Talking about me River?" 
                          
"No. Just enjoying the quiet," I spoke darkly playing with the silverware. "Where were you?" 
                          
"I was with an old flame." He nervously laughed. 
                          
"What?" It sparked my interest sure, but my outburst over this little life detailed seemed far too much. 
                          
"My high school sweetheart is sitting way over there." 
                          
I followed his finger to a blonde bob. She was in a silver shimmery dress with a low hanging back. So low the top of her probably well-deserved tramp stamp was showing. What made my blood run a little faster was to see her chatting up none other than Janine. Man, misery really does like its company. 
                          
"Name," I ordered. Nailing the image of these two women together in my mind. There are otherwise entwined in my head as trouble evermore. 
                          
"Olivia Winsor." 
                          
"Rich?"
                          
"Yep. How'd you know?"
                          
"You can tell how high maintenance a blonde is by their choice of blonde highlights on top of it. I can tell that color was probably achieved by making babies cry and blending diamonds into a paste." 
                          
"You're feeling extra snippy. Any reason?" 
                          
"See's with Janine. I don't like Janine." 
                          
"Any other reason?" He pulled out the chair next to me and sat down taking the fork I was tapping on the white table cloth from my hand. 
                          
I leaned in towards his face. The closer I got the wider is pupils. Then while my lips were inches from his I popped my head up further to kiss his nose. I don't know how I feel about this Olivia Winsor, there is a pit in my stomach and a static ringing in my head when I try to see her sitting next to Dox like I am. Whatever evoked these foreign emotions, I sure as hell don't want to be feeling it again.