Shoot The Jerk

Chapter 2: You Think She Glitters?

You Think She Glitters?

CHAPTER  2

Jake

What was it with women and crying at weddings? The bride was crying, her mother was crying, the groom’s mother was also crying and several others have suspiciously moist eyes. I mean, yeah, it’s a beautiful ceremony and all that, but they don’t have to get so sentimental.

Cindy was literally melting in James’ arms and everyone was looking on with misty eyes.

Some had this pathetic longing look in their eyes, which translated as Oh-I-totally-want-to-get-hitched-too, and others had the envious look which pretty much spoke for itself. And then there were the people who were genuinely happy, like the relatives and close friends of the couple.

I, on the other hand, was here only because Eric asked me. Nicely. He hadn’t wanted to come because of family issues, and I, after all, was his friend.

Thankfully, there were no ex-boyfriends or girlfriends, since Cindy's only ex-boyfriend was in jail, and James never had any girlfriends. They were more like bimbos.

And now I have to get back to the problem that I have been studiously avoiding since the moment I saw it standing opposite me wearing the pink gown. For a moment I hadn’t known what to do.

Should I greet her as I normally would, or should I just ignore her? She would hound me forever if I made some quip about that dress. I was sure of it.

Also, she looked so lost in it that I pitied her and chose to ignore her. A momentary weakness. I hoped she didn’t take it as a sign of friendship. Under that naïve façade is the heart of a real bitch.

Actually, I was doing pretty well at ignoring her until she slipped again. On the dance floor, during the reception.

I pity the person who tried to force her into those heels.

Whatever, I couldn’t possibly ignore her when she practically fell on me while dancing. I also couldn’t help the little grin that spread across my face when she swore under her breath, ensuring the ugly fate of the heels.

“What are you laughing at? You find this funny, don’t you? Well, it’s not. And you’re a jerk.”

“You’ve said that to me quite a few times this week. You know, it’s the jerk who’s keeping you from falling.”

I hoped I didn’t get any nail imprints on my forearm, even through the sleeves. She was clutching at it that hard, glaring at me.

“Then let me go. I didn’t ask you to catch me.”

Before you judge me, I'll have you know that I never react well when challenged.

I let her go and stepped back. She shrieked as she was carried on by the momentum of her dancing, and thumped to the floor. I bet she hadn’t realised how heavily she was leaning on me, but I think it was shock more than the lack of support that made her fall. And of course, the treacherous heels.

For a moment she just looked up at me, confused. Then, angry. Really, really angry.

She looked as I if she was thinking of cutting me to little pieces and feeding me to the dogs. But she noticed the people staring at her with concern. She tried to smile, and ended up looking constipated. This was the second time I’d made her fall. The first was when I’d tripped her in the hallway in school.

“I’m okay. Just slipped.” And with that lame excuse, she shakily got up to her feet. When she looked at me, her eyes were blue chips of ice.

“The only thing keeping me from strangling you right now is the fact that it’s my brother’s wedding.” She whispered fiercely. Strangling, huh? That was marginally better than cutting me into little pieces and feeding me to the dogs, I thought amusedly.