It's Always Been You

Chapter 14

Ariana woke up Saturday morning well rested and confused. She returned to Ben's mother's house to pick up her car and ran into his grandma, who retold the whole play she had gone to see with Jonathan.

Both Valerie and Akiko urged her to take some food home with her and she did. Eventually, with Ben's help, she was finally able to leave their house a quarter before eleven and returned to her apartment with a pastry box filled with cupcakes, cookies, and Tupperware with lasagna.

She sat up, her long brown hair falling over her face in a mess of tangles. She was determined to survive another day of bridesmaid dress shopping. Because if she could survive a double date with Ben, she could do this, right?

# # #

She arrived at her parent's house and found her dad sitting in the living room watching a soccer game. "Morning, dad." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

"You had breakfast?" he asked.

"Yup."

He nodded. "There's still food in the kitchen if you want some."

Ariana walked into the kitchen, where her mom was currently putting said food away.

"Hey, ma."

Alicia barely looked up from what she was doing. "You have everything for today?"

"Yes? What am I going to need other than myself?" Ariana tried to reach for some frijoles, but her mom shoved the pot into the fridge.

"Money. Just in case we buy the dresses today."

"Money? Why do I need to bring money?"

"I'm here!" Cristina's voice filtered in through the entryway. "Is everyone ready to go?"

Cristina stilled by the entrance to the kitchen.

"Cristina, am I buying my bridesmaid dress?"

Cristina cringed slightly.

"I mean," Ariana fingered some loose strands of her hair, "not that I have a problem with that, I just didn't know I was expected to."

Cristina hesitated. "Yeah, Abigail said it'd be a good idea to cut some costs somewhere. So, the dresses won't be in the budget. But, think about it, we could put that money somewhere else, like a venue."

"Okay. Wait," Ariana rested a hand on her hip, "you haven't reserved the venue? Any venue?"

Cristina bit her lip. "No...?"

"Why not?"

"Marco and I haven't settled on a place. That's all. Come on, let's go." Cristina walked out of the kitchen before Ariana could ask anything else.

"Wait, but-" Ariana looked toward her mom, but Alicia followed her eldest of the kitchen as well.

Ariana crossed her arms over her chest. "Am I missing something here?"

# # #

An attendant led them to the wedding and bridal section of the store. Ariana picked up a dress, lightly dragging a finger over the texture. Her eyes caught the $400 price tag and she slowly returned the dress to the rack. She padded over to her family and friends. Liliana sat on a small cushioned bench. Ariana joined her.

"We have some dresses picked out." Cristina held the dresses to her chest. Abigail stood beside her holding some more dresses.

Cristina showed off the first one, but they all agreed it might be showing too much skin for their comfort, considering the ceremony and reception will be taking place on a cold day. The next one was too short. The next few looked too formal and some too casual.