The Wedding in Connecticut

There is a beautiful girl who lives in Mallows, Florida. She is a teenager, seventeen years old. She is a pretty popular kid with many friends and a family who adores each other. Her family is wealthy; well it is expected when your father is the governor of Florida. This girl's name is Amanda Reckons. Her family consists of her mom, her dad, herself, and her older sister Amery. Amery is a nineteen year old college student who is studying to become a lawyer. Amanda and Amery are very close sisters. They are not only sisters, but best friends. The two of them have everything in common; from sizes and colors, to movies and boys. The both of them have finished school and it is summertime in Florida. Even though it is always hot in Florida, in the summer it is extra hot. This summer the Reckons family is very busy. In July, they have to attend a wedding. The wedding is of their dear and best friends of the family who live up in Hatfield, Connecticut. The two families grew up together since they used to be next door neighbors in Connecticut. That's right; Amanda used to live in Connecticut but moved to Florida when she was ten because her dad got the job as governor. She wasn't too happy about the move but now she is satisfied.

"Oh my gosh this week is crazy!" says Amanda as she and her sister are getting ready to go to a dinner for their father tonight

"This week, try this month" says Amery

"Oh I don't even wanna think about it Amery. Do you ever feel like we are missing out on our childhood years sometimes. I mean I could be going to a huge party tonight with my friends but instead I have to go to this stupid dinner for dad" says Amanda

"I know, I hear ya. I feel the same way but I love getting dressed up, that's the only fun part" she says

"Yeah well you will be getting dressed up a lot this month, I can tell ya that" says Amanda

"Oh I know. When is the Goldstein Wedding?" Amery asks

"Uh I think July 8th. Ugh that's another event, and oh that's next week isn't it? Oh crap and we don't even have dresses yet" says Amanda

"Well I am sure we can just wear something we already wore to the many events we have been to in our lives. Are we going to have to stay there for long even after the wedding is over"

"Yeah I think we are getting there on the 7th and leaving on the 20th" says Amanda

"Really? That's long, dad can be away that long?"

"I guess it counts as his vacation time or something" says Amanda

"Do you even wanna go?" asks Amery

"I do and I don't. I don't wanna go because I cannot stand Marie, like how old is she that she is already getting married, 23?

"Yeah she is 23 but that's not that young, she is in love. So what is the reason you want to go?" asks Amery

"Her brothers" says Amanda

The Goldstein family consists of Mr. and Mrs. Goldstein, Marie (the one getting married), Mike; he is Amery's age, and Nick; he is Amanda's age. The boys are very good-looking however the girls haven't seen them in a long time so they aren't sure what to expect.

"Same here, I wanna see Mike so badly. Do you think they have girlfriends?" says Amery

"I hope not. Do you think they look the same?" Amanda asks

"Either that or even hotter" says Amery

"I am so excited. It is awkward though since like we are friends and we have known them since we were born" Amanda says

"Yeah well didn't you hook up with him last time we saw them?" asks Amery

"Yes but that was when I was thirteen years old Amery. It's been four years" she says

"Exactly, and when you were thirteen you were going through that funny stage but now, now you are gorgeous Manda, gorgeous" Amery says

"So are you, so Mike is going to want you too" Amanda says

"We will see what happens, now let's go to this stupid dinner we are going to be late" says Amery

Amanda and Amery arrive at the dinner fashionably late, as always. When they walk in they see who is sitting at their table. It is a boy whose father works with their dad and he is obsessed with them. The kid is a true stalker.

"Hi sorry we are late, there was so much traffic" says Amery

"Hi girls" says the kid

"Ugh just ignore him" says Amanda since she goes to school with him and always annoys him to death as a joke

"So girls do you have outfits for the wedding next week?" asks their mom

"No, and we need to have cute ones too, even to wear lounging around" says Amanda

"You can wear whatever, it doesn't matter. As long as you have a dress for the wedding" says their mom

"No mom, everything has to be cute" says Amanda

"Oh I think I know why, Mike and Nick?" she asks

"Ok yeah, we like them mom. They are so cute. Do you happen to know what they look like now?" asks Amery

"Nope but they were always cute kids and good ones too so I hope it all works out for you. But isn't it a little awkward, especially for you Amanda. You and Nick were best friends when you were younger" says their mom

"Mom, Amanda and Nick made out when they came here to visit four years ago. They were thirteen years old at the time. I am sure some of that chemistry is still there. And for myself, Mike always flirts with me. When they came here that time he brought that girlfriend and he still flirted with me" says Amery

"I didn't know this Amanda, so you and Nick have a past. Well hopefully they don't have girlfriends" says their mom

"Lets hope" says Amanda

The dinner for Mr. Reckons was over and Amanda and Amery returned home.
The next night Amanda decided she wanted to call up Nick since she has his number and everything but never calls him.

"Should I do it?" Amanda asks Amery as they are sitting in their pajamas in Amery's room having their own little slumber party.

"Come on yeah call him" she says with excitement

"I'm scared" says Amanda as she is dialing the number

"You can do it" says Amery in a funny voice

"Oh no it is ringing...hello? Nick?" says Amanda when he answers

"Amanda?"

"Hi, how did you know it was me" she says

"You think I don't know your voice after all these years?" Nick says

Amanda laughs and says "So I am just calling to say hi. Me and Amery are having a slimy slumber party tonight" she says and laughs

When they were little, Amery, Amanda, Nick, and Mike would have sleepovers and the boys would make up all these food concoctions that they would force the girls to try so they came up with the name 'slimy' slumber party.

"Oh no really hah ha I remember those" he says

"So are you ready for your sisters wedding Saturday"

"Kind of, I'm psyched for the party but not so much the wedding itself" he says

"What a shocker that one is. Party animal" she says

"Hah ha, you know it. I cannot wait until you guys get here.... Marie's fiancé has these annoying cousins who are like completely hideous...three girls all around me and Mike's age and they always talk to us. I think they like us or something. Amanda they are so annoying" he says

"Oh man really, that's so funny. What are we going to do about them" Amanda says

Amery is listening to this conversation too because Amanda has the phone on speaker and she is smiling big time.

"I don't know but we have to figure something out. I saw a picture of you before, my mom showed it to me. The one from your prom, how did you get so pretty? Not that you weren't pretty before but you know what I mean" he says and Amery is giving her a look

"Yeah I don't know in the past four years I guess. Thank you Nick... but what do you look like...have you changed since I last saw you?" she asks

"I got a little taller and my voice got deeper, I don't know. I will send you a picture online now" he says

"Ok, I have an idea Nick. Do you have a girlfriend?" Amanda asks

"What are you doing" Amery whispers to Amanda

"No..." he says

"So how about I come as your date to the wedding and Amery will go as Mike's date so that those ugly girls will be jealous and leave you two alone for the rest of the week" says Amanda

"Oh you are smart...definitely good plan. So tell your sister and I will tell Mike because I have a feeling that will work big time. Thanks" he says

"No problem...aw Nick I got the picture. You do look the same...still so handsome" says Amanda

"Thanks did you show Amery the picture of Mike I sent you"

"Yeah her smile is as big as my room right now" says Amanda and Nick laughs

"So you guys are staying at our house right?" asks Nick

"Yes until the twentieth"

"Perfect...the other girls are leaving on the nineteenth" he says

"Ok cool, wait isn't that a little weird though how they like you guys and you guys are the brothers of their cousins soon to be wife"

"Yeah that's what I said...awkward" he says

"What does Marie think about this situation?" Amanda asks

"She doesn't know, so please don't tell her I don't want her to have to worry about anything going wrong or something" he says

"Ok I won't tell her I promise. So I guess I will see you on Friday night when we get to your house"

"Ok I will be counting down the hours Amanda, trust me" he says

"Ok good, goodnight" she says

"Goodnight, and um thanks for calling, it was nice to talk to you" he says

"Same here, bye" she says

Amanda and Amery hug each other with excitement

"Oh! Do you believe this Amery?! I think he was actually flirting with me"

"He was Manda, didn't you hear him tell you that you are pretty"

"Yes, and now we get to be their dates for the wedding, you're welcome Amery" says Amanda

"Thanks sis, we will go to the mall tomorrow and get a dress"

"K, I am so excited. They got so hot" says Amanda

"They sure did" says Amery

So Amanda and Amery went to the mall and found the perfect dresses to wear to the wedding. Amery's dress is a black halter top dress with silver beading and it goes a little past her knee. Amanda has a really cute dress. Hers is a deep green and it is a tube top dress that goes down to her knees and it has pick ups on the bottom. Both dresses are adorable. Amanda and Amery also bought a couple of cute little outfits to wear while they are in Connecticut.
Today is the day, Friday. The Reckons family is leaving tonight to go to Connecticut. It is about a three hour flight from Florida to Connecticut and they are on the plane now. Amanda's dad bought her a cell phone in which you can use while you are on a plane. She only uses it when she goes on vacation since it isn't so attractive looking.
While she is on the plane Amanda receives a text message from Nick

'Hey where u at'
'I am on the plane...special phone! We are somewhere in Virginia maybe...not sure but it should be about another half hour until we land'
'Alright cool...are u bored on the plane'
'Not anymore...talk to me until we land please I am losing my mind. U know I cannot sit still for long periods of time'
'Ok yeah I know'
'So who is picking us up at the airport?'
'Me, of course and Mike is here too and my parents'
'R u at the airport yet'
'Nope on our way now'
'Oh k cool'

Amanda and Nick text for the rest of the flight, they were talking about the most random things and Amanda was making fun of all the people on the plane.
When the flight landed it was late, 11pm. Amanda and Amery are exhausted they cannot wait to go to sleep but they are so pumped about seeing the boys.

"When I see Nick I am going to run up to him and give him a humongous hug!" says Amanda

"Hah ha me too for Mike" says Amery

Amanda was the first one out of the gate and as soon as she saw Nick they both locked eyes and smiled. She ran up to him and gave him the biggest hug ever. He picked her up and spun her around. Then she said hi to the rest of his family.

"Amanda why aren't you excited come on" says Nick sarcastically

"Sorry I am a shy person" she says right back

"You are so much prettier in person" he says right after his mom tells Amanda what a beautiful girl she is.

"Thank you....hello Mike" she says and hugs him too

"Wow Amanda look at you all grown up..." Mike says

"I get that a lot ...trust me" she says

"Here give me your bags...what do you have in here bricks?" says Nick as he takes her bags

"Yup three pounds of them"

"Hah ha very funny, you haven't changed a bit Amanda. You are still the same wise guy" he says

"Oh and you were never one?" she says and smiles

"Okay, true that" he says

On the way home everyone catches up with each other about things. The Goldstein Family lives in a nice house; it is big, kind of like Amanda's house. Mr. Goldstein is a doctor, pediatrician to be exact.

"Hey Nick remember when we were little and we would go with your dad to his office and we would sneak into one of the empty rooms and you would pretend you were the doctor and I was the patient" says Amanda

"Yea who can forget all the trouble we got into at the office" he says

"Good times" she says

They arrive at the house and it is all decorated for the wedding. Outside sitting on the front porch is Marie, her fiancée, and it looks like the cousins that Nick doesn't like.

"Hey, Amanda...time to impress" Nick says

"Don't worry I got this" she says

As they approach the porch where everyone is sitting Amanda and Amery get a better look at the three girls. One is on the heavy side, one is really too skinny and she looks anorexic, and one is just plain ugly. No wonder why Nick and Mike needed us to do this.

"Hey! Marie! You look so good I haven't seen you in forever" Amanda says as she puts on her fake enthusiastic voice

"Me? Look at you Amanda, wow I don't know how my brother is going to keep his hands off you this time" says Marie

"Shh, my parents don't know about last time" Amanda lies (the hook up)

"Oh sorry but seriously Amanda you are gorgeous. I knew ever since you were little you were going to be chased by all the boys" Marie says

"Thanks...I guess" says Amanda

"Ok so this is my fiancé Steven. Steven, these are my girls I grew up with and our families are best friends...seventeen year old Amanda, and nineteen year old Amery" Marie says as she introduces the girls

"Hi it's so nice to finally meet you" Amanda says

"Yes it is, excuse me" says Amery as she goes inside

"Oh Amanda come here I wanna introduce you to Steven's cousins. They are your age so you all can hang out" says Marie

"Oh great" says Amanda trying to sound excited

"Amanda, this is Courtney, Paige, and Dana"

"Hey, it is so nice to meet you all" says Amanda

The girls just smile at her and don't say anything. She can already tell they are nasty and/or jealous of her. Amanda goes inside to find Nick. She remembers the house very well so she goes to Nick's room and he is indeed in there.

"Hey!" she screams

"Whoa hey you scared me" he says

"What are you doing?" she asks

"Finding a sweatshirt, I am freezing" he says

"So I met the cousins...I was so nice to them and I was like it is so nice to meet you and they didn't say anything to me but only gave me a dirty look...I don't like them already" she says

"I told you, I think they are intimidated by you" he says

"Good. Oh Nick you still have this?" Amanda says as she finds a photo montage of her and Nick from when they were little

"Joey Kitz's birthday party, fifth grade...remember we made them"

"Yeah and everyone kept making fun of him because he had an arts and crafts birthday party" she says

"Everyone except you...you always stuck up for people" he says

"I still do, I hate it when people humiliate other people right in front of their faces" she says

"That's the one thing everyone and I mean everyone remembered about you when you guys moved to Florida" he says

"Well that's a good way to be remembered" she says

"No doubt..."

Then the cousin named Courtney decided to text Nick saying that they want him to go to the mall with them now.

"What am I chop liver?" says Amanda

"There is no way I am going so don't even worry about it" he says

"I don't think this plan is very convincing...they seem to not care"

"Yeah so what are we going to do?" he asks

"We gotta have a bigger and better plan...and Amery and Mike are pretty much out of the picture since these girls are obviously only into you, I mean they are the same age as us...Mike may seem a little too old for them" Amanda says

"So what do you have in mind?" he asks

"Well, I don't know if you are up for it but it seems like the only way to get you out of this" she says

"Ok what is it? I am up for anything Amanda" he says

"Ok...we have to pretend to be together" she says

"Hmm. You know that might be a good idea...so we have to act like boyfriend and girlfriend when we are around them" he says

"Yeah pretty much" she says

"But wait, no...we have to act like a couple around everyone else too because anyone can tell them the truth at any time so we have to convince everyone, even our parents" he says

"Okay, so then deal?" Amanda says and puts out her hand

"Deal" he says and shakes her hand

This is going to be interesting and Amanda is very excited about it. Not only does she get to spend every minute with Nick, but she gets to call him her boyfriend. Amanda tells Amery about the plan and Amery is happy for her and promises to not say anything.
It is now the day of the wedding and Amanda and Amery are getting ready. They already got their hair and makeup done, both have their hair down in curls. They look even prettier than usual.
Amanda is all dressed and ready to go meet Nick outside. This is the perfect time to act when everyone is around.

"Hey you" she says as she approaches Nick

"Wow, you look amazing" he says and gives her a kiss on the cheek and then takes her arm in his
The cousins are looking at them and are getting really jealous
The wedding begins. It is a beautiful day since the wedding is outside in the huge backyard.
After the ceremony everyone heads to the hall where the real party is going to get started.

"Congratulations you two" Amanda says as she gives Marie and Steven a hug

"Thank you" says Marie

"Are you sure she isn't a model?" asks Steven

"Who, me? NO" says Amanda

"Well you should be, my God you are beautiful. So who is the lucky guy, anyone?" he says

"There is someone...actually Nick and I are together now, well at least for these three weeks" says Amanda

"Oh sweet! I am so happy for you two. I knew you guys would wind up together somewhere down the road since you two were little, you guys were inseparable" says Marie

"He is a lucky kid that Nick" says Steven

"Thank you...but I am a lucky girl too" she says and Nick hears her say that as he interrupts

"Hey, is everything ok" Nick asks

"Oh hey yes we were just talking about you" Amanda says

"You are a lucky kid Nick, to have a beautiful girlfriend like her" says Marie

"Thank you, come on Amanda" he says and takes her hand and brings her to the limo

In the limo Nick starts making out with Amanda. The cousins are in the limo with them so that may be the reason why but who knows, Amanda is not complaining.

"Mm...what was that for?" Amanda whispers to Nick

"Partly an act, but I did hear what you said before... 'I am a lucky girl too'" Nick says imitating Amanda

"What? You think I was serious, it was all role play Nick" she says

"Yeah, keep blaming it on that" he says and laughs

"Hey I can say the same about what you just did so watch it buddy" she says and they both laugh

At the reception there were so many people. Amanda had so much fun dancing all night ...with Nick. Steven's cousins were getting really upset but they figured they go bother some other boy they found at the party so Nick was free for the night...well not really

"I have to sit for a minute, come on" says Amanda as she goes and sits down at a table

"Wow, I never knew you could stop dancing" says Nick

"I love to dance" she says

"I know, I was the one who was always forced to go to all those dance recitals...remember?" he says

"Right, sorry about that" she says

"So, what's new in your life" he asks

"I don't know, nothing really...you?" she asks

"Same here, hey why don't you have a boyfriend?" asks Nick

"I don't know, I just don't" says Amanda, a little embarrassed

"I am really surprised Amanda. You are so hot, do boys like you I mean they have to, come on" he says

"They do, trust me. At least one guy asks me out per day" she says

"Yeah? So why say no" he says

"Because I don't like any of them jerks" she says and gets up and walks away

Nick is very confused as to what is wrong with her. He doesn't know why Amanda is acting this way. Every time they talk about relationships and things like this she freaks out and either changes the subject or walks away. Is she keeping a secret from him? From everyone?
Nick decided to go and find Amanda. On his way he saw Amery and Mike hooking up...that's nice. Anyway he goes outside and sees Amanda. She is standing on the balcony hysterical crying. Nick goes up to her and gives her a hug.

"Hey, hey come here what's the matter" he says as he hugs her

"I can't talk about it" she says

"Tell me Amanda, what is bothering you. You haven't been yourself this whole night. Did something happen?" he asks

"No...not recently" she says still crying

"Not recently? What does that mean? Did something happen in your past?" he asks

"I can't Nick" she says with frustration

"Amanda listen to me, we have known each other for seventeen years...seventeen! You can tell me anything and I promise I will not say anything to anyone. I want to help you Amanda, please let me in"

"I am sorry Nick I just can't right now. Can you come back in like ten minutes, I just really need to be alone right now" says Amanda

"Okay I will be back though, and then be ready to talk ok?"

Amada nods her head. Amanda does have a secret, a big secret. Something happened to her last year while she was at sleep away camp and she hasn't told anyone about it yet. She has been keeping the secret to herself for the past year and it is building up inside of her. Amanda feels that the only right thing to do would be to tell Nick, since she does trust him with her life but it is so hard for her to talk about it.
Nick comes back outside and Amanda has calmed down a little bit.

"I think I am ready now" she says

"Okay sit down" he says as they sit on the bench

"Um...this is really hard for me to talk about so cut me some slack.
Last year I went to sleep away camp like an hour away from my house.
It was my second time going. The first time I went, I started going out with this kid from my school and he went to the camp too so we were there together. We went out until the second year of camp too, which was last year.
Anyway I thought it was a great relationship and he was so nice and I liked him a lot. "She is saying

"So what happened?" he asks

"Well, when I did go back to camp last year and we saw each other again we continued where we left off you know and then one night we were alone in his bunk and um... he started kissing me and touching me in all the wrong places and um...I really felt uncomfortable so I tried to tell him to stop but he didn't listen and he ... I think you know where this is going and it is just too hard for me to say" says Amanda as she starts crying

"So he forced you to have sex with him?" asks Nick

"Yes Nick, yes. Also called rape" she says hysterically

"Oh wow um I am so sorry Amanda, how did you deal with all of that" says Nick as he hugs her

"I didn't deal with it Nick, that's the problem.
Every single time someone tells me how pretty I am or that I am such a lucky girl and I should be a model and why don't I have a boyfriend and all this other stuff they say to me it reminds me of him and I am just so afraid to commit to someone now...nobody knows me, the real me. All they see is the person on the outside...the pretty girl from Connecticut. That is how they refer to me in Florida and I hate it because they know nothing about me or what my life was like, here" she says

"I know Amanda; I get what you are saying. I know the real you ... the fun, loving, crazy, funny, beautiful little girl from Hatfield, Connecticut." He says

Amanda smiles as she stops crying and says "Thank you Nick. I know you know the real me, that's why you are the only person I can tell this to"

"Don't be afraid to commit Amanda, if you live your life like that you are going to be miserable" he says

"But I can't commit to the boys in Florida. They all like me and everything but most of them do know about the rape, only the boys know and I have a feeling he was the one who told them so none of them really want to date me. When it happened you don't know how much I begged my parents to move back here to Connecticut Nick. I begged them and they didn't understand why but I begged them for so long" she says

"Do they know?" he asks

"No, I couldn't tell them, it would ruin my dad's career if something like this got out in the media. I mean everyone knows who I am and who my family is...it would ruin us and I couldn't do that to him" she says

"But what about those boys who know about it, they never told anyone?"

"No, some of them are my close friends and I pretty much threatened them not to say anything" she says

"You have to tell your parents, Amery doesn't even know?" he asks

"No" she says

"Come here" says Nick as he hugs Amanda

"Can you do me a favor Nick?" asks Amanda

"Anything" he says

"Kiss me?" she says and he does

"So what was that about" he asks

"Thank you, no I just wanted to see something because earlier when you kissed me in front of those girls I felt something I never felt before when I kissed any other boy and I had to see if what I felt was real. I just felt it again Nick" she says

He kisses Amanda again

"I know what you feel...a lifetime of love and memories" he says

"That's it, exactly" she says

"What are we going to do?" asks Nick

"I don't know, but I have no idea what I am going to do without you Nick. I cannot live without seeing you on a day-to-day basis. And just to let you know I stopped the acting like yesterday" she says and laughs

"Me too" he says and laughs

"We will figure it out, let's just go back inside and enjoy the rest of your sisters wedding" says Amanda

So Amanda and Nick have a really good time the rest of the night. When the time was over in Connecticut, Amanda was able to stay for the rest of the summer with Nick. She told her parents about her secret and they are getting her all the help they can get her. Nick and Amanda are so happy together and they are planning on attending the same college next year. As for now, everyone has lived happily ever after....Mike and Amery too :)