This is another of my musings that has actually been sitting on an external hard drive for a year… Unfinished projects seem to be a theme for me lately.
CHAPTER 1
A long sigh escaped her lips as she looked at the calendar on her desk. Life, it seemed was speeding up on her. In a little less than a month she would graduate from college, and only a month after that she would be married. Married. She looked down at her left hand at the modest diamond solitaire. On her right hand was the promise ring her fiance had given her the day they graduated from high school. Raising her head to look at herself in the mirror she studied her reflection. Her blue eyes, ringed in a sunburst pattern of gold, narrowed slightly, and she wrinkled her nose at the sunburn that touched her cheeks and nose. Perpetually fair skinned it only took a few moments in the sun to bring a flush of color to her face. Of course, it never developed into the golden tan her best friend seemed to acquire effortlessly. No, she was doomed to burn, never to tan. Her blonde hair hung just past her shoulders, and her hands scooped it up habitually to pull it into a ponytail. The wind was forecasted to make an appearance just about the time her Literature class let out, and she hated trying to walk back from campus with her hair blowing into her face.
Married, her mind shouted again. Married in two short months. How could the time have flown by so quickly? The photos that decorated her mirror, and others tucked into albums spoke otherwise. They showed Aly and Justin, in fifth grade, with their arms around each other’s waists grinning at a camera. She still had a folded, much aged note unearthed from a shoebox in her closet at her mother’s request; a cousin was putting a slide show together and wanted it. Justin had passed it to her on April Fool’s Day, and at first she had been sure it was a joke. It hadn’t been. The note was so simple it was endearing.
Another shot showed them beside a black limousine on the way to his sister’s wedding. They had been only eleven then, but that was the day her future had seemed all but planned out for her, and by pure chance too. Justin’s college age cousin had been supposed to catch the bouquet, but it had been Aly’s arms it landed in. A few moments later it was Justin who snagged the garter. As they danced alongside the newly married bride and groom, their mothers began planning.
Lost in memories, Aly pulled out a worn looking photo album. She leafed through the pages finding pictures of the two of them on the Country Club swim team, with trophies held high in the air; middle school pictures; she smirked at a particularly awful one showing an eighth grade Aly with a spiral perm. That was the same year Justin had gotten his braces, so, she supposed it hadn’t been too bad, at least they had suffered together. The year after, they had gone off to separate private high schools. Justin had gone to the school his older sisters graduated from, while Aly was enrolled at a rival school that had a better dance program. Aly found the picture of them at her school’s Homecoming dance. They looked so stiff and formal. She had thought that night would see an end to their relationship, being at separate schools had seemed like too big of a challenge. Instead it was the first time Justin had kissed her. With a shake of her head she laughed. By that night they had been “dating” for 3 and a half years, and this was their first kiss! The other posed dance photos and candid shots attested that they had made it through high school, still firmly a couple. A graduation candid showed Justin giving her the promise ring she still wore on her right hand. She remembered how nervous he had been. How nervous she had been. Justin was going off to Stanford while she was staying at home to attend the Uniersity of New Mexico.
“Aly, I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather be with. Will you wait for me?” Justin had gotten the words out all in one breath. She had slipped the ring on her finger and nodded her agreement, too overwhelmed to speak.
The first semester of college had been trying on the young couple. Now the pictures showed Aly with her girlfriends, and pictures Justin had sent her of him and his friends in his dorm room. Previously they had spent their weekends together studying, playing tennis, golfing or swimming at the Country Club. Now it was weeks and sometimes months in between visits. Aly had joined a sorority and Justin joined a fraternity. There were letters pasted amongst the pages that told about their activities and studies. Their mothers, who had lunch on a weekly basis, worried about what these new separate social lives would do to their well laid plans. On more than one occasion Aly’s mother had voiced her concerns. She needn’t have worried, Aly thought. She just didn’t attract attention that way. All the boys she met seemed to view her as a little sister instead of someone to ask out on dates. Of course it didn’t hurt that Justin’s best friend, Danny, had stayed in Albuquerque at UNM, and tucked her under his arm at all the parties and social functions they attended.
A knock on her door pulled Aly back to the present with a start. Glancing at the clock she realized she had been sitting there for over an hour!
“Aly?”, her best friend Melissa called, “don’t you have class this morning?”
Winding the elastic around her hair, grabbing her backpack and shoes she bolted for the door. “Ohmygosh, Melissa. I’m going to be so late!”
Looking her friend up and down Melissa sighed. Aly was forever hiding behind ponytails and blue jeans. She gave her own perfectly styled hair a reassuring pat. At just over 5 feet 4 inches Melissa was the same height as Aly, but that was where the similarities ended. Her golden skin sought out the sun and bronzed with little help from tanning oils. Melissa’s current hair style was a choppy razor cut that emphasized the carmel highlights in her deep brown hair. While Aly was comfortable in jeans, Melissa was always dressed to impress. Further, the boys who treated Aly like their little sister fawned over Melissa. More then once people had asked Aly if she felt like she was living in Melissa’s shadow. She always smiled warmly and shook her head. People didn’t understand, that Aly was happy to stay in the background. She loved watching her friend walk into a party and see the way the guys fell all over themselves to get her attention. Yet, if Aly enjoyed living in Melissa’s shadow; Melissa loved trying to push Aly into the spotlight. She envied her friend’s quiet, cool confidence. Melissa had seen more than a few guys get pulled to the side by Danny for “the talk”. Danny made sure to inform any guys who looked a little too long that Aly was taken, and that anything more than brotherly affection would result in serious consequences. At a little over 6 feet tall not many guys took Danny lightly, and she also knew her friend had no idea how many of those guys had pined after her.
“How ‘bout I drive you up to campus, so you’re not late?” Melissa asked, grabbing Aly’s backpack as it slipped from her shoulder.
Hopping down the hall as she slipped on her shoes Aly smiled. “Really? That would be great!”
As they zipped up to campus the two girls planned out what they were going to do for the upcoming weekend. Bridesmaid dresses were discussed for the millionth time, and soon enough Aly was slipping out of the car and running up the stairs for her English Literature class.
Aly slid into her seat just seconds before Dr. Llyod walked in, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Dr. Llyod was infamous for locking out students who arrived after he did. As Dr. Lloyd droned on and on about Shakespeare’s sonnets, her mind wandered back to Justin and the wedding. In two months she and Justin would be married, and for the first time in the twelve years of their relationship, together on a daily basis. The thought sent shivers down her spine. It wasn’t that she questioned her love for Justin, or his for her, but… But? Why was there a but? There shouldn’t be a but. She began absently pulling on the strands of her ponytail. Their families had planned everything so perfectly. She and Justin had planned everything so perfectly. There was a plan for everything. There shouldn’t be any buts. But there was a but. And it was that she had never known what it was like to love anyone else; to be involved with anyone else; to even have the option of anyone else. It had been Justin and Aly since she was ten years old. She examined the thought, twisting those strands around her finger. She certainly loved Justin, he was her best friend. Pulling her finger loose she shook her head to try and clear it. What was the problem? Okay, maybe she didn’t zing with passion when they were together, like the women in the romance novels seemed to, but this was real life. Did a real life person zing? Aly sighed, and realized it was the only sound in an otherwise quiet classroom.
Dr. Lloyd cleared his throat, and Aly looked up. Had he called on her while she was daydreaming. Looking around the classroom she noticed that her classmates were all looking at her expectantly. She swallowed over the lump that had formed in her throat, “I’m sorry Dr. Lloyd, could you repeat the question?”
Dr. Lloyd shook his head, sending his sparse white hair askew. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m well aware that spring is in the air, and that a great many of you would rather be outside at the duck pond then sitting in a stuffy classroom. However, Master Shakespeare and I would like to ask for your attention. Now,” he continued.
Somehow, she made it through the rest of the class. Walking back to the sorority house, her ponytail was blown all over the place by the wind. Spring was in the air all right. She was being blasted in the face by spring. As she turned onto Greek Row she heard a familiar voice calling her name, but one that was out of place. Thinking her trip down memory road must be playing tricks on her she looked up at the Kappa Sigma house toward the voice and couldn’t believe her eyes. Justin. Handsomely, athletic, all American Justin. He was the kind of guy she knew girls drooled over; especially when he was on the tennis courts. Here he was smiling at her like a bronzed Adonis , and he was here… two weeks early. What was he doing here?
Grinning at her, Justin began to walk towards her. Aly smiled back at him and met him halfway up the Kappa Sigma lawn. As he pulled her into a hug, she dutifully kissed him hello; looking for and missing the zing. “What are you doing here?” she asked incredulously.
Taking her hand, and leading her back up towards the fraternity house, “well, I had a long weekend, and I thought I would come surprise you.” Justin said, breezing through the door with her in tow as though it were his own fraternity house, and not merely the local chapter. “Plus, my mother has been nagging me to come down and get you to finally decide on the bridesmaids dresses. These things take time to order Aly, and we’ve only got a few weeks left.” Justin pulled her into the living room and settled onto the couch.
“Two months,” she blurted. “I’ve got two months.”
“Aly,” he teased, pulling her onto the couch with him. “These two months are going to fly by. We have finals, graduation, the rehearsal. I can’t believe you’ve let it wait this long.”
As she thought about what he was saying, she realized with a zing, that had nothing to do with passion, that this was why he had come home. Not to see her and spend a nice long weekend cozied up together, but because his mother , and probably hers, had fussed at him about Aly dragging her feet on the bridesmaids dresses. Taking a deep breath, she dropped her eyes, looking properly scolded, “I’m sorry Justin. I know that I was supposed to order them, it’s just that every time Melissa and I go to the bridal boutique we never seem to find just the right dress. You know, one that will flatter everyone.”
“How hard can it be? I mean you just find one you like, get it in one of the colors you and The Moms picked out, and order it.” He said with a flip of his hand.
She had to smile, “The Moms”, that was what they called their mothers whenever they ganged up on Aly and Justin, for their own good of course.
“The Moms want it ordered today Aly. They made an appointment for you this afternoon. I’m supposed to go with you to make sure it gets done.” He added dismissing it. Feeling slightly chagrinned she blushed, and noticing it he kissed her on the tip of her nose. “After that we’ll be all set and we can meet everyone for dinner at the Country Club tonight. Oh and Danny said that the fraternity is throwing a great party this weekend out on the lawn.”
Aly smiled brightly, but her mind raced ahead and saw that this was going to be a night like a string of others they had shared. Dinner at the club and then a party on Greek Row.
Justin tucked her under his arm, and began to talk of how great their lives were going to be once they were married.
Aly listened to him paint the familiar picture of their lives together. Where they would live, on the golf course, of course. Where they would work, he at the City Council and she at the local high school; at least until the children were born, then she would stay home and raise them, of course. What sorts of cars they would drive, where they would vacation, on and on he lay it before her. She nodded and smiled at all the appropriate places, but… There it was again, but… But, her heart longed to feel passion. She snuggled in tighter hoping that she might find that connection. Justin’s scent of Escape cologne tickled her nose. His arm was strong and firm around her, but it held her lightly. He didn’t pull her against his chest trying to be as close to her as possible. She knew he would be a good husband to her. She knew he would care for her, and that he would be a kind father to their children. But… was that all she wanted out of life? Could she be content with mutual affection?
“Aly?” Justin nudged her a little. “ Aly?”
“Hmm?” it was like coming out of a trance, “What? I’m sorry Justin, I was daydreaming.”
“I was asking you how long it would take you to get ready for our appointment at the bridal place.” His pale green eyes looked at her ponytail dubiously.
Noting his glance, she gave him her most winning smile. “Oh, I just threw my hair in a ponytail so it wouldn’t blow around in the wind today.”
Toying with her ponytail, he smiled. “Pick you up in an hour?”
“Of course.” She leaned up and kissed him good-bye; pressing her lips against his a beat longer.
Breaking the kiss and looking down at her, he questioned “What was that for?”
“Oh, nothing.” Nothing, no zing, just a meeting of their lips. It was pleasant, but not earth shattering. As she walked towards the door, she turned. “I love you.” But Justin’s attention had already been claimed by Danny and the other Kappa Sigma boys. As she walked back to the sorority house to get ready for her afternoon appointment and evening at the Club she felt the steps of time beat against her heart.
**********
As they walked up the steps to the Country Club Aly’s heels clicked against the pavement. For dinner she had dressed in her favorite charcoal grey slacks and a black tank top Melissa had bullied her into buying last week at White House Black Market. Aly had to admit it looked better on her then she had thought it would, but she never would have picked it out had she been by herself. It had all sorts of bead work on it, and Aly tended towards more classic and preppy styles. She looked down at where her hand was linked with Justin’s. Her thumb tracing the familiar planes of his hand; finding the faint scar on the knuckle of his index finger where a tennis racket string, strung too tight, had snapped and cut him. The corner of her mouth pulled up into a smile as she remembered that afternoon. It was the summer before their freshmen year of college. She had been up 30-Love in their second game when the ball came whizzing past her head wildly. Looking across the net in shock and seeing Justin’s hand covered in blood, she had scrambled over the net to help. Three hours and seven stitches later it had been embellished in the pro shop into Aly throwing her racket at Justin because he was going off to Stanford without her. Aly’s smile grew as she let her thumb trace the scar. There were memories everywhere it seemed.
They were a few minutes late, but as was their habit lately the couple detoured to the putting green on the east side of the Club. Looking out over the twinkling lights of the city below and the majestic mountains that had turned a spectacular coral color; Aly and Justin paused.
“Two months,” Aly breathed. She could clearly picture where the arbor would stand with them beneath it taking their vows. The white folding chairs would spread out to the golf cart path. Aly raised her gaze to the newly remodeled terrace, where the reception would take place.
“The putting green is shaping up nicely.” Justin commented. “The Moms will be pleased, they’ve been worried that the Club would start reseeding the North Course first this year.”
As they made their way to the dining room, Aly began to wonder how much phone time Justin was getting from “the Moms”. Sure she had a few missed calls from own mother on her cell phone, but she just hadn’t had time to call her back yet. She would have to make sure and corner her this evening and find out just what was going on.
Dinner was uneventful. Aly stayed quiet while Maggie, her mom, and Joanie, Justin’s mom, went over all the details of the wedding. Justin was praised for finally getting Aly to order the bridesmaid’s dresses. Aly’s father was grumbling about the cost of rush shipping, but under his breath. Looking at her dad, Aly realized where she had gotten her quiet, keep everyone happy side. While her Mom and Joanie were speaking loudly enough for the kitchen staff to hear them, it was her Dad who she listened to. Reaching over, she put her hand on his. “I’m sorry about the extra cost Dad. It really was hard to find just the right dress.”
Marcus looked down at his daughter’s hand resting on his,and smiled warmly. “It is no trouble at all Aly. I just like to give your mother a hard time about how this isn’t some fancy east coast society wedding. The people are going to show up, you two will get married, and then people will go home.” He winked at her, and Aly smiled.
“Speaking of Mom. Has she been calling Justin a lot lately? It seems this whole trip was organized by Mom and Joanie just to ensure the dresses got ordered. I would have gotten it done, you know.”
Pulling his hand from under hers and placing it on top, Marcus patted gently. “I know honey, and I don’t think your Mom has been calling any more than usual. With your brother away at school back east she has been turning to Justin more often.”
Her brother had gotten a full athletic scholarship to Duke University. At nineteen Joshua was a star on the baseball team. Joshua at 6’3” liked to tease Aly that she was really his little sister. The two had been close, but his acceptance to Duke had them communicating more through texts and facebook the past few years. Further, Aly knew that Joshua had a full load of classes and wouldn’t be flying back until just two weeks before the wedding, and then flying back only a week later for his off season training. “Oh, well that makes sense, I guess.” Aly agreed.
Aly pushed her food around on her plate as she noticed a group of teenagers in obvious prom wear enter the dining room. Three of the girls were giggling and holding hands, while their dates walked behind them hopelessly confused. The fourth couple trailed behind the boys, oblivious to the melee going on in front of them. They were holding hands tightly and gazing deep into each other’s eyes. Aly wondered how they kept from bumping into things as they certainly didn’t appear to be paying attention to where they were going. She was about to point them out to Justin, when the love struck boy leaned over and kissed the girl. It was a kiss of such beauty that Aly held her breath. There was nothing chaste about this kiss, yet it wasn’t overly showy. It was just the way he held her while he kissed her. He had stopped, pulled her into his arms, and then reached up to cup her face ever so tenderly and bring his lips down to hers. The girl’s eyes had fluttered before closing, and then her arms had wound their way around his waist. They seemed content never to move from that spot. A single tear traced it’s way down her cheek, and Aly quickly excused herself before anyone noticed she was weeping.
She steered clear of the prom kids as she exited the dining room, and locked herself in a stall in the ladies room. Putting the lid down, she sat, and wept quietly into a tissue. What was wrong with her? Why should a high school couple kissing make her react this way? She tried to tell herself that it was just all the memories of the day swirling around her that had her remembering her senior prom. Or, that she was just longing to be that young again. Or, that with the wedding so close, she was just appreciating the beauty of the love that must surely mirror her own. But… it tasted false on her lips. What Aly had seen in that young couple had confirmed that women in real life could certainly zing with passion, and Aly was not.
The polite knock on the stall door did not surprise her, Aly knew that it was only a matter of time before her mother would seek her out. “Aly, honey? Are you all right?”
Aly opened the door and looked up at her mother, her red eyes clearly stating that, no, she was not all right.
“Honey, what is it? What’s wrong.”
Aly collected herself, not wanting to create any more drama. She failed, as she sobbed, “I don’t zing!”
Maggie gathered her daughter in her arms, seeking to comfort her daughter and find an answer.
“I… I… I d-d-don’t zing.” Aly continued to sob.
When she had cried herself out Maggie pulled her daughter away from her to look at her. She smiled tentatively at Aly. “You don’t zing? Honey, whatever are you talking about?”
Aly’s breath hitched a little, “I don’t zing. W-w-with Justin.” She twisted her hands uncomfortably in front of her. “You know, “ she added lowering her voice, “passion…” She felt the color flood her already warm cheeks. “What if I’m… “ she took a deep breath and pushed the words out, “What if I’m making a mistake?”
Aly watched her mother’s eyes widen in understanding, “Passion? Aly, you are going to have a lifetime to find passion. As for making a mistake. Honey, you’ve know Justin all your life. He’s your best friend. You’re just getting cold feet.” Maggie continued on, rubbing Aly’s bare arms. “It is perfectly natural for a young woman to get nervous before her wedding. I’ve been wondering if that was why you were holding off on ordering the bridesmaids dresses. They were the last piece of the wedding that needed to be confirmed, and now that everything is in place of course you worry.”
Aly swallowed, and nodded. Everything her mother was saying made perfect sense, but an icy hand still gripped her heart at the thought of living a life filled with mutual affection as opposed to passion and all encompassing love. She knew she had worried her mother, so she put on a smile and hugged her mother. “You’re right of course Mom. I just don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
Maggie hugged her back, “Good girl. Of course you don’t want to disappoint anyone, and you’re not going to. You and Justin were made for each other. I couldn’t ask for a better man to take care of my baby girl.”
Then it was Aly’s turn to comfort her mother, as Maggie’s shoulder began to shake a little.
“I can’t believe my baby is getting married.”
“It’s okay Mom. Don’t cry. Everything is going to be fine. I’m not nervous anymore I promise.” The lie passed through Aly’s lips effortlessly. She knew her role, and knew what everyone was expecting of her
CHAPTER 2
Justin was right, of course, the weeks leading up to graduation seemed to race by. Most of Aly’s professors were taking it easy on their graduating seniors; assigning cumulative finals or small essays. Dr. Lloyd, however, seemed determined to make everyone taking his English Literature class remember that seniors or not, this was a college level class. Dr. Lloyd had assigned a twenty page paper for the class final. The subject of the paper was left up to the students, so long as it encompassed English history or literature. Dr. Lloyd was of the impression that history was more then date and places, that the stories behind the dates and places were often intriguing enough to have been literature of itself. Aly tended to agree with him, but was still finding it hard to immerse herself in a topic she could spend twenty pages discussing, and the paper was due in ten days.
“Aly? Aly?”
Blinking open her eyes, and lifting her head Aly felt the library page stick to her face. Darn, had she fallen asleep? Freeing the page and blinking a few times, Aly finally identified what had woken her. A beautifully gowned Melissa was tapping her toe impatiently.
“Did you forget the Sweetheart Ball is tonight?” Melissa said shaking her head at her friend.
“Tonight?” Aly managed to croak.
“Yes, tonight. Aly…” Melissa dragged her name out several syllables. “You promised you’d be there. I promised you’d be there.”
Groaning, Aly finally swept the last of the cobwebs out of her head. “Ah, Melissa. I’m sorry. I know I said I would come, but this paper is killing me. Everything I research bores me to … well … sleep.”
Hands on her hips and looking quite imposing, Melissa’s face softened. “Okay. I know when I’m beat, but this is exactly why I told you not to take this class. Everyone we know who has taken it got fried. Dr. Lloyd is a jerk to assign this as a final.” Peering at the cover of the book, Melissa looked at what Aly was studying. “The rise of the modern Queen? Give me a break. I know the whole Charles, Diana, and Camilla triangle was juicy, but that has been so over done. You want a real scandal you can sink your teeth into for twenty pages, try the Tudors. Sex, murder, illegitimate children; now those were some seriously jacked up monarchs. Not to mention every time you turned around the religion changed.”
Aly quirked a brow as she looked at her friend with new eyes. “How do you know so much about the Tudors?” As far as Aly knew; Melissa, the soon to be accountant with a flare for drama had never steered outside the math building.
“Duh.” Melissa replied, “Don’t you watch Showtime? Jonathan Rhys Meyers is hot!”
That did it, snapped nerves and lack of sleep or not, Aly dissolved into giggles. She stood stiffly, but pulled Melissa to her in a giant sweeping hug. “I love you! I’m not sure how I would make it through all this without you.”
“No worries.” Melissa replied casually, grateful Aly couldn’t see how shiny with tears her eyes had gotten. “Now about this party.”
“Mel- “ Aly began but Melissa cut her off.
“No arguments, you can’t stay here. This is the first place Danny will look when you don’t show up. Head up to the library, I don’t even think Danny realizes that there is a library on campus. If that boy can’t get it off the internet he doesn’t bother.” Melissa pulled out of the hug and stuffed Aly’s laptop in her arms. “Now grab your purse and get out of her, before the limo arrives.”
Aly’s smile grew, but she did as she was told. “Have a great time tonight. I hope Jason… Steve… Matt… wait, who are you going to this thing with again?”
Melissa threw up her hands in mock exasperation, “Who can remember. I’m sure I’ll figure his name out before we get to the ball. I’m sorry your gown is going to waste though. It is stunning on you.”
Aly quickly stepped out the door, knowing if she gave Melissa too much rope she would find herself bedazzled and in the limo before she could blink.
**********
The library was quiet and the task lighting showed her that she was not the only one trying to get some last minute research done. Spotting an empty table, Aly made her way over; setting her computer and purse out on the table, and turning on the green shaded lamp she effectively claimed her spot. She turned and looked to see if any of the librarians were on duty, knowing they would make her search much more efficient. Aly was pleased to see a grandmother of a woman seated behind the tall desk. Approaching the desk, she smiled hopefully at the woman.
Beckoning Aly forward the woman smiled warmly. “And what can I do for you tonight dearie?” Her faint British accent seemed an omen to Aly.
“I was hoping you might direct me towards some reference materials on the Tudors.” Aly began.
“And which Tudors would you like to be studying? Henry V, Henry VIII, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, or perhaps you’d be more interested in the Stuwarts? Now the Stuwarts sure did know how to mess things up. Or the Howards? Every generation or so, some overly ambitious lad got his head lopped off for one thing or another.”
Aly’s smile grew. Oh yes, here was an omen of good fortune indeed. “Uhm, Henry the Eighth I think.”
“Well then, let’s be off.”
For the better part of an hour the kindly librarian pulled books seemingly at random and shoved the majority of them into Aly’s arms. The pile was up to her nose, before she managed to squeak, “uhm, excuse me?”
Looking behind her at the young woman, the librarian smiled at the tower of books she carried, “quite through then are you?”
Blushing, Aly replied, “well, I think I have more than enough to get started.”
“You do at that m’dear. Should you find yourself at a crossroads, don’t hesitate to come ask for help. I should be here until well after midnight. After that Hector might be of help, but I’d suggest you catch me before I leave. Hector’s a fine reshelfer, but as for any useful information. Well…” she let it hang and rolled her eyes to heaven.
“Thank you…” Aly paused searching for the woman’s name. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember your name.”
“Well, I didn’t give it, now did I? Tis Mary Bruyn.” She gave a slight bow to her head, and walked back to the desk.
Aly meanwhile made her way carefully back to her table, peering over the stack of books in her arms. She managed to set the books down without too much of a disturbance, and went about leafing through them to see where she would begin. Aly noticed that Mary Bruyn had given her nonfiction reference materials as well as some historical fiction novels. She started with ‘The Six Wives of Henry VIII’ by Alison Weir.
It was well after midnight when Aly finally looked up from her studies. She had come across the name Bruyn in a book and looked about for Mary to ask if they were related. However, when she looked over at the large information desk there was a man snoozing on a stack of newspapers, who Aly could only assume was Hector. She stacked the books into piles; one stack she would take back to her room with her, the other Hector could reshelf. Before closing her notebook she wrote down the name Bruyn and a connecting line to the Duke of Suffolk. What an interesting family history, she only wished she had been able to talk to Mary and see if her hunch proved accurate. Aly decided she would just have to return in a few days and find out. Setting one stack of books down in front of Hector as quietly as possible, she proceeded to check the rest of the books out with her student id. As she slipped out of the library, she heard Hector snort in his sleep and smiled.
“Is that smile for me?” asked a boy who nearly ran into her as she left the library.
He too had just a slight hint of a British accent, and it had Aly taking an automatic step back. “Excuse me?” Aly replied. When had the British invaded UNM, she wondered. He wasn’t much taller than she was, but enough that she still lifted her chin to see him clearly.
“I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He said, as he reached out a hand to steady her books that had begun to tip precariously.
Unfortunately, Aly had also noticed her books slipping and had moved to adjust them as well. The books complied by falling with a noise that Aly was sure would have woken Hector had they still been inside.
“Oh bollocks, now I really am sorry.” said the boy. He bent down to scoop up her books, collecting them deftly, and handing them back to Aly.
Stammering, Aly replied “oh… really, it’s no… I’ve got…” but before she could get all her thoughts and words to work together she was once again in possession of all her books. “Thank you.”
“Of course. So was it?” he asked.
Lifting a brow in confusion Aly looked at him. It was hard to tell with the campus lights casting a blue glow on everything, but if anyone could pull off blue it was this boy. “Was what?” She finally came up with, feeling for all the world like she must be dreaming. It was just too extraordinary that while she should be researching 15th and 16th century British monarchs, she should happen across not one, but two of it’s apparent countrymen.
A warm smile spread over his face, from his eyes to his lips. “Was that smile for me?”
Aly could only blink. “I’m sorry?” She had the oddest sensation running over her skin. “I was smiling? Oh!” The pieces finally falling into place. “The librarian, Hector, fell asleep at the desk and as I was walking out… well he snorted. It was just funny is all.” She wondered if she sounded as lame as she felt.
“Pity. I’ll have to let Hector know that he missed one heck of a smile.” He had stepped a little closer, and Aly had the opportunity to see that his eyes were a clear blue; his hair a soft brown that looked like it was streaked from being in the sun. “It’s grown quite late. Would you like me to walk you back to… well, wherever it is your going?” He smiled a bit deeper and she saw a tiny dimple flash in his left cheek.
“Oh. Uhm, well, I live on campus, so really I should be fine. Thanks though.” Aly said wondering why she had an urge to kick herself.
Shrugging he said, “Well, I’m headed this way so if we’re walking in the same direction maybe we could walk together.” He had pointed over her shoulder towards Greek Row.
Aly smiled, “Actually, I’m headed that way too.”
Aly wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t that he would begin to whistle. It was a comforting sound, his whistling. She had thought he would keep talking, but they just walked. She was actually so wrapped up in just walking that she didn’t notice the limo parked in front of the Kappa Sig house; at least not until it was too late.
“What the..?” Danny was practically shouted as his long legs ate up the real estate in between the limo and Aly. “Who is this guy?”
“Danny, hi! This is… “ she stopped, realizing she didn’t actually know his name.
“Brandon” he said, holding his hand out to Danny.
Danny, meanwhile had covered the distance, and had grabbed Brandon by the shirt and was hauling him up. Aly could smell the alcohol on Danny, and quickly put her hand on his arm. “Danny.” She tried to get herself into his field of vision. “Danny. He was just walking me back to the house. You know, because it is so late. Danny?” She was pulling on his arms, trying to get him to let Brandon go.
Meanwhile, Brandon was doing a much better job of untangling himself from Danny’s grasp. “It’s all right. I was just walking her home.”
Danny’s face was still tight with anger, but he let Brandon go and took a step back. Not, of course, before wrapping his arm around Aly and pulling her with him. Her books teetered a moment, but she was able to keep them from falling this time. “I’ll make sure she gets home safe.” Danny all but growled.
Aly shook her head slightly, and tried to smile up at Brandon. “Thank you. I appreciate your help.”
He nodded his head, and turned and walked off in the direction they had come from. His whistling picking up again.
Danny grumbled something Aly couldn’t quite hear, and turned to look down at her. “Aly. What were you thinking? Do you even know that guy?”
“Well, no… But he was just walking me back to the house. I had lost track of time in the library.” She explained, gesturing with her books.
“Library?” He seemed to notice the books for the first time. “Oh, library. It was the Sweet Heart Ball tonight Aly. How could you forget. I promised Justin I would take you and that you’d have a good time.”
Crisis averted, she began walking him towards the limo. “Oh, Danny. I’m sorry, I just have to get this paper written for Dr. Lloyd. I hope you aren’t too disappointed.” She infused her words with sweetness, knowing underneath it all Danny really was a teddy bear.
“Well, no. It wasn’t really a big deal. I mean, well there were some girls there stag, so we sort of. Well…” his cheeks started to color.
Aly nodded and made a point of looking from the car door to her books, so he would get the hint and open the door for her. She knew if she could just get in the car she could go home and Danny would forget all about it. He finally got the hint and opened the door. As he did, music came pouring out of the limo; along with a girl about 19 years old who was wearing a short, red dress.
“There you are Danny!” she gushed and launched herself into his arms, kissing him soundly and winding her arms around his neck. Aly took it as a sign from the gods and climbed into the limo and had the door closed before they had bothered to come up for air.
“Well, that worked out well.”
Aly leaned back into the seat with a sigh. Of course, nestled in the other corner of the car was Melissa. “You are always saving me.”
Melissa just held up one hand, “Of course. Although it wasn’t all that hard. Amber, or Tiffany, or whatever her name is was all for pouncing Danny.”
The girls rode back to the Alpha Chi house in a relaxed if somewhat sleepy silence. Each content just to go home and sleep. Tomorrow would be time enough for explanations. Aly had a wistful moment of wishing all those people who accused her of living in Melissa’s shadow could see the two of them now. This was what their friendship was really based on. Being there for each other. Knowing that no matter what, each had the other’s back. For that, if not the million other things, Aly loved her friend dearly.
CHAPTER 3
Aly reached up over her head and indulged in a long cat like stretch. She made a small noise in the back of her throat that could only be interpreted as joyful. She was done. After nine days of breathing, eating, sleeping, and dreaming her paper on the Tudor court she had finally finished, and was satisfied with the results. It felt good to be able to put this paper to bed. She had gone through all the books Mary Bruyn had suggested as well as putting in several nights in front of the TV with Melissa and a heaping bowl of popcorn drooling over Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Henery Cavill. Aly indulged in a little dance as she watched the pages file out of the printer.
“Busted!”
Without missing a beat Aly turned towards her open door and swept Melissa into the dance as well. “I’m doooone! I’m done! Uh huh, oh yeah!”
Melissa laughed, and stopped Aly for a moment. “So I bet you are so done with anything Tudor, huh?” a small smile tugging on her lips, but trying to remain hidden.
Aly cocked her head to one side, trying to figure out what was going on, but too tired to put too much effort into it. “Actually, I’m kind of more intrigued than I was before. Now that we have spent so much time learning about all of it; well, it sounds so romantic. I would love to actually see where some of these events took place. Go to the tower and see where Anne Boleyn lost her head over Henery, literally.”
The smile came out of hiding, “Really; well then you are going to love this. I knew how much you were getting a kick out of all of this so …” Melissa let it drag out.
Aly arched her brows, “what? What did you do?”
“I talked with your Mom about the bachelorette party -”
“No way are we having a stripper dressed like Henry VIII” Aly objected.
Melissa burst out laughing, “no, silly! We’re going to England instead.” She finally blurted.
“What?” Aly asked shocked.
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” Melissa continued still laughing. “I talked to your Mom and I knew you wouldn’t want a big production of a bachelorette party, and I also knew that your Mom was still trying to figure out what to get you for graduation. So… I convinced her that this would be the perfect solution. And…” Melissa dragged it out a little more enjoying leaving her friend hanging. “I’m going with you!”
The girls were hugging and jumping up and down. “What? How?” was all Aly could sputter as she jumped around with her friend.
“Well,” Melissa said coyly “I may have mentioned to Justin that this would be an amazing pre-wedding gift.”
“OHMYGOSH! This is the coolest thing ever.” Aly’s voice was rising in excitement.
“We’re going to England! We’re going to England!” the girls chanted as they continued jumping all over Aly’s room.
**********
Boxes, boxes, and more boxes were all Aly saw every which way she turned. All the seniors were packing up their rooms at the house, but Aly felt as though she was saying good-bye to a big part of her life. Graduation was in three days, and then the next day she and Melissa were headed off to London. The plan was for them to go now and spend two full weeks shopping, seeing the sights, and maybe even sneak in a trip across the Channel into France. Aly would miss Justin’s graduation from Stanford, but this way she and Melissa would be back in the States with two weeks left before the wedding. If they waited until after Justin’s ceremony they would either have to cut their trip short, or they would be flying back the day before the Rehearsal. It had not been an easy choice to make. Aly and Justin had always shared each other’s big events, but Justin had been adamant that she and Melissa not cut their trip short. She looked at her watch, the movers would be here in an hour to pack up her boxes and take them to a storage facility until after the wedding. Aly pulled her two suitcases packed for London into her closet so that the movers didn’t accidentally take them as well. The only other things in her closet were her cap and gown, the dress she would wear to graduation, and a few other every day necessities. She looked around her room and felt an overwhelming surge of emotions. She had lived in this room since her second semester of college. Some of it with a roommate, but for the last year as a single; the benefits of being a senior in the sorority. The walls were bare, but she could still see the discoloration of paint where pictures had hung. Her sheets were still on her bed, but all the accent pillows and throws had been packed away. Feeling more than a little odd at standing in such a bare room, Aly left in search of Melissa.
She found her adding to her own stack of boxes. While Aly’s room was filled with boxes here, there, and everywhere; Melissa’s was an example of an organized mind. Boxes stacked neatly against the wall, all exactly the same height, and sorted by what was in them. They were clearly labeled. A product of her friend’s OCD, or as Melissa liked to tease CDO – OCD in the alphabetically correct order.
“Mel, can you believe we don’t live here anymore?”
“I know, right? I can’t fathom that in the fall someone else will move in here while I’m moving to Vegas. It’s just too weird.”
“Absolutely.” Aly agreed, she felt her eyes sting with tears. “You’re going to be so far away.”
Melissa’s shoulders drooped only for a second, “You’ll just have to visit. That’s the best part about you being a teacher, lots of time off. Fall break, spring break, not to mention Christmas. It’s a quick drive and Southwest is always having those great sales on tickets up to Vegas.” Melissa was rambling and Aly snatched her hand and yanked her out of the room.
“C’mon. Let’s get out of here and go get something to eat. You need to stock up on good salsa while you can. Who knows what kind of Tex-Mex stuff they are going to try and pass of as good Mexican food up there.”
The girls were speeding off in a matter of minutes, laughing and carefree once again. They talked about their upcoming trip. Each of them quizzing the other on the various items on their checklists.
“Passport?”
“Check. Euros?”
“Check. Maps?”
“Check. Hey did you remember to pack your Docs for the trip? With all the walking we’re going to be doing, those would probably be the most comfortable.” Aly inquired.
Melissa fixed her friend with a look. “Are you kidding, my entire third suitcase is filled with shoes.”
“Silly me.” Aly teased back, “I should have known. Just as long as you aren’t planning on trekking all over London in heels. You won’t last a day in some of the shoes I’ve seen you try to pass off as comfortable.”
As Melissa pulled into a parking space at their favorite New Mexican restaurant, tucked away in the North Valley, she only shook her head at Aly. She was determined to push her friend into a few more fashionable outfits once she got her into some of the shops. “Oh gosh, I am going to miss this place. If they don’t sell Sadie’s salsa up in Vegas, you have to promise to ship me some every month.”
Aly promised she would, and the girls walked into the restaurant and opted to sit on the back patio since it was such a nice day outside. They asked the server bring them two baskets of chips and two bowls of salsa, ordered margaritas, and then settled into their chairs enjoying the mid day break.
********************
Before she could blink, really, Aly found herself standing in line for security at the Albuquerque International Sunport with her passport, boarding pass, and carry on bag. The girls were flying out of Albuquerque, and with their upgraded business class seats were able to route through Chicago with enough of a layover to actually shop and get some deep dish pizza.
“You know, at first I was worried that a seven hour layover we were gonna’ be bored silly in the airport.” Aly remarked as she and Melissa hailed a cab. “Only you would look for that flight, so that we could shop on our way to our vacation.” Giving her friend an affectionate nudge.
“Hel-lo!” Melissa exclaimed rolling her eyes. “It’s Chicago. It’s a must to go to Oakbrook and get some pizza at Aurelio’s.”
The two climbed into the cab, and Melissa took over telling the driver where they wanted to go, and when they had to be back at the airport. Effectively claiming the cab for them for the rest of the afternoon. Aly, settled back into the seat and let her mind wander beyond Chicago to London. It was the end of May, in Henry’s time the court would have just started to go on progress to get away from the disease that would have plagued London in the 16th century. She wondered if she could beg off a day or two of shopping to go on the tour she had seen advertised online. The company boasted a tour where you could actually stay overnight in the Boleyn family home at Hever. Aly was just itching to see if her mind’s eye had conjured up the correct images. She had loved learning about about all the scandal associated with Henry and his wives, but her heart had given a lurch when she and Melissa watched the Showtime production. The clothes. The absolute elegance of the clothes. Aly had never thought of herself as being able to be comfortable in anything but jeans, but oh my – those gowns were really something. Then there were the courtly manners, boys just didn’t act like that anymore. Writing poems about a lady simply because of the way she looked as the sun reflected off her hair. Slumping further down in the seat, Aly thought it all through again and decided she simply had to convince Melissa that this was really how she wanted to spend her vacation.
“You have to come out.” Melissa ordered sternly.
Red faced and beyond uncomfortable, Aly inched the dressing room door open to display the garment her friend had declared just the one for her. The little black dress, was just that. Little. It crept up Aly’s thigh like an errant boyfriend’s fingers. “Melissa” Aly hissed, “I can’t wear this. It’s like from Pretty Woman or something, and not the Beverly Hills part either.”
“Oh for heaven’s sake” Melissa threw her hands up “it’s not that short.” Taking her by the hand Melissa pulled Aly in front of the three way mirror. “Look how it shows off your legs.” Melissa coaxed. “You really have great legs Al, I mean all that time on the stair stepper is going to waste in your jeans.”
Peeking in the mirror, Aly shook her head. “Legs or not, this is positively indecent. And besides, my carry on is packed to the brim I couldn’t get it on the plane if I wanted to.”
“Spoil sport.” Melissa teased and stuck her tongue out at her friend.
Grateful to be off the hook, Aly quickly took several steps away from the mirror. Unfortunately, her steps landed her into the path of a sales girl trying to clean out the fitting rooms of their discarded garments. “Ohmygosh! I’m so sorry.” Aly gushed.
The girl shook her head, and picked up the dresses she had dropped. Aly knelt to help and her fingers brushed the most extraordinary fabric. It was the softest linen she had ever felt. Aly had the biggest weak spot for linen. It wrinkled like crazy, but oh it felt so good on the skin. Pulling the dress from amongst the others, she held it out to look at it. A gorgeous sheath of pale grey linen, almost silver. The dress was cut in a way that anyone wearing this dress would feel the fabric caressing them at the collar bone, shoulder blades, and thighs. It looked like it would hang about mid calf, and had just a hint of a cap sleeve. Aly was in love. Without a glance at the sales girl or Melissa, she rushed back to her fitting room and after the briefest of struggles getting the little black dress off, and Aly was blissfully enveloped. She stepped from the room and in front of the mirror anxious to see if it looked as good as it felt. She was shocked, looking back at her from the mirror was a girl with a comfortable smile, an easy and relaxed stance, and even more unbelievable was the smile and nodding going on behind her from Melissa.
“All right Aly. I know when I’m beat. That dress is perfect on you. I mean, it looks like it was made for you.”
Aly smiled, “Now… how do I get this on the plane?”
“Silly girl, you don’t think they sell luggage here somewhere? It is a mall after all.”
By the end of the afternoon, it turned out that the little carry on roller suit case the girls found on clearance was a much needed addition. Aly’s linen dress, shoes to match, a purse Melissa just could not let go of, and a couple pairs of true religion jeans for each of them. As they climbed back in the cab the girls were giddy at the thought that this was just the first stopping point on their trip.
CHAPTER 4
As the bellhop opened the door of the suite the girl’s eyes widened. They stepped in through the room’s foyer and took a look around. At the sight of the king sized bed layered with pillows they turned to look at each other for the briefest of moments before they were racing across the room to jump onto the bed. Landing with a muted thump and sending pillows flying they dissolved into giggles. The bellhop, quite used to a more reserved guest of the Edwardian suite at the Savoy, permitted himself a wide smile at the two college girls. Their enthusiasm reminded him of how truly magnificent this suite was, and how much he had begun to take it for granted. Setting the luggage inside the foyer his smile grew as the girls continued their tour around the room; exploring the rich and luxurious fabrics in the sitting room, pointing and calling out to each other as they found another hidden treasure, and finally as they came back to thank him and handing him a generous tip.
“Did you see this view off the dining area?” Aly asked amazed all over again that this suite was hers to share with Melissa for the next two weeks.
“I know! The city is beautiful. What are we doing here? Let’s go explore already! And don’t you dare tell me you’re tired. We are hitting the West End tonight!” Melissa’s voice rose like a balloon at each exclamation and Aly was laughing by the time the two grabbed hands and were out the door.
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