Welcome to the Family

My heart was beating so loud. I thought it would burst my ribcage any second. “Awwwww,” sighed Michelle and Renee in unison. Oh God. Did he really just… Did he just say… Did I hear the… three magical words? My intestines practically exploded with joy. I was so happy it literally made my stomach hurt from all those butterflies running berserk. “Matt,” I whispered. I felt my eyes tearing with happiness. “I love you too, Matt.” I whispered.

I could tell he felt as happy as I did when he heard it. His eyes started sparkling and his beautiful, beautiful dimples started popping out of his cheeks since he grinned so hard. “I love you,” he screamed and pulled me up from the couch. Everyone noticed. There were loud aws from all sides. Brian came closer and patted Matt’s shoulder. “Finally, man. Took you fucking long enough!”

They all raised their glasses to me and Matt. For another two hours, Matt wouldn’t leave my side. He constantly held my hand or put his arm around me, even when he was talking to others. He introduced me to every single person at the party I didn’t know yet. And he said “girlfriend”. Girlfriend. We danced together and we literally didn’t last during a single song without a kiss. It was ecstatic. And just wait until later...

Just as we were sharing another sweet kiss on the couch, we heard a scream. “What’s happening?” I asked Matt. “Do you really care?” he slurred and attempted to press his lips back to mine. I smiled. His taste was just so intoxicating, I couldn’t get enough of his incredible lips. I felt like kissing him made me drunk or high or something, and I knew I would suffer terribly if I ever had to go cold turkey. I’d overcome all doubts. He was patient, kind. He would understand. I knew he would give everything to make me feel comfortable with him and us and our relationship. I smiled at that realization.

Then we heard another scream. “Matt, we should check it out,” I said, anxious now. “Sure,” he said. He had to hold on to me while getting up. I didn’t realize he was that drunk, I thought. “Matt, dude you should come check this out,” Johnny said. He looked pretty serious.

“I got this, Baby.” Matt gave me another kiss before getting up with an annoyed expression. When he turned towards the door I saw his jaw tighten and he clenched his fists. “Matt, what’s wrong,” I demanded to know. “Stay where you are,” he growled angrily.

Of course I got up, too. What I saw made my insides twist. Valary. Slowly, with a triumphant grin on her face, she made her way to where we were standing. “A word,” she demanded, and suddenly everybody went silent. What does she want again? Why can’t she respect my restraining order? “Victoria,” she said, addressing me. She practically spat out my name. “Yeah?” I said, not quite managing to keep my voice steady.

“I need to talk to Matt. Or Michelle, or both. I’m sorry I turned up out of the blue, but I need to do it now. And they didn’t pick up their phones. Would you please leave the room? Or can someone come to talk to me outside? I really don’t want to cause trouble with the restraining order.” Yeah sure, pretending to be all sweet and caring now are we? “I’m going,” Matt said. Really? Can’t you just let her talk to her sister?

I stared at Michelle. “Yeah, it’s probably better if the two of you aren’t alone,” she said, getting up from her seat. Thank you Chelle, finally someone who knows what’s good.
After a few minutes, they returned. They didn’t look particularly happy. Something must have happened.

What could have happened? Something about us? By now, everyone had noticed that they were back. All eyes were focused on Miche and Matt, hoping to hear whatever was going on. “Vicky, we’re gonna need to talk to you in private. I’m sorry guys, I think the party is over. We’re gonna need to ask you to leave.”

“But guys, what’s wrong?” I asked, but they just smiled at me understandingly. What? Hello? Can someone please fill me in? Anyone?
When all guests were finally gone, the guys, Michelle, and I sat down on Matt’s living room couch. “So what’s the big fuss about?” I demanded to know. They needed to tell me. Right now. I need to know. “Vicky,” Michelle began softly. Yeah, spare your “Vickys”, just tell me what the hell is wrong.

“You know that you got this restraining order pending against Val,” Matt said, and my gaze shifted from Michelle’s frowny face to Matt’s angry one. He was trying hard to keep calm and hide his anger, but to me it was obvious he couldn’t. “Yeah,” I said, and it sounded more like a question than an answer.

“So if you attend our wedding,” Michelle then said, “my sister can’t. She talked to her lawyer today. Even if you say it’s alright, it’s not. Legally I mean. And she doesn’t want any more problems with the law. I mean, she’s been sentenced to community service and a 10,000 dollar fine TODAY. Believe me, after Matt and her get divorced, she’ll be stripped down to nothing. Those 10,000 dollars hurt her bank account a lot.”

Okay, bleed bitch I guess… But I understood. Even though I hated her guts and I knew the feeling was mutual, I still felt a little sorry for her. She was losing everything she ever held dear. Her husband, her sister, all mutual friends. She had literally no-one. I don’t know how that would make me feel, I thought and swallowed thickly. I think I couldn’t live with losing all of them, I'd just go insane and then die a lonely death.

I looked into their faces, Brian’s eyes red with smoke, Zacky’s bowtie a little crooked, Johnny’s hair somehow smeared with butter from the party. These were my friends, and it would hurt so much to lose them. And Val has.

“So what are you suggesting we do?” I finally asked. Matt cleared his throat, but Chelle was faster. “Vicky, I’m really really sorry. I’m gonna ask you not to turn up at the wedding. You know I love you and we’re friends, but she’s my family and I need to have her there. My parents, my grandparents, they can’t know I’m not inviting my twin sister. It’s just not possible.”

Ouch. That hurt. So I can’t go to the wedding? Okay I guess. Is Matt still going? I threw him a questioning look, but he averted my gaze. “Matt, are you still going?” I said quietly. “Yeah, I’m sorry babygirl, but I’m definitely attending. I’m Brian’s best man.” He’s attending? What kind of boyfriend is he? He should at least try to bring his girlfriend to the wedding. Why isn’t anyone telling me this is some kind of a joke?

But it wasn’t a joke. The next evening, they all left for the airport. The wedding was taking place in Mexico, where Syn and Chelle would stay for their honeymoon, too.

“You got everything?” I asked as Matt came to my apartment to say his goodbyes. You got everything. You got everything. I seriously asked him that, when in fact, I wanted to say fuck you. Great job, Vicky.

“Well, not everything,” he tried to be charming. Before I could really think about a witty answer that showed him I was still mad, I heard myself say “Aww, Matt you’re so sweet.” Yeah sure, mouth, suit yourself why don’t you.

“I’ll call you when I get there,” he said and pressed his lips to mine. And then, before I could even wrap my head around what happened, I watched his car disappear onto the main road, leaving me behind with an uncertain, bad feeling in the guts.

Notes

Phew, trouble trouble... What do you guys think will happen?