Our Entire Life

“Oh. My. Godddd!” The shrill, ecstatic cry sailed across the pristine yard. Carly glanced briefly towards the bridesmaid running towards her. The bridesmaid's low nude heels swung wildly in her left hand, her straight snow-white teeth stretched in a goofy grin. Carly sighed and turned in the other direction, not wanting to be associated with the scene. 

“Carlyyyy!” The bridesmaid hollered, now enthusiastically waving her right hand in her direction. Carly turned back towards the woman, crossing her arms underneath the thin ruffles of her floral dress. “Don’t say you don’t remember me.” She laughed as she caught up to her, her breath strained. “I’m Audrey! We hung out in Ben’s garage almost every friday. We’ve been friends since middle school!” 

Carly’s eyes popped, she felt her mouth gape. “O-oh! Wow! You look so . . . different!” 

Audrey let out a joyful laugh and enveloped her into a tight hug. Carly stiffened before awkwardly patting the zipper on her back. “Yeah, I know.” She giggled. “No more braces, and no more blocky black eyeliner!” She pulled away, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Goes to show how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other. I got my braces off ages ago!” 

Carly gave her a strained smile, her eyes starting to flit around the yard. “Yeah. How long has it been? Graduation?” 

“We talked some in college. But you know how it goes! Hard to keep up with people when they live miles away. I get it.” Despite saying this, Audrey’s bright smile wavered with uncertainty. “If I remember right, you were undecided. What did you end up doing?” 

She grabbed the bracelet on her wrist and started to twiddle it between her fingers. “I did a year of business, but ended up transferring to film.” She avoided Audrey’s gaze, instead staring down at her wrist. 

“That’s. So. cool!” Audrey squealed. Carly’s head snapped up in surprise. “You always had the best taste in movies. You’d analyze them like classical literature!” She giggled. “I remember Naveah getting so annoyed during the Silence of the Lambs. She was just trying to cuddle up to Dylan but you kept gushing about the writing. He was hanging off your every word!” 

“Yeah . . . I vaguely remember that. She dragged me outside because she was so angry.” Carly sighed. Audrey giggled happily. 

“I was always so jealous of you guys, you know. Neighbors your whole life, best friends since forever. I always felt left out. I never got invited to your sleepovers, or given a friendship bracelet.” Audrey was still smiling. 

Carly bit her tongue. “You guys seem to get along well now. You’re one of her bridesmaids, after all.” Audrey’s smile vanished. 

“I . . . guess. Do you know who the groom is?” Audrey asked. 

“Some guy named Jonathan. I assumed she met him after we . . . fell out.” Carly said. 

Audrey laughed and shook her head, blond curls bouncing on top of her head. “We never called him Johnathan growing up. We called him Ed.” 

Carly gasped involuntarily. She felt her face heat up as she covered her mouth. “Seriously? I never would have guessed! That was your older brother, the one who graduated a few years before us right?” 

Audrey smiled. “Exactly the one. I had no clue they were dating. He mentioned the girl he was dating a lot, but I assumed it was a different Neveah. I didn’t find out it was our Neveah until they were engaged.”

Carly blinked, she found herself smiling. “Did you guys fall out then too?” 

Audrey nodded. “We all did after a while. Other than me, my brothers, and my fiance naturally. But none of us talked to you or Neveah for years.”

“I’m sorry, fiance? Did you and Stephan end up staying together?” Carly asked curiously. Audrey’s head wandered towards the direction of the reception building. Carly followed her gaze. Two men were leaned up against the brick building. One had unkempt blond hair, and had a cigarette hanging between his fingers. The other had slicked-back brown hair and was glaring at the first. “Is that . . . Ben and Stephan?” 

Audrey looked back at her and nodded mutely. “Still hate each other just as much.” She laughed quietly. “Ben!” Audrey went racing towards the building. Carly hobbled after her, her heels sinking in the soft dirt. 

Both men smiled when they caught sight of Audrey. Audrey kissed Ben on the cheek and attached herself to his arm. She turned back to Carly with a smile just as big as theirs. “You’ll never guess who I found loitering outside.”

“Carly!” Ben gave her a dimpled smile and dragged her into a bear hug. She stuffed the left-over butterflies far down into her chest. “You look so different! So . . . grown-up!” 

“You all do too.” She laughed. Stephan dropped his cigarette onto the concrete and crushed it under a polished shoe. A second later he gave her a side-hug. 

“I haven’t seen you in a dress since prom.” Stephan said, as if 'prom' hadn't been five years ago.

“You mean the prom you dragged me out of to go eat ‘better food’?” She teased. “I ended up with milkshake all over that dress. It’s still at my parent’s house, stain and all.” She shook her head. “You haven’t changed much. Still smoking.” 

“And still a jerk.” He added with a slight smile. “You’re just as much of a buzz-kill as ever.” 

Ben sighed. “Nice to see you two still treat each other the exact same years later. Makes me feel like we’re in highschool again.” 

“Maybe we could set up the garage at the new house for movie nights, like old times.” Audrey suggested, snuggling back up into his arm. “Carly’s got a full-on film degree now. I bet our movie nights would be ten times more fun.” 

“That sounds like a great idea!” Ben turned back to her, kind brown eyes wavering. “Did Audrey tell you we’re getting married next year? I was . . . going to invite you but I had no idea what your address was.” 

“She mentioned a fiance . . . I just kind of assumed it was Stephan.” She laughed awkwardly. Stephan’s brow twitched. “I haven’t seen you all in so long. But you two make a cute couple. If you’re alright with it, I’d love to come.” 

Audrey squealed happily. All heads turned bug-eyed towards her. “Yes! But I can’t let you be any old guest. You’re basically family! It’s only right you're a bridesmaid. I can’t accept anything less.” 

“Alright.” Carly laughed. “I’d be happy to.” 

Ben looked relieved. When he saw her looking he gave her a soft smile. “Why don’t we all get inside? I doubt you’ve talked to Dylan yet.” 

Carly shook her head. “I was actually heading back to my car when Audrey found me. I’ve got a long drive back home.” 

He sighed, again. “Carly, you can’t just avoid her. Neveah invited you to her wedding for a reason. She wants to talk to you.” 

Carly laughed akwardly. "Still able to read my mind, I never mentioned Neveah."

“She’s not obligated to talk to Neveah if she doesn’t want to, Ben.” Stephan huffed “You can’t play mediator. Carly shouldn’t have to make amends with someone who’s treated her so badly for years.” 

“Thank you both, but I can decide for myself.” Carly interrupted. “I . . . should probably at least congratulate her. Maybe drop by and say hi to Dylan and Ed.” 

Stephan laughed at the old nickname. “We just call him John for the most part. He still doesn’t like the name.” 

Audrey unattached herself from Ben and clung onto Carly’s arm. “I’ll lead you inside. If all goes wrong, I’ll be your lifeline.” 

Carly smiled and let her lead her inside the building. “I appreciate it.” 

. . .

“Neveah!” Audrey yelled through the crowd. The bride turned towards them, dark eyes blurry with unrecognition. She had switched out her dramatic wedding dress for a little white cocktail.

“Audrey! Hey! Where’d you go? You kinda disappeared.” Neveah smiled at her friend. 

Carly slunk back, Neveah hadn’t even glanced her way. “Look who I found!” Audrey hugged her arm and smiled. “She was about to go home. Can you believe it? The party just got started!” She giggled. 

“Who’s tha- '' Neveah's face flitted with recognition, then excitement, then guilt. “Carly . . . I . . . “ She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I . . . was going to look for you after the ceremony. I hadn’t gotten the chance yet . . . “ 

“It’s fine.” She responded awkwardly. She gave her a shy smile. “Looks like I found you first. Or Audrey did at least.” 

“Yeah . . .” She took her another deep breath, when her eyes snapped open they had a new fire. Carly flinched back, Audrey squeezed her arm tighter. “I’m not going to beat around the bush anymore. I’ve treated you like absolute trash for my entire life. For your entire life. Nothing I do can take that back. I was jealous, mean, and petty. Because of me, you never got to have any other friends. You never got to have friends that treated you right.” 

She shook her head. “I’m still selfish. Because I couldn’t make any other friends, I didn’t let you make any either. I sucked up every minute of your life I could. Minutes I can never give back to you.” 

“Look Neveah, It’s fine-” 

“NO. It’s NOT fine.” Neveah snapped. Her eyes widened when she saw Carly’s expression. “Sorry.” She said gently. “Both for yelling, and for every other time I’ve done that to you our entire lives.” 

Carly shook her head. “For one time in our lives, I’d like you to listen to me.” She said, a bit harshly. “I DID make friends. Good friends, that treated me right. You were my best friend, no matter how many times you bossed me around I never doubted that. I probably should have, but I didn’t. No matter how many rumors you spread, people you lied to, or tricks you played I never wanted to believe it was you. I was a fool. But I considered you my best friend. Through you I met Audrey, Dylan, Ben, and Stephan. Through you I made good friends. While I can’t completely forgive you, I can at least thank you for that.” 

Neveah nodded, tears pooling in her eyes. She sniffled and wiped the tears with the flat of her finger as they squeezed out. “Thank you.” She sobbed. “That’s more than I deserve.” 

“Carly! WOW! You look . . . beautiful.” All three of their heads whipped towards the direction of the voice. A man stood gaping, looking Carly up and down. Neveah laughed weakly and shook her head. 

“Dylan!” Audrey grabbed onto her brother’s arm and dragged him away. “Let’s go find your date, shall we?” 

“Ow! Audrey, why are you squeezing my arm? You’re gonna leave a bruise!” 

Carly and Neveah broke into laughter. “He’s still the exact same I see.” Carly laughed. 

Neveah sniffled, her smiling face and tear-streaked cheeks in direct contrast. “Right down to the crush on you. Are you seeing anyone right now?” 

“Why don’t we catch up? I’ve obviously missed a lot. There’s a five-year gap.” Carly suggested. 

Neveah wiped a final tear from her eye and nodded. “I’d love to.”