Chapter Text
The sun hung high in the late afternoon sky as the day began winding down after a morning of classes and lessons. Jeremy pulled into the driveway and got out of the car, he hadn’t slept much recently and felt haggard. Before heading inside Jeremy caught a sight of the postman driving down the road, his mail had just been delivered. Jeremy opened the mail box and saw a fresh stack of papers and envelopes. He took the handful and headed inside his apartment.
“Hey welcome home Jerebear.” JB, his adoring girlfriend since high school was there as always to greet him with a cheerier disposition than he could ever muster. “Anything interesting in there?”
“Nope.” Jeremy responded without so much as glancing at the stack of envelopes as he set them on the counter.
Just as he had, one oddly shaped letter flitted onto the floor. He bent over to pick it up and noted the address it had been sent from: Sunset Bird, California. Seeing equal parts disgust and confusion wrought on his face, JB walked over to see the letter for herself, taking a seat at the small bar separating the kitchen from the living room.
“Where the heck is Sunset Bird and who do we know there?”
“It’s those people… again” Jeremy made no attempt to hide the fatigue in his voice.
“What people, who are those people?” JB emphasized her tone of voice to mock Jeremy’s apparent disgust with these people.
Jeremy didn’t want to bother explaining but he was keenly aware JB would not drop the subject until he divulged who these strangers sending them letters out of the blue were.
“They’re a pair of insane people I met about a decade ago. They insist on keeping me updated on their lives even though it makes no sense, it doesn’t matter.”
JB was intrigued now. “Okay well that’s a little vague, and I think it does matter. Open the letter, I wanna see what it says.” She added an airy cheerfulness to her voice as she clasped her hands together.
“Do I have to?” Jeremy crossed his arms in weak defiance.
“Yes. Unless you want me to rip it open and read it aloud to you.”
Jeremy sighed heavily. “Fine.” He grabbed a letter opener and gingerly cut along the glued edge. Pulling the letter out it was clear this was no common handwritten letter, it was a card and had clearly been professionally designed and printed. It was a personalized invitation with a picturesque photo of a beach with a shining beautiful ocean behind text that read:
Jeremy Marion King & JB Winters,
you are formally invited to the wedding celebration of
COVE HOLDEN
&
Atticus Bryson
The wedding will be held in Sunset Bird in the large poppy field on the outskirts of town at 11:00 am on June 19th, 2022. The following reception will be held at The Cypress country club. Contact Baxter Ward for RSVP at 619-555-7446.
Reading the invitation Jeremy’s face twisted. He couldn’t believe he’d be invited to something like that, especially by them of all people. By now JB had given him enough time to read the note.
“So what does it say tell me already!” She hovered over the note, intent on snatching if Jeremy didn’t divulge it’s details.
With an exasperated sigh, Jeremy relented. “They’re getting married and they want me to go.”
“For real? Looks like we’re going to a wedding!” JB sprang up from her seat and threw her hands into the air.
“I don’t want to.” Jeremy set the invitation down gently.
“Oh yes you do you big baby, stop whining we need to go get our outfits ready come on.” JB was already half way out the door, car keys in hand, waving at Jeremy to follow her. Jeremy very much wanted this day to be over but as always, he began following JB out of the apartment.
It was only three in the afternoon but Jeremy could already feel himself slipping into short fits of sleep in the passenger seat. His slumber didn’t last long as the car coming to a stop stirred him. He reclined his seat back up and saw a large boutique across the parking lot. He yawned groggily. JB got out and began walking toward the store until she noticed Jeremy wasn’t following her and slowly walked back.
“Are you gonna sit in the car while we try on our clothes?” She raised her voice to reach him through the rolled up windows.
Jeremy lowered the back of the seat down, making it clear he thoroughly intended to stay put.
“I’m not going inside, we don’t need new clothes and we don’t need to go to this wedding.”
Jeremy started putting up a fight, he wasn’t always the mopey kid JB had come to know in high school but they’d been together long enough for her to get used to that.
“Get your butt out of that car or I’m gonna drag you out myself!” JB had always respected Jeremy’s boundaries, she knew he was a germaphobe and hated being touched. While she had learned to work around this for the last five years, today was a special occasion and would put her hands on him if necessary.
“I’d Like to see you try.” Jeremy let the seat back down, unafraid to be petulant for once.
JB opened the passenger door and stared Jeremy down. “Jeremy. Get out.” There was no amusement on her face.
Jeremy sighed. “Fine.”
He sat the back the seat up and undid his seatbelt. JB wasn’t particularly big, but she was bigger than he was.
“That’s what I thought.” JB giggled, unable to resist teasing him.
“You are horrible.” Jeremy continued being obstinate despite having just given into JB’s demands.
“Yeah yeah let’s get you inside and get fitted for a new shirt.” JB put her arm around Jeremy’s, which he shrugged off.
Now feeling utterly defeated, Jeremy had fallen back into his mopey attitude. “Whatever.”
“Ah hello there.” A man in a gray suit and green spotted bow tie greeted the couple who walked through the door of the boutique. “Welcome to Dupont, my name is Thol and I am the assistant stylist here, how may I assist you?” Thol spoke softly but with the confidence of a man with years of experience dressing up the public.
“Nice to meet you, I’m JB and this is my boyfriend Jeremy. We’re going to be attending a wedding and need to get outfitted for the occasion.” Jeremy crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, adding emphasis to the gesture to make sure he was seen.
Thol ignored the body language Jeremy desperately asked him to heed. “That sounds excellent! So what can you tell me about the dress code, dark and formal? Light and casual? We can do it all here.”
JB and Jeremy suddenly realized the invitation hadn’t specified a dress code, perhaps they were meant to RSVP and find out from this Baxter person first. Jeremy dropped his arms and his mouth curled into a small downward bend. JB then spoke up.
“Actually our invitation didn’t mention any dress code.” She spoke plainly, their unpreparedness not weighing so heavily upon her as on her boyfriend.
“Not to worry, something in between formal and casual should work just fine, come with me.” Thol reassured the couple and led them to a rack containing an assortment of sports jackets, tasteful sweaters and tuxedos. “Here are just a few of our options, each of these come in multiple colors and sizes. If any of these pique your interest please let me know so I can grab your measurements.”
JB looked very excited now. “Jerebear you gotta try on that tuxedo.” She pointed at the sharply dressed mannequin with a single outstretched finger.
“Why?”Jeremy had lightened up slightly since the debacle outside but he still did not want to be here.
“You know perfectly well why. We’re here to get dressed for a wedding you goober.”
“You’re the one who wants to get all dressed up. I don’t even want to go, remember?”
“It’s always a fight with you… We are going to this wedding because these people cared enough to invite you. Now try the tuxedo.” JB was done arguing and Jeremy knew it.
“Whatever.” Jeremy motioned lazily towards Thol, suggesting he’d try the tuxedo.
Thol walked over to Jeremy with the measuring tape and noted his sizes down in a small notepad while Jeremy tried not to make a fuss about getting so close to another person. He then wordlessly stepped into the back room. Jeremy turned back to JB.
“This is ridiculous, I don't know why you’re making me do this.”
“Because I want to do this and I want you to be here to do it with me.” JB had gotten used to explaining this facet of their relationship over and over again for the last five years.
Despite this Jeremy still couldn’t quite wrap his head around the fact that JB actually liked him, liked his company. In his mind he was just a mopey, angry man with nothing to offer anyone. JB’s constant assurances were helping little by little though. Soon Thol came back with a shiny tuxedo draped over his arm and a pair of black dress shoes in his hand.
“Here you are sir, please step into the fitting room here.” Thol set the outfit on the gilded chair next to the couple.
Jeremy took the clothes gently in hand and stepped into the fitting room, he was in there for several minutes getting himself tucked, zipped, and buttoned into place. As he stepped out of the fitting room, JB’s eyes lit up like they had when she first spotted him in high school. She put aside her usual snark to slip in a moment of authenticity.
“Wow. Jeremy you look… very handsome.”
The suit fit him perfectly, from the tie all the way down to the ankles. Only Jeremy couldn’t stop pulling at the collar. The attention was too much for him.
“Echh I feel like I can’t breathe in this thing, I’m taking it off.”
He stepped back into the fitting room with a blush on his face, leaving JB feeling somewhat disappointed. When he returned Thol suggested something a touch more relaxed and offered a light ash gray button up shirt and dark gray sweater combo which changed out the black tuxedo slacks for heavier dark gray wool slacks.
“Sure. I guess.” Jeremy took the clothes and retreated to the fitting room once more. He seemed more comfortable upon his return but was very much ready to go home.
“So are we done now? I wanna get out of here.” Jeremy said
“Wow that looks really good on you too, but no way I still need to pick out what I’m gonna wear.” JB had a playful tint to her voice.
“Fine.” Jeremy returned to the fitting room to redress in his usual day clothes, when he returned he took a seat while JB spent nearly an hour flitting between various dresses and suits. Eventually JB stepped out of the fitting room one last time and Jeremy raised his eyes in wonderment. She had settled on an all white tuxedo with black bow tie.
“You’re really gonna wear that to a wedding for someone you’ve never even met?” Jeremy tried and failed to disguise the smile creeping onto his face.
“Yeah why not, it’s flashy and makes me look cute, not that I need any help with that.”
“You know the day isn’t about you?” Jeremy began to find this amusing.
“Every day is about me Jerebear, you should know that by now.” JB strutted around to show off the curves of the suit.
“Of course. How could I forget.” He didn’t bother trying to hide the smile anymore. Jeremy’s sarcasm signaled to JB that he must be feeling better after all the bickering and being difficult earlier.
With their choices of garments finalized, JB still had to change back into her normal clothes. After that was taken care of they paid at the front desk. Thol saw the couple off as they began heading home.
“Bye you two, have a beautiful day and do come back when its time for your own wedding!”
JB waved back at him as Jeremy ignored him.
Jeremy climbed back into the car while JB set the bags of their new clothes in the trunk. JB started the engine as Jeremy reached for his seatbelt. A comfortable silence filled the air as Jeremy began drifting back to sleep again, but before he could, he noticed JB turn off the path that leads home.
“Where are we going?” Jeremy asked with a suspicious bend in his voice.
“You’ll see.” JB’s answer was curt yet she had a devious smirk on her face.
A few minutes later JB pulled into a small parking lot in front of a quaint pink building with big blocky white letters adorning the space above the front door, XAKE.
“What are we doing here?” Jeremy was clearly confused.
“Just wait here for a few minutes and I’ll be right back.” JB hopped out of the car with a start and jogged her way into the shop.
Jeremy sat patiently and waited. And waited. And Waited. After several minutes he became impatient and was about to reach for his seatbelt just as JB reemerged from the shop carrying a small pink box. Curiosity rising, Jeremy sat back again. JB pulled the door open with one hand, balancing the box on her wrist with the other.
“Ummm what is that?” Jeremy took the box from JB as she climbed into the car.
“Open it up and take a look.” JB’s face was lit up with a 1000 watt grin.
Opening the box Jeremy saw a freshly baked Strawberry cake just big enough for two people to share.
“I know today wasn’t exactly planned and you’re swamped with studying, but despite your vocal protests, you went along with it and stomached my shenanigans like you always do so I wanted to get you a little thank you gift.” JB was being uncommonly sincere and Jeremy was taken aback.
“Well. You’re welcome. And thank you.” Jeremy had made some progress, however small, on rehabilitating himself into a less abrasive man since his days in high school and this was a chance to demonstrate it. He was blushing and trying to put forth an air of genuine gratitude.
JB started the engine and turned to grab her seatbelt. “Let's head home and tear into that cake alright?”
“Alright.” Jeremy smiled gently as he looked down at the cake, a confectionery reminder of how much JB cared about him.
The door of the apartment opened as JB turned the handle and gave the door a gentle shove. JB took the bags of their new clothes and hung them in the closet. Jeremy set the cake on the counter, but when JB returned from the bedroom she saw Jeremy quietly sitting on the couch in the living room.
“Something wrong with the cake?” She asked playfully.
“Are you really sure you want to do this?” Jeremy asked bluntly, turning his head to look at JB.
“Do what? Ask about your cake?”
“Go to this wedding I mean. You don’t even know these people so I don’t understand why you’re so excited about it.” Jeremy seemed genuinely confused
JB took a seat next to Jeremy, facing him directly and hooking her arm over the back of the couch.
“I’m excited because these “insane people” were nice enough to remember you and invite you to share in the most special day of their lives. That tells me they care about you even if you haven’t seen them in ages so of course I’m curious who they are. Besides if nothing else maybe this will be a chance to further drill into your cute little head that you really are more likable than you think. Now stop thinking so hard about that and have some cake already.” JB jumped up to cut a slice of cake and handed it to Jeremy.
He took the slice of cake with a short groan. “I Guess.”
JB had spent years impressing on Jeremy that people do actually like him, most of all her, but he never seemed to retain it for very long. Still she was always happy to give him another reminder.
By now it was getting dark, the sun had mostly set and left a faint orange tint in the sky. The day’s events had taken the wind out Jeremy’s sails, he took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes as he sunk into the couch with a yawn, followed by a groan. “I still need to finish my homework…”
“Just leave it for tonight, your grades can afford the hit this once.” JB wasn’t attending college, she didn’t have the weight of failing a class and losing her tuition on her shoulders.
“That doesn’t mean I should let it.” Jeremy still hadn’t moved his hands off of his face.
“Gee Nate when did you get here, where did Jeremy go?” JB cracked a lopsided smile as Jeremy glared at her for that remark.
“Look I promise it will be just fine okay? Let’s just spend the rest of the evening relaxing.” JB turned the TV on and began flipping through movies on Netlfix.
“Whatever.” Jeremy’s go to word for conceding an argument meant JB had won.
“Yay.”
Once the movie had been chosen and the couple were both settled in, it wasn’t long before Jeremy drifted off to sleep once more. JB gently lowered his head into her lap and started braiding the tufts of hair on the sides of his head. Eventually once his hair was neat and pretty, JB’s own eyes began feeling heavy and with Jeremy soundly asleep next to her, she turned the TV off and allowed herself to doze off for the night.