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I suppose it should go without saying, but in the event you arrived here without seeing the series tag, please read Chapter 1 first.

This concludes the two-part series, but it overlaps They Were Roommates, Tour Guide and The Right Chord (not yet posted), and each story contains unavoidable spoilers for others.

Again, special thanks to THBGato for beta reading and suggesting changes that I feel have very much improved the story.

~~~~~

Wedding Dances

Chapter 2 – Waltz

Anita and Kayla had booked a wedding location outside town. When not in wedding season, it hosted occasional more informal parties, and both brides were familiar with it from college groups. There was a small wedding gazebo, a pavilion, and a large house for indoor activities in wooded grounds. The reservation was for the entire day, for the wedding and reception, and extended into the evening, when a local rock band would be playing a show to support the brides, who had earned the band’s gratitude by helping the vocalist, Michelle, through a difficult time.

Tiff and Allison had encouraged the brides to hire a day-of wedding coordinator rather than a planner. The wedding wouldn’t be complex, and the maids of honor could take care of the planning, but Mallory, a friendly, efficient woman, would oversee the activity management on the wedding day, and had guided Allison in what would be needed. Tiff’s main task had been the spa day, though she’d handled much of the negotiation for wedding services, including the venue. Allison had been mostly concerned with planning.

On Friday, Allison spent the day making last minute checks with vendors. The wedding cake would arrive on time. The delivery service was familiar with the venue, and knew where to take it. Flowers were all ready for transport. The weather forecast looked excellent, but there were backup plans in place for moving the wedding service to the house if needed. The photographer was in good health and ready to work the following day.

In the late afternoon, Allison confirmed the arrival and setup time of the band with the manager, Joe. Though there was a contingency plan to set up in the house if the weather did turn bad, everyone hoped that it wouldn’t be needed. With the support of Michelle, who had been until recently the main bartender at Gabby’s, Anita and Kayla had given an open invitation to Gabby’s patrons for the show, and there was no way everyone would fit in the house.

~~~~~

At the rehearsal dinner that night, Allison sat with Alex, Kayla’s friend, and Tara, Kayla’s cousin. They were the only others who didn’t have a partner at the dinner.

“I didn’t realize you and Ann were a couple,” she said to Alex, after they’d made small talk for a few minutes.

“We’re not?” Alex replied, sounding curious about the question. “Ann’s a friend, but she’s also a scheming ass. And she has a girlfriend.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Allison said. “I saw the two of you last night, and you looked close. I thought you must be together.”

Alex sighed. “Only in the biblical sense?”

Tara frowned as if she was trying to process that comment. “Wait,” she said, after a moment. Following the lead of the other two, her voice was pitched only for the three of them. “You’re not together, and she has a girlfriend, but you’re sleeping with her?”

“I hadn’t intended to?” Alex said. Allison was beginning to realize that what she’d heard as curiosity was Alex’s normal speech pattern. “But what’s done is done, and the girlfriend is a ‘her problem’. Also, it’s been two years for me? I deserve a few hours of recreation.”

Tara snorted softly. “Is this some of the lesbian drama Grace mentioned?”

“I’m enabling my deceptive former roommate’s cheating, and not feeling guilty?” suggested Alex. “Maybe I can admit to some drama. Maybe I even feel a little guilty. But I didn’t initiate. That’s my story.” She took a large sip of her wine. “Is there any drama between you and Grace that we can know about?”

Tara’s face flushed pink. “No, there isn’t.”

Alex grinned. “But you’d like there to be?”

“No!” insisted Tara. She didn’t have wine, but she drank some of her large glass of fruit juice, hiding her face.

“It’s okay to have a crush on her,” Allison said, gently. “I’ve met Grace a few times. She seems like a nice girl. But I think she’s a senior.”

Tara nodded, setting her glass back down. “Yeah, I know,” she said.

“What about the girl you were with, Allison?” Alex asked. “You and she were exchanging meaningful looks last night.”

“Were we?” Allison asked. “And how would you even know? The two of you seemed pretty out of it.”

“Maybe?” Alex replied. “And maybe we were more in tune with feelings.”

Allison sighed. “I don’t know,” she said. “We’ve been each other’s convenience dates.” That sounded better than “fake dating”, didn’t it? “She needed cover balıkesir escort to avoid being pressured into dating someone else, so I pretended to be gay for her. She’s returning the favor, since I didn’t have a date for Anita’s wedding.”

“But you’re not gay?”

Allison thought this was a statement, not a question, but it was hard to be sure.

“Right,” she agreed. But then she sighed. Maybe she could say something to these relative strangers that she wouldn’t to her close friends. She knew that both brides trusted Alex. “But, dammit, Alex, I feel something anyway. I’m confused as fuck.”

“A wise woman once said, it’s okay to have a crush on someone.” Alex grinned at her.

Allison laughed. “Maybe so. But we’ve been each other’s date for every event for weeks now, so maybe that’s the only reason I’m feeling empty without her here.”

Yet last night hadn’t been an aberration. She wanted Natalia. “I want you, too,” Natalia had said. But surely, that was just physical desire, even if she’d never felt it for a girl before. It wouldn’t account for her feeling incomplete.

Tara looked at her, and she felt that she saw shared understanding in the young girl’s eyes.

There were speeches, of course, but they were all light-hearted and didn’t last long. Kayla’s mother gave one, telling the gathering of her first meeting with Anita, mere days after learning that her daughter had a girlfriend, and how by the end of their visit she knew Anita would be her daughter-in-law, even if the couple were a little slow on the uptake.

Then the brides took turns in celebrating their friends in the wedding party, especially Tiff and Allison, who had worked so hard to make the wedding happen.

Though she’d only had two glasses of wine when she left, Allison felt completely drained, her head feeling heavy on the walk from her ride to her apartment. She barely registered hanging up her dress before she was in bed and sleep kidnapped her.

~~~~~

There should be little for Allison to do on the wedding day itself. She’d be meeting Mallory, the coordinator, to see if she needed assistance, and after that she planned to accompany the photographer, whom she’d met last year with Kayla, when they were still learning to tolerate each other, and who’d recommended Mallory to them.

Mallory seemed to have everything well in hand. Her assistant, Eric, was already working with the floral delivery. She gave Allison his number for emergencies, but said that she was unlikely to need it.

The wedding photographer, Mika, was a slender woman with a Japanese name and apparent Japanese features, though she spoke with a cultured, British accent. The portfolio Allison and Kayla had seen included many same-sex weddings, with several deeply emotional pieces. Last year, when they’d met, Mika’s hair had been straight, black, and shoulder length, and her expressive eyes had seemed to hold a depth of sorrow. Allison had wondered if this was why she was able to take such poignant photos.

Now she seemed changed. The most obvious difference was her strawberry blonde bun, streaked with various shades of reddish blonde and even a little pink. But she seemed to have lost the aura of sadness she’d had. She was attentive, quiet, and efficient, but she seemed genuinely happy to be involved in the wedding.

She was perhaps in her early thirties, and wore sensible shoes and a dark blue lightweight pants suit, her bun held by a pair of decorative silver-beaded pins. She carried two cameras.

Following Mika’s guidance, the brides had opted for “first look” photos. As Allison had attended Anita’s fittings, she knew how she would be dressed, but this would be the first time seeing Kayla for both of them.

Anita met them by the small wooded area that Mika wanted to use as a backdrop. The sides of her hair had been brought into a knot held with a pin, while the remainder flowed down her back as usual. Allison knew that she would have resisted even that much styling. She was proud of the length of her straight hair and worked hard to keep it undamaged.

Her dress was lacy, sleeveless, with narrow straps and a deep center V. Anita’s small breasts made the top appear elegant rather than racy. The skirt was cut just below the knee at the front, dropping to her ankles at the back, layered with lace to be full. She had avoided anything beyond floor length for the outdoor setting. She chatted with Mika until her fiancée appeared.

Both girls’ faces flushed as they approached. Allison could hear the delicate sounds of Mika’s camera capturing the expressions of both. She was sure she saw tears in Kayla’s eyes.

The photographer continued to shoot the unposed pair as each took in her fiancée’s appearance, before they finally turned to look at her. At that point, she began to pose them, first asking Kayla to remove her shoes, while Anita bartın escort wore her silvery heels, in spite of the awkward terrain.

Kayla’s dress could be considered conservative compared to her normal style. It was sleeveless silk, but high-necked with a narrow keyhole. The bodice was supported by a decorative band which matched the hairband in her dark, rainbow-tinted hair. Narrow at the waist, it flared slightly at the hips, with only a little layering over a narrow silk floor-length skirt. Her hair behind the band was a complex crown of weaves.

Mika had Eric bring bouquets, and she posed the couple with and without flowers, gazing into each other’s eyes, and back to back. Seeing them turn, Allison discovered that while the back of Anita’s dress exposed her shoulder blades, Kayla’s dress had no back whatsoever. The bodice was entirely supported by the neck band, only widening at the waist, the skirt dipping slightly from there toward the center of her back. So maybe not as conservative as it had first seemed.

The photographer was quiet, but clear and authoritative in her requests. Though the sorrow Allison had sensed in her last year seemed to have diminished, she was still able to bring out love in the eyes of the brides, and Allison’s concern that her skill in finding emotion in her subjects was due to her sadness faded.

Allison was so caught up in the activity, and in her musings about Mika, that she missed someone approaching from behind until a hand slipped into hers. Startled, she turned to see Natalia beside her. For a moment, she felt unable to breathe. She wasn’t even sure what comprised the mix of feelings that had welled up in her. She felt a stinging in her eyes, as if the tears of joy at her friends’ union had suddenly decided to make themselves known. She managed to avoid letting them free.

She wanted to wrap her arms around Natalia and hold her close. But this was the brides’ day, and they were right here. She wouldn’t distract from the moment. Instead, she squeezed Nat’s hand as she smiled, her eyes on Allison’s.

“I asked where I could find you,” Nat whispered. “I hope you don’t mind me arriving early. I thought you might like some support.”

She wore a short red dress, sleeveless, with wide straps and a square neckline. The swell of her breasts tugged at Allison’s gaze, but it was her eyes that held her. There seemed to be so much affection in them.

“I don’t mind at all,” Allison replied. “I’m happy to see you. I’m going to have to join the others to get changed, soon, though. Can you keep yourself entertained?”

“I think so. I can help, too, if you like. I know the drill. There will be zippers that need zipping, loose hair to pin, makeup to fix, and you’ll all be too busy to help each other.”

“What you’re saying is you want to be around my half-naked lesbian friends,” Allison teased.

“You know me better than I thought you did,” Natalia whispered, with a grin.

~~~~~

There was time to take a walk through the grounds after Mika released the brides. Hand in hand, Allison led Natalia through the wedding gazebo, which was empty but for floral arrangements. They stopped to smell the flowers, then checked on the pavilion, where Mallory had her phone to her ear, while Eric lounged. Mallory raised a thumb to them, clearly having everything under control, so they ambled toward the house where everyone would be getting ready.

“You seem quiet,” Natalia said. “Pensive.”

“I keep thinking about two nights ago,” Allison said. “It’s been hard to avoid thinking about it.” She turned to face Natalia, then ran the fingers of her free hand down the girl’s upper arm. “I wanted to keep kissing you.” After a beat, she added, “I still do.”

“So do I,” whispered Natalia. A moment later, Allison wrapped her arms around her, almost without conscious thought, and pressed her lips to the girl’s.

Natalia took a moment to respond. Allison tasted her thick lip gloss before the girl’s lips parted and her tongue met Allison’s.

Allison felt desire spike, and a moan escape into the kiss.

“The fake kissing’s looking very convincing, but I think you could use more practice.”

They jerked apart. Allison looked around to find Tiff standing at the corner of the house, a huge smirk on her face. Emma, behind her, wore the look of resignation she always had when Tiff was mouthing off, but maybe with a trace of amusement.

“We could still be practising, if you hadn’t interrupted us,” Allison said.

“Yeah, well, your practice might have made you late for changing,” Tiff said, turning to head into the house.

“True enough,” Allison muttered.

“I’m going to need to fix my makeup now,” Natalia griped, as they followed Tiff into the house. “Let me find a bathroom. I’ll catch up with you in a minute.”

Tiff released her girlfriend’s hand, pushing Emma to batman escort continue on as she hung back to speak softly to Allison. “Are you falling in love with your fake girlfriend?” She seemed equal parts amused and sympathetic.

“I’ve never been in love with a girl,” Allison hissed at her friend. “And surely it would be too soon, even if I could?”

Tiff just gave her a pitying look.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Allison whispered. She wasn’t sure if she should laugh or cry. Now she understood why the upwelling of emotion earlier was so confusing. “Tiff, I hate you so much.”

“I know.” Tiff sighed dramatically. “‘Tis my lot to bear the burden of being the wisest of us.”

Emma, still close enough to hear her girlfriend declaiming, snorted with laughter.

~~~~~

Allison pulled on the silk bridesmaid dress. She’d changed into a sticky backless bra and thong. The dress wasn’t as revealing as either of the brides’ dresses, but the thin silk wasn’t forgiving. She backed out from behind the curtain where she’d been changing with Heather. “Could someone help with the zipper?” she asked the small group preparing their own clothes.

“That’s why I’m here,” piped up Natalia. She felt steady fingers grip the zipper, sliding it into place. Then the fingers caressed her back and waist. “Nice dress,” Nat said.

“Thanks,” Allison said, turning. The silk was a pale yellow. “You can help me with this, too, since you’re so eager.” She held out a bright yellow sash. “It ties into a bow, like your top the other day, but at the back.” Then she pitched her voice only for Natalia. “Not as rewarding to untie though.”

Nat smirked at her as she turned away, then fastened the bow. A moment later, Heather emerged, in a pale orange dress, a twin to Allison’s, other than its color, carrying an orange sash.

“I’m sensing a theme here,” said Natalia, taking the sash from the tall girl. “A rainbow theme, maybe?” She positioned the sash against Heather’s waist, smoothing it out against her, then, with Heather holding it in place, she tied the bow. Allison felt an unexpected twinge of jealousy as Natalia’s hands moved around Heather’s body.

“Yellow isn’t my best color,” admitted Allison, “but Tiff and I will be standing closest to the brides, so that’s the way it worked out. Margot is red, Heather is orange, I’m yellow, Tiff is green, Alex blue and Tara violet. Emma is standing for Anita, so she isn’t part of the rainbow.”

“Is someone standing for Kayla?”

“Her dad,” Allison said. “Anita’s mom won’t be here – long story – and her brother and sister will, but they’re only recently reconnected, and she’s not close to them. Emma, Anita and I have been best friends for years.”

“But I’m smarter than she is,” came Emma’s voice from behind another curtain, “which is why she’s stuck organizing the show.”

~~~~~

“I’m getting nervous,” Allison admitted. People were walking down the small path beside the house to the gazebo where the ceremony would take place.

“You’ll be fine,” said Natalia. “Your job now is just to stand there looking pretty. I think you’ll do that well.”

Allison felt her cheeks warm. “You should go.”

“Yeah, it’s time.”

Natalia turned to leave, but Allison caught her hand and turned her back to face her. “Nat, I…”

“I know,” Natalia whispered. “We’ll talk later.” She gave Allison’s hand a tight squeeze, then left.

Grace, the pink- and blue-haired girl, was standing with Kayla’s cousin Tara. Seeing that Natalia was leaving, she gave Tara an impromptu hug, which Tara returned, then turned to follow Nat.

Maybe Tara’s crush wasn’t one-sided. She wondered if Kayla knew that.

~~~~~

Eric notified the bridesmaids when to leave the house, handing each a bouquet. They walked down the aisle in pairs, holding hands, Allison with Tiff, Heather with Alex, Margot with Tara. They fanned out around the celebrant, Sabrina, and Kayla and her father, who were already present. Finally, Anita walked arm-in-arm with Emma, who wore a long, harvest gold dress. They held hands after taking their place facing Sabrina, and the ceremony began.

The couple had opted for a non-religious ceremony. Sabrina, a woman in her late thirties in a long dark-blue dress, had a gentle voice, but a concealed microphone brought her words to everyone gathered. Allison glimpsed Natalia, giving her a quick smile, but managed to remain focused on the ceremony and the people whose joining they were celebrating, rather than her.

Kayla’s dad was a tall man, wearing brown square-framed glasses. He had grey-blue eyes and hair that was half dark and half salt-and-pepper gray. He wore a charcoal suit and a harvest gold tie, coordinated with Emma’s dress. He wasn’t holding his daughter’s hand, but when it came time for the brides to move together, he gave her wrist a quick squeeze. Kayla turned to smile at him, while Anita exchanged a brief look with Emma before stepping forward.

With the two women standing before her. Sabrina shared a little of their story together, then asked them to face each other and join hands. She first asked Anita if she would take Kayla as her wife, love and partner.

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