CHAPTER NINETEEN: DRUNKENLY THROWING HER ARMS AROUND
June 27th, 2020
The wedding was a little over a month away. For days on end Gemma woke up in the morning to find Avery sitting at the Perry family's dining room table, with books and binders, filled with different ideas. So far, Avery and Gayle booked the food truck for the reception, which consisted of different taco and salad dishes. A DJ for the event was booked as well. The wedding itself would be taking place at a country club that Gemma always passed by when she was younger. She wondered how the hell Avery and Rowan forked up the money for this exclusive country club, though ultimately figured it wasn't her business. If they wanted to go broke for their wedding, then that was on them.
Rowan occasionally stopped by as well to help with the planning â though Gemma avoided him at all costs. He tried to talk to her, though after being drunk around him on Charlotte's birthday, Gemma figured it was best for her to stay away from him. He was soon to be married, so whatever weird feelings Gemma was having toward the entire situation â her suspicions about their marriage and Avery's pregnancy, would likely go away as long as she completely strayed clear of Rowan.
When rushing past the couple who was sitting at her dining room table as she was about to leave for her shift at Target, Rowan pretended he left something in the car and followed Gemma outside. Gemma made eye contact with her mother on the way out, who just smiled. She still wondered how the hell Gayle was okay with planning the wedding for Rowan and Avery â two people who were once so dedicated in her daughters life. Gayle never questioned the two's relationship, and Gemma did not have the energy to ask her what her thoughts were on it.
"Gemma?" Rowan called after her as she rushed outside the house. She quickly unlocked her mother's car, hoping to avoid whatever it was that Rowan was going to say. Though her plan did not work, given he caught up to her before she had the chance to get in the car.
"What, Rowan?" her words came out meaner than she intended.
Rowan was taken back by Gemma's tone, but continued anyway.
"Are you mad at me?" he asked. Her avoidance of him had not gone unnoticed, and he hated to admit it, but it was bothering him. Ever since he got closure with Gemma the night she was roofied, and the few times he was able to spend time with her -- Rowan found himself feeling comfortable around Gemma again, and although it was under very different circumstances, he liked having her in his life again.
"Why would I be mad at you?" Gemma's tone was still snippy but at this point, she did not care. The last thing she wanted was to be talking to Rowan, when she had to be at work soon.
"I - I don't know," he admitted. Now that he was saying it out loud, it did sound strange. "You've just been avoiding me?" his statement sounded more like a question, because now that he was saying it out loud, he regretted saying anything.
Gemma's eyebrows raised in confusion.
"I've been busy," she defended. As she eyed Rowan up and down, she wondered what on earth could have warranted him to feel this way. How could she be avoiding him, when it's not like the two were friends? Sure, in the beginning of this whole wedding debacle, Gemma wondered if spending time together would naturally push herself and Rowan towards friendship. Though after the strange feelings inside of Gemma every time she was around him, and the fact that he was the father of her ex best friend's baby, being friends with him was just too weird. At this point, all Gemma wanted to do was get the wedding over with and return to New York so she wouldn't have to be caught up in this mess anymore than she already was.
"I - "
"You should get back to your fiancé," Gemma sighed, breaking eye contact with Rowan as she opened the car door. For a reason he couldn't explain, Rowan felt a pang in his chest. "She seemed excited about whatever you two were planning."
"Right," he nodded. "See you later, Gems."
Gemma felt the same pang in her chest, but ignored it as she got in the car and quickly sped out of the driveway.
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June 29th, 2020
When Gemma clocked out at approximately seven o'clock that night, she was exhausted. She had plans to binge watch American Horror Story with Marcie when she got home, considering the two had not seen much of each other due to their differing work schedules. Gemma typically worked morning or mid-shift at Target, while Marcie was stuck working mostly closing shifts. Gemma would see Marcie as she got off work, while Marcie would see Gemma as she was getting ready to leave. By the time Marcie left her closing shift at Dunkin', often nearing eleven o'clock, Gemma was already asleep. Tonight though, was different, considering Marcie only worked until six; Gemma seven. She was exhausted, but excited to finally spend a night with her best friend.
So when Gemma walked in to find Marcie in her room, not wearing pajamas, she was confused. Instead, Marcie wore a tight black dress that showed off her cleavage, and a pair of black heels.
"What the hell," Gemma said at the same time Marcie said, "I can explain."
"I thought we were going to stay in and watch Cult tonight?"
"That was the plan," Marcie forced a smile on her face while applying mascara. "But then Avery came over - "
"No," Gemma shook her head. "Absolutely not. We are not going out with Avery."
"But the entire wedding party will be there! And I already got ready. Come on, Gemma. I know you don't necessarily want to hangout around Avery or Rowan. But think of it this way -- we are going to be at a packed bar. We probably won't see much of them if we do our own thing. Plus, we haven't been out in so long. I'm dying to go! We can watch American Horror Story anytime. Who knows when we will get this chance to go out again!"
Gemma rolled her eyes. She did not want to admit it, but Marcie was right. Given her mission to avoid Rowan and Avery, and wedding planning at all costs -- Marcie did make a good point. They were most likely going to one of the many college bars downtown, which were always busy no matter the day. For a Monday night, Gemma knew she would be able to avoid the entire wedding if she tried hard enough.
"Fine," she rolled her eyes, giving in. Marcie squealed and hugged Gemma, before finishing getting ready.
"I already picked out your outfit,"
"You did not," Gemma laughed.
"I did! I was bored when I was waiting for you to get off work." Marcie said while she revealed Gemma's outfit for the night. It was an outfit she left back in Michigan, and as she eyed the bright yellow tube top and white mini skirt, Gemma was not sure if the clothes from years ago would even fit her.
"Marcie..." Gemma held the outfit up to her. "I don't know about this."
"Just try it on," Gemma's best friend rolled her eyes. "You'll be fine."
To Gemma's surprise, Marcie was right. The tube top fit perfectly, and although the mini skirt was somewhat tight, it was not too bad. Plus, after a few drinks, Gemma would likely forget about the tight clothing covering her body.
As soon as the outfit covered Gemma's body and a thin layer of makeup covered her facial features, the two were ready to go. Olivia offered to be their designated driver for the night, since she had nothing going on, on this Monday night.
Olivia pulled up to the same bar Gemma and Marcie went to all those weeks ago, before all this wedding stuff was set in stone. The same bar Gemma ran into Rowan at. The same bar Marcie made out with a random guy at.
"Hey," Olivia rolled down the window once Gemma and Marcie were standing just outside the car. "Don't get roofied this time."
"I won't," Gemma put her hands up in defense. She did not plan on accepting a drink from anyone, aside from the bartender. Hypothetically speaking, if Gemma were to get roofied again, at least the one person who could calm her down would be there.
Gemma pushed this thought into the back of her mind as she and Marcie entered the packed college bar. It did not take long to spot Avery, Miranda and Peyton, who were standing at the bar next to Caleb and Jonah -- Rowan's other groomsmen. Gemma did not question why Rowan or Wes were nowhere to be seen; they likely had not arrived yet.
"Gemma! Marcie!" Avery smiled, her soberness obvious. "So glad you could make it on such short notice,"
"Yep," was all Gemma said. She desperately needed a vodka cranberry, or two, if she was going to survive the next couple hours. Miranda rolled her eyes at Gemma who ordered four drinks -- two for her, and two for Marcie.
"Take a picture," Marcie sarcastically yelled over the rap music playing throughout the bar. "It lasts longer."
Instead of replying, Miranda walked away with a fresh drink in hand, towards the crowded dance floor where Avery and Peyton now stood.
"What is with her?" Marcie said in between sips of vodka and cranberry juice.
Gemma shrugged. "She probably thinks I'm trying to take Avery back as my best friend."
"Like that will ever happen," Marcie almost choked on her drink from laughing.
"Right!" Gemma shook her head, noticing that Miranda, even from the dance floor, was still giving her a dirty look.
"Let's go dance," Marcie grinned as she downed her second drink. Gemma was not even finished with her first one, but needed to keep up with Marcie somehow. The alcohol burned as it glided down her throat, though she kept chugging anyways.
An early two thousands pop song started blaring throughout the speakers. Gemma immediately started screaming to the lyrics, while Marcie did the same. As she danced and felt the alcohol settling into her system, Gemma forgot about all her worries. For a moment, she forgot about all the wedding stuff, and the weird feelings she'd been feeling lately. Gemma had not been feeling like herself, likely due to burning herself out at Target, though in that moment while she danced with Marcie, she forgot it all. She let loose, letting the alcohol and music take her.
"We need more drinks." Marcie called over the music, and Gemma didn't deny it. She was already drunk from devouring two tall vodka cranberries, but figured more alcohol couldn't hurt.
So when Marcie came back over with four shot glasses and handed two of them to Gemma, she did not hesitate before chugging the clear liquid. Gemma did not like tequila, though as it traveled down her esophagus, the taste did not bother her like it usually did.
Different genres of music played throughout the packed bar. Gemma sang loudly to the songs she knew, and danced to the ones she didn't. After awhile, she completely forgot that she was here for Avery and her bridal party night out.
That is, until Wesley joined Gemma and Marcie on the dance floor.
"Wesley!" Gemma screamed, drunkenly throwing her arms around Rowan's brother.
"Hey, Gems." He spoke loudly so Gemma could hear him, since the music was loud.
"What brings you here?" Gemma drunkenly asked, but then remembered. "Oh wait,"
"I was practically dragged here by Avery," Wes rolled his eyes.
"I was dragged here by Marcie," Gemma eyed her best friend who was still dancing, who had not even noticed Wesley yet.
"Hey, gives us an excuse to get drunk!" Wes laughed, rising his empty glass. "Wanna dance?"
"Hell yeah!" Gemma yelled as an old Paramore song blared throughout the bar's speakers.
In the time that the song had played, the bar somehow became more packed. Gemma was practically shoulder to shoulder with the random strangers on the dance floor. She noticed the bar itself was not as packed, which encouraged her to get another drink. Though before she had the chance to walk over there, Marcie came strolling back with more shots in hand. She and Gemma each took two, which they both would likely regret later.
Gemma was passed the point of intoxication. After four shots and two tall vodka cranberries and little food in her system â Gemma did not trust what kind of things she was going to do or say while this intoxicated.
So when her arms found their way around Wesley's neck who she was dancing with, she didn't question it. He was absolutely trashed as well â thus he did not question why his brothers' ex had her arms around him, with her face alarmingly close to his.
The two stayed that way for two more songs. It was hard to move with all the bodies standing around them, so when a slower song blared throughout the bar, Gemma did what her drunken mind was telling her to do.
She started closing the space between her and Wesley. Though just before she could do something she was going to regret, she felt an arm forcefully pull her away.
"Gemma, what the fuck are you doing!" An angry voice said. It took Gemma a second to focus back into reality, given her drunkenness was making it difficult to see what was in front of her.
Though when she locked eyes with an angry looking Rowan, Gemma realized what she had almost just done.
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a/n: oooo drama
i love drunk gemma and marcie lol