Bride Wars

Alanna’s POV

This is the story of how I totally destroyed my ex-best friend’s wedding.

In all fairness, she ruined mine too. I suppose it was only Karma.

Do you know that one friendship everyone always thinks is going to stand the test of time, but then suddenly it just fades? Those two inseperable people, a dynamic duo they would call it, who makes it seem like they are each other’s sibling since people can barely tell them apart since they were always together anyway?

That was what I thought my friendship with Anna was going to be like. I thought we were going to be like those friends in Romcom movies or Sitcoms who always get together at the end of the day to complain about a hate-to-love relationship with a boss or give pep talks about getting a promotion, while enjoying a round of drinks.

This even though I can’t stand alchohol and well, I didn’t exactly know what kind of job I wanted at the time.

Anyway, I thought she was going to be the one I go to talk to for relationship advice when I meet The One. We’d be each other’s Monica and Rachel. Become roommates when we both finally go work in some big city. Figure out life and what we want to do together, as best friends.

And finally, be each other’s maid of honor at each our weddings...

What a load of crap.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

See. there were three things concerning weddings that I always knew for for certain that I had consistently wanted since I was little girl. Apart from having a wedding at all, of course.

Number one, the long walk down the aisle.

It witnessed a lot of weddings as a kid, since I came from a huge family with a lot of older marriage-able female cousins and a particular aunt who’s a popular town dresmaker. I remember it was always such a big deal to everyone, that moment when the door at the back of the church opens and everyone hushes, standing in expectation, as suddenly the bride appears from a great bright light. She would seem to drift into the hallowed halls, in a perfect pearlescent gown, as if an angel herself.

Everyone would be looking at her in amazement.

And then, at the other side of it all...

Number two, which should really be number three but in my little girl list I had almost always imagined what he would be like as instantly so it was impossible to leave him for last--the groom. The love of my life. Or would be.

Someone handsome, for sure, charming, and intelligent, like a fairytale prince to sing duets with, or that would make young me understand why anime characters have hearts in their eyes at the sight of that one person. Someone that was just for me.

Needless to say, you can probably already tell romcoms and romance novels are a staple for me. It’s my bread and butter and almost what I grew up hearing everyone talk about since another aunt of mine happened to be a self-proclaimed ‘fortune-teller’ slash ‘matchmaker’. I had a lot of aunts too.

But another thing they showed me is that behind all great romances, are the supporting cast of gal pals. The supportive friends who consistently still visit my aunts and cousins and chatter about the large cramped house, long after weddings have passed, honeymoons and babies were announced.

So, in my dream wedding, I would walk towards my special someone and then would glimpse among the pews the one person who would have helped me get this far. My fairygodmother, my confidant, my best friend.

Someone who would have been there with me through thick and thin.

But nobody told me keeping a best friend was more complicated than making one, especially for me, Ms. Introverted and socially awkward. So let’s start at the beginning.

It happened so long ago, that maybe it shouldn’t even matter anymore. Whatever right?

The year was 2012...

“I can’t take this pining anymore,” I exagerated a sigh. “Troy doesn’t even see me, like at all. What made me think I could get noticed?”

“Because you’re a special person, Aly,” Anna said, her voice firm. “And one way or another special people get noticed!”

“What’s so special about me? You’re the one who’s top of the whole class, heck the whole college even!” I tried to keep my voice into a whisper, but it came out as a hiss. Though, I don’t mean it.

We were in one of the aisles of the library, looking for cheesy romance books that some of other student publication students would have judged us for.

“Nobody would even take me seriously at the student publication because I can’t write the news their way!” I leaned against a shelf, trying to reach up as I spoke. “They all just act like I never applied to be a writer and just give me all the proofreading tasks. Not to mention, the professor-in-charge keeps judging me and my interests. I write too much fluff, he says, and flowery words. I’m not cut out to be a Jouranalist.”

The last bit made me want to punch the bookcase, but a few people passed by that made me stop.

“Anyway, I’m not surprised that when Troy bumped into us, he only saw you,” I continued, “and acted like I wasn’t there.”

“He didn’t notice you because he’s an idiot. You deserve better anyway.” Anna’s eyes rolled beneath the glint of her glasses.

“Yeah, well,” I said, pushing my own glasses. “It’s not that I’m too into Troy anymore after that. He may be a jerk but you can’t deny he ignored me because I’m nobody special.”

“But you are special!” She shook me in one arm exasperatedly as if one good shake is what I needed. “You have to give yourself more credit. Excert more effort.”

“That’s the thing though. I don’t like putting a lot of effort into things I don’t feel inspired about and I’d much rather have the freedom to write what I do and what I want than to conform.” I tilted my head and considered. “So maybe school paper wasn’t such a good idea. Writing the news comes with so many boring rules.”

I had a lot of complaints back then, and was really acting like a sore loser so I continued, “And because I hate boring rules, I never really qualify for the writing contests and thus the student publication never has a reason to be proud of me.”

“Well, those contests aren’t all that,” Anna said with a little shrug. “You know, I’m an introvert too. So I get what you mean. It’s hard to get out there when you’re not really into it.”

“Yeah, but you’re good at adjusting in order to fit in. Other people actually want to be close to you.”

“Ah, but that’s only because I’m good at faking it.” Anna winked. “Fake it til’ you make it, you know?”

I laughed at that.

“Troy isn’t really worth it. If he’s the kind of guy who only talks to people he thinks are achieving great things, he’ll totally miss out on meeting people with potential. Or just generally meeting good and kind people who are great under the radar.”

“So, maybe I’m a late bloomer?”

“And a really funny person. A fun person to be with. He’s missing out.”

“Yeah, because who wouldn’t want a clown as his girlfriend?”

“Trust me, you’ll meet someone perfect for you and I’ll be there when it happens. Rooting for you.”

“Thanks.” I really smiled right then. “I know you would. And then we can plan a double wedding when you find your someone and then we can live in lofts next to each other!”

“Right?” Anna laughed. “And we could also travel the world and--”

“Co-author romance novels together! We’ll be famous authors of books for young women!”

“Yes! Exactly!”

“Hey, maybe our books will be adapted into streaming service series and then we’ll get into interviews!”

“Ooh! You know what, I just thought my husband will be like all adventerous and chivalrous. That way he’ll be fun to travel the world with--”

“Mine’s a talented guy. A guy whos totally passionate and caring and...and who sings!” I said, a little too loudly.

“We’ll have to find them someday!”

Of course, instead of a fairy to grant those wishes our voices and giggles were loud enough to get the attention of the librarian, who actually hissed at us.

“Could you ladies keep it down? This is a library not some premiere night at a movie house!”

We had it coming though, we were being silly. I certainly was.

Looking back, I knew I sounded petty and annyoying. But cut me some slack, I was, like, what, 17? I was young and, if I had to admit, really selfish with my words. I knew it sounded as if I was accusing Anna of being better than me at fitting in at school. Like it was her fault, when really I was just really lazy and maybe wasn’t aiming for the things I really had to be looking for at the time.

It wasn’t, though. And that was my fatal flaw.

I’d like to think I’m so much less whiny now.

At least I hoped.

Maybe I played a big part on why we drifted the way we did.

Because seasons change and people change. I know this by now.

Now, I just want to pretend that Anna and I had never been friends at all.

Author’s Note:

Thank you for reading the first chapter of this Drama/Romcom story. As a side note, I want to mention that Alanna was made intentionally whiny in the 2012 to show some of her negative traits beforehand. I promise she gets better as the story progresses.