C7 The Wedding

“You may kiss the bride.”

Chris leaned in and kissed Elizabeth as the room erupted into applause.

Sierra smiled as she watched them, clapping along with everyone else. Beside her, Samantha was practically beaming.

“They actually did it,” Samantha whispered.

Sierra glanced at her. “You sound surprised.”

“I am. I thought Elizabeth would change her mind at the altar.”

Sierra laughed under her breath.

“Please don't let her hear you.”

The newlyweds eventually made their way down the aisle, stopping every few seconds to greet people as they went.

By the time everyone moved toward the reception, the atmosphere had completely changed.

The formal ceremony was over. Music filled the room, people were laughing, and conversations overlapped from every direction.

Chris was surrounded by Peter and Alex.

“Congratulations, man,” Peter said, pulling Chris into a quick hug. “You actually survived.”

Chris laughed. “Barely.”

Alex shook his hand, smiling. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

Peter looked between Chris and Elizabeth. “So this means you're officially stuck with us now.”

Chris frowned. “What does that even mean?”

“You married her. We're part of the package.”

Alex laughed quietly.

“Don't listen to him.”

Peter placed a hand over his chest. “I'm being sincere.”

“No one asked you to be.”

The three of them laughed.

A little later, Samantha walked over to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth looked around.

“Where's the stuff I asked you to get?”

Samantha shrugged casually.

“I gave it to Sierra to get. She was closer.”

Elizabeth stared at her.

“You could've gotten it yourself.”

“I could have.”

“And yet?”

“And yet I didn't.”

Elizabeth shook her head, laughing.

“You've been doing this since we were kids.”

“Exactly. You should be used to me by now.”

Chris looked between them, amused.

“So you three have basically grown up together?”

Samantha nodded.

“Basically? We practically are sisters.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

“Unfortunately.”

Samantha smiled.

“You love me.”

“I tolerate you.”

“Same thing.”

Before Elizabeth could respond, Sierra appeared carrying the bag.

“Here.”

She handed it to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth took it with a smile. “Thank you.”

Sierra looked at Samantha.

“You owe me.”

Samantha gave her an innocent look.

“For what?”

“For making me go get your stuff.”

“You were closer.”

Sierra stared at her.

“That's your excuse?”

“It's a good one.”

Sierra laughed and shook her head.

Elizabeth smiled at the two of them before turning toward the men standing nearby.

“Oh, Sierra. You haven't met Chris's friends properly.”

She gestured toward Peter first.

“This is Peter.”

Peter gave Sierra an easy smile.

“Nice to finally meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

“And this is Alex.”

Sierra turned toward him.

Alex gave her a small nod.

“Sierra.”

“Alex.”

There was a brief pause.

“I know,” he said.

Sierra raised an eyebrow. “You know?”

“Elizabeth talks about you.”

She smiled.

“Hopefully good things.”

“Mostly.”

Sierra laughed.

“Mostly?”

Alex's expression remained calm, but there was the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.

“You don't talk much, do you?”

“I talk when there's something worth saying.”

Sierra tilted her head.

“That’s convenient.”

“How?”

“Because now if you don't talk, I can just assume nothing interesting is happening.”

For the first time, Alex actually laughed.

Peter glanced at Chris, clearly entertained.

Sierra smiled.

“There. See? You can laugh.”

“I never said I couldn't.”

“You just look like you don't.”

Alex looked at her for a moment.

“Are you always this curious?”

“Only when someone is interesting.”

That caught him slightly off guard.

Sierra noticed.

She smiled.

“You'll have to earn the answer.”

Alex let out a quiet laugh and shook his head.

Elizabeth looked between them.

“Should I leave you two alone?”

Sierra immediately looked at her.

“Elizabeth.”

“What?”

Samantha, standing nearby, simply smiled to herself.

Sierra gave her a look before turning back toward the others.

“I'll see you around.”

Alex nodded.

“Yeah.”

She walked away.

For a second, Alex watched her go.

Then, almost as if she felt it, Sierra glanced back.

Their eyes met.

Neither looked away immediately.

Then Sierra turned and disappeared into the crowd.

---

Later that evening, Alex sat with Chris and Peter at one of the tables, a drink resting in his hand.

Peter was halfway through telling a story from years ago, making Chris shake his head.

“You're leaving out half the story,” Chris said.

“Because the other half makes you look worse.”

Alex laughed.

Chris pointed at him.

“Don't encourage him.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“You laughed.”

Peter grinned.

“That counts.”

They continued talking, laughing over old memories while the music played around them.

A few minutes later, Sierra approached.

“Chris?”

Chris looked up.

“Yeah?”

Sierra glanced briefly at Alex before looking back at Chris.

“Can I borrow him for a second?”

Peter's eyebrows lifted.

Chris looked at Alex.

“Apparently you're being borrowed.”

Alex looked at Sierra.

“For what?”

“You'll find out.”

There was something about the casual confidence in her voice that made him smile.

He stood.

“Alright.”

Sierra stepped aside, letting him pass.

They walked toward the dance floor.

Alex glanced at her.

“So where are we going?”

“The dance floor.”

He looked at her.

“I don't dance.”

Sierra smiled.

“That's unfortunate.”

“Why?”

“Because I was hoping you did.”

Alex laughed.

“You could've just asked.”

“I did.”

She gave him a look.

“I asked to borrow you.”

He shook his head, amused.

The music was slower now, easy enough to follow without thinking too much about the steps.

Sierra moved with the rhythm while Alex followed, slightly stiff.

She looked at him.

“You really don't dance.”

“I told you.”

“I thought you were exaggerating.”

“I don't exaggerate.”

Sierra laughed.

“Right.”

Alex watched her for a moment.

“You seem very sure of yourself.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No.”

“Good.”

She smiled and turned slightly with the music.

Alex followed.

Sierra looked at him again.

“You're terrible.”

“I've been dancing for thirty seconds.”

“And you've already proven my point.”

He laughed.

“You're very honest.”

“You'll get used to it.”

Alex raised an eyebrow.

“That's assuming I'll see you again.”

Sierra looked at him for a second.

“Maybe you will.”

Before he could respond, a voice called from across the room.

“Sierra!”

She turned.

Elizabeth was standing near the other side of the dance floor, waving her over.

Sierra sighed softly.

“That's me.”

Alex nodded.

She started to walk away, then turned back.

“Try not to embarrass yourself while I'm gone.”

He smiled.

“No promises.”

Sierra laughed before heading toward Elizabeth.

Alex watched her for a moment before making his way back toward Chris and Peter.

And neither of them knew it yet, but that brief dance would become one of the memories neither of them would forget.