BTW: I do not own anything in this story, except the plot.

"You are going to be in Officer Borsch's wedding?!" Marissa said, her face in pure disbelief.

"Weird, isn't it?" I teased. It was weird actually. I couldn't blame Marissa for freaking out the way she was. Me, in a wedding, for the man who used to think of me as a juvenile delinquent? It was a really strange.

"You do know that you have to wear a dress, right?" Marissa asked, eyeing me with a knowing smirk attached to her face.

"Yes, Marissa, I know. That is why I jetted off yesterday; I had to give Debra my size."

"Wow! I need to see this! You in a dress, walking down the aisle…well hey, I can see that in about ten years!" Marissa giggled. I just rolled my eyes at her while my heart fluttered sporadically.

I had only recently admitted to myself that I liked Casey Acosta. It happened at Marissa's cousin's pool party. Of course Casey wore swim trunks and looked—I can't even describe him at all that day. The day after the party we probably would have kissed, or I'm just getting my hopes up, but I was dressed up like an old lady. Anyway, we have almost kissed several times, but I was never ready. I am now, just as the summer is ending and he's going off to the big kids.

Yep, I'm, crushing on a ninth grader. He's not just any ninth grader, like Danny. He's Casey for goodness sakes!

"Sammy?! Are you still with me?" Marissa waved her hand in front of my face.

"Yeah, let's go!" I pushed off my skateboard, flying towards the mall.

Marissa and I were just hanging out, like always. We actually ran into one of our other best friends, Dot. It was out of place to see Dot since she lived all the way in Sisquane. Of course, we saw Casey all the time in Santa Martina, but that's a little different. He's practically an only child since he only lives with his dad. Dot has a huge family that she always has to take care of, but today her parents were home and let her hit the streets of Santa Martina.

Anyway, we called Holly, our other best friend, and we cruised the mall for awhile, hanging out, laughing like friends do. As we did this we passed a wedding store. My mind was focused on my friends and how much fun we were having when someone stuck their head outside the wedding store and called my name.

"Sammy? Can you come here a second?" It was Debra, the 911 operator for Santa Martina Police Department and Sergeant Borsch's fiancée.

"Uh, OK, but I don't think you'll want my input on your dress," I said. Debra laughed and smiled at me.

"Gil told me he forgot to tell you something about the wedding—"

"He told me everything I think. I know when it is, when I should meet you here to be fitted, where the wedding is, where and when the rehearsal dinner is. What else should I know?" I was confused. Debra was looking a little anxious.

"Well, everyone in the wedding party is bringing someone with them. You are one of the youngest in the party so—well, Gil and I would feel more comfortable if you invited a friend to come with you. There will be some dancing and Gil mentioned a boy that you know. Maybe you could ask him to come with you? You'd have much more fun with a friend. We would love for you to stay for the reception, maybe make a toast—not that you have to. Sammy, are you alright?" Debra finally ended her explanation and I felt like I was drowning.

Me? Ask Casey if he'd like to take me to a wedding? Were Borsch and Debra out of their mind?! I mean I like him, but really, I'll be wearing a dress! And dancing!! I didn't even go to the Farewell Dance in a dress! I got to wear my everyday clothes with my high-tops!

"Yeah, I'll—I'll see what I can do," I stuttered awkwardly to Debra.

"OK, Sammy, you don't have to. It's just an idea. Oh, if you do invite your friend can you let me know by Friday? That's when we are finishing up the guest seating chart," And with that Debra rushed back into the wedding store.

I breathed in and out heavily, wondering why me. I had no idea how I could ask Casey to go to a wedding…with me. I slowly turned around, barely remembering my friends who were now inside some random teen scene store. I didn't help Marissa and Dot look at clothes. I just slumped down into one of the chairs, wondering what in the world I could do.

"Sammy?! What's wrong?" Dot asked, sounding anxious.

"Nothing!" I stammered too quickly, too loudly.

"Uh-huh. What did Debra want?" Marissa asked.

"Nothing, just wedding details," I said too quickly again.

"You look nervous Sammy," Holly threw in. She was sitting next to me, looking worried like the others. I glanced at my friends, and then at a mirror hanging from a dressing room door. My face did look panicked, like I had just witnessed some crime. For goodness sakes, I had faced far worse than asking a boy to a wedding—oh wait, no I hadn't. I just couldn't do it. As much as I wanted to I couldn't ask Casey to the wedding.

"OK, Debra told me I should ask one of my friends to come to the wedding with me," I began. Marissa, Holly and Dot just nodded, not catching my drift. I sighed and continued: "Borsch told her, very little, about Casey. She thinks I should ask him."

Their reaction was predictable. Dot and Marissa squealed. Even Holly beamed. They knew, somehow in their best friend way, that I cared about Casey, more than I used to. Or more than I had tried to convince myself in the past.

"You so should Sammy!" Marissa said, clutching my arm.

"That is perfect!! Do you think—wow! He would say yes and you know it!" Dot said encouragilly.

"That's a good idea Sammy. Now, here's my question: how do you plan to ask him?" Holly threw in my exact worry.

"I have no idea. I'm so nervous!" I said, my eyes darting back and forth.

"We'd coach you or whatever to help you, but you only have so much time. The wedding is in two weeks! And you barely see him!" Dot said, trying to reassure me and failing. I glared at her. She smiled weakly and shrugged. Dot was right. The summer was almost over and once school started who knew what Casey's schedule would be. As I brooded over this inconvient fact Marissa, Dot and Holly shrieked.

"What?" I said, faintly annoyed, especially at Holly.

"Look!" They cried. There, standing not even 50 feet away was Casey, by himself, checking out a sunglasses counter.

"No, no, no, no. I can't do it now," I moaned in nervousness. Marissa bit her lip. Dot nodded at me and Holly raised her eyebrows, challenging me. "OK, OK. I'll go and at least talk to him and maybe, maybe ask him."

I rose from my chair, shaking all over as I slowly walked out of the store and over to the sunglasses station. Casey was just glancing at the display it seemed like. I sucked in my breath and said: "Isn't it a little late in the season to be buying sunglasses?"

"Sammy! Hey! What's up?" Casey spun around, looking falsely surprised, but glad to see me. More than glad actually. He looked ecstatic; a huge grin had spread across his face.

"You knew I was here didn't you?" I asked sarcastically, disapproval coloring my tone.

"Yeah. I saw you guys go into the store. Now, the question should be why did you come out here alone? Do they not want to hang out with me?" Casey asked, teasing me. I blushed a little, remembering why I was out there talking to him.

"No…they wanted to shop," I lied badly.

"Uh-huh, they look like they are shopping," Casey said skeptically. He nodded in my friend's direction. I turned around to see their eyes glued to us talking. I rolled my eyes.

"They are ditzs. What are you up to?"

"Nothing much. Just hanging out…all by myself."

"I noticed that. Where's Danny or Billy?" I looked around, trying to see if Billy was clowning around on the other side of the booth.

"Vacation. What about you?" This was it, I told myself. Tell him about the wedding. I took a small breath to steady my nerves. I suddenly started shaking. I shifted my weight, hoping, praying, Casey wouldn't notice.

"I was just talking to Debra, the police office operator, about her wedding."

"Oh, who's she marrying?" Casey asked out of polite curiosity. I knew then I had to get to the point.

"Sergeant Borsch. They asked me to be their bridesmaid." That got Casey's attention.

"Seriously? You know that you have to wear a—" Casey laughed as I finished his sentence.

"Dress? Yeah, I know. Anyway, she was telling me that since everyone at the wedding will be, you know, adults, I should invite a friend."

"Oh. Yeah. That would make the wedding more fun. Who're thinking of inviting?" Casey all of a sudden got uncomfortable. He shifted his feet and this whole time we had kept eye contact, but then he broke it.

"Um, I'm really nervous about it—"My heart tightened and my palms were sweating.

"Why?" Casey looked back at me, worry and confusion filling his expression. This time I focused more on his eyes—his brown eyes.

"Uh, because, because—" I shifted my feet again, my eyes darting around again. Casey looked at me curiously as he tried to decipher my actions.

"Sammy?" He said after a minute of my nervous glances, "are you trying to ask me to go to the wedding with you?" I bit my lip and nodded sheepishly. I chanced a look at him. He was trying to hide his smile, but as soon as he saw me make eye contact with him his whole face lit up as he read the sincerity of my nervousness.

"Well, for starters, when is the wedding?" Casey asked, a smile lighting up his whole face. I breathed steadily and said: "September first at the Santa Martina Inn at seven pm."

"That could work. It's good you asked me before school. The fall play doesn't start auditions till the day after that. Now, I know I can say I'd love to go with you, but I need to see if I can find something to wear…" He trailed off and I shook my head, trying to clear my ears.

"You do know that I am wearing a dress, right?" I said, barely believing my ears. Casey Acosta said he'd love to go to the wedding with me!

"Yeah. I wouldn't want to miss that," Casey locked eyes with me and chuckled as I turned bright red.

"Thanks Casey."

"So that's why they didn't come over and why they are watching?" Casey asked, looking again at my wacko friends.

"Yeah. They said now or never. I chose now."

"If I remember right I asked you what you wanted to ask," Casey teased, his eyes dancing. We had moved, subconsciously, closer.

"Oh, that's only because I had no idea what you'd say or—or--," He was getting closer and so was I. This was it, I thought, we were finally going to kiss. I was finally ready for it; I was clean and I liked Casey…a lot. Our eyes were locked onto each other's and then a little kid came running and screaming past us. We both snapped to reality. Then Casey laughed, stepped closer to me and whispered in my ear: "How about we save that for later? Maybe even the wedding. I'll call you later once I find proper clothes."

Casey then grabbed my hand, squeezed it and stepped back, winked at me and walked off, not before checking over his shoulder to see me still standing there, a huge smile on my face and a singing heart.

"Sammy! What did he say?!" Marissa was at my side instantly, but just by expression she knew: Casey said yes.

Once I finally left the mall I went straight home, which was unlike me. I usually got sidetracked by some crime or whatever happened in Santa Martina. I flew home nonetheless. I told Grams about my day and how I was coerced into asking Casey to the wedding.

She knew I liked him too. How is that everyone else knew but me?

I listened to some music for awhile and read. I had all but forgot about Casey because the book I was reading had sucked me in. I was jolted off the couch when the phone rang loudly.

"Hello?" Grams said after the second ring. Her eyes lit up and she said: "No, she's right here." And she handed the phone to me.

"Hello?" I asked, having completely forgotten about the wedding and that Casey would call me.

"Hey Sammy," Casey said. I sat up straighter and smiled to myself.

"Hi. What's up?" I asked cheerfully, memories from that afternoon coming back to the surface.

"I found a suit to wear to the wedding so now I can definitely come, if you'd like me to. You never did ask me you know? I had to ask you," Casey teased.

"Hey! I did to ask you—in my own way. I was nervous. Can you blame me?" I got defensive real quickly.

"Yes. It's OK. I don't hold grudges against you very easily."

"Good. That would be bad, holding a grudge against me at a wedding where people dan—oh geez!"

"What?"

"There's dancing at wedding's isn't there?"

"Yeah, so? We had fun at the Farewell Dance. At least I did. I don't know about you…"

"No, that was a blast, but Casey, these are adults. We can't dance like that there."

"Don't worry. We don't have to dance the whole time. Plus, since it is a wedding which is a celebration of l—love the songs will mostly be slow ones."

"Oh." I said while my mind said a bigger OH in my mind. Another time when Casey had wanted to kiss me…now, he most likely would as we swayed together…moving closer and closer.

"Sorry about leaving like that earlier," Casey was apologizing for almost kissing me.

"Why are you sorry?" I was confused.

"Because that wasn't the best place to be having that kind of conversation," Casey said, sounding embarrassed. Instead of being embarrassed I surprised myself by saying: "So if I asked you somewhere else about the wedding…" I realized what I was about to say. Casey chuckled deeply, lightly. I blinked, wondering how a guy could affect me this much on the phone.

"Maybe, maybe not. So, I was thinking after we talked today that I haven't talked to you in ages. I wish I hadn't jetted off like that. What have you been up to since the pool party?"

I smiled happily, quietly to myself as I answered his question. We stayed on the phone for over an hour.

"And. We. Are—DONE! There you are Sammy Keyes, you're first ever dress!" Debra cried happily as the seamstress finished tugging here and there, making the dress fit perfectly. I looked over at Grams who beamed at me. I took a deep breath and turned to face myself in the mirror.

The dress was a v-neck cut in the front and a wavy trim. It was deep blue with an occasional winking, sparkling star. On first glance I thought is this me? The dress was floor length, hiding my shoes and legs. I shifted my foot and my high-tops were still covered. I couldn't believe it! I was wearing a dress and I didn't hate it!

I looked older, more like fourteen or even fifteen rather than a measly thirteen. I looked like someone who Casey would like. I had never noticed my appearance much, but I was right now. I liked it. I liked the dress. Now all I had to do was wait for the wedding.