The wedding. Finally. Not my own, of course. Science and love doesn't mix.
No, the wedding is one we all knew would happen, even at PCA.
It seems such a long time ago. In truth it's only six years since we left. I really miss the place. No other school I was at accepted me. Before I went to PCA I'd been expelled from several other schools. While I was the best student in science and maths my habit for blowing things like laboratories up meant that I wasn't too popular.
I didn't make many friends at my other schools. They called me a 'spaz' and a 'freak'. And I knew that it was only a matter of time before I had to switch schools again so I didn't make friends, because I knew I'd have to say goodbye to them and I hate goodbyes.
When I left PCA I thought it wasn't goodbye. My best friends would stay with me forever, and our friendship would last. I thought we'd always be friends, always. How wrong I was.
We drifted apart. The frequent video phone calls became less frequent. From more than two a week, to one a fortnight, to one a month, to one every six months.
The six of us drifted so far apart. Except Chase and Zoey of course.
A letter announcing their wedding with the request to be a bridesmaid arrived today. Of course I'll accept. I wouldn't miss this for the world. It would be like refusing a Nobel Prize.
We always knew they'd get married. They were perfect for each other and we all knew he was in love with her from the moment he saw her.
I'm just surprised they waited so long. We all thought they would get engaged before they left PCA and married the summer after we graduated. None of us thought they would wait six years. I've been waiting for this letter since we left.
Zoey says it's going to be a bit of a reunion. None of us have met in person since we split for college. That was a sad day; I was leaving for Yale, Lola for Julliard, Michael for UCLA, Zoey and Chase for the University of Toronto of all places, and Logan went to Princeton. We said it wouldn't be the end. We said we'd see each other again, despite being spread out across the country and, for the engaged couple, Canada.
We had that last summer after graduation together. We all went away to Logan's beach house and we enjoyed ourselves.
Logan. I was dating him back then. We'd been dating in senior year and through that summer vacation. Because of our contrasting personalities we'd had to keep the relationship secret until he declared his love for me at the prom.
We had a last, glorious, fun-filled summer together, the six of us. Friends together. We had parties, barbeques on the beach, larks in the pool and, in general, a good time.
But like all good things it had to end. And although neither of us said anything at first, Logan and I knew that the parting of the gang would also mean that we would have to part. I loved him, and I love him still in my own way. He made me feel special in a way that no other boy had. Or has, ever since.
Love and science don't mix. I've tried to date my classmates at Yale but all relationships ended fairly rapidly once we disagreed on scientific points. After a while I gave up and dedicated my life to my work.
Sounds sad I know, but what else could I do? I'm Quinn Pensky. I wish I could be different but I tried that at PCA when Mark dumped me and as Logan pointed out; it didn't work for me. I am who I am.
Zoey always used to say that if a guy couldn't handle you at your worst then he didn't deserve you at your best, and I think she's right. She's always right. It's a bit annoying really.
No one has managed to get close to me since Logan. I haven't let them. He knew me better than my own parents. And for all his stupidity he understood me.
Oh Einstein! I'm going to have to see him! He's bound to be one of Chase's best men at the wedding.
Our relationship didn't end well. We knew we'd have to part ways but he wasn't ready to break up. He wanted to fight for us. I had to be the voice of reason. Long distance never works. True, it wasn't a great distance, not like Michael from the rest of us, but still I know what he's like. Even if he did love me, the strain of being monogamous, with me being hundreds of miles away from him, would have got too much for him. He would have cheated on me, a lot.
There's only two things I can't stand happening to me; being called a spaz, and being betrayed.
We had a long and messy break up. I hated every second of it. He actually cried when he realised that there was no hope in trying to save us. That broke my heart more than anything.
As much as I hated it I knew it would have to happen. I knew that even we wouldn't last at long distance.
He wanted me to go to Princeton with him, but unlike him my parents aren't millionaires. He offered to pay for me to go there but they didn't offer the sort of course I wanted to do.
I had to make my head overrule what my heart was trying to tell me. I had to be sensible and think of the future.
But I am meandering off topic. The wedding. A big ballroom deal, black tie. And it's in three weeks. I bet Zoey's freaking out about it. She sounds like she is in the letter. She sounds quite frazzled by the whole affair.
I bet it hasn't bothered Chase. Not that the groom ever matters in the planning of his own wedding. People think it's 50/50 but it's really more like 90/10 in favour of the bride. And he's so laid back anyway he won't be fussed.