‹ Prequel: Everything I'm Not
Love's Requiem
Swamped
“Let’s fucking see it!” Jack shouted as Alex and I walked off the elevator.
“What is this everyone fucking knew?” I shouted laughing, as I was group hugged by Jack, and Vinny.
“You think I said no to the aquarium by free will?” Vinny laughed. “Congrats Belly.” He smiled.
“You know Jack I think I have to take you to BFFF court.” I told him as we all went in Vinny and Jack’s room where everyone else was.
“What did I do now?” Jack asked throwing an arm around my shoulders.
“Have you learned nothing from all those sleepovers where we watched the Nanny? You’re supposed to tell me when Mr. Sheffield was planning to propose!”
“But that was Niles, I thought I was Val?” Jack said confused.
“Well you’re both!”
“Jack did Bella turn you gay?” Vinny joked. “First Glee, now you’re watching the Nanny?”
“Quality television programming.” I told him sticking my tongue out.
The whole tour went out to dinner that night to celebrate Alex and I getting engaged. And once we got back to the hotel that night we decided to call our parents and tell them. Well actually I was, his parents already knew.
“I know, unlike Niko he called me and asked me.” My dad told me on the phone while we were talking.
“What?”
“He called me last night, and did you know he wanted to ask you right before you both ended it. Only that time he actually came over and asked me in person.”
“How come you never said anything?” I asked him.
“I thought he told you, well anyway I’m happy for you both, now I’ve gotta head to work.”
“Bye dad, love you.” I told him.
“Love you too.” He said hanging up.
“So what was that all about?” Alex asked.
“He said congrats, and explained that you actually asked him both times if it was okay?” I said as I got in to bed.
“Hey I had to do something to get him to not hate me for being from the U.K and not Croatia.”
“If I was you I’d hold off on the begin English thing.” I told him uneasily. “Euro cup qualifying this year… not pretty.” I told him shaking my head.
“So how are we going to do this?”
“Do what?”
“Plan a wedding in three months.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked confused.
“Well I was thinking we get married before you start to show, and then tell your family you got pregnant on our honeymoon.”
“We’re touring non-stop we have no time to take a honey moon until the fall.”
“Like they’ll know.” He smirked.
“Well I guess it could work.”
“I know it could, so let’s get cracking.” He smiled grabbing my laptop.
“New York or Baltimore?” Alex asked me the following evening while we were at the Venue.
“Well, um I kind of always wanted to get married in the same church my parents and grandparents did in Zagreb.” I said shyly, “Specially since my Baka can’t really travel
anymore.”
“Two weddings.” He said simply.
“I’m sorry?” I asked confused.
“One there, one here, there will just be family, here will be everyone who can make it.”
“How the heck can we afford that?”
“Trust me, we can afford it.” He assured me.
“For a couple that’s been apart for 8 months we’re sure moving fast.” I said shaking my head.
Two days later we were on a flight back to Baltimore.
“You know, maybe you’re possessed like the chick in the exorcist.” Vinny told me as I came back from throwing up in the bathroom while we were on the flight.
“Been there done that, when I was 11 I threw up communion wine on the nativity scene outside the church on Christmas Eve. I had the whole Dugo Selo village praying for me, and throwing holy water on me including my own aunts and Baka!”
“This is probably why you listen to so much Metal, you’re the anti Christ.” He teased as I stuck my tongue out.
“You suck.” I mumbled falling back asleep in my seat for the rest of the ride.
Of course the day after we got back, my parents were coming to visit so us, and Alex’s parents could all have dinner and talk about the wedding.
“My baba says ginger is the best thing for it, or like get hard candies.” Michi told me over the phone that morning while I was making lunch for everybody.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, she said that at the first signs of feeling like you’re going to barf you pop a candy in
your mouth and you’ll be fine. I’m pretty sure they make ginger ones if you can’t find any I’ll ship some to you.”
“I’ll check the stores today.” I told her.
“Relax bitch, I can’t believe you’re getting married before me even though I’ve already been engaged longer than you and to the same person!” She teased.
“You’re not pregnant are you?”
“No, no that’s where I paid attention in school.” She said making me laugh.
“I’ll tell you how it goes tonight, take care of yourself.” I told her as I hung up.
“So?” Alex asked.
“Apparently ginger,” I shrugged.
We had spent the morning trying to figure out how to prevent me from getting sick in front of our parents so I wouldn’t give anything away about me being pregnant. We had all our bases covered, sparkling grape juice for me if they want to celebrate with wine. And now I was sending Alex on a wild goose chase for anything ginger I could eat. He left while I continued cooking, I was making stuffed peppers, and meat burek. And it was mainly because I woke up having the worst craving for burek this morning.
“What is this everyone fucking knew?” I shouted laughing, as I was group hugged by Jack, and Vinny.
“You think I said no to the aquarium by free will?” Vinny laughed. “Congrats Belly.” He smiled.
“You know Jack I think I have to take you to BFFF court.” I told him as we all went in Vinny and Jack’s room where everyone else was.
“What did I do now?” Jack asked throwing an arm around my shoulders.
“Have you learned nothing from all those sleepovers where we watched the Nanny? You’re supposed to tell me when Mr. Sheffield was planning to propose!”
“But that was Niles, I thought I was Val?” Jack said confused.
“Well you’re both!”
“Jack did Bella turn you gay?” Vinny joked. “First Glee, now you’re watching the Nanny?”
“Quality television programming.” I told him sticking my tongue out.
The whole tour went out to dinner that night to celebrate Alex and I getting engaged. And once we got back to the hotel that night we decided to call our parents and tell them. Well actually I was, his parents already knew.
“I know, unlike Niko he called me and asked me.” My dad told me on the phone while we were talking.
“What?”
“He called me last night, and did you know he wanted to ask you right before you both ended it. Only that time he actually came over and asked me in person.”
“How come you never said anything?” I asked him.
“I thought he told you, well anyway I’m happy for you both, now I’ve gotta head to work.”
“Bye dad, love you.” I told him.
“Love you too.” He said hanging up.
“So what was that all about?” Alex asked.
“He said congrats, and explained that you actually asked him both times if it was okay?” I said as I got in to bed.
“Hey I had to do something to get him to not hate me for being from the U.K and not Croatia.”
“If I was you I’d hold off on the begin English thing.” I told him uneasily. “Euro cup qualifying this year… not pretty.” I told him shaking my head.
“So how are we going to do this?”
“Do what?”
“Plan a wedding in three months.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked confused.
“Well I was thinking we get married before you start to show, and then tell your family you got pregnant on our honeymoon.”
“We’re touring non-stop we have no time to take a honey moon until the fall.”
“Like they’ll know.” He smirked.
“Well I guess it could work.”
“I know it could, so let’s get cracking.” He smiled grabbing my laptop.
“New York or Baltimore?” Alex asked me the following evening while we were at the Venue.
“Well, um I kind of always wanted to get married in the same church my parents and grandparents did in Zagreb.” I said shyly, “Specially since my Baka can’t really travel
anymore.”
“Two weddings.” He said simply.
“I’m sorry?” I asked confused.
“One there, one here, there will just be family, here will be everyone who can make it.”
“How the heck can we afford that?”
“Trust me, we can afford it.” He assured me.
“For a couple that’s been apart for 8 months we’re sure moving fast.” I said shaking my head.
Two days later we were on a flight back to Baltimore.
“You know, maybe you’re possessed like the chick in the exorcist.” Vinny told me as I came back from throwing up in the bathroom while we were on the flight.
“Been there done that, when I was 11 I threw up communion wine on the nativity scene outside the church on Christmas Eve. I had the whole Dugo Selo village praying for me, and throwing holy water on me including my own aunts and Baka!”
“This is probably why you listen to so much Metal, you’re the anti Christ.” He teased as I stuck my tongue out.
“You suck.” I mumbled falling back asleep in my seat for the rest of the ride.
Of course the day after we got back, my parents were coming to visit so us, and Alex’s parents could all have dinner and talk about the wedding.
“My baba says ginger is the best thing for it, or like get hard candies.” Michi told me over the phone that morning while I was making lunch for everybody.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, she said that at the first signs of feeling like you’re going to barf you pop a candy in
your mouth and you’ll be fine. I’m pretty sure they make ginger ones if you can’t find any I’ll ship some to you.”
“I’ll check the stores today.” I told her.
“Relax bitch, I can’t believe you’re getting married before me even though I’ve already been engaged longer than you and to the same person!” She teased.
“You’re not pregnant are you?”
“No, no that’s where I paid attention in school.” She said making me laugh.
“I’ll tell you how it goes tonight, take care of yourself.” I told her as I hung up.
“So?” Alex asked.
“Apparently ginger,” I shrugged.
We had spent the morning trying to figure out how to prevent me from getting sick in front of our parents so I wouldn’t give anything away about me being pregnant. We had all our bases covered, sparkling grape juice for me if they want to celebrate with wine. And now I was sending Alex on a wild goose chase for anything ginger I could eat. He left while I continued cooking, I was making stuffed peppers, and meat burek. And it was mainly because I woke up having the worst craving for burek this morning.