Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride
Tears are streaming down Lauren’s face while she watches Dylan and Kayla kiss each other for the first time as husband and wife. However, it is not the tears of joy that a woman would normally share at her younger sister’s wedding. Lauren is sobbing uncontrollably, which results in the other bridesmaids asking if she is alright. Lauren nods and grabs tissues from her purse to wipe away the tears. It is a beautiful day at Hotel Vitale. All of the wedding guests are gazing in awe at downtown San Francisco from the 50 foot rooftop.
Lauren stops crying as she begins to appreciate the spectacular view and sunny weather with her family. When the priest announces that it is time for Dylan and Kayla to take photos with the bride’s family, Lauren pulls Kayla to the side as the guests are assembling.
“I’m so happy for you, sweetie pie!” Lauren shouts while embracing her sister. “Dylan is an amazing guy. You two truly deserve each other.”
“Aw, stop it! You’re going to make me cry some more!”
“I always imagined this moment with both of us being married. Who knew that fortune teller would be right when she said you’d get married in your early ‘30s and I’d get married in my late ‘30s? At least she was right about you,” Lauren says while laughing.
“Oh, Lauren! Trust me, you’ll get married soon! The time will come when you least expect it,” Kayla says, giving her sister a reassuring look.
A benign smile forms on Lauren’s face. “You’re right. When you throw the bouquet at the reception, these bitches better be prepared because I’m knocking all of them down!”
Both women crack up and begin to line up with their family members to take photos. After they are finished posing, Kayla tells everyone to head to the reception downstairs. Lauren checks to see if anyone is looking and snatches a flask from her purse. She quickly runs to the bathroom and begins chugging her tequila as if she were at a college party. Lauren looks at herself in the mirror and starts to cry again. She wipes away her tears and slugs the tequila. Walking to the reception, Lauren discovers the open bar. She finds Kayla and the other bridesmaids drinking at the center table. Lauren grabs a platter filled with seven vodka shots, placing the drinks in front of them.
“Drink up, ladies!” Lauren shouts. “It’s party time!”
“Whoa, sis! I just took a shot. I’m fine right now. I’ll take one later. You’re the biggest lightweight out of everyone here! Be careful…” Kayla says, giggling.
“Oh baby sister, I feel fantastic! Don’t worry about me. Your hair looks so pretty right now. It looks better than mine.” Lauren sighs and turns to Kayla’s other bridesmaid, who is a hair stylist. “You’re definitely doing my hair for my 40th birthday party! It’s going to be awesome. Remember, it’s May 1st! Be sure to save the date.” Lauren winks while taking her vodka shot.
“We all know, silly. You sent us the invitations for your birthday party almost a year ago,” the bridesmaid says, laughing.
“Oh yeah, I forgot! I just want everyone to remember this important milestone in my life. Turning 40 is like turning 21 these days,” Lauren says after drinking the vodka shot that she grabbed for Kayla.
“Lauren, slow down! Pace yourself,” Kayla says with a serious look on her face. At that moment, Kayla began to think about her relationship with Lauren over the past year. Both sisters have always had a close relationship but Kayla felt that she started drifting away from Lauren the moment she became engaged. Lauren became the first person to know about Dylan’s proposal to Kayla and sent invitations for her 40th birthday celebration the next day. When Kayla sent her wedding invitations in periwinkle, Lauren said that periwinkle was “her” color with her last ex-boyfriend, Johnny. Kayla invited Lauren to many of her dress fittings but Lauren always gave an excuse of why could not attend. “She never wanted to see me in my wedding dress,” Kayla thinks to herself.
Kayla remembered the time when she and Lauren attended their family reunion in Cebu, Philippines twenty years ago. Most of their family members complimented Lauren for looking like a model in her red dress. “You must have all of the guys going after you, huh?” one aunt said to Lauren. “You have such a nice nose. Your hair is gorgeous. You have a great body.” Lauren smiled as she heard these compliments. Meanwhile, Kayla sat by herself at the couch. When the aunts and uncles finally approached her, they said that she needed to lose weight in order to have a stunning body like her older sister. “You need to take better care of your skin. Your face is covered with acne. Look at Lauren, her skin is flawless. You need to work out like her.” Kayla went to the bathroom and wiped a small tear from her eye. Lauren continued talking to her family and she did not notice that Kayla left the living room.
Kayla walks over to speak with Dylan’s family as he calls for her while Lauren continues drinking more vodka shots. Lauren discovers that she has lost count of how many shots she has taken. Jumping out of her seat, she falls to the ground. Pilar, Kayla and Lauren’s mother, takes Lauren to the hotel lobby, along with the other bridesmaids.
“Honey, you need to stop drinking this instant!” Pilar whispers, handing Lauren a glass of water.
“Mother, I’m completely fine! Trust me!” Lauren yells with her eyes closed.
“Keep your voice down! That bellhop at the counter is giving us dirty looks right now.”
“Where?! WHERE IS SHE?! I’LL BEAT HER ASS! I’ll kick her ass!” Lauren whispers, laughing.
Pilar and the other bridesmaids cover Lauren’s mouth as she tries to yell. They take her outside, giving her more water to drink. Pilar receives a text message on her cell phone from Kayla:
Where are you guys? Daddy and I are about to have our dance.
“LAUREN! You’re going to miss your sister’s father-daughter dance. Pull yourself together so we can go inside!” Pilar shouts. As they begin to make their way inside the reception, Lauren sees Kayla getting ready to dance with their father. Tears start streaming down Lauren’s face, causing her to run into the bathroom. She throws up in a stall and walks over to rest her head on the wall. Pilar and the other bridesmaids chase after Lauren and enter the bathroom.
“What is the matter with you?!” asks Pilar. “You’re ruining your sister’s wedding!”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I know I’m a mess. I’ve been a mess throughout my whole life. I’m not perfect like Kayla,” cries Lauren.
“Lauren, stop it right now!” Pilar yells.
“You can’t say anything else because you know it’s true. She’s a great girl, married to an amazing guy. I always thought I’d be the one that would get married before her but I’m never going to find someone that’ll treat me right. I always end up with guys who either cheat on me, beat me, take advantage of me, I’m never ever going to find the one….. it’s just so unfair. I’m always going to be a bridesmaid. I’ll never be married!” Lauren sobs.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to talk to Kayla,” Pilar tells the other bridesmaids.
“Kayla probably doesn’t want to hear about this. She’ll only get upset and she shouldn’t have to deal with this at her wedding. Are you sure you want to tell her?” One of the bridesmaids asks.
“Yes. I don’t want to tell her but she already knows something is going on. She has been texting me, asking what’s going on with Lauren. I have to let her know. I’ll be back soon. Make sure Lauren doesn’t leave the bathroom,” Pilar says urgently.
When Pilar enters the reception, she discovers that the father-daughter dance has ended.
“Lauren’s drunk. She’s a mess, crying in the bathroom. She can’t even walk straight,” Pilar tells Kayla.
Kayla shakes her head and sighs. “Mom, it’s not the time for her to have a meltdown. Everyone is supposed to be happy. It’s my wedding. Please find a cab to take her home now.”
Pilar nods and leaves the reception to find Lauren crying in the bathroom. She grabs
Lauren, helping her exit the hotel. When they arrive outside, Lauren vomits all over the floor. Pilar pats Lauren’s back as her daughter continues throwing up on the sidewalk. Pilar hands Lauren a big bag after she finishes vomiting. A bright, yellow cab drives in front of the hotel. Pilar accompanies her daughter into the back seat. She places the seat belt on Lauren while wiping her mouth with a box of tissues.
“Honey, the cab is going to take you home. I called your roommate. She’s going to get you when she sees the cab in front of your house,” Pilar says gently.
“Alright, mommy. I love you,” Lauren says before closing the door. Pilar watches Lauren lie in the back seat as the cab drives away from the hotel. “She couldn’t even be happy for her own sister,” she says to herself, frowning.
