Embrace the Journey

Maybe they’re hoping that you’re going to be paired up with someone who is widely known around town or comes from an important family. I guess they hadn’t considered you being paired up with someone who is ‘worse’ than you. Which might actually be one of the few ways to get enjoyment out of all of this.

Do I seem like the type of person that typically ‘cuts loose’?

Now that you say that, I’m hoping I get matched with someone completely opposite of what they had in mind. Maybe it will teach them to stay out of my love life.

Well if you have some names in mind, I say you shall do that. Get it all planned. Time flies I know…But we are meeting so we will probably discuss a date and set it.

I actually don’t have any names in mind. But I’ll start thinking. Or maybe I just won’t have groomsmen. Everyone will be paying more attention to the bride anyway.

“Oh. I must have been in New York longer than I thought to forget about that. Have you decided if you’re going to bring anybody special to the carnival?” 

“Yea, you’ve been gone a minute. Glad you’re back though. And no, haven’t decided if I’m going to ask anyone to come with me or just fly solo. Are you bring a date?”

Mercedes glanced at the drink skeptically for a moment then smiled. “Okay, well I guess its now or never.” She took a sip of the drink and the flavor exploded in her mouth along with the pop rocks. “Oh my Gosh! Dude!!!” She smiled taking another sip. “This is amazing Sam!” She downed it and smiled. “I want another one! Where in the world did you come up with this from?”

Sam smiled at her reaction. He always loved watching people when they first taste his drink. “Another one coming right up.” He shrugged, as he began making her another one. “It came to me in a dream. I always like mixing things and experimenting, so one this image came to me, and I began experimenting and I came up with this. He slid another one over to her. “I’m glad you like it though.” He comes from around the bar and pulls out a barstool next to her. “So, I’m glad you have taken up my offer, but I’m surprised it took you so long to come by. Though I’m sure you could have seen my club in its true element at night.”

It just feels icky participating in this system.

Ah, I see. But helping out with the wedding, sort of, may help the couple cope with what’s happening. Even if it’s just for a little while.

Night club, huh? That sounds more like my speed.

Stop by whenever you’re in the mood or something. It’s a pretty good club.

I guess. Just sucks when I don’t really have a life here.

Yea, Lima isn’t really a place to try to get a life of adventure out of it. But if you ever want to come to my night club just for drinks, that’s always an option.

Yeah, for sure. Not that I’m happy about that.

Why not? More business means more profit and you may get more recognized.

Your future wife will be cool with that. I’m that good at convincing people, so don’t worry.  You should so you have at least something to work with. Remember you have 3 months to marry, you have advantage because you weren’t picked yet. Not really, I shall talk it with Finn.

So should I just go up to people and ask if they want to be by groomsman even if I don’t know when my name will be picked? You guys still haven’t picked a date yet? Time is flying and soon the deadline will be fast approaching.

It just seems a little messed up that we might have to just put our lives completely on hold while someone else makes these major decisions for us. I’m not saying that I’m entirely opposed to the possibility of being matched with someone that I can actually make a relationship work with, but I also like to have options. The problem is getting people to step out and fight against what they want for us. Mostly because our parents are the ones who agreed to all of this, which most people might be upset about disappointing them.

I don’t know how I feel about my parents signing me up. I mean I know why they did it, and I know they meant well, but I feel that they only did it so my reputation stayed intact. They thought being a night club owner would have people look down on me or something. But I don’t see how a marriage is supposed to fix that. Well maybe we need someone to start pushing back and then the rest of us will follow. It’s like we will just follow the masses kind of thing.

“That’s what I’m hoping too, if I’m being honest. It’s nervous, but at the same time exciting. Oh, Mercedes is planning a carnival? I didn’t know that. Is it opened to the public or is it an exclusive kind of thing? And only asked because I know you guys “vibed” together pretty well back in the day. That’s all.” Rachel used her fingers to quote the word, ending with a small smirk.

“The carnival is definitely open to the public. It’s something her family does yearly to try to bring the community together.” Sam chuckled.  “We were friends but she pretty much vibed with Nate so no one else stood a chance.” He laughed a bit as he remembered the little crush he had on her. “But that’s a thing in the past really.”

Mercedes laughed. “If its anything like the concoctions you used to come up iwth when we were younger then I am down for that. So yeah give me your signature drink. I could use a buzz.” She took a seat at the bar. “Still can’t believe I haven’t been here before.”

He started making the dring and smiled a little at the memory. Sam always loved invented things and mixing things together when he was younger. So of course that little skill followed him in adulthood. “It’s called Pop Rocks Rita. It has Tequila, among other things, but it also has Pop Rocks candy on the rim and it makes the drink sound like it’s exploding, but it also tastes really good.” He finished making his drink and slid it over to Mercedes. “Now tell me your honest opinion.”

I’m sure they’ll allow it, as long as it’s a legit marriage. That’s all they want. I honestly think that’d be easier for a lot of people. Though, I don’t know I’d really like to get to know the person first before marrying them you know? 

No, I didn’t do much. I don’t have a lot of friends around here and my family was busy. So, I just wrote a few more chapters for my book and spent some time re-decorating the house. How about you?

Too bad you only have three months to get to know them especially if it’s someone you don’t know well. I honestly wish they gave us more time.

Mercedes hadn’t slept longer than four hours a night since she started her career, and coming home was no different. While she tried she was always up before 6 and honestly working on something or another. So today she decided she would take Sam up on his offer and check his place out. Walking in she was glad to go when she did, she wasn’t in the mood to deal with people. When Sam came out she smiled. “I dunno, whats good here?”

“You know, you should try my signature drink. I invented it myself and it does taste pretty good and it’s quite popular here.” Sam said proud of his creation. “Want to give it a shot? I promise it won’t get you drunk or anything, just a little buzz.”