Time Waits for No One: Closer Than Family(Closed for The_Gladiator)

[purplerouge]

Roxanne "Roxy" Hawkins
Age 24
Auburn hair, Blue Eyes

IC:
Roxanne looked over at the clock and sighed. "Mark...you better be done soon, because we're going to be late!" she called out, slightly annoyed by the fact that she'd be the one getting yelled at. "I swear...you take longer than a girl to get ready. Speaking of...I still need to get ready and my dress is at the church...where we need to be in 10 minutes," she told him, standing up to walk around the apartment as she waited.

She couldn't help but smile at the situation. Her sister was getting married in just a few hours and she was bringing her best friend as a date; her best friend who's new girlfriend wasn't quite happy with the idea of the two of them going together. But it was something that couldn't be helped. When Roxanne's sister had announced her engagement and wedding date, the heat had really come down on Roxanne. Her past dates that she had brought to family events hadn't impressed anyone, or they had managed to do something embarrassing.

So, to save herself from the headache plus be sure not to ruin her sister's big day, she'd turned to Mark for help. He'd been her friend for as long as she could remember and they always helped each other out...plus her family loved him. Since then he'd gotten a new girlfriend, one that he seemed to be serious with...and one who wasn't too keen on the fact that he wouldn't back out of the agreement.

Roxanne normally liked any girlfriends of Mark's, always supportive and giving him advice whenever he asked. But feelings about him that she'd kept to herself were surfacing again, along with the fear that his new girlfriend would take him away from her.

She plopped back down on the couch to wait for him, trying very hard not to glare at the photos of the new girl that were scattered around.

 

[The_gladiator]

Mark Harris
Age: 24, to be 25 in days
Height: 6'0"
Hair: black, eyes Green

IC


"Is it supposed to be my fault the shithole landlord just got a plummer to come in a half hour ago?" Mark yelled at Roxy Coming to the doorway toothbrush in hand, wearing only a towel, his muscular chest well on display. "I am hurrying but its not easy to go any faster with you nagging. You're worse than my mother." he said as he quickly popped the toothbrush back into his mouth and continued brushing his teeth.
Mark's parents had been good friends with Roxy's when they were children. The couples taking turns watching the kids while the other couple went out, and generally doing things together on many occassion. That's how Mark had met Roxanne, and being the closest in age, only 6 months older than her, something he used to tease her about, they had become fast friends over the years. Closer than siblings. Whether they were spying on Helena "Lena", Her older sister's dates, or picking on Matt Mark's younger brother, they did it together. Until recently when college had ended and they got rapped up with work and they started dating more seriously. They had always loved sharing details about their relationships with each other. That was until Mark met Lisa, and she didn't like Mark talking to Roxanne about their personal life, especially their sexual practices together. Mark told Roxy anyway, but as he and Lisa's relationship grew closer he grew more and more distant with Her, hanging out with her less often, and almost seemed awkward around her. But he had resolved to Make this night work for Roxanne, she deserved it. He had promised her over a year ago, before he had met Lisa that he would go to Lena's wedding with her. So here he was, brushing his teeth watching Roxanne glare at him for his slowness. He leaned to the side to spit into the sink, "Please tell me you didn't just walk over here, and you have your car. I'd really not like to have to drive the bike to the church in a suit. I mean I could put on the pants and change but it'd just be much more convenient if you brought your car." he commented smirking a little at the thought of trying to drive his motorcycle in dress pants and a shirt and tie.

 

[purplerouge]

Roxy glanced up when she heard Mark's voice, her voice gone for a moment when she saw him in just a towel. Sure she'd seen him in next to nothing before, modesty something they'd stopped worrying about as they got older, but her re-emerging feelings for him had her loking at him a moment longer than she should've. "Not my fault that you're listening to my nagging," she finally said with a grin. "And watch it...I'll tell your mom you think she nags," she added with a smirk, knowing full well she'd never tell Mrs. Harris that.

When he complained about how hard it would be to take his bike, she rolled her eyes a little. "Of course I brought my car. I had to haul Lena and all the dresses over to the church before I came here," she told him, atarting to thumb through a magazine that she found. "So quit worrying and get dressed, please," she added, also wanting to get out of the apartment just incase Lisa stopped by and tried to talk him out of going again.

 

[The_gladiator]

"Go ahead, tell her, its not anything she hasn't heard straight from the horses mouth." he said jerking a thumb at his own face. He turned and went to go get his clothes, "I thought you'd not like to scare the guests away with my halatosis." he said, "So hold your pushy horses and I'll be ready soon." he said and quickly began to get dressed, glad not for the first time that his hair was cropped short from his 2 years in the military, and he didn't have to do anything to make it look good. He slapped on some aftershave and got into the suit he would be wearing. Black of course, he was fond of black. He wasn't strictly a goth, but he did tend to black clothes and dark heavy metal music mostly. "I swear this jacket would look even better with a deathbat on it." he grumbled coming back into the other room tighing his tie over his white shirt, referrencing the kullwith bat wings logo of Metal band Avenged Sevenfold.

 

[purplerouge]

She couldn't help but laughing, shaking her head a little as she stood up. It was still a mystery to her how they'd managed to put up with each other all these years, but their banter-filler friendship was something she wouldn't change for the world.

"That may be the case, but we want to prove to my family that I can come up with at least one good date. And that includes not scaring any of the elderly guests," she said with a grin when she heard his grumbling, walking over to him.

"Now, don't you look pretty," she told him with a smirk, reaching up to straighten his tie a little bit. "I promise you can ditch the jacket at the reception...maybe even the tie," she threw over her shoulder as she went to grab her purse off the couch. "All set?"

 

[The_gladiator]

"Oh come on, your family loves me, and they know that I'm really not a hoodlem, despite my greatest efforts to convince them." he said following her out of his appartment shutting and locking the door. "If your granny pinches my cheeks and tells me how pretty I am again, I'm gonna kill you, Drawn and quaatered, I swear." he said as he followed her. "I do not look pretty, hansom maybe, cute, maybe, but I am not pretty." he said trying to sound indignent.

 

[purplerouge]

Roxy laughed all the way outside, pausing to look at him over the roof of her car as she unlocked it. "Handsome is reaching a little, but you sure are cute with those pinchable pretty cheeks of yours," she teased with a wink, opening her door and getting in. She started up the car and started driving towards the church once Mark was in, the radio on low as they traveled across town.

After pulling into the church parking lot, she shut off the car and got out. "So you're pretty much on your own for the next hour. I need to get dressed, get prodded and poked by whoever's doing hair, and deal any nervous breakdown's Lena might have," she told him, popping the trunk to throw her purse in. "I think my dad is wherever in the church Kyle is getting ready," she supplied, pulling open the side door to the church as she thought of the seperate room where Lena's fiance was secluded in. "I can promise that there are drinks available and that my grandmother will be nowhere near there," she added with a grin.

 

[The_gladiator]

"I think I need a beer already... fuck that, jack." he said mock seriously, "Ok I'll see you later." he said as they went their seperate ways, her to be pampered, he to call Lisa, to reassure her that he wasn't fucking anyone, just going to wander around and greet people.
He eventually did find his way to the drinks, punch and water, of course. He was surprised to see Mr. Hawkins wtell him that Kyle was looking for him. It seemed that one of his friends plain wouldn't make it in time for the service and he was asked to step in as a groomsman. They had done some rearranging so that Kyle's brother went with one of Lena's other friends and he would be escorting Roxanne. He smiled and somehow found that fitting. They justified the switch by saying something like then no one would be uncomfortable. Mark shrugged, but agreed. He spotted the women running around, April, Lena's Maid of Honor and best friend giving orders like a drill sergeant which made him smile. He wondered as he watched if Roxy resented not being the maid of honor but then figured no that april and Lena had been friends longer than they'd been alive so, it made sense. He didn't doubt that Roxy was the one that Lena would go to if she had an attack of nerves, nwhile April played dominitrix on the rest of the wedding party. He took a deep breath and walked up to mention he was the fill in groomsman. "Someone get him a bowtie." she said after looking him head to toe. "Say what?" Mark said looking surprised.
"Just shut up and let her have her way." someone muttered in his ear, one of the other guys and Mark only could nodd and agree with the advice.

 

[purplerouge]

It took all the patience Roxanne had, plus the glass of champagne that someone had scrounged up, not to start yelling at her sister. She understood that Lena was a bundle of nerves, nerves that had already been dealt with 3 time since Roxy had arrived, but there was only so much she could take. Her hair had been pulled uncomfortably tight into the updo that had been chosen, the flower girl bumped into her and nearly caused her to poke her eye out while applying makeup, and now Lena had decided that she didn't like that way Roxy's dress fit her.

"Lena...I had my fitting last week, you were there," she grumbled, slapping away the hands that were tugging at the bodice of her dress. The other girls in the bridal party had escaped by that point, though she was sure they were being tortured by April and her mondo list of things to do. But as she saw her sister's eyes fill with tears, she silently wished she was with the others.

She sighed, wrapping an arm around her sister as she pulled her into a hug. "This day is going to be perfect for you. Even if something goes wrong, Kyle's been with you long enough to know that our family isn't normal," she said softly, grateful when she was given a small smile. "You're beautiful, all of the decorations have shown up, and even the groom is here and sober. Nothing is going to ruin this for you," she said as she give her sister another big hug, then looked up as they heard a knock on the door.

Taking her sister's hand, she walked with her to where they were supposed to wait at the back of the church. She turned to go stand next to one of Kyle's friends, then was shocked to see Mark there instead . "Now this is something I didn't expect," she said with a raised eyebrow. Suddenly she felt strange to be standing all dolled up infront of him, her burgandy strapless dress feeling tight as nerves suddenly hit her. "Who'd you have to kill to make sure you didn't have to sit next to grandma?" she joked lightly, taking her bouquet from the florist who was passing them out.

 

[The_gladiator]

"Oh just a couple pilots, an air traffic controler and a few flight attendants, anything to spare me the wrath of grandma." he sait with a straight face, and then cracked a smile, "Jim's plain got delayed." he explained, "Can I say you look beautiful?" he said, "And I'm not kidding eather you do look beautiful." he said before she could think he was just joking. "I've never done this before, but when April says jump you kinda ask how high on the way up." he said, "So you'll have to help me out."

 

[purplerouge]

She couldn't help but laugh softly as he explained the situation, finding it all highly ironic. She was caught off guard when he said she was beautiful, a faint blush coming to her cheeks as she cleared her throat a little. "Careful...Lisa might have some spies around here," she teased softly, then shook her head. "Sorry...that was uncalled for," she murmured, then smiled at him. "But thanks...and seeing you in a bowtie almost makes all the pain I was put through worth it," she said with a wink.

She heard the music start up, letting out a breath as she watched everyone scuttle around to get to there places. "Just walk, make sure you don't trip, and stand with the other guys," she told Mark under her breath, taking his arm as she watched the flowergirl and ring bearer walk down the aisle. "Here we go," she said softly, then put a smile on her face as they started to walk.

 

[The_gladiator]

"Let her spy." Mark muttered, but then they started, and Mark walked with her feeling utterly stupid, assured everyone was watching him, although he wasn't the object of dirision, if anything some of the women in the crowd admired him and he tried not to blush or trip or something equally embarrassing. He walked and then stood with the guys, hoping it would just be over soon.

 

[purplerouge]

Roxy watched the rest of the bridal party and groomsmen walk down the aisle, then held her breath when she saw her father and Lena. She knew he had been taking this day hard, though he'd done his best to be happy for Lena. He already loved Kyle like he was his own son, but she knew a part of him wished he could just keep Lena at home forever.

She watched her father go to sit next to her mother, giving them both a smile before she turned her head to look at Mark. She could tell he just wanted everything to be over with, and she couldn't agree with him more. Of course while he could get comfortable at the reception, she had to stay in her dress and painful hairstyle.

She gave him a smile and a little wink before she turned her attention back to the ceremony, doing her best to hold back tears as she watched Lena and Kyle exchange rings. She hated to cry infront of people, even though she was sure 'losing' her big sister was a good enough excuse. She managed to hold it together until the end of the ceremony, letting out a breath of relief as she and Mark started to walk out together.

"I'm apologizing in advance right now...because the moment we get out there, I may have a breakdown," she whispered to him as they walked, feeling as if they'd never make it out of the church.

 

[The_gladiator]

He let his hand cover hers on his arm, "Its ok, it won't be the first nor the last time I've held you while you cry." Mark said softly sincerely. He was joking, but he had his serious moments that made him all the sweeter.

 

[purplerouge]

She laughed softly, smiling at him when he covered her hand. He'd always been there for her when she'd needed a good cry, even if it had been over the stupidest reason. He was always so understanding, always finding a way to make her happy. In her opinion Lisa didn't deserve a guy as great as him, but Roxy never said anything. As the best friend, it was her job to be happy for him with any of his relationships...even if she was suddenly getting felings for him again.

She sighed softly once they got outside, watching her sister and new brother-in-law pause for hugs before they got into the limo that would take them to the reception hall. "They're happy...that's all that matters," she said softly, though she wasn't sure if she was saying that to Mark or trying to convince herself about him and Lisa.

"C'mon...I have to go get all the dress bags and stuff that was left behind in the room," she said as she watched everyone start to go to their respective cars. "I figure now is a good a time as any for that breakdown," she told him as they walked back to the room where she'd gotten ready, the first few tears already sliding down her cheeks.

 

[The_gladiator]

He followed her his hand squeazing her shoulder, not cracking any jokes just being there for her. "Its ok, hell she's not even moving far away. You can bug her anytime." he finally said his hands folded behind him a little awkward, he didn't know if he should let her keep gathering up the dress bags and such, or whether he should stop her and take her into his arms. He looked uncertain, yet resolute to help her anyway he could.

 

[purplerouge]

She laughed a little, wiping away some tears as she bent down to pick up some discarded trash. "That's true. She made sure she was close enough so that when she has kids, she'll have a free babysitter," she said with a weak smile, straightening back up as she grabbed a couple of dress bags.

After laying them over her arm she did another scan of the room, biting her lip when she saw the gift that her sister had given her earlier. She walked over and picked up the frame, tears sliding down her face again as she looked down at the collage before her. "She knows just how to make me cry." she murmured, walking over to Mark to show him the collage of pictures of the two sister that Lena had put together. "She may have gotten on my nerves, but I'm gonna miss her like crazy," she told him, absently resting her head against his shoulder.

 

[The_gladiator]

He slid an arm around her, "I know, we all will, but we'll see her all the time." he said rubbing his cheek on the top of her head. "Cheer up, don't make me get you drunk tonight." he said trying to get her smile. "Cause trust me, this ain't nothing Jack won't cure." he said with a small laugh.

 

[purplerouge]

She allowed herself a few moments to let the tears fall, smiling a little when she felt his arm go around her. She laughed a little when he threatened to get her drunk, wiping at the tears as she took a calming breath. "Careful...if you ask me that after the reception, judging on how bad my feet hurt and if I have a headache, I just might take you up on that," she told him with a smile.

"Okay...If you would be so kind to drive over, I should have just enough time to fix my makeup and not look like I'm getting ready for Halloween," she said with a laugh, knowing she had forgotten her waterproof mascara that day. "The reception's at that restaurant where we had the engagement party," she added, then looked at the clock. "And pictures are in 15 minutes, so I'm thinking we need to hurry," she said with a small laugh, knowing that they'd probably get there just in time.

 

[The_gladiator]

"This would go so much faster if I had my bike." Mark grumbled goodnaturedly as he lead her out to her car, "You women and your make-up. If I had the bike we'd have been there already." he said, "Then again getting arrested on your sister's wedding day isn't something that sounds fun either." He got in the car, "What you're not going to drink at the wedding reception?" he asked, "I mean I thought that was the point?"

 

[purplerouge]

She rolled her eyes as they walked to her car, though she couldn't help but smile. "If we had your bike, I'd have to figure out how the hell I'd ride on it in this dress," she said with a laugh, getting in the passenger side. "Plus I'd have to deal with my hair afterwards. The only time I'm touching this hair again tonight is after the pictures, when I can finally take out the hundreds of pins that are stabbing me," she told him as she flipped down the visor mirror and started to repair her make-up. "And I do plan on drinking tonight, just not to the point where I won't be able to brush off advances by Lena and Kyle's drunk friends," she added, knowing that some of the group got pretty touchy with their hands after they'd had one too many.

 

[The_gladiator]

He mock glared, "You knew what I meant about the bike." he said. He listened to what she had to say about the drinking and nodded, "Good point, maybe I should watch my intake then I was gonna get smashed, you know a night away from Lisa, ok not smashed to where I'm falling down, but you get it, smashed for me, where I'm just loose and easy, the problem is... well you know what I'm like in that state, no isn't exactly a word I can remember when I'm like that." he said almost blushing a little.

 

[purplerouge]

Roxy nodded, remembering the many times they'd gone to parties and he'd gone over his limit. She also remembered teasing him mercilessly about it the next morning. "If we stick together as much a possible, that'll probably decrease the number of wandering hands," she teased, zipping up her make-up case and throwing in the backseat. "And speaking of Lisa...what's she doing on this wonderful day, other than cursing the day that I was born?" she asked as she glanced at him, knowing full well of the woman's slight distaste for her.

 

[The_gladiator]

"I think she was going out with some girlfriends." Kevin said, "She's not real happy with me, another reason I wanted to drink. So if I do make it back to my place, which I made sure she knew I might not, that I'll be too out of it to have it out with her again." he sighed but shrugged, "Oh So you're saying if I get a little too much in me, you'll not take advantage of me?" he said teasing changing the subject from his girlfriend.

 

[purplerouge]

"You wish," she teased back, though she turned her head to look out the window before he could see her blush. "You can crash at my place if you want tonight. That way if you do get smashed, I won't have to worry about you cracking your head on something in the middle of the night," she teased, turning her head to grin at him.