***Seven***

I'm sitting on the sofa deep in thought, placed in front of the flat screen. Watching the latest episode of 'Stranger Things' on Netflix. As Vecna (a monster from the Upside Down) crept out of the shadows, a sneaky hand snaked up my arm. I don't think that I've ever screamed as loud before in my entire life. A wide grin spread upon Giovanni's face. "JACKASS!" I spat as I punched my fist into his chest. "Cassie could you please keep your man on a leash, before he gives my poor heart an attack," I called out in a hysterical manner. "Oh come on Vivi, it's so easy to scare you when you're watching those kinds of things," he stated as he pulled me into a hug. I cuddled deeper into his warm comfortable embrace. Apart from the seven women I'm sharing this house with; Giovanni is one of my closest friends. I've connected with him and Logan when I first started out at Maties. We've been friends ever since. I'm glad that Cassie's not the jealous type, she approved to our friendship because she trust both of us. Trust isn't an emotion that you just give away lightly, it's earned. "Geni, you've got mail," Willow stated as she entered the crowded area. "Mail… for me?" I asked to my dismay. Who could possibly be sending me mail? I thought as I took the envelope from her hands. The letter is cozily hiding within the folds of a teal colored covering. "Fancy letter, who's it from?" Logan asked as he joined my side. I turn the envelope around to look at the return address. "It's from my mother," I answered in disbelief. "Are you referring to your Aunt?" Giovanni questioned casually. I look up at him and shook my head. "Well then, open it up. I'm rather curious to see what's inside of that envelope," Willow's boyfriend Rowan quipped in pure amusement. I carefully opened the envelope and pulled out an invitation. "We're proud to announce that you've been invited to witness the marriage ceremony between Shaun Roberts and Lesley Davis," I read out loud. "When's the ceremony happening?" Layla asked in a giddy tone. "Saturday the 18th of June," I recited. "That's this coming weekend," Liam bursts the bubble. We all shared a similar stare.

I fumbled with my phone before typing in the number that's given on the invitation. I pushed the green button and lift the speaker towards my ear. "Good morning, this is Patricia speaking," my mother answered. "Hi mom," I answered her in short. "Geni dear, how have you been?" She asked the smile clear in her voice. "I've been doing great. Shaun's getting married," my statement came across as a rhetorical question instead. "Your brother's getting married," she responded on a merry note. "Sorry that I haven't RSVP, but I literally just received the invitation in the mail," I apologized. Quickly another question followed: "Am I too late to RSVP now?" I held up my breath. "Of course not, will you be coming alone?" She asked me full of whims and woo. "Nope, be sure to safe some place for me and more then a dozen of my friends. That wouldn't be a problem, would it?" My sudden question had my mother laughing out loud. "Not at all, the more the merrier," she assured me. I greeted her with a smile before ending the call. "Anybody up for a little adventure?" I asked as I looked up at the gathering crowd. And just as I've predicted, nobody had any predicaments. 

The week passed at a quick pace. Friday evening minutes before six, me and the others climbed into two SUV vans. Me along with Giovanni, Logan, Cassie, Chloé, Willow and Rowan rides in one van while the others rode in the second. Rowan is behind the wheel while Logan joined him in the front. A decision on Chloé's part; stating that now I wouldn't need to feel like the third wheel on the wagon, or, in this case the 7th. I'm sitting in the backseat alongside the women, while Giovanni and Cassie have the front seat all to themselves. The ride home isn't at all that weary but we took our sweet time sightseeing. At arrival we booked in at the Pavilion. It's a 4-star hotel on the pier overhanging the ocean. Seven rooms had been booked beforehand. Cassie suggested that I suite up with her and Giovanni, to which he had no problem. The ocean air is cool out tonight and its salty fragrance sits like heaven upon my shoulders. Teasing my senses as the breeze gently plays with my hair. I entered the room which I'll be sharing along with my friends for the weekend. An ocean blue and white colour scheme greeted me at entrance. I started off rampaging through my suitcase and retrieved a suitable dress for tonight's event. The electric blue off-shoulder on-shoulder dress hugs my curves in all the right places. I decided on dark eye shadow with a smoky touch, some tinted gloss to adorn my lips and the usual to outline my eyes and volume up my lashes. The only thing that's missing is a pair of black stilettos. 

I checked out my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I'm in tiptop shape: Makeup done, hair done, and dress-up done. The only thing that I can't seem to get the right price tag on is my scattered nerves. Even though I look like a million bucks, the edginess still seeps through. What could possibly have my knickers in a bunch? Is it because of the fact that I haven't seen or hear anything about my family in six years? I guess under normal circumstances that could suffice as reason enough to feel anxious. I inhaled sharply as I pick the tube of lip gloss up and apply another layer. My heart hammers against my chest cavity; it feels like its going to explode due to its rapidly increasing rate. Another breath tumbles over my lips in a shudder. I try to make sense of this impending panic that's overthrowing all logic, but I can't seem to concentrate on anything other then this present worry.