Sharon

So, in the end, I wound up with a pale green dress for the wedding. It's knee length but low cut, and I can tell my mom isn't happy about it but I don't care. I know I look good, not swamped like Joanne is in her meringue of a dress. No wonder she doesn't want me near the main event.

'Wow you look beautiful,' Louis says and for once I believe him. I have us sit at the back of the church with Angela cos it'll piss mom off, and if I get Angela onside and she likes Louis, dad will go easier on him. The service itself is boring, Joanne has far too many prayers that are sending half the guests to sleep. I won't make that mistake with my own wedding.

'Your sister looks lovely,' Angela says as Joanne leads the way out of the church. I smile to be nice, and Louis whispers that I look better!

'Do we have to pose for pictures?' Angela asks and I feel a bit sorry for her.

'I expect it's bridal party only.' Unless Joanne wants to make a point of posing with Angela she's not going to be in any of the official wedding photos, neither am I as it happens.

Anglea purses her lips. 'That's a little...'

'Why don't we head straight for the reception,' I say taking Louis's hand, it's only down the road.

'Well I guess if we're not wanted....' Now she's irritating me. I mean, she broke up a family, what does she expect? Unfortunately, we don't get away cos dad comes running over.

'Where are you going? Aren't you going to stay and watch the pictures being taken?'

'I think we know where we're not welcome,' Angela says crossing her arms. Dad looks confused, like he doesn't realise what's happening.

'Of course you're welcome,' he starts to say and I interrupt him.

'Dad this is Louis.'

'Nice to meet you, sir,' Louis says, and I smile thinking he's been rehearsing that.

Dad shakes his hand, gripping it a bit too hard. 'If it was down to me I wouldn't let Sharon have a boyfriend yet.' I groan shaking my head.

'Don't be silly Robert,' Angela says. 'Joanne had a boyfriend when she was seventeen.'

'And look where it's got her.' Dad isn't that keen on Joanne's husband Thomas.

'Louis isn't like Tom,' I point out. I don't much like him either.

'So long as you treat her right son,' dad says looking stern.

'Of course sir.' I bet Louis's mom has been giving him pointers on how to act.

'Dad get over here!' Joanne yells her hands on her hips.

'Honestly, what's your sister like,' dad says indulgently like she isn't a total pain in the ass.

'Robert I'm going to the reception, I don't want to wait around here like some scarlet woman,' Angela says sharply. Wait until she sees where she's sat! I don't mind too much that we'll be sat with my cousins, we'll probably have a better time, but I know it's a slight all the same.

                                                                                         ****

Louis

I've survived meeting Sharon's dad even if my right hand is crushed. It's almost funny how overprotective he was getting, it's not like he sees Sharon that often. I guess he's overcompensating.

'I think dad liked you,' Sharon says smiling.

'You reckon?'

Sharon giggles. 'Well you're still breathing aren't you!' We go take our seats and thankfully we're well away from the main action.

'I don't think Angela's happy,' Sharon whispers her eyes flitting over to her stepmom who has a fixed smile on her face. She's sat with some old people who Sharon tells me are friends of her grandparents.

'It'll only be for the meal won't it?'

'I'd expect so. Joanne didn't want Angela and mom too close but I thought she would have sat her with dad's family.'

'I'd have thought she'd have done the same with you. My mom was saying it's unconstitutional.' 

Sharon frowns at me and then laughs. 'Oh, you mean unconventional!'

'I don't know, it was something like that.'

'I'm glad you're here with me,' she says as everyone's getting settled down.

'No problem babe.' I would have kissed her but with her family around that might not go down so well. The speeches are about to start and I prepare myself for a long afternoon.

                                                                                    *****

In the end it doesn't take that long at all, and we can relax a bit. Sharon's cousins are ok, around our age so we're not having to make boring small talk. I get up to get us both another drink, and I can hear Sharon's sister and dad arguing by the bar. They're talking in hushed voices but you can tell they're both furious.

'And why is your sister sat all the way over by the door,' Mr Cooper hisses.

'Well she isn't part of the party,' Joanne says sulkily. 'There are rules to follow.'

'Bullshit, they both could have been sat with family. For god's sake, you've got random old aunts being treated better.' I'm beginning to like him a bit.

'That's just cos old people get funny about this stuff, I didn't think Sharon or Angela would.'

'I know you and your sister don't get along...'

'What would you know,' Joanne says and I think she's getting embarrassed. I grab our drinks and head back to the table before I get caught in the crossfire.

'Your dad's pissed off,' I tell Sharon and she perks up.

'Oh?'

'Yeah, I heard him arguing with Joanne about you being seated over here.'

'Really?' She smiles brightly. 'Well she only has herself to blame, I mean if it was my wedding I think I'd try to be more thoughtful.'

'You've planned your wedding,' I say laughing and she bites her lip.

'Don't worry Louis, I haven't cast a groom yet.' I guess she's trying to reassure me but it makes me wonder where she does see us going. Not that I would want to get married any time soon.

'I'm surprised you've even thought about it, that's all.'

'I've haven't really, I mean the way things are going we'll all be dead before long,' she says sighing dramatically.

'That won't happen.' She watches far too many news reports.

'But when the bomb drops....'

'We'd best get friendlier with Shakespeare then, his uncle has a fallout shelter.'

Her eyes widen. 'How do you know?'

'Micheal told me one time at rehearsals, that's all. He said it's all kitted out.' I nearly dropped myself in it there!

'Really? Still, if a nuclear bomb dropped I don't suppose they'd survive long even with a shelter,' she muses. 'God I'd hate to die before I've even lived.'

'What do you mean?' I wonder if she's hinting at what I think she might be.

Her eyebrows knot together. 'Well, I want to have my own family one day,' she finally says.

'You will have your own family.'

'But there's going to be a war that would be irresponsible,' she says frowning.

'I think you're overthinking it,' I tell her. 'Why don't we see if Shakespeare will let us have a look around his uncle's bomb shelter?'

'Why?' Her eyes narrow and she sounds suspicious.

'It might be interesting.' It would be if I could get Shakespeare to leave us alone in there.

'Maybe,' she says. 'I'll think about it.' I try not to smile, I don't want her to think I've already given the matter some thought. All I have to do is work on Shakespeare now. I know he needs the cash so I might be able to persuade him to hire out the facilities...

                                                                                  ****