'Remind me again why we are meeting Johnny and Paulette on one of the few evenings we've had a chance to spend some time alone,' Michael grumbled to Stephanie.

She gave him a weak smile. 'I dread to think.' Paulette had begged her to join them on a double date, and she'd reluctantly agreed considering what Paulette was going through.

'But Johnny's going to marry Paulette? That hasn't changed has it?'

'I don't think so.' Steph pulled open the door to Frosty's Palace and lowered her voice. 'He told me he's told his parents so I don't think there will be any backing out now.' Steph could well imagine how much Mrs Nogerelli would disapprove, but she was certain she wouldn't let Johnny walk away from his responsibilities.

'Steph, Mike!' Paulette hollered from the back of the room. Steph looked in her direction. Paulette was waving, a big smile on her face; whatever the reason for getting them there was, it clearly wasn't bad news. Holding Michael's hand Stephanie led the way.

'Hey Johnny,' Michael said reaching out to shake his hand. Johnny grinned, looking more like his normal self.

'So how're things?' Steph asked. She knew Paulette had got them there for a reason.

'Cool,' Johnny said exchanging a glance with Paulette. 'Well, maybe not cool cool but-' He broke off shrugging.

'We told Johnny's parents,' Paulette explained. Steph tried to look as if it was news to her, she knew Paulette would get paranoid if she thought Johnny was confiding in her.

'How did they take it?' she asked.

Paulette's face broke into another smile and she grabbed Johnny's hand. 'Well they weren't happy, obviously, but compared to my mom's reaction they were...cool.' Johnny's expression suggested otherwise. 'They even said I can move in once we're married so we'll have a chance to save for somewhere decent to live.'

'That's great,' Steph said while thinking no way would she start a marriage off like that. 'I guess it's all systems go now.'

'Yes and that's why we got you here!' Paulette broke into a big smile. 'We want you two to be our witnesses.' Stephanie looked blankly at Michael. 'I mean like best man and bridesmaid, only cos it's not a church wedding it won't be quite the same.' Steph wasn't sure what to say.

'Wouldn't you rather have Goose?' Michael asked Johnny, and Paulette shook her head vigorously.

'Goose would treat it like a joke, and he probably can't even write his name to sign the certificate.'

Steph smiled, she could well imagine Goose signing 'Goose'. 'What about Louis?' she suggested, and again Paulette spoke for Johnny.

'No if Johnny has Louis I'd be expected to ask Sharon.'

Steph frowned chewing her gum. 'So have Sharon, what's wrong with that?'

Paulette pulled a face. 'Nothing I suppose, but you're my best friend.'

'Sharon has been pretty supportive of you lately,' Steph pointed out. She could well see Sharon taking it as a snub under the circumstances.

'She has a point,' Johnny added and Paulette scowled at him. 'Paulette, I don't care who we have, no offence Shakespeare. But Sharon has put you up these past few weeks, maybe it would be nice at least ask.'

'No, this is my wedding, such as it is, and I want to choose one of the few things I have some control over.' Johnny exchanged a wary look with Steph, and Michael cleared his throat.

'We'd both be happy to do it, if you want us.'

Johnny nodded. 'Great, that's sorted, I'll go order. My treat.' He got up, and Paulette followed.

'I never thought Johnny would come around,' Steph admitted. 'I doubt being a teenage dad was ever in his game plan.'

Michael gave her a weary smile. 'Plans change.' She raised an eyebrow sensing he wasn't talking about Johnny. 'I just meant a few months ago I was planning to go to Cambridge, I never really thought I'd win you around.'

'Cambridge is a college in England?' Steph asked trying to understand.

'Yeah, it's like Harvard or Yale.' She gasped as she realised what he was giving up. 'It's okay, I've got you, and that's all I want.' He smiled, and she smiled back feeling uneasy, his sacrifice was maybe too big to make.

                                                                                  ~~~

The evening before the wedding Sharon arranged for a few of Paulette's friends to come around. She'd spent all afternoon preparing things and had even coaxed Dolores into coming over, much to Paulette's surprise.

'Thanks for this Sharon,' Paulette said. 'I don't know what I'd have done without you. Well, all of you.' Paulette turned to include all her friends, and Sharon could barely hide her annoyance. God forbid Paulette simply thank her for what she'd done.

'Well you're soon gonna have a husband looking out for you,' Dolores said. 'That's if he shows up.'

'Dolores!' Steph gave her a hard look.

'I'm just saying, he might get cold feet.'

'Don't be silly,' Sharon said although the thought had crossed her mind. In Paulette's shoes, she'd have probably insisted on travelling to city hall together.

'Johnny knows what he has to do,' Paulette said. 'Anyway with Michael beside him he won't back out. Right, Steph?'

'Course he won't,' Steph said and Sharon wondered if that was why Michael was best man. He was hardly one of Johnny's best friends but he would be a voice of reason.

'Anyway maybe it'll be Paulette who gets cold feet,' Rhonda said. 'Steph might be dragging her to the alter.'

'It's actually not an alter Rhonda,' Sharon said. 'It's not a church.'

Paulette scowled at her. 'So your wedding will be in a church?' she asked, and Sharon couldn't miss the edge to her voice.

'I expect so,' she said. 'Although Louis's family are catholic, and we're baptists so I'm not sure which church yet.' She laughed trying to ease the tension however she knew they'd be getting married in her church, Louis wasn't remotely religious.

'I guess you're gonna do everything right,' Paulette said still scowling, and Sharon bit her tongue.

'Well, I hope Sharon is,' Rhonda said quickly. 'Because I'd like to be a bridesmaid. You've flaked out on our agreement, Paulette.' Paulette laughed, and Sharon smiled remembering how as girls they'd all planned to be each other's bridesmaids, long before any potential grooms were on the scene.

'Well I couldn't really have bridesmaids under the circumstances,' Paulette said. 'Maybe you can all be godmothers.'

'Don't you have to be married for that?' Steph asked. 'So chances are Sharon will be the only one of us available.'

'I doubt I'll be married before you have the baby christened,' Sharon said feeling a bit irritated by the conversation.

'In that case, you should bring the wedding forward,' Paulette said forgetting her earlier sulk. 'And you should try for a baby straight away, then our kids can be friends.'

Sharon gaped at her. 'I'm going to college Paulette, I want to at least get my associates degree and that takes two years. Even if I got married I wouldn't try for a baby straight away.'

'You say that now,' Paulette said twirling her hair around her finger, her tone implying Sharon was lying.

Sharon got up. 'I've got a call to make, I'll be back in a moment.'

'Bring some sandwiches through on your way back,' Paulette yelled as she left the room. Annoyed Sharon sat down in the hallway, grabbing the phone and dialling Louis's number. She was relieved when he answered.

'Can you pick me up tomorrow?' she asked

'Yeah sure,' Louis said. 'But I thought you were getting a cab with Paulette and Steph?'

'Paulette is driving me insane,' Sharon hissed. 'If she's not making snide comments about me she's treating me like I'm her personal servant. I'm sick of it! I've looked out for her the past few weeks and not once has she said thank you. Not properly anyway.' Louis remained quiet, and she guessed she sounded petty. He probably thought she was upset about not to be the maid of honour but she wasn't surprised Paulette had asked Stephanie.

'Sharon, don't be falling out with Paulette now,' Louis finally said.

'I'm not but she's so self-centred and ungrateful. My mom's basically sorted out this wedding for her, and has she had a thank you?' She was working herself up into a proper temper now.

Louis cleared his throat. 'Paulette's selfish, her and Johnny are made for each other. Wait till they have the baby.'

Sharon laughed, they were in for a shock.

'Sharon will you hurry up with those sandwiches,' Paulette shouted into the hallway. 'I'm eating for two!'

Sharon grimaced. 'Did you hear that Louis?'

He chuckled down the line. 'Yeah I did, so grit your teeth and go feed her.' Sharon tried not to smile although Louis couldn't see anyway.

'Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, bright and early for the wedding of the year.' She would be almost as relieved as Paulette when the whole fiasco was over with.

                                                                            ~~~

Thank you so for reading. The prequel to this story 'Girl Code' is on my profile page, along with '1963' which takes place during the Kennedy assassination.