Zora POV

I was in my room playing some cords on my guitar humming and writing down some lyrics.

So Carlton and Michelle broke up. Things didn't work out. I don't know why Carlton just told me he broke up with her and that's it.

I heard a knock on my balcony as I put my guitar down and walked over to it. I opened my balcony door and saw it was Carlton

"What are you doing" he asked as he walked into my room

"Just playing my guitar. What?'s up" I asked writing in my journal

"I was wondering would you be my date to my Aunt Janice's wedding" he told me as I smiled

"Sure. I would love too" I told him as he smiled he then picked me up Bridal Style as I started laughing

"What are you doing" I asked

"If we're gonna get married one day. I have to practice" he said as he walked up and down the room then we fell to the floor as we laughed

"We still need practice" i told him laughing as he laughed to

"Definitely" he said as he looked at his watch and stood up

"Well I should go pick up my Aunt Helen, Cousin Bobby, and Uncle Lester from the airport" he told me

"Okay" I said as he helped me up

"Okay" he told me as he tripped over my dresser as I smiled and he awkwardly smiled then left

Later that day Hilary called me to help with the wedding. I was wearing a headset as I was helping arrange the wedding. I can be a little OCD at times

"Put the champagne over there, then go out
a

nd help set up the tables. And if you value your tips stop looking at my behind." I told the two workers as Hilary and I walked into the kitchen

"Oh, I can't believe my baby sister's getting married." Mrs. Banks said

"I can. I just paid the florist." Mr. Banks told her as I walked up to the flowers

"What is this abomination. I specifically asked for white orchids this is white lilies. I swear I'm gonna lose it." I yelled as the moves took the flowers back

"I just paid for this" Mr. Banks told me

"Philip, all you ever think about is money." Mrs. Banks told him

"No. That's not true, Vivian. Sometimes I think about other things." He told her wrapping his arm around her waist as she giggled

"Would you two knock it off? You're married.
It's time you start acting like it." Ms. Smith said walking into the kitchen

"Do I have to hose you down" I asked

"Viola, Zora, this is why I got married." Mrs. Banks told us

"Mother, please. It's the '90s. I mean, a woman doesn't have to be married to.." Hilary started as her parents looked at her to continue

"Like, I read about it, okay?" Hilary said

"Where do you want these?" One of the movers asked bringing in pea green patio chairs

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no." I told him shaking my head

"Lady, don't you know any other words?" The man asked me

"No." Geoffrey said

"I'm sorry. Pea-green patio chairs? I don't think so. This is not a Ninja Turtle wedding." I told the guy shooing him away

"Agh! Do I have to do everything myself?" Hilary yelled as I gave her a look. I'm saving this wedding she hasn't done anything

"Miss Hilary, the day you do everything for yourself will be the day I square dance naked on the White House lawn."  Geoffrey told her as Ashley walked in with all her toys

"Do we have a safety deposit box? I wanna hide my things before Aunt Helen and Uncle Lester get here with Bobby." Ashley said

"Oh, Ashley, your cousin Bobby is not that bad." Mrs. Banks told her

"Mom, last time he came here he pulled off Barbie's arm and burnt down her Dream House." Ashley said as we heard a car door open

"Now, now, Bobby, don't attack the squirrel." Aunt Helen yelled

"I'm out of here." Ashley said as she ran out the kitchen when their Aunt, Uncle, and cousin walked in as they all ran over to them

"Oh, my, my, my! Is this the Banks' house
or Buckingham Palace? Hey, big sister Vi. You got a boyfriend yet? Now ain't no point in saving nothing these days. You hear what I'm saying?" Aunt Helen said as I laughed

"The whole neighborhood hears what you saying." Mrs. Banks said

"Well, Helen, I see you still haven't come out of your shell." Mr. Banks told her

"Vivian, girl, you look good. And you've lost weight in all the right place. Philip, you look good. And you look good." She said as I laughed

"I like her. She's my favorite" I said they had a lot of Aunts but I could tell Aunt Helen was gonna be my favorite

"Hi, I'm Zora. I live across the street" I introduced

"Well my aren't you pretty" Aunt Helen said as I smiled

"Am I in heaven because I'm looking at an angel" Bobby told me as I smiled and leaned down to his eye level

"You're sweet but I'm 16" I told him

"I'm 11 so that means your only 2 years older than me" He said counting on his fingers as I looked at everyone else as they shrugged 

"Stay in school" I said turning back to him smiling

"Where's Carlton?" Mrs. Banks asked as he walked in with their suitcases

"Bobby, covering a person's eyes
when they're driving is not a very wise thing to do. And don't ever call me a weenie-face in public again." Carlton told him

"Well, we're in private now, weenie-face." Bobby told him

"Ah, Carlton, take the luggage upstairs.
Now, you three will sleep in Carlton's room
and Carlton will sleep in Will's room." Mrs. Banks said

"I want to sleep with Carlton." Bobby said

"I always dreamt when I heard those words
it would be Paula Abdul saying them." Carlton mumbled

"Don't worry you and Will can stay at my house" I told him as he and Bobby walked away as I saw a kick me sign on his back

"Oh! Lester, how about a little NFL action, huh?" Mr. Banks said

"Man, I take all the action I can get." Uncle Lester said as Aunt Helen glared at him as he and Mr. Banks walked away and Mr. Banks had a wide load sign on his back

"Yo, yo, yo, look who I found at the airport." Will said walking in with his Aunt Janice

"Divas!" She yelled as her sisters all ran over to her and began jumping as Will and I joined in

"Wait a minute. Now where is the groom?" Mrs. Banks asked

"Frank is coming in the morning. He had to take care of some business." Aunt Janice said

"Yes. Speaking of taking care of business, does he? Forever is a long time, sister." Aunt Helen said

"Not in front of Will and Zora please." Ms. Smith said

"Viola, wake up. Will is 17 years old.
He's probably taking care of a little business
himself. Aren't you Will." Aunt Janice said as he laughed as his mom gave him a look

"Absolutely not!" He yelled going behind me hugging me as I laughed

"Hi I'm Zora. I live across the street" I introduced to Janice

"Will was right you are pretty" she told me as I looked at Will who hid his face

"Oh stop" I said waving her off as they stopped talking

"Why'd you stop" I asked as they laughed

"You'll fit right in sugar plum. We'll call you mini diva" Aunt Helen said wrapping her arms around me as I smiled. I'm glad that I'm getting along with them

"Vivian, Frank and I appreciate you giving us this wedding on such short notice. Oh! I want you to be my matron of honor." Aunt Janice said

"Oh. Of course I will." Mrs. Banks said hugging her

"And, uh, guess who's gonna be the best man, naturally." Will said as we laughed at him

"Will?" His mom said

"Y'all don't know? Hey, I did teach her
how to burp on command." Will said

"And I did teach you how to dance." Aunt Janice said as she began dancing

"Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on, Aunt Janice. Hold up. That was, like, ten years
ago. I'm, like, light-years ahead of you now." Will said as he began dancing

"Yeah. Thanks a lot, Aunt Janice." Will said as he kissed her cheek when my headset rang as I answered it

"Yes. What do you mean the center pieces is wrong. If you don't find the right Candles. I will take the one you have and shove it up your" I threatened but Will covered my mouth before I could finish

"Okay. She needs a nap. Come on Zee" Will said as he picked me up and put me over his shoulder and we walked out the kitchen

That night Will, Carlton, and I were getting ready for bed. I was laying at the front and Will and Carlton were at the foot of my bed. I trust Will and Carlton to sleep in the same bed with me so it's not weird

"You need a pedicure." Carlton told Will

"Yeah, I would crack on your feet but they don't reach all the way up here." Will told him

"Will, Zora Do you want to get married?" Carlton asked

"Alright, that's it. Get out of the bed!" Will yelled

"Not to me, you pervert." Carlton told him as he calmed down

"I'm sorry, man. This is L.A." Will told him as I nodded. L.A's full of Pervs

"Well, I'm definitely getting married
and I want my wife to be a virgin." Carlton told us

"Well, you better hurry up, man.
Mother Teresa ain't getting no younger." Will told him

"My wife, the limber but unspoiled Bridgetta.
She'll be an excellent homemaker and have the breasts the size of Australia." He said as I scoffed

"That would be really good. If this was the 50's." I told him

"Well what do you want in a marriage" Carlton asked me

"I want someone who is my best friend. Someone who loves me for me and understand who I am. I want someone who is intelligent and very accepting and non judgemental. Someone who knows what I'm thinking before I even know. I want someone who is just as nerdy as me and we can talk about everything and anything." I said I always fantasized meeting the perfect person and getting married. Maybe I'm old fashion

"What about you Will" I asked

"I don't know, man. I just can't imagine
waking up to the same woman every day
for the rest of my life n-no matter how big
Australia is." He told us

"Come on, Will, you really don't want to get married?" I asked

"I don't know, man. Maybe one day.
You know, when I'm old and gray.'
You know, around 29, 30 years old." Will said

"Heck, by then young Carlton will be interviewing for preschool and Carltonette will be a little croissant in the oven." Carlton said

"Well, that's good. Then they'll be able to baby-sit little Will, Wilma, Williamina,
Wilton, and Baby Willy." Will said

"Please tell me that's not your future kids names" I begged. If that is I'll help them change them

"Goodnight, Will Goodnight Zora" Carlton told us as I turned off my lamp when I smelt a foul odor

"Carlton?" I asked

"Yeah?" He said

"Is that your feet, or did you break wind?" Will asked

"Sorry, guys" he told us

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The next day I was walking into the living room with Will and Carlton. We were all gonna meet Frank today

"Carlton, come on, man. It is not that serious." Will told him

"I'm head usher and there's no one to seat.
I'll be all dressed up with absolutely nothing to do." Carlton said

"Just think of it as one of your dates." Will said as we sat on the couches as Hilary and Ashley came back with Bobby on a leash

"Alright, Bobby. Sit and stay." Hilary told Bobby as he sat on the couch

"Carlton, it's your shift. I'm going to get my tubes tied." Hilary said

"Cousin Carlton, tomorrow, can you take me to Disneyland?" Bobby asked

"Forget it. I will not be an accomplice to the murder of Mickey Mouse." Carlton sais

"You know, Bobby, I love it when you come to visit, man. They appreciate me so much more
when you leave." Will said when the doorbell rang as Aunt Janice ran past us

"It's him. I gotta go fix my makeup." She yelled as she ran upstairs as everyone else walked in

"Mr. Frank Schaeffer." Geoffrey said as a handsome man walked in as Janice's sisters walked up to him

"Welcome to our family. I'm Vi. I raised Janice, and looking at you, I know I raised her right. Those are the other two sisters." Ms. Smith said as Aunt Helen pushed her out the way

"Oh, yes. Yes. Cute, cute, cute, and cute.
A dangerous combination. Ha-ha." Aunt Helen said

"Why don't you come in, make yourself comfortable?" Mrs. Banks sais as he sat down

"Your little woman will be down any minute." Carlton said

"Great." He said as a white man walked in carrying some bags

"Thanks a lot, buddy." Mr. Banks sais giving him some money

"Thanks." He said

"Baby." Aunt Janice yelled as she ran down the stairs and kissed the white guy as we all looked shocked. What is going on

"Hey, my brother, you gonna let her tip him like that? Man, what does she do when y'all eat out?" Will said

"Everybody, this is Frank. Frank, this is everybody." She said as we all just stared at them

"Then who the hell is this" I asked pointing to the guy on the couch

"Come on, honey. I'll show you to your room." She said as they walked upstairs

"Excuse me, but what happened
to the little lady y'all promised me?" The other guy asked

"Here's $5. Go find your own." Mr. Banks said as he left

"Gee, when Janice described him she didn't mention that he was...tall. Not that I have any problem with people who-who are t-tall." Mrs. Banks said

"My cousin used to date a girl who was t-tall." Uncle Lester said

"Heck, the kids go to a predominantly...tall school." Mr. Banks said

"Am I alone in this, or didn't y'all notice he was white?" Will asked

"What the hell is wrong with Janice?" Ms. Smith asked

"Uh, I'm sorry, did I say white? I meant tall." Will said

"He didn't seem that tall to me." Hilary said

"I do not want my sister marrying that man." Ms. Smith said

"I think he's handsome and seems so happy.
Doesn't she? I mean, and that's what y'all want for her. Isn't it?" I told them

"Happy, happy, happy?" Will sang trying to lighten the mood

"Vi, this is her decision." Mrs. Banks told her

"Let Janice do what she wants to do." Aunt Helen agreed 

"Well, she can do it without us. Come on, Will." Ms. Smith said

"Hey, wait. Mom, mom. Hold up. Wait, I'm the best man." Will told her

"Not anymore, you're not. I said, come on." She said leaving as we all turned to Will to see what he was gonna do

"She breastfed me." He told us as he left

I walked up to Janice's room and knocked on her door

"Come in" she said

"Hi" I said

"Hey" she told me

"Where's Frank" I asked

"In the bathroom" she told me

"Are you okay" I asked sitting on her bed

"They don't like Frank do they" she asked

"No....?" I said

"I knew this would happen" she sais

"Well you love him and that's all that matters right" I told her

"I guess so. I just really wanted their approval" she told me

"Well you love him. He loves you. What else do you need to know" I asked as she smiled

"You know you're very smart for your age" She told me

"Thank you and I think hes very handsome" I said as she giggled

"Isn't he" ahe said as we laughed

"You know Carlton told me your a good singer. Would you be able to sing for my wedding" She asked

"I would like that thank you" I said as we both hugged

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It was the wedding day as I was finishing putting flowers in my hair as Carlton walked in

"Wow. You look beautiful" he told me as I smiled

"Thank you" I said

"Shall we" he asked holding out his arm as I put on my headset and was finalizing last minute details

"We shall" I said as I hooked arms with him as we walked to the Banks house

We both walked into the kitchen as we saw Will in a tux. I thought he couldn't come.

"Will, what are you doing in that tux?" I asked

"I'm-I'm going to the, to the, um...to-to the thing. Hey, man, I can say it to you. I'm going to the wedding, man." He told us

"Great. Then you'll get to see my surprise. Since Aunt Janice is of the Negroid persuasion and Frank is of the Caucasoid persuasion I've compiled a special medley of songs. Give a listen." He told us

♪ Ebony and Ivory ♪
♪ Live together
in perfect harmony ♪
♪ Because the world is black ♪
♪ The world is white ♪
♪ It turns by day ♪
♪ And then by night ♪
♪ Since she's got jungle fever ♪
♪ He's got jungle fever ♪
♪ They've got jungle fever ♪
♪ We're in love ♪♪ he sang as I laughed

"So what do you think?" He asked

"I think you were deprived of oxygen at birth." Will said as we walked outside

The wedding had started and I was supposed to walk down the isle with Will and Carlton

"Where's my other bridesmaid" I yelled into my headset when I realized it was me

"Oh wait that's me" I said taking off my headset grabbing my bouquet

We watched the wedding continue as I began crying. I always cry at weddings.

"May our love burn as bright as this candle." Frank said

"May its flame burn eternally in our hearts." Aunt Janice said as they burned the candle

"If there is anyone who thinks that Janice and Frank should not be joined together
in holy matrimony let them speak now or forever hold their peace." The peacher said as Ms. Smith walked out as we all turned to her

"Oh, Lord, have mercy. Why are you all looking at me? Reverend, go on with the ceremony. We are paying you by the hour." She said as they continued the wedding

It was time for Frank and Janice's first dance as I walked on the stage with my guitar

"This is a song I wrote. To Frank and Janice I wish you a wonderful life together" I said as I began strumming my guitar

Never did I think I'd want you
Always seen you 'round my way
Never had the strength to tell you
I kinda, sorta think you're great I sang as Frank and Janice began dancing

Strange for me to wanna love
Someone who's better by themselves
Hate to know I made you crazy for myself I kept singing as I started to get into it

'Cause I don't want you thinking
That my love's in vain
'Cause baby, I've been falling for you
But falling back up out your way I sang letting all my feelings out

'Cause I can't let you lose yourself
Looking for me
And I can't let you make me your
Your everything I sang as I looked at the crowd

I just wanna be an escape
I just wanna be an escape
Baby, can we escape, escape, escape? I sang as I smiled

Admiring you from a distance
Scared to go and make a move
Didn't wanna be distracting
You be all up in your groove I sang as I looked back at Frank and Janice

It's strange for me to wanna love
Someone who's raw all by themselves
I'd hate for you to search for someone else I sang as I kept strumming

'Cause I don't want you thinking
That my love's in vain
Baby, I've been falling for you
But falling up on out your way I kept signing

'Cause I can't let you lose yourself
Looking for me
And I can't let you make me your
Your everything
I just wanna be an escape
I just wanna be an escape
Baby can we escape, escape, escape? i sang softly

Oh, no, no, no, no, ayy
'Cause I've been staying low, holding back
Fighting the feelings that you've been giving
And I've been trying to put it all into words
But I can't, so I'm singing I sang as I looked at Carlton for a split second

I don't want you thinking
That my love's in vain
Baby, I've been falling for you
Been falling back up out your way I kept singing as before Carlton would see I was staring at him I looked back at Frank and Janice

'Cause I can't let you lose yourself
Looking for me
And I can't let you make me your
Your everything
I just wanna be an escape
I just wanna be an escape
Baby, can we escape, escape, escape? I finished as I watched Frank and Janice kiss as I smiled. I hope I have that one day

A/N you guys have to remember this was the 90s. Interracial relationships weren't as common as they are now. Also I have Zora saying Aunt Helen, Aunt Janice because she's comfortable around this family