Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

As Bella sat in the cafe, she remembered the most horrible day of her first grade year: the day she forgot to wear underwear to school beneath her dress.

There was tumbling that day.

Of course there was tumbling. If there hadn't been, she probably still would have felt like everyone somehow just knew that she was half naked, but as it was, she got so excited about tumbling that she completely forgot she hadn't put her panties on and showed her classmates exactly what she was made of.

This moment was so, so very much like that moment. It felt like everyone knew about her, even though they couldn't possibly.

She was here for two things: to meet with someone she hoped would rent her a room in an apartment downtown and to make a delivery, both of which should be simple enough. But she knew, somehow, that it wouldn't be, and that soon every single person in the cafe would most likely get to watch her be humiliated.

She was here to deliver her wedding dress to her maid of honor.

Who was marrying Bella's fiancé, Tyler.

On the same day she was supposed to have married him.

In the same church.

With nearly all of the same bridesmaids.

With the reception in the same place (though she'd heard that they'd nearly forgotten to change the names on the cocktail napkins -- ooops).

So now, Jessica, her college roommate and former BFF of 6 years, was coming to buy the wedding dress, veil and fancy shoes that she'd helped Bella pick out in the spring. Bella contemplated why it had not seemed at all ominous at the time that her friend had tried it all on herself after Bella had bought it. She'd made a joke that Jess could be her stand in if she couldn't make a fitting. Apparently, Jess had been a stand in for a hell of a lot more than just a dress fitting.

Just two weeks ago, Bella had gone over to the house she and Tyler were going to be living in to transfer some of her books and things and have a little time to 'play house' before she moved in for good. She'd let herself in and stacked a few books on the shelf before she'd heard the noises. Expecting burglars, she'd looked around the corner of the kitchen to find the two people she trusted most in the world in a sexual position that she wouldn't have thought physically possible, completely lost in each other and screaming out professions of love, adoration, and how Bella was nothing -- she's nothing to me --there's only you-- and that was it. She left quietly, not really having room in her mind for what she'd just seen and desperately wishing for some bleach to pour into her eyes.

Last night had been a bittersweet evening of too much wine and pizza with Angela, the only former bridesmaid who wasn't still going to be Jess's bridesmaid, and Ben, Angela's ever-faithful boy toy thinking of ways it could have been worse. She could have found out far too late, like when she'd gotten knocked up with her and Tyler's fifth baby. She could have found out while she was already in her wedding dress and in front of every relative and friend she had. She could have seen herself and Tyler on some skanky internet site. She could have...

But really, there were only a few ways to put a positive spin on something like this. The only comfort she had was that she still had a little dignity left. They looked like the bad guys. There was no possible way they could make it look like she was the one with the problem.

Could they?

She was betting that they could, but still...

Bella shuddered a bit when she remembered going home to tell her parents that the wedding they'd been struggling to pay for would have to be called off. Charlie had sat there quietly, a vein in his forehead throbbing just a bit too quickly, his hand slowly creeping up to his belt where he usually kept his police issue handgun holstered. After a few quiet moments, Renee had burst into laughter causing both Bella and Charlie to jump.

"I always thought Tyler was a son of a bitch," she said, wiping tears from her eyes.

"But, I thought you liked him... you never said..." Bella fumbled.

"No, it wasn't Tyler I didn't like. It was his bitch of a mother. He is literally a son of a bitch. Damn. I'm so glad I won't have to pretend to like her any more."

The three of them had laughed in the way that people do when they can't seem to react in any appropriate way: slightly hysterically, loudly, and with tears.

They had just begun to catch their breath when there was a knock at the door. Tyler, along with Jess and his parents, came for what Bella was sure was one of the weirdest conversations anyone had ever been a part of. Ever. It began with Tyler's parents asking for the entire set of wedding bills for everything from the church to the cocktail mints. They offered to pick up all of the wedding gifts that had come from any of their friends or relatives and take care of them, so the Swans didn't have to be burdened. Charlie's face showed a brief bit of ahh... they're doing the right thing satisfaction until the next thing that came out of The Bitch's mouth.

"We are so very happy for these two lovebirds and want to show our full support for their upcoming marriage. Although it's not the way we all originally intended it to be, we hope you will all join us at the church next Saturday. Same time, same place!"

That was when Bella first truly experienced what it meant to be without anything to say. What could be said to something like that??

Again, Renee had the right response: the laughter of hysteria. "Of course we will be there. With a gift. We wouldn't miss it for anything," her mother cooed as she jumped up, grabbed The Bitch's elbow and steered her to the front door, the men following obediently. Bella could have sworn that her mother gave Tyler's mother a shove on the way out before she slammed the door, nearly hitting Jess in the ass.

So here she was, the night that should have been for her wedding shower, a cup of lukewarm coffee at her elbow, the big white garment bag draped on the chair beside her, waiting for the happy couple to show up and buy that wretched wedding dress. If Bella kept a blog, she was sure that this story would go national. It would end up being one of those emails that just kept circulating everywhere for ages.

Cash.

It would have to be cash. No way in hell was she taking a check.

Then she was going to blow the cash on strippers or wild nights of tequila body shots or something.

Or maybe pay the rent, if this roommate interview went alright.

A high pitched giggle caught her attention and she knew that the games had begun. Jess was here.

Ugh.