Anthony stood, leaning on the ivory pillar at the church entrance. It was a clear, bright day. The flowers were growing quite nicely in the garden, with dandelion seeds occasionally�carried by�the wind. Birds were chirping, celebrating the day that is the very center�of spring. Perfect for a wedding.

He smiled to himself, thinking of a day that is quite similar to this one, except that it was very different.

“Hey!” Anthony yelped, the papers which were in his hands just a second ago now floating merrily all over the corridors.

“Oh my gosh! I am so sorry! Here, I’ll help you out…” The girl who crashed into him immediately jumped to her feet and began picking up papers.

“No, it’s fine, I’ll do it,” Anthony said frustratedly, running a hand through his hair. He bent over to get the papers, and his head bumped on hers.

“Ow!”

“I am such a klutz! I’m really sorry!” The girl cried, while rubbing her reddening forehead. Anthony looked up at her in irritation, and then noticed something. “She’s a mess, but she’s an attractive mess,” he thought. Straightening up, he fixed his shirt and extended a hand. “It’s ok. Here, I’ll help you up.”

The girl looked at him uncertainly, and seeing that the guy was smiling down at her, she shyly smiled back. “Thanks, and I’m really sorry for this mess. I can be such an airhead at times and…”

“It’s fine,” he repeated. “One apology is enough, alright? By the way, I’m Anthony, Ant to my friends.”

She blinked. “Um, I’m Beth.” Seeing that she was still holding his hand, she dropped it and jumped back, blushing again. “Ant? Aren’t Anthonies usually called Tony?”

“Why? You know a lot of guys named Anthony?” He grinned down at her. Seeing her blush more fiercely, he took pity on her and stopped his teasing. Well, only a little. “Want me to tell you about it over coffee?”

“Sure, why not?” Beth smiled at him.

Anthony smiled at the memory. They had good times, him, Beth, and George, his best friend since kindergarten. All three of them had very different personalities, and it never ceases to amaze Anthony how they could be best friends in spite of that.

A knock on the door.

Anthony got up to answer it. He had dozed off on his keyboard, typing his biology paper, and he had an uncomfortable feeling that the QWERTY keys were mirrored on his forehead. Peering out, he saw Beth standing outside the door.

“Beth? What’s going on?”

“Oops! Did I wake you up? I’m sorry, but I thought you might want to…”

In spite of his sleepiness, Anthony smiled. “Hey, didn’t I tell you the first day we met that one apology is enough? Now, what can I do for you?”

“Well… Our favorite indie punk band�is set to perform at the student center, and I thought you’d might want to go with me.”

“What? As a date?” He teased Beth, who blushed scarlet. She never got used to his teasing.

Beth was saved from answering when another voice from Anthony’s room suddenly was heard.

“Ant, is it the pizza guy again? Tell him that, for the last time, I didn’t order Meat Lovers! I’m vegetarian, for crying out loud!”

“Who was that?” Beth said, confused.

“Don’t mind the dork, he’s my roommate, George.” Suddenly, another face peered out of the door.

“Hi.” George grinned at her, making her blush again. “I’m not really a dork, he’s just saying that to be nice. I’m George. This guy and I have known each other since we were kids, and calling me dork is his term of endearment for me.”

In spite of herself, Beth giggled.

“Anyway,” George continued, “Did I hear news about an indie punk rock band? I’m not really a fan of the genre, but listening to a live band is much better than staring into space for an hour. That is,” he hesitated, looking at the two, “if that’s fine with you. I wouldn’t want to barge in on your date.”

Anthony and Beth immediately assured him that it wasn’t. and the three went on their way to the student center, Anthony washing his face first in a vain attempt to wash away the letter “Y” on his nose.

Anthony chuckled to himself at the memory.

“Laughing to yourself? First sign of insanity, bro, first sign,” George said to him, laughing himself. Like Anthony, he was wearing a black tux.

“Oh hey, George,” Anthony said. “I was just remembering those days in college.”

“I think I know what those are,” George grinned at him. “Oh, hey, you’d better quit leaning on the pillar, you know how Beth hates wrinkled clothes.” Anthony immediately jumped away from it, and then looked guiltily at George.

“George…”

“I know, Ant. I have to ask you something though? Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

“Yeah,” he smiled. “Let’s do this, Beth is waiting. Besides,” he added, “A best friend�has to be with his buddy when he gets married, right?”

And in so saying, Anthony brought George over to Beth, his best friend’s bride.

—

I finally thought up of a new “Lite,” but compared to the other stuff I’ve written, this one’s not really happy. Anyway, different can be good.:P I just kept it short because I can’t think of any more memories.:( If you want though, I could try and lengthen it - just help me think what to do with it.^_^ Hwahahahaha!

Technorati tags: wedding, literature, lite, short story, love story, sad