Chapter Twenty: Scarlet:

It’s already three o’clock. Three o’clock and we haven’t found that bitch yet. She’s long gone by now.

“Don’t say that,” Noiz said. I looked at her with my cigarette in hand.

“Why?” I asked. “Where is she? Why did she run off?”

“I don’t know, but we will find her,” Noiz said, looking up at me. I snorted and put my cigarette in my mouth.

“We were supposed to be at the reception by now,” I said. “Maggie’s running out of ways to keep the situation under control at the chapel. Frankly, I don’t see the point in looking for that cow anymore.”

“She’s right, you know?” Aden asked.

“You’re not helping!” Noiz said. “Look, let’s just do this for Ben’s sake!”

“Why?” I asked. She rubbed her forehead as her cat ears twitched.

“I just want Ben to be happy, you know?” she asked. “That guy’s already suffered enough. I know that *******’s out of his league, but I don’t care about that. I just want him to be happy for a change.” I rolled my eyes.

“So where is she now, huh?” I asked. “How can you be so sure that she didn’t run off with cold feet?”

“We won’t know anything until we have the full story,” Noiz replied. “In order to do that, we have to find ******* and get her to talk.”

“And how can you be sure that she will do that?” Aden asked.

“We won’t know unless we try,” the boss said. She walked down the street. I rolled my eyes as I looked at Aden.

“She can’t be serious,” I said. That fox shook her head and followed behind. I rubbed my forehead and sighed. Like everyone else in this rambling story, I think this is stupid. Why the hell are we doing this crap anyway? Do I really need to repeat what everyone else has been saying? If you haven’t gotten it by now, it’s just to sound like blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Yeah.

So why are we still out here? Where is everyone anyway? There’s been radio silence all around. I bet the boys got lost in the strip clubs, bars, and soaplands. Slackers. Well, they are men after all. I do like a little sex, but I am just not feeling it today. On the other hand, we would all have to deal with that wedding. I don’t do weddings. They are long and boring and a waste of money. Even the wedding party in this one didn’t want to be there.

Complaining from all of us just turns into more blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I lit up my cigarette and walked down the crowded street to catch up with Noiz and Aden. What happens if we don’t find *******? Can we all go back by then? Don’t tell me that we would be back out doing this crap? What about those guests at the wedding? Would they have to go home? I shut my eyes and clenched my cigarette between my teeth. Thinking about this is stupid. Stupid makes my brain hurt. Whatever. I am beyond caring by this point. I managed to catch up with Noiz and Aden at a crosswalk. The boss looked at me, frowning.

“What were you doing?” she asked. I moved my arms behind my head.

“Who cares anymore?” I asked. “Let’s just hurry this up. I want to get home and smoke.”

“But aren’t you smoking right now?” Noiz asked. I frowned as I looked down at my cigarette.

“This one doesn’t taste so good,” I said. She raised her eyebrow as she narrowed her eyes.

“Then why you still smoking it?” the kitty asked.

“Bitch, I’m not wasting this stick,” I said. “I lit up, I might as well use it.” She frowned and walked forward. It didn’t help that I was on my last one that I had on me. Damn it, I can’t slip away and buy a new pack. Noiz’s eagle eyes won’t let up until we find that idiotic bride before the day is over.

When this one burns away, I will try and slip away to the nearest store and buy a new pack before the other two even notice. I tried to do some quick math before I stopped caring and resumed smoking and walking. That bitch better be in serious trouble. She already caused enough headache for everyone else. I know a good number of us that will want to kick her ass when we saw her. I would like to slap herself myself, but I would probably be too lazy to that if this day keeps dragging on.

I want to shut up about this. I closed my eyes and took in the last long smoke. After this, I am going to go bat shit insane.