Lily & Damon's Wedding

deleted scene from Almost Friends

The coordinator placed a bouquet in Aubrey’s hands and shoved her through the entryway and into the aisle. She met Damon’s cold glare with a raised chin and stubborn gaze. She owed him nothing, even if her heart had stopped at the anger in Lily’s eyes.

She had known for months that Damon was furious that she hadn’t been coming in for the rehearsal dinner. It hadn’t fazed her because when wasn’t Damon mad at her? But Lily’s anger ate at Aubrey.

She didn’t bother explaining she had missed the flight. She had made a commitment to Lily, and she hadn’t followed through. Why didn’t matter.

Plus, she knew if she told Lily about the awful ordeal that Lily would want to sit and talk, take care of Aubrey. And that wouldn’t be fair on her wedding day. So, Aubrey kept her mouth shut and spent the first half of the reception allowing herself to dwell on being a terrible person. Watching Damon’s hoard of friends dance and laugh with Lily, she had never felt so on the outside of their friendship.

But, after Lily had a little too much champagne, she wandered over. Or maybe she sought Aubrey out because what she said was, “My dad’s an ass,” and Aubrey wasn’t sure Lily would say that to anyone else.

“I know.” He had always been an ass. It had been his defining characteristic their entire lives.

“He kept going on and on at dinner about how he always knew we’d grow apart. Wasn’t it a shame you’d miss my wedding.”

“The rehearsal dinner?” Aubrey asked—unsure if she was more surprised Mr. Zimmerman had scored an invitation or that she herself had been his chosen topic of conversation.

Lily nodded, throwing herself off balance. Aubrey put a surreptitious hand on Lily’s back to steady her.

“I defended you,” Lily said. “To Dad and Damon. But you almost didn’t make it, Auburn. What the hell?”

“I’m so sorry,” Aubrey said. “I never wanted to miss your wedding. I swear.”

“I know.” Lily her lip. After a pause, she continued. “I just feel like you’re so far away.”

“I am,” Aubrey pointed out. “Syria is halfway around the world.”

“No. I mean, you haven’t even video chatted with me since Christmas. Is Dad right? Are we growing apart?”

Dumbfounded, Aubrey gaped. “You think I don’t want to be friends anymore?”

“I don’t know,” Lily stressed. “I don’t know what’s going on with you. Because you don’t talk to me.”

The full weight of what she had done, how much she had pulled away from Lily, finally occurred to her.

“We’re us,” Aubrey said. “That’s never going to change. It’s just been… hard.”

“You knew it would be,” Lily pointed out, already looking comforted. “But you can talk to me, Auburn. I’m still here.”

“I’m going to be better,” Aubrey promised. “I’m going to do better.” Then she eyed Lily. “And I’m going to remind you of this conversation before I leave tomorrow because you are looking spectacularly buzzed.”

Lily laughed, slipping her arm through Aubrey’s as the last of her tension dissipated. “Let’s eat until I bust my zipper,” Lily said, steering Aubrey around the edge of the dancefloor.

“Now you’re speaking my language.”

“I ordered cheesecake bites.” 

Aubrey’s mouth began to salivate. “I missed those on my first pass.”

“They’re not out,” Lily said, leading Aubrey into the catering tent. “I got them for us.”