Convincing her (Jen and Lucas)

Jen was going downstairs as she chatted with Hellen. Hellen was ready to hold the engagement party in two weeks, but Jen felt it was too soon. After debating a bit, they finally settled to a month from now. Not knowing that Hellen already had a venue in mind and had also contacted a designer for her dress, Jen collapsed on the sofa and took a deep breath.

Just when she thought she had relaxed, she heard the lock on her front door dismantle before the door opened. She sat up and all the girls poured into her house. Jen looked dumbfounded as she looked at her sister and her friends who had come out of nowhere.

"How could you ghost me? I thought you were dead or something and even had to cut my meetings short to come over," Alex complained as she went to sit next to Jen. Jen did not catch a break before her friends' complaints bombarded her.

"I thought you did not come to school, but Michael said you did. You even avoided me?" Nancy complained. She had been so excited and was itching to see Jen the whole time she was having lectures. Imagine her disappointment after waiting for her for almost an hour in the cafeteria.

Leanna and Rachel watched in silence as the three girls continued to complain. They didn't have anything to say since whatever they wanted to say has already been said. After a while, they finally calmed down and only then did Jen open her mouth.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know Lucas was going to tell everyone so soon, so I panicked and turned off my phone," Jen explained.

"Wow," Laura exclaimed in disbelief. If she had proposed to James and he said yes, she would be touting it to the whole world. What was wrong with her friend?

Rachel only laughed but did not comment, she knew that she might react the same way if she was in a similar position. Only, she didn't think she had the guts to propose first.

"How come you proposed?" Alex asked, and Jen pursed her lips with guilt. 

"Lucas already proposed to me before… many times," Jen said hesitantly, and Laura looked at her in indignation. She was having a hard time to go the ultimate step with her boyfriend while her friend had the leisure of refusing her boyfriend's proposal. Many times at that.

"Wow," this time it was Leanna who said it.

"So, he told me once I'm ready to take that step, I should let him know. But it's not like I can just be like, 'I'm ready now let's do this!' Right?" Jen asked and they nodded in agreement. 

"So I proposed, I was so nervous I had to drink first, even though I knew that he would not say no. He was so surprised it was a bit comical," Jen said and laughed a bit. The girls sighed when they heard this. They wanted these details, but she ran away and hid instead!

"Should I try this with James?" Laura asked, and the girls laughed. He wouldn't say yes, he would probably check if she was drunk and saying nonsense if she did so.

"We need to celebrate this weekend," Alex said, and everyone agreed.

"I also want to, but I have to meet Lucas's mom this weekend. I also have to talk to mom, I know she'll come to help organize the engagement party," Jen said and started feeling stressed.

"We're also here, don't overstress about it, we'll be there to help," Rachel said when she saw Jen sporting a tired expression. They had all worked hard for Leanna's wedding, it's not like they won't do it for Jen too. They too will eventually need this kind of support in the future.

"Thank you guys," Jen said, and they brushed it off. There was no need to be so polite among friends.

"Anyway, since we are all here, we might as well celebrate a bit," Laura said as she walked to the kitchen, while Alex stood up to go call for room service. Cook? Her? She was not in the mood! Besides, they could order drinks as well while they were at it. Jen laughed as she listened to Alex's order and wondered if it was Monday or Friday.

"Don't you all have work tomorrow?" she asked them and they all shrugged like it did not matter.

"Do you plan on getting engaged again in the future?" Leanna asked with a smile. Honestly, she did not have any engagements tomorrow, so she was not worried. She only had to sleep, and eat every day. It was truly boring.

"Let's just do it now since we are all available anyway. My schedule might change at any time," Laura said as she brought two bottles of wine she had scrounged up from Jen's fridge. She went back and brought some juice and the corresponding glasses and poured everyone their drink. 

Leanna looked at the wine and wanted to hurry up and have the baby. She did not think she would be the type to miss alcohol, but she kind of did.

Alex also came back from her call and joined them. She looked at everyone who was holding a glass and frowned a bit.

"Is it okay for you to drink? Didn't you all drive here?" Alex asked.

"Boyfriend," Nancy and Rachel said together.

"Boyfriend, or manager," Laura said.

"I have a driver these days," Leanna said, even though she was not drinking.

"Are you flaunting your relationships right now?" Alex asked and downed the whole glass in indignance, making everyone laugh.

"The hotel also has a chauffeur service, so you can just make yourselves comfortable," Jen said as she too laughed at Alex.

"You can also date, you are so beautiful you probably have a lot of pursuers," Nancy said to her and Alex sighed.

"The issue isn't that they dislike her, but rather she is picky," Jen said and ruffled Alex's hair, receiving a glare as a result.

"You have to be picky, especially with her looks," Laura who was also very picky supported Alex. If you aren't picky, how can you get the type you like? Even though you might end up as an old virgin like herself.