Jenna stood in the living room of the apartment, watching Jess packing up her room. "I can't believe you're actually going through with this Jess. Leaving Dylan Bryant for Nick Carter of all people." Jess laughed, "You know Jen, I think you're having more of a hard time accepting this break up than Dylan is. He was very understanding about it all…surprisingly." "I'm amazed he still wants you to model the gown, I mean it was supposed to be for your wedding. I would have cut the thing to ribbons if I was Dylan." Jess glanced up, surprised at the spiteful tone in Jenna's voice, then shrugged in response. "We left on good terms Jen, I'm okay with it, he's okay with it, there's no reason why you shouldn't be. You act like you got gypped out of something." Then picking up a box Jess walked out the door to put it with the others in the rented moving van downstairs. Jenna frowned and watched her roommate walk out the door. STUPID BITCH, she thought to herself. You have no idea what you've just given up. She walked into Jess's room and looked at the hanging gown, running her fingers lightly across the satin fabric, no idea how stupid you really are. Then with one last glance she walked back towards her room, shutting the door as Jess walked back into the apartment laughing with Nick. But, someone is going to get what she deserves out of all this. People are going to stand up and take notice of Jenna Bard tomorrow. She smiled and stood in front of the large mirror hanging on her wall, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement, "Tomorrow…" she whispered to the reflection.
Jess walked into the building, hearing the noises of models scrambling for last minute touches. Nick walked in beside her, the wedding gown draped across his arm, "You sure you're not late or something?" he asked, watching girls darting back and forth, tossing brushes and other assorted objects to one another. Jess smiled and reached for the dress, "I'm sure. I have a while before I have to be ready, since I'm only showing the wedding gown." She felt his hand tighten around hers as Dylan approached the two, "She's the finale. The crème de la crème of my show." He kissed Jess's cheek and reached out a hand to Nick. "Congratulations. You're a very lucky man to have her I hope you know." Nick nodded, shaking the extended hand, then reached his arm protectively around Jess's waist, "Believe me, I know." "Better start getting ready Jessa. Won't be too long before the big bang exit." Dylan smiled and turned his attention towards some a tall blond model arguing with the fitter.
Jess kissed Nick's cheek and pushed him towards the door leading out to the seating. "Go, sit, I want you to have a front row spot for this. I still can't believe though that my final show is your first." She laughed. Nick hugged her and kissed her, "Break a leg, or whatever the saying is. I love you." "I love you too." Nick watched as she headed for a dressing area in the back and then after losing sight of her in the crowd of women he headed out front for a front row seat.
Jess glanced in the mirror as she put the finishing touches on her makeup and brushed a few stray curls back from her forehead. Turning, she reached for the dress and saw Jenna watching her. "Jen? I didn't think you were modeling anything today?" she looked at her ex-roommate curiously as Jenna stroked the fabric of the gown. "Oh I'm not, I just came for moral support really." Her voice dripped with sarcasm as Jess brushed past her sighing. "Jenna, I don't have time for your hissy fits right now. I have to…" Jess's words were cut off with a soft cry as the lamp struck the back of her head. Setting the lamp back on the makeup table Jenna reached for the gown. Slipping into it, she looked down at Jess's crumpled form lying unconscious at her feet and smiled. "People are going to stand up and take notice of Jenna Bard today Jessalyn. And Dylan will see how perfect we are for each other when he sees me in his dress." She placed the veil on her head and pulled the fabric over her face, walking to the wings of the stage, waiting for the introduction of Dylan Bryant's most incredible design yet.
Nick sat impatiently through the show. Wishing he wasn’t there. Damn these things get boring fast. How the hell did Jess put up with it for so long? He wondered silently to himself, listening to the design introductions and watching model after model display them. Suddenly he noticed everyone seem to sit up a little more as the music changed the lights dimmed and there she was…the bride. The crème de la crème as Dylan had called her. A spotlight opened up on her and she slowly walked down the runway. Small steps, relishing in the attention of everyone in the room the way a bride should be on her wedding day. The gown was true to Dylan's compliments, incredible, even in Nick's eyes. He frowned only for a moment wishing he could see Jess's face under the veil, but watched in silence as the bride reached the end of the runway. She stood quietly for a moment, then turned to walk back to meet Dylan who had appeared in the middle of the runway. Dressed in his finest tuxedo he watched as the bride walked slowly towards him.
Nick never saw the gun.
Neither did the bride.
Dylan stretched his arm out and pointed the weapon at the bride. "Out with a bang Jessie…just like I promised." He snarled as his fingers tightened, pulling the trigger.
The sound echoed and exploded throughout the room. Nick stood in shocked confusion as he watched the bride crumple to the floor, the white satin growing red with her blood as she lay gasping for air. Then with a scream he charged the stage, tackling Dylan, the two struggling for control of the gun as it went off twice more. Nick fell back, grabbing his shoulder as he felt a rush of hot pain sear through it, and watched as Dylan Bryant, his eyes wide with shock fell to his knees. His hands pressed against the wound in his stomach. The two men stared at one another, until Dylan fell unconscious to the floor. As the gun fell from Nick's hand he turned to the bride lying on the floor. "Jess…" he ran to the bloodied form on the runway and pushed the veil back from her face, terrified to see her dying before him. "What…Jenna…" Nicks expression changed from fear to confusion as he discovered Jess's roommate lying dead on the floor.
"Nickolas…"
Nick spun around, groaning with pain as his body wrenched at his wounded shoulder. Standing in her white bra and panties, Jess stood at the opposite end of the runway. Tears streaming down her face as she looked at the scene in front of her. Dylan lay with a gunshot wound to the stomach, Nick sat on the floor next to Jenna's body, his hand pressed to his shoulder as he tried to stop the flow of blood. "Jess…I thought you were…" his voice cracked as he tried to stand, "You…you're not…" Jess ran to Nick and caught him before he fainted. "No baby…" she whispered, crying against his hair as she rocked him slowly, watching as the room became overrun with paramedics and police, "I'm not."