Famed fashion designer, Dylan Bryant, was shot and wounded yesterday during the finale of his highly publicized spring fashion show. Details are still sketchy, however it seems that Mr. Bryant, mistakenly shot and killed model Jenna Bard seemingly assuming that it was his ex-fiancée, model Jessalyn Carter, who was supposed to be premiering the gown. Although it's not known why, Ms. Bard was wearing the wedding gown Bryant had designed for his bride-to-be. The engagement between the renowned fashion designer and model was only recently broken off apparently according to sources. A bystander of the show was caught in the apparent crossfire as he fought to get the gun away from Bryant. Nickolas Carter (no relation to model Jessalyn Carter) was shot in the shoulder as he tackled Bryant, struggling to get the gun away. During the struggle, Bryant was shot in the stomach and is currently recovering from surgery. Jessalyn Carter, the friend and roommate of slain model Jenna Bard was not injured. Mr. Carter is recovering at home.
Charges are still under way as the police finish their investigation.
Funeral services for Jenna Bard are still waiting to be announced.
Nick sighed, laying the newspaper down and leaned back in his bed. "Owww shit!" he winced as his shoulder shifted painfully. "Nick, be careful!" Jess rushed into the room carrying a tray of food. Setting it on the desk, she walked over and gingerly sat on the bed beside him. "Are you ok?" she asked softly as her eyes rested on the newspaper lying next to him. Nick reached up and turned her face towards him, "I'm fine now that you're here." He moved slowly to make room for her on the bed beside him and wrapped his good arm around her as she curled up beside him, resting her head against his chest. Gently he ran his fingers through her hair as her fingers absent-mindedly stroked his stomach. "I was so scared Jess…when I saw her…when I thought it was you…" Jess closed her eyes and wrapped her arm around him, hugging him to her, burying her face in his chest. Nick rested his cheek against the top of her head, "I love you so much Jessalyn." Jess moved carefully and looked up at him, "Marry me Jessa…" the words were out before Nick even realized it.
Jess sat up and looked at him, "You know what I was just thinking?" Nick shook his head, wondering if she'd heard his proposal. She took his good hand in hers, gently tracing the lines in his palm as she softly spoke. "I was thinking about when I was 7 years old and had just moved here. About how mad I was that my mom had moved me away from all my friends, and how she introduced me to this dorky blond boy who just happened to have the same last name as me." Nick smiled, listening and watching her long fingers as they continued tracing. "And I was thinking about how mad it made me that I had this dorky boy looking at me like I had three heads or something, so I pushed him and told him I hated boys." Jess stopped tracing the lines in his palm and looked up into his eyes, "and then I was thinking about how when I was 15, Rachel told me she loved you and how I thought she was crazy for falling in love with my dork of a best friend. And at the same time was jealous, because I didn't want to share you with her. Or with anyone for that matter. And then I was thinking about college and what happened there and how I thought I'd lost you…" Nick opened and shut his mouth as she quickly continued on, not letting him talk, "and then…last week…when I saw you sitting there, with so much blood…" She looked down quickly, trembling at the memory, then looked back up; her eyes brimming with tears, "and how I would die if I lost you. You have been there my whole life practically Nickolas…I've known since the first time I saw you, since that day I pushed you down into the dirt, that I was going to marry you." Jess leaned forward and rested her forehead against Nicks', "of course I'll marry you Nickolas Carter. But…only on one condition." Nick grinned, then sat back, looking into her eyes, bright and sparkling with laughter. "And that condition would be." "Well, two conditions actually…" Jess smiled and kissed him lightly, "One, that I get to keep my last name…" Nick roared with laughter, sputtering as he looked at the beautiful girl sitting in front of him, "You dork!" he laughed, "And the second condition?" Jess giggled softly and slipped her fingers under his shirt, watching as his eyes locked onto hers. "That you let me play doctor with you until you're all better." She murmured as her lips travelled slowly along his throat, smiling as Nick sighed contentedly. "With pleasure Doctor Carter…with pleasure."
I shifted on my feet and watched as her mother also urged her towards me slightly. I watched as the features on her face darkened with annoyance as she looked at me. Her green eyes darkening with irritation. “Jess, say hello to Nickolas.” She looked straight at me; took a step forward; reached out with both hands and shoved me backwards.
I stumbled back; my mouth in an “O” of shock and surprise as I fell, landing hard on my backside in the dirt. I looked up in time to see her put her hands on her hips as she leaned forward; “I hate boys!” she growled at me, “they’re gross!” then I watched as she spun around and ran back to her house, her red hair flying behind her.
I was 8 years old…she was 7…and I had just fallen in love.
Jessalyn Carter and Nickolas Carter were married
in a private beachside evening ceremony,
May 30, 2002.