Chapter 3 We Meet Again

November 21, 2021

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Josh woke up late the next morning with a hangover because of all the drinks he had last night during his best friend's bachelor party. Andrew and Josh had been best friends since they were little boys and it was truly remarkable that Andrew was finally getting married to his girlfriend of five years and he asked Josh to be his best man. Their two other friends, Frank and Chris were still asleep in the corner of the room and so was Andrew, all of them knocked out due to severe intoxication from last night's partying.

Josh got up from the floor and clumsily walked over to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. He took a long sip and looked around the apartment in confusion, the hangover disorienting him. He took a look at his watch and noticed that the time was nine-thirty in the morning and the wedding was supposed to take place in an hour. He dropped his water bottle on the floor and ran over to wake up Andrew and the guys.

"Guys, guys, wake up. We overslept!" He announced in a panic.

"What?" Andrew asked drowsily, slowly waking up.

"We're gonna be late, guys," Josh said loudly but the guys didn't pay him any mind.

"Late for what?" Andrew asked, his eyes still closed.

"Your wedding, remember? You're getting married today."

Andrew's eyes immediately shot open in the realization that today was indeed his wedding day. He looked at his own watch and with a panicked scream got up hurriedly.

"We gotta move guys! Gwen's going to kill me." Andrew said and kicked Frank and Chris in an attempt to wake them up.

They woke up and sleepily, asked what the problem was and were shocked themselves when Andrew informed them that they had overslept. They both jolted up and composed themselves.

"We need to get ready, ASAP. The wedding's less than an hour to start. Andrew, quickly get in the shower." Frank ordered him.

The four friends had their baths, got dressed, and were ready in next to no time. Andrew stood in front of the full-length mirror and stared at himself with a smile. His friends stood behind him and looked at him with admiration.

"You're going to be an amazing husband, Andrew," Chris said to him.

"You really think so?" Andrew asked, feeling slightly nervous.

"Of course. You're going to be the best husband. Now come on, let's go get you married." Josh told his buddy and the four friends left the apartment, got into a car and headed to the church.

They arrived a few minutes late but thankfully, the bride hadn't shown up yet. They hurried inside and took their places by the altar until a car stopped outside with Gwen in it.

The guests all got on their feet and the organ played "Here Comes The Bride" as she walked in, accompanied by her father.

The ceremony began and the couple said their vows and exchanged rings before kissing as newlyweds.

It was a very beautiful wedding, followed by an even more beautiful reception, and seeing his best friend married and happy made Josh get caught up in a little wedding fever himself. He thought about where his life was headed and when he might find that special someone. He was twenty-six years old and had never been in a serious relationship. Every woman he had ever gone out with just wasn't the one he was looking for and he was beginning to think that he may never find that special someone.

That was when he saw her sitting by herself on one of the tables. She was absolutely breathtaking and he stared at her with a weird feeling building up within him. Her hair was like a river of ebony and her eyes were like the ocean. Never had he seen a woman as divine and angelic as her. He was sure he had never met before but for some reason, she looked very familiar.

She didn't look excited though, and he wondered why that was. He needed to speak to her so he mustered up the courage to walk over and introduce himself.

"Hello there, do you mind if I sit here?" He asked pleasantly.

"Not at all, please!" She said to him.

"Beautiful wedding, isn't it?" He said casually, so he could converse with her.

"Yeah, it really is." She replied.

"Are you related to Andrew or Gwen?"

"I'm Gwen's cousin actually." She mentioned.

"Really? That's nice. I'm Josh, the best man," Josh said with his hand outstretched.

"Yeah, I saw you at the church. Nice to meet you, Josh, I'm Isabelle." She replied and shook his hand.

They felt a bit of electricity as soon as their hands met. It was a small spark but they felt it.

"What was that?" Isabelle asked after quickly pulling her hand away.

"I don't know! Static electricity or something." Josh said and they carried on talking.

They were silent for a while as they watched the newlyweds feed each other cake with smiles on their faces. Josh looked up and noticed her staring at him.

"Is there something on my face?" He asked and felt his face for what she was staring at.

"No, it's just...I feel like I've met you before but I just can't remember." Isabelle said, with a confused look in her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm getting the exact same feeling," Josh said and stared at her as well.

Then he heard Andrew call out his name so he could give his best man speech and do a toast.

"I'll be right back!" Josh said to Isabelle and went over to Andrew.

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Meanwhile, God and Lucifer watched from the heavens as a new chapter of the lovers' story was about to begin.

"Let us begin, shall we?" Lucifer said with an evil smirk.

"You remember the rules, don't you Lucifer?" God asked him.

"Of course, Father! No killing them, no going down to the earth ourselves, no telling them the truth about their origin, and no harming them physically. I remember," The Devil said.

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"Hi, everyone! For those of you who don't know who I am, let me introduce myself. I'm Josh, the best man and I'm also the reason Andrew isn't in jail right now, so you're welcome Gwen." Josh began, causing everyone present to laugh.

"Alright, that's enough joking. Let me get back to what's really important. Love! Love is rare, love is special, love is hard to come by and only a few people are lucky enough to find it at such a young age or at any age. Andrew, Gwen, you guys are lucky to have each other and I have no doubt at all that your union will be forever cause I have never met two people more in love than the both of you. Congratulations, my friends," he said and raised his glass, "To your marriage!"

The guests applauded and Andrew gave Josh a hug. The reception resumed and Josh went back to Isabelle's table.

"Wow! That was beautiful." Isabelle said to him.

"Thanks! They are quite lucky to have found each other," Josh said.

"Yeah, they are. Do you see yourself doing that someday?" Isabelle asked.

"What, you mean, settling down and getting married? Yeah, of course! Some day with the right someone." He replied.

The party went on and Josh and Isabelle spent the entirety of it talking to each other and getting to know themselves a lot more. They could instantly tell that there was something about the other person that was just magnetic and familiar. If only they knew their history and the eternal love that flows between them. But, the past didn't matter, their past lives didn't matter. All that mattered was the now, the here, and the future.

The band started playing a slow song and the MC of the reception invited the couple on the stage for their first dance. Andrew and Gwen got on the dance floor and swayed to the music in each other's arms and after a minute, other couples joined them.

"Would you like to dance?" Josh asked Isabelle, offering her his hand.

"Sure," she said and took his hand.

They got on the dance floor and danced to the slow music and it was just the most perfect reunion that could ever be seen. The chemistry between the both of them was so intense that some eyes were focused on them rather than the married couple.

Josh didn't know what it was about this woman that made him feel so good but he wanted to find out. He wanted to get to know her better and spend more time with her and so, he made his move.

"So, Isabelle. Do you live around here or did you just travel in to attend the wedding?" Josh asked.

"I actually just moved here recently. I got a job offer with a company and it came with an apartment so, I guess this is my new town now." She replied.

Josh was happy to hear this and it was a bit difficult for him to contain his excitement. The fact that she just moved to Los Angeles had to be God's plan, he thought to himself.

"Wow! That's nice. If you need someone to show you around, you know, give you a tour of the city, I can fill in for the position," He said cutely.

"Oh yeah?" Isabelle asked with a smile, knowing his intentions.

"Yeah. I could show you the best spots here and we can like, get a drink together sometime."

"Are you asking me out on a date?" Isabelle asked.

"Yeah, yeah I am. What do you say?"

"Ok, then! Let's do it." She accepted.

The party went on for about another hour until it was time for the bride and groom to leave and begin their honeymoon. Andrew and Gwen got into the car and drove off into the night, being waved off by their friends and families.

"Well, it's been really wonderful meeting you but I have to go now," Isabelle told Josh.

"Why is that?" Josh asked disappointedly.

"I start my new job tomorrow so I have to get there early to leave a good impression." She said.

"Oh yeah, that is a good plan. Let me call you a taxi." Josh said.

He got a taxi and opened the door for her to enter.

"Wait! I didn't get your number so I can call you to fix a day for our date." Josh mentioned.

Isabelle took out a pen from her purse and wrote her number on Josh's palm and winked at him before getting into the cab.

"I'll call you,"

"You'd better!" She replied, just before the car drove away.

Josh was happy. He was beyond happy, he was excited. It had been a while since he'd been on a date and he was really looking forward to seeing Isabelle again.

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"And so it begins anew. Another chapter of this never-ending story. Would you like to have the first go at it, Father?" The Devil asked.

"Do whatever you want, Lucifer. I see that smug look on your face. You think it will be easy to break them apart but you're wrong. It will be the hardest thing you have ever ventured into," God told him.

"We shall see, Father! We shall see. I already have so many ideas that will guarantee my victory. The world will soon be mine." Lucifer said with a maniacal laugh and left God's presence.