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“ So that’s the bet. No matter who wins the other gets to write the best man speech. Then its like we’re both up there for it! We should write them now… We can always give each other new envelopes if big things happen between now and then. But promise me you won’t peek at mine!”
Jean walked into the reception hall taking a swig from his glass, he glanced around the room looking for his friends. Being the best man was supposed to be easy. Keep the groom from going insane before the wedding, throw a killer party, stand up there while they get married, and write a good speech for the reception. That last one was what had been eating at him since Roy told him that he and Riza were getting married. Maybe everyone would forget? No, they’ve been following every tradition up to this point. Maybe if he kept his eyes on where his comrades were, he could stay hidden. The lovebirds would be too wrapped up in each other and the rest of the wedding, he could avoid the whole thing. It’s the perfect plan he thought to himself. “Hey Jean!” Fuery all but shouted across the hall. “We’re all sitting over here, we even grabbed your seat!” FUCK. Falmon, Breda, Fuery, and Rebecca were all staring at him. So much for hiding.
He slowly made his way over to the table. Rebecca looked at him while she fiddled with her index cards, “You ready to give your speech?” She asked. “If I knew what I was saying I absolutely would be” Jean replied. Setting his now empty glass on the table, he reached into his jacket to grab an envelope sealed with wax. Silence fell across the table. Maybe I should’ve lied, he thought. But the look on each of their faces was priceless! A collective mix of amusement and horror. Except Rebecca, she looked ready to kill him.
“I can explain- “As soon as those words left his lips the ballroom was announcing the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Mustang. There would be no time now. He slumped into his seat, and caught the sharp glare from Rebecca as she started walking to the sweetheart table, her perfect index cards in hand. She looked at the couple and said “I hope you don’t mind that I prepared something for you.” Jean wanted to curl up and die right there. His mind started racing, what if this paper was blank, or just said “I called it first.” The thoughts swirled in his mind. Until Falmon, gently tapping his shoulder brought him out of his trance. “Good luck” he whispered, “You’ll need it.”
Rising up from his seat, Jean felt like he was moving through the thickest fog in the world. As he walked toward Roy and Riza, he felt like a child who broke their parents’ favorite vase. He glanced shyly at the couple and faced the crowd of people “As much as I’d love to say I stayed up all night writing this…” He paused and grinned, hoping it hid his fear. “The truth is, I made a bet a long time ago to write someone else’s best man speech for your wedding. He wrote mine.” Riza and Roy shared a confused look. He held up the envelope “I promised I wouldn’t open it till you two got married so I have no idea what this says.” He let out a nervous laugh and ripped it open.
“Dear Roy, By the time Jean has finally gotten around to opening this letter, I’ve been staring daggers at you from my seat for not picking me to be your best man. Of all the people we know, you picked the other total flirt? You really are an idiot!” The whole ballroom erupted in laughter, as Roy's face began to flush. Jean smirked and continued on. “Roy, you have been hopelessly in love with Riza since before any of us had met either of you. Don’t try to argue, we all could tell. The way you’d both hold each other’s gaze a second longer, the way the two of you work together and protect each other. You both push each other, and provide comfort in the darkest of times. Which if I know, and I do, is a key to marriage few can say they hold. Despite all we have been through, you two being a constant in each other’s lives has made you both the best people you can possibly be.” Jean glanced at the next line and froze. He felt the tears threaten to well up and block his vision. His voice shook as he recited, “I can only hope your marriage is as happy as mine is, and that your children and mine become close friends. Love and congratulations to you both, Maes Hughes”
Silence. Not the silly and touching ending Hughes probably thought it would be when they made the deal to write each other’s best man speeches all those years ago... Jean gently folded the paper and tucked it in his pocket. He’d hand it off to Roy later, when they had a moment together to talk. He turned back around, looking at his now misty-eyed friends “Here’s to the greatest couples I’ve ever gotten to know.”