Meant to Marry Me
Up and Away

Standing on the grounds and looking up at the Gateway Arch with Trent's hand in hers was much different than it had been the day before when Bree had been there with her bandmates. She'd been angry at Cat and frustrated at Zach. Now, she was still upset at Cat, but Zach was with her, and she was pretty happy with him.

Especially since he and Shawna seemed to be hitting it off so nicely. The girl they'd met the night before at the club had been a little hesitant to come along with just the three of them, but Bree had managed to talk her into it, and now, after having gotten to know one another over a late breakfast, here they were, getting ready to go up into the landmark.

"Have you been up there before?" Zach asked Shawna.

She shook her head. "I've only lived here a few months. Pretty much everyone who lives in St. Louis has been up so many times, they don't want to go again, so I didn't really have anyone to visit with."

"Well, now you do," Bree said, patting her on the shoulder. She was really enjoying talking to Shawna. She'd told them all about the little town in Georgia she'd grown up in, how her dad had taught her how to play piano, as well as the other instruments she'd listed off the night before. She said piano had always been her favorite.

Zach had caught Bree's eyes at the mention of Shawna's passion, and Bree had smiled in return, trying to let him know they were on the same wavelength. It would just be tricky going about making the switch. Unless Cat quit of her own accord, then, it wouldn't be a problem bringing on whomever they liked.

The trip up inside of the arch was a lot different than Bree expected it to be. They rode a little cart that was sort of like a miniature elevator. The windows were tiny slits, and she swore she could feel the entire building swaying in the wind. Once they reached the top, there was a landing, and they all got out to explore, though there wasn't much to see. They could look out the windows again, and since it was a clear day, the view of the St. Louis skyline was pretty amazing. Other than that, it wasn't as thrilling in real life as Bree had thought it would be when she was imagining it in her mind. Still, it was worth the time and something she'd never forget.

Eventually, they boarded the elevator and went back down. Bree was glad to be back on solid ground. "Have you been to the museum?" Shawna asked. "They have some interesting animatronics from Missouri state history."

Since none of them had done that either, they decided to go, and Bree thought it was interesting. It was sort of like the Hall of Presidents at Disney World, only with historical figures that were important to St. Louis and the surrounding area. After they had lunch at a local restaurant, Shawna suggested they get ice cream and go for a walk down by the river. That sounded romantic to Bree, and she was quick to agree. Soon enough, she found herself walking hand in hand with Trent as she licked a strawberry ice cream cone. Looking at Zach and Shawna walking next to each other several feet away her, having their own private conversation brought a smile to her lips.

A steamboat paddled by on the river, and she and Trent stopped to watch, his arm around her. "Do you feel like you've stepped back in time?” he whispered in her ear.

"No, not exactly. But it is cool."

He laughed and kissed her cheek. Bree nuzzled against him, happy to have his arms around her. She heard a loud chuckle from a bench a few feet away and glanced over to see Zach and Shawna sitting next to each other, laughing like they'd known each other their entire lives.

"Good call on that one, babe," she said to Trent. "Now, if we can just get Cat to see that she doesn't belong in the band and hire Shawna, we'll be all set."

"That might not be so easy," Trent reminded her.

"I know," Bree said with a sigh. "But... we've been lucky so far. Maybe it will continue." She gave him a smile and turned her attention back to the melting ice cream in her hand. If only problems were so quick to melt away.