So, while the vote is cooking... here's an omake. I ominously present:
Epilogue: Best Friends Forever... and Ever
Months had passed since the fateful Spring Fling that finally opened Amanda and Mary's eyes to their relationship. Now, on a beautiful summer day, friends and family gathered to celebrate their wedding.
Iris, now 26, stood at the altar as Amanda's maid of honor. She beamed with pride and a touch of relief. After years of obliviousness, false starts, and hilariously misunderstood moments, her mother was finally tying the knot with the love of her life.
The music swelled, and Amanda appeared at the end of the aisle, radiant in her white gown. Mary's face lit up with a joy so palpable it brought tears to many eyes in the audience.
As Amanda reached the altar, she and Mary turned to face the officiant, their hands clasped tightly together. Iris felt a wave of emotion wash over her. Finally, finally, they were going to say the words that had been true for so long.
The officiant smiled warmly and began:
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of these two... best friends."
Iris's smile froze. What?
"Amanda and Mary have been inseparable since childhood, and today they come before us to declare their intention to be best friends forever."
Iris's eye twitched. She shot a panicked look at Vega in the front row, who looked equally confused.
Amanda and Mary, however, were beaming at each other, completely oblivious to the ripple of bewilderment going through the audience.
The officiant continued, "Amanda, do you take Mary to be your lawfully wedded best friend, to have sleepovers with, to share inside jokes with, and to cuddle platonically for as long as you both shall live?"
Amanda's eyes shone with happy tears. "I do!"
"And Mary, do you take Amanda to be your lawfully wedded bestie, to hold hands with in public, to have movie marathons with, and to plan your future friendship together for all eternity?"
Mary's voice was thick with emotion as she replied, "I do!"
Iris felt a scream building in her throat. This couldn't be happening. Not after all these years. Not after they'd finally figured it out!
As Amanda and Mary exchanged rings, referring to them as "friendship bracelets for fingers," Iris caught sight of Mikki in the audience. Her friend was struggling to contain her laughter, her shoulders shaking with the effort.
"By the power vested in me," the officiant declared, "I now pronounce you Best Friends Forever. You may now hug your bestie!"
Amanda and Mary embraced, and then, to everyone's relief, shared a deep, passionate kiss that was decidedly not platonic.
As applause erupted, Iris finally found her voice. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" she shrieked, her voice cutting through the cheers.
Amanda and Mary broke apart, grinning mischievously.
"Gotcha," Amanda whispered, loud enough for Iris to hear.
Mary winked. "Did you really think we'd let our wedding go by without one last joke?"
Realization dawned on Iris's face, quickly followed by a mix of relief, exasperation, and grudging amusement. "You... you..." she sputtered, torn between laughing and throttling them both.
As Amanda and Mary made their way back down the aisle, now officially wife and wife (or "certified best friends," as their custom-made certificate would read), the guests alternated between laughter and confused muttering.
At the reception, as Iris gave her maid of honor speech, she couldn't help but shake her head in fond exasperation.
"To Amanda and Mary," she said, raising her glass. "Who went from being the most oblivious not-couple in history to the most self-aware best friends slash wives I know. May your marriage be filled with as much love, laughter, and ridiculous in-jokes as your friendship has been. And maybe, just maybe, a little less obliviousness."
Laughter rippled through the room, and Amanda and Mary shared another kiss, their eyes sparkling with mirth and love.
As Iris sat back down next to Mikki, she leaned over and whispered, "You know, for best friends, they make a pretty good married couple."
Iris groaned, but couldn't hide her smile. "Don't you start," she warned playfully. "Or I swear, I'll start calling our dates 'super special friendship hangouts.'"
Mikki grinned. "Sounds perfect to me."
And so, surrounded by love, laughter, and a healthy dose of friendly exasperation, Amanda and Mary began their new life together – as best friends, lovers, and partners in every sense of the word.
Some things, it seemed, never changed. But then again, when you're lucky enough to marry your best friend, why would you want them to?
