The Spider, The Night's Wave, The Tempest, The Archer

08

Grace frowned at the she'd put on as she looked in the mirror.

"Mom, does this look okay?" Grace asked.

Her mother, Renee, nodded. "You look beautiful." She studied her daughter. "Are you okay?"

Grace let out a sigh. "I don't know. It's..."

"It's him, isn't it? Have you told him how you feel?"

"Are you crazy?! No! I mean, he likes someone else so it doesn't matter."

"Of course it matters, Grace."

A knock on the front door sounded and the two turned to the sound.

Renee opened the door to reveal Peter who asked, "Uh, is Grace ready? Because we really should get going and Nathan and Gabriela are waiting and-"

Grace walked towards the door and nodded. "I'm ready."

Peter smiled and stammered, "Uh you look, you um, you look really nice."

Grace returned his smile. "Thanks. We should go or we'll be late."

"Uh, yeah. I'll have her back at a decent hour."

Renee nodded. "I know. Enjoy yourselves, but not too much."

As they left the apartment, Peter said, "My aunt is taking us, Gabriela, Nathan and Ned. Um, since you know, we can't drive."

Grace nodded. "Good. You're looking flushed. Are you okay?"

As Peter stared at her, he mumbled, "I wonder why."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Grace stared at him a moment and nodded. "Um, okay."

May drove Ned, Grace, Nathan, Gabriela and Peter to Liz's house. Exciting, upbeat music poured out from the house. May slowed her car and talked to the five.

"House party in the suburbs," May commented. "Oh, I remember these. Kind of jealous."

"It'll be a night to remember," Ned said.

May laughed. "Ned, some hats wear men. You wear that hat."

"Yeah, it gives me confidence."

"Hmm."

Peter was looking out the window, removed from the merry conversation taking place beside him. "This is a mistake." He said to May, "Hey, let's just go home."

"Oh, Peter. I know. I know it's really hard trying to fit in with all the changes your body's going through. It's flowering now."

The absurd, out-of-place speech made Peter chuckle while Grace and Nathan's eyes widened and she covered her mouth to hide her laughter while Nathan didn't try to hide his.

"Uh-huh," Peter replied, glaring at his cousin.

May said to Ned, Gabriela and Alessa, "He and Nathan are so stressed out lately."

"I wonder why," Grace mumbled with a light smirk.

"What helps with stress is going to a party. We should go to the party," Ned suggested.

"Yeah, let's do it," Peter agreed. "Yeah. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go." He opened the car door and stepped out.

"Peter. Nathan," May called.

When May called their names, Peter and Nathan stopped and leaned in to listen to their aunt/mom through the window. Ned, Gabriela and Grace got out behind them.

"Have fun, okay? And keep those girls safe."

Peter and Nathan nodded. "I will."

May replied in a soft voice, "Okay."