Vampire Princess

Chapter Twenty-Five: Before the Wedding

“I’m really going to miss you.”

I looked up from my suitcase and gave Heather a look. “I’m going to be away for only two days – that’s all.”

“Two days is soo long,” she said dramatically. “Jerome would truly miss you.”

I paused and then smiled slightly, knowing Heather wouldn’t see me. “I seriously doubt that.”

I was packing for my two-day stay in a hotel where Amanda and Alex were going to have the wedding reception. Only the closest family and friends were asked to stay in the hotel – and that includes me and well, Garret too.

Amanda’s getting married tomorrow and Garret’s going to drive me to Chicago tonight so we could be in time for the wedding. 

“Oh he would,” Heather responded from my reply earlier. “He’s totally crazy about you.”

“But he’s all over Roxanne now.” I didn’t mean to say that but the words were already out and I couldn’t stop them.

Heather raised an eyebrow. “You don’t look jealous. I find that really weird.”

“Maybe only a little,” I admitted. “After all, I really like your brother.”

“Like,” she pointed out. “You two have been together since June. It’s already November. And you still don’t love him? Why?”

“I just don’t,” I said simply and zipped up my suitcase.

“Maybe you like someone else?” she offered, raising her eyebrows even higher than before. “Am I right?”

I smiled and shook my head. “I don’t know.”

“You like Garret, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Let me rephrase that. You love Garret, don’t you?”

I just continued smiling. “I don’t know,” I said playfully and walked out of my room. Heather jumped up from my bed and followed me out to the living room. “Why do you care anyway?” I asked her.

She shrugged. “You’re my best friend.”

The thought touched me. Then suddenly I remembered what Garret said about Heather being the traitor. I turned to look at her. Her lips were curved upwards and her face was tinged with pink. One look at her and I know – she would never betray me. Heather’s one of my closest friend. She has been there with me in every step of the way. She will never betray me.

And yet, when she turned to look at me, our eyes met. And I saw something in there that I failed to see before. Her eyes were filled with deep sadness and loneliness. So the saying “The people who wear the biggest smiles are the saddest ones” was true.

She noticed me staring at her and she frowned. “Is something wrong with my face?” she asked self-consciously.

“Is something bothering you?” I asked.

She seemed surprise with my question. “What do you mean?”

“Is there something you want to talk to me? Like, any problems or stuff? It’s been awhile since we have been talking. I missed talking with you.”

Heather opened her mouth, as if she wanted to tell me something, but then for a millisecond a thought crossed her mind. She closed her mouth once again and shook her head. “Nothing’s wrong,” she replied softly.

“Are you sure?” I pressed.

She nodded. “Yeah."

We stared at each other and didn’t say anything else. Heather was the first one to look away. “And if there is something I’m keeping from you, I have a good reason for it.”