Life Changes in a short time (Part 2 of senior year)

Chapter 18

The week of the wedding

It's the week before the wedding and my nerves are about shot, I've had a hard time keeping anything down and weird thing kept happening. Nate had taught Zack how to hid his aura better, while Grace and my mom got the rest of the wedding done. Stuff had came in and they would not let me see them which made me mad but I had to keep reminding myself that I let them plan the wedding and set everything up. I knew the stress was getting to me more than ever but I did try to control it. It was mid week when I thought everyone need a break. Zack had been helping by taking everything where it needed to go and with stuff coming in daily he was hardly around, which in turn made Grace upset because she had become very attached to him over the last couple of weeks.

So, I had finally gotten a hold of Zack and Grace letting them know that they are having dinner with Nate and I, both agreed about needing a brake and what better time than now. With the wedding so close we all need a little down time.

Nate and I headed to the store to get things for the dinner mostly food he had started staying the night again so we need food at his place again, getting everything, we need for tonight we head back to his apartment. Unloading and putting up everything took no time, Nate started getting everything ready to cook. I went to the dining area and cleaned off the table and placed a table cloth on it and set out the plates and silverware. I made sure that the wine was getting chilled, and helped with washing the vegetables but other than that Nate would not let me help in the cooking part. Trying to think of something to do while I waited for dinner to be done and Grace and Zack to arrive which finding out was not that long after looking at the clock they would be here in about 10 minutes.

Turning on the TV so I could take my mind off what was going to be happening tonight, but it was no help. My mind kept coming up with different out comes, one that really got to me was her running away and never talking to me again. By the way she acted about Zack she was cool with the vampire thing, but I on the other hand had lied to her for our whole friendship about my gift.

There was a knock on the door before Zack walked in with Grace in tow. I turned the TV off and smile at her, I watched her pull her hand away for Zack and came to sit on the couch with me while Zack went to the kitchen for Nate. The night before Nate, Zack, and I all sat down and talked this throw which was weird because she already knew about Zack but he never showed her that side of him before and that was a big point in tonight. We all wanted her comfortable about what we are. "Ok Athena, what is this dinner really all about?" She knows me to well. "Well Grace, it's for all of us to relax and take a breather from the wedding and just talk about something's!" She nodded in understanding and left it at that. While we were sitting on the couch you could smell the food, my mouth started to water at the aroma and Grace looked over at me with the same look that had to be on face. "God that smell good!" she said taking another deep breath. I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the kitchen to see if it was done yet. "Ok you got the whole package deal with Nate, Athena. He's good looking, can cook, and if he is good in bed then yeah you going to love life!" My mouth hit the floor, when did Grace become so open like that in front of people! I looked over at her and just started to laugh when I seen her face. She had that shocked why did I say that look to her. I just started laughing harder because I knew she spoke her mind when it was just us but she let it slip before she could control her mouth which is rare. Zack came to us and pulled us to the dinner table, we sat and Nate starting bring the food to the table. Once everything was laid out we made are plats and started eating. I noticed the wine was already poured into are glasses and I smiled and the boys. Once we finished eating in silence, I looked over to Zack he could always start a conversation even if it was weird.

He looked at Nate and back at me and nodded his head, I took that as for me to start. "Grace, the reason I wanted to have this dinner was so I could talk to you about a few things!" I waited for her to respond with words but I got a head nod instead. So I continued "We have been friends for a long time and I just now feel comfortable with you knowing I have a gift that I never told you about and well it auras, I can read them." I waited for something but nothing came out of her mouth and her eyes never wavered from me. I turned my eyes away from her I know this was something she might not be able to handle and I had some what prepared myself for screaming, crying, and accurse running. But nothing happened for a little while and I was starting to get scared. I looked and Nate first and he had a smile on his face more of I proud of you but you could see the love for me in his eyes, but Zack had this smile that when from ear to ear and had excitement in his eyes. I looked over at Grace again and noticed that she had a smile on her face as well. I was so confused now more than ever but I looked back down. "Athena, why did you keep it from me for so long, but I always knew you were different. Like the one time we were at the mall and these guys came up to talk to us and you whispered to me that we need to leave. You never told me why but I never asked either I knew you would never steer me wrong when it came to people I always could feel it." I looked up shocked at her, she knew something was different and never said anything! The smile on my face was getting bigger as what she said sunk in. She was a true best friend, someone I could never live without. "Well my turn is done!" I said with the huge smile still on my face. I looked over to Zack and his smile never left his face "Ok, I guess it's my turn! Grace, we have been hanging out for the last couple of weeks and I enjoy our time together, but I need to know if you believe me when I said I'm a vampire?" he was looking straight into her eyes but he got a shock of a life time when she responded to him. "Yes and no, I believed you when you said it but now that I have had time to think about it, it's hard to swallow. I never seen you do anything different but human things so!" I just looked around trying not to stare at them but I was interested in how this would play out for them. "So, if I prove to you that I'm what I say I am you still won't have a problem with it we can still hang out and stuff?" You could see a small blush on his checks as he looked down, It was cute seeing him vulnerable like that. I looked over at Grace and to my surprise she looked back at me with a smile on her face and rolled her eyes, right then I knew she was hooked. "Zack, I'm cool with it! I like weird things you should know that by now." I felt like my head was about to snap off from me turning it so much. Zack was still looking down when he started speaking again "well you be my girlfriend?" I held in the laughter that wanted to show its self with the way Zack was acting like he was shy about asking her out, which was way out of his personality for me. I looked to Nate at the end of the table and seen him with the big grin on his face and the amusement in his eyes, as he watched his best friends embarrassment of asking a girl out. Grace giggled and said yes to his question which had a grin the size of Texan on Zack's face. I was happy for them right now. Silence filled the table again as we waited for Nate to take his turn, but you could tell he was having a hard time let the words free. I gave him an encouraging smile and a nod of the head hoping it would help. He took a deep breath in and out before he spoke "Grace, I am a vampire as well." Grace just nodded her head and smile at all of us. "God, ya'll act like I'm going to run screaming any minute now! Just relax I'm not going anywhere that doesn't include my best friend, her soon to be hubby, and my new sweet and caring boy friend." Grace said to the table. I was so happy I jumped up and engulfed her in a hug to tight that I was having a hard time breathing.

Once I let go we all started helping clean up from dinner. The boy carried all the food back into the kitchen, while the girls gathered all the plats and other thing to care into the kitchen. Grace and I cleaned the dishes, counter, and table. She had a smile plastered to her face and it never faltered like she was thinking everything over and was about to run screaming. Once we were done cleaning up I hugged her again. "Thanks for not hating me and running when I told you." I pulled away and looked at her "we are best friends why would I hate you and run from what you are, I've know you forever and nothing will change that ever."

This dinner turned out better then I hoped for, I still had my best friend and everything was out in the open. She was happy about her and Zack and I was happy for her, but it was priceless seeing Zack act all shy I for one never thought he could ever be like that. Grace and Zack left after that and it was just Nate and I in his apartment and I felt him wrap his strong arms around my waist and rest his head on my should placing lite kisses on my neck whispering "I'm proud of you. Whispering back "I'm proud of you too.