Diaries of the Dead

18 | Fly These Wings

unedited

18 | F l y  T h e s e  W i n g s            

          Grace had a migraine after hearing friends and family weep over Jessica and her bastard sister. It turned out that the mother decided to give her daughters a joint funeral.

         She kept her composure, though. Lance advised her to attend any service dealing with Jessica and to show sympathy for her.

            Grace been had been thinking a lot about Jessica, lately. At one point, they were really great friends but somehow, their friendship faded. It was similar to the tainted friendship she shared with Vanessa.

            Nate caught a glimpse of Grace’s chestnut hair and made his way to her, pushing past people and squeezing through the narrow pews. Once he reached her, he snaked his hand around her petite waist.

            A weak smile spread on her face and she rested her head on his shoulder, finding comfort in the heat from his skin.

            He rubbed the small of her back while he gazed at the gathering of Jessica’s family. Cara and her ex-husband, Carlos, stood at the altar, resting on each other for comfort.

            He furrowed his brows, remembering that Jessica’s father had flown to London the second he put the house up for rent. But no matter how busy he was, Nate doubted he would miss his own daughter’s funeral.

            Grace sat up abruptly when she caught Aiden’s shadowy figure in the corner of the church. He wore a black suit and a smug grin. “What’s he doing here?”

            Nate’s eyes followed the direction she was looking to and sure enough, Aiden was propped up against the wall, right next to a portrait of a crucified Jesus.

            He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

            She gave an inward sigh and rolled her eyes. “Nate, he didn’t know Jessica. He has no right to be here.”

            He eyed her wearily. “I think you’re overreacting. This is an open funeral, anyone can come in.”

            Grace grew silent and took a quick look at Aiden again. She locked eyes with him and he nodded his head at her before he resumed his conversation with one of the guests.

            Nate brushed away the dark hair that was in his eyes and turned to Grace. “Please calm down.”

            “Where’s Mitch?” she asked, suddenly changing the subject.

            He pulled his brows together. “Mitch was arrested last night at Aiden’s party. You should’ve been there.”

            Her stomach clenched tightly as fear coursed through her veins. “What?” she shouted in a whisper. By now, everyone took their seats, waiting for the service to start. “Nate! What the hell, how?”      

            He gave her another close look. “I don’t know. Why does it matter?”

            “It matters became he’s out friend.”

            “He’s your friend.”

            Grace twisted her face in confusion. “Nate, he’s your friend too. He was the one who got you the house you live in, right now. Be grateful.”

            “No-” He shook his head rapidly in objection, “-I don’t like sharing you with him. He knows how I feel about you, but continues to sneak around with you. A friend wouldn’t do that.”