Of Summer Nights

Grandma

Of summer nights 

Disclaimer: I don't own The HoN characters. 

Description: When Zoey and Stevie Rae visit Granma in the summer, all of the past is forgotten, it's a time for fun, and could a boy make it all the more interesting? 

*** 

"I can't believe we survived that one? Wasn't Erik's face the funniest thing you ever saw? If only I'd had my camera that would have been straight in the Night yearbook of the funniest professor picture ever!" Stevie Rae's voice carried out the window. 

Erik Night was the truly hottest guy in all of House of Night, he was also a professor, a poetry teacher, and with any normal kid he would have been out of bounds, completely. But Zoey wasn't any ordinary kid, she was like the superman of the vampyre world. She had been Marked, gifted, and been through challenges even some grown adults couldn't survive, and all in 5 months.  

The 'gang', or 'Nerd Herd' as Aphrodite called them, had recently finished defeating an evil fallen angel, along with his children (strange half bird half person creatures), their ex-High priestess and had also overcome a massive love life feat. Zoey had, up until three days ago, three boyfriends; one was crazed undead, one was an over the top psychopathic human, and then there was Erik. He was the hottest and most mature of Zoey's manic love threesome. She had also completed the Change and was passed off as an adult vampyre. 

So along with Stevie Rae, Zoey was making her first visit to see her Granma since she had emerged from the realm of the dead and buried. They were both excited and knew that the overpowering scent of lavender from Granma's lavender farm would wash over them as soon as they started to chug along the country road in Zoey's old Bug. Zoey was slightly nervous; the last time she had seen her Granma she was in an induced coma after being attacked by Raven Mockers. Zoey knew her Granma wouldn't look the same, but it didn't matter, both Zoey and Stevie Rae were still quivering with excitement, and nerves of course. So when Zoey pulled into the drive she was surprised to see a warm glowing face that wasn't Granma's; it was a tall lean kid with a long face and a black mop of shaggy hair. He held his head with confidence as he wheeled Granma across the uneven glade of grass that provided a path to the front of the cottage Granma owned. 

As we climbed out of the car, Zoey and Stevie Rae exchanged surprised looks, 

"Zoëbird!!" Granma's wise voice floated toward her (you've changed from third person to first person in this bit, so I have changed it back to third person). "Zoëbird, meet Jaime. Jaime, meet my Zoey and Stevie Rae." Zoey and Stevie Rae walked slowly toward Granma, and Jaime. Zoey held out her hand and she felt her cheeks flush; his warm and slightly sweaty palm was pushed on to hers hand enthusiastically, 

"Z-z-z-Zoey Redbird-d-d, i-I'm s-s-s-so p-please to m-m-meet y-you." His voice was deep and it sounded Canadian.  

"Hi, this is Stevie Rae... my best friend." Zoey said to him, he smiled politely and released her hand to hold Granma's wheel chair. He turned the chair towards Granma's bungalow house, and started walking. When they were halfway up the path the chair was turned round and Granma's voice called out to the stunned-still girls,  

"Aren't you coming?" Her words unfroze them from their trance. Zoey and Stevie Rae exchanged bright looks. Stevie Rae waggled her eyebrows... and as they linked arms and jogged down the path, they giggled.  

*** 

Zoey's old bed room was like a welcoming fire on a cold winter's night. The mismatch cushions on her bed were comforting and the log bed was a sense of... home. On the wooden dresser was a bottle of perfume that had been in the same place for years, an array of photos were scattered across it... they were mostly of Zoey and her mum, before she got married, and of Zoey and Grandma. There was a few more to add to it too: a picture of Erik, a picture of Stark, a picture of all the red fledglings. Aphrodite insisted she had a picture of her on her own and a picture of her and Darius, so they were going up too. The picture that was going to take up most space in front was a picture of Zoey and Stevie Rae when they were staying in the tunnels. It was Zoey's favourite picture and only it deserved to be in the front. There was also a big poster of Paramore, which had got ripped and crumpled with time and Zoey's most treasured item... a small bear with a printed picture of Zoey, her mother and Grandma on the back of a specially made hoodie for it. 

Stevie Rae and Zoey set up an air bed for Stevie Rae and, while they were unpacking, they discussed an important matter... Jaime. 

"His hair is the cutest!" whispered Stevie Rae as they heard Jaime pass the bedroom door. 

"I know. His stuttering was sweet." replied Zoey. She looked at the clock on her dresser, it was dinner time. "Time for dinner Stevie Rae. Whose sitting next to Jaime?" she said waggling her eyebrows. 

*** 

The table was quiet. The only sounds that were heard were the gentle scrapping of the cutlery on everyone's plates. Occasionally, someone would try to make small talk, but after a few murmured comments every thing would fall silent again. Jaime was nervous, Grandma was tired, and the girls were excited.  

Everything was baked or cooked by Jaime, who was a surprisingly good cook. The vegetables were just done perfectly, the gravy was smooth, the Yorkshire puddings were soft and the meat was just right for Zoey and Stevie Rae; there was small beads of animal blood still moist on the surface. It was enough to feed the thirst that was rising in both their throats, for now. The traditional British roast dinner was perfect. 

Zoey had managed to muscle her way to the left of the square table putting Granma opposite her, Stevie Rae to the left and Jaime to the right. Stevie Rae was glowering jealously at Zoey when dessert, chocolate cake oozing with chocolate and covered in toffee sauce, was served and Zoey finally managed to strike up a conversation with the tasty boy on her right. 

Zoey's conversation was about the strangest topic: snails. They were discussing the pros and cons of having a shell home in your back. Jaime thought it would be a great idea, no having to move house ever. Zoey, however, didn't share the view,  

"All I'm saying is how heavy it would be to hold all your worldly possessions, and home, on your back. If it was all that and really light then I wouldn't mind, but Jaime, have you noticed how slow snails are? Ever wondered why?" she argued intently. 

"But think 'bout cost. You wouldn't have to pay a dime and still get to live in the same place!" he tried to argue back. Though he knew that the young Priestess would soon over power him.  

"Snails don't have money!" The discussion had turned in to a silly little argument. "Heck, they don't have brains!" Granma, who had been dozing off, woke abruptly and said in a sharp tone, 

"Zoebird! What is wrong with you? What is all this talk of snails?"  

"Z was having a go at flirting with Jaime, but ya know what Z's like, they ended up arguing over snail shells." Stevie Rae, was trying to annoy Zoey, She turned and gave an Aphrodite like smile to Zoey, who turned abruptly to Jaime's chair which he had silently vacated while Stevie Rae was sucking up to Granma. 

"Zoebird you should be ashamed of yourself, arguing with a sweet boy like that!" Granma wasn't really angry with Zoey but she was trying to keep both girls happy, and it was proving slightly difficult.  

Zoey stood up said goodnight to her Granma, gave Stevie Rae a cold glare, and left the room for her bedroom. Both being High Priestesses made their friendship sometimes somewhat strained. Don't get her wrong, Zoey loved Stevie Rae to bits, like a sister, but sisters argue right? When Zoey had been in her room alone for a while there was a faint knock on her door and the timid figure of Jaime crept into the room. He sat on the floor next to Zoey; she was fiddling with her cell phone. Stark had just text her to tell her Aphrodite had had another vision. There was a plane due to fly out in a couple of hours, the wheels had become loose in front and at take off the whole plane would collapse and catch fire. Many people would die. The old Aphrodite would have tried to hide it, but since she had decided to repay her 'debt' to Nyx she told everyone about them. If she had tried to hide them anyway she would be found by someone. Zoey told Stark to get Kramisha to ring the airport and tell them about the fault. She had snapped shut her phone and was thinking about Stevie Rae when Jaime had come into the room. 

They sat in silence for a while, until Zoey's cell buzzed. It was Damien telling her that he had returned from his summer break and that he had sent her a postcard to Granma's farm. He had remembered that she and Stevie Rae were staying there; it was the sort of thing Damien would remember but not the Twins, they would have sent it too the House of Night. Jack and Damien had been taken to London by Jack's parents. Shaunee had taken the boys shopping for foundation to cover their marks. Erin was visiting her auntie in Vancouver and Shaunee was visiting family on an island near Jamaica. They were probably too busy to even remember to sent her a post card. Zoey told Jaime the entire 'problem'; he murmured one word replies when ever Zoey drew breathe. She was glad she had someone to talk to.