"Okay, don't be mad."

Grace glanced at her friend, huffing as she dragged her bag through the door.

"Can I take a rain check on the rage until I set my bag down?"

"Ooh, yes, sorry let me help!" She watched in amusement as Ameila grabbed the handle of her bright red, hard cased luggage before dragging it across the hallway of the house that she shared with Liam.

"Wow," Grace laughed. "You must've really fucked up if you're willing to help with my bags. I remember when you didn't unpack for a month after coming back from Spring Break!"

Amelia gave a nervous laughter. "Well, you know.. Since Liam's making an honest woman out of me I figured I would, um, you know, start helping out and stuff..." her sentence puttered out.

"Okay, Amelia, what gives? What did you do? Do I have to wear a big princess bridesmaid dress with puffy sleeves?" She joked.

"Because you know I would do and wear anything for you," she smiled gently.

Grace was one of the fortunate ones to have retained her close friendship with her highschool bestfriend.

Despite Amelia attending the local community college and staying in Langley, she was one of Grace's non-negotiables. It was non-negotiable for her to not spend more than a week in Langley, it was non-negotiable for her to not attend any function in her hometown and it was non-negotiable to keep in contact with Amelia.

While she managed to avoid spending too much time in her hometown, Ameila made good use of her bestie being in another State and visited her as much as possible.

Together they visited all the Californian theme parks, all the Californian museums, did many hikes around the surrounding mountains and drove from the top of California to the bottom with an open top car, making sure to hit most wineries on the way down.

And now she was back in Langley for the longest time she's ever spent here since she moved away for college.

A month.

A whole freakin' month in Langley, Kentucky.

Yes, she got to spend time with her family and Amelia. But she really didn't want to spend it for a consecutive month. She couldn't even hunker down and stay at her parent's place, avoiding the usual Langley haunts. No, she was here for Amelia and Liam's wedding. She was maid of honour and Amelia had somehow blossomed into a social butterfly because she had all sorts of "fun" activities planned for the bridal party.

She was happy to be part of the wedding and she adored Liam. He was one of the good ones. He had been on the school wrestling team at school, but, really compared to the superstars that were Langley Tigers football team, the wrestling team barely registered in anybody's radar. Liam was a tall yet stocky boy who had grown into quite a handsome man. But beyond his looks, Liam was kind and respectful with a dry witty sense of humour that mirrored her own.

He and Amelia were highschool sweethearts but he was always sure to include Grace in a few of their dates so that she wouldn't feel left out. Amelia had told her that after a particular rough day at school, dealing with her tormentors, it was he who would always suggest taking them out for ice cream. For that, she adored him.

So she was happy to be here.

Kind of.

Okay, not really.

But she would do anything for Ameila and Liam so spending a month making sure they have the most perfect day possible was no hardship. She could suck it up and then detox in New York. Ooh, maybe Miami Beach.

While she daydreamed about sipping pina coladas in a Harrison free zone, Amelia's red headed figure popped into view.

"Earth to Grace," she called, waving a manicured hand in her face.

"Sorry, just thinking of the month ahead and all the exciting activities you have planned."

"First, you need to work on your poker face. You make a terrible liar. Second, I heard you mutter the words to The Pina Colada song so if that's a hint at me to get the wine out, I'm way ahead of you girl!"

She bounced away to the kitchen, reaching up to grab a couple of wine glasses from the cupboard above. Grace moved to the fridge to grab a bottle of Sav, uncorking it swiftly.

"So!" she started, "tell me this news that will put a damper on my day. Good thing getting me liquored up," she joked.

Amelia settled down on the bar stool opposite her.

"Wellll...." she dragged out, twirling a french tipped finger around the rim of her glass.

"Our class is doing a reunion in three weeks," she started.

Grace let out a loud, short laugh. "Oh, my God," she snorted. "That's in three weeks?"

"So you did get the email?" Amelia enquired, her brow arched curiously.

"Got it and deleted it as soon as I read the subject line. I have no idea how they got my new email address," she frowned.

"Well!" Ameila interjected brightly, "That explains why I didn't see your name on the RSVP list."

Grace blinked, staring blankly at her friend.

"Um," she started slowly, "you don't seriously think that I would actually go to that?" she asked incredulously.

Amelia sighed. " I know, Gracie. I was just hoping that maybe we could go? You know, since you're here and all."

"No." she stated, taking a big gulp of her wine. "Now, can we talk about your bridal shower? Remember how much you adore Paris? I was thinking - "

"Grace!" Amelia interrupted.

"What?"

"I'm on the reunion committee."

Grace stood there, stunned. Reunion committee? What the hell?

"But you hated Langley High as much as I did," she told her.

Amelia sighed again. "I know, Gracie."

"You called it the Devil's Playground and even suggested that we defecate on the football field after we graduate."

"Ew, could you not!" Amelia groaned into her hands.

"I just don't understand," she shook her head in confusion, "and who the hell has a highschool reunion after 6 years? At least give some of us a chance to get over our PTSD."

"I know it's a lot to ask -"

"No."

"- and I know you had a terrible time in highschool. No one is disputing that-"

"No."

"- but I really, really want to go to this.

Grace sighed. "Amelia, you know I love you and would do anything for you, but -"

"He's changed, Grace." She quietly stated.

She wasn't going to play dumb. She knew who she meant. She pressed her lips together in distaste.

"He's dropped all his old friends, dumped Jessica a billion years ago-"

"Like I give a shit about that-"

"And," she stressed "he's become close friends with Liam."

Her stomach dropped.

"Grace, he's in the wedding party."

The color drained from her face.

"He's the best man."

They stood there in silence while the news sunk in.

"Well," she drawled as she drained the rest of her wine. "That was a lot of information to digest in fifteen minutes."

She poured the rest of the wine in her glass.

"Why didn't you tell me this before, Amelia?" she shook her head in disgust. "I mean, I get that Harrison might have changed from a dickhead into a douchebag but-"

"He's neither of those things, Grace. Not anymore."

"Look," she sighed, "I'm not asking you to forgive him. Believe me, it took me a while to warm up to him. But he's a decent guy now. He apologised to me and is eager to catch up with you."

"Ha!" she jeered, "Catch up? Catch up!?"

The wine was hitting her harder than she thought.

"Sure, what does he want to talk about first?" She slammed back the rest of her wine. "The time he purposely tore up my English homework the day it was due? The time he tripped me for the hundredth time down the hallway or maybe the time he called me an ugly nerd who would never get a guy?" She paced the kitchen, gesturing angrily. "Yes, we have sooo much to catch up on."

"Gracie, please!" Ameila pleaded. "I'm not asking you to forgive him, just have a conversation with him and clear the air. It's my wedding and I-'' she broke off with a sob, "I just - I just-"

"Oh can the crocodile tears. Remember I was there when you auditioned for Romeo and Juliet our sophomore year." She teased.

She sighed and came around the kitchen island, wrapping her arms around her friend's slim shoulders. "Okay, I will promise to keep an open mind. That's all. I will be pleasant and cordial to him but that's it. And I'm only doing this for you, babe."

Amelia sighed and rested her head on Grace's shoulder.

She was quiet for a few minutes before taking a deep breath.

"And you'll come to the reunion?"

Grace rolled her eyes and smiled.