dark times - the weeknd feat. ed sheeran

CHAPTER THREE:

↳ IN LOVING MEMORY

     IT WAS THE DAY OF IAN'S FUNERAL. Grace stared at herself in the mirror, tilting her head sideways to assess what she would wear today. The blonde girl had a long sleeved black dress with a lacy headband that fell onto her face. 

Hanna popped her head into the doorway of Grace's old bedroom, "hey, is it alright if we match?" She asked her older sister nervously, holding up a headband similar to hers.

Grace smiled warmly at her younger sister, "of course Han. Come here," She beckoned Hanna over to her. She complied and Grace took the headband from her and put it on her. She tilted her head sideways to assess her sister. "Beautiful, wear those diamond earrings Nan got you." Grace instructed her and she smiled at her, running off to her own room.

Grace sighed, moving away from the mirror, grasping the phone in her hand. It had been a few days since she had met with Jason. Everything was perfect between them, but not perfect. 

The two had mended what was left of them, however, what was to come was going to dampen their renewed relationship. Jason and Grace had been constantly texting one another, and today, Grace frowned at the text she got from Jason. She immediately pressed her number one speed dial, waiting for him to pick up.

"Grace," Jason sighed. She held the phone up to my her tightly. 

"You have to go." Grace told him, stubbornly. "You can't make me go alone, Jason."

"I've already made up my mind, I–I can't see his face in that coffin knowing that–"

"He's dead, Jason." Grace told him softly. "He's the one who's to blame, not you. Stop living a life full of regret. Come, stay a ways away, just watch, make peace with what you know."

"Okay, darling. Just because I love you, I'll go." 

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     THE FUNERAL WAS BEAUTIFUL. Grace watched her sister and her three friends grab dirt from the bag the priest held, throwing it on top of the lowered casket. 

The blonde wiped the tears that fell from her eyes, steeling her heart up against the sadness that would never end. 

The priest ended the service and Grace immediately found herself in front of Melissa. She bit her lip, holding back the wave of tears that threatened to spill as she hugged her.

"God, Grace Martin." Melissa sighed, pulling away to look at the other young woman fully. "It's been years since I last saw you." 

"I know, Mel, I'm sorry that we had to reunite in such dreadful circumstances." 

"I know," Melissa nodded, grasping her stomach lightly. Grace had heard from her mom and Hanna that Melissa had been pregnant while Ian had gone missing.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around, I want to make it up to you though." Grace told her softly. She sniffled, staring at the ground in sadness. "Hey," She grasped Melissa's chin, "don't forget our promise, Mel."

"I will always be beside you until the very end," Melissa began our promise.

"Wiping all your tears away, being your best friend," Grace continued, smiling lightly although tears threatened to spill. 

"I will smile when you smile, feel all the pain you do," Melissa started to cry, clutching Grace in a tight hug.

Grace sighed, holding her best friend tightly. "If you cry a single tear, I promise, I will cry too." 

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     GRACE BEGAN TO OVERHEAR A NEW CONVERSATION, a habit that she had picked up when she was in high school. 

"You waiting for Fitz?" Emily asked Aria and Grace excused myself from her conversation with Melissa's family to get closer to the two girls staring at Jason.

"Uh, just waiting for my parents." Aria had said, watching Jason.

"Who's he waiting for?" Emily asked her dark haired friend and Grace rolled my eyes

"I don't know." Aria told Emily, turning towards her. "Maybe he came here for the same reason we did."

"To spit on Ian's grave?"

"To get closure."

"He's waiting for me," Grace interrupted the young girls, stepping beside them. Both held shocked expressions as the older blonde stood next to them, staring at Jason.

"Aria, Emily." Grace greeted the two girls, taking in how much they had grown, like Hanna. "It's been quite awhile since the last time I saw you two." 

The two girls didn't say a thing, staring at Grace Marin in awe.

"Now, I have to go see Jason, goodbye girls." She nodded to the two, walking across the grass.

"Was that...?"

"That was Grace Marin." Emily told her, shocked.

Grace rolled her eyes, she wasn't that big of a mystery.

"Well, I still think he's creepy. She is too," Grace heard Emily say in the distance as she walked towards Jason, She just smirked. Emily had no idea her friend was falling for Jason DiLaurentis, however, Grace did.

Grace sat beside Jason, smoothing my black dress out. 

"I'm glad you came," She told him, turning her head to face the blond male. 

"Me too," he breathed out, grasping her hand in his. "I feel like I can breath again. After that note, remember, I just thought I–"

Grace tightened her grip on his hand, "Jason, it's over now."

"I know," he sighed. Grace smiled softly, their bodies barely pressed against one another, yet the cold air did not seem to bother her as much as it did before.

"Is this what you meant, Grace?" Grace looked at him in confusion, and he sighed. "Will we always live in fear of our pasts? Our secrets?" 

"Yes, Jason. The past will always haunt us." She closed her eyes, leaning her head against his shoulder. Grace bit her lip, wishing she could tell him what actually happened over the past four years. She knew they made up, despite the secrets. 

He needed to know.

"Well, I should be going, I need to say goodbye to Melissa's family." Grace stood up abruptly, loosing the warmth from Jason. She shivered, stretching out before smiling down at the blond haired young man that she had fallen for, years ago.

"I could take you home, Grace." Jason told Grace, holding her hand in his, as if he didn't want to let her walk away from him again.

Grace smirked down at the blonde boy she loved, "I would gladly take that offer but, you have a little admirer who wants to talk to you." Her gaze wandered past him to see Aria awkwardly watching them.

Grace bent down slightly, kissing his cheek. She smirked as she assessed his face, now donned with a light lipstick stain on his cheek.

"I'll wait in the car." 

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