Here and Now
Chapter Two
It was early Wednesday morning and Grace had just stepped out of the shower. Drying her body quickly she paused in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection. Light brown hair fell to just below her shoulders, dark brown eyes stared back at her, Grace shrugged, as feelings of jealously stabbed at her mind. She wished she could be more like Carla, with her slim body curved in all the right places, wavy dark hair that fell softly down her back and over her shoulders, tanned skinned. That was why guys didn't like her, she couldn't compete. It explained the one boyfriend she'd had compared to the vast number Carla had had.
Bending down Grace reached out and opened the cupboard, grabbing a comb which she used to pull her hair up into a high ponytail which after observation she continued to untie, retie and then untie again, finally settling with wearing it down using a few clips to hold it out of her eyes.
"Gracie! Breakfast is ready, Zoë! Hurry up or you will be late for school" Lily called up the stairs.
Grace hurriedly swept on some mascara, fumbled with her eyeliner, and finished off with some raspberry lip-gloss which she tossed into her school bag once she was finished with it.
"Okay mum I'll be right down" With one final look in the mirror Grace headed out of the bathroom and down the stairs. I guess this will have to do, she thought to herself. It's not like he will even see me so why am I worrying?
"Hey Eli, wait up" Eli heard a familiar female voice call out to him. "Oh, hey Carla" he greeted the girl as she came to a stop beside him and matched his pace.
"So what do you think?" she asked excitedly, grabbing hold of his arm.
"About what?" Eli asked as he gently pulled away.
"About what? Of Grace!" She exclaimed, "I heard you two, were like, totally hanging out yesterday"
"She was just helping me with some lyrics" Eli explained, an amused expression on his face. God the girls at his school would find anything to gossip about.
"Yeah she's pretty smart" Carla conceded, "don't know how she does it, English, ew" Eli laughed at the expression on her face as she bounded off. Wait. Eli stopped for a moment considering the information Carla had just passed on. Maybe Grace would be able to help him out with English, just as long as she didn't tell anyone of course. It would get both the school and his parents off his back, kill two birds with one stone, he nodded with a smile and set off on his search.
Grace was at her locker, getting out her books for her third period math class when one of her friends tapped her on the shoulder.
"Grace whatever you do, don't turn around" the girl warned her, causing her to of course, promptly turn around, which caused her, much to her embarrassment, run straight into the very same guy who she had thought the entire morning thinking about.
"Eli, uh sorry" Grace apologized, bending down to pick up the book that had fallen from her grasp.
"No problem" Eli shook his head, trying not to laugh at the bright blush that had spread across the cheeks of the girl in front of him. He was actually quite used to it happening but it still amused him.
"So uh, what are you doing here?" Grace asked nervously.
"What am I doing at school" Eli questioned her, a smile in his eyes.
"No, I meant here, oh" Grace blushed even deeper when she realized he was teasing her.
"Actually Grace I kind of wanted to talk to you about something" Eli begun gesturing to her to follow him as he moved away and began to walk down the hallway.
"Yeah sure" Grace nodded, anxious to find out what was so important that he had to speak to her about it.
Eli came to a stop. "So um Grace, I have this big favour I need to ask you, okay, but you cant tell anyone, you have to promise, no one can know, even Carla" Grace cut Eli off.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to say anything. What do you need?" She attempted to assure him.
"Well I was wondering whether you would sort of help me out with English, you know, my teacher says either get the work in before the break or she's going to have to fail me. I can't have my parents find out. Their already pushing me hard enough as it is. I know it's a lot to ask but …" Eli trailed off.
"Nah that's cool, I guess we should start as soon as possible then. What are you doing after school?" Grace asked, eager to get started.
"After school should be fine, I'll meet you at your locker okay" Eli asked.
"See you then" Grace said, trying hard not to scream from excitement.
Grace was waiting at her locker when Eli finally arrived, almost 15 minutes late. His English teacher had kept him behind to see how he was going. After assuring her he was catching up Eli finally managed to escape. He had been worried that Grace wouldn't wait but luckily she was still there.
"Hey umm, sorry I'm late, my English teacher kept me behind to see how I am doing" Eli apologized.
"So how are you doing?" Grace asked, trying hard not to laugh.
"She thinks I'm doing fine" Eli said smiling, hitting Grace on the arm.
"What she doesn't know wont hurt her, plus we'll get you caught up in no time" Grace promised.
"Don't be so sure" Eli muttered.
"You will, don't worry, so where'd you want do this?"
"Well I was thinking maybe your place, that way there's no chance of my dad coming home and finding out" Eli said, "but if you cant that cool, you know, we can do it at mine" Eli said, but Grace could tell he was kind of worried.
"My house it is! Lets go" Grace announced a little too excitedly as they headed out the school gates.
"Mum I'm home!" Grace called as she opened the door to her house. "Come on in" Eli followed Grace into the kitchen. Walking over to the fridge she opened it. "You want a drink or something?" She asked Eli who was staring at the photos on the kitchen wall.
"Yeah a Coke would be good' Eli asked, looking closer at the pictures, "hey is this you?" Eli said pointing towards a picture of grace when she was only a few years old.
It had been taken at the beach during summer and Grace was sitting on top of what had once been a sand castle. In one hand was a fistful of wet sand, the other an icy pole that was quickly melting. There was more of it on her face than anywhere else. That was when her parents had still been together. Grace loved the photo but it made her sad thinking about how happy they were as a family that day.
"Grace? Grace are you okay?" Eli asked looking concerned.
"What, oh sorry" She replied grabbing two cans from the fridge and passing one to Eli. "Yeah that's me, my mother insisted on putting it on the wall. I just think it's kind of embarrassing." Grace complained.
"I think it's cute," Eli said, laughing when Grace turned red.
"Gracie is that you?" Lily called out as she walked down stairs after finally hanging up the phone.
"Yeah I'm in the kitchen" Grace answered. "Gracie" Eli mouthed silently causing Grace to roll her eyes.
"Grace, I know it's a Wednesday night but I was wondering whether you could watch Zoë for a few hours. I have a job interview in half an hour" Lily explained walking into the room. "Oh sorry, I didn't realise anyone else was here" Lily said as she noticed Eli.
"Mum this is Eli, I'm just helping him out with some stuff for school" Grace explained hoping her mother wouldn't get the wrong idea.
"Well maybe you guys could study down here and just keep an eye on Zoë for me?" Lily asked hopefully, pondering over the familiarity of Eli's name but coming up blank.
"I guess, just as long as she leaves us alone" agreed Grace, thankful for the time with Eli away from her mothers watchful eyes.
Grace looked over at Eli who was sitting next to her on the couch. He looked so cute as he pretended to be reading even thought Grace could tell that he wasn't.
"Eli, you don't have to pretend your reading that, come on. Why don't you read to me the first part, then we can both figure out what it means together and you can take notes? That way you can write up the summary for it later" Grace explained to Eli.
"Um okay" Eli picked up the novel and started reading.
"Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny."
Grace nodded reassuringly after Eli had managed to read the prologue. "What do you think is happening from what you have read so far?" she asked, looking at him.
"Truthfully I have no idea. It was hard enough to read it let alone understand it" Eli admitted.
"Okay then, don't worry about what we have just read, what do you know about Romeo and Juliet?" Grace asked.
"Uh, I guess there this guy and a girl, Romeo and Juliet. Both their families hated each other and Romeo and Juliet fell in love. But then for some reason Juliet killed herself and then so did Romeo. I think?" Eli asked questionably.
"Ok that's good, basically what you told me is just a summary of what you just read to me although you've left out a few details. Now let's go back and see if you can work out a bit more."