The song in this chapter is a brasilian song, I tried to put the exact
lyrics into English, so you may think it sounds a little bit odd, but I
hope you get the message in it.
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Grace got into her room, tears falling from her eyes. She sat on her bad, extremely shocked and hurt because of Eli's overreaction. She slowly shrugged her coat off then her door received a smooth knock. She heard it but she remained sat on her bed. She knew who the one behind the door was… she couldn't face him.
He waited but she didn't answer, so Eli silently opened her door and found Grace, with her eyes filled tears. And even though she was so hurt and she was crying, all Eli could think of was how lovely she seemed there.
"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have overreacted." Eli quietly apologized and Grace looked away. "I don't know what got into me but I want you to know that… I am… I'm happy for you." he lied but Grace remained speechless.
"You don't have to say anything. I know I screwed up… That's what I do. I ruin everything that's good in my life and now I ruined our-"
"It's ok. You didn't ruin anything." Grace sweetly whispered.
"Didn't I?" Eli hummed staring at her.
"Let's just forget about it."
"I'll try but I don't think I can." Eli confessed and Grace lifted her eyes. "I mean… I…" he tried to think of some excuse for what he just said but he couldn't and he didn't have to either. Grace knew deep down in her heart what he meant and that made her feel ashamed and weak.
Grace and Eli stared each other for a while. She could see in his eyes he was truly sorry like Eli could in hers that she's forgiven him.
"Um… I don't think I've told you yet but me and the guys, we got a new gig." Eli snorted.
"Oh. That's great." she replied.
"It's only a party but… you know… The party is next Friday. I was wondering if you'd like to come or something." Eli shyly invited her.
"Can't." she shrugged taking the necklace off, the one that he bought her.
"Let me guess. Going out with him again?"
"Yes." she reluctantly confirmed.
"That's cool." he lied again trying to hide his disappointment. "Well, I better go. Guess I've caused too much damage for one night, right?" Eli tried to joke then headed out leaving Grace struggling with herself.
*
*
*
That week passed by real quickly. To the rest of the family everything seemed to be perfectly normal but Eli had avoided Grace as much as he could. She noticed that but didn't want to push anything. Besides she knew that he was wounded and she was responsible for that. But Friday has come and she chose not to think about it or try not to and focus on her date with Tad.
Eli was almost ready. He's face was covered with sadness. This was supposed to be a happy night because Eli and his band were playing but nothing could cheer him up. He was lost in his feelings, in his thoughts and all he knew was that she was with someone else… again. Eli grabbed his guitars and shoved them on his shoulders and left. Coop and the others were waiting in the van but before Eli got in it he looked at Grace's window and sighed then they took off.
Grace heard the van leaving and she felt her heart skip a beat when she thought of Eli. *Grace, Tad's here!*, she heard Zoe calling from downstairs. before she went down she looked at the mirror and wiped a tear that's fallen from her eyes. She took a deep breath then left.
"Manning! You… you… you surprise me every day! You're gorgeous!" Tad exclaimed as he saw Grace in her new black leather pants, a bright white top and a leather jacket too.
"Should I take it as complement?" she forcely joked.
"Definitively! Shall we?" Tad smile and they went out to the party.
*
*
*
"Whose party is this, anyway?" Grace quizzed as Tad parked the car.
"My brother's. He's in college and it's his birthday." he explained.
"Why didn't you tell me? I would have bought something.!" she shrugged.
"For what? My brother's birthday it's just an excuse for those college guys to throw a party." he said smiling. "Come on."
Tad and Grace slowly made their entrance in the house. There were people everywhere but somehow Tad managed to find his brother.
"Hey, you came!" Tad's brother said hugging him.
"Trevor, this is Grace. Grace, Trevor." Tad introduced them.
"Hi!" said Grace.
"Fine young lady, if my little brother here ever acts like an asshole, don't hesitate in kick him to the curb and call me.' Trevor flirted with Grace and she laugh.
"We're here to dance!!" Tad exclaimed not very pleased that his own brother was flirting with his date.
"See that hall there?… Goes along it then turn to the left," Trevor pointed the right way and went to talk to his friends.
Grace and Tad got to where the improvised stage was set and when grace took a look at the band, she couldn't believe in her eyes. It was Eli's. He was ready to begin playing when she saw him. She thought it was unbelievable and so did Eli when he saw her coming in.
"That's your stepbrother, right?" Tad made sure he was right.
"Yes." she replied.
"Cool! Lets dance!" said Tad grabbing Grace's waist.
In the following 45 minutes, Eli had t watch Tad doing what he always wanted to… dance with Grace, make her smile, touch her, hold her… have her. He didn't even know how he managed to play and sing without missing one note.
The band finished playing their favorite song then the stage lights focused on Eli. He switched his eletric guitar to his acustic one. Grace observed him trying to disguise her feelings.
"Well, we, I mean, I'm gonna slow down a little bit. I finished this song this morning and I wasn't sure if I was going to play it tonight but something in here made me want to." Eli explained his crowd and Grace watched him in an awe. "This song means a lot to me because it's about someone who means a lot to me.' he went on but this time he said it directly to Grace who perfectly understood him but still denied it in her brain.
Eli started to pluck the first chords on his guitar and Tad gently took Grace in his arms and they began dancing then Eli sang,
*I spend my days looking at the clouds
Wondering if I will have you someday
Cause I walk through the clouds
I sail through the sea
You're my guide in this journey.
But I wanna know, who's gonna be
Is it me or you?
Who is going to be brave
Brave to put down the wall between you and me.
Your eyes, my eyes, they wanna speak
But the fear is too much to win.
So, let's let love take over
Let the sun shine
Everything is so clear to me.
I know it is love.
It's deeper then the sea
It's my light in the drakness
Question is:
What's gonna happen if we give in?
What will they do to me?
Will it be me and you
Finally walking through the same clouds
That once I walked alone through
But I know love will keep us warm
When the winter comes
Even in the rain…
All I wanna say is
Without you I could never be
You're in me.
What else can I do? Let it go?
I don't think so.
Sshhhhhh.
I'm gonna sleep to dream…
Finally understood
I'm only here to love you.*
Grace listened to Eli sings… to her. she knew it was for her… for both of them. Tad's back was to the stage so Grace could face Eli. Every time she looked up at him she saw him staring her but just not that, she also saw something in his eyes, something that she knew, something that se felt… she feels but denies still. A tear rolled down her cheek at that thought.
"I wanna go home." Grace said pulling away.
"What? Why?" Tad frown as he saw she was crying. "What's going on?
" Just take me home." she demanded and they left the party.
Eli watched the whole scene with no clue of what had happened.
*
*
*
Tad turned off the car after parking next to Lily's.
"Won't you tell me what happened?" Tad suspiciously asked.
"I'm sorry, Tad but I can't." Grace snorted in tears. "I can't do this to you, to me … to him."
"Him?" his brow furrowed.
"There's someone else and it doesn't have anything to do with Mr. Dimitri ." she confessed. "I'm sorry. I thought I could do it but… I can't. Sorry." she jumped out of the car and ran into her house. Tad was stunned but not devastated, he liked her but not that much then he went back to the party.
*
*
*Four hours later
*
*
Eli came home, it was past midnight. He crashed onto his bed feeling that everybody's problems were over his shoulder. He felt that the load he was carrying was too heavy for him to stand. He took a deep breath and began changing, when he was putting his pajamas' pants he heard a knock on his door. His heart froze for a second, he knew it was her.
"Come in." he said and Grace opened the door and entered.
"You left early." Eli commented trying to be cool with the situation.
"Yeah." she nodded… … … … "You were right."
"About…?"
"I should have never gone out with Tad." Grace regretted
"You were only trying to move on… Do the right thing." Eli tried to support her and she nodded. Grace started to walk around his room. It seemed she was looking for something or trying to hide something.
"So… your song… It's beautiful." she said looking at the floor.
"Thank you.' he shyly smiled. "Do you know, don't you?" Eli murmured, unsure if she would have the courage to answer him. He stepped closer to her and she shook her head in agreement but still she could look into his eyes. Eli slowly brushed her hair aside so he could contemplate her beautiful face.
"I better go. It's late." Grace stated, realizing what he was about to do.
She reached the door and opened it but she hesitated to leave and went back. She rushed and hugged him tightly. His fingers slid through her soft hair. Before she pull away, Grace gave him a peck on his left cheek then she started out again. But Eli didn't let her. He hold her hand, making her stop. He moved closer and she turned to face him but again, she wouldn't, she couldn't. She knew she wouldn't be able to resist those eyes of his. Eli breathed her sweet scent in then gently caressed her arms, slowly up and down. She felt chill all over her body… electricity… sparks… butterflies… everything. Eli smoothed her cheek and Grace finally find the courage to lift her eyes. Theirs unsure gazes met, deeply. They knew it was true. Eli abscently licked his lips in anticipation then his lips gently brushed hers… once… twice and on the third , Eli felt a hunger to taste her more and more. He deepened the kiss as he gaped her mouth to allow their tongues to begin the love battle. ..
"Oh, God!!!" Grace exclaimed suddenly in shock, pushing him away, breaking the kiss. She looked at him, not being able to suppress her tears . "I can't." she hummed , running away, leaving Eli standing there, hopelessly in love with her.
____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________
Grace got into her room, tears falling from her eyes. She sat on her bad, extremely shocked and hurt because of Eli's overreaction. She slowly shrugged her coat off then her door received a smooth knock. She heard it but she remained sat on her bed. She knew who the one behind the door was… she couldn't face him.
He waited but she didn't answer, so Eli silently opened her door and found Grace, with her eyes filled tears. And even though she was so hurt and she was crying, all Eli could think of was how lovely she seemed there.
"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have overreacted." Eli quietly apologized and Grace looked away. "I don't know what got into me but I want you to know that… I am… I'm happy for you." he lied but Grace remained speechless.
"You don't have to say anything. I know I screwed up… That's what I do. I ruin everything that's good in my life and now I ruined our-"
"It's ok. You didn't ruin anything." Grace sweetly whispered.
"Didn't I?" Eli hummed staring at her.
"Let's just forget about it."
"I'll try but I don't think I can." Eli confessed and Grace lifted her eyes. "I mean… I…" he tried to think of some excuse for what he just said but he couldn't and he didn't have to either. Grace knew deep down in her heart what he meant and that made her feel ashamed and weak.
Grace and Eli stared each other for a while. She could see in his eyes he was truly sorry like Eli could in hers that she's forgiven him.
"Um… I don't think I've told you yet but me and the guys, we got a new gig." Eli snorted.
"Oh. That's great." she replied.
"It's only a party but… you know… The party is next Friday. I was wondering if you'd like to come or something." Eli shyly invited her.
"Can't." she shrugged taking the necklace off, the one that he bought her.
"Let me guess. Going out with him again?"
"Yes." she reluctantly confirmed.
"That's cool." he lied again trying to hide his disappointment. "Well, I better go. Guess I've caused too much damage for one night, right?" Eli tried to joke then headed out leaving Grace struggling with herself.
*
*
*
That week passed by real quickly. To the rest of the family everything seemed to be perfectly normal but Eli had avoided Grace as much as he could. She noticed that but didn't want to push anything. Besides she knew that he was wounded and she was responsible for that. But Friday has come and she chose not to think about it or try not to and focus on her date with Tad.
Eli was almost ready. He's face was covered with sadness. This was supposed to be a happy night because Eli and his band were playing but nothing could cheer him up. He was lost in his feelings, in his thoughts and all he knew was that she was with someone else… again. Eli grabbed his guitars and shoved them on his shoulders and left. Coop and the others were waiting in the van but before Eli got in it he looked at Grace's window and sighed then they took off.
Grace heard the van leaving and she felt her heart skip a beat when she thought of Eli. *Grace, Tad's here!*, she heard Zoe calling from downstairs. before she went down she looked at the mirror and wiped a tear that's fallen from her eyes. She took a deep breath then left.
"Manning! You… you… you surprise me every day! You're gorgeous!" Tad exclaimed as he saw Grace in her new black leather pants, a bright white top and a leather jacket too.
"Should I take it as complement?" she forcely joked.
"Definitively! Shall we?" Tad smile and they went out to the party.
*
*
*
"Whose party is this, anyway?" Grace quizzed as Tad parked the car.
"My brother's. He's in college and it's his birthday." he explained.
"Why didn't you tell me? I would have bought something.!" she shrugged.
"For what? My brother's birthday it's just an excuse for those college guys to throw a party." he said smiling. "Come on."
Tad and Grace slowly made their entrance in the house. There were people everywhere but somehow Tad managed to find his brother.
"Hey, you came!" Tad's brother said hugging him.
"Trevor, this is Grace. Grace, Trevor." Tad introduced them.
"Hi!" said Grace.
"Fine young lady, if my little brother here ever acts like an asshole, don't hesitate in kick him to the curb and call me.' Trevor flirted with Grace and she laugh.
"We're here to dance!!" Tad exclaimed not very pleased that his own brother was flirting with his date.
"See that hall there?… Goes along it then turn to the left," Trevor pointed the right way and went to talk to his friends.
Grace and Tad got to where the improvised stage was set and when grace took a look at the band, she couldn't believe in her eyes. It was Eli's. He was ready to begin playing when she saw him. She thought it was unbelievable and so did Eli when he saw her coming in.
"That's your stepbrother, right?" Tad made sure he was right.
"Yes." she replied.
"Cool! Lets dance!" said Tad grabbing Grace's waist.
In the following 45 minutes, Eli had t watch Tad doing what he always wanted to… dance with Grace, make her smile, touch her, hold her… have her. He didn't even know how he managed to play and sing without missing one note.
The band finished playing their favorite song then the stage lights focused on Eli. He switched his eletric guitar to his acustic one. Grace observed him trying to disguise her feelings.
"Well, we, I mean, I'm gonna slow down a little bit. I finished this song this morning and I wasn't sure if I was going to play it tonight but something in here made me want to." Eli explained his crowd and Grace watched him in an awe. "This song means a lot to me because it's about someone who means a lot to me.' he went on but this time he said it directly to Grace who perfectly understood him but still denied it in her brain.
Eli started to pluck the first chords on his guitar and Tad gently took Grace in his arms and they began dancing then Eli sang,
*I spend my days looking at the clouds
Wondering if I will have you someday
Cause I walk through the clouds
I sail through the sea
You're my guide in this journey.
But I wanna know, who's gonna be
Is it me or you?
Who is going to be brave
Brave to put down the wall between you and me.
Your eyes, my eyes, they wanna speak
But the fear is too much to win.
So, let's let love take over
Let the sun shine
Everything is so clear to me.
I know it is love.
It's deeper then the sea
It's my light in the drakness
Question is:
What's gonna happen if we give in?
What will they do to me?
Will it be me and you
Finally walking through the same clouds
That once I walked alone through
But I know love will keep us warm
When the winter comes
Even in the rain…
All I wanna say is
Without you I could never be
You're in me.
What else can I do? Let it go?
I don't think so.
Sshhhhhh.
I'm gonna sleep to dream…
Finally understood
I'm only here to love you.*
Grace listened to Eli sings… to her. she knew it was for her… for both of them. Tad's back was to the stage so Grace could face Eli. Every time she looked up at him she saw him staring her but just not that, she also saw something in his eyes, something that she knew, something that se felt… she feels but denies still. A tear rolled down her cheek at that thought.
"I wanna go home." Grace said pulling away.
"What? Why?" Tad frown as he saw she was crying. "What's going on?
" Just take me home." she demanded and they left the party.
Eli watched the whole scene with no clue of what had happened.
*
*
*
Tad turned off the car after parking next to Lily's.
"Won't you tell me what happened?" Tad suspiciously asked.
"I'm sorry, Tad but I can't." Grace snorted in tears. "I can't do this to you, to me … to him."
"Him?" his brow furrowed.
"There's someone else and it doesn't have anything to do with Mr. Dimitri ." she confessed. "I'm sorry. I thought I could do it but… I can't. Sorry." she jumped out of the car and ran into her house. Tad was stunned but not devastated, he liked her but not that much then he went back to the party.
*
*
*Four hours later
*
*
Eli came home, it was past midnight. He crashed onto his bed feeling that everybody's problems were over his shoulder. He felt that the load he was carrying was too heavy for him to stand. He took a deep breath and began changing, when he was putting his pajamas' pants he heard a knock on his door. His heart froze for a second, he knew it was her.
"Come in." he said and Grace opened the door and entered.
"You left early." Eli commented trying to be cool with the situation.
"Yeah." she nodded… … … … "You were right."
"About…?"
"I should have never gone out with Tad." Grace regretted
"You were only trying to move on… Do the right thing." Eli tried to support her and she nodded. Grace started to walk around his room. It seemed she was looking for something or trying to hide something.
"So… your song… It's beautiful." she said looking at the floor.
"Thank you.' he shyly smiled. "Do you know, don't you?" Eli murmured, unsure if she would have the courage to answer him. He stepped closer to her and she shook her head in agreement but still she could look into his eyes. Eli slowly brushed her hair aside so he could contemplate her beautiful face.
"I better go. It's late." Grace stated, realizing what he was about to do.
She reached the door and opened it but she hesitated to leave and went back. She rushed and hugged him tightly. His fingers slid through her soft hair. Before she pull away, Grace gave him a peck on his left cheek then she started out again. But Eli didn't let her. He hold her hand, making her stop. He moved closer and she turned to face him but again, she wouldn't, she couldn't. She knew she wouldn't be able to resist those eyes of his. Eli breathed her sweet scent in then gently caressed her arms, slowly up and down. She felt chill all over her body… electricity… sparks… butterflies… everything. Eli smoothed her cheek and Grace finally find the courage to lift her eyes. Theirs unsure gazes met, deeply. They knew it was true. Eli abscently licked his lips in anticipation then his lips gently brushed hers… once… twice and on the third , Eli felt a hunger to taste her more and more. He deepened the kiss as he gaped her mouth to allow their tongues to begin the love battle. ..
"Oh, God!!!" Grace exclaimed suddenly in shock, pushing him away, breaking the kiss. She looked at him, not being able to suppress her tears . "I can't." she hummed , running away, leaving Eli standing there, hopelessly in love with her.