The Music of His Heart—Chapter 4
The first thing Eli was aware of was light dawning through his eyelids…that and something else…the faintest memories of a tune, almost forgotten. He knew as soon as he opened his eyes it would be gone, so he lay still, trying to ease it back into his consciousness. Then, as he felt something brush across his chin, his eyes opened with a jolt and the last traces of it were gone. He had bigger things to worry about anyway, now that his eyes were open. Like the jackhammer in his temples and the nausea eating at his stomach. And, as her hair brushed across his chin once more, the fact that Grace was curled up in the crook of his arm, her head on his chest, sound asleep. Even the heady aroma of her shampoo—a cross between lavender and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on—couldn't stop how horrible he felt.
Grace stretched in her sleep and a groan escaped her lips. Suddenly, his head wasn't the only thing throbbing. "What the hell is wrong with me?" Eli thought, as he slowly slid out from under her and off the bed. "Nothing. Nothing at all. It's just the usual morning thing, that's all." He stumbled to the bathroom for some aspirin and a cold shower.
When the shower turned on, Grace slowly woke up, disoriented. "I must have fallen asleep waiting for Eli. What's taking him so long?" Then, she realized with a shock, there was daylight streaming through the window. She stared at the clock in disbelief. 7AM! "Oh my gosh! I have to get back to my room." She stood up, charged out of the garage and into the house. As she was opening the door, Lily walked into the kitchen. "Grace! What were you doing outside at this time of the morning?"
"Oh….um…I was just getting the paper."
Lily put her hands on her hips and half-smiled. "Then, where's the paper, honey?"
Grace stuttered and ran her fingers through her hair. "Oh. Right. The paper. I don't have the paper do I? Heh, heh. Silly me. I must not be very awake yet." She turned around, banged into the half-open door in her haste, and stumbled back outside.
Lily shook her head and sighed. "Teenagers."
Grace came back a minute later with the paper. "Here mom. I'm gonna go take a shower." As she turned to go, Lily said, "I don't remember ever having seen that shirt before, Grace. Where did it come from?" Grace's hand flew up to the collar of Eli's shirt. She had completely forgotten she was wearing it. "Oh this old thing? I just threw it on because it was kinda cold."
"Why didn't you just put on your housecoat?"
Thinking about the housecoat currently stuffed in her closet holding the remains of Eli's guitar, Grace said, "Oh mom, I don't know. Quit giving me the third degree. I just got up." She stomped out of the room.
Once again, Lily shook her head. "I don't think I will ever EVER understand that girl."