Grace pulled out her diary as her mind reminisced the day's previous events. Tucking a pillow under her, she lay upon the bed and began writing.


Ugh! He walked in on me...he walked in on me! Oh my god, he saw me in my underwear, how embarrassed am I?!? And then I thought maybe if I talked to him my awkwardness would have dissipated, but then being the smart person he is...he brought it up again. But it was sweet, he did apologize...and those eyes GOD! Those eyes, I could get lost in them forever. And his lips...why do I have to love him?!? UGH!


Frustrated, Grace slammed her diary shut and placed it back under her pillow. Silently she lay there, on her bed, before she reluctantly started her homework. It seemed that only five minutes had passed when she spotted a figure standing at her doorway from the corner of her eye. Ever so slightly, she turned her head in acknowledgement of the 'intruder.'


"Sorry Grace, if you're busy..." her eyes swept over Grace before the petite blonde turned to leave.


Sitting up Grace began to speak, "No Jessie, its all right. What can I do for you?"


At the presence of Grace's voice, Jessie had turned around. Hesitantly, she walked into Grace's room and sat at her vanity. She carefully placed her hands in her lap and began fidgeting with her hands.


Grace took notice of her tentativeness. "Jessie, what's wrong?"


Jessie looked up, tears brimmed her cerulean eyes. "Katie and I had a fight. I'm sorry Grace, but you are the only one I can talk to. No one else knows, and it is tearing me up."
Jessie's confession prompted Grace to scoot over and pat the length of the bed beside her. Jessie was quick to fill the space with the extent of her body.


"Jess, I don't know what advice I can give you. I think we both know the extent of knowledge and practice I have concerning relationships right?" Grace gently nudged her stepsister who then cautiously smiled at Grace's comment. "The only thing that I can tell you, which I am sure that you have heard at least a thousand times before is to just give it time."


Jessie rolled her eyes, "How can I give it time Grace? It's not that I just want her, Grace...it's that I need her. Physically, emotionally, mentally, I need her, she is my everything Grace." An escaped tear traveled down her cheek and dropped from her chin on to the bedspread.


Grace turned on her side and looked at Jessie, as she continued to speak. "Look, I know what you're going through." At this, Jessie's head shot up looking questioningly at Grace. "Difficult as it may seem, I need someone too. There is this guy, whom I like and if I don't see him everyday, I am just not as happy. It doesn't have to be for a long time, just a quick glance and my day seems better for it. It's like he's my aphrodisiac, he is my chocolate," she says as Jessie softly chuckles. "He is what makes everything better when I have had the worst day." Grace's eyes glaze over with tears as she realizes the extent of what she has just said.


It is Jessie's turn to comfort Grace as she places her hand over her stepsister's. "Grace why don't you just tell Eli how you feel?" she asked looking at Grace with concerned eyes.


Grace yanks her hand away and her head bolts up took look Jessie in the eyes. "What are you talking about, Eli? Whoever said anything about Eli? I don't like him, are you insane? He is my brother for goodness sakes! That would be...that would be..."


As she searched for a word, Jessie took the chance to begin speaking. "Grace that would be love. Love comes in many forms and in many ways. You can't help whom you love, even if he is you stepbrother."


Grace looked at Jessie, they both were crying now. "Even if it is a girl. Even if it is your best friend."


Jessie looked at Grace as the words fell from Graces mouth. "I guess so," she said, "I guess so."


A knock on the doorframe brought them both back to the present. "Hey guys, dinner's ready," Eli began as he took into the current state of his sister and Grace. "Are you two...you know, okay?" His brow line creased as he asked.


Grace and Jessie looked at each other and laughed. "Yeah I think we are," Grace stated. As they both made their way out the bedroom door silently holding the revealed secrets between them.


"And E, we're girls if you haven't noticed, not guys." Jessie stated while patting him on the shoulder.


Looking after Grace as she walked passed him, he muttered quietly, "Yeah, I've noticed...believe me, I have noticed."


But Grace heard.

*LN* Hey guys…I hope you like this chapter! Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing! I hope you continue to do so because it makes my day! Lilliana