~A Once and Again Series~
Life is what you make of it
Chapter 3// I saw you with him
Augustus pulled into Grace's driveway. He turned to her with a nervous look, "You better go."
Grace laughed, "Augustus, chill." Saying that made her laugh harder.
"We don't want to raise any suspicions."
Grace shook her head and gave him a reassuring smile, "We won't. You'll be the good teacher and I'll be the good student. I might even bring you a nice shiny apple tomorrow." All kidding aside, Grace knew they had to be very careful about hiding their relationship. Although Grace couldn't be sure that making out in his car and one shared kiss in the school auditorium constituted a relationship, but she knew something was there. She could just feel it. And Augustus wouldn't risk losing his job unless he was feeling pretty good about what they had too.
"Do you know how much I want to kiss you right now?" Augustus whispered, breaking the thoughtful silence of the car.
"Me too." Grace smiled and her mind was telling her a quick kiss wouldn't be that risky, when there was a knock on the window. Grace jumped and Augustus let out a whoosh of breath. Grace opened the car door and got out. "Hi mom."
Lily smiled at her and Grace turned back to Augustus, "Bye, Mr. Dmitri. Thanks again for the ride. I'll see you tomorrow at play practice." Grace began to close the door, but her mother pushed her way through.
"Well, hi Mr. Dmitri. That was nice of you to give Grace a ride home. Is the play going good?"
Grace couldn't watch as her mother and Augustus made small talk. She just hoped nothing on either of their faces gave anything away. Augustus was so right about being careful. If they had kissed and her mother had saw-well, she and Mr. Dmitri wouldn't be talking about the school bake sale right now. Oh, no, certainly not. Grace turned back towards the car and her eyes met Augustus' for a brief moment, but they both looked away, even that wasn't safe. Grace finally tugged at her mother's shirt, "Mom, I'm sure Mr. Dmitri has a bunch of stuff to do."
Lily looked at Grace with slight confusion and annoyance, but bid Mr. Dmitri farewell. They both watched his car pull out and drive away. "He is a nice man."
Grace shrugged.
"I wonder if he is married?"
"Why do ask that?" Grace forced her voice to sound normal.
"Oh, well, maybe Judy-"
"MOM! No! I don't think he's Judy's type, and he's my teacher! Besides he's too young for her." Grace couldn't believe this.
"Yeah, you're right. Just how old is he, anyway?" Lily began to head up towards the house.
"I don't know."
"Oh, well, we're having chicken and rice for supper. Hmm, I better go check it."
Grace stood in the driveway a bit longer after her mother hurried in the house. There was so much she didn't know about Augustus. How could she not know how old he was? Grace guessed it was somewhere in his late 20s/early 30s, but what if that was her just being hopeful? He couldn't be in his forties; no, Grace knew that for sure. But still it pained her that she didn't know this. And she didn't even know when the next time they could be alone together.
Grace sighed and headed up the driveway. She looked up and noticed Eli standing in the doorway that led up to his garage apartment. Grace forced a smile and gave him a wave, but he didn't seem to notice and headed back into his apartment. Grace dropped her fake smile and sighed again. Time to go have dinner with her one big great happy family.
* * *
"Grace, did you get a pink and white tee shirt back in your wash? I can't find it and thought that maybe Lily put it in your pile by mistake."
Grace shook her head at Jessie's question, "Nope. Maybe you should check Zoe's pile. Your sizes are closer." Grace knew that was a low blow and Jessie left in a visible huff. Grace didn't mind. She knew later she might regret saying that, but right now she just wanted to be left alone. Grace got up and closed her bedroom door. She went to her desk and pulled out a nice clean piece of paper. She had got the idea that she and Augustus could communicate by secret love letters. She'd casually drop one on his desk when leaving class, and he hand her one when they were alone for a millisecond at play rehearsal. It would be so romantic. And she bet he could write beautiful love letters.
Grace shook her head free of all the extra day-to-day junk and concentrated only on Augustus and what they shared.
Dearest Augustus,
I can't begin to think of how to tell you what we shared today (yesterday by the time you get this letter) meant to me. You are an amazing man and when I was with you, I was an amazing woman. You and I have something special. Others may not think it right, but how could something that feels this good be wrong? I
Once again someone was at her door. Maybe it was Jessie asking if she had seen her purple skirt this time. Or maybe Jessie had told on her and it was her mother ready to yell at her. Whoever it was, Grace didn't need this right now. She got up and opened her door. "Oh, Eli, hi."
"Can I talk to you?" Eli looked nervous and somehow unsettled as if he wasn't sure he was doing the right thing.
"Yeah," Grace said, and stepped back, "Uh, come in."
"Thanks." Eli stepped in her room and shut the door behind him. He walked over to the far side of her room and stood by her desk. Grace hurried and picked up the letter she had been working on and slide it into a drawer, Eli didn't seem to notice. She pulled out the desk chair and asked if he wanted to sit down. "Uh, no. I, I just wanted to ask you something."
"Ask away," Grace looked around her room nervously. That letter was a close call. But she had nothing else that would give her secret away, right? Grace surveyed her room just in case. Eli's question jerked her eyes back to him.
"Are you dating with your teacher?"
"What?" Grace choked out.
"That teacher, Mr. Dmitri. I saw you with him."
Suddenly Grace's whole world was crashing down. Eli had seen her and Augustus at the parking lot. He saw them kissing-he knew! And soon he would tell her mother, and everyone would huddle around her to protect her from big bad Mr. Dmitri.
"When he dropped you off today, I looked out the window from my room and I saw the way you looked," Eli continued.
Grace was confused. Did Eli see them kissing at the parking lot or not? "The way I looked?"
"Yeah, well, you looked nervous and scared when you mother showed up. You kept looking at her and Mr. Dmitri talking, but you were careful not to look at him. I dunno, it just seemed like you were afraid your mother would find out something she shouldn't. You looked guilty."
Grace laughed, "And so, from that you assumed I'm dating my teacher?" Her laughter came out in almost hysterical bursts of relief and she quickly cut it off. Eli had nothing but a few guilty looks-and those could have been about anything. Still, Grace didn't want to lie to Eli. Hopefully, he'd just not ask any more questions.
"Yeah, that's what it looked like. I don't know, I guess I was mistaken." Eli looked confused.
"Well, thanks for having this wonderful conversation with me, Eli. I sort of have homework to do, so, if you don't mind."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm leaving." Eli's brow was still furrowed and he hesitated at the door, "Grace?"
"Yeah, Eli?"
"I'm only looking out for you," Eli looked her directly in the eyes, and Grace found that she couldn't look away, "If there was something going on, would you tell me?"
Grace took a deep breath; she didn't know what to say.
"Yeah, well, I guess that's my answer," Eli said, as she stayed silent. "You can trust me, Grace. If you need to talk about it, you can come to me."
Grace smiled, "Thanks Eli, I mean that."
"Yeah, yeah," Eli smiled at her, his first smile since he entered her room, "Goodnight, kiddo."
"Kiddo?" Grace raised her eyebrows, "Um, not quite."
"Yeah, you've really grown up- in all ways," Eli was looking at her appreciatively and suddenly Grace had a flash of Augustus looking at her in her bra earlier, that same look of admiration.
"Okay, goodnight, Eli." Grace finally said.
"Goodnight, Grace."
* * *
Life is what you make of it
Chapter 3// I saw you with him
Augustus pulled into Grace's driveway. He turned to her with a nervous look, "You better go."
Grace laughed, "Augustus, chill." Saying that made her laugh harder.
"We don't want to raise any suspicions."
Grace shook her head and gave him a reassuring smile, "We won't. You'll be the good teacher and I'll be the good student. I might even bring you a nice shiny apple tomorrow." All kidding aside, Grace knew they had to be very careful about hiding their relationship. Although Grace couldn't be sure that making out in his car and one shared kiss in the school auditorium constituted a relationship, but she knew something was there. She could just feel it. And Augustus wouldn't risk losing his job unless he was feeling pretty good about what they had too.
"Do you know how much I want to kiss you right now?" Augustus whispered, breaking the thoughtful silence of the car.
"Me too." Grace smiled and her mind was telling her a quick kiss wouldn't be that risky, when there was a knock on the window. Grace jumped and Augustus let out a whoosh of breath. Grace opened the car door and got out. "Hi mom."
Lily smiled at her and Grace turned back to Augustus, "Bye, Mr. Dmitri. Thanks again for the ride. I'll see you tomorrow at play practice." Grace began to close the door, but her mother pushed her way through.
"Well, hi Mr. Dmitri. That was nice of you to give Grace a ride home. Is the play going good?"
Grace couldn't watch as her mother and Augustus made small talk. She just hoped nothing on either of their faces gave anything away. Augustus was so right about being careful. If they had kissed and her mother had saw-well, she and Mr. Dmitri wouldn't be talking about the school bake sale right now. Oh, no, certainly not. Grace turned back towards the car and her eyes met Augustus' for a brief moment, but they both looked away, even that wasn't safe. Grace finally tugged at her mother's shirt, "Mom, I'm sure Mr. Dmitri has a bunch of stuff to do."
Lily looked at Grace with slight confusion and annoyance, but bid Mr. Dmitri farewell. They both watched his car pull out and drive away. "He is a nice man."
Grace shrugged.
"I wonder if he is married?"
"Why do ask that?" Grace forced her voice to sound normal.
"Oh, well, maybe Judy-"
"MOM! No! I don't think he's Judy's type, and he's my teacher! Besides he's too young for her." Grace couldn't believe this.
"Yeah, you're right. Just how old is he, anyway?" Lily began to head up towards the house.
"I don't know."
"Oh, well, we're having chicken and rice for supper. Hmm, I better go check it."
Grace stood in the driveway a bit longer after her mother hurried in the house. There was so much she didn't know about Augustus. How could she not know how old he was? Grace guessed it was somewhere in his late 20s/early 30s, but what if that was her just being hopeful? He couldn't be in his forties; no, Grace knew that for sure. But still it pained her that she didn't know this. And she didn't even know when the next time they could be alone together.
Grace sighed and headed up the driveway. She looked up and noticed Eli standing in the doorway that led up to his garage apartment. Grace forced a smile and gave him a wave, but he didn't seem to notice and headed back into his apartment. Grace dropped her fake smile and sighed again. Time to go have dinner with her one big great happy family.
* * *
"Grace, did you get a pink and white tee shirt back in your wash? I can't find it and thought that maybe Lily put it in your pile by mistake."
Grace shook her head at Jessie's question, "Nope. Maybe you should check Zoe's pile. Your sizes are closer." Grace knew that was a low blow and Jessie left in a visible huff. Grace didn't mind. She knew later she might regret saying that, but right now she just wanted to be left alone. Grace got up and closed her bedroom door. She went to her desk and pulled out a nice clean piece of paper. She had got the idea that she and Augustus could communicate by secret love letters. She'd casually drop one on his desk when leaving class, and he hand her one when they were alone for a millisecond at play rehearsal. It would be so romantic. And she bet he could write beautiful love letters.
Grace shook her head free of all the extra day-to-day junk and concentrated only on Augustus and what they shared.
Dearest Augustus,
I can't begin to think of how to tell you what we shared today (yesterday by the time you get this letter) meant to me. You are an amazing man and when I was with you, I was an amazing woman. You and I have something special. Others may not think it right, but how could something that feels this good be wrong? I
Once again someone was at her door. Maybe it was Jessie asking if she had seen her purple skirt this time. Or maybe Jessie had told on her and it was her mother ready to yell at her. Whoever it was, Grace didn't need this right now. She got up and opened her door. "Oh, Eli, hi."
"Can I talk to you?" Eli looked nervous and somehow unsettled as if he wasn't sure he was doing the right thing.
"Yeah," Grace said, and stepped back, "Uh, come in."
"Thanks." Eli stepped in her room and shut the door behind him. He walked over to the far side of her room and stood by her desk. Grace hurried and picked up the letter she had been working on and slide it into a drawer, Eli didn't seem to notice. She pulled out the desk chair and asked if he wanted to sit down. "Uh, no. I, I just wanted to ask you something."
"Ask away," Grace looked around her room nervously. That letter was a close call. But she had nothing else that would give her secret away, right? Grace surveyed her room just in case. Eli's question jerked her eyes back to him.
"Are you dating with your teacher?"
"What?" Grace choked out.
"That teacher, Mr. Dmitri. I saw you with him."
Suddenly Grace's whole world was crashing down. Eli had seen her and Augustus at the parking lot. He saw them kissing-he knew! And soon he would tell her mother, and everyone would huddle around her to protect her from big bad Mr. Dmitri.
"When he dropped you off today, I looked out the window from my room and I saw the way you looked," Eli continued.
Grace was confused. Did Eli see them kissing at the parking lot or not? "The way I looked?"
"Yeah, well, you looked nervous and scared when you mother showed up. You kept looking at her and Mr. Dmitri talking, but you were careful not to look at him. I dunno, it just seemed like you were afraid your mother would find out something she shouldn't. You looked guilty."
Grace laughed, "And so, from that you assumed I'm dating my teacher?" Her laughter came out in almost hysterical bursts of relief and she quickly cut it off. Eli had nothing but a few guilty looks-and those could have been about anything. Still, Grace didn't want to lie to Eli. Hopefully, he'd just not ask any more questions.
"Yeah, that's what it looked like. I don't know, I guess I was mistaken." Eli looked confused.
"Well, thanks for having this wonderful conversation with me, Eli. I sort of have homework to do, so, if you don't mind."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm leaving." Eli's brow was still furrowed and he hesitated at the door, "Grace?"
"Yeah, Eli?"
"I'm only looking out for you," Eli looked her directly in the eyes, and Grace found that she couldn't look away, "If there was something going on, would you tell me?"
Grace took a deep breath; she didn't know what to say.
"Yeah, well, I guess that's my answer," Eli said, as she stayed silent. "You can trust me, Grace. If you need to talk about it, you can come to me."
Grace smiled, "Thanks Eli, I mean that."
"Yeah, yeah," Eli smiled at her, his first smile since he entered her room, "Goodnight, kiddo."
"Kiddo?" Grace raised her eyebrows, "Um, not quite."
"Yeah, you've really grown up- in all ways," Eli was looking at her appreciatively and suddenly Grace had a flash of Augustus looking at her in her bra earlier, that same look of admiration.
"Okay, goodnight, Eli." Grace finally said.
"Goodnight, Grace."
* * *