~A Once and Again series~
Life is what you make of it
Chapter 8// Poor Tomato
"Grace."
Grace smiled at the sound of her voice on his soft sweet lips. She turned and their eyes caught. He had such nice eyes. A gentle forest green with hazel specks peered out from under very light, almost skin color eyelashes. They were so nice.
"I thought you did your best yet tonight. I was really impressed."
Grace moved a step closer. Oh, god, how she just wanted one little kiss. Just a simple brush of his lips against hers. The thought of it sent shivers up her back. One little bitty kiss, no one would see. But she read the warning in Augustus' eyes and glanced around. Opps, they weren't as alone as she had thought. Other actors and their families milled around the backstage area. No one was close enough to hear them though.
"I never got a chance to ask you-- Did anyone see the makeup on you Thursday night after we kissed?" Grace asked, remembering how her heavy stage makeup had been smeared after they had kissed in the closet after last night's show. Too bad there was too many people around this night for them to sneak away to that closet.
Augustus laughed, "No, thankfully. I passed by a mirror before I ran into anyone and wiped it off. Now I understand why kissing scenes are very light in the plays. Anything heavy than a simple brush of the lips and the girl's makeup would be all on the guy."
While he was speaking about kissing and lips, Grace found herself staring at his and wishing it didn't have to be this difficult and then she remembered that it didn't have to be, not always. Tomorrow she and Augustus had their first date. If you could call it a date when they weren't able to go any where but his house.
"Hey Mr. Dmitri!" A voice called from across the backstage area and Augustus waved at Christina and her family. Grace knew her time with Augustus was limited.
"So, I was thinking noon." She blurted out.
"Noon?"
"Yeah, you know. For tomorrow, when I come to your house. That way, we'd have the whole day together." Grace said quickly, keeping one eye out for Christina's progress. She had stopped to talk with Tad, but Grace knew she was on her way to talk with Augustus.
"Uh, noon isn't good for me." Augustus said quietly.
"It's not?" Grace asked, annoyed at how surprised her words came out sounding. Augustus was an adult; it was not surprising for him to have a life besides school. She should know that.
"I.. well, four would be better."
"Four? That's later than I thought-" Grace cut her words off as Christina and her folks finally appeared.
"Is that okay?" Augustus asked, still looking at her.
"Yeah, that's fine. Bye, Mr. Dmitri." Grace smiled at Christina and left the group that now surrounded Augustus. She made her way to the front of the stage, and saw Jessie talking to someone. Grace walked closer and saw it was Eli Jessie was talking to. He had come! Grace had thought he would, since he swore he was coming, but still she had been scared that he wouldn't show after what happened between them that morning.
"Oh, hi Grace!" Jessie said as she joined them, "Eli finally dragged his lazy butt to the show."
Eli smiled at her and there was a pause as they both just stared at the other one for a few moments before he spoke. "Yeah, I was very impressed. You both were great up there. I didn't realize you were such a great actress, Grace. Or that you had a very nice singing voice. Of course I knew about Jessie's voice, because she has never missed an opportunity to sing for people her whole life. She loves to show off," Eli paused as Jessie slugged him in the shoulder, "I'm kidding. But, yeah, you, Grace, that was a surprise. Who knew you had these talents hidden in you?"
Grace shrugged humbly, but a grin spread across her face, "Thanks."
"Hey Jessie! Where you still coming with me or-" Katie joined them.
"Yes, I'm still coming with you," Jessie smiled at her friend, "I'm going to spend the night at Katie's." Jessie gave Eli and Grace a knowing look, "You two have fun without me!"
Eli and Grace watched the two girls leave together. Grace turned to Eli, "What did she mean by that?"
Eli sighed, "I think you know what she meant, Grace."
Grace looked away and then back at Eli questioningly, "Ok, but where did she get the idea that we're together?"
"Not from me," Eli said defensively.
"I know that!" Grace snapped at him.
"You've made it perfectly clear that I have no chance in hell with you as long as he's in the picture," Eli said under his breath.
Grace frowned at him and looked around at the semi-crowded auditorium. "This is not the place, Eli."
"I know that, Grace."
They stared angrily at each other for a while. Finally, Grace gave in and looked away. "So, are you giving me a ride home?"
"Your mother told me I should."
"Don't do anything you don't want to do, Eli. Maybe, I'll just have to find a ride home with someone else. Mr. Dmitri has a really nice car." Grace said smugly and looked towards the stage where Augustus stood with Tad.
"No, I'm going to give you a ride home," Eli insisted. He looked in the direction Grace was looking. "That's him? Mr. Dmitri?"
"Yeah."
"But he's nothing special! He's old and has red hair and freckles," Eli laughed.
Grace turned and gave Eli such a mean look that his laughter broke off immediately. "You just shut up, Eli." Grace looked at Augustus once more. "Let's go home."
"Fine."
* * *
They drove in silence. While, silence except for the radio, but Grace doubted either of them was listening to it. Grace was upset by Eli's words and also by Augustus not wanting her to come to his house until four. Four pm! That was halfway through the day! And on Sunday nights her mother gave her a curfew of 11pm. Grace had wanted to get to Augustus' house early, so they could have an eternity together. But, Augustus hadn't wanted the same. What possible reason could he have for not wanting her to be there until four?
"Grace."
Grace realized the radio had been turned off and Eli was speaking to her. She looked around and saw that the car was parked in what looked like the saw abandoned parking lot she had kissed Augustus in his car only days before.
"Grace, we need to talk."
"We can talk at home," Grace said coldly. Being here in this make out spot with Eli was just too weird. Eli must know what kids did here, and still he had driven her here to 'talk'.
"Grace, just talk to me," Eli pleaded.
Grace turned to him, "I thought we talked it all out earlier today."
"It just doesn't feel right."
"What doesn't feel right?" Grace asked.
Eli's eyes stared down into hers. He had nice eyes too, a deep chocolate brown. Not as interesting as Augustus' eyes, but still, nice. Eli leaned in closer. His hand landed on hers. "Grace, it just doesn't feel right not to do this.."
Grace knew in that half second before he advanced on her what was to come. She could have turned away, but her eyes felt caught in his and she let it happen. Eli kissed her. It was their first real kiss -- if you didn't count the kiss Eli had given her earlier. That kiss had been more of him just hitting his lips against hers in anger, but this kiss was nice. It was soft and slow and Grace felt like she was sinking. She felt his hands on her, but it seemed so far away. She thought of Augustus, but those thoughts were dim and shadowed. All that mattered in that moment was the feel of his lips sliding against hers. Before she knew it, she was kissing him back.
The faraway sound of a semi honking on the highway drew her back to reality. She realized fully what she was doing and pulled away from Eli. Eli reached for her again, but saw the expression on her face. "No, Eli."
Eli cursed and his hand hit the steering wheel, letting out a long beep of the horn. "Why not, Grace? Why not?"
"I already explained it to you! Over and over! I am with AUGUSTUS now!" Grace realized she was screaming at him and calmed down, "I'm sorry, Eli. Kissing you was a mistake."
"You did kiss me! You kissed me back, Grace. And yet you say you're in love with your prince charming, Mr. Teacher guy! What am I supposed to make out of that? Huh?" Eli looked at her and realized she was crying. "Grace, I'm sorry. Forget it."
"No, what you said is true." Grace wiped her eyes and let out a forced laugh, "I guess I'm human after all. I make mistakes too. I did kiss you back, but I shouldn't have! I just couldn't seem to stop myself."
They were silent a few moments. Suddenly Eli said, "I wish you had never met Mr. Dmitri."
"But I did, and I'm falling in love with him, and yet I'm here, kissing you! Eli, we can't do this anymore! Remember how I said you were on the back burner?" Grace turned to him. He nodded. "So, let's say that you're tomato soup and Augustus is chicken noodle."
"What?" Eli interrupted.
"Just let me explain this," Grace continued, "I like chicken noodle, a lot. But I also liked tomato, you know?"
Eli nodded, smiling a bit.
"But, it wouldn't be right to chicken noodle if I was sampling the tomato when I was with chicken noodle. So, I have to put the lid on the tomato and keep it on the back burner, so I won't get tempted. I have to be to concentrate only on chicken noodle, you see?"
"Yeah, I guess. But don't most stoves have four burners? Two front and two back? And those ones in restaurants have like eight burners." Eli smiled at her.
Grace sighed, "I had a good analogy going there. Let's just pretend the stoves only have two burners."
"Are their other soups? Like chicken dumpling and split pea waiting to go on your two burner stove?" Eli joked.
Grace smiled, "Most likely there is. Although, I've never liked split pea very much."
"But, so, you do like the tomato?" Eli asked. He turned and looked into her eyes.
Grace held his gaze, "Yeah, I liked the tomato, very much. But I have to be fair to chicken noodle, so--"
Eli sighed, "I know, I know. Tomato gets the lid and the back burner. Poor tomato."
* * *
Life is what you make of it
Chapter 8// Poor Tomato
"Grace."
Grace smiled at the sound of her voice on his soft sweet lips. She turned and their eyes caught. He had such nice eyes. A gentle forest green with hazel specks peered out from under very light, almost skin color eyelashes. They were so nice.
"I thought you did your best yet tonight. I was really impressed."
Grace moved a step closer. Oh, god, how she just wanted one little kiss. Just a simple brush of his lips against hers. The thought of it sent shivers up her back. One little bitty kiss, no one would see. But she read the warning in Augustus' eyes and glanced around. Opps, they weren't as alone as she had thought. Other actors and their families milled around the backstage area. No one was close enough to hear them though.
"I never got a chance to ask you-- Did anyone see the makeup on you Thursday night after we kissed?" Grace asked, remembering how her heavy stage makeup had been smeared after they had kissed in the closet after last night's show. Too bad there was too many people around this night for them to sneak away to that closet.
Augustus laughed, "No, thankfully. I passed by a mirror before I ran into anyone and wiped it off. Now I understand why kissing scenes are very light in the plays. Anything heavy than a simple brush of the lips and the girl's makeup would be all on the guy."
While he was speaking about kissing and lips, Grace found herself staring at his and wishing it didn't have to be this difficult and then she remembered that it didn't have to be, not always. Tomorrow she and Augustus had their first date. If you could call it a date when they weren't able to go any where but his house.
"Hey Mr. Dmitri!" A voice called from across the backstage area and Augustus waved at Christina and her family. Grace knew her time with Augustus was limited.
"So, I was thinking noon." She blurted out.
"Noon?"
"Yeah, you know. For tomorrow, when I come to your house. That way, we'd have the whole day together." Grace said quickly, keeping one eye out for Christina's progress. She had stopped to talk with Tad, but Grace knew she was on her way to talk with Augustus.
"Uh, noon isn't good for me." Augustus said quietly.
"It's not?" Grace asked, annoyed at how surprised her words came out sounding. Augustus was an adult; it was not surprising for him to have a life besides school. She should know that.
"I.. well, four would be better."
"Four? That's later than I thought-" Grace cut her words off as Christina and her folks finally appeared.
"Is that okay?" Augustus asked, still looking at her.
"Yeah, that's fine. Bye, Mr. Dmitri." Grace smiled at Christina and left the group that now surrounded Augustus. She made her way to the front of the stage, and saw Jessie talking to someone. Grace walked closer and saw it was Eli Jessie was talking to. He had come! Grace had thought he would, since he swore he was coming, but still she had been scared that he wouldn't show after what happened between them that morning.
"Oh, hi Grace!" Jessie said as she joined them, "Eli finally dragged his lazy butt to the show."
Eli smiled at her and there was a pause as they both just stared at the other one for a few moments before he spoke. "Yeah, I was very impressed. You both were great up there. I didn't realize you were such a great actress, Grace. Or that you had a very nice singing voice. Of course I knew about Jessie's voice, because she has never missed an opportunity to sing for people her whole life. She loves to show off," Eli paused as Jessie slugged him in the shoulder, "I'm kidding. But, yeah, you, Grace, that was a surprise. Who knew you had these talents hidden in you?"
Grace shrugged humbly, but a grin spread across her face, "Thanks."
"Hey Jessie! Where you still coming with me or-" Katie joined them.
"Yes, I'm still coming with you," Jessie smiled at her friend, "I'm going to spend the night at Katie's." Jessie gave Eli and Grace a knowing look, "You two have fun without me!"
Eli and Grace watched the two girls leave together. Grace turned to Eli, "What did she mean by that?"
Eli sighed, "I think you know what she meant, Grace."
Grace looked away and then back at Eli questioningly, "Ok, but where did she get the idea that we're together?"
"Not from me," Eli said defensively.
"I know that!" Grace snapped at him.
"You've made it perfectly clear that I have no chance in hell with you as long as he's in the picture," Eli said under his breath.
Grace frowned at him and looked around at the semi-crowded auditorium. "This is not the place, Eli."
"I know that, Grace."
They stared angrily at each other for a while. Finally, Grace gave in and looked away. "So, are you giving me a ride home?"
"Your mother told me I should."
"Don't do anything you don't want to do, Eli. Maybe, I'll just have to find a ride home with someone else. Mr. Dmitri has a really nice car." Grace said smugly and looked towards the stage where Augustus stood with Tad.
"No, I'm going to give you a ride home," Eli insisted. He looked in the direction Grace was looking. "That's him? Mr. Dmitri?"
"Yeah."
"But he's nothing special! He's old and has red hair and freckles," Eli laughed.
Grace turned and gave Eli such a mean look that his laughter broke off immediately. "You just shut up, Eli." Grace looked at Augustus once more. "Let's go home."
"Fine."
* * *
They drove in silence. While, silence except for the radio, but Grace doubted either of them was listening to it. Grace was upset by Eli's words and also by Augustus not wanting her to come to his house until four. Four pm! That was halfway through the day! And on Sunday nights her mother gave her a curfew of 11pm. Grace had wanted to get to Augustus' house early, so they could have an eternity together. But, Augustus hadn't wanted the same. What possible reason could he have for not wanting her to be there until four?
"Grace."
Grace realized the radio had been turned off and Eli was speaking to her. She looked around and saw that the car was parked in what looked like the saw abandoned parking lot she had kissed Augustus in his car only days before.
"Grace, we need to talk."
"We can talk at home," Grace said coldly. Being here in this make out spot with Eli was just too weird. Eli must know what kids did here, and still he had driven her here to 'talk'.
"Grace, just talk to me," Eli pleaded.
Grace turned to him, "I thought we talked it all out earlier today."
"It just doesn't feel right."
"What doesn't feel right?" Grace asked.
Eli's eyes stared down into hers. He had nice eyes too, a deep chocolate brown. Not as interesting as Augustus' eyes, but still, nice. Eli leaned in closer. His hand landed on hers. "Grace, it just doesn't feel right not to do this.."
Grace knew in that half second before he advanced on her what was to come. She could have turned away, but her eyes felt caught in his and she let it happen. Eli kissed her. It was their first real kiss -- if you didn't count the kiss Eli had given her earlier. That kiss had been more of him just hitting his lips against hers in anger, but this kiss was nice. It was soft and slow and Grace felt like she was sinking. She felt his hands on her, but it seemed so far away. She thought of Augustus, but those thoughts were dim and shadowed. All that mattered in that moment was the feel of his lips sliding against hers. Before she knew it, she was kissing him back.
The faraway sound of a semi honking on the highway drew her back to reality. She realized fully what she was doing and pulled away from Eli. Eli reached for her again, but saw the expression on her face. "No, Eli."
Eli cursed and his hand hit the steering wheel, letting out a long beep of the horn. "Why not, Grace? Why not?"
"I already explained it to you! Over and over! I am with AUGUSTUS now!" Grace realized she was screaming at him and calmed down, "I'm sorry, Eli. Kissing you was a mistake."
"You did kiss me! You kissed me back, Grace. And yet you say you're in love with your prince charming, Mr. Teacher guy! What am I supposed to make out of that? Huh?" Eli looked at her and realized she was crying. "Grace, I'm sorry. Forget it."
"No, what you said is true." Grace wiped her eyes and let out a forced laugh, "I guess I'm human after all. I make mistakes too. I did kiss you back, but I shouldn't have! I just couldn't seem to stop myself."
They were silent a few moments. Suddenly Eli said, "I wish you had never met Mr. Dmitri."
"But I did, and I'm falling in love with him, and yet I'm here, kissing you! Eli, we can't do this anymore! Remember how I said you were on the back burner?" Grace turned to him. He nodded. "So, let's say that you're tomato soup and Augustus is chicken noodle."
"What?" Eli interrupted.
"Just let me explain this," Grace continued, "I like chicken noodle, a lot. But I also liked tomato, you know?"
Eli nodded, smiling a bit.
"But, it wouldn't be right to chicken noodle if I was sampling the tomato when I was with chicken noodle. So, I have to put the lid on the tomato and keep it on the back burner, so I won't get tempted. I have to be to concentrate only on chicken noodle, you see?"
"Yeah, I guess. But don't most stoves have four burners? Two front and two back? And those ones in restaurants have like eight burners." Eli smiled at her.
Grace sighed, "I had a good analogy going there. Let's just pretend the stoves only have two burners."
"Are their other soups? Like chicken dumpling and split pea waiting to go on your two burner stove?" Eli joked.
Grace smiled, "Most likely there is. Although, I've never liked split pea very much."
"But, so, you do like the tomato?" Eli asked. He turned and looked into her eyes.
Grace held his gaze, "Yeah, I liked the tomato, very much. But I have to be fair to chicken noodle, so--"
Eli sighed, "I know, I know. Tomato gets the lid and the back burner. Poor tomato."
* * *