Chapter 6
Author's Note - Who am I to deny my readers?? Anyway, I have really been brainstorming and I have some juicy storylines lined up for my next chapters.....let's just say there will be more conflict....enjoy!!!!
"So...where should I meet you?" Eli asked as he circled the parking lot and pulled up to the front entrance. "What?" Grace asked surprised by his gesture. "After my interview, I can pick you up..." he smiled. "Oh, ok....the movie theaters at....." she checked her watch. "Four?"
"Four is great, I'll see you then." he smiled and leaned in a little while she was gathering her things. Grace turned her head to unfasten her seat belt and Eli let his hand caress her face. She looked up into his awaiting eyes, with a small smile. Grace leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his lips before exiting, letting her lips linger for a moment..making sure no one was watching. "Bye," she said with a spirited wave and disappeared inside. Eli slowly started up the engine and drove away.
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The interview had gone well, as he expected. He was perfect for this job, good hours; good pay. He knew a lot about music....loved music and he would have a 15% employee discount on all merchandise. Great for the band. But it carried a little more than those perks....it was the first step to a new, improved Eli.
Eli parked the car and pulled on his brown suede coat as he walked to the theaters. He had been wanting to see Grace and get to be around her again. He wanted to kiss her again and make her smile. Eli was over anxious....and.....maybe a little nervous. He would admit to that.....even though their friendship was comfortable and familiar. When he entered, his eyes immediately searched for her, determined. And she was sitting on a bench in front of the cinema, a coffee cup in one hand and a book gently across her lap. Seeing her like this caused a smile to tug his lips. The room surrounding her was abuzz--lots of teenagers chattering and hanging out, waiting in line for a movie ticket..and she was concentrating on a book, on a Saturday.
As Eli approached Grace a few, hot-to-trot girls stopped giggling in line and eyed him. He wasn't surprised these girls would find him attractive. After all, he was a Sammler....tall, dark, and handsome like his father. The girls continued to watch even as he walked up to the back of her bench and placed his hands over Grace's eyes. "Guess who?" he smiled as she pretended to ponder
his identity. "Let's see.....your not my lawyer, or my latin lover--he has an accent, hmm..I'm drawing a blank.." she chuckles as she pulls away his hands and finds him standing over her. "Ouch, that hurt my feelings..." Eli pouted, giving his infamous puppy dog eyes. "Are you ready to go?" Grace asks closing her book.
"Actually....how do you feel about catching a movie, while we're here?" "That depends on the movie," Grace responds as she stands by him at the end of the line. "You pick." he states as they near the holder. "Two tickets to The Royal Tenenbaums, please." Grace says and Eli reaches into his pocket for money for the tickets. "It's ok Grace....my treat." he smiles as he takes her hand and leads her inside.
"Don't you want popcorn? I'd hardly call it a movie experience without extra butter." Grace smiles playfully, as Eli whisks her to the appropriate screen. "I didn't say we were actually gonna watch the movie...." Eli winks as they enter the dark theater and they seat themselve in the back corner. Grace giggled shyly, the dark theater helping to hide the blush that spread across her cheeks. She hadn't expected Eli to act this way with her, different. She wasn't saying she didn't like it, it was just, well....different.
The screens were still flashing the emergency exits and the tutorial about keeping quiet while the movie was playing when Eli reached impatiently for Grace. Desperately (almost) needing her lips on his. The palm of his hand massaged the back of her neck, as he brought her face closer to his. His eyes grew dark with arousal as she smiled. He could feel her warm breath on his face. Eli's lips brushed over hers softly, then quickly intensified. The force of their lips pressed together. Almost as if they were sharing the same breath. Her lips parted slightly and Eli took advantage slipping his tongue into her mouth. Enticing hers to meet his match for match in this battle where they would both be winners.
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"That was a great movie Grace," Eli smiled wickedly as they reached the lobby of the cinema, where people lined at the concession stands for snacks. "It was fun," Grace smiled and nodded. They still held hands as they prepared to exit the mall. "Eli!" an unfamiliar voice to Grace called. But Eli knew exactly who it was and tried to make a fast getaway. All too late as the blonde approached. "Hi *Shelley," Eli turned to greet her reluctantly. Grace could feel his palms sweat and grew all the more curious when Eli suddenly let go of her hand. "This is my step-sister Grace...Grace, Shelley from the studio. We used to work together."
"Grace forced a smile as she watched Eli shift uncomfortably. "Hey, I'm sorry about before, I hope I wasn't too harsh -" "No, it's totally cool,"Eli brushed off. "I'm already over it,"
"Oh well ok then," Shelley's face dropped and there was a sting in her words. "By the way, have you found my barette? It's my favorite one I really would like to have it back." she said nonchalantly, not realizng what kind of effect it would have.
Grace swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. "You lost a barette at our house?" she choked as the hurt from the previous nights hit her full force. "Yeah, have you seen it? It's small and-" "And silver.." Grace finished, her eyes beginning to well with tears, with anger. Eli's guilt wridden face told her all she needed to know. "I have to go," she said abruptly and took off out the doors. Her anger had well surpassed the pain and she refused to shed more tears for him.
"Grace!" Eli called for her to stop but she wouldn't. Eli sprinted towards her, caught her arm and spun her around. "Grace, let me explain." "Explain what?!?" Grace growled tearing her arm away from his grasp. "Come on, we'll talk about it on the way home..."
"I'm not going home with you! I need....I need time to think. I need time away from you," "Ok, so uh... walk around the mall a couple times and then we'll go home," Eli reasoned.
"No, Eli. Just go. I can'tbe around you right now. " "How will you get home?" he asked concerned. "I'll walk." "It's not safe," "I'll find a ride...." her voice trailed as she searched for someone else she knew. "Ajay!" A tall, dark haired guy with blue eyes and a medium-build turned and began to approach. "Can you give me a ride home?" "Yeah, sure. No problem," he shrugged.
"See! You can go now." she said evenly as she began to walk away with the teenage boy.
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Eli turned away dejectedly and pushed through the doors. At 6 pm the sun was setting and the sky was orange. How could the best day of his life quickly turn into the worst? And why did all of Grace's guy friends have to be good-looking anyway? Slowly, he started up the car and drove silently home.
Author's Note - Who am I to deny my readers?? Anyway, I have really been brainstorming and I have some juicy storylines lined up for my next chapters.....let's just say there will be more conflict....enjoy!!!!
"So...where should I meet you?" Eli asked as he circled the parking lot and pulled up to the front entrance. "What?" Grace asked surprised by his gesture. "After my interview, I can pick you up..." he smiled. "Oh, ok....the movie theaters at....." she checked her watch. "Four?"
"Four is great, I'll see you then." he smiled and leaned in a little while she was gathering her things. Grace turned her head to unfasten her seat belt and Eli let his hand caress her face. She looked up into his awaiting eyes, with a small smile. Grace leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his lips before exiting, letting her lips linger for a moment..making sure no one was watching. "Bye," she said with a spirited wave and disappeared inside. Eli slowly started up the engine and drove away.
*************************
The interview had gone well, as he expected. He was perfect for this job, good hours; good pay. He knew a lot about music....loved music and he would have a 15% employee discount on all merchandise. Great for the band. But it carried a little more than those perks....it was the first step to a new, improved Eli.
Eli parked the car and pulled on his brown suede coat as he walked to the theaters. He had been wanting to see Grace and get to be around her again. He wanted to kiss her again and make her smile. Eli was over anxious....and.....maybe a little nervous. He would admit to that.....even though their friendship was comfortable and familiar. When he entered, his eyes immediately searched for her, determined. And she was sitting on a bench in front of the cinema, a coffee cup in one hand and a book gently across her lap. Seeing her like this caused a smile to tug his lips. The room surrounding her was abuzz--lots of teenagers chattering and hanging out, waiting in line for a movie ticket..and she was concentrating on a book, on a Saturday.
As Eli approached Grace a few, hot-to-trot girls stopped giggling in line and eyed him. He wasn't surprised these girls would find him attractive. After all, he was a Sammler....tall, dark, and handsome like his father. The girls continued to watch even as he walked up to the back of her bench and placed his hands over Grace's eyes. "Guess who?" he smiled as she pretended to ponder
his identity. "Let's see.....your not my lawyer, or my latin lover--he has an accent, hmm..I'm drawing a blank.." she chuckles as she pulls away his hands and finds him standing over her. "Ouch, that hurt my feelings..." Eli pouted, giving his infamous puppy dog eyes. "Are you ready to go?" Grace asks closing her book.
"Actually....how do you feel about catching a movie, while we're here?" "That depends on the movie," Grace responds as she stands by him at the end of the line. "You pick." he states as they near the holder. "Two tickets to The Royal Tenenbaums, please." Grace says and Eli reaches into his pocket for money for the tickets. "It's ok Grace....my treat." he smiles as he takes her hand and leads her inside.
"Don't you want popcorn? I'd hardly call it a movie experience without extra butter." Grace smiles playfully, as Eli whisks her to the appropriate screen. "I didn't say we were actually gonna watch the movie...." Eli winks as they enter the dark theater and they seat themselve in the back corner. Grace giggled shyly, the dark theater helping to hide the blush that spread across her cheeks. She hadn't expected Eli to act this way with her, different. She wasn't saying she didn't like it, it was just, well....different.
The screens were still flashing the emergency exits and the tutorial about keeping quiet while the movie was playing when Eli reached impatiently for Grace. Desperately (almost) needing her lips on his. The palm of his hand massaged the back of her neck, as he brought her face closer to his. His eyes grew dark with arousal as she smiled. He could feel her warm breath on his face. Eli's lips brushed over hers softly, then quickly intensified. The force of their lips pressed together. Almost as if they were sharing the same breath. Her lips parted slightly and Eli took advantage slipping his tongue into her mouth. Enticing hers to meet his match for match in this battle where they would both be winners.
****************************
"That was a great movie Grace," Eli smiled wickedly as they reached the lobby of the cinema, where people lined at the concession stands for snacks. "It was fun," Grace smiled and nodded. They still held hands as they prepared to exit the mall. "Eli!" an unfamiliar voice to Grace called. But Eli knew exactly who it was and tried to make a fast getaway. All too late as the blonde approached. "Hi *Shelley," Eli turned to greet her reluctantly. Grace could feel his palms sweat and grew all the more curious when Eli suddenly let go of her hand. "This is my step-sister Grace...Grace, Shelley from the studio. We used to work together."
"Grace forced a smile as she watched Eli shift uncomfortably. "Hey, I'm sorry about before, I hope I wasn't too harsh -" "No, it's totally cool,"Eli brushed off. "I'm already over it,"
"Oh well ok then," Shelley's face dropped and there was a sting in her words. "By the way, have you found my barette? It's my favorite one I really would like to have it back." she said nonchalantly, not realizng what kind of effect it would have.
Grace swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. "You lost a barette at our house?" she choked as the hurt from the previous nights hit her full force. "Yeah, have you seen it? It's small and-" "And silver.." Grace finished, her eyes beginning to well with tears, with anger. Eli's guilt wridden face told her all she needed to know. "I have to go," she said abruptly and took off out the doors. Her anger had well surpassed the pain and she refused to shed more tears for him.
"Grace!" Eli called for her to stop but she wouldn't. Eli sprinted towards her, caught her arm and spun her around. "Grace, let me explain." "Explain what?!?" Grace growled tearing her arm away from his grasp. "Come on, we'll talk about it on the way home..."
"I'm not going home with you! I need....I need time to think. I need time away from you," "Ok, so uh... walk around the mall a couple times and then we'll go home," Eli reasoned.
"No, Eli. Just go. I can'tbe around you right now. " "How will you get home?" he asked concerned. "I'll walk." "It's not safe," "I'll find a ride...." her voice trailed as she searched for someone else she knew. "Ajay!" A tall, dark haired guy with blue eyes and a medium-build turned and began to approach. "Can you give me a ride home?" "Yeah, sure. No problem," he shrugged.
"See! You can go now." she said evenly as she began to walk away with the teenage boy.
********************************
Eli turned away dejectedly and pushed through the doors. At 6 pm the sun was setting and the sky was orange. How could the best day of his life quickly turn into the worst? And why did all of Grace's guy friends have to be good-looking anyway? Slowly, he started up the car and drove silently home.