~A Once and Again Series~

The Way We Were

Hey, thanks if you read chapter one and decided to continue on..

Chapter 2//That Three-lettered Word

"Mom! I put my purple and yellow shirt in the wash, like, last week!" Grace called to her mother, who was in the living room sorting laundry.

"Maybe the washer and dryer monsters ate it." Zoe piped up.

Grace threw her sister a look and went into the living room. "Did you find it?"

Lily held up the shirt Grace had been looking for. It was a bit wrinkled, but nothing major. Grace grasped it thankfully. Her mother also held up a black thong. "Yours?"

Grace grabbed the underwear from her mother.

"Grace, when did you get underwear like that?" Lily asked, surprised.

"Julie and I were shopping last week," Grace explained and caught her mother's look. "Mom! It's just a thong! All the girls in high school wear them."

"Really?" Her mother asked in surprise.

[[Lily - Things have changed since I've been in high school. It seems now, that everything is more sexual. Children today have grown up way too fast.]]

[[Grace - My mother just doesn't understand what high school is like anymore.]]

"It's no big deal," Grace said, and took her shirt and underwear and headed upstairs to change.

Lily watched her go.

* * *

Eli met up with Jennifer at her locker. "Hey," He greeted her, giving her a quick kiss.

Jennifer's lips lingered against his and Eli felt the familiar need to be close to her. He gave into temptation and kissed his girlfriend again, longer.

"Go for the gold, Sammler!" Someone called out and Eli and Jennifer reluctantly pulled apart.

[[Eli - She just so cute. I can't resist her cuteness.]]

"Were we still going to go out tonight?" Jennifer asked.

"Yeah, of course. My dad is going out tonight, and I've already made sure he won't come home early and interrupt us this time." Eli told her, and then wondered if he had said too much.. if he expected too much. "Does that sound good?"

"Yeah," Jennifer agreed and Eli found himself kissing her again.

"Good."

* * *

"Guess who asked me out?" Julie announced as she joined Grace, Sarah and Ashley at their usual lunch table.

"Who?" Ashley asked eagerly. She always loved gossip.

Grace found herself looking past Julie to the jock table, where Eli and Jennifer looked pretty close.

"Kevin." Julie said with a wide smile.

"THE Kevin?" Sarah asked in shock. Now they all were looking at the jock table, where Kevin sat.

Julie nodded, "Grace and I ran into him and some other guys at the mall last night. He invited us to a party."

"Not really," Grace argued.

Julie ignored her and continued, "Well I ran into him today and he asked me out!"

"Wow!" Sarah and Ashley said together. Grace sighed and looked away.

[[Grace - Sometimes I wonder what's wrong with ME? I feel like I'm so inexperienced compared to other girls my age. They have, like, gone on dates and have had sex, and me.. *harsh laughter*]]

"I'm going to a party with him tonight. I'm sure it would be alright if you guys came too." Julie said generously. Ashley and Sarah glowed with excitement. Grace barely nodded.

"Oh! It would be soooo much fun!" Ashley squealed.

* * *

Eli led Jennifer into his bedroom at his dad's apartment. Jennifer nervously watched as he closed and locked the door behind him. Eli knew she was thinking of the last time they had been alone, and they had been very close to having sex when they had heard his dad come in and Jennifer had been so embarrassed. But that wouldn't happen tonight.

[[Eli - I'm ready for sex. I think I've been ready for a long time.]]

"My dad won't be home for a long while. He's out on a date."

Jennifer nodded, sitting on Eli's bed. "Is he out with Grace Manning's mother again?"

"I think so," Eli answered.

Jennifer eyes were guarded as she asked, "What do you think of Grace Manning?"

Eli answered carefully, "She's nice.. for a freshman."

Jennifer looked intently at him, "You'd tell me if there was something going on between you two?"

"Are you still upset because of the rumor that Grace's parents walked in on me and her having sex? Because you know that was totally not true."

[[Eli - Me and Grace having sex? Who would ever believe a rumor like that?]]

"I know that, Eli, but Lisa said.." Jennifer started.

"You know Lisa is nothing but a liar and a gossip," Eli interrupted her.

Jennifer nodded, "I just need to know that you would tell me.. if you ever got involved with someone else."

Eli pulled her into a hug, "Don't worry, because that's not going to happen."

Eli bent down and kissed her. They ended up falling back on the bed. "Are you ready?" Eli asked.

[[Eli - SEX.. I just want to do it, you know? And I love Jennifer, I do.]]

Jennifer nodded, her face fearful. Eli kissed her, trying to ease her fears. The kiss went on longer and longer and Eli found himself taking off his clothes and hers.

[[Eli - Sex.. *shy laugh*.. yeah..]]

* * *

"Grace, is that you?" Lily called out as her daughter came in the house.

"Yeah, it's me." Grace said grumpily.

Lily walked into the kitchen, where Grace was pouring herself a glass of orange juice and waited. "How was the party?" Lily asked finally.

"Stupid."

"Oh, why was it stupid?" Lily asked in surprise.

"All everyone one was doing was making out and having sex in the bedrooms." Grace grimaced. "I shouldn't have gone. Nobody even talked to me."

Lily gaped at Grace's words.

"Don't look so shocked, mom, it's nothing new."

[[Lily - Kids today just don't understand the importance of sex. They think, it's like a new game they can play or something. They just don't think of the problems that come along with having sex. I'm just glad that Grace..]]

"Don't worry, because I'm never going to have sex!" Grace cried.

[[Lily - ..will never have sex.]]

"Oh, honey, oh course you will. It's something that you will share with the right guy, Grace. It's not something you share with just anyone." Lily said.

"Julie had sex with Kevin," Grace said.

[[Grace - My mother doesn't understand that kids today are having sex! And if you don't have sex, then you're a loser in the other kid's eyes.]]

"Really?" Lily asked in surprise. She had met Grace's friend Julie before and had thought the girl was a nice girl. "Well.. I'm sure she'll regret it."

Grace shook her head angrily, "No she won't! Because she's going to be cool and popular because she slept with a cool junior. Everyone who's popular is having sex!"

"Grace, that's probably not true. You know how rumors start. Besides, even if they are having sex, then that doesn't mean you have to." Lily said gently.

Grace sighed, and placed her empty glass in the sink. "Sure, mom, whatever." She turned and left the room.

[[Lily - Grace, wanting to have sex? My Gracie? I don't think I can deal with that..]]

[[Grace - I don't think I'll ever have sex, or even be kissed. I'm just not attractive. I've accepted that.. *sad smile*]]

[[Lily - I want to protect her from all the bad things in life. How can I protect her from this?]]

* * *

"Stop."

Eli pulled away from Jennifer, "What is it?"

Jennifer sat up and reached for her shirt, "I don't want to do this."

"What? Why?" Eli asked in confusion.

"I just can't! I'm not ready for it!" Jennifer said, pulling on her shirt and pulling down her skirt.

"Is it something I did?" Eli asked, puzzled.

[[Eli - Why is she doing this to me?]]

"No! Eli, I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?" Jennifer's big brown eyes looked pleadingly up at him. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, uh, okay." Eli watched his girlfriend leave in frustration.

[[Eli - I'm, like, the only guy on the team who hasn't had sex! Of course, everybody already thinks I have, but.. I just want.. God, it's only SEX! What's wrong with her?]]

* * *