~A Once and Again Series~
Where do we go from here?
Hey, thanks for the reviews! Yes, there will be more flashbacks... I'm not sure exactly how much and when, but they're coming! So, thanks for reading, as always!!!
Chapter 9//I See That
Eli woke early, hitting off his alarm, and then getting out of bed, before realization came. He didn't have a job to get up for anymore. He groaned and made his way into the house anyways.
The house was strangely empty. Eli discovered why when he saw the note on the table. Lily and his father had taken everyone shopping. Lily apologized for not taking him, but said she thought he would like his sleep. The newspaper was opened next to the note... opened to the Employment Section. Eli sighed, and ignored it.
He grabbed a bagel and found himself wandering around the house. He went up the stairs. He paused at Grace's door, a whisper of memories rushing by. He thought back to his father and Lily's wedding day... back to Grace in her pretty dress and the wanted kiss.... which he didn't get due to his sister's interruption.
Eli shook his head, clearing away the cobwebs of useless memories. He swung open Grace's door, stepping into her threshold. He didn't know what he was looking for. Or why he had felt the urge to enter her room. He sat on her bed, and finished up the rest of his bagel. He looked around the room.
It still had a childhood air to it... with pictures and posters from when Grace was younger. A couple stuff animals on the bed and knickknacks on the dresser. Eli paused, and then smiled as he saw it.
There on her dresser, in the center was the glass figurine he had brought her for Grace's birthday (after Jessie had reminded him it was her birthday). He had rushed out, unsure of what to get this girl who was a part of his life, a more important part than she knew or would ever dream... And he had seen the pretty glass fairy in the store window, and had known it was perfect.
But then he had come up here, and had tried to give it to Grace, but she refused it. When he had left the room, he had heard the unmistakable sound of her tossing it in the trashcan. He had hoped it wasn't broken, and he had feared she intended to actually throw it away... but no, here it was in all it's beauty.
Eli stood up, shaken by the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. He looked around the slightly childish room with a soft sadness... Grace was no longer a child herself. Soon, this room would be filled by a new child. 'Gracie' was gone.
* * *
"Eli!" Jessie cried as the whole gang entered.
Eli had gotten down the stairs just in time, so no one knew where he had just been.
"You have to see the shirt Grace made me buy... it is like SO weird," Jessie said, clamoring with excitement as she clutched her packages.
Grace emerged from behind Lily and Rick. She met Eli's eyes for an instant and then Grace turned back to Jessie. "You love it, and you know it!" She said to Jessie.
Jessie rolled her eyes. "Whatever! I meant it's weird... in a good way," She added with a smile. "At least I don't have to buy those maternity pants with the extra waist!"
Grace pushed Jessie teasingly. "Not for a couple months, I hope! My friend, Linda, never wore any maternity clothes at all; she just wore big t- shirts and sweatpants, and lots of overalls!"
Lily looked quizzically at Grace. "I didn't know you had a friend who was pregnant."
Grace rolled her eyes. "Well, duh, mom... because I knew how you'd react."
"How would I react?" Lily said, putting her hands on her hips.
Grace just smiled, and hurried off to her room with her bags.
Lily watched her go, slowly relaxing her posture. She turned to Rick. "I'm not that bad... am I? I'm understanding, right?"
Rick smiled, "Will I get hurt if I answer wrong?"
"Oh, you!" Lily said, and proceeded to chase Rick out of the room.
Jessie and Zoe looked over at Eli.
"Did you find a job?" Jessie asked hopefully.
"It's only been a day, Jess," Eli said in annoyance. He fled to his room.
* * *
Grace paused at her doorway, looking back down over the stairway with slight confusion. Her door was open... she had closed it when she left. She knew that. If Zoe had been in there, Grace would kill her.
But, Grace didn't think it was Zoe, because they had all left together to go shopping. And the only person left here had been Eli... Grace didn't know what to think of Eli being in her room.
Grace entered the room, closing the door behind her. She sank down on her bed.... unknowingly sitting in the exact same spot Eli had been sitting only minutes before. She quickly reached under her pillow-- not a very good hiding spot, but Grace hadn't expected anyone to be entering her room while she was gone-- and she pulled out her diary.
Grace hadn't written in it in a long time prior to that morning. Her last entry previously had been all about the colleges she had been thinking of going to. Reading those excited words had made her cry... and this morning she had poured it all out about Eli and the baby.
Now she realized that maybe that had been a bad idea. What if Zoe read her diary? It's not like she hadn't before. Grace opened it, and hated herself for doing so, since in a way it was editing herself... she tore out the long-winded entry she had written this morning. She wasn't satisfied until it was torn into tiny fractions and disposed of in her trash can.
Only then did Grace really wonder if Eli had come in here and read what she had wrote... but for some reason, her gut instinct told her he didn't. Grace sighed, and opened the diary, flipping through it. She landed on a page, reading over the words:
August 24th
School starts up next Wednesday. I wonder what my junior year holds for me. What I do and decide now might just change me for the rest of my life. I'm only 16, and yet I feel so old sometimes. Too old. And when I'm with Eli, I feel my age. I never feel old with him... I may feel wise or enlightened (I always feel happy)... but never old. I love that he makes me feel that way. I love...
Okay, I'm not going to finish that sentence. I can't finish that sentence. It's like my whole body would just burst if I finished that sentence... and then where would I be?
But, oh Eli... yes. He's not going to college. I can't imagine not going to college, but I think for Eli, it's the opposite... he can't imagine going to college. It's not for him, I guess. I can respect that. I don't know what he's going to do... maybe get a job, or just continue with his band. His mother hates it... Rick hates it. But, isn't that the parent's job?
Jessie seems to dislike mine and Eli's friendship. I don't understand that. If Jessie wanted to be buddy-buddy with Zoe, I'd say take her!! But, of course Jess and Zoe are already good friends. We are all getting along good-- for the most part, since moving in and after the wedding and all. It's still weird at times to run into Eli in the morning when I'm still half-dead, with my hair all gross and .... yeah, that part's no fun, as you can imagine.
Tonight, Eli's taking me... oh, Zoe and Jessie too, to the movies. Kind of a last hurrah, before school starts up again (for me, Jess, and Zoe anyways). I don't know what we're going to see...but I'll have to tell you about it later.... Eli's calling for me.
Anyways.
Grace
Grace closed the diary hard. Maybe she should just tear up the whole thing.... Grace contemplated it, but then decided that one day she might actually laugh over what she had written it in-- (yeah that'd be the day). So, instead Grace moved it back to the secret hiding spot inside a shoebox in her closet.
* * *
"Grace?" Lily said, knocking lightly on Grace's door. She got no answer, and swung the door open to reveal Grace napping, curled up on her bed. Lily smiled at her child, and exited back out of the room.
She went down the stairs, and told the table, "She's sleeping."
Zoe laughed, "But Grace never naps!"
Lily sat down, and began filling up her dinner plate. "But sometimes woman need more rest when..."
"...they're pregnant," Zoe filled in. "I know, I know."
The table fell silent as they ate. Lily looked over at Eli, "So you didn't feel like going to your mom's tonight?"
Eli shook his head. Jessie had gone to their mother's, but Eli had given up switching parent's on a schedule like Jessie still did. Eli guessed he just felt more freedom here. He knew his mother was a bit disappointed that he rarely came to see her as much, but then they didn't get along the best recently, so Eli figured it was the best if they had space from each other.
"Did you look at the paper?" Lily asked, feeling the need to do so.
Eli shook his head, "Actually I don't know how eager I am to get another job. I have enough money saved up that I can wait until the right job comes up."
"E," Rick put in, "Maybe it would be best if you just filled out a few applications. It wouldn't hurt."
Eli nodded, suppressing a groan. No one got how hard it was for him to go through the process of finding a job. He hated every aspect of it. But, if it would get his father off his case, he'd fill out a couple applications.
"I'm done," Eli said, quickly standing up. He backed out of the room, and he went up to Grace's room.
She was just rousing from her nap when he entered. She smiled gently at him, then her eyes opened a little wider, "Was I sleeping?" She asked herself.
Eli smiled in amusement and nodded. Grace sat up on her bed. Eli plopped down next to her.
"I need a job," He said mournfully.
Grace chuckled softly, knowing how much Eli hated looking for work. Then her expression turned serious, "If you talked with my father..."
Eli shook his head, "The man hates me... he'd hate me even more if we ever told them about us."
Grace sighed, resting her head against his shoulder. "This isn't how it is in fairy tales, huh?"
"What, you think I'm not a prince?" Eli joked.
Grace smiled. "Sometimes I think maybe you are..." She closed her mouth, regretting the words had slipped out... it was too close to the truth. But how could she still love him after everything that had happened?
Eli looked on her, his expression changing. "I'm trying, Grace. I'm not the guy I was before you told me. I don't want to be that guy ever again."
Grace nodded. She looked up into his eyes longingly. "I see that." She tilted her head slightly, looking at his lips. "I'm glad," She whispered.
Eli took his cue and leaned in, kissing her softly. A shadow danced across their faces and they pulled away quickly, looking at the open door. But no one was there... anymore. They looked at each other nervously, and Eli quickly left, looking down the empty hall before descending the stairs.
Grace was startled, and wondered if someone had really passed by the room when she and Eli had been kissing, and if so... who? And did they see?
* * *
Rick stood silently in the dark of his and Lily's bedroom. He had to remind himself to breathe. He tried to forget what he had just seen, but the memory was burned in his head....
Grace and his son.
Grace and Eli.
K
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Where do we go from here?
Hey, thanks for the reviews! Yes, there will be more flashbacks... I'm not sure exactly how much and when, but they're coming! So, thanks for reading, as always!!!
Chapter 9//I See That
Eli woke early, hitting off his alarm, and then getting out of bed, before realization came. He didn't have a job to get up for anymore. He groaned and made his way into the house anyways.
The house was strangely empty. Eli discovered why when he saw the note on the table. Lily and his father had taken everyone shopping. Lily apologized for not taking him, but said she thought he would like his sleep. The newspaper was opened next to the note... opened to the Employment Section. Eli sighed, and ignored it.
He grabbed a bagel and found himself wandering around the house. He went up the stairs. He paused at Grace's door, a whisper of memories rushing by. He thought back to his father and Lily's wedding day... back to Grace in her pretty dress and the wanted kiss.... which he didn't get due to his sister's interruption.
Eli shook his head, clearing away the cobwebs of useless memories. He swung open Grace's door, stepping into her threshold. He didn't know what he was looking for. Or why he had felt the urge to enter her room. He sat on her bed, and finished up the rest of his bagel. He looked around the room.
It still had a childhood air to it... with pictures and posters from when Grace was younger. A couple stuff animals on the bed and knickknacks on the dresser. Eli paused, and then smiled as he saw it.
There on her dresser, in the center was the glass figurine he had brought her for Grace's birthday (after Jessie had reminded him it was her birthday). He had rushed out, unsure of what to get this girl who was a part of his life, a more important part than she knew or would ever dream... And he had seen the pretty glass fairy in the store window, and had known it was perfect.
But then he had come up here, and had tried to give it to Grace, but she refused it. When he had left the room, he had heard the unmistakable sound of her tossing it in the trashcan. He had hoped it wasn't broken, and he had feared she intended to actually throw it away... but no, here it was in all it's beauty.
Eli stood up, shaken by the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. He looked around the slightly childish room with a soft sadness... Grace was no longer a child herself. Soon, this room would be filled by a new child. 'Gracie' was gone.
* * *
"Eli!" Jessie cried as the whole gang entered.
Eli had gotten down the stairs just in time, so no one knew where he had just been.
"You have to see the shirt Grace made me buy... it is like SO weird," Jessie said, clamoring with excitement as she clutched her packages.
Grace emerged from behind Lily and Rick. She met Eli's eyes for an instant and then Grace turned back to Jessie. "You love it, and you know it!" She said to Jessie.
Jessie rolled her eyes. "Whatever! I meant it's weird... in a good way," She added with a smile. "At least I don't have to buy those maternity pants with the extra waist!"
Grace pushed Jessie teasingly. "Not for a couple months, I hope! My friend, Linda, never wore any maternity clothes at all; she just wore big t- shirts and sweatpants, and lots of overalls!"
Lily looked quizzically at Grace. "I didn't know you had a friend who was pregnant."
Grace rolled her eyes. "Well, duh, mom... because I knew how you'd react."
"How would I react?" Lily said, putting her hands on her hips.
Grace just smiled, and hurried off to her room with her bags.
Lily watched her go, slowly relaxing her posture. She turned to Rick. "I'm not that bad... am I? I'm understanding, right?"
Rick smiled, "Will I get hurt if I answer wrong?"
"Oh, you!" Lily said, and proceeded to chase Rick out of the room.
Jessie and Zoe looked over at Eli.
"Did you find a job?" Jessie asked hopefully.
"It's only been a day, Jess," Eli said in annoyance. He fled to his room.
* * *
Grace paused at her doorway, looking back down over the stairway with slight confusion. Her door was open... she had closed it when she left. She knew that. If Zoe had been in there, Grace would kill her.
But, Grace didn't think it was Zoe, because they had all left together to go shopping. And the only person left here had been Eli... Grace didn't know what to think of Eli being in her room.
Grace entered the room, closing the door behind her. She sank down on her bed.... unknowingly sitting in the exact same spot Eli had been sitting only minutes before. She quickly reached under her pillow-- not a very good hiding spot, but Grace hadn't expected anyone to be entering her room while she was gone-- and she pulled out her diary.
Grace hadn't written in it in a long time prior to that morning. Her last entry previously had been all about the colleges she had been thinking of going to. Reading those excited words had made her cry... and this morning she had poured it all out about Eli and the baby.
Now she realized that maybe that had been a bad idea. What if Zoe read her diary? It's not like she hadn't before. Grace opened it, and hated herself for doing so, since in a way it was editing herself... she tore out the long-winded entry she had written this morning. She wasn't satisfied until it was torn into tiny fractions and disposed of in her trash can.
Only then did Grace really wonder if Eli had come in here and read what she had wrote... but for some reason, her gut instinct told her he didn't. Grace sighed, and opened the diary, flipping through it. She landed on a page, reading over the words:
August 24th
School starts up next Wednesday. I wonder what my junior year holds for me. What I do and decide now might just change me for the rest of my life. I'm only 16, and yet I feel so old sometimes. Too old. And when I'm with Eli, I feel my age. I never feel old with him... I may feel wise or enlightened (I always feel happy)... but never old. I love that he makes me feel that way. I love...
Okay, I'm not going to finish that sentence. I can't finish that sentence. It's like my whole body would just burst if I finished that sentence... and then where would I be?
But, oh Eli... yes. He's not going to college. I can't imagine not going to college, but I think for Eli, it's the opposite... he can't imagine going to college. It's not for him, I guess. I can respect that. I don't know what he's going to do... maybe get a job, or just continue with his band. His mother hates it... Rick hates it. But, isn't that the parent's job?
Jessie seems to dislike mine and Eli's friendship. I don't understand that. If Jessie wanted to be buddy-buddy with Zoe, I'd say take her!! But, of course Jess and Zoe are already good friends. We are all getting along good-- for the most part, since moving in and after the wedding and all. It's still weird at times to run into Eli in the morning when I'm still half-dead, with my hair all gross and .... yeah, that part's no fun, as you can imagine.
Tonight, Eli's taking me... oh, Zoe and Jessie too, to the movies. Kind of a last hurrah, before school starts up again (for me, Jess, and Zoe anyways). I don't know what we're going to see...but I'll have to tell you about it later.... Eli's calling for me.
Anyways.
Grace
Grace closed the diary hard. Maybe she should just tear up the whole thing.... Grace contemplated it, but then decided that one day she might actually laugh over what she had written it in-- (yeah that'd be the day). So, instead Grace moved it back to the secret hiding spot inside a shoebox in her closet.
* * *
"Grace?" Lily said, knocking lightly on Grace's door. She got no answer, and swung the door open to reveal Grace napping, curled up on her bed. Lily smiled at her child, and exited back out of the room.
She went down the stairs, and told the table, "She's sleeping."
Zoe laughed, "But Grace never naps!"
Lily sat down, and began filling up her dinner plate. "But sometimes woman need more rest when..."
"...they're pregnant," Zoe filled in. "I know, I know."
The table fell silent as they ate. Lily looked over at Eli, "So you didn't feel like going to your mom's tonight?"
Eli shook his head. Jessie had gone to their mother's, but Eli had given up switching parent's on a schedule like Jessie still did. Eli guessed he just felt more freedom here. He knew his mother was a bit disappointed that he rarely came to see her as much, but then they didn't get along the best recently, so Eli figured it was the best if they had space from each other.
"Did you look at the paper?" Lily asked, feeling the need to do so.
Eli shook his head, "Actually I don't know how eager I am to get another job. I have enough money saved up that I can wait until the right job comes up."
"E," Rick put in, "Maybe it would be best if you just filled out a few applications. It wouldn't hurt."
Eli nodded, suppressing a groan. No one got how hard it was for him to go through the process of finding a job. He hated every aspect of it. But, if it would get his father off his case, he'd fill out a couple applications.
"I'm done," Eli said, quickly standing up. He backed out of the room, and he went up to Grace's room.
She was just rousing from her nap when he entered. She smiled gently at him, then her eyes opened a little wider, "Was I sleeping?" She asked herself.
Eli smiled in amusement and nodded. Grace sat up on her bed. Eli plopped down next to her.
"I need a job," He said mournfully.
Grace chuckled softly, knowing how much Eli hated looking for work. Then her expression turned serious, "If you talked with my father..."
Eli shook his head, "The man hates me... he'd hate me even more if we ever told them about us."
Grace sighed, resting her head against his shoulder. "This isn't how it is in fairy tales, huh?"
"What, you think I'm not a prince?" Eli joked.
Grace smiled. "Sometimes I think maybe you are..." She closed her mouth, regretting the words had slipped out... it was too close to the truth. But how could she still love him after everything that had happened?
Eli looked on her, his expression changing. "I'm trying, Grace. I'm not the guy I was before you told me. I don't want to be that guy ever again."
Grace nodded. She looked up into his eyes longingly. "I see that." She tilted her head slightly, looking at his lips. "I'm glad," She whispered.
Eli took his cue and leaned in, kissing her softly. A shadow danced across their faces and they pulled away quickly, looking at the open door. But no one was there... anymore. They looked at each other nervously, and Eli quickly left, looking down the empty hall before descending the stairs.
Grace was startled, and wondered if someone had really passed by the room when she and Eli had been kissing, and if so... who? And did they see?
* * *
Rick stood silently in the dark of his and Lily's bedroom. He had to remind himself to breathe. He tried to forget what he had just seen, but the memory was burned in his head....
Grace and his son.
Grace and Eli.
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