~A Once and Again Series~
Where Do We Go From Here?
Okay, in the last chapter I said that Zoe was twelve, but I counted wrong and she's actually 13 turning 14... Okay, that's not really important, but just felt like correcting myself............ anyways.
Chapter 14//It's All Coming Out
Grace drove slowly towards her house. She was still fuming over her little run-in with Deanna. The thing that got to her the most was that Deanna still didn't know! She didn't know that Grace and Eli had dated, and had broken up when Eli cheated on Grace with her! Grace had wanted to scream at Deanna in the parking lot, and tell her exactly what she had done.... But she had known that that would be senseless, because it was in the past, and now Grace and Eli were back together.
But still, a part of Grace wanted to tell Deanna exactly all the pain she had caused Grace. Of course, Eli deserved some of the blame for Grace's pain too... but.... still.
[[[[...Start of memory flashback]]]]
"Did you think we can ever tell them?" Grace said, as she and Eli sat in his car. They were parked outside of Booklover's... where they were both going to work in a few minutes. Grace had started helping around the store, ever since she and Eli started dating... it gave them more time together.
"Oh, we CAN tell them," Eli said with a sly grin, "But, we'll probably end up dead."
Grace smiled, "It couldn't be THAT bad, right?" She asked hopefully. They had been dating for over four months now. Their parents still had no clue that they were together. No one knew. Not a single soul besides themselves. It was kind of fun, in a sneaking kisses kind of way. But it was also hard. Very hard.
"I don't know," Eli said with a sigh. "I just get the feeling that they wouldn't take it good at all."
Grace nodded. "Yeah, but we can't keep it a secret forever, right?" Eli was silent, and Grace said again, "Right?"
Eli nodded with a smile, "I guess." He leaned in to kiss Grace.
A knock came on the window on Grace's side of the car. They pulled apart quickly and turned to see who was there. It was Deanna Jones... one of the people that worked at Booklover's. Grace and Eli got reluctantly out of the car.
"Hey," Deanna said friendly. She didn't realize she had interrupted anything. "You both working today?"
"Yeah," Grace said.
"Goody!" Deanna said, laughing. She pushed her black hair behind her shoulders, "If I had to work with Mike or Jill tonight... I'd scream! They just aren't any fun!"
The three of them made their way into the café/bookstore, and they punched in in the office.
"Grace, I need you to work the register," Jake said as he spotted them, "and Deanna and Eli... we got a few new orders in the back."
"Got it!" Deanna said cheerfully.
Eli and Grace exchanged a slightly disappointed look, and they went in their separate directions.
Three hours later, Grace switched her register duty with Jill, and went in the back to find Eli. She paused as she entered the back room.
Eli and Deanna were laughing over something... but that wasn't what irked Grace... it was the way Deanna was looking at him. It was the sparkle in her eyes. Grace could see that Deanna liked Eli. It was completely obvious the girl had a thing for him. Grace was surprised, but not that surprised as Deanna knew nothing of Grace and Eli's relationship... and well, since Eli was a fine catch. It was understandable that girls would like him like that.
But Grace was wary of the look in Deanna's eyes. Deanna was a nice enough girl, but to Grace it seemed like she always had to have her way.... and what if what Deanna decided she wanted was Eli?
"Grace!" Eli cried, noticing her. "How is it, out there in the light?" He joked, as the back room was always rather dimly light.
Grace smiled, seeing the affection in his eyes. What was she worried for? Eli loved her. He had told her that. So, why should she worry about some girl with a little crush on him? It wasn't like anything was going to happen between them. Not when SHE was the one Eli loved.....
[[[[...end of memory flashback]]]]
Grace pulled up along the curb at her house, seeing that Sam, Judy, Karen and Henry must already be here, based on the two cars parked in the driveway. She shut off the engine, and froze in the seat. What was she going to do about Eli?
Grace hadn't told him she was going to her father's for the weekend. She had purposely not told him. She had wanted time to think of the whole Deanna situation. Seeing Diana had just brought back up so many hard feelings for Grace. But, was she going to let a remainder of old feelings ruin the new relationship she was building with Eli?
And, there was the baby to think of.... Grace wanted Eli to be a part of the baby's life. So, if she broke up with him again, just because she had gotten an unwanted reminder (in the form of Deanna's cheerful face) of his cheating on her.... he might take it hard, and back out of the baby's life.
Grace didn't want that. She wanted him! She wanted Eli! Everything had been going so good between them. Grace was NOT going to let anything ruin their relationship this time. So, she had to get over the shock and pain of seeing Deanna again.
"Grace!" Lily cried happily as Grace entered the house.
"Hi mom," Grace said.
"We were wondering if you were going to show up!" Lily said, a little harshly.
Grace managed a forced smile, "I'm here, aren't I?"
"Yes," Lily said, the harshness going away from her voice. "Dinner's almost ready."
Grace nodded, "I'll just go wash up." Lily nodded distractedly, and went back to the living room full of guests.
Grace hurried up the stairs, and stopped in surprise when she reached her doorway. "E?" She asked.
Eli lay on her bed. He looked over at her, studying her carefully. "I was beginning to think you'd skip out on this whole dinner thing."
Grace walked further into her room. "No, I just had to drop off Maddy at the bookstore."
Eli made a small nod of acknowledgement. Grace looked at him, and knew she had to say something... "Eli, I'm sorry about not telling you I was going to my dad's. I just got a little freaked out."
Eli sat up on the bed, and Grace sat down next to him. "About what?" Eli asked.
Grace sighed, "My dad rehired Deanna."
Eli blinked, and his heart did a double thud. He reminded himself to breathe. "Oh?"
Grace refused to look at Eli, "So, I just wanted to have some time to myself... to think."
"And?" Eli asked painfully. Was Grace leading to a break-up? Eli didn't know what he'd do if Grace broke up with him again. He had thought that Grace had finally forgiven him for being such an idiot... but... what if she hadn't?
"Nothing," Grace said, looking at him finally. She smiled warmly at him.
Eli's body relaxed. "So, we're still together?"
"Of course," Grace said. She looked at the opened doorway, through which they could hear laughter (laughter?!) coming from downstairs. Grace was surprised that the dinner idea sounded like it was going well. Grace hadn't thought that putting her mother and Karen in the same room for an extended amount of time would have been a good idea, but what did she know. "We should get down there."
Eli shook his head. He leaned in, kissing her. After being worried and anxious all weekend about what was up with him and Grace, he needed a nice kiss to sink into. Grace kissed him back, forgetting about Deanna, forgetting about pain and tears.... and forgetting about the door to the room being open.
"Eli... Grace."
They pulled apart, looking at the doorway in fear. It was Rick.
Rick looked at the two of them sadly and shook his head a bit. "We need to talk."
"Dad... it isn't--" Eli began defensively.
But Grace shook her head, "Eli, it's okay. I think it's time we tell him."
Rick was turning in the doorway.
"Dad?" Eli called after him, getting up from the bed.
Rick stopped, turning around to look at both of them. So his suspicions were true. They were dating. And did that mean Eli was the father of Grace's baby? Rick sighed, it was all just too much to take in at once. "We'll take about this later... right now we have a dinner to eat."
Rick continued down the stairs, and Eli took Grace's hand in his briefly, giving it a squeeze.
"So, I guess it's all coming out, then," Eli said softly.
"Yes it is," Grace said with a slight sigh.
* * *
"Pass the bread, please," Zoe said politely, making sure she emphasized the 'please'. Her mother sent the bread basket down her way, not really noticing Zoe's proper etiquette. Zoe frowned, feeling invisible. All her mother cared lately was about Grace! Grace! Grace! Grace!
Just because Zoe wasn't pregnant like her sister didn't mean she didn't have problems and worries of her own! She was going to be starting high school in the fall! She was turning 14 in a few weeks, and yet no one had mentioned a party or anything! All anyone cared about was Grace and her baby!
Zoe turned her brown eyes on her sister. Grace didn't notice her stare, and continued conversing with Karen's boyfriend, Henry, over something... Zoe didn't know what-- she had automatically tuned out her sister's voice. Zoe looked around at all the other conversations going on at the table... no one was bothering to talk to her, though.
"Grace," Zoe said.
"Hmm?" Grace asked, halting in her conversation with Henry.
"You got a letter today," Zoe said with a smile. She spoke loudly enough... so that the whole table heard.
"Oh," Grace said with a look on her face that read 'so?'.
Zoe waited for the table to fall silent with curiosity. Then she spoke, "It's from your boyfriend."
Grace's eyes widened. Everyone at the table had a different expression on their face...
For Henry and Sam, it was a lack of concern (Oh... so?).
For Judy and Karen, it was ample curiosity (A boyfriend? The father of the child perhaps?).
For Lily, it was wide-eyed wonder (Grace's BOYFRIEND! The FATHER?!).
For Jessie and Rick, it was confusion (Why would Eli write Grace a letter?).
For Eli, it was a slightly hurt wondering look (Does she mean... him?? I thought they were done with.).
For Grace, it was shock (Why would HE write me?).
Zoe smiled, glad her statement had drawn so many reactions. "It's on the kitchen counter."
Grace looked down at her plate. She had finished eating, so she said numbly, "Can I be excused?"
Lily nodded, looking at Grace with wonder. Grace backed out of the room, avoiding everyone's eyes.
"Uh, me too?" Eli asked. Rick nodded, and Eli followed Grace to the kitchen.
"Zoe," Lily tried to make her voice sound casual, "What do you mean 'boyfriend'?"
Zoe shone under the spotlight of attention as everyone's eyes turned to her. "Well, mom... Grace was dating this guy last year. She made me not tell anyone..." Zoe pretended to look ashamed, "Opps. I guess I just did."
"Zoe? Who was Grace dating?" Lily asked impatiently.
"Well, you know him, mom," Zoe said with a shrug, "It was Eli's friend Cooper... the one that was in his band." Zoe frowned and added, "When he still HAD a band."
The table took in this new information with wonder. Was Cooper the father of Grace's baby? Lily was aghast at the idea of Coop being the father.... But Zoe said they had dated, and Lily was a little relieved that at least it wasn't Mr. Dimitri after all (who had been number one on her suspect list).
But two at the table were confused... Jessie and Rick both knew of Eli and Grace's relationship. They both wondered how Coop fit into the equation.
* * *
Where Do We Go From Here?
Okay, in the last chapter I said that Zoe was twelve, but I counted wrong and she's actually 13 turning 14... Okay, that's not really important, but just felt like correcting myself............ anyways.
Chapter 14//It's All Coming Out
Grace drove slowly towards her house. She was still fuming over her little run-in with Deanna. The thing that got to her the most was that Deanna still didn't know! She didn't know that Grace and Eli had dated, and had broken up when Eli cheated on Grace with her! Grace had wanted to scream at Deanna in the parking lot, and tell her exactly what she had done.... But she had known that that would be senseless, because it was in the past, and now Grace and Eli were back together.
But still, a part of Grace wanted to tell Deanna exactly all the pain she had caused Grace. Of course, Eli deserved some of the blame for Grace's pain too... but.... still.
[[[[...Start of memory flashback]]]]
"Did you think we can ever tell them?" Grace said, as she and Eli sat in his car. They were parked outside of Booklover's... where they were both going to work in a few minutes. Grace had started helping around the store, ever since she and Eli started dating... it gave them more time together.
"Oh, we CAN tell them," Eli said with a sly grin, "But, we'll probably end up dead."
Grace smiled, "It couldn't be THAT bad, right?" She asked hopefully. They had been dating for over four months now. Their parents still had no clue that they were together. No one knew. Not a single soul besides themselves. It was kind of fun, in a sneaking kisses kind of way. But it was also hard. Very hard.
"I don't know," Eli said with a sigh. "I just get the feeling that they wouldn't take it good at all."
Grace nodded. "Yeah, but we can't keep it a secret forever, right?" Eli was silent, and Grace said again, "Right?"
Eli nodded with a smile, "I guess." He leaned in to kiss Grace.
A knock came on the window on Grace's side of the car. They pulled apart quickly and turned to see who was there. It was Deanna Jones... one of the people that worked at Booklover's. Grace and Eli got reluctantly out of the car.
"Hey," Deanna said friendly. She didn't realize she had interrupted anything. "You both working today?"
"Yeah," Grace said.
"Goody!" Deanna said, laughing. She pushed her black hair behind her shoulders, "If I had to work with Mike or Jill tonight... I'd scream! They just aren't any fun!"
The three of them made their way into the café/bookstore, and they punched in in the office.
"Grace, I need you to work the register," Jake said as he spotted them, "and Deanna and Eli... we got a few new orders in the back."
"Got it!" Deanna said cheerfully.
Eli and Grace exchanged a slightly disappointed look, and they went in their separate directions.
Three hours later, Grace switched her register duty with Jill, and went in the back to find Eli. She paused as she entered the back room.
Eli and Deanna were laughing over something... but that wasn't what irked Grace... it was the way Deanna was looking at him. It was the sparkle in her eyes. Grace could see that Deanna liked Eli. It was completely obvious the girl had a thing for him. Grace was surprised, but not that surprised as Deanna knew nothing of Grace and Eli's relationship... and well, since Eli was a fine catch. It was understandable that girls would like him like that.
But Grace was wary of the look in Deanna's eyes. Deanna was a nice enough girl, but to Grace it seemed like she always had to have her way.... and what if what Deanna decided she wanted was Eli?
"Grace!" Eli cried, noticing her. "How is it, out there in the light?" He joked, as the back room was always rather dimly light.
Grace smiled, seeing the affection in his eyes. What was she worried for? Eli loved her. He had told her that. So, why should she worry about some girl with a little crush on him? It wasn't like anything was going to happen between them. Not when SHE was the one Eli loved.....
[[[[...end of memory flashback]]]]
Grace pulled up along the curb at her house, seeing that Sam, Judy, Karen and Henry must already be here, based on the two cars parked in the driveway. She shut off the engine, and froze in the seat. What was she going to do about Eli?
Grace hadn't told him she was going to her father's for the weekend. She had purposely not told him. She had wanted time to think of the whole Deanna situation. Seeing Diana had just brought back up so many hard feelings for Grace. But, was she going to let a remainder of old feelings ruin the new relationship she was building with Eli?
And, there was the baby to think of.... Grace wanted Eli to be a part of the baby's life. So, if she broke up with him again, just because she had gotten an unwanted reminder (in the form of Deanna's cheerful face) of his cheating on her.... he might take it hard, and back out of the baby's life.
Grace didn't want that. She wanted him! She wanted Eli! Everything had been going so good between them. Grace was NOT going to let anything ruin their relationship this time. So, she had to get over the shock and pain of seeing Deanna again.
"Grace!" Lily cried happily as Grace entered the house.
"Hi mom," Grace said.
"We were wondering if you were going to show up!" Lily said, a little harshly.
Grace managed a forced smile, "I'm here, aren't I?"
"Yes," Lily said, the harshness going away from her voice. "Dinner's almost ready."
Grace nodded, "I'll just go wash up." Lily nodded distractedly, and went back to the living room full of guests.
Grace hurried up the stairs, and stopped in surprise when she reached her doorway. "E?" She asked.
Eli lay on her bed. He looked over at her, studying her carefully. "I was beginning to think you'd skip out on this whole dinner thing."
Grace walked further into her room. "No, I just had to drop off Maddy at the bookstore."
Eli made a small nod of acknowledgement. Grace looked at him, and knew she had to say something... "Eli, I'm sorry about not telling you I was going to my dad's. I just got a little freaked out."
Eli sat up on the bed, and Grace sat down next to him. "About what?" Eli asked.
Grace sighed, "My dad rehired Deanna."
Eli blinked, and his heart did a double thud. He reminded himself to breathe. "Oh?"
Grace refused to look at Eli, "So, I just wanted to have some time to myself... to think."
"And?" Eli asked painfully. Was Grace leading to a break-up? Eli didn't know what he'd do if Grace broke up with him again. He had thought that Grace had finally forgiven him for being such an idiot... but... what if she hadn't?
"Nothing," Grace said, looking at him finally. She smiled warmly at him.
Eli's body relaxed. "So, we're still together?"
"Of course," Grace said. She looked at the opened doorway, through which they could hear laughter (laughter?!) coming from downstairs. Grace was surprised that the dinner idea sounded like it was going well. Grace hadn't thought that putting her mother and Karen in the same room for an extended amount of time would have been a good idea, but what did she know. "We should get down there."
Eli shook his head. He leaned in, kissing her. After being worried and anxious all weekend about what was up with him and Grace, he needed a nice kiss to sink into. Grace kissed him back, forgetting about Deanna, forgetting about pain and tears.... and forgetting about the door to the room being open.
"Eli... Grace."
They pulled apart, looking at the doorway in fear. It was Rick.
Rick looked at the two of them sadly and shook his head a bit. "We need to talk."
"Dad... it isn't--" Eli began defensively.
But Grace shook her head, "Eli, it's okay. I think it's time we tell him."
Rick was turning in the doorway.
"Dad?" Eli called after him, getting up from the bed.
Rick stopped, turning around to look at both of them. So his suspicions were true. They were dating. And did that mean Eli was the father of Grace's baby? Rick sighed, it was all just too much to take in at once. "We'll take about this later... right now we have a dinner to eat."
Rick continued down the stairs, and Eli took Grace's hand in his briefly, giving it a squeeze.
"So, I guess it's all coming out, then," Eli said softly.
"Yes it is," Grace said with a slight sigh.
* * *
"Pass the bread, please," Zoe said politely, making sure she emphasized the 'please'. Her mother sent the bread basket down her way, not really noticing Zoe's proper etiquette. Zoe frowned, feeling invisible. All her mother cared lately was about Grace! Grace! Grace! Grace!
Just because Zoe wasn't pregnant like her sister didn't mean she didn't have problems and worries of her own! She was going to be starting high school in the fall! She was turning 14 in a few weeks, and yet no one had mentioned a party or anything! All anyone cared about was Grace and her baby!
Zoe turned her brown eyes on her sister. Grace didn't notice her stare, and continued conversing with Karen's boyfriend, Henry, over something... Zoe didn't know what-- she had automatically tuned out her sister's voice. Zoe looked around at all the other conversations going on at the table... no one was bothering to talk to her, though.
"Grace," Zoe said.
"Hmm?" Grace asked, halting in her conversation with Henry.
"You got a letter today," Zoe said with a smile. She spoke loudly enough... so that the whole table heard.
"Oh," Grace said with a look on her face that read 'so?'.
Zoe waited for the table to fall silent with curiosity. Then she spoke, "It's from your boyfriend."
Grace's eyes widened. Everyone at the table had a different expression on their face...
For Henry and Sam, it was a lack of concern (Oh... so?).
For Judy and Karen, it was ample curiosity (A boyfriend? The father of the child perhaps?).
For Lily, it was wide-eyed wonder (Grace's BOYFRIEND! The FATHER?!).
For Jessie and Rick, it was confusion (Why would Eli write Grace a letter?).
For Eli, it was a slightly hurt wondering look (Does she mean... him?? I thought they were done with.).
For Grace, it was shock (Why would HE write me?).
Zoe smiled, glad her statement had drawn so many reactions. "It's on the kitchen counter."
Grace looked down at her plate. She had finished eating, so she said numbly, "Can I be excused?"
Lily nodded, looking at Grace with wonder. Grace backed out of the room, avoiding everyone's eyes.
"Uh, me too?" Eli asked. Rick nodded, and Eli followed Grace to the kitchen.
"Zoe," Lily tried to make her voice sound casual, "What do you mean 'boyfriend'?"
Zoe shone under the spotlight of attention as everyone's eyes turned to her. "Well, mom... Grace was dating this guy last year. She made me not tell anyone..." Zoe pretended to look ashamed, "Opps. I guess I just did."
"Zoe? Who was Grace dating?" Lily asked impatiently.
"Well, you know him, mom," Zoe said with a shrug, "It was Eli's friend Cooper... the one that was in his band." Zoe frowned and added, "When he still HAD a band."
The table took in this new information with wonder. Was Cooper the father of Grace's baby? Lily was aghast at the idea of Coop being the father.... But Zoe said they had dated, and Lily was a little relieved that at least it wasn't Mr. Dimitri after all (who had been number one on her suspect list).
But two at the table were confused... Jessie and Rick both knew of Eli and Grace's relationship. They both wondered how Coop fit into the equation.
* * *