~A Once and Again Series~
Where Do We Go From Here?
Hey, thanks for the reviews. I'm glad you're liking this story, because I seriously didn't have any sort of plan of where I would take it when I started it. But, eh... I'm kind of getting sick of writing.... so, I think I'm going to stop, entirely. JUST KIDDING! Hehehehehe, happy April Fool's Day to all those that celebrate and delight in it, like ME! I can't stop, I love writing too much! (I love O & A too much!)
Anyways. Happy April Fool's Day to you all! Let's all delight in the silly holidays that bring a little fun to an otherwise dreary rainy day! (Actually it's just midnightish right now... so I don't know if it's going to be rainy today, but I bet it is!) OKAY, I'm shutting up now. ~Tainted Love
Chapter 18//Putting Out the Trash
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*
*
"Grace?" Eli asked, knocking lightly on her door.
Grace was just finishing addressing the envelope containing the letter she had written for Coop. She dropped it back on her desk, and went to open the door for Eli.
Eli stepped inside her room, and the two studied each other. Eli's eyes held questions, and Grace felt bad that she had left him like that earlier, but she had just been upset that he could think...
"Grace?" Eli whispered.
Grace looked into his eyes, and allowed a small smile to form on her face. She could see he needed reassurance. "Eli, the baby is yours."
Eli let out a visible sigh of relief. "I'm sorry, Grace, but I hard to ask."
Grace nodded, "And that hurt me... to know that you didn't trust me."
Eli moved forward, taking her in his arms. "But, Grace... I do trust you, I do. I just didn't know what I'd do if it was Coop's baby.... I just love you too much, and I love our baby so much already."
Grace took comfort in his arms around her. "Eli, I never slept with Coop," She whispered. There was no chance that that the baby could be Coop's. It was definitely Eli's.
"Eli?" Grace said when he was silent.
"Am I horrible for saying I'm glad of that?" Eli lightly joked.
"No," Grace said, pulling back to look into his eyes. "I just couldn't... do that, when I knew I loved you."
Eli looked down at her in admiration. "I love you."
"I love you too," Grace said. She smiled at him and added, "In spite of your faults."
* * *
* * *
[[[[...Start of memory flashback]]]]
"Is Eli around?" Coop asked off-handedly as he looked around the kitchen.
Grace handed him a soda, and shook her head, "He's at work."
"Oh," Coop said, opening the top of the soda and taking a long drink.
"Did you come for a reason?" Grace asked curiously, watching him. She had been surprised when she answered the door that it was Coop... and that he was here to see HER, not Eli.
Coop shrugged, "Not really." He looked around the kitchen once again, "This is a nice house."
"Uh, thanks." Grace took a soda out of the fridge for herself.
"I'm surprised Eli made it in for work..." Coop said with a smile.
"Why?" Grace questioned. She hadn't run into Eli this morning, and so she didn't know where he had spent the night. She figured he must have stayed at his mother's.
"Well, he was pretty toasted last night," Coop continued, glad to have found a topic that flowed with ease. He was nervous being around Grace. She was... special.
"Really?" Grace asked, not sure what to think of Eli getting drunk.
"And then there was... Deanna," Coop said, his smile getting even wider.
"Deanna?" Grace asked, her heart stopping. She kept her voice calm though, even though she knew a storm was brewing.
"Yeah, Deanna and Eli hit it off last night," Coop paused, taking a drink of his soda. "Let's just say: we dropped them both off at Deanna's apartment, and they weren't going there to play scrabble..." Coop laughed.
Grace froze. She quickly turned away, busying herself by straightening up the countertop. "Oh, no..." She said, glancing back at Coop. "I forgot that I had to do some shopping for my mom." Grace picked up a list that sat conveniently on the counter, pretending to study it, but her eyes were too blurred with the beginning of tears to even make out one word.
Coop was disappointed but smiled understandingly, "Well, okay, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, at rehearsal."
"Yeah, rehearsal," Grace said with a forced smile.
Coop looked curiously at her, sensing something was wrong, but began to (thankfully) back towards the door. Grace followed him, saying goodbyes, and once the door was shut behind him she raced up to her room.... and let her emotions take over. She cried with all her wrenching heart... she cried until she thought all her tears had dried up. Then she got angry....
How could Eli have done this to her???
* * * (Still memory flashback) * * *
Eli got home from his eight hour Saturday shift feeling like hell. He had to suffer through the day with a killer headache and an even worse feeling of guilt. He had cheated on Grace. He had never meant to sleep with Deanna, but he had. How was he going to face Grace after what he had did? How could he look her in the eye after being such a dog?
The only good thing about the day was that Deanna had Saturdays off, so Eli didn't have to see her. He didn't know what he'd say to her if she was here. Right now he was furious at her, for somehow tricking him into sleeping with her... but he was even more upset with himself, because he knew it couldn't be all Deanna's fault... because no matter how drunk he was, it took two to have sex.
"Grace?" Eli questioned as he opened the door to his room.
Grace looked up at him, red-eyed and angry. "Don't speak," She ordered. "I don't want any LIES! I know you slept with Deanna."
Eli choked on the words, but knew he couldn't lie to her, "I did."
Grace's body trembled slightly. Fresh tears sprung to her eyes. Eli began to speak... to apologize profusely, but Grace wouldn't have it. "SHUT UP!" She cried. "I don't want to hear it! There's no excuses for what you did, Eli. NONE AT ALL! So save your shit for someone else!"
"Grace..." Eli got out before she cut him off again.
"We're done! WE'RE OVER!" Grace went over to the door. She turned and looked at him, her eyes a mixture of hurt and anger. "Hey, at least you don't have to worry about telling everyone about us, now," Grace said cynically. "Cause... there's NOTHING to tell, anymore." Her voice broke on the last words, and she left, slamming the door behind her.
Eli stood, transfixed to the same spot for a lengthy time. He couldn't believe how bad he had screwed things up. How did this happen?
* * * *
[[[[...End of memory flashback]]]]
* * * *
"Grace, I thought that was you!"
Grace froze, dropping the book she had been looking at. She looked over at Deanna with a flash of anger. Her father had said on the phone that Deanna wasn't working today... Grace had casually asked, of course. Her father knew nothing of the hard feelings Grace labored for his employee. And so, Grace had thought the coast was clear to come and pick up some reading material, but obliviously she was wrong.
Grace bent down and picked up the book she had dropped, her shirt pulling taunt against her developing stomach.
Deanna, quite observant, said, "Grace... are you getting fat, or is it just me?"
Grace narrowed her eyes. "I'm getting fat," She said quickly. She wasn't about to share her news of her pregnancy with Deanna of all people.
Unfortunately, Judy was walking by when Grace said that and came over. "Grace isn't nearly as big as I am," Judy said, touching her slightly bulging belly with love. "Another couple of months, and we'll both be out to... here!" Judy said, throwing her arms out for emphasis.
Grace lifted her eyebrows at her aunt. Judy got it and shut her mouth. "Uh..." She looked at Grace, her eyes asking why Grace didn't want Deanna to know about her pregnancy. But, Grace didn't think she could begin to explain it with her eyes and facial gestures, so she just shook her head... but it was too late, Deanna had caught on anyways.
"So, you're pregnant," Deanna said slowly. She smiled. "WOW. Grace, I would have never thunk it."
Judy slipped away, smiling regretfully at her niece. Grace sighed, "Yeah, I am."
"Who's the daddy?" Deanna asked, following Grace as Grace tried to lose her.
"None of your business," Grace snapped, randomly picking out a few books.
"Don't tell me you're still pissed at me!" Deanna complained.
"Why would I have stopped being pissed at you?" Grace questioned.
Deanna thought this over, "Oh... well, I dunno."
Grace moved up to the cash register and Judy came over and looked over the books she had chosen. "No charge," Judy reminded Grace, when she started digging through her purse.
"Thanks Judy," Grace said. She was eager to get out of there. Usually she would banter with Judy and tell her it wasn't good business skills to be handing out freebies, but not today. Now, if she could only make it out the door and to her car....
But Deanna wouldn't let her have it that easy. As Grace crossed to the door, Deanna was on her heels.
"Grace!" Deanna cried in a whinny four-year-old's voice. "Let me explain about Eli..."
Grace stopped as they got outside. She looked at Deanna with a nasty look. "You have an explanation?"
Deanna nodded cheerfully, "Yup."
Grace sighed. "Cause... did you know that Eli had a girlfriend at the time-- you know, when you slept with him?"
Deanna laughed. "Yeah, and that's the explanation. I don't know if you've ever met his girlfriend, but from what Eli said she was totally horrible... so, Eli had to look to other places.... i.e. ME, for fun!"
Grace bit down on her bottom lip, hard.
Deanna smiled happily, smacking her gum. "See, I was just giving Eli what he wanted... a fun time. I mean, he needed it, with that BITCH girlfriend of his!"
Grace's arm swung out, dropping the books it held... it was all so quick, Grace didn't even think of what she was doing. All she heard was 'BITCH', and then her arm was flying, and her open palm was connecting with the side of Deanna's face. Grace slapped her... hard.
Deanna's mouth dropped open, and Grace's hand fell away.
"You BITCH!" Deanna cried. She raised a manicured hand to her red cheek. "What the hell was that for?"
Grace was surprised at her own actions, but a smile was forming on her face anyway. That had felt good... real good. "That?" Grace said with a mocking laugh. "That was to wake up your brain cells... they've been on vacation too long."
Deanna scowled. "I'm telling your dad you did that!"
Grace began picking up her fallen books. "And what do you think he'd do? I don't even work here... What's he going to do... fire me as a daughter?"
Deanna's cheek was still flaming red, and it gave Grace joy to know she had done that. Deanna pouted. "You're a bitch, Grace," She spit out.
"No, I was just putting out the trash," Grace said with a sneer. She was really delighting in being all shades of mean with Deanna. The girl deserved it. Grace began walking to her car.
"Are you calling me trash??" Deanna demanded as Grace walked away... "Grace!" She cried. "GRACE!"
Grace got into her car, turning up the CD player so she didn't have to hear Deanna's whimpering voice calling after her. She drove away with a smile on her face.
* * *
Where Do We Go From Here?
Hey, thanks for the reviews. I'm glad you're liking this story, because I seriously didn't have any sort of plan of where I would take it when I started it. But, eh... I'm kind of getting sick of writing.... so, I think I'm going to stop, entirely. JUST KIDDING! Hehehehehe, happy April Fool's Day to all those that celebrate and delight in it, like ME! I can't stop, I love writing too much! (I love O & A too much!)
Anyways. Happy April Fool's Day to you all! Let's all delight in the silly holidays that bring a little fun to an otherwise dreary rainy day! (Actually it's just midnightish right now... so I don't know if it's going to be rainy today, but I bet it is!) OKAY, I'm shutting up now. ~Tainted Love
Chapter 18//Putting Out the Trash
*
*
*
"Grace?" Eli asked, knocking lightly on her door.
Grace was just finishing addressing the envelope containing the letter she had written for Coop. She dropped it back on her desk, and went to open the door for Eli.
Eli stepped inside her room, and the two studied each other. Eli's eyes held questions, and Grace felt bad that she had left him like that earlier, but she had just been upset that he could think...
"Grace?" Eli whispered.
Grace looked into his eyes, and allowed a small smile to form on her face. She could see he needed reassurance. "Eli, the baby is yours."
Eli let out a visible sigh of relief. "I'm sorry, Grace, but I hard to ask."
Grace nodded, "And that hurt me... to know that you didn't trust me."
Eli moved forward, taking her in his arms. "But, Grace... I do trust you, I do. I just didn't know what I'd do if it was Coop's baby.... I just love you too much, and I love our baby so much already."
Grace took comfort in his arms around her. "Eli, I never slept with Coop," She whispered. There was no chance that that the baby could be Coop's. It was definitely Eli's.
"Eli?" Grace said when he was silent.
"Am I horrible for saying I'm glad of that?" Eli lightly joked.
"No," Grace said, pulling back to look into his eyes. "I just couldn't... do that, when I knew I loved you."
Eli looked down at her in admiration. "I love you."
"I love you too," Grace said. She smiled at him and added, "In spite of your faults."
* * *
* * *
[[[[...Start of memory flashback]]]]
"Is Eli around?" Coop asked off-handedly as he looked around the kitchen.
Grace handed him a soda, and shook her head, "He's at work."
"Oh," Coop said, opening the top of the soda and taking a long drink.
"Did you come for a reason?" Grace asked curiously, watching him. She had been surprised when she answered the door that it was Coop... and that he was here to see HER, not Eli.
Coop shrugged, "Not really." He looked around the kitchen once again, "This is a nice house."
"Uh, thanks." Grace took a soda out of the fridge for herself.
"I'm surprised Eli made it in for work..." Coop said with a smile.
"Why?" Grace questioned. She hadn't run into Eli this morning, and so she didn't know where he had spent the night. She figured he must have stayed at his mother's.
"Well, he was pretty toasted last night," Coop continued, glad to have found a topic that flowed with ease. He was nervous being around Grace. She was... special.
"Really?" Grace asked, not sure what to think of Eli getting drunk.
"And then there was... Deanna," Coop said, his smile getting even wider.
"Deanna?" Grace asked, her heart stopping. She kept her voice calm though, even though she knew a storm was brewing.
"Yeah, Deanna and Eli hit it off last night," Coop paused, taking a drink of his soda. "Let's just say: we dropped them both off at Deanna's apartment, and they weren't going there to play scrabble..." Coop laughed.
Grace froze. She quickly turned away, busying herself by straightening up the countertop. "Oh, no..." She said, glancing back at Coop. "I forgot that I had to do some shopping for my mom." Grace picked up a list that sat conveniently on the counter, pretending to study it, but her eyes were too blurred with the beginning of tears to even make out one word.
Coop was disappointed but smiled understandingly, "Well, okay, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, at rehearsal."
"Yeah, rehearsal," Grace said with a forced smile.
Coop looked curiously at her, sensing something was wrong, but began to (thankfully) back towards the door. Grace followed him, saying goodbyes, and once the door was shut behind him she raced up to her room.... and let her emotions take over. She cried with all her wrenching heart... she cried until she thought all her tears had dried up. Then she got angry....
How could Eli have done this to her???
* * * (Still memory flashback) * * *
Eli got home from his eight hour Saturday shift feeling like hell. He had to suffer through the day with a killer headache and an even worse feeling of guilt. He had cheated on Grace. He had never meant to sleep with Deanna, but he had. How was he going to face Grace after what he had did? How could he look her in the eye after being such a dog?
The only good thing about the day was that Deanna had Saturdays off, so Eli didn't have to see her. He didn't know what he'd say to her if she was here. Right now he was furious at her, for somehow tricking him into sleeping with her... but he was even more upset with himself, because he knew it couldn't be all Deanna's fault... because no matter how drunk he was, it took two to have sex.
"Grace?" Eli questioned as he opened the door to his room.
Grace looked up at him, red-eyed and angry. "Don't speak," She ordered. "I don't want any LIES! I know you slept with Deanna."
Eli choked on the words, but knew he couldn't lie to her, "I did."
Grace's body trembled slightly. Fresh tears sprung to her eyes. Eli began to speak... to apologize profusely, but Grace wouldn't have it. "SHUT UP!" She cried. "I don't want to hear it! There's no excuses for what you did, Eli. NONE AT ALL! So save your shit for someone else!"
"Grace..." Eli got out before she cut him off again.
"We're done! WE'RE OVER!" Grace went over to the door. She turned and looked at him, her eyes a mixture of hurt and anger. "Hey, at least you don't have to worry about telling everyone about us, now," Grace said cynically. "Cause... there's NOTHING to tell, anymore." Her voice broke on the last words, and she left, slamming the door behind her.
Eli stood, transfixed to the same spot for a lengthy time. He couldn't believe how bad he had screwed things up. How did this happen?
* * * *
[[[[...End of memory flashback]]]]
* * * *
"Grace, I thought that was you!"
Grace froze, dropping the book she had been looking at. She looked over at Deanna with a flash of anger. Her father had said on the phone that Deanna wasn't working today... Grace had casually asked, of course. Her father knew nothing of the hard feelings Grace labored for his employee. And so, Grace had thought the coast was clear to come and pick up some reading material, but obliviously she was wrong.
Grace bent down and picked up the book she had dropped, her shirt pulling taunt against her developing stomach.
Deanna, quite observant, said, "Grace... are you getting fat, or is it just me?"
Grace narrowed her eyes. "I'm getting fat," She said quickly. She wasn't about to share her news of her pregnancy with Deanna of all people.
Unfortunately, Judy was walking by when Grace said that and came over. "Grace isn't nearly as big as I am," Judy said, touching her slightly bulging belly with love. "Another couple of months, and we'll both be out to... here!" Judy said, throwing her arms out for emphasis.
Grace lifted her eyebrows at her aunt. Judy got it and shut her mouth. "Uh..." She looked at Grace, her eyes asking why Grace didn't want Deanna to know about her pregnancy. But, Grace didn't think she could begin to explain it with her eyes and facial gestures, so she just shook her head... but it was too late, Deanna had caught on anyways.
"So, you're pregnant," Deanna said slowly. She smiled. "WOW. Grace, I would have never thunk it."
Judy slipped away, smiling regretfully at her niece. Grace sighed, "Yeah, I am."
"Who's the daddy?" Deanna asked, following Grace as Grace tried to lose her.
"None of your business," Grace snapped, randomly picking out a few books.
"Don't tell me you're still pissed at me!" Deanna complained.
"Why would I have stopped being pissed at you?" Grace questioned.
Deanna thought this over, "Oh... well, I dunno."
Grace moved up to the cash register and Judy came over and looked over the books she had chosen. "No charge," Judy reminded Grace, when she started digging through her purse.
"Thanks Judy," Grace said. She was eager to get out of there. Usually she would banter with Judy and tell her it wasn't good business skills to be handing out freebies, but not today. Now, if she could only make it out the door and to her car....
But Deanna wouldn't let her have it that easy. As Grace crossed to the door, Deanna was on her heels.
"Grace!" Deanna cried in a whinny four-year-old's voice. "Let me explain about Eli..."
Grace stopped as they got outside. She looked at Deanna with a nasty look. "You have an explanation?"
Deanna nodded cheerfully, "Yup."
Grace sighed. "Cause... did you know that Eli had a girlfriend at the time-- you know, when you slept with him?"
Deanna laughed. "Yeah, and that's the explanation. I don't know if you've ever met his girlfriend, but from what Eli said she was totally horrible... so, Eli had to look to other places.... i.e. ME, for fun!"
Grace bit down on her bottom lip, hard.
Deanna smiled happily, smacking her gum. "See, I was just giving Eli what he wanted... a fun time. I mean, he needed it, with that BITCH girlfriend of his!"
Grace's arm swung out, dropping the books it held... it was all so quick, Grace didn't even think of what she was doing. All she heard was 'BITCH', and then her arm was flying, and her open palm was connecting with the side of Deanna's face. Grace slapped her... hard.
Deanna's mouth dropped open, and Grace's hand fell away.
"You BITCH!" Deanna cried. She raised a manicured hand to her red cheek. "What the hell was that for?"
Grace was surprised at her own actions, but a smile was forming on her face anyway. That had felt good... real good. "That?" Grace said with a mocking laugh. "That was to wake up your brain cells... they've been on vacation too long."
Deanna scowled. "I'm telling your dad you did that!"
Grace began picking up her fallen books. "And what do you think he'd do? I don't even work here... What's he going to do... fire me as a daughter?"
Deanna's cheek was still flaming red, and it gave Grace joy to know she had done that. Deanna pouted. "You're a bitch, Grace," She spit out.
"No, I was just putting out the trash," Grace said with a sneer. She was really delighting in being all shades of mean with Deanna. The girl deserved it. Grace began walking to her car.
"Are you calling me trash??" Deanna demanded as Grace walked away... "Grace!" She cried. "GRACE!"
Grace got into her car, turning up the CD player so she didn't have to hear Deanna's whimpering voice calling after her. She drove away with a smile on her face.
* * *