~A Once and Again Series~
The Way We Are
Woo-hoo. Thanks for reading & reviewing everyone!!! I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen with Eli and Grace's relationship... but I have some ideas. P.s. Yes, Netty, that was Eric Stoltz (who played Mr. Dimitri) in Rules of Attraction... I haven't seen the movie but I heard he played a "creepy teacher" in that movie too. Hehee.
Chapter 11//Whats Love got to do with it?
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"Uh... let's see..." Jake squinted down at the paper in his hand, trying to read his own handwriting.
Grace rolled her eyes and grabbed the paper from him, "Eggs, milk, bread, cheese, frozen pizzas, pancake mix..."
Zoe, eager to hit up the candy aisle- as her Halloween candy had already diminished- offered to go get the groceries that would be in aisle three... the candy/cookies/good stuff aisle. Jake, trying to be the good Dad, agreed, although he wasn't too sure they needed anything from that aisle. Still, he couldn't help but smile as Zoe ran off, her long brown hair flying behind her.
[[Jake - They're like jewels... just perfect rubies and diamonds... sparkling and shimmering... and just beautiful. And they're mine... my children. I made them. *pauses, thoughtful* Did I tell you I have another kid on the way....?]]
Grace began pushing the cart down the first aisle, and Jake trailed behind her, still lost in thought.
[[Jake - *hand over chin*...And did I tell you that my pregnant wife is currently living in another state and has no plans of coming back?]]
"Which brand?" Grace asked, holding up two boxes of pancake mix.
Jake looked up, and shrugged. "You choose."
[[Jake - I love Tiffany... I do. That just makes this so much harder.]]
* * *
Zoe was debating over a Snickers bar and a bag of Reese's Pieces when a familiar voice caught her attention. Her head snapped up and she looked, unbelieving, down the aisle.
"I'm totally craving chocolate... chocolate and pickles..."
"Together?"
"No, not together," That familiar voice said, laughing, "At least not yet."
An elderly lady with an overflowing cart moved out of the way, and Zoe's eyes practically bugged out of her face as she now saw the face that belonged to the voice.... Tiffany!
"Tiffany!" Zoe cried, dropping the forgotten candy back onto the shelf and rushing down the aisle towards Tiffany.
Tiffany's eyes widened herself, and she smiled surprised at Zoe, "Hi honey."
The woman with Tiffany nudged her and Tiffany blinked, "Oh, Zoe, this is my sister Riley. She didn't come to the wedding or you would have already met her...." Tiffany trailed off, "Is your father here? Or are you here with your mom?"
"With my dad," Zoe confirmed. "He's with the cart."
Riley's eyes widened and she looked at Tiffany to catch Tiffany's reaction.
Tiffany forced a smile, "Let's go see if we can find him, shall we?"
Zoe smiled, not realizing how much it pained Tiffany to say those words. She threw her small arms around her stepmother... which was hard to do with Tiffany's prominent pregnant belly. "I'm glad you're back, Tiffany!"
* * *
"Well, do you want large eggs or medium?" Grace asked, looking down at the cartons.
Jake shrugged, "Just pick something..."
[[Jake - I wonder a lot... about...]]
"Jake?"
[[Jake - ...Tiffany...]]
Jake turned around, and Grace turned too. They looked at Tiffany in surprise. "What... are you doing back?" Jake mumbled.
Tiffany sighed, pulling on a strand of her hair.
[[Jake - She's gotten so... big. That's my baby in there...]]
Riley looked at Jake, seeing her sister's husband in person for the first time. She introduced herself as Tiffany's sister, and Jake managed a quick 'hi' in her direction.
"Tiff?" Jake asked, "How come you didn't call? How come you didn't let me know you were back?"
"I just... needed some space and some time to myself, Jake," Tiffany said, looking up at him.
"So... are you back? For good?" Jake asked.
Tiffany smiled a bit, "I'm not really sure on that... yet."
"Oh," Jake said, not sure himself.
[[Jake - But, what does this mean?]]
* * *
"Hey, Grace!" Cynthia called out as Grace entered the cafeteria.
Grace walked over to the table, and sat down. "Hey," She said to Cynthia and Travis.
Cynthia smiled, "I thought you had a different lunch hour... I never see you in here."
Grace shrugged, setting her backpack on the table, "I usually go out to lunch."
"Oh," Cynthia paused, "With Eli?"
Grace nodded. She had kind of told Cynthia about her relationship with Eli, but had also kind of not... at the same time. She had basically avoided the subject of Eli with a fury.
[[Grace - *troubled, thoughtful look*]]
"Ready for the performance?" Travis asked.
Grace sighed, "I guess." Their first performance was this Friday. Grace knew her lines inside and out, and the dress rehearsals had been going fine, but she was still nervous.
"Isn't that your stepsister?" Cynthia asked, pointing at a table across the lunch room.
Grace looked up and saw Jessie in the midst of a crowd. Her stepsister was flourishing under the attention-- her face was lit up by a big smile, and her hands were moving animatedly as she talked with a large group of guys and girls. Grace saw Katie was also in the group, listening attentively to Jessie's words. "Yeah, that's Jessie."
Travis looked now too, "So, she is Eli's sister?"
Grace nodded, "Yup, that's my other step-sibling... and now I'm getting a new half-sibling in a month or so."
"Your mom's pregnant?" Cynthia asked, munching on a carrot.
Grace shook her head, "My father's new wife."
"So, both of your parents are remarried?" Travis asked.
Grace nodded, and opened her mouth to say something else, but felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and yet another surprise awaited her. "Carla!"
Carla grinned, "Hey." She slunk down on the table's bench next to Grace. "I've been trying to run into you for a while now... but you've been hiding yourself quite well."
Grace blinked, "Oh, yeah, I've been busy..."
Carla stole a carrot from Cynthia's lunch and turned back to Grace, "You're not mad at me for the whole kissing Eli thing, are you? Because you know I didn't mean anything by it."
Grace took a deep breath, and glanced over at Cynthia and Travis who were busy trying not to stare at Carla. Grace looked at Travis, more specifically, especially as Carla continued...
"Like, I would never steal Eli from you... I'm not like that," Carla finished.
Grace looked away from Travis... and back at Carla. "I know," She said quickly.
"I was talking to Eli, and he said the two of you were having problems," Carla said with real worry in her tone.
Grace nodded, "Uh, well..." She snuck another look at Travis, who was looking at his plate. She had never told Travis that she was dating-- or make that-- had been dating Eli.
[[Grace - But, I'm sure he gets it now...]]
"Yeah, we broke up," Grace mumbled. Carla's mouth dropped open and Grace quickly stood up before Carla could come up with a reply. "I've got to... go to the library."
As she walked away, Grace heard Carla say conversationally to Cynthia and Travis, "So are you Grace's new friends?"
* * *
Grace wandered outside. She didn't feel like going into the stuffy library... especially since she had no real work to do. She walked down the school steps, wishing she had swung by her locker to grab her coat. Grace reached into her pocket and pulled out her keychain with its jumble of house keys.
The key to her and Eli's Honda was on there too. Maybe if Eli hadn't taken the car to lunch... Grace could go and sit in it. At least then she'd be alone, but she'd be warm too. Grace walked to where Eli had parked the car this morning and stopped in surprise.
Eli sat in the parked car. Obliviously he had had the same idea as Grace. Eli looked up, catching Grace through the windshield. They stared at each other for a few moments and then Grace stepped towards the car.
She let herself in the passenger's side. They sat for a moment in silence, the wind picked up outside and it moaned as it rushed around the car.
"I had to do it," Grace said finally. "I couldn't stay in our relationship when... I wasn't giving my all to you."
"Why weren't you?" Eli asked, looking straight ahead at the rows of cars outside.
"Well, I'm sure Dr. Rosenfeld could give you a few ideas on that... but I just don't know Eli. It was all just too serious too fast... And I needed to just go and be me." Grace played with the keys on her key ring. She hadn't really talked to Eli since she broke up with him last week. Maybe now it was time... to talk.
"Are you happy?" Eli asked, looking at Grace out of the corner of his eyes.
[[Eli - Don't say you are... don't say you are...]]
"No," Grace whispered. She wasn't happy.
"Then, why'd you break it off?" Eli asked.
"Because this might make me... happy," Grace said, glancing up at him.
Eli sighed, nodded, and dropped his head. He stared at the steering wheel, "You don't think I could make you happy?"
"I know you can," Grace said fiercely.
"Then... I don't understand."
"I'm not so clear, myself. But, I needed to do it, Eli," Grace said with her own sigh. She wished she could make him understand... but when she, herself, didn't even quite get it...
"Is... there someone else?" Eli asked finally, looking over at her.
Grace shook her head, "What? No. I did this for... ME."
"That's pretty clear," Eli grumbled.
"What do you mean by that?" Grace asked. The wind outside picked up again and roared with life.
"I mean... that your breaking up with me... showed you don't care about me at all," Eli said sullenly.
Grace looked at him, pained by his words, "That's not true! I love you, Eli, I do."
Eli looked back at her, "Then... why?"
"I don't know... Eli. I just... needed to do it. Maybe it was a mistake, and maybe it wasn't."
"But, you still love me?" Eli's eyes bore into her.
"Of course! Do... you still love me?" Grace asked, dropping her eyes... knowing she had no right to ask.
[[Eli - Of course. *sad smile* I don't think I'll ever stop loving her.]]
"Grace..." Eli shook his head slightly.
"Sorry, I don't have the right to ask that," Grace sighed.
"You don't," Eli said firmly.
"I don't," Grace echoed.
"You broke up with me," Eli reminded her.
"I did."
Eli sighed and looked out the window, "Well... I should go... find John or something. We have another gig this Friday. This one's at The Light House."
"Really?" Grace was surprised. The Light House was one of the best spots for a band to play in Chicago. The bands that played there were bigger names than the rest of the struggling garage bands around. This must be a really big deal to Eli. It meant that his band was actually surviving out there... they were becoming big.
"Yeah... it should be cool," Eli smiled. He couldn't hide his pleasure at the cool gig.
"Oh... uh, Friday's the play..." Grace said with sorrow. She was going to miss it. Or unless... it was at a different time than the play.
"It is?" Eli was disappointed.
"Yeah. The show's at 7," Grace sighed.
"The gig's at 7," Eli said.
"Oh," Grace mumbled. So it was confirmed, she'd have to miss it. And Eli would miss her first play performance. That's if he was going to come to the play. But at least she would be having other performances. "We'll be having more shows on other days-- but, I don't expect you to feel like you have to come..."
"I know," Eli nodded.
"I can't expect that anymore... I can't expect anything," Grace acknowledged.
"You can't," Eli stated. But something in his face told Grace that he would be coming to the play anyways. She was glad.
"So, weren't you going to go find John?" Grace said after a moment of silence.
"Yeah, I was..." Eli reached for the door handle. "What are you going to do?"
"Oh, just sit here, I guess. Since I'm not legal to drive this thing yet," Grace smiled, touching the Honda's key on her keychain.
"I've named 'this thing'," Eli said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Really?" Grace smiled herself.
"It's silly... but I thought she deserved a name," Eli shrugged.
"What did you name 'her'?" Grace asked, when he didn't offer up the name.
"Ruby," Eli said finally. He opened the car door, "So, I'm going to go..."
"Okay..." Grace watched him wistfully.
"Bye," Eli said, closing the door after himself.
Grace watched him walk away. She slunk further against the car seat and sighed.
[[Grace - I still love him... I do. But, this breakup isn't about that. Because, I think no matter what... I'll always love him. I just needed some time off... to find myself.]]
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The Way We Are
Woo-hoo. Thanks for reading & reviewing everyone!!! I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen with Eli and Grace's relationship... but I have some ideas. P.s. Yes, Netty, that was Eric Stoltz (who played Mr. Dimitri) in Rules of Attraction... I haven't seen the movie but I heard he played a "creepy teacher" in that movie too. Hehee.
Chapter 11//Whats Love got to do with it?
*
*
*
"Uh... let's see..." Jake squinted down at the paper in his hand, trying to read his own handwriting.
Grace rolled her eyes and grabbed the paper from him, "Eggs, milk, bread, cheese, frozen pizzas, pancake mix..."
Zoe, eager to hit up the candy aisle- as her Halloween candy had already diminished- offered to go get the groceries that would be in aisle three... the candy/cookies/good stuff aisle. Jake, trying to be the good Dad, agreed, although he wasn't too sure they needed anything from that aisle. Still, he couldn't help but smile as Zoe ran off, her long brown hair flying behind her.
[[Jake - They're like jewels... just perfect rubies and diamonds... sparkling and shimmering... and just beautiful. And they're mine... my children. I made them. *pauses, thoughtful* Did I tell you I have another kid on the way....?]]
Grace began pushing the cart down the first aisle, and Jake trailed behind her, still lost in thought.
[[Jake - *hand over chin*...And did I tell you that my pregnant wife is currently living in another state and has no plans of coming back?]]
"Which brand?" Grace asked, holding up two boxes of pancake mix.
Jake looked up, and shrugged. "You choose."
[[Jake - I love Tiffany... I do. That just makes this so much harder.]]
* * *
Zoe was debating over a Snickers bar and a bag of Reese's Pieces when a familiar voice caught her attention. Her head snapped up and she looked, unbelieving, down the aisle.
"I'm totally craving chocolate... chocolate and pickles..."
"Together?"
"No, not together," That familiar voice said, laughing, "At least not yet."
An elderly lady with an overflowing cart moved out of the way, and Zoe's eyes practically bugged out of her face as she now saw the face that belonged to the voice.... Tiffany!
"Tiffany!" Zoe cried, dropping the forgotten candy back onto the shelf and rushing down the aisle towards Tiffany.
Tiffany's eyes widened herself, and she smiled surprised at Zoe, "Hi honey."
The woman with Tiffany nudged her and Tiffany blinked, "Oh, Zoe, this is my sister Riley. She didn't come to the wedding or you would have already met her...." Tiffany trailed off, "Is your father here? Or are you here with your mom?"
"With my dad," Zoe confirmed. "He's with the cart."
Riley's eyes widened and she looked at Tiffany to catch Tiffany's reaction.
Tiffany forced a smile, "Let's go see if we can find him, shall we?"
Zoe smiled, not realizing how much it pained Tiffany to say those words. She threw her small arms around her stepmother... which was hard to do with Tiffany's prominent pregnant belly. "I'm glad you're back, Tiffany!"
* * *
"Well, do you want large eggs or medium?" Grace asked, looking down at the cartons.
Jake shrugged, "Just pick something..."
[[Jake - I wonder a lot... about...]]
"Jake?"
[[Jake - ...Tiffany...]]
Jake turned around, and Grace turned too. They looked at Tiffany in surprise. "What... are you doing back?" Jake mumbled.
Tiffany sighed, pulling on a strand of her hair.
[[Jake - She's gotten so... big. That's my baby in there...]]
Riley looked at Jake, seeing her sister's husband in person for the first time. She introduced herself as Tiffany's sister, and Jake managed a quick 'hi' in her direction.
"Tiff?" Jake asked, "How come you didn't call? How come you didn't let me know you were back?"
"I just... needed some space and some time to myself, Jake," Tiffany said, looking up at him.
"So... are you back? For good?" Jake asked.
Tiffany smiled a bit, "I'm not really sure on that... yet."
"Oh," Jake said, not sure himself.
[[Jake - But, what does this mean?]]
* * *
"Hey, Grace!" Cynthia called out as Grace entered the cafeteria.
Grace walked over to the table, and sat down. "Hey," She said to Cynthia and Travis.
Cynthia smiled, "I thought you had a different lunch hour... I never see you in here."
Grace shrugged, setting her backpack on the table, "I usually go out to lunch."
"Oh," Cynthia paused, "With Eli?"
Grace nodded. She had kind of told Cynthia about her relationship with Eli, but had also kind of not... at the same time. She had basically avoided the subject of Eli with a fury.
[[Grace - *troubled, thoughtful look*]]
"Ready for the performance?" Travis asked.
Grace sighed, "I guess." Their first performance was this Friday. Grace knew her lines inside and out, and the dress rehearsals had been going fine, but she was still nervous.
"Isn't that your stepsister?" Cynthia asked, pointing at a table across the lunch room.
Grace looked up and saw Jessie in the midst of a crowd. Her stepsister was flourishing under the attention-- her face was lit up by a big smile, and her hands were moving animatedly as she talked with a large group of guys and girls. Grace saw Katie was also in the group, listening attentively to Jessie's words. "Yeah, that's Jessie."
Travis looked now too, "So, she is Eli's sister?"
Grace nodded, "Yup, that's my other step-sibling... and now I'm getting a new half-sibling in a month or so."
"Your mom's pregnant?" Cynthia asked, munching on a carrot.
Grace shook her head, "My father's new wife."
"So, both of your parents are remarried?" Travis asked.
Grace nodded, and opened her mouth to say something else, but felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and yet another surprise awaited her. "Carla!"
Carla grinned, "Hey." She slunk down on the table's bench next to Grace. "I've been trying to run into you for a while now... but you've been hiding yourself quite well."
Grace blinked, "Oh, yeah, I've been busy..."
Carla stole a carrot from Cynthia's lunch and turned back to Grace, "You're not mad at me for the whole kissing Eli thing, are you? Because you know I didn't mean anything by it."
Grace took a deep breath, and glanced over at Cynthia and Travis who were busy trying not to stare at Carla. Grace looked at Travis, more specifically, especially as Carla continued...
"Like, I would never steal Eli from you... I'm not like that," Carla finished.
Grace looked away from Travis... and back at Carla. "I know," She said quickly.
"I was talking to Eli, and he said the two of you were having problems," Carla said with real worry in her tone.
Grace nodded, "Uh, well..." She snuck another look at Travis, who was looking at his plate. She had never told Travis that she was dating-- or make that-- had been dating Eli.
[[Grace - But, I'm sure he gets it now...]]
"Yeah, we broke up," Grace mumbled. Carla's mouth dropped open and Grace quickly stood up before Carla could come up with a reply. "I've got to... go to the library."
As she walked away, Grace heard Carla say conversationally to Cynthia and Travis, "So are you Grace's new friends?"
* * *
Grace wandered outside. She didn't feel like going into the stuffy library... especially since she had no real work to do. She walked down the school steps, wishing she had swung by her locker to grab her coat. Grace reached into her pocket and pulled out her keychain with its jumble of house keys.
The key to her and Eli's Honda was on there too. Maybe if Eli hadn't taken the car to lunch... Grace could go and sit in it. At least then she'd be alone, but she'd be warm too. Grace walked to where Eli had parked the car this morning and stopped in surprise.
Eli sat in the parked car. Obliviously he had had the same idea as Grace. Eli looked up, catching Grace through the windshield. They stared at each other for a few moments and then Grace stepped towards the car.
She let herself in the passenger's side. They sat for a moment in silence, the wind picked up outside and it moaned as it rushed around the car.
"I had to do it," Grace said finally. "I couldn't stay in our relationship when... I wasn't giving my all to you."
"Why weren't you?" Eli asked, looking straight ahead at the rows of cars outside.
"Well, I'm sure Dr. Rosenfeld could give you a few ideas on that... but I just don't know Eli. It was all just too serious too fast... And I needed to just go and be me." Grace played with the keys on her key ring. She hadn't really talked to Eli since she broke up with him last week. Maybe now it was time... to talk.
"Are you happy?" Eli asked, looking at Grace out of the corner of his eyes.
[[Eli - Don't say you are... don't say you are...]]
"No," Grace whispered. She wasn't happy.
"Then, why'd you break it off?" Eli asked.
"Because this might make me... happy," Grace said, glancing up at him.
Eli sighed, nodded, and dropped his head. He stared at the steering wheel, "You don't think I could make you happy?"
"I know you can," Grace said fiercely.
"Then... I don't understand."
"I'm not so clear, myself. But, I needed to do it, Eli," Grace said with her own sigh. She wished she could make him understand... but when she, herself, didn't even quite get it...
"Is... there someone else?" Eli asked finally, looking over at her.
Grace shook her head, "What? No. I did this for... ME."
"That's pretty clear," Eli grumbled.
"What do you mean by that?" Grace asked. The wind outside picked up again and roared with life.
"I mean... that your breaking up with me... showed you don't care about me at all," Eli said sullenly.
Grace looked at him, pained by his words, "That's not true! I love you, Eli, I do."
Eli looked back at her, "Then... why?"
"I don't know... Eli. I just... needed to do it. Maybe it was a mistake, and maybe it wasn't."
"But, you still love me?" Eli's eyes bore into her.
"Of course! Do... you still love me?" Grace asked, dropping her eyes... knowing she had no right to ask.
[[Eli - Of course. *sad smile* I don't think I'll ever stop loving her.]]
"Grace..." Eli shook his head slightly.
"Sorry, I don't have the right to ask that," Grace sighed.
"You don't," Eli said firmly.
"I don't," Grace echoed.
"You broke up with me," Eli reminded her.
"I did."
Eli sighed and looked out the window, "Well... I should go... find John or something. We have another gig this Friday. This one's at The Light House."
"Really?" Grace was surprised. The Light House was one of the best spots for a band to play in Chicago. The bands that played there were bigger names than the rest of the struggling garage bands around. This must be a really big deal to Eli. It meant that his band was actually surviving out there... they were becoming big.
"Yeah... it should be cool," Eli smiled. He couldn't hide his pleasure at the cool gig.
"Oh... uh, Friday's the play..." Grace said with sorrow. She was going to miss it. Or unless... it was at a different time than the play.
"It is?" Eli was disappointed.
"Yeah. The show's at 7," Grace sighed.
"The gig's at 7," Eli said.
"Oh," Grace mumbled. So it was confirmed, she'd have to miss it. And Eli would miss her first play performance. That's if he was going to come to the play. But at least she would be having other performances. "We'll be having more shows on other days-- but, I don't expect you to feel like you have to come..."
"I know," Eli nodded.
"I can't expect that anymore... I can't expect anything," Grace acknowledged.
"You can't," Eli stated. But something in his face told Grace that he would be coming to the play anyways. She was glad.
"So, weren't you going to go find John?" Grace said after a moment of silence.
"Yeah, I was..." Eli reached for the door handle. "What are you going to do?"
"Oh, just sit here, I guess. Since I'm not legal to drive this thing yet," Grace smiled, touching the Honda's key on her keychain.
"I've named 'this thing'," Eli said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Really?" Grace smiled herself.
"It's silly... but I thought she deserved a name," Eli shrugged.
"What did you name 'her'?" Grace asked, when he didn't offer up the name.
"Ruby," Eli said finally. He opened the car door, "So, I'm going to go..."
"Okay..." Grace watched him wistfully.
"Bye," Eli said, closing the door after himself.
Grace watched him walk away. She slunk further against the car seat and sighed.
[[Grace - I still love him... I do. But, this breakup isn't about that. Because, I think no matter what... I'll always love him. I just needed some time off... to find myself.]]
* * *
