Chapter 4
That next day went by pretty slowly because Grace was nervous about Mike attending her rehearsal that night. She had talk to Carla that afternoon at lunch and apparently she might be going to...which meant that HE would probably be there. HE being Eli. As the dismissal bell rang, Grace found a few of her play buddies and they continued to the auditorium to practice before practice.
"Grace!" She heard Carla's voice from down the hall and turned, her friends making faces.
"I'm gonna go get Mike now and well be back before you know it." Carla told her and Grace waved in acknowledgment.
"She's coming to rehearsal?" Mandy, one of the girls in the play asked.
"Yeah. She just wants to check it out." Grace replied with a struggle, not mentioning Mike. (("Carla didn't say anything about picking up Eli...Maybe he isn't coming." Grace looks away. "I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."))
The girls and the rest of the cast where in the auditorium for 10 minutes before Mr.Dimitri entered. "OK people. Let's getting going. We have a lot to do tonight." He yelled as he took a seat in a seat right in front of the stage. "I think we shall begin with scene 5." He told them, "We'll be doing it all the way through. No breaks. As far as you're concerned this is the real thing."
Grace sighed. She hated when the play dates began to get close, by then Mr. Dimitri demanded excellence. Sharing a knowing look with one of her cast members, Grace glanced up at the entrance and noticed three people enter and take a seat in the very back row. (("Three people. Eli did come." she smiles happily into the camera.))
"Grace Manning." The teacher's voice boomed and she jumped a little, turning her attention to him.
"You are in scene 5...are you not?" He questioned and she nodded. "Then may I ask why you aren't up there with all of the other people in scene 5."
"Sorry. I was just thinking about something." She apologized as she hurried up onto the stage.
In the back of the auditorium Carla was about to clap as Grace took the stage, but Eli stopped her. "Save her the embarrassment." He joked and Carla elbowed him. All three turned their attention to the stage. Grace looked like a natural up there. She looked at home on the stage. (("She's soo...beautiful." Eli looked deeply into the camera before looking down. "Can I say that about someone who going to be my step sister?")) He took in a deep breath and watched as they began.
"OK people. Scene starts out with Princess Emily (Grace's character). She his in her chambers, preparing for her wedding; which is to take place in just a few short hours. When her true love Andrew ascends into her bedroom where he must give her up. If he does not Emily's fiancé, King Jonathan, will have her killed." Mr. Dimitri set the scene. "And.....begin."
(A/n: Every time I refer to Emily in this scene it is Grace as the characters of Emily.)
** Begin Play**
Emily is sitting on her bed, brushing her hair slowly as she stares off at the ground mindlessly. Andrew enters onto the stage. "Andrew." Emily stands quickly and runs to him wrapping her arms around him. "I knew you'd come for me. I knew it."
"Of course I did." He kisses her forehead. "I had to see you one last time."
Emily pulls away, hurt. "One last time?" She repeats slowly.
"Yes."
"I...don't understand." She backs away slightly.
"You are going to be a married women by the end of tonight Emily...There is no more room for me in your life."
"Yes! Yes there is. There is ONLY room for YOU in my life Andrew." She tells him with passion in her voice. "You know this."
"I do...but no matter what you've been lead to believe...love does not always conquer all."
"But our love...." She stepped forwards and moves to place her hand on his cheek.
"OUR LOVE is no different." Andrew stops her and grabs her hand before it can touch his face. "I am a lame excuse for a man who dreams of a wonderful life. And you are just a scared little girl who would never dream of,...let alone survive in my world." She begins to cry. "We are two different people Emily ... nobody would ever approve of our relationship. They would never allow it." He turns to leave.
"Andrew..." She shrieks in pain, but he doesn't even turn back to look at her as he continues to go.
**End Play**
"Excellent work. Perfect." Mr. Dimitri applauded as the rest of the auditorium clapped.
In the back of the auditorium, Carla hooted loudly and Mike clapped with the others. However, Eli just sat in awe. Everything that Andrew had said in his last lines were exactly what Eli had been trying to put into words since he and Grace's 'encounter' the few nights before.
The rest of the practice went by pretty quickly and 2 hours after they started it was time to leave. Gathering her things together, Grace continued up the aisle with her friends. "Grace you were amazing. You're going to blow them away on opening night."
Grace looked down embarrassed. "I'm not that good."
"Yes you are." She heard Mike's voice confirm, as she looked up with a smirk. Grace noticed that her two friends from the play were looking very interested in the him. They began to smile. (("There must be something about this guy...he makes every girl melt. So why not me?"))
"You really were great." Carla added. "I'm not a big fan school plays...but I'm definitely coming to see this one." Grace looked past Carla, at Eli, who was stand silently with his arms crossed looking at the ground. "Don't mind him. He's been moody lately." Carla told her as she elbowed Eli to say something.
"What? Sorry." He snapped out of his daze. "I was just...gone for a second."
"Umm. Grace we have to get going. I'll see you tomorrow." Her friend interrupted as she and the other girl waved before leaving.
"Well,...what do you say we get something to eat?" Mike suggested as he threw his arm around Grace.
"Sounds good." Carla agreed. "Eli?"
"Yeah. OK." He nodded, stuffing his left hand in his pocket and throwing his arm around Carla's shoulders. He glanced at Grace, trying to catch her reaction, but she looked indifferent.
"Actually...I kinda told my mom I'd come home right after practice. I have an essay due tomorrow." she lied, interrupting their planning as she watched Eli's arm pull Carla closer. Grace couldn't help but notice a feeling of uneasiness in her stomach as she watched. (("I guess it really was a mistake.")) Grace sighed inwardly.
"OH well. That's too bad." Mike sounded a little disappointed. He watched Grace shift uncomfortably as she looked at Eli's arm around Carla.
"Yeah. I'm sorry." Grace apologized. "I'm just really swamped with work..."
"It's OK. I understand." He stated with a nodded.
"WELL...I guess we'll just go out then." Carla shrugged, referring to her, Eli and Mike.
"Ummm...maybe I shouldn't go. I mean Grace is gonna need a ride home." Eli pointed out.
"Wait...I thought you came with Carla and Mike." Grace questioned, confused.
"No he was already here." Carla replied with a hint of anger. "He told me he had band practice tonight, but I guess he wanted to check out your acting skills too." She scowled as Grace looked up at Eli, who averted his eyes to the ground.
"I knew Mike was coming here ... so I figured you would too. And I thought I'd surprise you." Eli explained to Carla. "Sorry for trying to do something nice."
Mike cleared his throat, trying to break the tension. "Maybe we should get going then Carla. I'm kinda hungry."
"Yeah. OK." She agreed as she pushed past Eli and began to walk away, followed closely by Mike. Leaving Grace and Eli stand together, awkwardly.
"Wait...we'll walk you." Eli called as he ran out, leaving Grace standing alone with her thoughts for a second before she followed. When she came out, they were already half way down the hall and she had to run to catch up with them. Eli once again had his arm around Carla and was whispering his her ear, obviously apologizing.
Grace walked beside Mike. "So...maybe we could try again tomorrow." She offered.
"I don't think so." He sighed as he looked away. "I can take a hint...You're not interested."
"What? Yes i am. You're a great guy. I had fun with you." Grace denied.
"Look Grace. I'm not stupid." He stopped walking so that Eli and Carla couldn't hear them. Grace gave him a confused look. "I know...OK."
"Know what?" She pressed as her heart began to beat faster. (("Did he see the kiss?"))
"You are total into Eli...and he's into you. It's obvious." Mike whispered. "Carla probably knows it too. She's just not willing to admit it to herself."
"Mike that ridiculous...First of all He's gonna be my stepbrother and second of all...if Eli liked me, he wouldn't be with Carla."
Mike shrugged. "I'm not in Eli's head ... but I do see the way he looks at you... don't treat me like I don't know what's going on." He told her. "I've only known you for 2 days and I can see it. Besides, you didn't deny it."
"Yes, I did."
"No you said Eli is gonna be your brother and you said he didn't like you. You never said you don't like him." Mike pointed out and Grace didn't know what to say. "Told ya."
"Mike." She wanted to ask him so many questions, like: How does he look at me? and Do you really think he likes me? However she knew it would be wrong, because she had led him on.
"Don't worry. I'm not gonna say anything." He put her fears to rest, as they continued out to the cars.
Outside, the cars were on opposite ends of the parking lot. Grace and Mike immediately split, each going to their designated cars, while Eli walked Carla to her's. Grace watched them from a distance as she leaned up against the passenger door. It was dark out now, but their was a light right above the two. She sighed heavily as she watched Carla wrap her arms around Eli and hug him tightly. They kissed as Eli pulled back and Grace had to look away. She pretended to be staring at something interesting on the ground until Eli approached. "So...everything alright?" she questioned, unable to look him in his eyes.
"Yeah. fine." He replied. "Why are you standing out here, the car isn't locked."
"Oh..." She felt stupid as she opened the door and climbed in. Eli was laughing as he entered the car and started the ignition. "Shut up." She giggled as she shoved his arm.
"Owww...alright. I'm sorry." He chuckled as he rubbed his arm. "Have you been working out?" He questioned sarcastically.
"Funny." She smiled, immediately realizing that all of her tension was gone now. It's was weird, no matter how she was feeling being with Eli just made it go away. (("Maybe Mike's right...maybe I do like Eli." She stares at the camera.)) They both smirked and locked eyes, sharing an long glaze.
(("I know I've said it before but...she really is beautiful. And her lips look so...tempting right now." He grinned devilishly at the camera, then frowns. "What am I thinking? I have a girlfriend.")) Eli finally looked away awkwardly. Grace nodded slowly as she looked away also. "Soo...pick a station." He told her as they began to drive.
Grace leaned over and began to flip threw the channels. Eli watched her cheerfully, as the street lights would illuminate her face as they drove under them. She finally settled on a station.
"So...what's this essay you have to write?" Eli questioned.
"Ummm...It's on...The American Revolution." She lied.
"Huh. What exactly about it?" He pushed, knowing that their is no essay.
"la;jfsiajfisfj." She mumbled, looking out the window.
"What?"
"Ok...I don't have an essay." She admitted, reluctantly and look away.
"Really?...So does that mean you're just not interested in Mike?" He said hopefully.
"Why? Would it matter?" She questioned, looking at him.
Eli shifted uncomfortably. "No of course not." He replied and they drove in silence for a while before Eli thought of something. "I have an idea." He told her as he turned down a dirt road.
That next day went by pretty slowly because Grace was nervous about Mike attending her rehearsal that night. She had talk to Carla that afternoon at lunch and apparently she might be going to...which meant that HE would probably be there. HE being Eli. As the dismissal bell rang, Grace found a few of her play buddies and they continued to the auditorium to practice before practice.
"Grace!" She heard Carla's voice from down the hall and turned, her friends making faces.
"I'm gonna go get Mike now and well be back before you know it." Carla told her and Grace waved in acknowledgment.
"She's coming to rehearsal?" Mandy, one of the girls in the play asked.
"Yeah. She just wants to check it out." Grace replied with a struggle, not mentioning Mike. (("Carla didn't say anything about picking up Eli...Maybe he isn't coming." Grace looks away. "I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."))
The girls and the rest of the cast where in the auditorium for 10 minutes before Mr.Dimitri entered. "OK people. Let's getting going. We have a lot to do tonight." He yelled as he took a seat in a seat right in front of the stage. "I think we shall begin with scene 5." He told them, "We'll be doing it all the way through. No breaks. As far as you're concerned this is the real thing."
Grace sighed. She hated when the play dates began to get close, by then Mr. Dimitri demanded excellence. Sharing a knowing look with one of her cast members, Grace glanced up at the entrance and noticed three people enter and take a seat in the very back row. (("Three people. Eli did come." she smiles happily into the camera.))
"Grace Manning." The teacher's voice boomed and she jumped a little, turning her attention to him.
"You are in scene 5...are you not?" He questioned and she nodded. "Then may I ask why you aren't up there with all of the other people in scene 5."
"Sorry. I was just thinking about something." She apologized as she hurried up onto the stage.
In the back of the auditorium Carla was about to clap as Grace took the stage, but Eli stopped her. "Save her the embarrassment." He joked and Carla elbowed him. All three turned their attention to the stage. Grace looked like a natural up there. She looked at home on the stage. (("She's soo...beautiful." Eli looked deeply into the camera before looking down. "Can I say that about someone who going to be my step sister?")) He took in a deep breath and watched as they began.
"OK people. Scene starts out with Princess Emily (Grace's character). She his in her chambers, preparing for her wedding; which is to take place in just a few short hours. When her true love Andrew ascends into her bedroom where he must give her up. If he does not Emily's fiancé, King Jonathan, will have her killed." Mr. Dimitri set the scene. "And.....begin."
(A/n: Every time I refer to Emily in this scene it is Grace as the characters of Emily.)
** Begin Play**
Emily is sitting on her bed, brushing her hair slowly as she stares off at the ground mindlessly. Andrew enters onto the stage. "Andrew." Emily stands quickly and runs to him wrapping her arms around him. "I knew you'd come for me. I knew it."
"Of course I did." He kisses her forehead. "I had to see you one last time."
Emily pulls away, hurt. "One last time?" She repeats slowly.
"Yes."
"I...don't understand." She backs away slightly.
"You are going to be a married women by the end of tonight Emily...There is no more room for me in your life."
"Yes! Yes there is. There is ONLY room for YOU in my life Andrew." She tells him with passion in her voice. "You know this."
"I do...but no matter what you've been lead to believe...love does not always conquer all."
"But our love...." She stepped forwards and moves to place her hand on his cheek.
"OUR LOVE is no different." Andrew stops her and grabs her hand before it can touch his face. "I am a lame excuse for a man who dreams of a wonderful life. And you are just a scared little girl who would never dream of,...let alone survive in my world." She begins to cry. "We are two different people Emily ... nobody would ever approve of our relationship. They would never allow it." He turns to leave.
"Andrew..." She shrieks in pain, but he doesn't even turn back to look at her as he continues to go.
**End Play**
"Excellent work. Perfect." Mr. Dimitri applauded as the rest of the auditorium clapped.
In the back of the auditorium, Carla hooted loudly and Mike clapped with the others. However, Eli just sat in awe. Everything that Andrew had said in his last lines were exactly what Eli had been trying to put into words since he and Grace's 'encounter' the few nights before.
The rest of the practice went by pretty quickly and 2 hours after they started it was time to leave. Gathering her things together, Grace continued up the aisle with her friends. "Grace you were amazing. You're going to blow them away on opening night."
Grace looked down embarrassed. "I'm not that good."
"Yes you are." She heard Mike's voice confirm, as she looked up with a smirk. Grace noticed that her two friends from the play were looking very interested in the him. They began to smile. (("There must be something about this guy...he makes every girl melt. So why not me?"))
"You really were great." Carla added. "I'm not a big fan school plays...but I'm definitely coming to see this one." Grace looked past Carla, at Eli, who was stand silently with his arms crossed looking at the ground. "Don't mind him. He's been moody lately." Carla told her as she elbowed Eli to say something.
"What? Sorry." He snapped out of his daze. "I was just...gone for a second."
"Umm. Grace we have to get going. I'll see you tomorrow." Her friend interrupted as she and the other girl waved before leaving.
"Well,...what do you say we get something to eat?" Mike suggested as he threw his arm around Grace.
"Sounds good." Carla agreed. "Eli?"
"Yeah. OK." He nodded, stuffing his left hand in his pocket and throwing his arm around Carla's shoulders. He glanced at Grace, trying to catch her reaction, but she looked indifferent.
"Actually...I kinda told my mom I'd come home right after practice. I have an essay due tomorrow." she lied, interrupting their planning as she watched Eli's arm pull Carla closer. Grace couldn't help but notice a feeling of uneasiness in her stomach as she watched. (("I guess it really was a mistake.")) Grace sighed inwardly.
"OH well. That's too bad." Mike sounded a little disappointed. He watched Grace shift uncomfortably as she looked at Eli's arm around Carla.
"Yeah. I'm sorry." Grace apologized. "I'm just really swamped with work..."
"It's OK. I understand." He stated with a nodded.
"WELL...I guess we'll just go out then." Carla shrugged, referring to her, Eli and Mike.
"Ummm...maybe I shouldn't go. I mean Grace is gonna need a ride home." Eli pointed out.
"Wait...I thought you came with Carla and Mike." Grace questioned, confused.
"No he was already here." Carla replied with a hint of anger. "He told me he had band practice tonight, but I guess he wanted to check out your acting skills too." She scowled as Grace looked up at Eli, who averted his eyes to the ground.
"I knew Mike was coming here ... so I figured you would too. And I thought I'd surprise you." Eli explained to Carla. "Sorry for trying to do something nice."
Mike cleared his throat, trying to break the tension. "Maybe we should get going then Carla. I'm kinda hungry."
"Yeah. OK." She agreed as she pushed past Eli and began to walk away, followed closely by Mike. Leaving Grace and Eli stand together, awkwardly.
"Wait...we'll walk you." Eli called as he ran out, leaving Grace standing alone with her thoughts for a second before she followed. When she came out, they were already half way down the hall and she had to run to catch up with them. Eli once again had his arm around Carla and was whispering his her ear, obviously apologizing.
Grace walked beside Mike. "So...maybe we could try again tomorrow." She offered.
"I don't think so." He sighed as he looked away. "I can take a hint...You're not interested."
"What? Yes i am. You're a great guy. I had fun with you." Grace denied.
"Look Grace. I'm not stupid." He stopped walking so that Eli and Carla couldn't hear them. Grace gave him a confused look. "I know...OK."
"Know what?" She pressed as her heart began to beat faster. (("Did he see the kiss?"))
"You are total into Eli...and he's into you. It's obvious." Mike whispered. "Carla probably knows it too. She's just not willing to admit it to herself."
"Mike that ridiculous...First of all He's gonna be my stepbrother and second of all...if Eli liked me, he wouldn't be with Carla."
Mike shrugged. "I'm not in Eli's head ... but I do see the way he looks at you... don't treat me like I don't know what's going on." He told her. "I've only known you for 2 days and I can see it. Besides, you didn't deny it."
"Yes, I did."
"No you said Eli is gonna be your brother and you said he didn't like you. You never said you don't like him." Mike pointed out and Grace didn't know what to say. "Told ya."
"Mike." She wanted to ask him so many questions, like: How does he look at me? and Do you really think he likes me? However she knew it would be wrong, because she had led him on.
"Don't worry. I'm not gonna say anything." He put her fears to rest, as they continued out to the cars.
Outside, the cars were on opposite ends of the parking lot. Grace and Mike immediately split, each going to their designated cars, while Eli walked Carla to her's. Grace watched them from a distance as she leaned up against the passenger door. It was dark out now, but their was a light right above the two. She sighed heavily as she watched Carla wrap her arms around Eli and hug him tightly. They kissed as Eli pulled back and Grace had to look away. She pretended to be staring at something interesting on the ground until Eli approached. "So...everything alright?" she questioned, unable to look him in his eyes.
"Yeah. fine." He replied. "Why are you standing out here, the car isn't locked."
"Oh..." She felt stupid as she opened the door and climbed in. Eli was laughing as he entered the car and started the ignition. "Shut up." She giggled as she shoved his arm.
"Owww...alright. I'm sorry." He chuckled as he rubbed his arm. "Have you been working out?" He questioned sarcastically.
"Funny." She smiled, immediately realizing that all of her tension was gone now. It's was weird, no matter how she was feeling being with Eli just made it go away. (("Maybe Mike's right...maybe I do like Eli." She stares at the camera.)) They both smirked and locked eyes, sharing an long glaze.
(("I know I've said it before but...she really is beautiful. And her lips look so...tempting right now." He grinned devilishly at the camera, then frowns. "What am I thinking? I have a girlfriend.")) Eli finally looked away awkwardly. Grace nodded slowly as she looked away also. "Soo...pick a station." He told her as they began to drive.
Grace leaned over and began to flip threw the channels. Eli watched her cheerfully, as the street lights would illuminate her face as they drove under them. She finally settled on a station.
"So...what's this essay you have to write?" Eli questioned.
"Ummm...It's on...The American Revolution." She lied.
"Huh. What exactly about it?" He pushed, knowing that their is no essay.
"la;jfsiajfisfj." She mumbled, looking out the window.
"What?"
"Ok...I don't have an essay." She admitted, reluctantly and look away.
"Really?...So does that mean you're just not interested in Mike?" He said hopefully.
"Why? Would it matter?" She questioned, looking at him.
Eli shifted uncomfortably. "No of course not." He replied and they drove in silence for a while before Eli thought of something. "I have an idea." He told her as he turned down a dirt road.
