*I know the stories been mainly based around Eli and Grace but I'll be
introducing Jesse into the story as well in the next few chapters. And as
always any reviews would be greatly appreciated*
Chapter 10 | A step forward
Grace had been dreading this moment. She had spent the day in a daze; how she got through her classes she did not know. The minutes ticked by as she watched the clock and the finally the big hand moved across from the 11 to the 12. The bell rang and the students began rising from there chairs. Grace barely heard the teacher call out that night's homework assignment. Grabbing her books she headed out the door, ignoring the calls of Carla who followed closely behind her. Grace had been avoiding Carla all day. After what had happened at Eli's the day before she was sure that Carla would become suspicious that something was going on between her and Eli. Plus Carla hadn't even bothered to see if grace was okay after she ran out, in fact Carla had stuck around for the rest of the band practice. "Grace! Wait up a second!" Carla called up, jogging up next to Grace in the crowded hallway.
[Grace- Stares at her feet-]
Grace continued walking. Carla grabbed her arm and turned her around forcing her to stop. "Listen, I just wanted to tell you that I think what your doing is great, for Eli I mean" Carla explained, smiling as she noticed the look on Graces face. "You mean . . . " Grace trailed off, unsure of how to continue. "I mean Eli told us all about how you have been helping him out with English." Carla laughed as Graces face registered with shock. "Now you better go or your gonna be late" Carla pushed Grace down the hallway, were they could already see Eli waiting by Graces locker.
_____
[Eli- Pacing up and down- Why do I feel so nervous, like I have done something wrong. Why do I feel as if I did something wrong. And why do I care so much about making things right again]
Grace approached Eli who was standing by her locker. "Grace, I just wanted" Eli started but Grace cut in. "Eli wait, before you say anything I just wanted to say thankyou for what you did, it means a lot to me" Grace stopped when she noticed the confused expression on Eli's face. "What I did? How can you be thankful for me letting the guys talk about you like that, I should have told them what was going on from the start" Eli rushed. "No, I'm thankful that you did tell the guys what was going on. I know how hard it must have been. And while yes I am angry at what the guys said, I realised last night that yes I'm angry at what the guys said but I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at myself for not standing up to them, but instead running away" Grace looked down biting her lower lip. "Grace . . ." Eli started taking a step closer towards her.
[Grace- I promised my self I wouldn't let this happen, that I wouldn't let myself be emotional]
[Eli- I hate how I've made Grace feel. I wish I knew how to change it, I wish I knew what to say. I wish I new why I cared so much]
"But mostly I'm angry at myself for thinking that I could fit into your life outside of school. I should have known that it wouldn't have worked" A single tear ran down her face. Grace, too embarrassed to look up, continued to stare at the floor. Eli reached out and taking a further step forward he reached out and brushed the tear away, off Grace's face. Startled Grace looked up, her Gaze looking with Eli's.
[Eli- I know I should look away but I can't, something is holding me back . . . I never realised just how pretty Grace is until now]
Eli, staring into Graces eyes slowly leant towards her, now standing as close to Grace as he could get. Lips parted gently in anticipation, heads tilted slightly.
[Grace- I cant believe this is about to . . .]
Just then Grace heard a loud cough coming from just down the hallway. Embarrassed Grace turned away from Eli, who immediately took a step back, realisation dawning on his face.
[Grace- . . . not happen] [Eli- I can't believe I just nearly kissed Grace Manning]
"I didn't realise you guys would both still be here," Grace noticed to person behind the cough. It was Carla. "Yeah, we were just, ah " Grace stumbled over her words, turning a bright shade of red. "Leaving, we were just leaving" Eli finished off. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything" not sounding sorry at all. Carla spun the combination to her locker and when it didn't open she turned to Eli, who seemed to be looking for the fastest way out of there. "Do you mind?" She asked gesturing towards her locker. "Oh, yeah right" Eli banged on the locker and it popped open. "Never could open it" Carla joked.
[Grace- That's funny, you've never had any problems before]
Reaching into her locker she pulled out what she had come back to school for. A pack of ciggies. "I'll catch ya later" Carla called over her shoulder as she walked away.
Grace looked at Eli, "Listen I was thinking maybe we could skip this afternoon. I have heaps of homework . . ." Grace fumbled for some reasonable excuse. Eli couldn't have looked more relieved. "Yeah, Jessie's been bugging me to go watch her practice for awhile so I guess I should go" Eli picked up his bag from where he had earlier dropped it on the floor and slung it over his back. "Same time tomorrow?" Grace asked, a hint of worry in her voice. "Yeah I'll see you then" Eli agreed taking off down the hall. Grace slowly trailed behind him.
_____
"Hey mum I'm home!" Grace called out as she walked in the door. "Hi honey, what are you doing home so early? Did yo have another fight with Eli?" Lily asked noticing the thoughtful look on Grace face.
[Grace- Imagining how it would have felt if her and Eli had actually kissed]
"What?" Grace snapped back to reality. "Oh, nah Eli had something to do this afternoon so we decided to take the day off. His coming over again tomorrow though" Grace explained trying hard not to think of their almost kiss. "Well as long as your home I might as well tell you, It was meant to be a surprise but" Lily hesitated. "Out with it mum," said grace impatiently, walking into the kitchen and dropping her schoolbag on the floor. "I've invited Rick over for dinner" Grace who was about to open the fridge stopped what she was doing. "You mean THE Rick, the one our always on the phone to? The one you insist is nothing serious?" Grace asked disbelievingly. "Yes that Rick, and I guess things have become a little more serious than I let on" an embarrassed smile tugging at her lips. Opening up the cupboard she took out some plates. The special occasion plates. "Zoe!" Lily called up the stairs, "Come and help your sister set the table, oh and set an extra place" Lily ran up stairs, already planning what she was going to wear.
_____
"Hey E, I didn't expect to see you here" Eli's mother Karen greeted him as he and Jessie walked out of the Dojo. Jessie had been taking karate for years; Eli was not sure ho log and had reached what he thought to be an unbelievable level. He couldn't believe that was his shy little sister who was fighting guys twice her size with a confidence he'd never seen in her before. It was hard to believe but his little sis was growing up.
"I cant believe you came to watch me practice" Jessie said a look of disbelieve on her face. "Well I decided it was about time I came and checked up on her" Eli said wrapping an arm around his sister's neck. Within an instant Jessie was out of his hold, Eli's arms twisted behind his back. "Betcha you didn't know I could do that" Jessie laughed at the look of shock on Eli's face. Eli shook his head and laughed.
[Eli- Since when has my sister become so grown up? - Looks at camera with a look of amazement]
"Bet you didn't know I could do this!" Eli shouted, lunging towards Jessie with his arms out stretched. Shrieking Jessie ran towards their mother's car, a smile on her face. Closely trailed by her brother Eli, and her mother Karen who looked at her children with amazement.
Chapter 10 | A step forward
Grace had been dreading this moment. She had spent the day in a daze; how she got through her classes she did not know. The minutes ticked by as she watched the clock and the finally the big hand moved across from the 11 to the 12. The bell rang and the students began rising from there chairs. Grace barely heard the teacher call out that night's homework assignment. Grabbing her books she headed out the door, ignoring the calls of Carla who followed closely behind her. Grace had been avoiding Carla all day. After what had happened at Eli's the day before she was sure that Carla would become suspicious that something was going on between her and Eli. Plus Carla hadn't even bothered to see if grace was okay after she ran out, in fact Carla had stuck around for the rest of the band practice. "Grace! Wait up a second!" Carla called up, jogging up next to Grace in the crowded hallway.
[Grace- Stares at her feet-]
Grace continued walking. Carla grabbed her arm and turned her around forcing her to stop. "Listen, I just wanted to tell you that I think what your doing is great, for Eli I mean" Carla explained, smiling as she noticed the look on Graces face. "You mean . . . " Grace trailed off, unsure of how to continue. "I mean Eli told us all about how you have been helping him out with English." Carla laughed as Graces face registered with shock. "Now you better go or your gonna be late" Carla pushed Grace down the hallway, were they could already see Eli waiting by Graces locker.
_____
[Eli- Pacing up and down- Why do I feel so nervous, like I have done something wrong. Why do I feel as if I did something wrong. And why do I care so much about making things right again]
Grace approached Eli who was standing by her locker. "Grace, I just wanted" Eli started but Grace cut in. "Eli wait, before you say anything I just wanted to say thankyou for what you did, it means a lot to me" Grace stopped when she noticed the confused expression on Eli's face. "What I did? How can you be thankful for me letting the guys talk about you like that, I should have told them what was going on from the start" Eli rushed. "No, I'm thankful that you did tell the guys what was going on. I know how hard it must have been. And while yes I am angry at what the guys said, I realised last night that yes I'm angry at what the guys said but I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at myself for not standing up to them, but instead running away" Grace looked down biting her lower lip. "Grace . . ." Eli started taking a step closer towards her.
[Grace- I promised my self I wouldn't let this happen, that I wouldn't let myself be emotional]
[Eli- I hate how I've made Grace feel. I wish I knew how to change it, I wish I knew what to say. I wish I new why I cared so much]
"But mostly I'm angry at myself for thinking that I could fit into your life outside of school. I should have known that it wouldn't have worked" A single tear ran down her face. Grace, too embarrassed to look up, continued to stare at the floor. Eli reached out and taking a further step forward he reached out and brushed the tear away, off Grace's face. Startled Grace looked up, her Gaze looking with Eli's.
[Eli- I know I should look away but I can't, something is holding me back . . . I never realised just how pretty Grace is until now]
Eli, staring into Graces eyes slowly leant towards her, now standing as close to Grace as he could get. Lips parted gently in anticipation, heads tilted slightly.
[Grace- I cant believe this is about to . . .]
Just then Grace heard a loud cough coming from just down the hallway. Embarrassed Grace turned away from Eli, who immediately took a step back, realisation dawning on his face.
[Grace- . . . not happen] [Eli- I can't believe I just nearly kissed Grace Manning]
"I didn't realise you guys would both still be here," Grace noticed to person behind the cough. It was Carla. "Yeah, we were just, ah " Grace stumbled over her words, turning a bright shade of red. "Leaving, we were just leaving" Eli finished off. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything" not sounding sorry at all. Carla spun the combination to her locker and when it didn't open she turned to Eli, who seemed to be looking for the fastest way out of there. "Do you mind?" She asked gesturing towards her locker. "Oh, yeah right" Eli banged on the locker and it popped open. "Never could open it" Carla joked.
[Grace- That's funny, you've never had any problems before]
Reaching into her locker she pulled out what she had come back to school for. A pack of ciggies. "I'll catch ya later" Carla called over her shoulder as she walked away.
Grace looked at Eli, "Listen I was thinking maybe we could skip this afternoon. I have heaps of homework . . ." Grace fumbled for some reasonable excuse. Eli couldn't have looked more relieved. "Yeah, Jessie's been bugging me to go watch her practice for awhile so I guess I should go" Eli picked up his bag from where he had earlier dropped it on the floor and slung it over his back. "Same time tomorrow?" Grace asked, a hint of worry in her voice. "Yeah I'll see you then" Eli agreed taking off down the hall. Grace slowly trailed behind him.
_____
"Hey mum I'm home!" Grace called out as she walked in the door. "Hi honey, what are you doing home so early? Did yo have another fight with Eli?" Lily asked noticing the thoughtful look on Grace face.
[Grace- Imagining how it would have felt if her and Eli had actually kissed]
"What?" Grace snapped back to reality. "Oh, nah Eli had something to do this afternoon so we decided to take the day off. His coming over again tomorrow though" Grace explained trying hard not to think of their almost kiss. "Well as long as your home I might as well tell you, It was meant to be a surprise but" Lily hesitated. "Out with it mum," said grace impatiently, walking into the kitchen and dropping her schoolbag on the floor. "I've invited Rick over for dinner" Grace who was about to open the fridge stopped what she was doing. "You mean THE Rick, the one our always on the phone to? The one you insist is nothing serious?" Grace asked disbelievingly. "Yes that Rick, and I guess things have become a little more serious than I let on" an embarrassed smile tugging at her lips. Opening up the cupboard she took out some plates. The special occasion plates. "Zoe!" Lily called up the stairs, "Come and help your sister set the table, oh and set an extra place" Lily ran up stairs, already planning what she was going to wear.
_____
"Hey E, I didn't expect to see you here" Eli's mother Karen greeted him as he and Jessie walked out of the Dojo. Jessie had been taking karate for years; Eli was not sure ho log and had reached what he thought to be an unbelievable level. He couldn't believe that was his shy little sister who was fighting guys twice her size with a confidence he'd never seen in her before. It was hard to believe but his little sis was growing up.
"I cant believe you came to watch me practice" Jessie said a look of disbelieve on her face. "Well I decided it was about time I came and checked up on her" Eli said wrapping an arm around his sister's neck. Within an instant Jessie was out of his hold, Eli's arms twisted behind his back. "Betcha you didn't know I could do that" Jessie laughed at the look of shock on Eli's face. Eli shook his head and laughed.
[Eli- Since when has my sister become so grown up? - Looks at camera with a look of amazement]
"Bet you didn't know I could do this!" Eli shouted, lunging towards Jessie with his arms out stretched. Shrieking Jessie ran towards their mother's car, a smile on her face. Closely trailed by her brother Eli, and her mother Karen who looked at her children with amazement.