Chapter 16 | Dealing
Jessie stood in front of the class leading the class in a warm up. Usually her Sensei Steve would be standing in her place but he was late and with her being the highest rank there, it was up to her to start the class. It had been happening a lot lately. Sensei Steve's wife had just had a baby and he was always giving her some excuse as the baby was crying, or needed her nappy changed. Besides he would say, it was good training for when she had her black belt.
Jessie was 12, and had been doing karate since the age of 7 meaning she had been in training for five years. Most people would only dream of receiving their black belts, and it had been a dream of Jessie's, but now, aged 12 Jessie had grown up a hell of a lot and often wished she had more time to do other stuff, more girly stuff.
Jessie breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Sensei Steve walk through the door, Getting up from the sit up position she bowed to the class then returned to the front of the line.
_____
It was 5 o'clock and Lily was still at work. Being Kristy's assistant was different than she expected. She expected to be doing more actual hands on writing, or even just editing, but now even 2 months after receiving the job she was still the "Can you get me a coffee" or "Answer that call" girl.
Not that she wasn't thankful for Kristy giving her the job because she was; she had about to give up on getting a job when Kristy offered her a position. But it was just that there was such an age difference between them. Lily was so much older that they didn't have much in common. Lily had gone to work and was explaining to Kristy what had happened with Grace and half way through the conversation Kristy had walked off, no 'Everything's going to be okay' or 'you'll work it out', she just walked off.
And right now Lily needed someone to talk to. Picking up the phone she dialled Rick's work number, hoping he wasn't busy.
_____
Grace had headed straight home after school, having a lot on her mind after what Eli had said this afternoon. Not knowing how to answer him she had just lay her head on his shoulders, feeling his tense muscles slowly relax and he took her hand and squeezed it gently. They had remained like that for the rest of lunchtime, sitting side by side on the desk, touching but not talking. Then the bell had gone, causing them to realise their surroundings once more. Standing there Eli had just looked at her until she made the first move, taking a step towards him and wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest for a moment. "I have to go," he had said hugging her back, "But I'll call you tonight". Grace was now in her room, laying on her bed just staring up her roof, as she usually did when her mind was full of thought. Her mother wouldn't be home till late that night, having made plans to go out with Rick for dinner that night. Zoe was at a friends place for the night as her school had finished one day earlier than Graces. For once Grace was alone, and normally she'd be relived but all she could think of was Eli's promise to call. _____
[Eli- I'm not exactly sure what I am doing, all I know is that I want to be with Grace. She makes me feel important, as if I actually mean something. And I know she is younger than me but 2 years isn't that much of a difference]
Eli lay on his bed in his room, gently strumming his guitar. The same thoughts in his mind playing over and over, and as much as he tried he just couldn't put the fact that she was his fathers girlfriends daughter. And he wasn't sure why it was such a big deal, its not as if they were married or anything. But he still couldn't shake that uneasy feeling he had. Remembering his promise to call Grace he put down his guitar and grabbed the phone off the floor, the same place he had left it after his father had rang him to say he'd be late.
_____
Grace felt the phone ring before she heard it. It had been sitting in her hand the past 45 minutes. Pressing the button she answered it after only the first ring. "Hello?" she asked, already knowing whom the caller would be. "Grace?" "Eli, hey!" she said maybe a little to eagerly. "So our parents . . ." "Yeah I know, it's a bit weird isn't it" "Grace, I-" "Eli, don't say it" Grace said cuttingly him off. "Because you, us, I know things might seem weird but-" It was Eli's turn to cut her off. "It does seem weird, I was just thinking about it, our parents, you being so young, and I know that I want to try and make this work"
Eli had come to realise that every relationship had its problems and if it was meant to be then-
"You really mean that?" Grace asked surprised, expecting him to say that it wouldn't work. "Yeah, I do" Eli said sounding surprised himself.
_____
[One hour later]
"Grace I have to go, my mum just brought Jessie home and wants to speak to me about something" Eli explained. "Okay, well I'll see you at school tomorrow then?" Grace asked. "Yeah, and don't worry, it'll work out, I promise" "Bye Eli and thanks" "Thanks for what?" Eli asked unsure of what Grace meant. "For this" and with that Grace hung up the phone.
[Grace- It's weird how fast things have changed. Just a few days ago me and Eli were still friends and now?]
[Eli- I really do want to make this work]
_____
Eli walked into the kitchen where his mother was waiting for him. Seeing her sitting there at the kitchen table he knew something was up. "Eli, I was hoping we could have a bit of a talk," Karen said gesturing for Eli to sit down.
[Eli- What have I done this time?]
"Your probably wondering on what you've done wrong but don't worry. I just wanted to let you know that I had a call from one of your teachers today" Karen began; Eli couldn't read the look on her face.
He got up and went over to the fridge. Opening it he grabbed a can of coke and popped it open, waiting for his Karen to speak.
"I just wanted to tell you how proud I a that you are doing so well. Your English teacher told me how you were initially having some problems but you have done really well and caught up" Karen said with a smile.
"Yeah well, I didn't want you to-"
"You didn't want us to know that your having problems. I understand that. I know that we push you a lot but your father and I just want what's best for you" Karen explained hoping Eli would understand.
Eli turned to face her 'don't worry mum, I've got it under control, Grace has been hel-" "Grace" Karen asked. Eli stood still, not intending to let on that Grace had been tutoring him. "Grace Manning, that's Lily's daughter isn't it?" She asked looking slightly confused. "Yeah how did you know?" Eli said with a look of surprise. "Me and your father were just talking earlier. So how do you know Grace?"
[Eli- Might as well tell her]
"Grace was tutoring me" he let out in a rush.
[Eli- In more ways than one]
_____
"Eli, Jessie, I'm home!" Rick called as he let himself inside. Walking into the lounge roo he found Eli and Grace sitting n front of the TV eating pizza and watching a movie.
"Hey dad" said Jessie. "How was your night?" Jessie hadn't yet met Lily and felt rather left out, as Eli had already met her. "It was good," said Rick hanging up his coat. "E, can I talk to you for a sec?"
[Eli- Here comes the lecture]
Eli got up soundlessly from where he was sitting and followed Rick into the kitchen. "Your mother just called me" "I knew it" Eli muttered. "And I just wanted to say I'm proud of you" "You are?" Eli asked? "Yeah, that and the fact that you got a B for the term" "A B?" Eli repeated surprised. His teacher had never mentioned that. "By the way, I just wanted to make sure that everything's okay after what happened at Lily's"
[Eli- He had to bring it up]
[Rick- I had to bring it up]
"Yeah whatever" Eli muttered heading upstairs, the hard earned English mark forgotten.
*Another long chapter! You guys have been asking for updates so I hope you like it. Don't forget to R/R!*
Jessie stood in front of the class leading the class in a warm up. Usually her Sensei Steve would be standing in her place but he was late and with her being the highest rank there, it was up to her to start the class. It had been happening a lot lately. Sensei Steve's wife had just had a baby and he was always giving her some excuse as the baby was crying, or needed her nappy changed. Besides he would say, it was good training for when she had her black belt.
Jessie was 12, and had been doing karate since the age of 7 meaning she had been in training for five years. Most people would only dream of receiving their black belts, and it had been a dream of Jessie's, but now, aged 12 Jessie had grown up a hell of a lot and often wished she had more time to do other stuff, more girly stuff.
Jessie breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Sensei Steve walk through the door, Getting up from the sit up position she bowed to the class then returned to the front of the line.
_____
It was 5 o'clock and Lily was still at work. Being Kristy's assistant was different than she expected. She expected to be doing more actual hands on writing, or even just editing, but now even 2 months after receiving the job she was still the "Can you get me a coffee" or "Answer that call" girl.
Not that she wasn't thankful for Kristy giving her the job because she was; she had about to give up on getting a job when Kristy offered her a position. But it was just that there was such an age difference between them. Lily was so much older that they didn't have much in common. Lily had gone to work and was explaining to Kristy what had happened with Grace and half way through the conversation Kristy had walked off, no 'Everything's going to be okay' or 'you'll work it out', she just walked off.
And right now Lily needed someone to talk to. Picking up the phone she dialled Rick's work number, hoping he wasn't busy.
_____
Grace had headed straight home after school, having a lot on her mind after what Eli had said this afternoon. Not knowing how to answer him she had just lay her head on his shoulders, feeling his tense muscles slowly relax and he took her hand and squeezed it gently. They had remained like that for the rest of lunchtime, sitting side by side on the desk, touching but not talking. Then the bell had gone, causing them to realise their surroundings once more. Standing there Eli had just looked at her until she made the first move, taking a step towards him and wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest for a moment. "I have to go," he had said hugging her back, "But I'll call you tonight". Grace was now in her room, laying on her bed just staring up her roof, as she usually did when her mind was full of thought. Her mother wouldn't be home till late that night, having made plans to go out with Rick for dinner that night. Zoe was at a friends place for the night as her school had finished one day earlier than Graces. For once Grace was alone, and normally she'd be relived but all she could think of was Eli's promise to call. _____
[Eli- I'm not exactly sure what I am doing, all I know is that I want to be with Grace. She makes me feel important, as if I actually mean something. And I know she is younger than me but 2 years isn't that much of a difference]
Eli lay on his bed in his room, gently strumming his guitar. The same thoughts in his mind playing over and over, and as much as he tried he just couldn't put the fact that she was his fathers girlfriends daughter. And he wasn't sure why it was such a big deal, its not as if they were married or anything. But he still couldn't shake that uneasy feeling he had. Remembering his promise to call Grace he put down his guitar and grabbed the phone off the floor, the same place he had left it after his father had rang him to say he'd be late.
_____
Grace felt the phone ring before she heard it. It had been sitting in her hand the past 45 minutes. Pressing the button she answered it after only the first ring. "Hello?" she asked, already knowing whom the caller would be. "Grace?" "Eli, hey!" she said maybe a little to eagerly. "So our parents . . ." "Yeah I know, it's a bit weird isn't it" "Grace, I-" "Eli, don't say it" Grace said cuttingly him off. "Because you, us, I know things might seem weird but-" It was Eli's turn to cut her off. "It does seem weird, I was just thinking about it, our parents, you being so young, and I know that I want to try and make this work"
Eli had come to realise that every relationship had its problems and if it was meant to be then-
"You really mean that?" Grace asked surprised, expecting him to say that it wouldn't work. "Yeah, I do" Eli said sounding surprised himself.
_____
[One hour later]
"Grace I have to go, my mum just brought Jessie home and wants to speak to me about something" Eli explained. "Okay, well I'll see you at school tomorrow then?" Grace asked. "Yeah, and don't worry, it'll work out, I promise" "Bye Eli and thanks" "Thanks for what?" Eli asked unsure of what Grace meant. "For this" and with that Grace hung up the phone.
[Grace- It's weird how fast things have changed. Just a few days ago me and Eli were still friends and now?]
[Eli- I really do want to make this work]
_____
Eli walked into the kitchen where his mother was waiting for him. Seeing her sitting there at the kitchen table he knew something was up. "Eli, I was hoping we could have a bit of a talk," Karen said gesturing for Eli to sit down.
[Eli- What have I done this time?]
"Your probably wondering on what you've done wrong but don't worry. I just wanted to let you know that I had a call from one of your teachers today" Karen began; Eli couldn't read the look on her face.
He got up and went over to the fridge. Opening it he grabbed a can of coke and popped it open, waiting for his Karen to speak.
"I just wanted to tell you how proud I a that you are doing so well. Your English teacher told me how you were initially having some problems but you have done really well and caught up" Karen said with a smile.
"Yeah well, I didn't want you to-"
"You didn't want us to know that your having problems. I understand that. I know that we push you a lot but your father and I just want what's best for you" Karen explained hoping Eli would understand.
Eli turned to face her 'don't worry mum, I've got it under control, Grace has been hel-" "Grace" Karen asked. Eli stood still, not intending to let on that Grace had been tutoring him. "Grace Manning, that's Lily's daughter isn't it?" She asked looking slightly confused. "Yeah how did you know?" Eli said with a look of surprise. "Me and your father were just talking earlier. So how do you know Grace?"
[Eli- Might as well tell her]
"Grace was tutoring me" he let out in a rush.
[Eli- In more ways than one]
_____
"Eli, Jessie, I'm home!" Rick called as he let himself inside. Walking into the lounge roo he found Eli and Grace sitting n front of the TV eating pizza and watching a movie.
"Hey dad" said Jessie. "How was your night?" Jessie hadn't yet met Lily and felt rather left out, as Eli had already met her. "It was good," said Rick hanging up his coat. "E, can I talk to you for a sec?"
[Eli- Here comes the lecture]
Eli got up soundlessly from where he was sitting and followed Rick into the kitchen. "Your mother just called me" "I knew it" Eli muttered. "And I just wanted to say I'm proud of you" "You are?" Eli asked? "Yeah, that and the fact that you got a B for the term" "A B?" Eli repeated surprised. His teacher had never mentioned that. "By the way, I just wanted to make sure that everything's okay after what happened at Lily's"
[Eli- He had to bring it up]
[Rick- I had to bring it up]
"Yeah whatever" Eli muttered heading upstairs, the hard earned English mark forgotten.
*Another long chapter! You guys have been asking for updates so I hope you like it. Don't forget to R/R!*