* I'm a huge fan of Crazy Town and the lyrics used in this chapter are from
their song 'Butterfly'*
* The /// indicates background music*
Chapter 18 | De Ja Vu
Grace was nervous, fourth period was almost over and Eli said he'd meet her at her locker. Grace knew that people would see them together and that would be all they needed to think the rumours were true. As if they didn't think that anyway. But Grace wasn't nervous about that. Apart from Jared Grace hadn't ever really had a boyfriend so she wasn't really sure how to act. Her and Jared weren't together very long and although they'd kissed a few times nothing else had happened.
[Grace- Eli is a lot older than me, what if he wants me to. . . I wonder if he expects me to? . . Do I want to?]
_____
Eli waited patiently at Graces locker, ignoring the looks he got from students passing by. A group of girls stood huddled further down the corridor, throwing the occasional glance at him and laughing. Eli could only begin to imagine what they were saying.
As he saw Grace approach he couldn't help but smile. The sight of her made him forget his surroundings and all he saw was her. Today she was wearing tight jeans and a red top. As she walked she kept her eyes on the floor, avoiding the knowing looks from those in the hallway. As she reached him she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, biting her lip as she normally did when she was nervous.
"Hey" Eli said softly, taking a step closer towards her. Grace took a step back as he leant towards her to kiss her. Eli looked at Grace who kept her eyes on the ground refusing to look at him. "What's wrong?" Eli asked confused. Grace looked at him through her long lashes. "Its not that I don't want to, but just" she paused. "Just not here, with everyone looking, ya'know? I don't want them to know. Not yet anyway"
Eli, slightly hurt but understanding how she felt took another step back, allowing her to get to her locker. "That's cool, I understand," he said, he did, really, but it still hurt.
_____
It was lunchtime and Rick and Lily sat in a little Italian restaurant trying to decide on what to order. "They do a good Spaghetti Bolognaise," said Rick laughing. "I'm sick of the usual spag bog," Lily complained. "Zoe's been driving me nuts, I think she's going through some sort of spag bog phase" she laughed. "Jessie went through the same thing," said Rick sympathetically "Don't worry though she'll get over it".
Just then the waitress walked up to the table. "Are you ready to order yet?" she asked getting out a notepad and pencil. Lily looked over at Rick who nodded. "I'll have the . . ."
[45 minutes later]
"You know, I feel really guilty doing this," admitted Lily as she put down her fork. Almost immediately their waitress came and too away here now empty place. "Why?" "Well I told grace that I would be working today, she just thinks I'm starting late" Rick laughed. "What?" Lily asked self-consciously. "Well it's just that I told Eli and Jessie the same thing but I said I'd be working late". "Listen the whole idea of today was so that we could get way from the kids and work and not have to worry about them. So how 'bout we head back to your place and forget about them for awhile" "Sounds good" Lily agrees as Rick signalled for their check.
_____
The first 10 minutes as they walked to Eli's were silent. Not an awkward silence, just an "I'm happy to be with you" silence. Grace was amazed at how quickly things had changed between them. One minute they are fighting the next, the next they were, what? Girlfriend and boyfriend.
Grace reached out and took El's hand as they walked down his street. "E, as much as I'm happy with how things are going, it's just" she hesitated. Eli stopped and turned to face her, resting his hands on her waist he stared into his eyes. "It's just that you want to know where things are heading," said li, airing the exact same thing that had been on his mind. "Well, ah yeh" Grace stammered reaching up to tuck a stand of hair behind her ear. Eli stopped her, taking hold of her hand and pulling her close. "I was kinda hoping I wouldn't have to say this but I guess I will" Eli said, "Grace, will you go out with me?" he said going bright red but his voice was serious. His only answer was Grace pulling him in lose for a quick kiss.
[Eli- This is . . .]
[Grace- . . . perfect]
_____
Grace and Rick sat curled up on Lily's couch, Lily's head in Rick's lap. "So I was just thinking" Lily said looking up at Rick. "About me I hope" Rick said with a smile, leaning down and kissing her on the forehead. "As a matter of fact I was thinking about Eli and Jessie," she continued. "Oh" was Rick's reply. "Oh? What does that mean?" "Nothing, why were you thinking about them?" "Well, it's just that you've meet Grace and Zoe" "And you want to meet Jessie" Rick finished off. "And Eli" she added sitting up. "You've already meet Eli" "Rick, come on," pleaded Lily, "If your serious about trying to make this work, make us work than I want to meet your kids" Rick sat quietly for a few minutes before coming to a decision. "Okay how about tonight?" "I thought Jessie was at a friends?" she asked. "I'll call her and tell her there's been a change of plans" "And Eli?" she asked. "He should have his phone on him as well"
_____
"Do you want something to drink? Eat?" Eli asked grace who stood nervously in the doorway of his kitchen. "Nah I'm cool" Grace said as Eli opened the fridge. Looking around inside he said "Nothing much here to eat anyway". He took out a piece of cheese pizza which must have been at least two days old, smelt it then put it back in the box. "Nice place" said Grace searching desperately for something to say. "You don't have to say that" he said. "No I mean it, its very umm" taking a look at the papers spread across the kitchen table and the lounge room floor, "Messy" Eli finished for her with a smile. "You think this is bad, you should see my room, come on I'll give you the tour".
[Grace- His room???]
_____
/// I can feel, too much is never enough
You're always there to lift me up when these times get rough
I was lost, now I'm found
Ever since you've been around
You're the women that I want
So yo I'm putting it down ///
"This is Jessie's room" Eli said as they walked through the upstairs floor of his room. "And this is my room, oh and I'm serious about what I said before, It's a total mess" Eli apologised as he opened the door.
Grace had to agree with him as she followed him inside. Scrunched up clothes lay on the floor and on his chair, his bed left unmade. Propped up next to his desk was a guitar.
"Will you play me something?" Grace asked. "Like what?" "Anything" she said taking a seat on his bed.
[20 mins later]
/// I don't deserve you
Unless it's some kind of hidden message
To show me life is precious
Then I guess it's true
But to tell truth I really never knew till I met you
See I was lost and confused
Twisted and used up
Knew a better life existed but thought that I missed it ///
Grace and Eli were sitting side by side on his bed, Eli had stopped playing a while ago and now they just sat there talking, Graces head resting on Eli's shoulder.
"You know, I never would have guessed that I'd turn out this way," said Grace in amazement. "What do you mean?" enquired Eli. "Well you, the Sex Symbol of the school, and me? A tenth grade student who'd never even had a proper boyfriend" "Me, A sex symbol, yeah right," laughed Eli disbelievingly. "No, I'm serious, you could have had any girl you wanted" "I do, I want you. And don't tell me I'm our first boyfriend, what was that African-American guys name?" "Jared? That was nothing . . . well nothing serious anyway" "And this is?" Grace just shrugged. "I'm very serious," whispered Eli, gently cupping his hand around Graces left cheek and drawing her closer to him. Grace closed her eyes in anticipation, and couldn't help but sigh as Eli's lips finally met hers. The kiss started off softly, teasingly, Graces soft lips against Eli's but he soon drew her closer, drawing her down onto the bed with him, their kisses growing deeper with every passing moment.
_____
[Around 2:30pm]
Rick let himself into his house, Lily following closely behind. "E, should be home soon, they finish early today" "Okay" She followed him into the kitchen, which was when she noticed a familiar school bag on the floor of Rick's kitchen. Sitting next to it was Eli's bag. "Hey Rick, is that Eli's bag?" she asked. Rick turned around, yeah it is, but whose that?" he wondered noticing the bag in Lily's hand. "Grace's"
_____
"Eli? Grace?" Rick called out walking upstairs.
Grace pulled away from Eli who was lying next to her on the bed. "What's wrong?" he asked kissing her on her shoulder. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" Eli said pulling her back in close again, his kisses blocking out her trail of thought.
"Eli" said Rick just outside Eli's door. Hearing no reply he walked in.
[Rick- Oh My God]
[Eli- Shit]
[Grace- Rick?]
* The /// indicates background music*
Chapter 18 | De Ja Vu
Grace was nervous, fourth period was almost over and Eli said he'd meet her at her locker. Grace knew that people would see them together and that would be all they needed to think the rumours were true. As if they didn't think that anyway. But Grace wasn't nervous about that. Apart from Jared Grace hadn't ever really had a boyfriend so she wasn't really sure how to act. Her and Jared weren't together very long and although they'd kissed a few times nothing else had happened.
[Grace- Eli is a lot older than me, what if he wants me to. . . I wonder if he expects me to? . . Do I want to?]
_____
Eli waited patiently at Graces locker, ignoring the looks he got from students passing by. A group of girls stood huddled further down the corridor, throwing the occasional glance at him and laughing. Eli could only begin to imagine what they were saying.
As he saw Grace approach he couldn't help but smile. The sight of her made him forget his surroundings and all he saw was her. Today she was wearing tight jeans and a red top. As she walked she kept her eyes on the floor, avoiding the knowing looks from those in the hallway. As she reached him she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, biting her lip as she normally did when she was nervous.
"Hey" Eli said softly, taking a step closer towards her. Grace took a step back as he leant towards her to kiss her. Eli looked at Grace who kept her eyes on the ground refusing to look at him. "What's wrong?" Eli asked confused. Grace looked at him through her long lashes. "Its not that I don't want to, but just" she paused. "Just not here, with everyone looking, ya'know? I don't want them to know. Not yet anyway"
Eli, slightly hurt but understanding how she felt took another step back, allowing her to get to her locker. "That's cool, I understand," he said, he did, really, but it still hurt.
_____
It was lunchtime and Rick and Lily sat in a little Italian restaurant trying to decide on what to order. "They do a good Spaghetti Bolognaise," said Rick laughing. "I'm sick of the usual spag bog," Lily complained. "Zoe's been driving me nuts, I think she's going through some sort of spag bog phase" she laughed. "Jessie went through the same thing," said Rick sympathetically "Don't worry though she'll get over it".
Just then the waitress walked up to the table. "Are you ready to order yet?" she asked getting out a notepad and pencil. Lily looked over at Rick who nodded. "I'll have the . . ."
[45 minutes later]
"You know, I feel really guilty doing this," admitted Lily as she put down her fork. Almost immediately their waitress came and too away here now empty place. "Why?" "Well I told grace that I would be working today, she just thinks I'm starting late" Rick laughed. "What?" Lily asked self-consciously. "Well it's just that I told Eli and Jessie the same thing but I said I'd be working late". "Listen the whole idea of today was so that we could get way from the kids and work and not have to worry about them. So how 'bout we head back to your place and forget about them for awhile" "Sounds good" Lily agrees as Rick signalled for their check.
_____
The first 10 minutes as they walked to Eli's were silent. Not an awkward silence, just an "I'm happy to be with you" silence. Grace was amazed at how quickly things had changed between them. One minute they are fighting the next, the next they were, what? Girlfriend and boyfriend.
Grace reached out and took El's hand as they walked down his street. "E, as much as I'm happy with how things are going, it's just" she hesitated. Eli stopped and turned to face her, resting his hands on her waist he stared into his eyes. "It's just that you want to know where things are heading," said li, airing the exact same thing that had been on his mind. "Well, ah yeh" Grace stammered reaching up to tuck a stand of hair behind her ear. Eli stopped her, taking hold of her hand and pulling her close. "I was kinda hoping I wouldn't have to say this but I guess I will" Eli said, "Grace, will you go out with me?" he said going bright red but his voice was serious. His only answer was Grace pulling him in lose for a quick kiss.
[Eli- This is . . .]
[Grace- . . . perfect]
_____
Grace and Rick sat curled up on Lily's couch, Lily's head in Rick's lap. "So I was just thinking" Lily said looking up at Rick. "About me I hope" Rick said with a smile, leaning down and kissing her on the forehead. "As a matter of fact I was thinking about Eli and Jessie," she continued. "Oh" was Rick's reply. "Oh? What does that mean?" "Nothing, why were you thinking about them?" "Well, it's just that you've meet Grace and Zoe" "And you want to meet Jessie" Rick finished off. "And Eli" she added sitting up. "You've already meet Eli" "Rick, come on," pleaded Lily, "If your serious about trying to make this work, make us work than I want to meet your kids" Rick sat quietly for a few minutes before coming to a decision. "Okay how about tonight?" "I thought Jessie was at a friends?" she asked. "I'll call her and tell her there's been a change of plans" "And Eli?" she asked. "He should have his phone on him as well"
_____
"Do you want something to drink? Eat?" Eli asked grace who stood nervously in the doorway of his kitchen. "Nah I'm cool" Grace said as Eli opened the fridge. Looking around inside he said "Nothing much here to eat anyway". He took out a piece of cheese pizza which must have been at least two days old, smelt it then put it back in the box. "Nice place" said Grace searching desperately for something to say. "You don't have to say that" he said. "No I mean it, its very umm" taking a look at the papers spread across the kitchen table and the lounge room floor, "Messy" Eli finished for her with a smile. "You think this is bad, you should see my room, come on I'll give you the tour".
[Grace- His room???]
_____
/// I can feel, too much is never enough
You're always there to lift me up when these times get rough
I was lost, now I'm found
Ever since you've been around
You're the women that I want
So yo I'm putting it down ///
"This is Jessie's room" Eli said as they walked through the upstairs floor of his room. "And this is my room, oh and I'm serious about what I said before, It's a total mess" Eli apologised as he opened the door.
Grace had to agree with him as she followed him inside. Scrunched up clothes lay on the floor and on his chair, his bed left unmade. Propped up next to his desk was a guitar.
"Will you play me something?" Grace asked. "Like what?" "Anything" she said taking a seat on his bed.
[20 mins later]
/// I don't deserve you
Unless it's some kind of hidden message
To show me life is precious
Then I guess it's true
But to tell truth I really never knew till I met you
See I was lost and confused
Twisted and used up
Knew a better life existed but thought that I missed it ///
Grace and Eli were sitting side by side on his bed, Eli had stopped playing a while ago and now they just sat there talking, Graces head resting on Eli's shoulder.
"You know, I never would have guessed that I'd turn out this way," said Grace in amazement. "What do you mean?" enquired Eli. "Well you, the Sex Symbol of the school, and me? A tenth grade student who'd never even had a proper boyfriend" "Me, A sex symbol, yeah right," laughed Eli disbelievingly. "No, I'm serious, you could have had any girl you wanted" "I do, I want you. And don't tell me I'm our first boyfriend, what was that African-American guys name?" "Jared? That was nothing . . . well nothing serious anyway" "And this is?" Grace just shrugged. "I'm very serious," whispered Eli, gently cupping his hand around Graces left cheek and drawing her closer to him. Grace closed her eyes in anticipation, and couldn't help but sigh as Eli's lips finally met hers. The kiss started off softly, teasingly, Graces soft lips against Eli's but he soon drew her closer, drawing her down onto the bed with him, their kisses growing deeper with every passing moment.
_____
[Around 2:30pm]
Rick let himself into his house, Lily following closely behind. "E, should be home soon, they finish early today" "Okay" She followed him into the kitchen, which was when she noticed a familiar school bag on the floor of Rick's kitchen. Sitting next to it was Eli's bag. "Hey Rick, is that Eli's bag?" she asked. Rick turned around, yeah it is, but whose that?" he wondered noticing the bag in Lily's hand. "Grace's"
_____
"Eli? Grace?" Rick called out walking upstairs.
Grace pulled away from Eli who was lying next to her on the bed. "What's wrong?" he asked kissing her on her shoulder. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" Eli said pulling her back in close again, his kisses blocking out her trail of thought.
"Eli" said Rick just outside Eli's door. Hearing no reply he walked in.
[Rick- Oh My God]
[Eli- Shit]
[Grace- Rick?]