* I know in America term holidays are only like a week but just pretend
they are 2 weeks, sorry again about the lack of updates but I wanted all
these chapters added at the same time to get the next storyline underway.
And I was wondering if anyone knows when Grace's birthday is?*
Chapter 22 | This ones for Grace
"Kristy, I'm really sorry but-" "But your going to be late" Kristy cut lily off, finishing her sentence. "I know, I'm really sorry it's just that the builders start today for the renovations," Lily leaned back against one wall, surveying the room around her. For the past week her and Jake had been working on plans to renovate the restaurant, nothing major but it still meant they had to take out a loan. Lily had been reluctant but it was Rick that helped her make the decision in the end.
Finishing off her conversation with her boss and promising she would be in as soon a possible she let out a deep breath. Rick had been great the past week, she wasn't sure if she could have done it without him.
_____
Grace, I'm really sorry we can't get together today, but I have band practice so I'm gonna be busy pretty much all day. Anyway I'll call you later about tonight okay? -Eli.
Grace stared at the email on the screen in front of her. It was early in the afternoon and it felt weird to be alone. She'd spent most of the past two weeks with Eli, and she was missing him already. Today was their two- week anniversary and Grace had been looking forward to them spending the day together. But obviously Eli hadn't remembered, Grace thought with a sigh, leaning back against the chair. Sure he'd asked her to his bands gig that night but he'd be up on stage, it wasn't exactly like they'd have much time for each other.
Grace leaned forward towards the screen, and holding the cursor over the delete button she hit the mouse, watching the email disappear from her screen.
[Grace- How could he not remember?]
_____
"Hey guys," said Eli, just after they finished the set they were rehearing. "Yeah man?" "Would you guys be able to do me a favour?" Eli asked hesitantly. He'd told the guys that him and Grace were dating, and while they had said they were cool about it they didn't seem too impressed, they just didn't seem to understand just how much she meant to him. "Well it's mine and Graces anniversary today" Eli continued over the groans coming from the guys. "And I need your help with something" _____
"I'm really sorry about being late this morning" Lily apologised to Kristy. Lily had been at work for a few hours but Kristy had been stuck in a meeting and she hadn't had the chance to speak to her yet.
"Don't worry about it, just try not to make a habit of it" Lily's boss replied, raising an eyebrow at her. "Well hopefully the renovations will be finished in a few weeks and they wont need me there as often" explained Lily as she made Kristy a cup of coffee. "Make that extra strong okay?" "Bad day?" "Tell me about it, we've just been told that we've had a funding cut back. One of our sponsors has pulled out . . ." Kristy trailed off as the phone rang, heading across the room to answer it. "I'll get that," Lily offered smiling. "I am your assistant after all"
Kristy and Lily had gotten off to a bad start but now around 3 months later things had began to change. Lily had found that Kristy was opening up to her a lot more, and treating her less as an assistant and more as a friend. And she was glad. It made things a lot easier. It made working for her a lot easier. There had been a time not long ago when lily had considered leaving the job. She hadn't told anyone, didn't want to worry them but as she sat there sipping a cup of coffee she realised just how glad she was that she hadn't, and she hoped with the whole restaurant thing that she'd be able to keep her job.
_____
"Jessie I'm really sorry" her Sensei apologised coming in late again to yet another training session. Sure it had only been by ten minutes but it was Jessie who was expected to run that night's session for those ten minutes he wasn't there. Jessie bowed to him and then went to take her place, silently. "Okay guys, I'm sure you've heard, Grading is coming up in only a month. So tonight, with the help of Jessie-"
[Jessie- With the help of Jessie, It's like he just expects me too help, what about my own training? When am I supposed to do that between running his classes?]
_____
"Jess, what's wrong?" asked Karen concerned. She was picking Jessie up after practice and noticed the look on her daughters face. Jessie mumbled something under her breath. [Jessie- Sometimes I feel like.]
"Jess?" "Sensei was late to training again. It's the third time in a row? And now his expecting me to help train the other in class for gradings, I mean what about me? When do I train?" Jessie blurted out all at once, not able to hide how she was feeling. All of class she just wanted to scream. "Jess, you knew that getting your black belt would be hard work," said Karen gently, missing the point. "Don't worry, you don't understand" Jessie crossed her arms stubbornly and stared out the window.
_____
"Hello?" Grace answered the phone on the first ring; she'd been sitting there, waiting for Eli's call. "Hey Grace, is your mum there?" Grace sighed with disappointment. "Sorry Judy, she's at work" "Oh well can you tell her that I called okay, its important" "Sure, I will, Bye Judy" "Bye Grace"
_____
"Hey Grace, how was your day?" Lily asked when she got home from work. "Boring" Grace, moaned, Eli's 5-minute call had been the highlight of her day, but still no mention of their anniversary. "Oh come on, it couldn't have been that bad" "Oh, it was" Lily opened the door of the fridge. "What do you feel like for dinner?" "Well umm, actually Eli has a gig tonight" "Oh?" "Yeah, do you mind if I go?" Lily pretended to consider the idea for a few minutes. "Mummmmm" "Yes you can go," agreed lily laughing at Graces impatience.
She was amazed at the change that had come over her daughter the past two weeks. She seemed so much. . . Lily couldn't think of the word, but she was glad that Grace was happy with Eli.
_____
Grace looked through her wardrobe, tossing outfits over her shoulder and onto her bed.
[Grace- Shrugs at camera- I have NOTHING to wear]
Coming across a green V-neck top she stopped and held it up in front of her in the mirror.
[Grace- .maybe.]
She then tossed it on the chair along with the rest of her maybe pile, which consisted of all of 3 tops and her jeans and black pants.
"Grace! Its 5: 20, Eli will be here soon" Grace heard Lily's voice calling upstairs. "Shit" she muttered and walked over to the chair. [Grace- Do my jeans make my butt look fat?]
[Around 15 mins later]
Grace heard a knock at the door. "Come in" Grace looked at herself in the mirror. Lily walked in. "Eli's here" "Okay, thanks" Grace looked at herself in the mirror one last time. "Is that what your planning on wearing?" Zoe said referring to Graces outfit of jeans and the V-neck top. "Yeah why?" "You look good" Lily said walking out the door, "I keep Eli busy while you change into the black pants"
Grace laughed, knowing she could always count on her mother for the truth she pulled off her jeans.
_____
Grace stared over at Eli's band who were about half way through their set and smiled. Eli looked so happy up there, amongst his friends, doing something he was good, great at. Sure he'd forgotten about today, but that didn't really matter did it? Grace tried to convince herself, forcing her mind back to Eli's band, making her self concentrate on the music.
But it was hard. All around her there were group of people her age and some older, all chatting, laughing, having fun together, but Grace was on her own. And yet again she felt a pang of jealousy, a reminder of hows things would be when she returned to school.
It was a big price to pay, Grace knew, just for a guy, but Eli wasn't any guy, and if that meant that she had to lose the friendship of Carla, so be it. What good is a friend who wants your boyfriend anyway.
But it would be hard. Most f Graces friends were also friends of Carla's, people she had meet through Carla, and she knew that most of them would side with Carla when forced to make a choice.
[Grace- Stop it! You said you wouldn't think about that tonight and you wont, okay? Tonight is about you and Eli, not Carla or school]
Grace noticed that the music stopped, and had been that way for awhile now, which was weird as they had no breaks scheduled between their set.
Eli broke away from where he stood huddled with the rest of the band and all the guys took their places. Adjusting the mic on the stand Eli spoke to the crowd.
"How are you guys all tonight" he said over the cheers of the crowd. He waited for them to become silent again before speaking. "Okay were gonna be doing something a little bit different tonight. I'll be singing a song that I've been working on, its not exactly finished but the message is still the same. This one goes out to Grace"
[Grace- Me?]
"Once in my life I have the chance to find, Once in a lifetime I have the chance to find the key to my dreams That it's so good for me
In the beginning trouble times in my life I needed a shoulder to cry on Had no direction until I met you Everything is gonna be all right Looking out beyond the stars Searching always wishing Often I thought that love would escape me You got the key babe
Once in my life I have the chance to find"
*Lyrics used in this chapter are taken from Craig David's song, Once in A lifetime.
* This was a really long chapter, well for me anyway. Anyway don't forget to R/R*
Chapter 22 | This ones for Grace
"Kristy, I'm really sorry but-" "But your going to be late" Kristy cut lily off, finishing her sentence. "I know, I'm really sorry it's just that the builders start today for the renovations," Lily leaned back against one wall, surveying the room around her. For the past week her and Jake had been working on plans to renovate the restaurant, nothing major but it still meant they had to take out a loan. Lily had been reluctant but it was Rick that helped her make the decision in the end.
Finishing off her conversation with her boss and promising she would be in as soon a possible she let out a deep breath. Rick had been great the past week, she wasn't sure if she could have done it without him.
_____
Grace, I'm really sorry we can't get together today, but I have band practice so I'm gonna be busy pretty much all day. Anyway I'll call you later about tonight okay? -Eli.
Grace stared at the email on the screen in front of her. It was early in the afternoon and it felt weird to be alone. She'd spent most of the past two weeks with Eli, and she was missing him already. Today was their two- week anniversary and Grace had been looking forward to them spending the day together. But obviously Eli hadn't remembered, Grace thought with a sigh, leaning back against the chair. Sure he'd asked her to his bands gig that night but he'd be up on stage, it wasn't exactly like they'd have much time for each other.
Grace leaned forward towards the screen, and holding the cursor over the delete button she hit the mouse, watching the email disappear from her screen.
[Grace- How could he not remember?]
_____
"Hey guys," said Eli, just after they finished the set they were rehearing. "Yeah man?" "Would you guys be able to do me a favour?" Eli asked hesitantly. He'd told the guys that him and Grace were dating, and while they had said they were cool about it they didn't seem too impressed, they just didn't seem to understand just how much she meant to him. "Well it's mine and Graces anniversary today" Eli continued over the groans coming from the guys. "And I need your help with something" _____
"I'm really sorry about being late this morning" Lily apologised to Kristy. Lily had been at work for a few hours but Kristy had been stuck in a meeting and she hadn't had the chance to speak to her yet.
"Don't worry about it, just try not to make a habit of it" Lily's boss replied, raising an eyebrow at her. "Well hopefully the renovations will be finished in a few weeks and they wont need me there as often" explained Lily as she made Kristy a cup of coffee. "Make that extra strong okay?" "Bad day?" "Tell me about it, we've just been told that we've had a funding cut back. One of our sponsors has pulled out . . ." Kristy trailed off as the phone rang, heading across the room to answer it. "I'll get that," Lily offered smiling. "I am your assistant after all"
Kristy and Lily had gotten off to a bad start but now around 3 months later things had began to change. Lily had found that Kristy was opening up to her a lot more, and treating her less as an assistant and more as a friend. And she was glad. It made things a lot easier. It made working for her a lot easier. There had been a time not long ago when lily had considered leaving the job. She hadn't told anyone, didn't want to worry them but as she sat there sipping a cup of coffee she realised just how glad she was that she hadn't, and she hoped with the whole restaurant thing that she'd be able to keep her job.
_____
"Jessie I'm really sorry" her Sensei apologised coming in late again to yet another training session. Sure it had only been by ten minutes but it was Jessie who was expected to run that night's session for those ten minutes he wasn't there. Jessie bowed to him and then went to take her place, silently. "Okay guys, I'm sure you've heard, Grading is coming up in only a month. So tonight, with the help of Jessie-"
[Jessie- With the help of Jessie, It's like he just expects me too help, what about my own training? When am I supposed to do that between running his classes?]
_____
"Jess, what's wrong?" asked Karen concerned. She was picking Jessie up after practice and noticed the look on her daughters face. Jessie mumbled something under her breath. [Jessie- Sometimes I feel like.]
"Jess?" "Sensei was late to training again. It's the third time in a row? And now his expecting me to help train the other in class for gradings, I mean what about me? When do I train?" Jessie blurted out all at once, not able to hide how she was feeling. All of class she just wanted to scream. "Jess, you knew that getting your black belt would be hard work," said Karen gently, missing the point. "Don't worry, you don't understand" Jessie crossed her arms stubbornly and stared out the window.
_____
"Hello?" Grace answered the phone on the first ring; she'd been sitting there, waiting for Eli's call. "Hey Grace, is your mum there?" Grace sighed with disappointment. "Sorry Judy, she's at work" "Oh well can you tell her that I called okay, its important" "Sure, I will, Bye Judy" "Bye Grace"
_____
"Hey Grace, how was your day?" Lily asked when she got home from work. "Boring" Grace, moaned, Eli's 5-minute call had been the highlight of her day, but still no mention of their anniversary. "Oh come on, it couldn't have been that bad" "Oh, it was" Lily opened the door of the fridge. "What do you feel like for dinner?" "Well umm, actually Eli has a gig tonight" "Oh?" "Yeah, do you mind if I go?" Lily pretended to consider the idea for a few minutes. "Mummmmm" "Yes you can go," agreed lily laughing at Graces impatience.
She was amazed at the change that had come over her daughter the past two weeks. She seemed so much. . . Lily couldn't think of the word, but she was glad that Grace was happy with Eli.
_____
Grace looked through her wardrobe, tossing outfits over her shoulder and onto her bed.
[Grace- Shrugs at camera- I have NOTHING to wear]
Coming across a green V-neck top she stopped and held it up in front of her in the mirror.
[Grace- .maybe.]
She then tossed it on the chair along with the rest of her maybe pile, which consisted of all of 3 tops and her jeans and black pants.
"Grace! Its 5: 20, Eli will be here soon" Grace heard Lily's voice calling upstairs. "Shit" she muttered and walked over to the chair. [Grace- Do my jeans make my butt look fat?]
[Around 15 mins later]
Grace heard a knock at the door. "Come in" Grace looked at herself in the mirror. Lily walked in. "Eli's here" "Okay, thanks" Grace looked at herself in the mirror one last time. "Is that what your planning on wearing?" Zoe said referring to Graces outfit of jeans and the V-neck top. "Yeah why?" "You look good" Lily said walking out the door, "I keep Eli busy while you change into the black pants"
Grace laughed, knowing she could always count on her mother for the truth she pulled off her jeans.
_____
Grace stared over at Eli's band who were about half way through their set and smiled. Eli looked so happy up there, amongst his friends, doing something he was good, great at. Sure he'd forgotten about today, but that didn't really matter did it? Grace tried to convince herself, forcing her mind back to Eli's band, making her self concentrate on the music.
But it was hard. All around her there were group of people her age and some older, all chatting, laughing, having fun together, but Grace was on her own. And yet again she felt a pang of jealousy, a reminder of hows things would be when she returned to school.
It was a big price to pay, Grace knew, just for a guy, but Eli wasn't any guy, and if that meant that she had to lose the friendship of Carla, so be it. What good is a friend who wants your boyfriend anyway.
But it would be hard. Most f Graces friends were also friends of Carla's, people she had meet through Carla, and she knew that most of them would side with Carla when forced to make a choice.
[Grace- Stop it! You said you wouldn't think about that tonight and you wont, okay? Tonight is about you and Eli, not Carla or school]
Grace noticed that the music stopped, and had been that way for awhile now, which was weird as they had no breaks scheduled between their set.
Eli broke away from where he stood huddled with the rest of the band and all the guys took their places. Adjusting the mic on the stand Eli spoke to the crowd.
"How are you guys all tonight" he said over the cheers of the crowd. He waited for them to become silent again before speaking. "Okay were gonna be doing something a little bit different tonight. I'll be singing a song that I've been working on, its not exactly finished but the message is still the same. This one goes out to Grace"
[Grace- Me?]
"Once in my life I have the chance to find, Once in a lifetime I have the chance to find the key to my dreams That it's so good for me
In the beginning trouble times in my life I needed a shoulder to cry on Had no direction until I met you Everything is gonna be all right Looking out beyond the stars Searching always wishing Often I thought that love would escape me You got the key babe
Once in my life I have the chance to find"
*Lyrics used in this chapter are taken from Craig David's song, Once in A lifetime.
* This was a really long chapter, well for me anyway. Anyway don't forget to R/R*