Authors Note: I think I've just gotten to a stage in writing this story
when things are a bit bleh (its okay, laugh if you want!). I haven't been
updating as often as I should and storylines seem to be getting a bit dull
so sorry about that. I'll be writing as much as possible over the next
couple of weeks and trying to get the story back on track again and a bit
more exciting . . . lol . . . so until then hopefully you keep reading and
bear with me.
Chapter 42 | Dirty work
"So how was your afternoon" Lily asked brightly after Grace got into the car.
Grace let out a groan as she stretched out her legs and reached for the seat belt.
"That bad?" Lily asked, turning the key in the ignition and shifting the car into gear.
"Ouch!" Grace exclaimed having caught her finger in the belt buckle. "Don't ask" she said shaking her head.
"Okay" lily nodded, checking in the review mirror before pulling out onto the road.
"Well no, actually to answer you question my afternoon was shit!" Grace said fiercely.
"Grace!" Lily looked at her daughter shocked.
"Well it was" Grace said defensively, avoiding her mothers eyes. "First of all Cara calls in sick yet again so I spent the morning hurrying around, waiting table and trying to get someone in to replace her. And then the dishwasher broke down just after lunch so I spent most of the afternoon washing dishes. Oh and the new guy, Paul? Complete idiot!" Grace let out in a rush.
"Whoa Grace calm down" Lily said, staring at her daughter. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad" Lily said calmly, pulling up at a red light.
Grace let out a snort, "you weren't there"
Lily ran her hands through her head, "We've been through this before Grace. You know I've been busier than I expected-"
"I know, I know" grace nodded, avoiding her mothers eyes, "it's just that it's been so busy lately . . . and I" Grace shook her head, "I dunno"
"And where was your father all this time?"
Grace let out a short laugh, "Working the bar; his the only one legal" she said flippantly with a shrug.
* * * * * * * * * *
Eli lay on his bead, staring at his ceiling covered in Beck and Radio Head posters.
[Eli - I you would have asked me just a few months ago where I thought my future would lie I would have said I had no idea. Sure, I've always wanted to be in a band you know, play my guitar but I never thought that was possible. But now . . . the bands back on track, we have our first permanent gig in like forever and this article will be great exposure (turns around in circle) but then if he finds out. (pause) When he finds out (defiant look) he can't stop me. Would it hurt him to ever be happy for me?]
Eli let out a frustrated groan. "One day I will make it" he said softly, "with or without his support".
Eli closed his eyes for a few seconds, and then forced himself to sit up. Looking at his digital clock he let out yet another groan. It was 9:30pm already and he hadn't even started on his Math homework.
Eli looked over at his desk where his books sat in a pile. Standing up he grabbed his chair and sat down. Reaching for his math text book he looked at the cover for several moments before opening it.
[Eli - This stuff . . . shakes head . . . it never really makes sense to me. My teacher says it's my own fault for not paying attention in class (smiles) maybe they are right. (nods head grudgingly) of course they are right, teachers always are]
* * * * * * * * *
"Zoë! I was watching that" Grace yelled at her sister who had just changed the station on the TV.
"No you weren't" Zoë snapped, "You were reading a magazine"
Grace looked down in the magazine in her hands and sighed, her sister was right but she wasn't about to admit it.
"Mum! Zoë changed the TV station without asking!" Grace called out to Lily who was in the kitchen.
Lily got up from the kitchen table with a sigh and walked slowly into the lounge room to see her two daughters fighting over the remote control.
"Zoë it's 10 o' clock, you have school tomorrow so I think it's time you went to sleep"
"But Mum!!! That's not fair"
"Zoë, no arguments okay. It took me ages to wake you up this morning for school" Lily said warningly as Zoë got up slowly from the floor and dragged herself towards her room.
Once she had left Lily sat down next to Grace on the couch. "So I never really got a chance to ask you about the other day" lily said conversationally.
Grace looked down at her magazine then threw it on the coffee table. "What do you mean?"
"Eli and Jessie coming over. Not that I mind" Lily jumped in quickly, "it's just that it's good to see you two working things out"
"Your not about to give me some big speech are you?" Grace asked with a hint of a smiled.
Lily laughed and leaned back into the couch, "Actually no. But I have asked Rick, Eli and Jessie over for dinner on Friday night" she announced.
"Oh"
[Grace - I know Eli is making an effort to be nice, and for things to get back to (turns away from camera with sad smile). But, what if this isn't what he wants?]
"What? Just Oh?" Lily asked her daughter curiously.
Grace shook her head, forcing herself to smile, "Nah, It'll be good. I'm looking forward to it, really" she assured her mother.
[Grace - I just hope Eli feels the same way]
* * * * * * * * * *
"Do you want me to pick you up after school?" Lily offered Grace as she dropped her off at school the following morning.
"Actually, Dad offered to pick me up. He needs Felicity and I to work this afternoon" Grace said avoiding her mothers eyes. She didn't feel good manipulating her mother as she was, but it was true, Jake did need them to work this afternoon.
"But honey, you worked last night . . . wasn't the deal that you didn't work more than one night in a row"
Grace sighed and undid her belt, "I know, but his just been really busy and there's no one else to work. Plus we are getting paid extra so I don't mind, really" She nodded her head unconvincingly.
Lily started the car up, "well okay, but just tonight" she finally agreed. "But I'll be talking to your father about this okay. We both agreed that your first priority is on your work"
Grace rolled her eyes as she stepped out of the car, "yeah okay" she shrugged, "at least I earning my own money" she said pointedly, leaning on the open car door.
"Grace, don't start okay. I don't want you working more than every second night and that's it, now go or you'll be late"
* * * * * * * * * *
"So if anyone asks I'm working tonight?" Felicity asked making sure she understood what her friend was asking.
Grace nodded, "thank you so much" she said, checking her reflection quickly in the mirror before closing her locker door.
"Okay, just let me get this straight" her friend started, "your dad wants you, to drop hints to your mother and you agreed because?" she raised her eyebrows.
Grace let out a deep sigh, "Argh . . .please don't" she shook her head, "It's just that he is right, we do need more help . . . and there is no way my mum would agree if she thought it was his idea"
"Whatever" her friend said, throwing her hands up, "all I know is you shouldn't let your father use you like that, and you shouldn't be agreeing to do his dirty work for him "
Chapter 42 | Dirty work
"So how was your afternoon" Lily asked brightly after Grace got into the car.
Grace let out a groan as she stretched out her legs and reached for the seat belt.
"That bad?" Lily asked, turning the key in the ignition and shifting the car into gear.
"Ouch!" Grace exclaimed having caught her finger in the belt buckle. "Don't ask" she said shaking her head.
"Okay" lily nodded, checking in the review mirror before pulling out onto the road.
"Well no, actually to answer you question my afternoon was shit!" Grace said fiercely.
"Grace!" Lily looked at her daughter shocked.
"Well it was" Grace said defensively, avoiding her mothers eyes. "First of all Cara calls in sick yet again so I spent the morning hurrying around, waiting table and trying to get someone in to replace her. And then the dishwasher broke down just after lunch so I spent most of the afternoon washing dishes. Oh and the new guy, Paul? Complete idiot!" Grace let out in a rush.
"Whoa Grace calm down" Lily said, staring at her daughter. "I'm sure it wasn't that bad" Lily said calmly, pulling up at a red light.
Grace let out a snort, "you weren't there"
Lily ran her hands through her head, "We've been through this before Grace. You know I've been busier than I expected-"
"I know, I know" grace nodded, avoiding her mothers eyes, "it's just that it's been so busy lately . . . and I" Grace shook her head, "I dunno"
"And where was your father all this time?"
Grace let out a short laugh, "Working the bar; his the only one legal" she said flippantly with a shrug.
* * * * * * * * * *
Eli lay on his bead, staring at his ceiling covered in Beck and Radio Head posters.
[Eli - I you would have asked me just a few months ago where I thought my future would lie I would have said I had no idea. Sure, I've always wanted to be in a band you know, play my guitar but I never thought that was possible. But now . . . the bands back on track, we have our first permanent gig in like forever and this article will be great exposure (turns around in circle) but then if he finds out. (pause) When he finds out (defiant look) he can't stop me. Would it hurt him to ever be happy for me?]
Eli let out a frustrated groan. "One day I will make it" he said softly, "with or without his support".
Eli closed his eyes for a few seconds, and then forced himself to sit up. Looking at his digital clock he let out yet another groan. It was 9:30pm already and he hadn't even started on his Math homework.
Eli looked over at his desk where his books sat in a pile. Standing up he grabbed his chair and sat down. Reaching for his math text book he looked at the cover for several moments before opening it.
[Eli - This stuff . . . shakes head . . . it never really makes sense to me. My teacher says it's my own fault for not paying attention in class (smiles) maybe they are right. (nods head grudgingly) of course they are right, teachers always are]
* * * * * * * * *
"Zoë! I was watching that" Grace yelled at her sister who had just changed the station on the TV.
"No you weren't" Zoë snapped, "You were reading a magazine"
Grace looked down in the magazine in her hands and sighed, her sister was right but she wasn't about to admit it.
"Mum! Zoë changed the TV station without asking!" Grace called out to Lily who was in the kitchen.
Lily got up from the kitchen table with a sigh and walked slowly into the lounge room to see her two daughters fighting over the remote control.
"Zoë it's 10 o' clock, you have school tomorrow so I think it's time you went to sleep"
"But Mum!!! That's not fair"
"Zoë, no arguments okay. It took me ages to wake you up this morning for school" Lily said warningly as Zoë got up slowly from the floor and dragged herself towards her room.
Once she had left Lily sat down next to Grace on the couch. "So I never really got a chance to ask you about the other day" lily said conversationally.
Grace looked down at her magazine then threw it on the coffee table. "What do you mean?"
"Eli and Jessie coming over. Not that I mind" Lily jumped in quickly, "it's just that it's good to see you two working things out"
"Your not about to give me some big speech are you?" Grace asked with a hint of a smiled.
Lily laughed and leaned back into the couch, "Actually no. But I have asked Rick, Eli and Jessie over for dinner on Friday night" she announced.
"Oh"
[Grace - I know Eli is making an effort to be nice, and for things to get back to (turns away from camera with sad smile). But, what if this isn't what he wants?]
"What? Just Oh?" Lily asked her daughter curiously.
Grace shook her head, forcing herself to smile, "Nah, It'll be good. I'm looking forward to it, really" she assured her mother.
[Grace - I just hope Eli feels the same way]
* * * * * * * * * *
"Do you want me to pick you up after school?" Lily offered Grace as she dropped her off at school the following morning.
"Actually, Dad offered to pick me up. He needs Felicity and I to work this afternoon" Grace said avoiding her mothers eyes. She didn't feel good manipulating her mother as she was, but it was true, Jake did need them to work this afternoon.
"But honey, you worked last night . . . wasn't the deal that you didn't work more than one night in a row"
Grace sighed and undid her belt, "I know, but his just been really busy and there's no one else to work. Plus we are getting paid extra so I don't mind, really" She nodded her head unconvincingly.
Lily started the car up, "well okay, but just tonight" she finally agreed. "But I'll be talking to your father about this okay. We both agreed that your first priority is on your work"
Grace rolled her eyes as she stepped out of the car, "yeah okay" she shrugged, "at least I earning my own money" she said pointedly, leaning on the open car door.
"Grace, don't start okay. I don't want you working more than every second night and that's it, now go or you'll be late"
* * * * * * * * * *
"So if anyone asks I'm working tonight?" Felicity asked making sure she understood what her friend was asking.
Grace nodded, "thank you so much" she said, checking her reflection quickly in the mirror before closing her locker door.
"Okay, just let me get this straight" her friend started, "your dad wants you, to drop hints to your mother and you agreed because?" she raised her eyebrows.
Grace let out a deep sigh, "Argh . . .please don't" she shook her head, "It's just that he is right, we do need more help . . . and there is no way my mum would agree if she thought it was his idea"
"Whatever" her friend said, throwing her hands up, "all I know is you shouldn't let your father use you like that, and you shouldn't be agreeing to do his dirty work for him "