Chapter eighteen

Grace can hear her mother throwing up in the sink. It's become a daily ritual, one that Grace can't stand. Then again, she's looking forward to having a little brother or sister so she puts up with it. She is sitting at the kitchen table, eating cerial and not really paying attention to anything. Jessie walks into the kitchen and pours herself a coffee.

"Hey, Grace."

Grace refocuses her eyes and looks over at Jessie, "Oh, hey Jess."

Jessie cracks a smile, "You look like you're in another world."

"Something like that, and I'm trying to drown out the noises coming from the bathroom."

"Yeah, it's pretty gross," Jessie laughs.

"Hopefully it'll pass soon."

Jessie sits down opposite Grace and takes a sip of her coffee.

"How's the play going?"

"Pretty good, I guess. Rehearsals are intense. James is coming over later to rehearse."

"James from your year?"

Grace nods.

"He's pretty hot," Jessie smiles.

"Jess! I thought you didn't like guys!" Grace laughs.

"Hey, I can still find guys good looking and..." Jessie stops herself from going too far.

"And what?" Grace kicks Jessie under the table.

"It's just, I told Mum about Katie..."

"Wow! I'm impressed, Jess! How did she react?"

"Well, she asked me if I really liked Katie that way or if it was just because Katie's my one true friend."

"What do you think about that?"

"I had never really thought about it. I mean, Katie makes me so happy and I love being with her. But...well, we don't...this is embarresing..."

"Jess, you can tell me."

"It's just, we've kissed and stuff but when she wants to go further it freaks me out."

"Maybe you're not ready for the next step."

"Maybe. Then again, I just don't want to give myself to her, in that way."

"And you shouldn't feel that you have to, Jess," Grace reassures her.

"I'm just so confused."

"Tell Katie. I'm sure she'll understand and..." Grace is interrupted as Eli walks into the kitchen.

"'morning," he mumbles and he kisses Grace on the cheek. Grace and Jessie both say "good morning" back.

Eli pours himself some orange juice and sits next to Grace. "What are you talking about?"

"Girl stuff," smirks Grace and she and Jessie laugh. Eli shrugs and takes a gulp of juice.

Grace gets up and places her bowl in the sink. "I should get ready and do some work."

"Want to go out for a bit?"

"You know I can't E, James is coming over soon."

Eli rolls his eyes and sips his juice instead of responding. Grace sighs and starts to walk out of the kitchen.

"Good luck, Jess. See you later, Eli," she says and walks out.

Eli gets up and walks to the fridge. "Want some bacon and eggs, Jess?"

Jessie nods and takes a sip of coffee. She looks down at the newspaper.

"So, what were you and Grace talking about?" asks Eli as he cracks some eggs into a bowl.

"It's not important," she murmurs.

"You used to tell me everything," he remarks.

"It's no big deal, E," she reassures him.

"You and Grace don't seem to need me any more."

"She loves you," Jessie murmurs and looks up at him.

Eli sighs and he turns on the stove.

"I know, but she's distant lately."

"She's just busy with school and the play. Tell her how you feel."

Jessie gets up and puts her mug in the sink. She helps Eli fry the bacon and pats him on the back.

"Everything is alright, E."

"I hope so," he mutters.

- - -

There's a knock at the door and Eli opens walks down the hallway and opens the door. James is standing there and he shifts his feet a little as he looks back at Eli.

"Hey, is Grace here?"

"Yeah, she's in my room," he replies even though Grace is really in the kitchen. Eli moves over and James walks inside and follows Eli down the hallway to the kitchen.

"Hi James, you're early," Grace smiles.

"Uh, I was just at a friends house and I thought it would be easier coming straight here instead of going home."

"It's cool. Want a juice?"

"Sure."

James stands awkwardly at the doorway and Eli goes over next to Grace. He attempts to rub her back but she shrugs him off.

"Well, uh, I'll leave you guys to it," he murmurs and quickly kisses Grace on the cheek before he leaves the room. Grace goes a little red and pays attention to pouring the juice.

"Sit down," she tells James and he sits down and drops his script onto the table. Grace hands him the drink and sits opposite him.

James coughs a little. "How long have you been seeing Eli?"

"Just over half a year, I think...yeah, seven months."

"You seem tight," he remarks.

"He's the best," she replies and beams.

James feels himself sink inside and takes a sip of juice.

"We should get started. I have a basketball game at 4," he says and opens up the script.

Grace puts down her juice and pushes her hair behind her ear. James looks at her closely and stops himself from touching her face.

"So Robert's just found out that Cecilia saw him and Judith kissing and he's lost..." mutters Grace as she tries to find the page.

"And I say 'there's nothing left for me, but this empty void. Without her I am nothing'," says Robert with passion and Grace looks up at him, startled by the emotion in his voice.

"Then I walk into the room and walk to you and slap you in the face. I say 'you heartless fool."

"I never meant to hurt you."

"But you did."

"I try to take hold of your hand," he says and pushes his hand close to Grace's and touches her hand gently. Grace doesn't move her hand.

"No gesture can ease the pain you have caused me."

"Not even a kiss?"

"Especially not from a man whose lips have touched another."

"Just one," he whispers and learns in towards Grace and she looks up at James. Grace coughs a little and looks away.

James goes a little red and takes a sip of juice. "Maybe we should rehearse with Mr Dimitri," he suggests.

Grace gets up from her seat, "sounds like a good idea."

James gets up and picks up his script. "I'll show myself out."

Grace nods slightly and stands still.

"See you at school, Grace," he whispers as he leaves the room.