Grace sunk down lower into the car seat; it was 2:00 in the morning and her eyes were heavy, from lack of sleep and the waterworks she'd turned on.

The driver's door opened and Eli slid in, holding two foam cups of hot coffee.

"Here" he said, handing Grace one of the cups.

Grace was glad for the warmth, as she took a tentative sip; "thanks" she said quietly.

Eli watched as Grace brought the cup to her lips; he was glad that she was feeling better; but her eyes were red and swollen, and she looked so small and pale.

He wondered if Lily or Rick had noticed how sick she looked, and if they'd had the common sense to sit down and talk to her.

"You ok?" Eli asked, taking a gulp from his own cup.

Grace looked over at him; she'd been embarrassed to cry in front of him, but now she was grateful that he'd lent his shoulder to her.

"Now I am," she said timidly.

ELI I don't know where we stand-

GRACE I lose myself when I'm around him.

ELI I want to lose myself in her—but I cant!

Eli cupped his hands around the foam cup, feeling Grace's eyes on him. He wanted to let her know that nothing could happen, but he didn't trust himself to speak the words- afraid of hurting her, and afraid that he wouldn't sound earnest.

"You wont tell mum or Rick-" Eli looked over at Grace as she spoke "-Will you?" she asked him in a whisper.

Eli gave a reassuring smile "I wont say anything" he replied, and Grace gave a slight smile.

"But, I do want to do something about this Elle chick" Eli added, glancing over at Grace.

She shook her head slowly "It's fine-" she began, but Eli felt his temper rising as he remembered what Grace had told him.

"Grace! She can't hurt you like this- because of her you almost-" Eli stopped himself when he saw Grace lower her face, embarrassed and hurt.

"I'm sorry" Eli reached his hand out, about to brush a strand of hair from Grace's face, but then he pulled it back, abruptly.

Grace closed her eyes, she had no tears left; but her heart cried, yearning for Eli's touch! But he was keeping a distance between them now, and Grace didn't know why.

"Eli" Grace whispered, and she looked up to meet his eyes.

They stared at one another for a moment, their eyes locked, drowning in each other's gaze.

And, tentatively, Grace reached for Eli's hand, and slowly raised it to her face, pressing it against her cheek.

She closed her eyes as she felt Eli's rough, strong hand press against her cheek; her hands soft cupped around his own, pressing it harder against her cheek; losing herself in his touch.

Eli watched, hopelessly, as Grace took his hand and rested it against her supple cheek- he closed hie eyes for a moment, remembering the touch of her soft skin—and then he opened them again, and snapped his hand back.

Grace bowed her head, as Eli fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat, he wouldn't allow himself to get close to her- ever again? Grace hoped not.

"Grace-" Eli broke the silence that was choking Grace; "-I was worried about you, I need to know that you were alright-" Eli began, but Grace stopped him.

"Well I'm not" she said sternly, and Eli looked over at her.

Grace stared back at him "I'm not alright. This is tearing me apart- one moment I feel as though I'm going to be alright, and I know everything will work out, I convince myself that I can live without you-" Grace took a quick breath "-and then, I feel as though I'm going to drown in my loneliness. And I feel like I'm going to die if I don't see you again, if I don't feel you again-" Eli fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat again, and Grace stopped talking.

ELI is she reading my mind?

GRACE and that's when I knew—he doesn't feel the same way.

"Grace- I know this is hard-" Grace let out a mocking laugh, and Eli silenced himself.

"Hard? Hard? Eli, I have never felt so alone, and so cold in my entire life! And nobody will listen to me! Mum and Rick don't wont to know how much I'm hurting; Jessie and Zoe don't understand what it's like--- and you! -" Eli held his breath while Grace continued; "- you, want to forget about me! You want to pretend that 'we' never happened. The one person who I thought might understand how much I'm hurting- and you just want to forget about me!" Grace took a deep breath, and stared coldly at Eli.

"You have no idea" Eli whispered under his breath "-Grace, I got kicked out! I can't see my family; I have to live ALONE-" Grace looked away from Eli's eyes, seeing how selfish she was; "-because I love the wrong person! -" Eli ended.

Grace turned back to him, her body shaking and her heart pounding; she knew he wanted to cry, that he was just as lonely as she was (maybe even

more so)……..and that he was scared, lost and scared.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Eli sighed, "don't be," he said, "I'm fine, really" he lied.

GRACE no your not!

ELI I'm not

"What are we going to do?" Grace asked, and Eli felt his entire body tense up.

"And don't say it's best that we don't see each other-" Grace read his mind "-because we've tried that, and it does not work!" she took a final gulp from her coffee and rested the empty cup on the dashboard.

Eli opened his car door and chucked the rest of his coffee onto the ground, and closed his door again.

He turned to Grace, her eyes weren't so swollen now, and their perfect rich brown colour had come back.

"I don't know," he answered, honestly.

Grace sighed and smiled slightly. "What?" Eli asked, unsure of Grace's expression.

"These secret rendezvous are kinda nice," she said in a small voice, turning to look at Eli.

He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling tired and weak "Grace, no, that wouldn't be-" he began, but Grace stopped him, straightening her back and turning her body to face him.

"-Eli! Please? I'm not asking you to declare you're love to me! I just think that if we see each other once in a while, it might do both of us the world of good!" she spoke calmly and confidently, and Eli had to smile.

GRACE I realize that he might not love me anymore.

ELI she doesn't know how much I still love her.

"If we get caught-" Eli stared at Grace's face, suddenly so full of light and happiness "-they might very well move me to a different state!" he said sarcastically, though the thought was very real at the back of his head.

Grace sighed "We wouldn't be doing anything wrong. I mean, it's not like we're TOGETHER-" Grace shot him a quick glance, but his expression was the same, "-we could just explain that we thought it was best if we began 'seeing' each other again. I mean, you are still apart of this family!" Grace stared at Eli, but he looked unconvinced.

"And if all goes well, after a while, we can both announce to them that we've worked through the situation and you can come home again!" he still looked unconvinced.

"I miss you as a stepbrother aswell Eli" Grace lied, and Eli's expression lightened.

"I think it's time that I got you home" Eli announced, and Grace's smile faded.

"What about-" Grace began, but Eli stopped her "We'll see" he said simply, and drove out of the seven-eleven parking lot.

Grace suddenly lost all strength to try and convince Eli that seeing each other was the best thing to do; and during the quiet ride home her eyes would close and flutter open every so often.

Eli glanced over at Grace; he needed time to think things through. Set his emotions straight; and most importantly, convince himself that this idea of Grace's was for the best.

He smiled as he saw Grace's heavy eyes try and fight sleep; and he suddenly wished that they could pull over and sleep, cradled in each other's arms, and then wake up staring into one another's eyes.

When he pulled up outside of the house, it was quarter to three.

He gently rubbed Grace's arm, and she snapped her eyes open.

"Grace?" Eli whispered, and Grace turned to look at him; her vision a little blurred, her tired eyes yearning sleep.

"Don't get caught" Eli cautioned as Grace got out of the car "I wont" she smiled, and bent down, poking her head through the passenger window.

"Goodnight" she breathed, and Eli smiled "Night" he replied, and Grace stood straight, and began walking towards her house.

Eli watched anxiously, as Grace strode towards the back gate; he waited for her to turn around, but she didn't, and soon he lost sight of her in the darkness.

Eli turned the engine on and began driving away; it was only as he turned the corner, driving away from his street, that he realized he was smiling……….something he hadn't done in days!


AUTHORS NOTE.

Thanks for all the reviews, I am loving them! But please post more, gimme suggestions, comments, and creative criticism………anything! And please keep reading.