Eli stepped forward, placed his hand around the doorknob and began to twist it-

"No" he said, pulling his hand back.

ELI do I go and make myself happy? Or do I stay away, make myself and Grace miserable, but know it's for the best……..

Eli stared at the door, and then glanced down at his watch; 10:30.

"No" Eli muttered under his breath, and walked back into his room, collapsing onto his bed.

ELI don't go.

He stared up at his ceiling, noticing a few cracks here and there that his father said he was going to fix.

"Stay" Eli whispered to himself.

ELI but then again……..

He sat up abruptly and stared into nothingness while he thought to himself- "I can go, and tell her I can't see her again…..for a little while" he muttered under his breath.

ELI that's probably for the best - -

He stood up, and before he had a chance to change his own mind, he walked to the door, swung it open and stepped out.


Grace lifted her headphones from her head, and pressed the 'pause' button on her Discman.

She listened intently to the silence that now surrounded her- and felt her heart sink.

It was 11:00.

GRACE he didn't say that he WAS going to come over.

She pulled her headphones back on, making sure the volume was practically at a whisper.

GRACE then again, he didn't say that he WASN'T coming over either!

Grace's thoughts now focussed back on the music- she'd chewed her nails, practically down to the skin- flipped through all the magazine's in her drawers that she could find- cleaned her room as best she could- and now her music was the only thing keeping her from insanity!

GRACE but he could have CALLED and said he wasn't coming over!

BANG!

Grace ripped her headphones off and shoved the Discman aside- leaping up from her bed and rushing over to her window.

Her heart began beating fast and slow at the same time as she looked down and say Eli's figure standing beneath her window.

He raised his hands above his head- signalling for her to come down.

Grace didn't even care if she got caught as she tiptoed down the stairs- though it would be hard to explain why she was wearing jeans, runners and a jumper at 11:00 at night.

"Going somewhere?"

Grace's entire body froze- the blood stopped pumping through her veins, and every single hair on her body stood up.

Slowly she turned on her heel, squinting to see who was leaning against the kitchen counter.

"Relax"

But Grace couldn't relax- Zoe had scared the hell out of her!

"Zoe- please" Grace took a few steps towards her sister.

"I wont tell" Zoe said calmly, and Grace lunged at her, squeezing her as tight as she could in a massive bear hug "thankyou, thankyou, thankyou" she whispered.

"You owe me," Zoe hissed as Grace turned and walked out the door.

"And you love me!" Grace replied in a whisper, and quietly closed the kitchen door.


ELI just tell her you're here to say goodbye………

"Hey" Grace whispered, walking towards Eli who was leaning against his car.

"Hey" he croaked, and opened the passenger door for her.

Grace rubbed her body against Eli's as she slid into the seat "thanks" she whispered huskily- and Eli's thoughts were completely scrambled and blurred.

He turned around and got into the drivers seat, glancing over at Grace to make sure her seat belt was on, "Ready?" he asked.

"Always" Grace replied happily, and the engine purred.

They pulled out onto the main road, and Grace turned and stared at him "I didn't think you'd come" she said.

ELI either did I.

Eli glanced over at her nervously "yeah well, we can't make a habit out of this" he replied.

Grace made puppy dog eyes and nodded her head glumly "of course" she sulked.

Eli glanced over at her and smiled "I mean it" he said, trying to keep a serious tone.

"I know" Grace answered him, and made a deep, long sigh.

Eli looked over at her "Don't do that," he pleaded, as he looked into her big puppy dog eyes.

"What?" Grace asked, and made another long and heavy sigh.

"That!" Eli laughed, and gripped the steering wheel tighter.

Grace smiled "ok" she said simply, and nestled back into the seat, examining the road ahead.

"Where are we going anyway?" Grace asked after a moment.

Eli thought for a moment, the corners of his lips turning up "I know a place" he answered her, and Grace looked over at him- enjoying the dark and mysterious side of Eli.


"Everybody should do this more often" Grace sighed.

Eli turned his head and looked at her- the moonlight setting her face aglow "what?" he asked.

Grace turned her head and stared into his eyes- autumn leaves, she thought to herself- "this" she replied.

Eli made a questioning face and Grace laughed "people should look up at the stars more often" she explained, and turned her head back to the sky.

"Well, they're always here" Eli remarked, and admired the sprinkles of light set in the black sky.

"Just have to look up" Grace added, and began counting the ones she could see in her head.

There was silence for a moment, as both of them stared into the starry sky.

"If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand" Eli turned and looked into Grace's eyes- and she stared back at him blankly.

After a moment Grace broke into a smile "What was that?" she giggled.

Eli sighed, and a smile broke out on his face "That was the big pick up line I used on my first crush" Eli answered, and let out a laugh.

Grace sat up and turned her body to look at Eli- as she moved, she was careful not to scratch Eli's car.

"What did she say?" Grace asked through giggles.

Eli was quiet for a moment, listening to the lapping waves of the beach below.

"She told me to go to hell," Eli said seriously.

Grace let out a laugh, and Eli stared at her sadly, and she silenced herself.

"I'm sorry" Grace said controlling herself "that was very romantic of you!" she added, smiling sweetly.

Eli gave her a big smile "no it wasn't" he laughed, "it was totally cheesy- I would have told me to go to hell aswell".

Grace laughed again and nodded her head. She turned around again and settled herself back onto the car- resting her back against the windshield, her legs stretched out in front of her.

Eli watched as Grace settled herself to lay next to him again- and he looked down from the stars, and out to the dark ocean- black as the sky, it was hard to tell where the sky started and the sea ended- only as the white waves lapped furiously against the sand, could you make out where the water was.

"How old were you?" Grace asked, now staring out at the beach aswell- this was the perfect place to come tonight. Forget the fact that it's freezing cold, the night is magical-

GRACE I don't know if it was the company, or the surroundings that made that the most perfect night of my life.

Eli glanced over at her, "huh?" he asked, not understanding her question.

Grace smiled "you're first crush" Grace asked.

Eli sighed "ahh" he began, trying to think back "I was a freshman, and she was a senior- her name was Bridget" Eli laughed.

Grace nodded, "Bridget" she repeated "Cheerleader?" she asked, and turned to see Eli nodding his head.

"Indeed she was- typical cheerleader too- blonde hair, blue eyes-" Eli started, and Grace interrupted.

"Big tits, small brain?" she added, and Eli laughed.

"Pretty much, yeah!" he sighed, and looked over at Grace.

It was now 3:00 in the morning, and both of them had lost track of time.

Lying on the front of Eli's car, which was parked at the beach parking lot; it was a cold night, but there seemed to be a million stars in the sky to make up for it- and both of them had been talking about nothing in particular for the last 3 hours, enjoying one another's company.

Eli continued to stare at Grace, while Grace stared up at the sky again.

"You are the most amazing girl I have ever loved" Eli whispered.

ELI and I meant it too.

Grace slowly turned her head and stare into Eli's eyes.

GRACE this boy will always catch my off guard- and I will always love him for it.

Eli suddenly felt - - naked, very vulnerable and totally embarrassed!

"I'm sorry" Eli said, and turned away from Grace's stare.

She felt her breaths slow down, and her heart beat faster- "you're the first boy I ever loved" she whispered.

ELI this shouldn't be happening- it can only end in tears! But how can something that feels so right, be so wrong?

"And the only boy I ever want to love" Grace added, and Eli turned his head to look at her.

Slowly he moved his body closer to hers, and leaned over until their faces were so close they could feel the soft, sweet breathes on each other's neck.

There was a moment, that seemed to last a lifetime, when they both drowned in one another's eyes- that moment before their lips met, and they sunk into each other's warmth- that magical moment right before the perfect kiss, when you know everything's going to be alright……..

Grace ran a hand through Eli's hair- his lips reminding her of their love; and they pulled away, not realizing how long they're lips had been locked- they both panted for breath.

Eli's entire body was shaking, and as Grace brushed a soft hand against his cheek, she felt his body quiver.

"You're cold," she whispered.

Eli looked into his eyes "no I'm not" he said huskily.

Grace smiled "then why are you shaking?" she asked, running her fingers along his arm.

Eli was quiet for a moment "I don't know. I think I'm happy," Eli whispered, urging his body to be still.

Grace smiled warmly, cupped her hands around his face, and pulled him down to meet her lips again……………