AUTHORS NOTE:
ok, I am
skipping ahead a few days- to the night of Eli's little 'goodbye'
party. He's leaving for New York tomorrow.
He's been a little bit busy with preparations and packing etc……so he and Grace haven't seen a whole lot of each other.
Lets just say he's picked her up from work a few times……and from school………and they've……..err………gone back to his place for……..'desert'.
He he he!
And he hasn't mentioned anything about New York of her coming with him, okey?
Sorry….it's just I don't wanna drag this out when I needn't bother!
Grace smiled politely, tucked a piece of loose hair behind her ear and took another sip of Champagne.
Her mother had allowed her to have 2 glasses, and that was it! Seeming as this WAS a party…….Grace couldn't be expected to go without a little alcohol in her!
She stood for a moment; examining everyone around her, but averting her eyes from Eli who stood only metres away from her.
She hummed to herself as a Sue Medley song began to play softly through the house.
She saw her aunt Judy through the crowd, and their eyes met, followed by a sweet exchange of smiles.
Grace took a last sip from her first glass of champagne; and decided against going hastily for her second.
"Grace"
She spun around and was met by Karen's smiling face.
"Oh hi Karen" Grace smiled.
"How are you Grace?" Karen asked, and took a sip of red wine from a glass she was holding.
"Oh fine, fine" Grace said, tucking a piece of invisible hair behind her ear.
Karen smiled wider, clearly not sure of what else to say.
KAREN I've always liked Grace. She reminds me of myself as a teenager……….smart, forward, determined, organized………..
"You do look lovely tonight" she beamed, examining the baby blue dress Grace wore.
"Well thankyou" Grace smiled sweetly;
GRACE I wonder what she thought about Eli and I.
Karen nodded and took another small sip of wine;
KAREN I know what she and Eli had done……….and no, it wasn't 'right'; though I don't think many of us can judge what counts as 'love' these days.
Karen noticed Grace's uneasiness, and she could only guess why.
"Your as sad to see him leave as I am" she said, turning to lean against the same wall as Grace; looking out and examining the small crowd of people sitting and standing in the lounge room.
Grace glanced curiously at Karen; her question had caught her off guard………but somehow calmed her.
She nodded meekly "I am" Grace admitted, watching as Zoe danced with her father.
Karen turned her head to look at Grace; staring fixedly at her face; "I suppose all we can do is be happy for him" she said quietly, and stood up straight, giving Grace a quick smile and then walked away to talk with Jessie.
Grace watched her walk away;
GRACE I guess not EVERYONE was out to separate us.
"You will play the songs tonight, wont you?" Judy asked, smiling at Eli.
He nodded meekly "If I have to" he said, acting as if he'd done it so many times the process was beginning to bore him!
Judy punched him playfully, and took another sip of Champagne.
"You look after yourself In New York" she warned; and Eli nodded again "I will" he replied.
Judy smiled at him, and motioned towards Lily who was beckoning her sister from the kitchen "duty calls" she said, handing Eli the half empty champagne glass.
He watched her walk away, and found himself standing alone again; it seemed everyone had given all the praise they could think of and were now digging into the appetisers.
Eli brought the glass to his lips and took a small sip, scanning the room;
It was impossible not to notice her; flowing baby blue dress, and white shawl, her hair tied loosely in a bun with a few strands falling down her brow; little make up on, only mascara exenterating her luscious eyes, and light pink lipstick.
She looked beautiful; a vision, he thought to himself.
ELI and the funny thing is- I know that she had no idea of just how beautiful she really is………
He put the now empty champagne glass down and started walking towards her; past Zoe and Jake who were dancing, Karen and Rick who were standing around while they spoke, Jessie and Katie who were siting on the couch………until he reached Grace, leaning against the wall, watching everyone else; unaware of Eli's presence.
"Grace" he breathed.
She slowly turned her head to look at him; her pink lips curving into a smile. "Hey" she replied.
He returned the warm smile; and stared into her eyes, examining the beauty of her face; he wanted to hold onto this image of Grace forever-
"You are-" he paused for a moment, brushing his hand softly across her arm "-beautiful" he whispered.
Grace looked down at her arm where his hand laid; "nobody's ever told me that before" she said softly, not looking into his eyes.
He removed his hand from her arm, and brought it to rest under her chin; lifting her head to look at him "I just did" he whispered.
Grace stared into his autumn leaf eyes; his words still lingering over her body; causing her mouth to smile and hey eyes to dance.
Just then she became aware that another song had begun to play on the stereo, filling the house with soft melodic music; she raised her hand and clasped Eli's which rested underneath her chin, "dance with me" she whispered.
She guided him to the centre of the lounge room; where everyone could see them as Eli slid an arm around her waist, and rested his other in the curve of her back.
And Grace lifted her arms to nestle around his neck; their eyes fixating on one another as the music washed over them……….
is that the sound of knocking at my window
lord I'm trying, trying to let you in
but the mirror stares me like a stranger
i'm learning how to begin again
GRACE you should always dance as if no one's watching……….
promise me this
you will never understand me
promise me this
you will always always
hold me like you hold me now
you will hold me like you're holding me now
promise me this….
ELI there was only us………nobody else
I thought of you when my faith began to wander
it woke me up in the middle of the night
i've so many places I can run to
let's not run away this time
GRACE Dance first. Think later
promise me this
you will never understand me
promise me this
you will always always
hold me like you hold me now
you will hold me like you're holding me now
you will hold me like you're holding me now
promise me this
promise me this
promise me this….
The song soon faded into the background; Grace and Eli were left, entwined in one another's arms, standing perfectly still; staring into each other's eyes.
They didn't notice that everyone around them had stopped talking; moving- they were even holding their breath until the very end of the song.
Grace didn't even notice her mother's figure, standing at the kitchen door; she had been standing there for quite some time, watching as their bodies moved perfectly together.
LILY what do you do when you suddenly realize……….you were wrong?
Lily felt a tear roll down her cheek; she quickly turned away, retreating back into the kitchen to busy herself with dinner.
Slowly, but eventually; Grace and Eli untangled themselves, and stepped apart; and though it only took a moment for their bodies to separate; for them, and everyone watching; it was a lifetime.
"Thankyou" Grace smiled.
ELI a moment I will remember forever.
"Is dinner nearly ready?" Jessie piped up; breaking her gaze away from Eli and Grace- feeling that she had to cover the silence with a question before her father, Jake or her mother had something to say………..
"Nearly" Rick muttered.
Eli smiled at Grace, and they both turned, shuffling their separate ways; putting a distance between themselves.
It took a few minutes (more like a lifetime) for the conversation to start up again- but it did, eventually.
And nobody said a word about Eli and Grace's intimate dance- nobody dared to speak what everyone was thinking……..to admit what their dance had so clearly said………..Eli and Grace were still very much in love.
………….to be continued…………..
AUTHORS
NOTE
I don't care what you say; no romantic fic is complete
without the perfect dance to a romantic song!
But I must
confess…..the song I used ('Promise me this' by Pancho's
Lament) was the song that Pacey and Joey danced to in Dawson's
Creek- a bit of a rip off, but its one of my favourite songs and it's
perfect for a moment like this one!
