Eli strummed the last chord on his guitar- and was met with an uproar of applause.

"That was fantastic!" Judy beamed.

Karen felt tears creeping down her cheeks; she brushed them away quickly, and continued to clap her son.

"Oh sweety-" she said, rising, and walking over to Eli- greeting him with a big bear hug.

"Thankyou mum" he said "but please stop" he added, and Karen pulled away; tears now streaming her face; "I am just so-" she took a long breath, to fight back the tears "-so proud" she finished.

Eli beamed back at everyone; and the clapping eventually faded.

Everybody began chatting away again; and Lily walked around the room with a bottle of red wine; offering extra helpings to those who stuck their glasses out.

Eli put his guitar away and sat with his father on the couch; answering everyone's questions about the band, the deal he'd made and the money…….

Grace watched him out of the corner of her eye.

Drifting in and out of Jessie and Katie's conversation as she sat on the large arm chair close to them.

"I'm going to get some air" Grace proclaimed, rising from her chair.

Jessie watched her walk past everyone, and head to the kitchen to sneak out the back door; and not soon after she saw Eli rise and do the same thing……….she smiled to herself and looked back at Katie.

"Just so you know, I love you," she whispered.

Katie smiled curiously at Jessie "where did that come from?" she asked.

Jessie shrugged, "just wanted you to know" she smiled, and reached across, cupping Katie's hand.


Grace pulled the thin shawl tighter around her arms; she just needed to get out of the house for a little while.

She couldn't stand to listen to one more person ask Eli another question about 'New York'- couldn't she just forget that he was leaving her for 3 months……..and just pretend that they had forever?

Grace nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard the back door open- she turned around hastily, only to see Eli's figure.

"Can I join you?" he asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Sure" Grace croaked, and watched as Eli closed the door behind him, and walked towards her.

"Couldn't be stuffed answering any more questions about New York" Eli said as he stood next to Grace.

She smiled to herself knowingly "hmmm, tell me about it" she muttered to herself.

"Pardon?" he asked, not quite sure of what she'd said,

"Nothing" Grace replied quickly.

Eli nodded his head, and began to shake his body slowly; trying to pump warmth through himself.

Grace looked over at him, and huddled closer into his body; "ahh, just what I need" he murmured, wrapping his arms around Grace; he instantly felt a glowing warmth.

ELI now's a good a time as any…….

"Grace" Eli murmured her name- taking a deep breath as he straightened the words out in his mind.

"Hmm?" Grace replied, closing her eyes and pressing herself into his warm body- feeling comfort.

"Remember what I asked you a few days ago?" He spoke slowly and competently, making sure not to fumble his words.

"About what?" Grace asked, her eyes still closed as she enjoyed their moment together.

"New York" Eli replied "-You coming with me to New York" he added, and felt as Grace squirmed slightly in his arms.

"Yes" she replied flatly.

There was a long silence; as Grace awaited Eli's next words, but he said nothing.

She pulled away from his embrace and looked up at him, too dark to see the distinctive features of his face.

"What about it?" she asked, unsure if she wanted to know.

Eli paused for a moment longer; sensing Grace's impatience, he dug around inside his coat pocket, not looking at her while he did so.

GRACE please don't make me do this.

A moment later he pulled out a white envelope, and stared at it; still refusing to meet her eyes.

"I'm going to ask you again-" he took a long breath, "please come with me" he handed her the envelope, but she simply stared down at it.

GRACE I cant, I wont………please don't do this!

Grace slowly shook her head "Eli- we talked about this-" she began, but Eli interrupted her.

"I know- but you know me, I'm not one to give up-" he tried a faint smile, but Grace returned it with a furrowed brow- "-please Grace! Come with me?" he asked again, quieter this time.

"Why? Why is it so important to you that I go? I'm going to be here when you get back………and once we tell our parents again then we can be together………" Grace started with a shaky voice.

Eli sighed, interrupting Grace again, and turned away.

"Why is it so important that I go with you?" Grace asked, side stepping into Eli's vision, forcing him to look at her.

ELI she should know.

Eli shook his head, and looked down at the white envelope again.

"Because I came alive when I started loving you!" he spat the words out, feeling hot tears prick at his eyes.

"And I'm afraid that if I leave you- for 3 MONTHS! -" He looked away, not wanting to go on.

"Eli?" Grace questioned.

He took another long breath, and looked at Grace, forcing himself to explain, "-I'm afraid that when I come back I'll find that you realized I wasn't good enough for you. That I don't deserve you……..and you would have moved on." Eli looked down at his feet, feeling a tear roll down his cheek.

Grace put her arm out, but Eli flinched and moved away-

"I'm afraid that just like everyone else, you are going to realize what a worthless loser I really am. And then, the one person I ever loved- the one person who meant so much to me- - would be gone………..!" these were the words he'd felt on his heart………the words he was too afraid to speak out loud……….

GRACE he couldn't possibly believe that!

"And I just thought that if I kept you close……..I could show you everyday, how much you mean to me- " he croaked out the last sentence, the tears gone now- he was just left with his emotions, deepest, darkest, emotions exposed.

GRACE how could he believe that about himself!

"Eli-" Grace put her hand out again, and this time Eli allowed it to rest against his cheek

"You are not a worthless loser……..you are the most amazing person I have ever met! For god sake Eli, you are a SONG WRITER with a RECORD DEAL……..for one thing! And it doesn't matter how far away you are from me- I will think about you every single day. -" Grace tried to smile, but she couldn't seem to sum up the energy.

"-God! Every second of everyday I will spend missing you and thinking how much I love you!" Grace whimpered, but somehow, she thought her words weren't getting through to Eli.

She opened her mouth to say more, but Eli interrupted her.

"You still wont come with me though, will you?" he asked quietly.

"It would only make things worse Eli!" she said quietly, hating herself for speaking those words.

He moved away from her touch, and nodded his head solemnly "alright" he said slowly.

"Lets make this our goodbye then," he croaked.

"Not goodbye!" Grace said anxiously, but Eli silences her with a quick, sweet kiss.

"I love you," he muttered "goodbye", and with that he turned to walk inside.

"Eli?" he didn't turn around, he only opened the door and stepped inside the house "Eli?" she called again- but soon he was gone.

Grace stood for a moment, in the freezing cold- not feeling her heart beat, her pulse race or her breaths- - - how could Eli possibly think any of those things?

Grace was sure she'd only stood outside for a moment- but when she finally found movement in her legs, and walked back into the lounge room- there was no sign of Eli, and a few people had left- Judy, Karen and Jake.

"Where's Eli?" she asked Jessie hastily.

"He left Grace" she said quietly, "Where were you?" she added, but Grace couldn't find words………….he'd left?

"Ok, you guys get up to bed!" Lily came into the room, and stood in front of Grace, Jessie and Katie, smiling at them.

"I have to-" Grace began, about to say 'go and see Eli', but stopped herself.

"Goodnight" she croaked as Lily gave her a kiss on the forehead.

And she somehow pulled herself up the stairs………got dressed……..and climbed into bed……….though she wasn't sure how, her mind was completely clouded with demanding thoughts.

At some point during the night, Jessie came into her room; she had tapped on the door, but Grace- who was sitting at the end of her bed staring into nothingness as she thought of Eli- hadn't heard, so she'd let herself in.

"What happened with you guys tonight?" Jessie asked, standing in front of Grace.

Grace shrugged "he wanted to keep me close" Grace murmured.

Jessie didn't understand, so she instead, explained why she'd come to see Grace.

"He asked me to give you this" Jessie said.

Grace's heart stopped as Jessie shoved the white envelope in her face; "he didn't say what it was about, just wanted you to have it" Jessie explained, "I didn't read it," she added.

Grace stared at the envelope as Jessie held it infront of her; and eventually, Jessie placed it gently beside her on the bed, and turned to leave; "whatever it is…….it'll be alright" she said soothingly, and closed the door slowly behind her, leaving Grace's depressed self with her thoughts………..and the white envelope.