Eli sat opposite his phone- staring at the black chord that draped down the table and led to the extension in the wall.

He'd been sitting there for a good hour now- staring at the phone- urging it to ring- - hoping against hope that it would be Grace at the other end.

But it nobody had called- it was only 8:30- of course nobody would ring this early in the morning!
Eli sighed- and brought his hand to run through his tousled bed hair.

He'd convinced himself last night that Grace wouldn't be coming with him this evening- on a plane to New York- and he'd also brought himself to face the idea of not having her love when he returned!

But when he got up at 6:00, after tossing and turning for hours- he'd rekindled a spark of hope for him and Grace, and decided to wait for her phone call asking him to come pick her up.

ELI giving up on someone is the hardest thing to do……….

"Screw this," he hissed under his breath after glancing at his watch.

He got up from his chair, walking over several small suitcases blocking his lounge room- he swiped his coat from the kitchen bench and headed out the door- - - deciding to spend the day 'bon voyaging' his buddies………


Grace rolled over, fluttering her sore, red eyes open.

"Mmmm" she moaned, as the beams of sunlight streamed through her window and scorched her eyes.

She clenched her fists, ready to stretch her arms out- but felt something between her fingers.

She brought her hand out from under the covers- and saw the white envelope.

Suddenly everything came flooding back to her- Eli's devastating and untruthful words, the goodbye party- - the dance……….Eli leaving today.

TODAY? Grace glanced over at her clock- it was only 8:30, and Eli's plane left at 10:00 this evening.

She rolled over onto her back, still gripping the envelope, which she hadn't yet opened; she stared up at the ceiling.

GRACE when you're heart wants something that you're mind is fighting hard to forget………..

Her hands worked by themselves- opening the envelope slowly and carefully- until Grace felt the stiff ticket between her fingers- she slipped it out and examined it.

New York- one way- business class!

She stared at the ticket for a long while- until finally she extended her arm and fumbled around for her phone.

She clasped it and rolled onto her side, seeing which numbers she had to dial.

The ringing went on forever, until Grace couldn't handle it anymore and was about to hang up.

"Eli here"

Grace's heart glowed as she pressed the phone against her ear, she opened her mouth but the voice continued to speak- and then she realized, it was his answering machine-

"I'm not in right now- you know what to do" BEEP!

"Err…….." She quickly hung the phone up- what would she have said?

She wasn't sure………was she calling to say she WAS going to New York, or to smooth things over with Eli, but still refuse his offer?

What was she going to do with the plane ticket? She hoped it was refundable!

"GRACE! GET DRESSED FOR SCHOOL"

Grace closed her eyes for a moment at the sound of her mother's scream.

And then she rolled out of bed, stumbling towards her closet; she stuffed the ticket into her school bag that was propped up against the closet door………..she'd have to think things through today.


Grace came slowly down the stairs at 8:45- with 15 minutes before school started!
Jessie and Zoe had already left, leaving a fuming Lily to take Grace.

"Young lady" she started, as Grace entered the kitchen, "Get a move on RIGHT NOW!" she demanded.

Grace looked up wearily at her mother "I don't feel so good" she said in a small voice.

Lily examined her face; and then it clicked……….Eli was leaving today, she was planning on staying home only to sneak out and be with him!.

"I don't think so!" Lily said coldly, staring deeply into Grace's lying face.

"No, mum- I really feel-" Grace started, but Lily walked towards her and grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the door.

"I know what this is," she said sternly "Young lady- you have work tonight, and school today-" Lily started, and Grace winced- remembering her shift.

"-So I'm sorry but you cant see Eli off with Rick and Jessie tonight- but there is NO WAY that you are skipping school to say goodbye to him!" Lily pulled Grace out the door, and they both headed for her car.

"I wasn't-" Grace tried, but Lily wouldn't let her interrupt.

"And just to make sure you stay put- I will be giving the school a ring this afternoon to make sure you are still there!" she snapped, opening the car door and getting in- Grace did the same.

Grace crossed her arms and put on a sullen face- Lily glanced over at her before starting the engine "stop this Grace!" she pleaded.

"Stop what?" Grace asked, turning to her mother.

"This juvenile angst act- I can just see you ten years from now, sitting in a psychiatrists office pouring you're heart out about how I ruined you're love life!" Lily spat back as she reversed out of the drive way.

GRACE ruined my life in GERNERAL more like………

Grace didn't say anything. She only turned her head and stared out the window, feeling the anger flare.

"Silent treatment now?" Lily asked mockingly, and nodded in agreement to the silence- stretching out her arm and switching the radio on.

An Alanis Morissette song came on- but the words became blurry and in coherent as Grace's thoughts raged and screamed at her- cursing her mother and her love life!

This was sure to be the longest day of her LIFE………………