"Manning!"
Grace turned around, only to be met by somebody's elbow- which shoved her roughly- sending the dozen or so books she was cradling in her arms, to the floor.
"Dammit!" She muttered, instantly bending down to gather them- she forgot her reason for turning around in the first place- and looked up surprisingly when she saw another pair of hands help pick her scattered books up.
Ayden looked up for a moment-his deep, black eyes connecting with Grace's for only a second before he looked away quickly, reaching for Grace's science book.
"Here" he said, handing it to her.
"Thanks-" she mumbled, averting her eyes.
A few minutes later, Grace stood, dozen books balancing in her arms again- she looked at Ayden curiously, waiting for him to state his purpose, but he said nothing.
"Did you want-" Grace began.
Something in Ayden's head clicked, and he cut Grace off; "oh yeah- err………I need you're address" he stammered, covering the sudden awkward silence with a charming smile.
Grace looked down at the books in her hands, and back at Ayden- "Sure" she said, and started adjusting the weight in her arms.
"Oh, let me help-" he said, stepping forward and easily lifting the heavy bundle out of her arms.
"Just a regular night in shining armour, aren't you?" she half smiled, as she swung her backpack off her shoulders, and began ruffling through it- pulling out a paper and pen.
"I try" he smiled, giddily.
Grace scribbled down her address, and phone number.
GRACE why would he need my phone number?
"Here" she said, lifting the books out of his hands, and passing him the scribbled paper.
"Thanks" he replied, examining it.
AYDEN why would I need her number?
Grace opened her mouth, about to say something else, when the bell rang.
"Ok- well, come over at around 4," she said, the smile fading from her face.
Ayden nodded, examining the address, "Thanks again" Grace said over her shoulder as she started to walk away.
Grace walked into the dimly lit kitchen, glancing up at the clock on the wall; it was 3:30.
"Hey"
Grace nearly jumped out of her skin- as she noticed Eli's figure sitting at the breakfast table, hidden in the darkness- it seemed the house was not entirely empty.
"Eli!" She breathed, frustrated with her racing pulse.
She flicked the kitchen light on- and saw that he was tucking into a bowl of ice cream.
"Your going to ruin you're dinner!" she muttered, walking towards the fridge.
"Sorry mum" he laughed, shoving the spoon into his mouth.
Grace rolled her eyes, and pulled out a bottle of water.
Eli glanced up form his bowl, watching as Grace drank thirstily-
"You're wearing THAT?" Eli looked Grace up and down, while she stood infront of him.
Grace looked down at her clothes- she was wearing jeans, black boots and a red cardigan.
"What's wrong with this?" she asked, looking at Eli.
He shrugged his shoulders, spooning some more ice cream into his mouth, "nothing" he said simply.
Grace sighed, giving in to Eli's words- she walked towards him, taking a seat opposite him.
"What?" she asked sternly.
Eli let out a small sigh, "well- guys like it when a girl makes an effort" he said plainly, shoving more ice cream into his mouth.
"But Ayden's only coming over for-" Grace silenced herself quickly as she noticed the quizzical look Eli was giving her.
"I mean-" Grace thought for a moment, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear anxiously- "I mean, I still have half an hour- I'll get dressed in a sec" she smiled, and then rose from her seat.
"Whatever" Eli mumbled, rising from his own chair and walking over to the sink with his dirty bowl.
He watched as Grace stood awkwardly in the middle of the kitchen, not sure of what to do with herself.
"Actually, I think I might go get changed now" She said, more to herself than Eli- she turned and raced for the stairs.
"Whatever" Eli mumbled to the empty kitchen as he watched the water flood his bowl.
Grace turned to the side, sucking in her stomach, as she examined the emerald green t-shirt.
"You look like a celery stick," she muttered to herself, pulling the shirt over her head, and chucking it to the ground.
She walked back over to her drawers, rummaging for a moment, and then pulling out a purple cardigan, which she slipped on- and examined in the mirror.
GRACE why do I care how I look? It's only Ayden Clymont………coming over to do homework!
Grace sighed heavily, cursing her vanity- she collapsed onto her bed, closing her eyes for a moment.
Ayden Clymont- - - apart from a few class discussions, they had never really talked. Now, he was coming over to her house?
Grace wondered what sort of person he was- sure, he was good-looking, athletic, and apparently smart- or so she'd heard.
She didn't expect to find out the depths of his soul in the hour they would spend together- but a part of her wanted to get to know him, wanted to see that he wasn't just the boy every girl had a crush on, who was every guys best friend- she guess that there was more to him than all that.
She took another long sigh, and then opened her eyes.
"Definitely the green" she mumbled to herself, getting up from the bed and picking up the celery-green top from the floor.
She pulled the purpled one off, and just as she was about to pull the green top on, her bedroom door flung open.
She stood for a moment, in complete shock as Eli's eyes quickly averted to the floor- "Ayden's here" he mumbled, and then quickly pulled the door shut, leaving Grace- mouth agape, complexion drained- standing frozen, green top in hand- bra exposed.
