Grace walked steadily down the stairs, she concentrated intently on he breaths; making sure they were calm and collected- when she walked into the kitchen, she found Eli, his face blank- leaning over the kitchen counter, chatting with Ayden- who had his backpack slung over his shoulder.
Ayden turned as he saw Grace enter, "Manning" he smiled faintly.
Eli didn't turn his head; instead he looked down and concentrated on the bench top.
"Ayden-hey" Grace breathed.
There was a moment of silence, as both Grace and Ayden waited for Eli to leave.
He finally got the hint, "I better go" he murmured, and turned around.
As he walked out the door, past Grace, their eyes met for a split second- before both of them anxiously veered their vision.
GRACE how completely mortifying
"Catch up with you later Sammler!" Ayden called out.
"Definitely" Eli called over his shoulder.
GRACE how completely, totally mortifying!
Ayden stood awkwardly, his hands dead at his sides- as he waited for Grace to speak.
He watched her intently, noticing her usual rosy cheeks were particularly white and drained.
Grace looked up, and tried to smile- though she wasn't sure it came off as happy as she tried to make it appear.
"Lets get this over with," she breathed, silently cursing herself for sounding less-than-upbeat about working with Ayden.
"Sure" he replied, clearly a little offended by her bland comment.
Grace headed over to the breakfast table, shoving aside Zoe's workbook and crayons that were sprawled out.
"Put you're stuff down" Grace ordered, trying to lighten her tone.
Ayden did as he was told, slinging his backpack to the floor and shrugging off his jacket- he bent down and rummaged in the bag for a moment, and then pulled out the textbook, a pen and paper.
Grace sat down, smoothing out invisible creases in her green top-, which she wished, was the purple top- she hated looking like a vegetable, and she knew, she looked like a vegetable.
Celery stick, to be specific.
Ayden sat down slowly, glancing over at Grace- who seemed far away; as she stared down at the emerald top she was wearing.
It reminded him of ripe leaves, the ones in Spring- after being in hiding through winter, and dead in Autumn- her top reminded him of the fresh, green leaves of spring.
"So-" he prompted, looking down at the text book- 'the tale of the unknown island' by Jose Sarmago.
"Did you like it?" Ayden asked, looking at Grace.
She didn't say anything, only continued to stare at her top- wishing harder and harder that she hadn't been so vain and listened to Eli in the first place, and stuck to the red cardigan……
"Grace?" Ayden snapped, this time getting her attention.
She looked at him curiously, "what?" she asked quietly.
"Did you like it?" Ayden repeated, glancing down at the book.
Grace stared at him for a moment- looking at her own reflection in his black eyes.
"Yeah" she mumbled, and then straightened in her seat.
"Are you going to write, or will I?" she asked, suddenly desperate to be alone- in her room, writing in her diary about how completely mortified she felt………she suddenly wanted Ayden to leave, so she could be alone.
"Well, you probably have better hand writing" Ayden said, staring down at the piece of blank paper.
AYDEN she doesn't want me to be here.
GRACE I don't want him to be here.
"Fine" Grace snapped, reaching over and pulling the paper towards her, she grabbed the pen and poised it in her hand.
Ayden said nothing, only watched as she waited for him to speak- he only felt more and more offended.
Ayden sighed, and shook his head slowly "Ya know what Manning?" he said, reaching over and taking the paper from her.
"If this is such an inconvenience for you, why don't I write this up tonight and just put you're name on it?" He rose from his seat, and bent down to pick his bag up………
GRACE doubly mortified!
Grace sighed, "Ayden" she tried, but he only picked his jacket up and thrust his arms through the sleeves.
"I'm sorry- it's just………." Grace tried to explain, pushing her chair out and standing up.
"Don't bother" he spat back, picking his bag up and slinging it over his shoulder.
GRACE why is he getting so mad?
Ayden stopped his hasty actions for a moment, turning around to face Grace, his face was calm now.
"Really Manning, it's cool" he sighed, shrugging off her pleading face.
"You clearly have something else on you're mind……..and I honestly don't mind doing the work………" he tried smiling.
Grace's face looked hurt twisted and furrowed with guilt.
Ayden hated seeing her that way, she always looked so beautiful when she smiled……..though he was only blessed with a smile aimed at him every once in a while.
"Hey" he said, and Grace turned to look into his eyes.
"I'm a geek at heart- this will actually be fun" he smiled, lifting up the textbook.
Grace smiled faintly, and Ayden felt his heart flutter.
"I am really sorry Ayden," she breathed, looking down at the floor.
There was silence between them for a moment, until Ayden finally broke in.
"See you round" he said, and turned, opening the back door- and suddenly Grace found herself alone in the kitchen.
Suddenly the image of Eli at her door came flooding back to her; she grimaced and walked out the kitchen, heading towards the lounge room where she could hear the t.v blurring lightly.
Her frown only deepened as she saw Eli sprawled on the sofa, legs on the coffee table.
She walked towards him, pushing past his legs, forcing them to drop to the ground, as she stood in front of the t.v- blocking his vision.
Eli quickly averted his eyes, staring down at the floor.
"Thanks a lot Eli" Grace spat, hands on hips- daring Eli to look at her.
Eli said nothing, only blushed slightly as he waited for Grace to get over her mood swing and leave him in peace.
"Ever heard of knocking?" she hissed.
Eli's eyes still averted her own, glaring ones-
Grace made a deep, frustrated sigh, as Eli didn't reply- only firmly fixed his eyes on the ground.
She dared him to say something- anything!
A witty remark, a hateful comeback- anything to fuel her anger! But she could tell he was too embarrassed……..and simply wanted the onslaught to be over with, so he could be left to lick his wounds.
She sighed again, "jerk" she hissed, as she headed for the stairs.
Eli listened to her thumping footsteps as they climbed the staircase, and then the inevitable heavy slam of her door.
He sighed, and concentrated back on the t.v- his face was still red with embarrassment- and, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the sight of Grace's white, laced bra, and curvy hips out of his mind……….no matter how hard he tried.
ELI how mortifying………
