Grace put her hand on the door- about to leap out of the car.

But Eli stopped her, by resting his hand on her shoulder.

She turned to him, seeing an earnest almost solemn face.

"Grace" he said quietly.

Grace's face softened for a moment, and she stared into his hazel green eyes- but she quickly remembered her agenda; "what?" she snapped, shrugging his hand off.

Eli shook his head lightly, "just stop, ok?" he asked pleadingly.

GRACE it's easier to hate him……..

Grace sighed, a deep, aggressive sigh- and sharpened her glare.

"Excuse me?" she asked hoarsely.

"Look………. I didn't mean to walk in on you, honestly" Eli began, shifting in his seat as he remembered the 'incident'.

"And I'm sorry if, because of me, Ayden left- though I fail to see how that's my fault" Eli turned to Grace, half smiling- but the smirk quickly dissolved as he saw himself staring into Grace's stone face.

"And- - -I'm sorry for saying you and Ayden were 'study buddies'…… if it embarrassed you or anything………cause you implied that you two were having a 'date……….." Eli was about to continue, but Grace stopped him- not wanting him to dig her embarrassment in any deeper.

"Ok" she nodded quickly, tucking a piece of invisible hair behind her ear.

She turned to stare at the front door- Eli's apology lingering.

GRACE its easier to hate him……..because that way I don't have to think about how much I……..

Eli waited patiently, studying Grace's silky hair as her face was turned away from him.

"Your forgiven" she said, in a soft whisper.

Before Eli could say anything, Grace opened the car door, and had started walking towards the front door- leaving Eli alone in the car, a small smile spreading across his face.

GRACE how much I ………….don't hate him? (Looks conflicted)

Grace stepped inside, peeling off her jacket and draping it over the stair banister.

She slowly walked up the stairs, and into her room- heading to the bathroom.

She splashed some water on her blushing, red face; and as she dried herself, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror- smiling slightly.

GRACE how, I don't hate him at all. I never could………..no matter how hard I pretend to.


Eli strummed the last note on his guitar- the melodic sound lingering in the echoing garage for a moment.

He glanced down at his watch, 6:30- it had been a few hours now since he and Grace had got home (and settled their argument).

And he figured that if he went up now, he wouldn't look so desperate and keen.

So he got off his bed, carefully placing his guitar down- and walked back into the house, Lily greeting him instantly as she walked past him with a basket full of laundry.

"Eli" Lily exclaimed, a little surprised to see him.

"Lily" Eli replied flatly.

"You've been hiding away in the garage all night" Lily said over her shoulder, as they both started climbing the stairs.

"Err……I guess" Eli replied, scratching the back of his head.

"I don't mind or anything………but……….maybe a nice walk would do you some good" Lily turned around as they reached the top of the stairs, smiling briefly at Eli.

"Maybe" Eli returned, with a faint smile- as he walked towards Grace's door.

Lily watched him, as he knocked, and received the muffled 'ok' from Grace to enter.

She raised an eyebrow; trying to remember the last time Eli went to visit Grace in her room.

"Oh well" Lily mumbled, as she walked into Zoe's room.


Sweet is the sight
of her room
window opened by candlelight
how would you know
cold winter on the shore
chills the dress she wore
it's on the floor
still it still feels warm today

Grace bobbed her head in time with the soft tune.

And that's why
I'm wondering why you had to tell me
what's going on
in your head
what's wrong
come around to another time when
you don't have to run

She heard a muffled knock on her door- and peeled her headphones off to listen out for it again.

'Knock, Knock'

"Come in" she cried out, and the door opened slightly, Eli stepping into her room and closing the door behind him.

"Eli" Grace pressed the 'off' button on her Discman, and sat up on her bed.

"Err…….hey" Eli mumbled, sticking his hands in his pockets.

Grace nervously whisked a piece of hair out of her face, and looked at Eli curiously.

He looked at her for a moment; studying her face carefully, Ayden's words in the back of his mind; "there are a lot of reasons why practically every guy wants to date her"…………….Eli half smiled, and Grace adjusted her body nervously.

"Did you want something?" she asked softly.

"Oh, yeah, actually" Eli smiled, walking around Grace's room slowly- examining the photo's on her desk.

There was only one with him in it- from Rick and Lily's wedding.

Grace followed him, waiting for him to say more- he finally turned around, his hands still in his pockets told her he was slightly nervous.

"So, I'm glad we cleared that whole thing up………" Eli started.

Grace fixed her hair again, not sure where the conversation was going; "yeah, me too" she said softly.

ELI this is normal……….a normal thing for a stepbrother to do with his stepsister.

"I hate it when you're mad at me" Eli continued, letting out a small sigh as he saw Grace's face blush slightly.

GRACE I could never be mad………..

"Yeah?" Grace asked timidly.

Eli smiled in response, and continued; "so, are you doing anything special this weekend?" Eli asked, averting his eyes from Grace's- he looked nervously around her room again.

Grace felt her heart race, slightly, though she wasn't sure why.

Eli looked back over at her- waiting for a response, and just as she opened her mouth- the phone's piercing ring interrupted her.

Grace half smiled, and turned away from Eli's captivating gaze- digging through the pile of clothes on her bed to find the phone.

The more she rummaged, the louder the ringing became- until finally, she found the phone, and held it to her ear.

She mouthed 'just a second' to Eli, who nodded.

"Hello?" Grace asked timidly, and slightly frustrated.

Her expression completely changed as she breathed the next words, "Ayden, hey!" she smiled, turning her body away from Eli.

ELI I was just wondering………if you'd want to go see a movie or something………..my treat, as a final apology?

Grace let out a small laugh, as Ayden, no doubt said something cool and witty.

Her blush deepened as he spoke to her, and she held the phone closer to her ear.

"This weekend?" she asked, turning quickly to Eli, who had to pick his jaw up from the floor- and replace his devastated expression with a smile and nod, "never mind" he mumbled.

Grace mouthed 'thankyou' and watched as Eli walked to the door, turning around before walking out, he half smiled, to let Grace know there were no hard feelings.

"Yeah, I'm free………what did you have in mind?" Grace continued, as Eli left her room.

ELI never mind………. Stupid idea……….forgive me for asking

Eli leaned against Grace's closed door, listening to little muffled snippets of her conversation.

"Sorry about the other day"

"You were looking for me today, why?"

"So what movie do you want to see tomorrow?"

Eli sighed as he heard Grace's conversation continue- and guessed she'd be on the phone all night.

"Another time" Eli whispered to himself, as he headed down the stairs again- - - wondering how he'd gone from being on a complete high 5 minutes ago, to crashing down to an absolute low?

Of course………it was Grace Manning……..and the way she unknowingly played Eli's heart strings……….

ELI she has that effect on me…………


AUTHORS NOTE:
Song Grace was listening to was 'Howie Day's'- she says.

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