Grace's eyes fluttered open, revealing her twinkling eyes.

The smile that had spread across her lips as she and Ayden parted last night, was still plastered firmly on her face- and as she replayed their inevitable kiss over again in her mind, remembering every fine detail- it seemed the smile and glowing attitude she'd woken up with, would stay with her throughout the day……..then she remembered Eli waiting for her……..and his 'question'.

GRACE have I ever asked him how many girls he's slept with?

The smile faded, though the spark still flared in her eyes- she tried to remember the feel of Ayden's firm hands brushing ever so gently and comfortingly against her red hot cheeks………and while her heart lifted for a moment………Eli's words came sailing back to her………'did you kiss him?'……….and her heart came down just as quickly.

GRACE No! And I never ever would…….. I don't even want to know!

Grace kicked her covers off, and literally jumped out of bed- instantly wanting music to fill her room……she turned on her c.d player, and pressed play.

Roman candles that burn in the night,
Yeah, you are a shining light.
You lit a torch in the infinite,
Yeah, you are a shining light.
Yeah, you light up my life.

Grace smiled; forgetting Eli for a moment as the lyrics softly exploded into her room.

GRACE isn't it weird how a song can change you're entire mood?

You have always been a thorn in their side,
But to me you're a shining light.
You arrive and the night is alive,
Yeah, you are a shining light.
Yeah, you light up my life.

We made a connection,
A full on chemical reaction,
Brought by dark divine intervention,
Yeah, you are a shining light.
A constellation once seen,
Over Royal David's city,
An epiphany you burn so pretty,
Yeah, you are a shining light.

Grace noticed the tops she'd tried on last night were still scattered on the floor- and suddenly couldn't stand the idea of mess cluttering up her music filled room- she began picking them up and folding them neatly.

All the while her lips mouthed the lyrics to the song………

You are a force
You are a constant source,
Yeah, you are a shining light.
Incandescent in the darkest night,
Yeah, you are a shining light.
My mortal blood I would sacrifice,
For you are a shining light.
Sovereign bride of the infinite,
Yeah, you are a shining light,
Yeah, you light up my life.

Grace's head began bopping in time with the tune- and her mouthed words suddenly found voice as she sung a small bit louder……..

We made a connection,
A full on chemical reaction,
Brought by dark divine intervention,
Yeah, you are a shining light.
A constellation once seen,
Over Royal David's city,
An epiphany you burn so pretty,
Yeah, you are a shining light.

By the time Grace folded the last top, her striped white and green one, her entire body had loosened up- and so had her vocal chords.

Though completely off tune, she continued to sing, louder and louder………

These are the days you often say
There's nothing that we cannot do,
Beneath a canopy of stars
I'd shed blood for you.
The north star in the firmament,
You shine the most bright.
I've seen you draped in an electric veil
Shrouded in celestial light.

Finally, the last verse started- and this time……..Grace belted it out, sure that the rest of the house would hear, and any minute someone would come pounding on her door, screaming at her to turn it down……..but she didn't care……….

We made a connection,
A full on chemical reaction,
Brought by dark divine intervention,
Yeah, you are a shining light.
A constellation once seen,
Over Royal David's city,
An epiphany you burn so pretty,
Yeah, you are a shining light,
Yeah, you light up my life.
Yeah you are a shining light
Yeah you light up my life

Her hips were swinging, her arms flapping around, her feet had a mind of their own……….and her voice was at it's absolute maximum level- when the inevitable pounding came at her door……..except, there was only one knock, and then the door swung open.

Grace didn't realize until she turned around, or more, spun around- in mid dance routine- to find Eli staring at her- his jaw practically falling through the floor.

She must have looked a state- like a legless seagull, hoping around, trying to imitate something called rhythm.

Not to mention Grace was wearing her baggy Elmo pyjama bottoms, and white singlet top (not to mention the bed hair!)- as the song ended, so did her excitement.

"Turn it down" Eli mumbled, once Grace's body became stable.

Grace, a little puffed, nodded and walked towards her c.d player- swiftly pressing the 'stop' button, she turned back, to see Eli still standing in her doorway.

"I suppose I should be grateful that you knocked!" Grace said, a little flatly.

Eli felt his cheeks blush slightly……..as he knew he'd deliberately only knocked once……..incase he got the pleasure of seeing more than he was supposed to, again?

"Sorry" he mumbled, shifting slightly.

Grace gave a small nod, and then crossed her arms; trying to over the fairly tight white singlet top she was wearing- suddenly realizing it was a little low cut.

"Look- Grace" Eli began.

It was actually sort of perfect that Grace had decided to have a rock concert in her bedroom this morning, it gave Lily a reason to send him up here- and gave him a reason to speak with Grace- and sort out the 'little' argument they'd had last night.

An argument that Eli had played over in his mind throughout the entire evening, not getting a wink of sleep as he remembered the cologne, chord jacket, Grace's reluctance to answer his fairly simple question……..and his masked jealousy.

"What?" she asked, looking up at Eli- who seemed amusingly nervous as he spoke?

"It seems that lately we have just gone from ending one fight to starting another ………" Eli began, leaning against Grace's door frame- he looked her challengingly in the eye.

Grace bowed her head slightly, "yeah" she agreed.

"And I hate that, I really do" Eli added.

"Well- Eli, you have to realize that my life is private…….." Grace began, it seemed she was still searching for a fight.

Eli interrupted her, wanting to end their bickering once and for all- "I know, I know………none of my business………that's totally understandable!" Eli raised his hands in defeat, surrendering to Grace- admitting he was wrong.

She sighed, and gave him a faint smile as he played mock defeat- "But Grace-" Eli stepped further into her room, and stood a little apart from her.

"You are my stepsister……..well………we can drop the 'step' bit, you ARE my SISTER" he smiled, and Grace returned the gesture.

"And before that, you were my friend………now, well, we have grown so close, I'd like to think that we are best friends?" he stared into Grace's eyes, and saw that they were- sparkling almost.

"Yes?" Grace urged him to continue.

"I don't want to be completely closed off from you're life- you know? I'd like to know how things are going with you, and I don't want you jumping down my throat every time I…… you know?" Eli shifted slightly, and Grace found some amusement in this.

"No I don't," she said, smiling.

Eli sighed, "I like to know that your ok……that your being treated well……..that your……happy!" he said, averting his eyes to the ground.

Grace's smile grew wider, "You're the best big brother a girl could have" she whispered, and then flung her arms around Eli's body.

ELI how can it feel so right?

Eli was caught off guard, but eventually caught his breath and wrapped his own arms around her- feeling her curvaceous hips as his hands softly brushed across them.

ELI but mean so little?

Grace pulled away, taking a small step back so she could show Eli her smile- "so……..we're best friends?" she asked, a little giddy.

Eli nodded, still in shock.

"So, can we paint each others toe nails and swap beauty tips?" Grace joked.

Eli sighed, a smile still spread across his face- he playfully punched Grace in the arm, "not in this lifetime!" he said, and then turned to leave.

"Thanks Eli- and……..I'm sorry" Grace said, before Eli shut her door.

"No problem" Eli nodded, and then left Grace to be alone.

GRACE this is good……….all problems with Eli resolved………a boyfriend on the horizon……..a completely perfect boyfriend who's kisses make my legs go weak………

Just as Grace remembered Ayden's supple lips pressing against her own, her door flung open, Eli stood smiling.

"So, did you kiss him?" He asked, a sly smile on his face.

Grace made a loud sigh, and then quickly picked up a pillow from her bed, flinging it at the door- but Eli slammed it just in time, and it rebounded.

GRACE all………perfect stares giddily into the camera.

ELI this is terrible stares wearily into the camera


AUTHORS NOTE:
Song Grace was listening to was; Ash 'into the light'- have a listen to it and you'll see why she just HAD to dance and sing along!

Ok, I realize I am being pretty mean to Eli- believe me, it breaks my heart to see Grace act so completely oblivious to his obvious feelings!
But I wanted to make Ayden a real cutie, so that she had a real conflict of love………

It's great that so many of you are torn between Grace and Ayden relationship and hers and Eli's……..that's exactly what I wanted!

Mwhahaha, so I can pull you're heart strings!

Ok, check back soon for updates (I've been on a bit of a role recently, adding loads of chapters!)