Eli was just leaving the house at 2:00, to go down to book lovers for his shift, when he met Grace, walking towards him; and Ayden's car driving off down the street.
Grace stopped before approaching him, and they locked eyes for a moment before Grace looked away- waiting for Eli to move out of her way, but he didn't.
"Have a nice time?" he asked, icily.
Grace turned back to him, her eyes were glazed with tears ready to fall, she dug her cold hands deeper into her coat pocket.
"Don't" she said, exhausted.
Eli ignored her pained eyes, and continued with his spiteful tone, having had the entire morning and afternoon to build his anger up.
"Don't what Grace?" he asked, knowing his tone was aggressive and accusing; but he couldn't help it.
"Don't stand there and expect me to apologize………I have nothing to apologize for!" she said, still, her voice sounded exhausted; but she stared him straight in the eye, daring him to yell.
"No, you don't……….but you have everything to explain!" he said, taking a step towards her.
She flinched at his movement, but didn't step back, or push past him.
"You kissed me," he said, after a long moment of silence.
Grace continued to stare at him, her eyes losing their sad glaze, and replaced with a pointed accusation; "you kissed me first!" she replied, in a strong voice.
Eli laughed, looking away for a moment, "yes I did………and I told you how I felt……….then you kissed me………and left me with nothing!" Eli replied, digging his own hands into his pockets.
Grace stared at him, hard; for a lifetime, before taking a courageous step forward, leaving only the smallest space between them.
"You kissed me………no words were spoken………you never told me how you felt………." She spoke directly, and coldly.
Eli was about to open his mouth, but Grace continued.
"You didn't tell me how you felt Eli……..a kiss tells me nothing…….." before Eli could speak, Grace pushed past him, and the last thing he heard was the door slamming………
"We could hire a hall?"
"Whatever"
"Or we could have it in the backyard…….."
"That's fine too"
Lily put her hands on her hips, and looked at Jessie, exhausted.
Jessie looked up from her magazine, as she lay on the couch, Lily standing over her with a pointed expression.
"Backyard would be awesome!" she said, heightening her tone.
Lily's face lit up, "wonderful! I was hoping you'd say that……..I could call Will and ask him to whip something up………" she was about to burst with ideas.
"Sounds……..cool" Jessie said, focusing back on her article about pregnant teens in New York.
"Are you sure?" Lily asked, lowering her happiness.
Jessie sighed, and looked back at Lily; "backyard would be awesome……really……..like, the best idea you've had yet!" Jessie smiled, forcedly, but Lily bought it none the less.
"Great!" she beamed.
Lily turned, about to leave for the kitchen and call Will, when Jessie put her magazine down and looked after her, worriedly.
"Lily?" she asked, in a whisper.
Lily turned around, still smiling, "yeah Jess?" she asked.
"What……..kind of cake will I have?" she asked, in a small voice.
JESSIE I like plum cake……..
"Chocolate……of course!" Lily smiled, and turned back around.
Jessie sighed, but said nothing, only went back to her magazine.
Grace walked into the kitchen, swinging the fridge door open; she peered inside, half listening to her mother's phone conversation.
"Well, I was thinking you could make a makeshift stage………and decorate it with daisies!" Lily beamed.
Grace rolled her eyes as she examined last night's casserole.
"Too much, you think?" Lily asked.
Grace mouthed the word yes, and closed the door.
"Ok, well come over tomorrow and we can discuss every last detail!……….ok?………great!" Lily hung up, and turned to her daughter.
"What's all this about daisies?" Grace asked her mother.
Lily smiled wider, "Jessie's sweet sixteen!" her smile grew even wider……..if that's possible!
Grace rolled her eyes, and headed for the pantry.
"what's that supposed to mean?" Lily asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Nothing" Grace replied, sluggishly.
"Gracie!" Lily said, her mood deflated.
Grace turned around to face her mother, "Remember my 'sweet sixteen' birthday party that you threw for me?" Grace asked.
Lily smiled from the memory, "I do……..it was great fun to organize!" she beamed.
Grace rolled her eyes for a third time, "mother……….the band played 60's cover songs, the hall we hired hadn't been cleaned in two months and half the people didn't take the 'formal wear required' seriously……..so we had half the girls in flowing gowns, and the other in jeans and t-shirts……….it was a disaster!" Grace flung her hands in the air.
Lily bit her bottom lip; "Oh! But Jessie's will be better……..atleast now we know all the little hiccups to work out!" she said, through a painted smile.
Grace rolled her eyes, yet again; "keep doing that and they'll get lodged in you're brain!" Lily said, lightly poking her daughter in the stomach as she walked out of the kitchen.
"Whatever" Grace whispered, as she also left the kitchen, and headed into the lounge, where Jessie was reading a magazine.
"Your not seriously letting her do this, are you?" Grace asked, pushing Jessie's feet off, making room for her to sit.
Jessie glared at her, "what?" she asked, annoyed,
In a bubbly, lightheaded voice, Grace replied; "you're sweet sixteen!"
Jessie sighed, "it'll be great!" she said, unenthusiastically.
"WO! Bottle that enthusiasm and keep it for a rainy day Jess!" Grace said, sarcastically.
Jessie sighed again, "it will!" she said, sitting up.
"Whatever" Grace replied, picking up the remote, she started flicking through the channels.
JESSIE it wont!
"It will!" She said again; Grace just shrugged.
