"So, who is this Naomi?"

"Err……..a friend of mine……"

"I haven't heard you mention a Naomi before!"

Grace quickly lifted the basket of bread, nodding mindlessly as she entered the dining room- her mother following close behind with a bowl of salad.

"Naomi?" Lily repeated as she set the salad down, "No…..never heard of her!" she said, and went back into the kitchen- Grace following.

"So can I go?" Grace asked, as she leaned against the kitchen counter and watched her mother stir the pumpkin soup.

Lily looked up for a moment, and studied Grace as she lightly bit her bottom lip.

"Hmmm……..well……..will her parents be there?" she asked.

Grace looked down at the bench for a moment, then back at her mother; "I'd presume so……..I mean……..it's just a small gathering, so it doesn't really matter if they're not……." Grace answered simply.

"Well, yes it does Grace…….." Lily replied, as she turned around and picked up the salt shaker.

"I don't want you going to an un-supervised party…….." she added, as pinch's of salt sprinkled over the soup.

"Gath-er-ing!" Grace corrected, as she took a few steps towards her mother, "It's a gathering, not a party……..and yes………. I am 99.9 percent sure Naomi mentioned her parents being there" Grace supplied her mother with what she wanted to hear.

Lily turned to her daughter, noting the deep creased lines on her brow as she awaited her fate……….

"Oh please Grace…….." Lily sighed.

"Mother! ……….regardless of the fact that this party MAY or may-not be supervised………you should trust ME……….. you know me, I'm mature, organized, thoughtful- I wouldn't do anything stupid!" Grace whined, crossing her arms over her chest as she waited for her mother to speak again.

LILY I know what it was like………social life is everything……..and if your not at THE party…….you may aswell forget about living!

"Mother?" Grace asked again.

Lily looked at Grace, and sighed once again.

"Fine, fine! So long as Ayden has you back here by 10:30!" Lily demanded.

"10:30? Mother……….I am 17!" Grace cried.

Lily put her hands on her hips, and stared at Grace; "stop calling me 'mother' in that tone………..I said you can go to this Naomi's party, but you have to live with the curfew………no curfew, no party!" Lily said pointedly!

LILY god……….kids are so shallow!

"Fine!" Grace huffed, and took the last of the knives and forks into the dining room- just as Eli came through the door, home from work.

Grace sluggishly looked up; his blue work shirt was half tucked into his baggy black chord pants- his hair was ruffled, from the cold wind outside.

He looked at her for a moment; and she quickly averted her eyes, concentrating on the table.

"What's for dinner?"

Grace looked up, to see Eli eyeing the bread, his hands in his pockets- he talked in a small voice, and avoided Grace's gaze.

GRACE (looking frustrated) how can he just……….?

"Pumpkin soup!" Grace sighed, as she placed the last fork down.

Eli nodded slowly……….watching as Grace scanned the table, making sure everything was in order.

GRACE ………..keep acting so 'fine' about all of this……….keep going on………cant he just……….disappear?

Eli looked down, at his feet; "so the funniest thing happened at work today………." He started, but his small smile faded when he looked up to find Grace had hastily retreated back into the kitchen.

"o-k" he said to himself, and took a seat at the table- picking up a bread roll, he tore it in half, and slowly bit into it………

ELI how can she just………hate me so much………when I. ………Don't hate her?……….why cant I hate her for making me feel this way?


"So, are we all home this weekend? Cause I was hoping for a family dinner tomorrow………" Rick started, as he sipped his wine.

Grace spooned her soup, and turned to look at Rick; "actually, I wont be home tomorrow night" she said, quietly.

"Neither will I" Jessie chimed in, looking up from her own soup.

"I kinda have something on………" Eli mumbled, not wanting to be the only one stuck at home; even though an evening with his father, Lily and Zoe sounded like fun……..he was sure he could find something better to do.

"What? What do you mean? When did you kids start a getting a social life!" Rick muttered, looking down the table at Lily- whose mouth was agape, staring in shock at Jessie.

"Jess- I thought we were going to have a big planning day for you're party!" Lily gasped.

JESSIE (staring pointedly into the camera)

Jessie fidgeted in her seat, and turned to Lily- "I know……….but I'm going out in the evening, with Katie's family, so we will still have the ENTIRE day to plan" Jessie mumbled, looking down at her orange soup.

Lily sighed; "but we have so much to plan………you haven't made any final decisions on ANYTHING! And we would probably work through the night………and since when were you going out with Katie's parents……..?" Lily asked, trying to hold back her disappointment; though everyone could hear it, regardless.

JESSIE (taking small breaths, still looking at camera)

Jessie straightened in her seat, and turned to Lily; "Well I'm sorry Lily- I told dad about a few days ago……..and promised Katie I'd go……..so, I am sorry, but we will just have to do it another day……..we still have 4 weeks until my birthday!" Jessie spoke in a quiet, yet stern voice- both Eli and Rick were praying that Lily wouldn't push the subject………because they knew she'd be met with a massive attack from Jessie!

JESSIE (looking at camera, opens her mouth, and lets out an enormous scream!)

Lily continued to stare at Jessie, and the entire family waited for a response- finally, Lily blinked, and slowly nodded her head; "Ok fine, your perfectly right" she breathed, and took her wine glass, bringing it to her mouth.

JESSIE (staring into camera, taking exhausted, rapid breaths)

Grace spooned her soup again, not particularly hungry.

"What are you doing?"

Grace looked up, and was met by Eli's curious green eyes, watching her intently………she wondered for how long.

Grace sat upright, feeling the rest of the family's eyes on her; "when?" she asked.

"Tomorrow night; where are you going?" Eli clarified, and continued to wait for an answer.

Grace fidgeted once more, and stared Eli in the eye; "To Naomi Seakin's party………with Ayden".

Eli and Grace's eyes locked for a moment longer, but were interrupted by Rick's voice; "Oh! Ayden……..he's a nice guy………isn't he a nice guy Lil?" Rick looked down the table at Lily- whose lips were still pursed; she nodded unconsciously.

"Well, have fun Grace" Rick finished, and took a mouthful of soup to his lips, slurping hungrily.

"Thanks" Grace smiled, though her eyes were still on Eli.

He finally broke their gaze-

ELI (opens his mouth……..about to yell)