"Grace!"
Grace turned around, only managing a weak smile as Naomi stumbled towards her- holding a bottle of vodka.
When she finally approached Grace, having to cling onto her with an hand, to steady herself- she spoke slurred and close to Grace's face- the stench of her breath impossible to escape.
"Did you have a good time?" Naomi asked, sweetly.
Grace nodded, and turned away from her breath- "Yes………thanks for inviting me!" Grace replied, in a small voice.
"That's k!" Naomi said quickly.
Grace turned to her, that white shining smile vanished now, only smudged lipstick across her mouth.
And her platinum blonde hair was frizzy, hanging limply around her shoulders- her outfit, usually impeccable and stylish, was a less than discreet mini skirt, and purple tank top.
"Good………good" Naomi slurred, taking another swig of vodka.
"Hmm……….Ayden and I are leaving now……..he's just getting our coats" Grace explained, hoping Naomi would leave her now.
"Oh cool………..James is looking for a room…………." She added, wiping the excess vodka from her lips.
Grace's eyes widened, she didn't really want to know why James was looking for a room………..though she could guess.
"Look……….you two are so cute………" Naomi trailed off, as she took another swig of the vodka.
"Wanna some?" she swung it infront of Grace's face; Grace pushed it away, "Maybe later………." She said.
"But you're leaving! You can't leave!" Naomi whined.
Grace stared at the bottle, dangling in Naomi's claws; she hadn't ever had vodka before, and was curious to know what it tasted like………she was even more curious to see if it would make her forget………..about the lie of all lie's that had escaped her lips……….
Without saying anything, she took it from Naomi's hands, and brought it to her lips- it tasted hot, and almost stale in her mouth.
"Yay" Naomi smiled……….and looked past Grace………at a group of girls; she instantly shot upright, and ran over to them, completely forgetting about Grace and the vodka.
Grace looked down at the bottle in her hands, closing her eyes……..she brought it to her mouth for a second time………hating the taste even more.
She had four swigs by the time Ayden got back, and managed to flog the bottle off to someone else before he saw it.
"Ready?" he smiled, handing her the black coat
She smiled weakly, and they headed for the front door………….
"Oh………hello honey……. How was the gathering?" Lily beamed from the top of the staircase.
Grace looked up, a little dazed; she squinted to see her mother's face, and eventually smiled.
"Fine………it was fine," she said, quietly.
Lily nodded, unable to make out Grace's face as she stood in darkness- "do you want something to eat?……….I can make something up now………" Lily started to climb down the stairs, tightening the strap of her dressing gown.
"No……….Ayden and I already ate somewhere………." Grace replied hastily; Lily stopped waking, and continued to look down at Grace, still, unable to see her face.
"Oh, ok then………well………thankyou for coming home on time………." Lily began, "curfew wasn't that bad, was it?" she asked.
"No" Grace replied weakly, her mother failed to notice that she was home 15 minutes early.
"Hmm………well then I'm off to bed………goodnight sweety……..don't be up much longer" Lily walked back up the stairs, and when Grace heard her bedroom door close, let out a long and heavy sigh that had been weighing on her since she first got in the car with Ayden……….
She fumbled around with her hands, and eventually dropped her clinking keys on the wooden table by the door, and peeled off her black jacket, draping it over what she guessed was the banister.
She ran a hand through her still curled hair, as she walked into the kitchen, where she turned on a single light.
She shuffled over to the fridge, and pulled out a bottle of water, sipping it lightly, she put it back.
Sighing again, she put her hands on her hips as she examined the kitchen- she looked towards the door that led into the hallway, and, eventually walked towards it………….
Eli pulled the covers over his head, and rolled onto his stomach, but still, the light tapping continued.
He murmured something, and then rolled onto his back, eyes wide open now, he flung the blankets off his body; "what?" he asked hoarsely.
There came no reply, only a crack of light and a silhouette body in his doorway, Eli sat up slightly as the figure bustled into his room, and closed the door behind them.
"What………."? He whispered again, already knowing who it was- the vanilla scene preceded her.
"What?" he asked again, in an aggressive whisper.
"I told him!"
"What?" Eli asked, sitting up straight in his bed, he leaned over the side and fumbled around for the light jumper he'd throw on the ground earlier- grabbing it, he pulled it over his head, and then turned back to the figure.
Her face was lit only by the light that dwindled through his window from the full moon- he stared up at her, as she stood, so close to him.
He opened his mouth, about to say something, when he heard a small whimper and sniff- he reached over brushing his hand lightly against her hip as he fumbled, and eventually flicked on the lamp by his bed.
She took a small step back- but Eli had already seen her face.
Thin black lines of running massacre drawn down her cheeks, her bottom lip quivered slightly- and her eyes, big and innocent, darted away from his own- avoiding their questioning gaze.
"What?" he asked again, a lighter tone this time.
"I told him!" she spat back in a hoarse whisper, she turned to him, swiping at the tears that had already fallen, and now ran, black, down her cheeks.
Eli continued to stare up at her, knowing what she meant; "told who what?" he asked, his brow creased slightly as he spat the question at her tear filled eyes.
"Ayden!" she replied, "I told him that I love……… him because I do!" she said, matter of factly- she swiped again at the tears.
Eli pursed his lips, and looked away from her, only for a moment, to collect his racing thoughts.
"Did you hear me?" she hissed- she didn't even think, as she flung herself onto Eli's body, arms first- her hands locked into fists, she managed to hit him once, but he was too quick.
He turned back to her, grabbing onto her strong arms and holding them back- but her body still fell onto his.
She quickly scrambled back onto her feet, staring down at him with a cold hatred.
"Jesus Grace………have you been drinking?" Eli asked, the smell lingering.
Grace said nothing, only continued to stare down at him with a stony glare- when she remained silent, he reached for her arm, tugging her a little roughly, he pulled her towards him, and he took a whiff of her mouth.
"That's just great!" he muttered, as he released his grip, she pulled away from him.
"Did you hear me or not?" she asked slowly, through clenched teeth.
Eli looked back up at her; only Grace could be a bastard of a drunk!
"Yes" he hissed……….."I heard you!"
"I love him Eli!" she said, still, through pursed lips.
Eli's eyes narrowed, "no you don't!" he replied.
Grace's eyes saw red, and she flung her arms at him again, but he caught them- pushing her back- "I hate you" she said, still in a rough whisper.
"No you don't" Eli said again, only making Grace more mad.
Eli rose from his bed, and stood so close to her, he could smell the stench on her breath.
"You don't know who you love……….but it's sure as hell not him!" Eli said, looking down at her, reflecting the same cold stare she was shooting him.
She opened her mouth, but he continued; "you came down here to tell me that……..just to make me jealous………but it didn't work………because I know you too well, and I can see straight through you!" Eli said, though clenched teeth.
"No you don't! NO you don't!" Grace replied, shaking her head.
Eli stopped her, by grabbing her shoulders, and forcing her eyes to focus on his.
"I do know you Grace……..better than you think!" Eli said, icily
Grace said nothing, only continued to stare into his eyes.
"You don't know anything………." She finally spoke.
Eli released his grip, but continued to stare at her, stare so deeply into her eyes……..like he knew something she didn't.
"This isn't you! I know that much………" he finally said.
"What………?" Grace asked, in a far off whisper.
if i could capture time in my hands,
if i could halt the hourglass sands,
i would put an end to all but laughter
a smile on your face forever after.
Eli reached his hand out, but Grace flinched- he stared into her eyes for a moment longer, until he finally reached out and brushed her lips with his fingers.
He brushed them a little harder; all the time their eyes locked.
if i could catch the feather blown by the breeze,
if i could heal the wound that starts to bleed,
i'd give a hand to the man under newspaper,
do all i can have a word to my maker.
He pulled his hand away, and turned his fingers to her, showing her red lipstick smudged across them.
but first i'd
freeze frame this moment with you
and make it last
you know i'd
freeze frame this moment with you
so please slow down, down go so fast.
He reached out again, this time; Grace's eyes followed his shaking hand, as he twisted a piece of hair between his fingers, releasing the curl.
if i could stop the water from the sky
if i could hold back the morning tide
i'd shout out to the world on a loud speaker
the message of love is what i would teach you
"And this………." He said, his hand light brushing away the remnants of black tears.
sounds coming from the underground
hearts leaving town i'd show
that i'd come running for you
"You don't wear makeup……….you don't have curly hair………and, the Grace I know, doesn't cry………." He finally spoke, in the softest whisper.
if i could capture time in my hands
if i could halt the hourglass sands
i'd put an end to all but laughter
a smile on your face is all i'm after
Grace only half heard, him, as her eyes focussed back on his;
if i could you know i would.
And his finger still poised against her cheek.
"Why don't I cry?" she asked, slowly.
Eli gave the smallest smile, "because………your too stubborn" he said, softly.
Grace's lip quivered again, as she stared into his light green eyes, those eyes that apparently knew her so well……….
"I do cry………" Grace finally spoke softly.
GRACE ………..over you
They continued to stare, until finally, Grace's hand rose to her face, and cupped Eli's that was still resting against her cheek.
She slowly pulled it from her face, and brought it to her lips, kissing it lightly.
Finally, she released his hand, and turned to leave- "sorry to wake you…….." she said over her shoulder as she closed the door……..
ELI every which way………….
Eli was left, in his boxer shorts and light jumper, his hand still limp by his side and warm from her lips………..
AUTHORS NOTE:
If you'll notice, there were some lyrical sentences with the at the start and end of them; I wanted some background music; and that song was Charlton Hill's 'if I could'
Aren't I getting better with updating?
I have to apologise for this chapter…….. I watched gone with the wind last night and was in that Scarlet & Rhedd mood………
