"I thought you needed to buy grease?" Grace raised an eyebrow, as she picked up a baby blue top and examined it- Eli let out a quick yawn, and quickly closed his mouth when Grace noted his boredom.
"Oh………well……….I have plenty of time to do that……….besides, I'm fine just hanging with you" Eli smiled, and dug his hands deeper into his pockets.
Grace shot him a side ways glance, and replaced the top on the hanger- moving on to another isle of clothing- Eli followed close behind.
"Do you want to………you know………….talk about it?" Grace asked softly, as she ran her hands lightly over a cheese cloth dress- she turned to Eli, who's glazed over eyes were now widened.
"Err……….you actually want to talk about……..us?" He asked, staring at her, bewildered.
Grace's small smile vanished, to where, Eli didn't know.
"There is no 'us'………. I meant………we have been a little weird these past few weeks………so if you want to talk about it……..well……… I'm kinda the only person you can talk about it with" Grace sighed, and examined a red shirt, keeping focus on Eli's increasingly surprised expression from the corner of her eye.
He glanced down at his feet, and then looked up at Grace, managing a small smile- "No, I'm fine………actually I might get going, to buy that……..err………."
"Grease?" Grace filled in for him.
"Uhu" Eli nodded, and turned, eyeing the exit of the department store.
Grace brushed her hand over the red top's sleeve, and then turned her head, watching as Eli breezed towards the exit.
She sighed heavily, and hastily replaced the top- briskly walking after Eli, and eventually catching up to him.
He stopped and stared at her, then quickly averted his eyes.
"Lets get a coffee?" Grace asked, lightly, she eyed the exit- and, without waiting, started walking towards the door- Eli eventually followed.
"Jessie!" Lily called out; and then sipped some of her hot coffee, as she looked over different invitation designs.
"Jessie!" she called again.
Jessie's head poked into the kitchen, the phone attached to her ear- "can I call you back?" Jessie asked Katie, quietly.
Lily turned and smiled at her, motioning with her hand to take a seat beside her.
"Ok? Talk to you soon……….love………" Jessie quickly hung up, and replaced the phone on the wall- cautiously walking over to Lily.
"Was that Tad?" Lily asked, as she scattered the invitations across the kitchen table.
Jessie took a seat, "yep" she said, quietly.
"Ok Jess……….. I have narrowed it down to 7……….choose one" Lily looked up and smiled.
JESSIE if I could say all the things I want to say?
Jessie unthinkingly pointed at a blue coloured piece of paper- "that one" she whispered.
JESSIE I'd tell Lily that I don't want a party……….I'd tell mum that she needs to smile more often………….I'd tell my brother that I'm proud of him, no matter what………..
"That one? Really?" Lily asked, examining it.
JESSIE I'd thank my dad for always being there…………. I'd tell Grace that I'm glad to have her as a sister……….I'd tell Zoe I think she's going to be something great when she's older……….
"What about this one?" Lily picked up a green card, and showed it to Jessie, who stared, with glazed eyes.
JESSIE I'd tell Lily that I want the blue invitations……….
"Ok, that one will do" Jessie murmured;
"Good, good!" Lily smiled, and began to pack up the rest of the invitations, as Jessie rose from her seat.
JESSIE and I'd tell Katie, my family………..the rest of the world………how much I love her………...with all my heart.
"Who said it first?" Eli asked, as he watched Grace lower her cup onto the table.
She waited for a moment; "I did" she spoke softly.
Eli nodded slowly; "does he know you didn't mean it?" he asked, without looking her in the eye.
Grace sighed heavily, and looked away.
"Do you know that you didn't mean it?" Eli spoke again- lifting his head, at the same time as Grace turned to him- they stared at one another for a moment.
"I meant it," she finally uttered.
ELI people have these shields………
Eli turned away, and fidgeted in his seat. Grace watched him, becoming increasingly tensed.
"Can we not talk about me and Ayden………?" She finally spoke.
ELI and once in a while………hard as it is for them……….they lower their shields, and let people in………….let people really see them……..
"Fine………..lets talk about the 'non' us"
Grace eyed him, a soft, sympathetic stare; "Ok………. I guess I'll start………" she spoke cautiously.
"I have this idea, about why your wanting to start something with me……"
"You do?" Eli interrupted.
"Yes………. I think it's because……….Carla was the last girl you loved, and you haven't seen her for 9 months now………and she really broke you're heart…………" Grace spoke softly after mentioning Carla's name.
ELI and when they let their shield down, and you get a glimpse of who they really are…….
Grace shifted forward in her seat slightly, catching Eli's gaze; "I think you just want someone to love again……….and the closest someone is me………living with you and all……….and, granted, I know in the past we had 'moments'……….but Eli………. I cant, and I don't want to be that someone"
ELI seeing them, truly and deeply………can have two outcomes……….
"That's not it at all………." Eli continued to stare into her russet eyes.
"I have never once thought about Carla since I realized my feelings for you…….. you aren't a 'replacement' for her………." Eli said.
"Maybe because………..nobody can replace her?" Grace questioned, quickly.
ELI you either see their true colours and instantly know that it was never meant to be, or………..
"That's not it Grace………." Eli continued "I don't know what exactly I'm feeling………or why I'm feeling it………….all I know is, one day I looked at you and I didn't see the Grace Manning I'd know for the last 2 and a half years………. Instead, I saw this beautiful girl, who had somehow grown into this completely amazing breath taking woman………."
Grace could feel her cheeks burning, as Eli sat across from her, staring deeply into her welling eyes………and with every word……….she felt herself falling deeper and deeper in love with him………
" ………I looked at you, and I didn't see this sweet, sincere step sister that I'd always respected………. I mean……….your still sweet, sincere and I do still respect you……….but now when I look at you………all I can think about is how completely great you are……..and how much I want to kiss you and tell you all the things I'm telling you right now…….." Eli took a small breath, and searched Grace's eyes for some meaning; something that could tell him what he was saying meant something to her……….he couldn't see anything………so he continued.
"………..And I know it really sucks that I realized all these feeling for you at the worst time……….just as you found someone who makes you feel all these things when you look at them………. I can only imagine how completely annoying and terrible that is………..but the thing is………. I would have kept these new found feelings all bottled up, for the sake of our family and brother/sister thing………..but then I kissed you………..and I realized, when I pulled away………that you were the person I was meant to be kissing……….that these feelings could possibly build up to something……..between you and me……and while I was kissing you………I had this feeling that you felt the same way"
GRACE or………you can see their true colours………and fall in love with them all over again. (Turns her head away from camera……..)
ELI (head is turned away from camera, then faces camera)……..exactly………..
"Please say something," Eli breathed.
Grace stared at him for the longest time; his words still settling around her, she breathed them in, and felt her eyes sting.
"I have a confession to make………" she spoke softly.
"I loved you………..for the longest time……….during high school………and even after our parents started dating……….even when you and Carla were together……….I loved you………" Grace spoke so softly; Eli had to creep forward to hear her.
"And when you kissed me that day…….. I thought 'this is what I've always wanted……….'………..because it was……….. I had always had this crush on you……….." a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Eli smiled softly, the words sinking into his body.
Grace turned away, "But your right……….you're timing sucks………because I don't feel that anymore………. I have found someone, who I am falling for in the best possible way……and he's making me forget about how I felt for you……..and how we could never be" She turned back to him, but looked down, avoiding his eyes.
"When I loved you……..you didn't see me……….you didn't see this girl who could love you completely and totally………and now………for some reason……….you think you know who I am……..and you love me all of a sudden………and I'm sorry to tell you, now it's my turn to not return that love!"
She rose from her seat, "I'll meet you at the car in half an hour" she said quietly, and walked away.
ELI then that shield goes back up………and your left wondering………'did I really just see them'?
