"But you are still coming?" Jessie sighed as she listened to the silence leaking out from the other end "right?" she added.

She'd been trying to call Katie all week, and now, with only 2 nights left before her sixteenth; and no indication whether or not Katie was still coming, Jessie was desperate to speak with her.

Katie had been avoiding her at school………had refused to speak to her on the phone………and Jessie had been too afraid to go to her home and speak with her……….afraid of what she might say.

"Katie?" Jessie asked quietly, holding the phone close to her ear- she sunk lower into the couch as she listened to more silence.

Katie sighed deeply, "I……….I just don't know Jess" she said, finally.

Jessie couldn't believe her luck, when, for the fifth time that day………Katie's voice sang through the phone. Not her mother's, or father's; explaining some lame excuse to Jessie about Katie having homework or going to a movie……….it was Katie, and now that Jessie finally caught her, she couldn't possibly just hang up! She couldn't to that to Jessie.

Although, right now, 2 minutes into their conversation, Katie was being extremely vague………hardly speaking at all.

"Katie please………I want you to come………please?" Jessie whispered harshly into the phone.

She quickly peered over her shoulder- grateful that the house was practically empty.

Grace and Lily were taking Zoe to get her dress altered again because she was still tripping over the hem; Eli was at work………..and her father was outside fixing the car.

"I don't know Jess………I've been thinking a lot these last few days………about us………about a lot of things" Katie sighed, and Jessie cut in quickly before she could say more.

"Please Katie" She closed her eyes as she spoke, feeling them begin to prick "don't say what I think your going to………because I cant hear that right now………."

"Jess, I just think that maybe……….."

"Katie, please……….."

Jessie quickly peered over her shoulder again as she heard her father's footsteps trudge into the house.

"No, Jess, this is all so hard for me…………"

Jessie focussed back on Katie as she listened to her humbling voice, and became unaware of her father walking into the living room, not until he was standing by the couch, looking down at her.

She looked up at him, feeling anger rise in the pit of her stomach.

"Please hold on for a second?" Jessie chimed into the phone, trying to suppress her tears.

"Hey Jess……….want to do something today?" Rick smiled down at his daughter.

RICK I don't want to be a bystander anymore.

"Not now, okay dad?" Jessie replied, a little icily; she rose from the couch, and turned to leave the room.

"C'mon Jess……….. I just finished the car………we could go to Baskin Robins and get some ice-cream?"

RICK Ok……….lame, I know……….but it's what we used to do.

Jessie held the phone to her chest, "No dad, I'm busy" she replied, sternly.

"Jess! I hardly spend anytime with you these days………" he started following her to the stairs.

Jessie spun around, "No dad! Just leave me alone, okay?" her tone was flat and venomous, her eyes narrowing as she spoke.

"Okay………sorry Jess" Rick replied, humbly.

She started walking up the stairs, putting the phone back to her ear, Rick watched her go.

RICK I guess it's not up to me……….. I suppose I just have to wait until she………and Eli………want to let me in again.

"Katie, I'm sorry about that" Jessie spoke again when she was safe in her room, door closed.

"Sorry Jess………. I don't think I can go to you're party……….goodbye"

Jessie tried to say something, but Katie hung up too quickly, leaving behind the echoing beeping……….Jessie breathed in and out, and then clicked the hang up button on the phone.

JESSIE I don't know how long I can wait until she lets me in again………..


Eli walked into the kitchen, surprised to find his father, sitting at the breakfast table, staring down at his hands.

"Dad?" Eli breathed.

His father's head lifted, revealing a blank, far off expression- he saw Eli's eyes widen in panic, and quickly curved his lips into a warm smile.

Eli's panicked suppressed, but only slightly.

He dug his hands into his pockets, and cautiously walked towards his father.

"You ok dad?" he asked, tentatively.

"Hmm?" Rick murmured, looking up at Eli, not quite hearing him.

RICK he used to be so small……….he used to fit in the nook of my arm.

"Are you alright?" Eli repeated, pulling out a chair opposite his father.

Rick nodded heavily, and veered his eyes back to the table.

Eli opened his mouth, about to say more, when Rick lifted his head- and looked into his son's eyes.

"Tell me something………" Rick said, hoarsely.

Eli, taken back by his father's odd behaviour, nodded.

"Tell me your ok……….." Rick whispered.

ELI ok? I'm in love with the one person I can't have……….the one person I'm not supposed to want……….. I don't know where I belong in the world…………. I'm stuck in a dead-end job that was only given to me out of pity………. I let go of my dream music career long ago………. I'm not………

"I'm ok………I'm happy" Eli said, in a small voice.

Rick nodded slowly, and rose from his seat.

"Better get dinner started" He sighed, walking to the fridge.