Eli strummed the guitar, feeling it vibrate between his hands- he closed his eyes and allowed the sound to wash over him.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd picked up his guitar and played a tune………what with all that had been happening………..he just didn't feel very motivated.

"There are so many reasons that I find to run to you

Cos there's so little loving in my life, now I am away

And thinking about it I want things back how they used to be

There is no way round it, nothing good comes easily

So much between us and we both know that it's wrong

So I keep on waiting till I am back where I belong"

The words poured out of him so easily- he closed his eyes and the lyrics somehow surfaced to his tongue.

He hadn't even been thinking of a particular song, but once he strummed the guitar, his fingers found their way around the strings and the tune he was playing became apparent, and the words soon followed.

Eli opened his eyes and smiled, trying to remember how the next bar went, when he was interrupted by the echoing sound of the doorbell.

He remained still for a moment, waiting to hear his father's footsteps; but silence filled the house; and the doorbell rang again.

Eli suddenly remembered his father mumbling something about going down to the shops; and he knew Jessie wasn't going to budge from her room.

Eli sighed, placing his guitar next to him, he got up from where he was sitting on the edge of his bed- and gruffly opened his door, entering the house; he followed the sound of the ringing doorbell.

"Coming, coming!" He groaned.

He reached out and pulled the door open; having to restrain himself from slamming it shut again when he saw Ayden staring back at him.

"Hey" Ayden half smiled.

Eli couldn't find any words worth speaking, so he simply nodded his head in an awkward greeting.

"Is Grace home?" Ayden asked, creasing his brow slightly.

"No" Eli murmured, and adjusted his stance, leaning his body weight on the door, he stared, hard, at Ayden.

"Oh………well, do you know when she'll be home?" Ayden asked, and dug his hands deep into the pockets of his brown chord jacket.

"Err……….no……….she had to get her dress altered or something" Eli mumbled.

"Right……..well………do you mind if I wait for her………I really need to see her today"

Eli stared at him, stared at his black eyes with an intense hatred- and he wasn't even sure why.

If anything, Eli should be feeling guilty for hurting this guy so bad, for stealing his girl……….but he couldn't feel guilty, it was just easier to hate him.

"I don't know………" Eli started, eager to slam the door in Ayden's face.

"It's about this party she invited me to……..her step sisters?" Ayden replied quickly.

"Jessie" Eli supplied, in a hard tone.

"Yeah, there are a few things we need to sort out"

ELI here's an idea………why don't you just not come?

Eli looked down at his feet, and then looked back at Ayden.

He sighed and nodded his head once, "Ok, come in" he gave up, knowing Grace would never forgive him for turning Ayden away so rudely.

Ayden gave a small smile and stepped inside, Eli closing the door after him.

He stepped ahead of Ayden and led him into the lounge room, "You can sit down" he muttered, unsure of what else to say.

"Thanks, but I'll stand" Ayden replied, peeling off his jacket.

Eli stepped forward, taking the jacket out of Ayden's hand and draping it over the couch.

"So………" Ayden started slowly walking around the living room, examining the photo's that lined the fireplace shelf.

Eli watched him with narrowed eyes; watched closely as he picked up the framed photo of his father and Lily's wedding.

He guessed Ayden was admiring how beautiful Grace looked in the pink dress.

He placed the photo back down, and picked up one of Grace and Zoe when they were much younger- Zoe would have been 2, and Grace about 6 or 7- they were up at the snow, rugged up in matching snow gear- beanies pulled over their heads, too-big ski jackets that hid their necks. The two girls, in these inflated red and blue outfits surrounded by snow- standing side by side with snowballs in hand, smiling happily, their red noses visible

Ayden placed the photo down, and examined one of Eli and Jessie- when she was 7 and Eli was 14- they were sitting side by side, smiling happily.

"So, what do you and Grace need to discuss?" Eli suddenly snapped, annoyed as he watched Ayden pick up and examine photo after photo.

He turned around slowly, a sad smile pressed against his lips; "I don't think I should go to this party with her……but I just want to make sure there are no hard feelings" he sighed, and turned around again.

Eli half smiled, then cursed himself for being so damn cruel to this poor guy.

"Err yeah………I picked up on the fact that you guys had broken up?" he stammered, surprised that the lie came out so easily.

Ayden turned around again, and gave a small nod "Yeah" he said, simply.

"Sorry to hear it………do you mind if I ask why?"

"I think you should ask Grace if you really want to know" Came the reply- his words almost knocked Eli over.

"Sorry" he stammered, quickly.

Ayden turned again, sincerity masked his face-"No, it's ok……….err……...she didn't feel the same way for me as I did for her" he said, quietly.

Eli nodded, and felt guilt slowly begin to seep through his body.

"Sorry" was the only word he could manage.

"Actually………..she has feelings for someone else"

Eli almost fell over when Ayden allowed those words to escape- but he quickly put on a surprised expression, hoping Ayden was none the wiser.

Ayden didn't seem to notice anything, but remained silent and still.

"That really sucks" Eli finally announced.

Ayden stared at him brutally for a moment, as though he was about to pounce on him, fists flying.

Eli stared wide-eyed and then eventually broke a small smile when Ayden started laughing softly.

"You're telling me!" he said, through broken laughs.

Eli ran a hand through his messed hair, continuing to laugh slightly.

"Do you know who it is?" Eli asked, once his laughs died down.

Ayden shook his head, "I don't want to" he confirmed, Eli flashed him a questioning stare, and Ayden answered his curiosity.

"If I found out who it was………I don't know what I'd do to him……..so it's probably safer that I'm left in the dark"

ELI oh god

Suddenly, the front door pushed open, and voices invaded the silence between Eli and Ayden.

"You can't wear heels Zoe" Grace huffed.

"Neither can you!" came the snappy reply.

"I am 17 Zoe……..of course I can!"

"They don't suit you……..they look good on me!"

"You are so vain!"

"Mum! Grace called me a vein!" Zoe cried.

Lily's sigh could be heard, and the silence as the three women entered the living room, stopping dead in their tracks.

"Ooooohhhhhh………the ex" Zoe declared- and received a punch from Grace.

"Ayden?" Grace exclaimed, and then noticed Eli standing aswell.

"ELI?" she cried, a little more overwhelmingly.

"Hello Mrs Sammler" Ayden smiled, and Lily returned the gesture.

"C'mon Zoe………lets leave these two alone………" She said, pushing Zoe towards the kitchen.

"I better go…….." Eli fumbled his words, nodded at Ayden, and left the two in peace.

But as he walked by Grace, he flashed her a calming glance; reminding her that Ayden knew nothing.

She replied with the smallest of smiles.

"We need to talk" Eli heard Ayden begin as he walked into his bedroom; suddenly losing all motivation to play on his guitar again.


AUTHORS NOTE

Song was BB Mac's 'miss you more'.