Jessie tried to ignore her father's side-ways glances that came her way every five seconds as she slowly ate her cereal.
She looked up at him from where she sat at the breakfast table; he was standing by the sink, sipping his coffee. Another side-ways glance, but this time he was caught out, and made obvious eye contact.
He quickly looked down, into his coffee.
"Dad?" Jessie finally spoke.
"Hmmm?" Rick took another long sip.
"What's wrong?" she asked, slowly.
"What do you mean?" he asked, turning around and rinsing his empty cup.
Jessie sighed, and stirred her cereal, "you keep looking at me weird………..like your building up for a long speech……….." she looked into her cereal, and then back at her father.
"Your going to give me a long speech aren't you?" she sighed.
Rick turned around, and gave a half smile; a smile that sort of said sorry-kiddo………you-know-the-drill.
She put her spoon down, and turned in her seat, so she was facing him, "make it quick or else I'll be late for school" she sighed, defeated, knowing there was no escape from a deep and meaningful.
Rick hurriedly walked to the table, and pulled out a chair, the whole time looking his daughter straight in the eye.
"Jessie……………you do realize there may be some people at school who wont take kindly to…………."
"Lesbians like Katie and I?" she ended for him, and he gave a small sigh of relief.
"Yes" he nodded heavily, "and I want you to know……….you shouldn't be put down by those people…………." He sighed, and looked down at his hands, his brow creasing as he searched for more words.
Jessie studied him, waiting for more.
"Because………."
Both were surprised by the stammer in his tone.
"Because those people don't have any sort of leverage over you…………..they re just small minded fools who don't know any better……….and you………..you're a brave, beautiful young girl………..and if anything, those people are scared and intimidated because………..you've found who you are…………." He looked up, and Jessie saw his glazed eyes; he gave a small smile.
"………….And your brave enough to not hide who you are……….and that's amazing………..it's something some people can never do………..but I'm proud that you can………….."
JESSIE my dad……….one in a million!
RICK (sincere smile)
Jessie gave a small nod, and continued to stare into her father's eyes "thanks dad" she whispered, a small smirk creeping across her lips.
Rick nodded, feeling proud tears about to fall, he quickly wiped his nose and rose from his seat, walking to the sink; Jessie's eyes followed him.
"You better get to school" he mumbled, trying to control his shaky tone.
Jessie smiled wider, and got up from her seat, "see-ya dad" she said, heading out of the kitchen.
Rick leaned against the sink, and took in a long breath, but was interrupted when Jessie's head poked around the door again.
"And dad………." She said, and Rick turned around.
"Lets get an ice cream or something after school, ok?" she smiled, and Rick nodded.
And when she left, he cried.
RICK (swipes away a tear, and gives a small laugh)
Grace stared down at the hairbrush posed in her hand, when a small knock came at her door, and it slowly opened.
She quickly looked up from where she sat at the edge of her bed, and gave a small smile to Eli as he stepped in, digging his hands into the pocket of his black pants.
"Hey" he nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Hey" she echoed, softly.
"So this is it………..today's the day………." He started, walking over to where she sat.
Grace looked up at him, her brow creased "what do you mean?" she asked, in a small voice.
Eli nodded to the place beside her, and she shifted over slightly, Eli taking a seat next to her.
"The day that everything is supposed to come crashing down around you………." He spoke in a low, husky voice.
GRACE I could do without the chilling reminder, thankyou.
Grace turned to him, the hairbrush still in hand, which she gripped tightly; "I don't know what you……….." she started.
"Oh come on Grace………." Eli gave a half smile, "I know you………..I know that you didn't get a wink of sleep since the party…………." He shifted slightly, "……….since the Ayden fiasco……….and now it's Monday………..and you've been sitting up here trying to think of the best way to fake a sicky and get out of having to go to school and face everyone because your so sure that Ayden told them that you had a' thing' with your stepbrother" Eli raised an eyebrow as he studied Grace's slightly mortified face.
GRACE the scary thing is………..that's completely true……….
"Well?" he inquired.
Grace mumbled a few incoherent words, and then straightened her back, "why would I be embarrassed about a rumour like that………………?" she asked, in a small, croaky voice.
Eli let out a small laugh, "because it's not a rumour……….it's a fact……….and you don't need to tell me that having an affair with you're stepbrother sounds like the topic for a 'Jerry Springer' episode!" he cocked his head to one side as he awaited her response.
Grace's mouth opened, about to fire out a retort; but she couldn't feel the strength to lie about the truth. So she allowed her shoulders to slouch, and she let a heavy sigh escape.
"He hates me……….and he is going to tell everyone exactly what happened……….and then everyone will hate me………….and there's really no need because I already hate myself more than enough!"
GRACE I cant say I feel any better now that the truth is out in the open.
She rolled the hairbrush over and over in her hand, gripping it tightly, looking down at its brown handle instead of Eli's questioning face.
He said nothing, and that made her feel even worse.
She turned to him, his face turned down, studying his hands.
"Eli!" she exclaimed, shoving him slightly with her elbow.
Eli turned to her, "oh I'm sorry……….are you done feeling sorry for yourself?" he asked, rubbing his arm.
Grace's mouth dropped, and Eli had to smile at her mortified face.
He turned to her, grabbing the hairbrush and placing it on the bed, he took her hands in his.
"Grace……………… I admit what we……….." he creased his brow, "what I did to Ayden was really bad……….but he loves you…………." Grace turned away, Eli squeezed her hands and she looked back, "he does!………..and I can tell you right now, he would never in a million years hurt you………and that's why I know……….when you go to school today there aren't going to be any rumours going around, nobody is going to hate you………." He sighed, "It might just be very awkward with Ayden"
Grace sighed, and looked down at their hands, "maybe your right……….. I mean………I know Ayden would never hurt me" she looked back into Eli's green eyes, "and that's what is hurting ME so much……….that he is so kind………and I'm so……….."
"No!" Eli interrupted, "don't say it"
"Eli………..I was awful to him, I broke his heart, and all he ever did was love me!" she released her hands and got up from the bed, walking over to her dresser and staring at herself in the mirror for a moment, she turned back to Eli.
"I feel so bad………." She sighed, leaning against the small table "I hate myself……….."
Eli got up and walked over to her, placing his hands gently on her hips, she looked up into his face; her eyes swollen and watery.
"Grace, I know what we did was mean………..but I'm not sorry for it………I'm not sorry for any of it"
She sighed, and turned away, but Eli moved his face infront of hers, forcing her to turn back to him; "I don't hate you…………. I hate seeing you so torn up inside……….but I don't hate you" he gave a small smile.
"I just don't think I can live through today………..seeing him………" she sighed.
Eli nodded slowly, "I cant help that" he said, in a soft voice; "but I can promise that when you come home I will give you a neck rub, and listen to you talk about every little detail…………and then I'll make you some coffee and we can watch whatever cheesy movie is on cable………..and I guarantee that by the time dad and Lily get home you're bad day will be washed away………….." He smiled, and Grace couldn't help but reflect one aswell.
"Ok?" he asked, pouting his lips slightly.
Grace laughed, and rested her head against his chest, his eyes enclosing around her, "ok" she said, and he hugged her tight.
She pulled away, and looked up at him, "I better go," she mumbled.
"I'll be here when you get back…………" he replied.
