"A little black Gucci dress!" Judy exclaimed, passing the bottle of wine to Lily, who took a gulp.

"Renovate the kitchen!" She sighed dreamily after her swig, and handed the bottle to Tiffany.

"Buy a two-storey house!" Tiffany giggled after her mouthful of red wine.

The three women laughed boisterously as they sat sprawled out on Lily's couch, their legs draped over one another.

"You can tell you're the single one out of us three……….." Lily smiled, turning to her sister.

Judy gave a small grin, "mmm……….a dress does seem substantially small compared to a house and massive renovations!" she sighed.

"No!" Tiffany exclaimed, squirming as she tried to sit up. She stared at Judy with big eyes, big, glazed eyes. "It's not just an dress……….it's a………."

"Little-black-Gucci-dress!" all three women chimed in; and collapsed in a loud, heap of squealing laughter.

Jessie walked into the lounge just as the laughs heightened, she glanced at the three hyena's, and shook her head with a smile.

She quickly scanned the room, but when she couldn't find the phone, she hurriedly left, walking into the dining room instead, where Jake and Rick were examining the blue prints that were covering the table.

"I didn't think this worked last time………..it looked too cluttered…………." Rick said, pointing to the paper.

Jake 'ummed' and 'arred', then finally nodded.

Jessie couldn't see the phone amongst the papers, so she gave up, and headed back to Eli's garage.

She opened the door, to find Grace and Eli on the bed, Eli sitting up right, with Grace leaning against him, her head on his chest.

"No luck?" Grace asked, knowing it was Jessie.

"Nope……….and I really wanted to call Katie and tell her the good news!" Jessie sighed.

Eli flinched when Jessie mentioned her girlfriends name; to be honest, the idea of his little sister with another girl made him feel uncomfortable. Not ashamed. Just………..uncomfortable………….

Jessie looked down at her feet, and then back at the couple, "I wanted to mention the bookstore aswell" she smirked.

Grace adjusted herself so she could see Jessie; she flashed her a huge smile, and Jessie turned, heading for the door.

"I'm going to bed," she murmured.

"Night Jess" Grace mumbled in reply, as she nestled into Eli's chest again, his arms wrapping around her curled body.

"I should leave soon aswell…………." She murmured, closing her heavy eyes.

"If I let you……….." Eli replied, and Grace let out a small laugh.

"What happens now Eli?" she asked, and the question through him off guard.

"I don't know………"

"I mean, it's not as though we can really be a normal couple………." Grace continued, Eli looked down at her face, eyes closed, and he gave a small nod.

"I guess not," he murmured.

Her eyes opened, and connected with his, "we could always wait until I was 18 to tell our parents………….." she smiled.

"Why 18?" he asked.

She let out a small laugh, "that way we could travel to Las Vegas and get hitched……….they couldn't stop us………….."

Eli let out a breath of laughter, "let's call that plan B," he murmured.

Grace nodded, and closed her eyes again; "so what's plan A then?" she asked, after a moment.

Eli felt his body tense, "I guess we just…………be a couple………….without anyone knowing…………." He sighed.

Grace's eyes opened as she felt his heavy breath, her brow creased as she pressed her ear against his chest; and felt his heart pounding increase slightly.

GRACE is it possible that he didn't think of all the consequences………..the consequences of having………..me?

"I should leave…………." Grace spoke softly, untangling herself from Eli's embrace. He didn't try and stop her, instead, he watched her as she stood up, and walked slowly towards the door.

"Goodnight Eli" she murmured, placing her hand on the door handle.

GRACE somehow I thought that when I admitted to my feelings for Eli……….everything would be alright……….the chaos of my life would calm down because I would be with him………….but now………we are together……….and it feels like something is missing…………..

"Wait" Eli whispered, so softly, Grace wasn't even sure if she'd heard him. He wasn't too convincing in that he wanted her to stay, but she turned around, never the less.

GRACE maybe it's not something missing…………maybe we're just finding that 'us' will take a lot more than we thought………..

Eli slowly rose from the bed, and stood awkwardly, looking at Grace, a large gap of space between them.

"This doesn't feel right, does it?" he asked, slowly.

Grace looked down at her feet, "It's not that it doesn't feel right……….it just………..doesn't feel the way I thought it would……….." she murmured in reply.

ELI should I end this now? Before there's too much pain………?

He looked down at his feet; both, now, avoiding each other's eyes.

"Your right……….." he spoke with a slight shake in his tone.

ELI I've come this far……….and caused enough pain already……….but I could end it now……….deal with the hurt I've caused………..at least that would be easier fixed than keeping this thing going………….

Grace looked up, her eyes big, but refusing to cry; "I thought we'd be happy………because we'd be together" she whispered.

"Me too" was the weak reply.

"Instead we've had to face facts……….our relationship wouldn't be a normal one……….far from it……….we'd have to hide it from all the people we love………..that's almost as bad as hiding it from ourselves" her voice was surprisingly strong, not faltering, only speaking the truth.

ELI I could end this now……….move to Philadelphia without any attachments………….or……….. I could live out this dream with her………..for as little time as we had………….move to Philadelphia………..or…………..stay………..

"I know" Eli replied, creasing his brow.

"And the surprising thing is……….I'm ok with that…………."

Eli looked up, at Grace, who was staring right back at him, challenging him to look away- he didn't.

"It's you that's pulling away before anything's actually starting between us………….. I can feel it………..and I know you can too……….."

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, and continued; "you're the one that wanted me………..you're the one who pursued me…………..and now that you have me………..you don't want me?" the last words caused her tone to waver slightly.

ELI or………. I could play this by heart………….go in knowing what the outcome could be…………..

Grace looked at Eli for the longest time; not quite believing the silence that engulfed her………..he said nothing……….only stared back at her; and she felt her heart sink. 'So this is over'? She asked herself.

"That's not it" he finally spoke.

She let out a sigh of relief.

"Its like……….to begin with, I was afraid to hold you…………." Eli murmured, not sure if he wanted to say the words………..but said them anyway…………

"And when I held you……….. I was afraid to kiss you…………."

Grace bit her bottom lip, feeling her eyes well.

"Now that I've kissed you………..I'm afraid……….."

He took a few steps forward, until he was standing so close to her, he outstretched a hand, and smoothed it across her cheek.

"………..I'm afraid to lose you……….." he whispered.

Grace allowed herself a small smile, and flung her arms around him, holding him so close; Eli wrapped his arms around her aswell.

ELI no turning back now………….whatever happens next………..it's going to hurt her……….

"That'll never happen" she whispered in his ear, tightening her embrace,

ELI (looks guiltily into camera) no………..you might lose me………….