"Jessie?"
Katie walked slowly up the stairs that led to Jessie's room, unable to hear any movement.
"I'm here" Jessie called out.
Katie stood at the top of the staircase, and looked over to the bed, where Jessie lay with a book in hand.
Katie smiled, and walked over to her, lying down beside her.
Jessie looked over and smiled and Katie, leaning in for a quick kiss; "you look beautiful," Jessie whispered.
"So do you" Katie smiled, leaning in for another kiss; "I missed you," she murmured when they pulled away.
"My parents wont be back till 11" Jessie smiled, tucking the book underneath her covers.
Katie adjusted her body, so that her head was resting against Jessie's chest; after a moment she felt Jessie's hand softly run through her hair soothingly.
"I have you all to myself?" Katie asked, smiling.
"Sure do" Jessie giggled, running her hands through Katie's brown hair.
"Tell me this is nothing serious………." Grace pleaded, as she watched Eli pace around his room- she stared at him, wide eyed, from where she at the edge of his bed.
Eli stopped walking for a moment, but continued to look at the ground as he answered her; "It……….kinda is………….." he murmured.
"Oh……… I was really hoping you weren't going to say that………." She mumbled, sinking into his pillows.
"Sorry" Eli replied, not bothering to glance at her distressed face.
"Well………..can you just tell me now…………..because watching you go back and forth is giving me a headache!" she sighed, and lifted her head to look at him.
ELI just say it……….stop prolonging the inevitable and say it………..say it!
"Grace………….I…………….." Eli stammered, unable to look into her eyes as he spoke, he continued to study the carpet.
"I love you"
Eli's head shot up, his eyes roaming Grace's horrified face as she sat- staring at him with those big brown eyes, looking about ready to start bawling.
And then, Eli said the one thing you never want to hear after saying those three all-important words………….
"What?"
Grace's head bowed, and Eli watched as her hand rose to her eyes, and swiped a tear away. He stood, frozen, the speech he had perfected in his mind had completely left his mouth- as he watched Grace, sit there so small and fragile……….after saying……….those words………..
"I……….I'm sorry……….." Eli found himself stammering.
Grace's head lifted.
"What did you say?" he asked slowly.
Grace sighed, flinging her hands in the air in a disgraced motion; she swiped at more tears.
"God Eli………..I wasn't expecting……….that!" she mumbled through broken tears.
"What?" Eli asked again, looking as Grace struggled with more, soft tears; but the thought of actually going to her side and comforting her never crossing his mind!
"I………….I don't know why………." Grace sighed, "Well I know WHY I said it, I just don't know why I said it now…………." She looked into Eli's eyes wearily, "I have sucky timing!" she mumbled.
"Well……….why………..you…………." Eli sighed, frustrated with his ramblings; "you said you love me?" he practically yelled.
Grace turned away, so confused by Eli's tone.
Eli bowed his head, realizing he wasn't acting so pleasantly; "sorry" he mumbled.
Grace turned back to him, no more tears shimmering in her swollen eyes; now, Eli could only see anger.
"I said…………." Grace spoke coldly, "I LOVE YOU!" she practically screamed at him, changing her pitch made Eli blink hard, and then turn away from her face.
Grace sighed and shook her head in disgust; "I kinda thought that when I actually allowed myself to say those words, you'd take it……….." she looked intensely at his face, "differently" she spat the last word out.
Eli glanced at her stern face from the corner of his eye, his brow creasing as he played over what had just happened.
ELI why cant things just go the way I plan? Just once? ………..why does Grace have to love me?
Frustrated, he rose from the bed, and walked to the small window at the opposite end of the garage.
ELI why do I have to love her?
"This would be so much easier if you didn't just say that…………." Eli muttered.
"What?" Grace asked quickly.
Eli turned around, her eyes wide and glaring as she awaited an answer.
"What would be easier?" she urged.
Eli sighed and turned away from her again.
"Oh no Eli!" she yelled, "You cant do that!……….you cant turn away from me!"
When Eli turned back, he found that Grace was standing, and was only a few steps away from him.
"I am sorry that I just said what I said…………. I know you have something really big to tell me………..and I know it's difficult for you, by me………saying………what I said………." Grace refused to repeat those words again, those words that had created this chasm between them in a matter of minutes.
"But I said them because…………. I got this strange feeling that what you were going to say is going to change us………..!"
Eli turned back to her, his eyes sad, and frustrated at the same time.
Grace's face dropped, lost its angry edge as she looked into his saddened eyes: "I'm right, aren't I?" she asked, in a small voice; "something's happened………or going to happen……….to us?"
Eli gave a small nod.
Grace gave a shaky sigh, as though she was struggling to fight back tears, she ran a hand through her hair; "I knew it!" she breathed.
"I'm sorry Grace" Eli said, quietly.
Grace bowed her head, "this is exactly why I said it! Because……….." she looked up, searching his face, "I meant it Eli………. I really do love you. I've loved you from the moment I saw you, 2 years ago now………. I loved you when I knew nothing could happen between us………..and I loved you even more when I tried to fight it!" she took a small breath, "and I love you so much now that I have you……….now that we have us………..against all odds………….and I don't want to lose you!"
ELI don't……….don't……….
Eli turned away for a moment; knowing he could do two things now.
He could tell Grace about Philadelphia, and crush her………..or………..he could not tell her, and just say…………..
"I've waited so long to hear you say that"
He turned back to her, comforted to see a small smile tugging at her lips; "because I have loved you for the longest time………" he added, quietly.
Grace let out a small, excited breath; "I love you so much Eli Sammler!" she said, with a grin.
Eli allowed a small smile to spread across his lips; he effortlessly opened his arms, and Grace ran into them- their lips connecting as his arms enclosed safely around her.
ELI why do I have to love her so much?
Grace pulled away, staring into Eli's face, tears streaming down her face.
"I was so scared to say that I loved you………." She murmured.
"Why?" Eli asked, quietly.
Grace smiled, "Because then I'd know……….that I had fallen for you……...completely and totally………..no turning back"
ELI oh………no………..
Eli forced a smile, and pushed Philadelphia to the back of his mind; "I fell for you along time ago!" he murmured.
Grace's lips played against his, tempting him, but not kissing; "I love you so much………completely………..and totally" she murmured huskily, and pressed his lips against his, in a feverish kiss.
Eli's arms tightened around her curvy middle, holding her tight, not wanting to let her go………because he knew………eventually………in the distant future……...he would………..
Grace pulled away, looking into his eyes, those deep eyes.
