Jessie sat at the kitchen counter, solemnly sipping her hot chocolate. Her eyes were red and swollen, and she didn't speak a word to anyone, not even her brother as he strode into the kitchen.
"Morning" he smiled, heading to the fridge to get a carton of orange juice.
Lily, who was sitting quietly at the kitchen table reading the paper, barely acknowledged him with a small nod.
Eli didn't seem to notice as he drank from the carton.
"Morning"
Lily and Jessie both lifted their heads as Grace entered the kitchen, in much the same 'overly happy' mood as Eli.
"Morning" Eli beamed, handing her the carton.
Grace shook her head and scrunched her nose up, reaching into the cupboard for a glass instead, and pouring herself some juice.
Eli shrugged and wiped his mouth on his shirtsleeve; "I'm going over to Jason's for band practice" he said, turning to Lily.
"Fine" she replied
Eli turned to Grace, and quickly winked at her.
"Can you take me to the library?" Grace asked Eli, holding down a smile as Eli raised an eyebrow at her lame excuse.
"I need to find some books for my history project on the cold war" Grace added, just incase her mother was suspicious.
"Yeah……..sure………whatever" Eli said, walking out of the kitchen, a smile creeping across his lips.
"Be back at around one, mum" Grace said, following Eli.
"Fine" Lily replied lamely again, without lifting her head.
GRACE we're getting good at this……….we're into a rhythm! I don't know if that's such a good thing though…………
"Why don't you do that anymore?"
Eli looked over at Grace, and then back to the road; "do what?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Band?"
Eli gripped the steering wheel a little harder, his knuckles went slightly white; but Grace didn't say anything.
"I still do band practice………." Eli started, after a long time.
"No you don't" Grace replied quickly.
Eli straightened in the car seat, but still didn't look over at Grace; "well………I don't have time anymore……..what with the bookstore, and………."
"Me?" Grace supplied.
"Well………I do like spending time with you………." He started, but Grace interrupted again.
"I don't want to be the reason that you waste you're talent!"
Eli nearly swerved off the road as she said that; but regained control, and looked over at her for a moment, and then concentrated back on the road.
"What do you mean?" he asked clumsily, they were the only words he could muster.
Grace glanced out her window, noticing clouds gathering in the sky, she turned back to Eli; "I mean………. I love you, and I love spending time with you, but I was just wondering why you don't concentrate on music so much anymore" she took a small breath, "it was once you're whole world" she added, quietly.
ELI once……..a long time ago……….not anymore.
He cleared his throat, "it was just a dream, Grace………" he paused, and she waited for him to say something else, but instead he only whispered again "just a stupid dream………" and Grace felt as though she should leave the conversation at that.
"You're not going, are you?"
"I don't know"
"They can't make you!"
Jessie dug her foot into the dirt; she didn't think Katie would understand if she tried explaining just how persuasive her mother could be.
"I don't know" Jessie replied again.
"Jesus, this sucks!" Katie exclaimed in one harsh breath.
Jessie nodded; Katie had just summed the whole situation up so perfectly.
"I know"
"No……..I mean this really……..mega sucks!" Katie exclaimed again.
"I know!"
Katie glanced over at Jessie, who was sitting motionless, on the swing beside her. She'd called Katie an hour ago and told her she needed to see her straight away. So, sure enough, Katie drove over; Jessie needed to get out of the house for a little while, so they walked to the nearby park.
"Sorry" Katie mumbled, moving the swing in a slow, circular motion.
Jessie looked over at Katie, "no………it's me……….I'm just a little high-strung at the moment………."
Katie stopped herself from swinging, and looked over at Jessie; the two held each other's gaze for the longest time.
"Everything's going to be fine………isn't it?" Jessie finally asked.
Katie gave a small nod; "you go to one session……….sit there all passive and teen angsty……….then tell you're parents you don't wanna go to another session cause it's a waste of you're time and their money………"
Jessie gave a small nod; "it juts hurts that they think I need to talk to somebody about this………when there is nothing wrong with me……….you know?"
Katie's foot entangled with Jessie's, pulling their swings close together; "this is just their way of dealing with it………" Katie said quietly "there's nothing wrong with you……….it's just……….parent's picture their little girls growing up, going off to college, meeting the perfect man, staring a family and eventually ending up with 3 kids, a two-storey house and a collie……….the lesbian factor never enters their minds………."
Jessie gave a small nod, "there's nothing wrong with me………" she repeated Katie's words, but her voice was shaky, and eventually a tear escaped.
Katie opened her arms, and pulled Jessie close, both girls still remaining on their swings as they held each other, "your going to be fine" Katie whispered, holding Jessie tight, "I'm right here".
Grace ran her hand through Eli's ruffled hair; his lips pressing softly against hers, and then harder as she pulled his body practically ontop of her.
"Grace" Eli murmured, struggling to pull away.
One of Grace's hands slid up and down his arm, while her other still ran through his hair.
"Grace" Eli said again, pulling free of her lips this time.
Grace propped herself up, onto her elbows and looked at Eli as he struggled to control his breath.
"We have to stop," he said, flushing red.
"Why?" Grace asked huskily, and then turned away from Eli as it struck her.
"Oh" she murmured, embarrassed, "I'm……err………sorry".
Grace sat up, and turned her back slightly to Eli; instead concentrating on the few people that were in the park. It had been a strange place for Eli to take her, especially seeming, as it would most likely rain in an hour or so. But still, it was nice, tranquil- to just lie around on the grass together, laughing and chatting like couples do………..forget the grass stains that would no doubt appear on the butt of her jeans………..it was nice to just, be with Eli………to be around him.
"I didn't know I had that effect on people……….." Grace murmured, her back still to Eli.
"What?" he asked, looking up at her.
She turned her head slightly, and cleared her throat; "I mean………I didn't know I could……….."
Eli let out a small laugh, "oh" he murmured, "well……….don't worry about it………"
Grace nodded her head, and watched as a lady jogged by; "does it always happen so easily?"
"What?" Eli asked, lying back down on the grass.
Grace slowly turned back to face Eli, relieved when she saw him lying down again- back to normal.
Grace's eyes looked anywhere but at Eli's face; she was too embarrassed, and felt childish.
"Oh" Eli suddenly clicked, he propped himself up on his elbows and stared at Grace; "it was………..well it's juts kind of hard………." He murmured.
"Do you want to have sex with me?" Grace asked, slowly and cautiously.
Eli almost fell backwards as Grace asked him the very question that was pressing on his mind while they were kissing………..only it wasn't 'if' he wanted to have sex, but more 'when'.
"Well………of course I do………." He murmured in reply.
Grace nodded, and fell silent as she positioned herself on her stomach, lying beside him.
"Are you getting impatient? Is that it?" She asked, turning away from him; she felt her cheeks turning a hot red.
ELI (scratches his head and sighs) Yes! A little……….maybe………I don't know! But yes………..I suppose………..
"No………it's just that I'm a guy, Grace and……….."
"Guys have needs?" she asked, a little sarcastically; turning to him, propping herself up on her elbows so she could see him properly.
Eli sighed, "well you asked!" was his only reply.
Grace bowed her head; "are you mad at me because I wont……..?" but Eli cut her off.
"No!" he said, quickly, "of course not Grace……...but you asked……….."
"It's because you've already had sex, and now that you're in a relationship with a virgin……….."
GRACE sex is this huge deal that everyone talks about……….but nobody really TALKS about………you know? Like the people that have done 'it' are in this secret society and they can't let anyone else in………not until they experience 'it' for themselves………..
"Grace!" Eli cut her off, "can we not discuss this?" he sighed.
"Sorry……… I just want to know………."
"All you need to know is I'm not ready until your ready……….ok?"
He turned away from her with a sigh; Grace allowed a small smile to creep across her lips as Eli's words brushed over her.
"Thankyou" she whispered, moving her body closer to his.
Eli turned back, just as Grace's face leaned into his; "I mean it Grace………I don't want to force you into anything" he said quietly, before their lips connected in a soft kiss.
When Grace pulled away she smiled; "I know" she whispered, and leaned into him again.
GRACE you know how people say 'you just know when the time is right'………..like it's this coded message inside yourself……….or a trigger that sets off at a certain time and tells you that your ready for sex……….?
Just as their kiss deepened, Eli felt a rain droplet on his bare arm; and Grace felt a cold bead of water run down her nose. They smiled, as they pulled away, and quickly scurried to their feet as rain began to fall from the now grey sky.
Eli reached for Grace hand, holding it tightly as they raced towards the car; unable to dodge the rain, by the time they both jumped in, they were soaked.
Grace let out a small laugh, which Eli soon echoed.
She turned to him, tendrils of soaked hair sticking to his forehead, beads of water running down his face.
Eli felt her eyes, and met her gaze; she looked so beautiful. Her hair, wild and as it stuck to her face, her lips a full red, and her eyes a rich brown.
Eli reached his hand out, and brushed it against her cold, wet cheek; "look at you" he whispered with a smile, tucking a wet strand of hair behind her ear.
Grace's hand slowly reached her cheek, and clasped Eli's as it rested against her cheek; "I love you" she smiled.
"I love you too" Eli replied; and they both moved close to one another; their lips were slippery and cold, but their kiss was deep and beautiful.
GRACE well……….. I think I know that it's time………..
AUTHORS NOTE:
A bit of a sexual reference in this chapter. Sorry. But I was remembering this scene from the 1999 film 'liberty heights', where this girl is over at a guys house, and her hand brushes against his leg as she reaches for a record; and he………..you know………..and it was just the funniest scene ever!
Hmmmm………..so there's my explanation for the 'tiny bit' rude scene. Sorry if it offended.
