"A toast……..to Eli!" Rick beamed, raising a wine glass. Everyone else at the table copied him, raising their glasses in a toast.
"To Eli!" they all said, in unison-, which just killed Grace.
Jessie's hand reached over and squeezed her stepsisters, and Grace felt some of the sadness melt away.
"Thankyou!" Eli murmured, looking around the table at all the broad smiles thrown at him- but his eyes landed on Grace who was sitting opposite him at the round table in the 'La Salsa' restaurant. They both awkwardly averted their gazes.
"Inter family relationships are so hard!" Grace whispered, leaning over to Jessie, who just squeezed her hand again.
"I think any relationship's a bitch!" Jessie replied quietly, and Grace sighed.
"I'm going outside for some fresh air!" Grace announced, pushing her chair out and standing.
"You feeling ok Gracie?" Lily asked, pushing her own chair out.
Grace raised a hand, "I'm fine……..just feel a headache coming on……… I'll go out by myself" she confirmed, and flashed a convincing smile at her mother.
"I have a Panadol in here somewhere………" Karen said, picking her bag up.
"Mum!" Jessie snapped, and Karen raised her head, "she's fine…….." Jessie ended, and looked down at the tablecloth.
"Thankyou anyway" Grace murmured, and she headed for the restaurants exit.
Eli watched her go, his eyes intently focussed on her figure as she walked through the doors.
He stood up, before he even knew what he was doing- "E?" his father asked.
"I'm just going to the bathroom" he murmured, and headed in that direction- but when he was sure no one noticed him, he bolted for the front door. Jessie watching him go, shook her head in disgrace.
It was cold outside, Grace was hugging herself and shifting her weight from foot to foot- her breaths were smoky white in the frosty air.
She didn't turn as the door opened, but as the figure approached, she made an effort to turn her head- she was unimpressed when she recognised it was Eli.
"You should get back inside……..don't want to miss you're party…….." she murmured, turning away from him.
"Well……..talking to you is more important right now…….." he replied, standing infront of her so her eyes couldn't ignore him.
"We've talked enough for one day!" Grace replied, and turned away, about to walk back into the restaurant, when Eli's hand rested on her shoulder, and something inside of her just melted and she had to turn back to him.
"I can't stand you being mad at me," he murmured quietly, retrieving his hand.
Grace was glad it was dark, so he couldn't see the calmed expression that came across her face when she touched him- or the pained one that came when he took his hand back.
Grace swallowed back a flood load of tears that she felt just bubbling to emerge; "let me be mad at you………please, Eli………don't try and apologize for any of this right now………" she whispered, quietly.
"I………I thought we could get through this………have one of those long-distance relationships……….but the more I thought about it………and believe me, I thought about it……….well……….the more it didn't make sense, because no doubt something would happen and………" he stammered, about to say more- when Grace leaned over and kissed him, a sultry, wet kiss- her lips were salty from fresh tears that had just escaped. Eli wrapped an arm around her middle, pulling her into him. This felt so right. So perfect. She felt so wonderful………and then she pulled away, touching a finger to her lips.
"I………I'm sorry………" she murmured, her voice cracking.
Eli mumbled something incoherent, his head light from the kiss.
"I need to be mad at you, Eli" she finally whispered, "please. It is the only way that I can keep you from seeing how much I really need you" Eli opened his mouth, about to say more. About to lean down and kiss her again. But she started walking back, she left their kiss dangling in his mind. Left him regretting himself.
"Knock, knock?" Jessie said as she pushed Grace's door open.
"Hey" Grace murmured, looking up from where she sat on the floor, at the end of her bed, diary in hand, still wearing the outfit she wore to dinner.
"Didn't much feel like going out tonight, did you?" Jessie asked quietly, as she took a seat on the ground beside her.
Grace shook her head glumly, "not much, no"
Jessie gave a sympathetic nod, "understandable" she murmured.
"Have you talked to him?" Grace asked, turning to her stepsister.
Jessie looked at her hands, "yeah….…..a bit……..he's being very passive about it all!"
Grace gave a small nod, "it's going to be a long three weeks, isn't it?" she asked in a small whisper, she felt her eyes tearing up again. She was so sick of crying, she was sure she was crying her life away.
Jessie put an arm around her shoulders, and Grace lowered her head to sit on Jessie's shoulder, "Yeah……..but you won't be alone………" Jessie replied as she rubbed Grace's arm soothingly.
"Morning, E?"
"I'm busy!"
"It's you're father!" Rick replied, and the door flung open.
"Packing already?" Rick said, entering the room full of boxes.
Eli nodded, "yeah……..I'll need you to send some of the bigger stuff up later on……once I'm settled" Eli said, as he threw some more c.d's into a box.
Eli had started packing late last night, when Grace's kiss was still pressing against his lips and his brain wouldn't stop stirring. He needed to take his mind off things……….off her………….
Rick nodded, "sure, sure!" he said, surveying the clustered room, "your really looking forward to this, aren't you?" he asked, and Eli stopped packing for a moment to look up at his father.
"Yeah! I mean……out on my own……..it's just gonna be one big adventure!" he replied, half smiling.
"Yes……..but it can also be a lonely adventure, E!" Rick said, softly
Eli stopped packing again to look up at his father as he leaned against his chest of drawers.
"And I just want you to remember you always have a home here……and with you're mother………and there is also a nifty invention called a telephone……..so you can call either of us for anything!" Rick ran a hand through his thinning hair, "advice, chat……….anything!" he added, staring at his son.
Eli nodded, feeling a knot in his throat, "thanks, dad" and he went back to packing.
Rick nodded, and opened the door; walking out he was sure he heard Eli make a small moaning sound, as though he was crying, but he said nothing.
