SEASON 2

5 years later


"Mr Sammler?" a young man in his twenties called out, as he scurried along the long office hallway, a few steps behind a sleek man in a navy blue suit.

"Mr Sammler?" he called again.

"Not now Peter!" Eli replied as he moved swiftly through the crowds of people, nodding with acknowledgement when somebody called a hello out to him.

"But there's a message!"

He stopped walking and turned around, he was unimpressed- "the idea of taking a message is to take a message for me when I cant reply………" he said, in a fed up tone.

Peter nodded, "I understand that sir……..but………." he started, but Eli cut him off.

"I cant take a message right now……..so you take it for me……..and when I go back to my office after this meeting……..you give it to me!" Eli said, "Got it?"

Peter nodded again, "I understand that sir! And I know you have a business meeting……..but it was you're sister………miss Jessie?" Peter was breathless, and struggled to say her name.

Eli rolled his eyes, "well seeming as your halfway through the message…….." he sighed, "you may aswell tell me the whole thing!"

Peter nodded, and flipped through his note pad; "she says you're a slack ass for not calling her back………" he said, scanning through the message which took up nearly half a page, "………and she has some urgent news for you………which she hates having to report through you're messenger………." Peter paused and looked up at his boss, "that's me!" he clarified, and Eli rolled his eyes; "oh……..and……… err……….she said the urgent news is that she and Katie are getting married………."

Eli's jaw dropped.

"Oh……..and she said to me that she bets your jaw will drop!" Peter said, and then gave a hoarse laugh.

"Show me that!" Eli said, snatching his note pad. He scanned the message……it was all there……..Jessie and Katie's wedding………she asked that he be there next week for the ceremony.

Eli handed Peter back his notepad, "send her my apologies for not replying personally………but tell her I'd love to be there for her special day………and tell her………."

"Congratulations?" Peter ended for him, and Eli nodded, "of course!" he said, and turned on his heel- heading into a large office filled with businessmen. He swung the doors open, and when he entered all heads turned in attention.

"Lets discuss our new building in New York, Gentlemen!" he announced, and walked to the front of the room.


Grace flipped through the pages of her poetry book. She took her yellow high lighter out and underlined a passage. She was lying on her bed, in her dorm room- the door was open, and students were bustling by, being typical college students- loud and boisterous.

She could hardly hear her phone when it rang. She quickly jumped up and surveyed the messy dorm room- bras and clothes strewn all over the floor and furniture, books and loose leaf papers covering the desks- she heard the ringing get louder as she walked to her bed, the messy covers in a tangle- she shifted them and found the phone, pressing the speak button she held it to her ear.

"Hello?"

"I have some big news!"

"What's that Jess?" Grace asked, she listened intently as Jessie spoke.

"Well……….I am getting married!"

"Yeah! Right! Pull the other one, Jess!" Grace laughed, putting a hand on her hip.

There was a dead silence on the other end. Grace headed for the door, closing it carefully, she bit her bottom lip; "your serious?" she asked cautiously.

"Yes!" Jessie squealed, and Grace soon joined her.

Once their noise had died down, Grace asked for the details; "everyone going to be there!" Jessie exclaimed, "a family reunion and wedding in one!" she beamed.

Grace became quiet then, and almost telepathically, Jessie knew what thought had crossed her mind; "he's going to be there aswell!"

Grace cleared her throat, "who?" she asked, as though she didn't understand.

"Eli!"

"Oh! Of course he'd be there………he is you're brother after all!"

There was a short pause, "you two haven't seen or spoken in 4 years, Grace"

"5"

"What?"

"We haven't spoken……..or seen each other in 5 years………" she corrected.

Jessie sighed, "Your still going to come home for the wedding, aren't you?" she asked, in a sullen voice.

Grace didn't say anything for quite some time, she rubbed her brow and sighed; "of course! It's you're big day………you and Katie have spoken about this for years and now all you're dreams are going to finally come true! I'm happy for you and offended that you'd think I wouldn't come!"

Jessie laughed, "Good! Because I am dying to see you again! Last summer holidays seemed an age ago!"

Grace nodded and smiled as she remembered the long, humid days sitting on the banana lounge in their back garden- next to Katie and Jessie, all three in their bikini's.

"Will you're beau be coming along aswell?" Jessie asked mischievously.

Grace bit her bottom lip again, Jeremy- the guy she'd brought down for summer vacation last year- they had ended badly………3 months ago;

"Oh……..err…….. I really don't think he……….err………..can make it………" she mumbled.

"Grace!" Jessie growled, "He was a good one! Funny, smart, good looking, charming…….. I may be a lesbian……….but I can still pick the good ones!"

"I know! I know!"

"Well you can bring along whoever the new man is in you're life!"

Grace cleared her throat, and ran a hand through her hair; "Is…….…" she cleared her throat again, "Is Eli bringing anyone?" she asked, quietly.

There was silence on the other end, and Grace cursed herself for being so blunt and straightforward!

"As far as I know………" Jessie began, "No he is not………"

"Oh………not even………."

"Isabelle?" Jessie supplied.

Grace's face turned red; "was that her name?" she asked feigning stupidity.

Jessie sighed; "Yes it was! And no he's not………."

"I thought……….I mean you're mother said………."

"Talk of an engagement? No, that was just my mother being hopeful for grandchildren……….Isabelle and Eli broke it off a few months ago now……….according to dad"

Grace walked to her bed again, and sat on the edge; "Oh………well if he's not bringing anyone………I don't want to rub it in or anything………I might go stag……….." Grace mumbled.

Jessie laughed, "fine! Fine! Just so long as you get you're butt down here in three weeks time!"

Grace laughed aswell, "Ok! Congratulations, Jess! Speak to you soon"

"Bye Gracie!"

She rolled her eyes and hung the phone up, pressing it against her chest- she fell back onto her bed

"Eli Sammler" she whispered under her breath, closing her eyes as she tried to picture him in her mind. She remembered his eyes so well; those deep, brooding eyes. And cheeky smile, that smile could melt her heart and make her weak in the knees.

But the image she had was of a 19 something, punk rocker. She was sure that after 5 years and a totally different lifestyle he wouldn't look the same as she remembered.

She opened her eyes again, and stood up- she walked to her dresser at the side of the room- and opened one of the drawers. She shifted aside her bras and underwear, and pulled out a faded photograph. It was of her and Eli, a close up of their smiling faces.

She studied the picture carefully; he did have beautiful eyes, a deep green with a speck of brown.

"Actually………...I don't have a really good picture of the girl I truly love…………..."

She smiled as she recalled his words, and how she had snuggled up close to him, leaning her head on his chest and smiled into the camera as he held it out.

"Now I do!" he'd said, lowering the camera.

Grace let out a small laugh, when there came a knock at the door. She stuffed the photo away again, closing the drawer, and headed for the door- opening it, to find Carol- her best friend, standing on the other side.

"Guess who's having a screaming match on the front lawn………again………….?" Carol smiled, stepping into Grace's room.

She closed the door behind her, and tilted her head to the side slightly; "Hmmm………let me guess……….." Grace murmured.

"Linda and Robert!……." Carol supplied, collapsing onto Grace's bed.

"Again!" Grace exclaimed with a laugh, "that's the fourth time they have broken up this week!"

Carol laughed, "I know! I know!" she sat up and looked at Grace with a smile, "but Linda is certain he's cheating on her this time because she found a white sock in the backseat of his car………which Rob claims to belong to one of his soccer buddies that he was giving a lift to after practice!"

"Linda has got to find something more substantial evidence to base her melodramatic outbursts on!" Grace sighed.

Carol had been Grace's saviour when she first came to the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. She was a year older than Grace, and was appointed her 'buddy'. The two girls hit it off instantly, and had been attached at the hip ever since. They were taking mostly the same courses, and Grace was totally dependent on her to get her through the first year of Uni.

Carol was a real sweetheart- she was African American, and her green emerald eyes reminded Grace of Eli- which only made her homesickness even worse when she first arrived.

But Carol was so laid back and funny- she was the only one that could make Grace crack even the tiniest smile when she was stressing out over her latest exam or essay that was due in tomorrow.

Carol was beautiful- she had all the guys on campus drooling over her- with her curvy waist and abnormally large boobs (Carol calls them her two little miracles!) and killer smile. Alas, she was attached to someone back home in Ohio- his name was Samuel- and they'd been going out for 3 years now.

Grace walked over to her bed, and sat beside Carol- who instantly sensed something was wrong- "wanna grab some pop corn and park ourselves on the front lawn to watch the lovers quarrel?" she asked, giggling.

Grace shook her head solemnly; "why not?" Carol asked, turning to face her, "what's wrong sugar pie?" she asked, wrapping an arm around Grace's shoulders.

"Everything!" Grace moaned, leaning into her friend.

Carol laughed, "your gonna have to break it down a bit Gracie!"

"Jessie and Katie are getting married," she mumbled.

"Well that's great! Your always saying how those two have been trying to get hitched! But what with their busy schedules………."

"I have to go down there in 3 weeks to be at the ceremony" Grace cut her off.

Carol unhooked her arm from Grace's shoulders, and studied her sunken face carefully; "and……….?" She urged.

"And………." Grace sighed, "and………Eli is going to be there………."

Carol brought a hand to her mouth and gasped

"The one that you think of every time 'I wanna be with you' comes on the radio?" she asked, and Grace nodded solemnly

"The perfect high school boyfriend who every other boy gets compared to, and who no ones lived up to yet?" she asked, and Grace gave the same, sullen nod.

"The one who is also you're stepbrother and who flew out of you're life 5 yeas ago to take a job in Philadelphia………who you have had no contact with in 5 long years!" Carol asked, beginning to hyperventilate. Grace rolled her eyes and nodded.

"The one who………." Carol started again, but Grace clasped her hand around her mouth, "yes! That one! The one guy I ever truly loved……….the one guy who broke my heart into a thousand pieces………the one guy that I still dream about………..yes! That would be Eli Sammler!" she clarified, and lowered her hand.

"5 years is a long time!" Carol whispered.

"I know!"

"A really………really long time………."

"Yes it is"

"Do you think he has changed much?" Carol asked, turning to her.

"I'm sure he has"

"Is he………" Carol started, and Grace turned to her.

"He was with someone called Isabelle for a year………..but he broke it off 6 months ago………."

Carol nodded, "they were engaged to be married……….remember?" Grace added, and Carol nodded again; "you wouldn't come out of you're dorm room for a week……….you sent me out everyday to buy you a tub of ice-cream from Baskin robins!"

GRACE I was very emotional………..(bites her bottom lip)

"Wow! Grace………" Carol murmured, "I mean……..wow!"

Grace nodded, "we have been avoiding each other for 5 years!"

It was actually quite easy for Eli and Grace to avoid each other. What with her going off to Wilmington a year after he left- since then, whenever they both came down for the holidays, they would conveniently orchestrate it so that they spent time at their other parents house when the other was at Rick and Lily's.

They knew little about each other's lives only through what their parents told them about one another.

Lily had told Grace that Eli had met a very nice girl who worked in the office, her name was Isabelle, and she and Eli had been on one or two dates- but it was nothing too serious. 4 months later, Grace was surprised to hear Jessie say that Eli and Isabelle were still going strong. And then the big punch in the guts came when Grace went down to her mother and Rick's for Christmas- Eli had already left 2 days before Grace arrived, because he'd promised Isabelle he'd have dinner with her folks in New York- Lily told Grace that there was some talk about Eli proposing to Isabelle. Grace felt like she could curl up and die right there………right in the middle of their turkey dinner.

When she got back to Wilmington, Jessie called- and said there were plans in the works for a September wedding next year. That was the week Grace spent in her room, dining on Baskin Robins ice cream and watching as many Adam Sandler movies as possible- to try and cheer herself up!

But then, the wedding talk ended…….…and next thing she heard………Isabelle had moved out of her and Eli's swish apartment, and was living with her parents back in New York.

"Geez Grace………" Carol murmured, reaching over and clasping her friend's hand, "are you ok?" she asked, softly.

Grace gave a small nod, "I………I guess I am…….." she mumbled.

Carol squeezed her hand, "well……….you have three weeks……..that's plenty of time to psyche yourself up………."

Grace nodded.

"And………I'm here for you aswell……….."

Grace turned to her and smiled, "thank god for you!"


Jessie bounced into the living room, an inevitable smile plastered across her lips.

"Good news!" she announced as she set the phone down, and spun around to face Katie who was sprawled out on the couch, legs dangling over the sides, magazine in hand.

She looked up and smiled, adjusting herself to sit up, she patted the space next to her- Jessie sat down infront of her, grabbing her hands and squeezing them tight.

"This is really happening…………." She beamed.

Katie smiled right back, "this all feels so surreal!" she squealed.

"I know! I know!" Jessie agreed, squeezing Katie's hands again, "this is going to be so wonderful!"

"We are actually, finally, definitely going to get married, Jess!"

JESSIE while I really don't need a piece of paper to declare my love for Katie……….its still nice………..and just another step in our relationship! Like another piece of our puzzle.

Katie leaned forward, and brushed her soft lips against Jessie's; "I love you," she whispered, before pressing into a kiss.

When they pulled away, Jessie reached up and brushed the back of her hand against Katie's cheek, "I love you too" she smiled.

Katie looked down at the magazine still in her hands- "Oh" she said, "look at this" she handed Jessie the magazine, which she took and studied carefully.

A medium sized add, amidst pictures of floral tops under $20 and denim jeans that give you a J-Lo rear, was an add for twilight boutique- with 3 small pictures of floral tops sold there, and a pair of jeans.

"This is amazing!" Jessie smiled, looking up at Katie. She looked down again; turning the magazine over to see the cover- it was 'teen girl'.

"Its no Cosmo!" Katie sighed; acting as though the exposure was nothing.

"No" Jessie agreed, "Its better!"

Katie broke into a small smile and straightened, leaning over to examine the ad again, "well……….I guess my designs are breaking into the teen-market……….."

Jessie turned to her, "of course they are!" she reassured.

"And I got that call on Wednesday from 'Cosmo girl' saying they're considering advertising my shop in the November issue!" Katie added.

"That's one step away from Cosmo!" Jessie smiled.

Katie leaned her head against Jessie's shoulder, continuing to look down at the ad, "I guess everything is finally happening!"

"Looks like it" Jessie replied, handing the magazine back to Katie.

The girls had come along way since they were teenagers. They were 21 now, and living in their own apartment, atleast a 20-minute drive from Rick and Lily's house.

Katie had done a design course at the local University for one and a half years, but found that all the work interrupted with her creative genius- so she dropped out and started working for a local designer, who gave her good work, good pay………and a hell of a lot of experience! So much so, that after working under her for a year, Katie opened her own boutique, hired a few of her University design friends who had also dropped out over the summer- and got her career up and running.

She called the boutique 'twilight', and her label was 'twilight temptress'. Her motto was 'don't dress to hide who you are……….dress to show who you are'- the motto was painted on her shop window. She got the idea from Jessie, who reminded her of the time Katie had said those very words to her "You ever notice that no one our age dresses to show who they are? They dress to hide who they are."

The first year was hard- just trying to figure out a way of being recognised. But eventually, through word of mouth, customers started coming in- more and more each month. And pretty soon Katie's twilight boutique was one of the coolest independent labels. It was only a few months ago that she sent out pictures of her items to big magazines, and her label was being printed in them.

Jessie always knew Katie had a creative flare……..everyone always knew- Katie being a designer just fit………it was her, through and through. Jessie on the other hand………no body would have guessed the path she chose for herself.

After completing her last 2 gruelling years at High School, Jessie was accepted into University's all over the country, but she chose to go to the local one, with Katie- neither of the girls bearing to be apart.

Everything was fine for a while, Jessie did a business course………which is where she thought her career lay……….but after a year, she soon saw that……..like so many things in her life………she was studying to be something her mother wanted her to be, not what she wanted to be. So, a huge shock to everyone, especially Karen, Jessie dropped out, and for a few months she didn't know what she wanted to be.

"Don't lose yourself in a job that doesn't make you happy" was Katie's only advise………which really helped Jessie……….she went down to the local youth centre and talked to one of the counsellor's, Jessie told her her whole life story of Anorexia and coming out. The counsellor, Miss Mayan, said Jessie should complete a 6 week course and come join her at the youth centre- what with Jessie's experience, she would be an asset to the centre.

Jessie did just that- and, for the last year she's been a counsellor at the centre. Its not the best pay. And its not the ideal job Karen had in mind for her little girl. But Jessie hasn't been happier, helping those who have similar problems to what she did at their age. She says it's very therapeutic.

"I was just talking to Gracie…….." Jessie said, turning to Katie.

She looked up from the magazine, "and what did she say to the good news?"

"She is ecstatic, of course!" Jessie smiled.

Katie smiled aswell, then looked back down, concentrating for a moment longer before looking up again, a dark expression of realisation on her face; "did you tell her about………..?"

Jessie nodded, not needing to hear the rest of Katie's question.

"And she's still coming………?" Katie asked, and Jessie nodded.

"And………have you talked to Eli yet?"

"I got his message boy"

Katie bit her lip, "so he doesn't know about Grace……….."

Jessie shook her head, "well I presume he'd know she's coming!"

Katie gave a small nod, "let's hope so……….I'd hate to see an awkward reunion between those two………."

Jessie nodded, "I think whether they know about the other coming or not………it's going to be awkward……….." she sighed, "very awkward!"

Katie nodded, "Lets not let it spoil the big day though………ok?"

Jessie turned to her and gave a reassuring half smile, "of course they wont!"

Katie leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, "and don't you stress over it, ok?"

Jessie gave a small nod, "I wont" she replied, unconvincingly.

Katie put the magazine down, and turned her body to face Jessie, "I mean it Jess! Don't put any pressure on those two!"

"Pressure!" Jessie asked, feigning stupidity.

Katie rolled her eyes, "You know exactly what I mean! Every Christmas and thanksgiving you try to bring them both down to Lily's to spend the day together………..you're always telling one to call the other………..and always making sure they both send each other birthday cards……….don't put pressure on them to get back together!"

"But! This could be the perfect opportunity!……….." Jessie started.

"Some things just aren't meant to be, Jess……….don't push them……….just be grateful to have them in the same house together, ok?" Katie said, sternly, searching Jessie's eyes.

Jessie gave a small nod, "ok" she mumbled, "I have to go make a quick phone call" she added, getting up from the couch.


Eli picked up the newspaper that was on his kitchen bench, scanning the headlines, when his phone rang.

He sighed and stared down at his black, cordless phone as the menacing ring pierced his quiet apartment.

"Go away" he mumbled, picking up his hot coffee mug and bringing it to his lips.

His phone beeped as the answering machine came on; "This is Eli Sammler, I am not in right now, please leave you're name and phone number and I will try to get back to you" Beep.

Eli suspended the mug against his lips as he waited for a voice; "Eli? This is Jessie!"

He looked down at the phone, setting down his newspaper, he considered picking up the phone- but waited instead, coffee mug in hand.

"Your obviously not in right now………which is strange because it's 6:30 and you should be home by now…………." There was a short pause as Jessie sighed, "well anyway………. I suppose you got the message today……..about my wedding………."

Eli gave a small nod, and waited for his sister to go on.

"Well it came to me just a moment ago that I may have left out a crucial detail in my message………"

Eli raised an eyebrow and set his mug down, staring down at the phone, hard.

"That crucial detail being about a crucial person in both our lives……..and I say crucial person in my life to emphasise the fact that I know you probably wont like the idea of her coming down and you being in the same room as her…………..but she is very close to me and I want her there and………." She paused for a moment, collecting herself, "what I am saying is that I really want Grace to be there………and she has agreed to………knowing that you'll be there aswell……….hopefully………"

Eli had stopped listening to Jessie's voice- he was concentrating on his breathing now, as he stared into space, Grace's name repeating itself in the back of his mind.

Jessie cleared her throat, "yes so………Grace Manning will be there………definitely……….without a doubt……….just wanted you to know………..love you! Call me sometime!" Beep, she'd hung up.

Eli blinked, and turned away from the phone. He grabbed onto the bench to steady himself……….it felt like his kitchen was spinning………or was it his head?

He finally took a long breath and blinked again. Grace Manning. The Grace Manning………..the one that broke his heart after he broke hers………the one he had blocked from his memory for the last five years in order to get on with his life. The love he'd left behind. His stepsister.

Eli moved himself; he walked into the lounge room- the biggest room in his swish apartment. With a long seven seater black couch, open fireplace, stylish rug and oak coffee table and bookcase.

He walked to the bookcase, and rummaged through the rows of c.d's. He finally found it, in between 'the clash' and 'guns and roses', was the picture. He'd taken it out of its frame; it was folded, creased and faded. He opened it, and studied her angelic face and curvy body in his arms as they swayed in a perfect dance at Jessie's birthday.

He had kept the picture by his bed for months after first arriving in Philadelphia. Looking at her reminded him of home, of a comfort deep inside himself.

But the first few months at work were difficult. He was shy and unsure of what he was doing there. Nobody at the company was taking him seriously and all Eli thought about was quitting and returning home.

But then he realised his problem, he was still stuck at home………in his mind……….he kept replaying all the moments he'd spent with Grace, in his mind………….all he ever thought about was calling or writing her (not that he ever did)………so he took the big step and tucked the picture away, and tried putting away memories of her aswell.

It took a while, longer than he expected, but eventually Grace was the last thing on his mind. And his first 2 years in his new job were successful, smooth………..exactly what he needed.

Pretty soon he'd forgotten of a time when he'd been in love. Little things about her faded away, just like the picture. He couldn't remember whether she wore lavender or vanilla perfume…………..he forgot about the way her hair fell across her brow when she slept………or how she had closed her eyes when they made love……….forgetting all the little things made it harder for him to remember the big moments………like what they had said to one another the first time they had sex, or his pleading for her when she had been with Ayden and he had wanted her so badly.

He knew so little about her as life went on. All he knew was that she attended University in Wilmington, stayed in a dorm room there, according to Jessie had a different boyfriend every 2 weeks and……...most recently……….had been offered a job at a big publishing house, which she accepted and intended to start working at early next year when she finished Uni.

Now she was lunging back into his life. And he didn't know how that made him feel.

ELI well its not as though I have to spend months with her………it's a week……….tops! Just during Jessie's wedding………then she can step right back out of my life again………simple!

Eli sat down on his couch, studying the picture in his hands.

As he studied her face, a few memories came back to him. He wasn't sure………but he was almost certain that there had been one time when he walked in on her getting changed………..?

He ran a hand through his hair and put the picture down on the coffee table infront of him, beside the framed one of him and Isabelle in New York. Her wild, red curls were in a high ponytail, her red lips curved into a huge smile. And her brilliant blue eyes sparkled.

In the photo, Eli wore a black trench coat, and a half smile, his arm around Isabelle's waist- with the central park background behind them. A passer by had taken the photo for them. Isabelle had joked about the jogger running off with their camera, and how surprising it would be to be mugged in New York.

She had moved out 6 months ago, but Eli hadn't the heart to tuck the photo away or send it off to Isabelle like he did with the rest of her things he'd found lying around the place a few weeks after she had left.

He sighed and looked from one photo to the other.

He wondered what Grace was like now. He remembered a shy sixteen-year-old girl that had melted his heart with her brilliance and kindness.

But stories of Grace going through boyfriend after boyfriend had shocked Eli. He wondered if she had 'commitment problems' because of him……….a phrase he'd learnt from Isabelle, after she repeated it again and again.

Grace………the Grace he knew and fell in love with……...was careful in life, especially with matters of the heart. It seemed now, though, grown up Grace took chances and broke hearts.

He wondered if she still looked the same………he only had an image of a sixteen-year-old beauty……….would her hair have grown much? Would she be taller? Thinner? Fatter? Would he be able to see wisdom in her eyes and face?

Would her skin still be as soft as he vaguely remembered?

Eli sat back and ran a hand through his hair again.

ELI a part of me wants to find out……….


AUTHORS NOTE-

ok, second season started with an extra long chapter! Did you like it? I want to explain the characters a bit more in up-coming chapters, ok? But seriously………..love it or hate it………tell me! Review! Please!

Its good to be back! Wait a little while for an update.