As Eli slowly opened his eyes and took in his surroundings, he thought for sure he was his old 19-year-old self again. There were 'clash' posters on the walls, dark red curtains hung, drowning out the morning's light, there was a massive, black stereo in the corner of the room………all of it resembling remnants of his old life.
He rolled over, and came face to face with a poster of Courtney Love that was hanging on the wall beside Zoe's bed. He made a mumbled groan and rubbed his eyes. This was definitely not his room……….he would never hang a picture of 'that' face on his wall.
He rolled over and looked at his watch that was on Zoe's night table. It was 8:30 in the morning. He rolled over, and closed his eyes again, about to resume his slumber, when the bedroom door opened and Zoe appeared.
Her short hair was spiky; she wore baggy black jeans with a chain hanging off one of the pockets, and had on a black tank top with a white scull and cross-bones on it.
"Sorry, E!" she murmured, walking to her drawer.
He put a hand up, "no problem, Zoe!" he mumbled.
"Just gotta get my jacket and I'll be gone………." She announced, as she rifled through her drawers, pulling out one leg of a fishnet stocking, and slipping it over one of her arms.
Eli frowned as he watched her dig around deeper in the drawer and pull out mascara and lipstick-, which she started applying carefully as she stared into the mirror.
"Where are you going, dressed like that, anyway?" he asked, propping himself up on his elbows.
She looked at him in the mirror for a moment, and then concentrated back on her dark-red lipstick, "out" was all she said.
Eli rolled his eyes, "I'm not dad and Lily………you can tell me!"
She clenched her teeth and huffed, "Over to a friend's place………" she replied, vaguely.
Eli creased his brow and continued to look at her, until she couldn't stand his questioning stare for a second longer. She turned around and tilted her head to the side, "I'm going over to a GUY friend's place………he has band practice and wants me to hear him and his friends play………..but don't tell mum………she'd totally freak!"
"And why would she 'totally freak'?……….."
Zoe sighed, "Because she'd probably think he's a bad influence on me or something!" she muttered, turning back to the mirror.
"And why would she think this………" he left a space for Zoe to fill in the mysterious 'guy friend's' name.
"Albert" she said, rolling her eyes.
Eli held in his laughter, "and why would Lily think this, Albert, would be a bad influence on you?"
"Could you be any nosier?" Zoe spat.
Eli slowly nodded, "oh yeah!"
She rolled her eyes again; Eli thought they would surely roll right out of their sockets any second now. "Because he's kinda……...but not really……...a Goth………and mum has this stereotypical idea that all Goth's smoke pot and think of committing suicide 24/7……….which is so not Albert!"
He ran a hand through his hair, "Zoe……….just tell Lily where you're going!………or else, I'll have to!" he muttered.
Zoe walked to her closet and pulled her coat out, as she stomped towards the door Eli called out; "Zoe!" to which she replied, "Alright, alright! I'll tell mum!"
And before she slammed the door she yelled, "Nice to have you back, Eli!" with the most bitter tongue.
Eli's head hit the pillow again, "good to be back!" he groaned sarcastically.
Grace stumbled into the kitchen wearing her fluffy, orange nightgown. Her hair was matted, but her red, puffy eyes were toned down after a good night's sleep.
She opened her mouth wide as she opened the fridge door, and let out a drawn-out yawn.
"Nice to see you, too!" came a voice from behind her.
Grace spun around; a broad smile crossing her lips as she saw Aunt Judy standing before her, arms open to Grace, who ran straight into them.
"Oh! I am loving this outfit!" Judy laughed as she rubbed Grace's fluffy, orange back.
Grace hadn't seen Judy last holidays, or the holidays before last holidays. Judy had been backpacking around Europe with Sam Blue- her off again, on again boyfriend who she finally managed to catch- hook, line and sinker! They had a small wedding reception a few years ago, and had been happily (and faithfully!) married ever since. Sam's 2-year anniversary present for Judy was a one-way ticket to London, England where they began their trip that would span over one and a half yeas away from home.
"Good to see you, kiddo!" Judy laughed as she untangled herself from Grace's embrace.
"Its so great to see you too, Aunt Judy!"
Judy reached out and took Grace's hands, staring her in the face while wearing a wide smile; "Go get dressed………….then bring you're little butt down here for some serious girl talk! I want to know everything!" Judy smiled, "what University is like……….all about you're love life………no details excluded! Everything!"
Grace nodded happily.
"And then we'll grab Jessie and Katie……...and have a girls day out! Talking all about the wedding!" Judy beamed.
Grace smiled, and hugged her aunt again; "It really is good to see you, Judy!"
They pulled away again, "well! Scoot! Get changed!" Judy ordered.
Grace turned on her heel, and raced up the stairs. One thing she missed doing from her child-hood was spending long days with her Aunt Judy, the one person who seemed to 'get' her when her mother was just completely clueless about everything! A day with aunt Judy could make any bad situation just evaporate, because Judy was just one of those special people……….those people who could make everyone else around them feel at ease just by flashing a smile……….
Just as Grace walked past Zoe's bedroom, the door flung open and she collided with Eli- who was wearing boxer shorts and a t-shirt. They bumped heads, and then stepped back, hands to their foreheads wincing with pain.
"Ow! Jesus!" Grace hissed.
"Sorry!" Eli replied numbly.
Grace's head shot up as her amnesia wore off and she suddenly thought of who she had just crashed into.
"Eli!" she breathily whispered his name.
He looked up then aswell, removing his hand from his throbbing head. Last nights meeting suddenly came flooding back to him………along with some shooting pains in his temples.
"You have a strong head!" she whispered.
"What?" Eli asked, tilting his head to the side slightly. The way a puppy does when it doesn't understand a command.
She pointed to her own head, and Eli laughed and nodded; "oh! I could say the same about you!………" he replied, rubbing his forehead again.
Grace's face was blank as she stared at him. She thought, maybe, last night was just her imagination playing up on her. Eli hadn't really been standing infront of her last night………it was just a dream……….a strange, wonderful………dream?
When Grace didn't say anything in reply; only stared at him dully, he scratched his forehead and apologized again; just trying to fill in the sea of silence; "Are you ok? Sorry I bumped you like that!"
Grace blinked, and shook her head slightly; "fine……….that's fine………" she mumbled.
Eli gave a small nod, "Well I'm heading into the shower………." He said, stepping around her.
Grace's body moved with him, keeping a hold on his eyes, which looked a lot more natural and memorable than they did last night. "I………I'm going out………with Judy………" she muttered, still dazed.
"So you wont be home today?" Eli asked, and Grace gave a small nod.
"Ok……well have fun!…….." Eli said, turning around.
"Where?" Grace asked.
He turned back to her and laughed, "with Judy!" he reminded her, and Grace winced with pain at her stupidity.
"Right! Of course! Thanks! Have fun in the shower!" she replied, and instantly slapped her forehead with a flat palm.
"Err……..thanks!………" Eli said, over his shoulder.
He opened the bathroom door, but before stepping inside, he turned back to Grace "Nice nightgown!" he said with a grin, and walked inside, closing the door behind him.
Grace looked down at herself, and slapped her forehead again. "First the pyjama's……..now the nightgown!" she muttered, as she headed into her room.
"Oh look! It's my long-lost brother!" Jessie joked sarcastically as Eli entered the kitchen.
"Jess!" he smiled, opening his arms to her.
"Good to see you!" Jessie smiled as she squeezed her brother, "finally!" she added.
As they pulled away Eli gave a sympathetic shrug, "I'm sorry, Jess! But you know how busy I am………." He started.
Jessie held her hands up, silencing him, "I don't want to hear it! I'm just glad you took time out of you're busy schedule for you're sister's wedding!"
Eli pulled her in for another hug, ruffling her hair slightly with a clenched fist. Jessie giggled and pushed him away, playfully punching his chest; "still a pain!" she joked.
Eli smiled and walked to the kitchen bench, pulling out a mug from the top shelf and poured himself a coffee.
"This place never changes……do you notice that, Jess?" he asked, his back still to his sister.
"Well of course it doesn't!" she replied, picking up a piece of half-eaten toast from the plate infront of her.
Eli turned around, brining the hot coffee to his lips and taking a tentative sip.
"It's you that changes!" she said, and then took a bite.
Eli gave a small nod and looked down at his feet; his shiny brown shoes, spotless and proper. "Hmmm…..I never thought of it that way!" he murmured, taking another sip.
"Where's dad and Lily?" he asked, snapping out of his morning trance.
"Lily is at the station and dad's gone out to buy some more stakes for the tarp!"
Eli gave a small nod, "I hope Grace got a better welcoming party than I did!" he mumbled
Jessie's eyes widened, "speaking of Grace………" she began.
Eli put a hand up, "we have already seen each other……….there were no fireworks or catastrophes………just a nice, civil 'hello'!"
Jessie shrugged, "oh……that's nice…….." she murmured, trying not to hide her disappointment.
But Eli knew Jessie wasn't about to drop the pivotal 5-year reunion so easily; he counted down the seconds in his head until Jessie would open her mouth and demand details.
7,8,9,10………
"So what do you think of her?" she blurted out.
Eli sighed and ran a hand through his hair, then scratched his goatee in deep concentration; "she seems surprisingly like………." He began, allowing his sentence to elapse, knowing how eager Jessie was to hear his thoughts on his once love; "……….Grace Manning!" he ended, with a flop.
Jessie's shoulders sunk, "well then you obviously must have talked to her for only a second or two………because I believe if you really sit down and listen to her………you'll see she is nothing like the old Grace Manning!" Jessie replied.
Eli raised an eyebrow, "is that so?" he said, sipping the last of his coffee.
Jessie nodded, "but personality aside……..don't you think she is stunning?" she raised her own eyebrow.
ELI always have.
He cleared his throat and placed his mug in the sink, giving a small nod as he turned back to Jessie; "hmm….." he said, and grabbed the kettle, pouring himself some more coffee.
"You don't see what is right infront of you anymore, do you?" she said, as she slid off her stool.
Eli shrugged, "I'm going to head outside and breath in some air" he murmured, as he headed for the front door.
Jessie rolled her eyes and let out a small groan, "Impossible!" she muttered as she watched him open the front door.
"And Roger was too…………." Grace straightened her back, inclining that the boy she brought home 2 Christmas's ago was too 'stiff'.
Judy laughed, "there's nothing worse than a boy who cant make you laugh!…….." she murmured, taking another sip of her hot cocoa.
Grace nodded in agreement, kicking her foot slightly to gather some movement on the swing seat she and Judy were sitting on, on the front porch; "well then I met Harry at a fraternity party………" she began, when the front door opened and Eli appeared.
He looked at the two women and smiled.
"Eli!" Judy exclaimed, motioning for him to give her a kiss on the cheek.
He did, and as he pulled away, he shot a side-ways glance at Grace, who blushed red and sipped her cocoa hurriedly.
"Where have you been?" he asked, leaning against the porch railing.
Judy laughed; "backpacking around Europe………having the time of my life………just the usual!" she smiled.
Eli laughed and nodded, "of course!"
Grace cleared her throat and began ringing the hem of the blanket that was draped over her body.
"Oh! Grace and I were just discussing her love life!" Judy suddenly explained, patting Grace's knee.
Grace looked up at Eli who was looking out across the front lawn, seemingly uninterested in Grace's love life.
"Mind if I listen in?" he asked, without turning to Grace.
"Of course not!" Judy said, sipping her cocoa.
Grace could have pushed her off the swing seat!
GRACE (covers her face and groans) oh god!
"Go on Gracie………you met Harry………" Judy encouraged.
Eli looked down at Grace as she cleared her throat.
ELI Harry? (Raising an eyebrow)
"Well Harry tried a one-liner on me………" Grace began in a small voice, totally aware of Eli's presence.
Judy laughed, "oh no! Don't tell me it was the 'do you believe in love at first sight……or should I walk by again' one?"
Grace gave a small shake of her head and grinned, "no……..it was worse!" she giggled,
Grace cleared her throat and put on a deep-thunderous male voice, "did it hurt?" she said to Judy, who smiled and role-played, "what?" she asked, fluttering her eyes.
Eli laughed at the two of them.
Grace cleared her throat again, "when you fell out of heaven!"
Judy cracked up, "needless to say……….Mr Slick and I didn't last very long after that night!" Grace added, and sipped her cocoa.
Eli smirked, "Hey! If done right……..that line can do a lot for a man!" he interrupted the girls laughing, as both of them looked up at him.
Grace raised an eyebrow, "don't tell me you stoop so low as to use pick-up lines?" she asked.
Eli smiled wider, "what? Do you think I get girls just because of my looks?" he asked, and striked a pouty pose. Grace laughed and rolled her eyes, "so what's you're full proof one-liner?" she asked.
Eli looked Grace straight in the eye; she felt her whole body quiver. He gave a lazy, slick smile "The only thing your eyes haven't told me is your name?" he said, in a deep, romantic voice that sent her heart a flutter.
Judy laughed, "That's not half bad!" she smirked.
Grace and Eli broke their gaze and turned to Judy, with awkward smiles.
"Works every time!" he said, sipping some more of his coffee.
"So Grace, who is you're current beau?" Judy asked.
Eli looked at Grace, holding his breath as he awaited her answer.
"I am beau-less at the moment!" she replied, and Eli breathed.
"Maybe you should use Eli's pick-up line, hmm?" Judy asked.
Grace turned to Eli, flashing him a coy half-smile, "maybe I should!" she said huskily.
