ELI I knew it wouldn't be easy…for either of us.

He stared at himself in the mirror. The severe, black bags that had been under his eyes last week were starting to fade, and the creases in his brow were barely noticeable.

ELI stepping back into each other's lives after so long…how could that be easy for anyone?…especially with the ending we had!

He knew home and family was doing him a lot of good…he could feel it…the tenseness in his shoulders and neck was beginning to soothe…and his fatigue was wearing down with each morning he slept in until 9:00.

ELI it's hard…seeing her…remembering what we had but knowing I cant share it with anyone else but myself…. its hard remembering how much I hurt her…how much she hurt me…

Eli cupped a handful of water and splashed it on his face. It was cold and woke him up instantly. He reached for a washcloth and dabbed his face, then ran a hand through his ruffled hair.

ELI its even harder feeling this unbearable discomfort that looms between us…and I wonder, 'does she want to talk about it?'….should I just ignore it…or confront her…really talk to her? Does she want that?

He reached for his shirt and shrugged it on. After Grace's disappearing act last night…Eli decided he would sit down and talk with her today…really talk…about the past, present, future…everything!

ELI easier said than done…right?


"Grace?"

She jumped out of her skin when she heard Eli's deep, thunderous voice call her name. She was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee, and staring out the window at the clear blue skies.

"Jesus!" she hissed, dabbing at the spots on her white shirt when dabs of coffee had spilled from her mug.

"Oh! Sorry!" Eli said cautiously, handing her a tea towel.

She looked up and shrugged, "No problem…I'm sure it won't stain…" she lied.

Eli gave a small nod, and sat down opposite her, watching as she dabbed at the black stains.

After a moment, she felt his eyes and slowly looked up, nervously tucking a piece of hair behind her ear; "Eli…" she started, "do you want something?"

He looked away for a moment, and then connected his eyes with hers again; "actually…I do…now that you mention it…" he started.

Grace tucked a piece of hair behind her ear again, and fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat as he stared at her, "o-k" she said slowly, "What is it?"

GRACE I don't normally do this (dramatically tucks piece of hair behind her ear again) …. And I don't do this (dramatically fidgets)…I don't do that around guys! Its just him! Why is it just him!

"I think we need to talk!" Eli spoke cautiously and deeply, keeping his eyes intensely fixed on hers, "because lets face it Grace…we wont be able to survive this wedding the way we've been going…"

Grace cleared her throat and straightened, "what do you mean?" she asked, dumbly.

Eli gave a comforting half smile, "this…constant…awkwardness…don't tell me you haven't noticed it?"

She slowly began rubbing her hands together, "sorry" she said, with a small shake of her head, "I honestly don't know what you mean?"

He raised an eyebrow and motioned to her rubbing hands, "I know we have a history….not the best history…and right now it's interfering with the present…and I think we need to talk through it…don't you?"

GRACE yes!….no!…maybe!…. I don't know! (Groans) why don't I know with him?

He sighed, "Look…I was just going to propose that you and I spend the day together…ask each other those menacing questions that we both know are nagging at the back of our minds?"

She turned and looked out the window for a moment, today was a Wednesday…everyone would be at work…they could have some privacy…and she was dying to know about the mysterious Isabelle.
She turned back to him and gave a small shrug, "I guess so…if that's what you want…its not like I have anything better to do today?"


Grace and Eli avoided eyes as they sat across from one another in the busy, expensive restaurant of Eli's choice.

ELI easier said than done?…yeah! Right!

He cleared his throat, "So…University….how's that been?" he initiated the conversation.

GRACE after 5 years his nagging question is 'hows University?'….

ELI who did you date? Sexual relations? True love? Any proposals? Where will you be in another 5 years? Did you ever think about me? Do you still think about me now?….describe the guys that you dated….?

Grace cleared her throat, "well…err…..this is my last year…" she began, "and its all been going really….really….well"

Eli gave a small nod and they sat in silence for another decade.

"How has B & J booklovers been for you?" she asked, the question suddenly coming to mind.

He gave a small nod, "fine, fine"

They avoided eyes again, looking around the bustling restaurant, and the hordes of people.

"So…something to drink?" Eli asked, waving a waiter over.

Grace nodded and ordered an ice-tea, Eli asked for a whisky.

"Whisky?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Every now and again" he said, simply, and then they went back to avoiding eyes.

GRACE soooo…..this is going rather….uncomfortably.

"Shame we never got to see each other in the last 5 years….isn't it?" Eli suddenly asked.

Grace blinked and gave a small nod. He knew perfectly well that they planned it that way….there was no 'shame' about it….

ELI I have sort of…sometimes…every now and again…missed you?

"I heard bits and pieces about you!" Grace said, brining her ice-tea to her lips.

Eli found this rather amusing; he raised an eyebrow and gave a cheeky half smile, "all good things, I hope?"

Grace gave a small nod, "of sorts!"

"Of sorts?" he repeated, taking in her reply, "well….tell me what you know Miss Manning!…"

"Oh no!" she said sharply, with a smile on her lips, "this has to go both ways….!"

Eli gave a hoarse, half laugh and a small nod, "Alright…you ask me a burning question….I answer…and visa versa! Alright?"

Grace nodded, and sat back in her seat, eyeing him suspiciously; "Jessie tells me wavering amounts….but I am dying to set the record straight…" she raised an eyebrow, "how much do you earn?"

Eli laughed, "enough" he replied simply. But Grace wasn't satisfied; she found his foot under the table and gave him a swift kick. "Ouch! Ok! Ok!" he said, feigning pain, he unfolded the napkin that was lying on his plate, and took a pen from his pants pocket, scribbling down a number, and sliding the napkin over to Grace who nodded agreeably, "not bad! Not bad at all!" she murmured.

He sat back in his seat and scratched his goatee, "what was you're entry score?" he asked, smoothly.

Grace laughed and ran a hand through her wavy hair, "You don't want to know something like that!" she waved his question aside, "that sort of thing is boring!"

"Oh no! I answered yours!" he exclaimed.

She laughed again, and reached for his pen, scribbling down something on his napkin, and sliding it over to him. He nodded wisely, "not half bad!" he said, "you're modest….I'd be screaming that number from the rooftops…!"

"What makes you think that I didn't?" she asked, with a smile, "what's this New York job you're going for?" she asked, moving on.

"Just that…basically the position I hold now…but based in New York. The office will be bigger, so the work will be more hectic…and the pay a little steeper…" he answered.

"Steeper than that?" Grace asked, motioning towards the napkin, and Eli nodded with a smile.

"My turn!" he said, leaning forward, "what are you're plans after Uni?"

"I've been given a job at a publishing house in Charlotte…I am currently searching for an apartment there…and by next year I hope to be heading in you're direction…" she answered him.

"And where's that?"

"New York…they have their main house in the big apple…and I want to work there!"

ELI so close to one another?

Eli nodded with a smile, "its all working out for you, huh?", Grace nodded in reply.

"Ok, next question!" he said, reaching for his whisky.

GRACE just……ask……..what harm could it do?

"What was she like?" Grace asked, slowly and cautiously, with the smallest smile playing on her lips. She was actually enjoying getting to know Eli all over again….she was enjoying feeling comfortable around him again…it felt….nice.

Eli's glass was suspended against his lips. He slowly lowered it and looked Grace straight in the eye, "who?" he asked, slowly.

Grace fidgeted in her seat, "Isabelle….my mum and Jessie told me little about her…"

Eli placed his glass on the table, and sat back in his chair with a darkness across his face that wasn't there before; "I don't want to discuss that!" he said, simply.

"That?" Grace repeated with a frown.

"That!…her!…I don't want to discuss that topic!" he replied, sternly.

"You don't want to discuss it? Geez Eli…this isn't one of you're up-tight business meetings…." Grace began.

Eli moved in his seat, a deep scowl crossing his face, "How many frat-boys did you sleep with, Grace?" he suddenly asked, throwing her off balance.

"That is none of you're business!" she replied, bitterly.

"And Isabelle is none of yours!"

They stared each other down for an elapsed time, a thick hatred rising in the air. Grace couldn't believe Eli had just raised his voice at her, and neither could Eli….she also couldn't believe what he had asked.

ELI I…I didn't mean that! It's just…

Grace pushed her chair out.

"Where are you going?" Eli sighed, "sit down…I'm…"

"I'm catching a taxi!" Grace said simply, and walked towards the door.

Eli pushed his chair out and ran after her, grabbing her arm, she stopped walking- a few heads in the restaurant turned to watch the feud.

"Let me go Eli!"

"Look I am…"

"Let me go!" she said again, interrupting him.

He did as he was told, and watched her storm out of the restaurant to hail a cab. He had really blown it!


AUTHORS NOTE

Yes! I know I said season 2 would only be 10 chapters….but I'm having so much fun writing-up these new characters…it will span over a few more chapters. I don't know how many, 20? 30? Lets just see how it goes.

So…chapter 96 was the first real Eli/Grace scene…what did you think? Love it? Hate it? Please review!