"Dudes, you won't believe this!"
Cooper runs into the room, beaming. Eli is lying on top of his, strumming his guitar, frowning. Jules is sitting on the floor, flicking through a magazine and smoking a joint. He takes a hit and passes it on to Cooper who inhales quickly.
"What are you so worked up about?" Jules mutters.
"We've got a gig!" Cooper screams.
Jules looks up from the magazine and looks curiosly at Cooper. Eli keeps looking down at his guitar, not really caring about the good news.
"Common guys! This is great news."
Jules shrugs and goes back to the magazine. Eli takes a puff from the joint and sighs.
"What the hell is you're problem, Eli?"
"Why just ask me? What about Jules?"
"Jules is always moody. You've just been like this for the past few days."
Eli puts down his guitar and takes another drag from the joint.
"I've been seein' someone."
"Yeah, man? Who?"
"Uh…"
Jules and Cooper exchange glances and shrug.
"Dude?"
Eli looks down at his hands.
"I've been seeing Grace."
Jules and Cooper exchange glances again?
"Manning?" ask Cooper.
"Your step sister?" asks Jules.
Eli nods.
"Dude!" yells Cooper, "that's just…weird."
"Whaddya parents say?" asks Jules.
"What do you think? I haven't told them, dumbass."
"Sheesh. Relax," Jules replies and rolls his eyes.
"So, what's the problem them, man?" asks Cooper.
"We had a fight."
"What about?"
"I kinda told her she was a geek…and moody…and kinda stupid," Eli mutters.
Jules and Cooper crack up laughing.
"You're a frigging idiot, man," cracks Jules.
Eli throws a pillow at Jules' head but he ducks just in time.
"I know, man, I know," groans Eli.
Cooper laughs as he pulls out a cigarette and lights up.
"What?"
"Huh? Uh, nothin'…I just never pictured you with Manning."
"Hey, neither did I. It just kinda happened."
"Well, how'd you rate her?" Cooper asks and looks at Eli excitedly.
"Rate her?"
"Under the covers, man. Common. Details."
"Dude, I ain't tellin' you nothin'."
Cooper picks up the pillow next to Jules and throws it at Eli, completely missing him. Eli and Jules crack up laughing and roll their eyes. Cooper gets annoyed and takes a puff from his cigarette.
"Fine, don't tell us…"shrugs Cooper.
"Dude, just apologise and get it over with already," Jules tells Eli.
Eli groans, "I need to do something better than that, man."
Jules drums his fingers on his legs and thinks.
"I got it! At the gig coming up play her a song!"
Cooper rolls his eye.
"Geez you're one corny old fart," he laughs.
"Whatever, man," Jules shrugs.
Eli strums his guitar and thinks.
"Jules, man, I think you got it," smiles Eli and hi-fives Jules, but I think I should tell the folks too. Maybe Grace will be happier if I deal with it."
"You go, girlfriend!" laughs Jules
Cooper rolls his eyes and picks up a magazine.
"I really don't know about the two of you…" mutters Cooper.
Eli and Jules laugh together and go back to reading magazines and playing the guitar.
Lilly and Rick are sitting at the kitchen table. Lilly is sorting through the mail, muttering about the bills. Rick is sipping a glass of wine and flicking through the newspaper. Eli walks into the kitchen and sits down opposite them. They both notice him and glance at each other.
"What is it, E?" Rick asks cautiously.
"I have something I have to tell you guys."
Lilly takes a sip of Rick's wine.
"It's about Grace and me…"
Lilly takes a gulp of wine and then hands it to Rick. Rick takes a gulp too.
"We know, Eli," Lilly says slowly.
"You know?" Eli asks, looking from Lilly to Rick and then back to Lilly.
"I know you kids think we parents are oblivious but we still have a few braincells. Plus, we've seen the way you two look at each other," states Rick.
"Shit…ah sorry. We were so freaked about telling you, Grace especially."
"We're not over the moon about it, Eli. But we are willing to give you two a chance. I am worried about how your mother will react."
Eli winces and looks down at the table.
"Grace is angry with me," Eli murmurs.
"Eli, don't mess this up. A lot's at stake here, ok," Rick says sternly and points his finger at Eli.
"If you hurt my baby Eli, I don't know how I'll react."
Eli nods his head.
"I've thought of a way to make it up to her, so it better work," laughs Eli as he runs his hand through his hair. He then gets up from the table and starts to leave the room.
"I'm proud of you, E. Coming and telling us was very brave," says Rick.
"Thanks, Dad, Lilly."
Eli leaves the kitchen and Rick and Lilly exchange glances.
B/W Lilly: My baby's growing up.
B/W Rick: My son is becoming a man.