Chapter twenty
"And I really think Sam needs some time to get a hold of things."
Lilly nods in agreement as she starts undoes her bra. Rick is sitting on the bed taking off his shoes and socks.
"But it seems that he and Judy have formed some kind of connection. Why should we get in the way of that?"
Rick shakes his head.
"Fine, do what you like. I just hope it doesn't backfire," he shrugs.
Rick throws off his t-shirt and pulls on a pair of boxers. Lilly throws on her nightgown and gets into bed.
"So you must be proud of Eli."
Rick gets into bed and puts on his reading glasses.
"Of course I am, I just…"
"You just what, Rick?"
"I just hope he doesn't get caught up with this whole music thing and loses interest in school…and in Grace."
Lilly puts some hand cream in her hands and rubs it in.
"If we keep him grounded and remind him of what's important, I'm sure he'll be fine. Plus, there is no way Karen is going to be easy on him."
Rick is flicking through his book and lets out a laugh.
"That's for sure."
Lilly smirks and picks up her book.
"I just hope Grace will be able to handle this. She's so sensitive. This could crush her," Lilly murmurs as she finds her page.
"We'll make sure that everything works out," Rick reassures her and kisses her on the cheek.
"I hope so," Lilly sighs.
(next section)
Grace is lying in her bed, reading a text book for school and sipping a glass of milk. Her door slowly opens and Eli shuffles into her room.
"Can't handle the dark on your own, huh?" Grace jokes.
"Ha, ha, ha," Eli laughs sarcastically.
Grace puts down her book and pulls up her doona cover and Eli gets in. He raises his arm and Grace moves next to him and places her head on his chest. He strokes her hair and they lye there quietly for a few moments.
"So, are you going to remember me when you're famous?"
Eli laughs.
"I'm gonna dedicate every song to you, babe."
Grace laughs and kisses him on the chest.
"Just promise me that you won't leave me behind, ok."
Eli kisses her forehead.
"I promise," he murmurs as he continues to stroke her hair.
(next section)
Jessie is tossing in bed, trying to go to sleep, when she hears her mobile phone beep. She reaches over and finds a text message from Katie.
"Can't sleep. So bored. What u doing?" the message reads.
Jessie bites her lip.
"Can't sleep either. Tossing n Turning. Bored too."
Jessie puts the phone down and closes her eyes but the beep of her phone interrupts her.
"Didn't see you after class. You pissed off w/out saying bye. What happened?"
Once again Jessie bites her lip, unable to think of the right thing to write.
"Sorry. Had to go, Tad needed my help. C U 2morrow."
"He sure has you on a leach. Whatever. Bye."
Jessie considers calling Katie and confronting her with what she had found out.
B/W Jessie: How do you tell your best friend that you're freaked out by her?
Jessie turns off her phone just in case Katie might call her. She sighs and looks up at her ceiling. She thinks about the afternoon and the time she spent with Tad.
(flashback)
Tad and Jessie are sitting on a park bench eating donuts and drinking hot chocolate. Tad notices that she is hardly eating her food.
"You're so skinny, Jess. Ya need to eat more," he observes.
"So you don't like the way I look?" she gives him a glare and considers throwing her drink at him.
"I never said that! If I didn't like the way ya looked, we wouldn't be sitting here right now."
Jessie blushes.
"Really?"
Tad puts down his donut and wipes his hand on his pants. He then takes hold of her hand and looks into her eyes.
"Really," he murmurs as he squeezes her hand and leans in to kiss her.
(fade out)
Jessie smiles to herself and feels herself drifting to sleep with the image of Tad in her head.