So I'm loving Eli and Grace together and I want Grace to experience the world that Eli used to live in. Then again, I don't want to cause major conflict either. What do you guys think? Should Grace become a cheerleader clone?
Chapter twenty-one
Grace and Eli are sitting under a tree in the school oval. Phoebe and Julie are sitting with them. They are eating their lunches and looking at a group of cheerleaders sitting nearby. Eli is listening to his walkman and he is leaning against the tree with his eyes closed.
"Can you see them looking at us?" Julie whispers and glances over at the group.
Grace rolls her eyes and Phoebe picks at some grass.
"What's their problem?" Julie continues to complain.
"Forget about them, Jules. They are shit, ok," Grace reassures her.
Phoebe laughs.
"What would they care about us? They've ignored us for 10 years, why start paying attention now?"
"Without sounding stuck-up, have you noticed who is sitting with us?" Phoebe asks Julies.
Julie looks at the two girls and is about to question Phoebe when she then focuses on Eli.
"It's just Eli," Grace observes.
"I get you, Phoebs. It's not just Eli, Grace. He is on the basketball team, he's in a band and he is hot. He's one of the hottest guys in school."
Julie laughs and then continues, "they're jealous."
Grace looks at Eli, oblivious to their conversation.
"You think?" Grace muses.
Phoebe and Julie both nod.
B/W Grace: I never thought those kind of girls would be jealous of…me.
Grace can't help but smile and Phoebe and Julie laugh at her.
"Pretty cool, hey," Julie laughs.
Grace nudges Eli and he takes one ear phone off and opens his eyes.
"What's up?"
"Did you know that I'm dating one of the hottest guys in school?"
Eli smirks.
"Of course."
Grace moves herself and settles in between Eli's legs and leans back. Eli looks over at the cheerleaders and back at Grace. He wraps his arms around her with exaggerated motions and gives her a big sloppy kiss.
"Showing off, huh?" he smirks.
Grace kicks his leg and he pretends to wince. Cooper and Jules walk over and sit down next to their respective girlfriends.
"So dudes, did you know that I'm one of the hottest guys in school?"
"Rubbish," Cooper rolls his eyes and casually places his arm around Julie.
"You're as good looking as a dead lizard," Jules laughs.
Eli pretends to scowl and throws a football at Jules. Jules gets up and runs to the centre of the oval. Cooper joins him and Eli kisses Grace on the cheek before he joins the guys.
The girls look at the boys and find themselves smiling.
B/W Grace: I just hope I don't become like those girls.
The cheerleaders watch the boys for a while and Grace notices them pointing at Grace and the others.
"What's their problem?" Jules asks and Grace laughs.
(next section)
Meanwhile in the cafeteria, Jessie and Tad are eating lunch.
"But she doesn't look like one," Jessie observes as she picks at her salad.
Jessie looks over to where Katie is sitting and notices she is sitting with a group of girls.
B/W Jessie: I wonder if she's dating one of them. Why do I even care?
"They don't all have shaved hair, tattoes and hairy armpits, Jess," Tad laughs.
Jessie blushes.
"I know that, I just…I don't know what I'm saying."
Tad nudges Jessie and laughs some more.
"She's just that way so she can get attention," Tad shrugs.
Jessie looks at Tad in shock.
"She wouldn't do that."
Tad looks at Jessie curiously.
"She just seems like an honest person."
Tad shrugs and goes back to eating his burger.
Jessie looks back at Katie before she goes back to playing with her salad.
(next section)
Grace is standing at her locker looking for a book. Suddenly Brandi is standing next to her and Grace just stares in shock.
"Hey Grace, how ya goin'?"
"Um…fine. You?"
Brandi runs her hand through her hair and then tosses it over her shoulder.
"Great. Happy it's Friday. Have ya heard about Chase's party?"
Grace slams her locker closed and turns to Brandi.
"Yeah, someone mentioned it…"
"Ya goin'?"
"Wasn't planning on it. I think Eli has a gig that night…"
A look of jealousy passes over Brandi's face but she quickly goes back to her blank face.
"Well, maybe after you guys can come around. It'll rock."
Grace shuffles her feet.
"Bring your friends, what are their names again?"
"Phoebe and Julie."
"Yeah, them."
"Sounds good. Ah, thanks Brandi."
Brandi offers a half smile and walks over to the group of cheerleaders nearby.