Chapter 7

"That's bullshit and you know it" Eli burst out angrily.

"Don't you talk to me like that Eli" his mother answered warningly on the other end of the phone.

"It true and you know it, I'm god damn 17, I don't need a damn baby sitter"

"I never said you did, I just thought it would be nice if we could spend some time together before Lily and Rick came back, that's all"

"Don't lie to me mum, I'm not stupid. I mean you tell me that Jessie has spent so much time here because you are tired and need a break, but then you turn around and want us both to come stay with you. I'm not stupid"

Receiving no reply, Eli rolled his eyes and pushed the off button on the phone with a relieved sigh. He didn't know what his mother's problem was but he was hoping she would get over it soon. With Jessie sticking her head round the corner every two seconds to check on him he was beginning to feel claustrophobic.

"I don't like you spending so much time alone with that boy" Grace was having a similar conversation with her father only hours later.

"What boy? Eli? God dad, his almost my brother"

"Brother or not, his a bad influence"

"And why is that?" Grace sighed as she leaned up against the kitchen counter, she couldn't believe Karen had actually spoken to her father about Eli.

"I've spoken to Karen and we think its best if you came and stayed with me until your mother gets back"

"No way"

"Grace, I'm not asking you, I'm telling you"

"And you have no right to!" Grace exploded, "God Jake, you've barely been apart of my life for years and now you want to act like the concerned parent, well it isn't going to happen. You can't force me to stay with you and you know it"

"I would appreciate it if you tried to show me a little bit of respect, I am your father"

"You may be my father, but mum has primary custody of me, once a month remember? That is the only time you have the right to tell me to do anything, and until that time comes, I want nothing to do with you."

"So she told him huh?" El asked without need as Grace slammed the phone down on the counter beside her.

"I wish I knew what the hell her problem was" Grace yelled out of frustration, "god, what fucking proof does she have?"

"None" Eli shrugged, reaching into the fridge and pulling out a cartoon of milk. "The thing you have to understand about my mum is that we have never gotten along great, she's always been the last person to trust me, and she sure as hell has never believed in me. She thinks that she is protecting you"

"I don't need protecting, and certainly not from you" Grace said softly, unable to meet his eyes.

"Are you sure?" Eli asked turning to her, "maybe she's right, maybe I should go stay with her for awhile"

"What the hell are you talking about Eli?" Grace said in a mixture of anger and confusion, "I thought this is what you wanted?"

"It was… is" Eli shook his head, "it's just that it seems to be causing all these problems for you and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt you"

Grace shook her head as she walked towards him, "you haven't hurt me Eli, that isn't possible remember, this doesn't mean anything"

"It means something Grace and we both know it" Eli admitted forcing himself to look at her.

"It can't mean anything" Grace shook her head adamantly.

"Why not"

"Because if it meant anything then letting this go at the end of summer would hurt way to much"

"Why did you do that for?" Eli groaned, letting the fridge slam shut at the sound of Grace's footsteps hurrying up the stairs, "why did you have to go all serious? After all it was your choice. You said all along that it couldn't mean anything, why the hell would you come out and say that it did.

Eli shook his head trying to clear his mind, he knew that he had meant what he had said to grace, what was going on between them did mean something, the question was what? All he knew was that he had the perfect opportunity to sleep with a gorgeous blonde and for some reason all he could think about was Grace and her big brown eyes and trusting smile.

Eli knocked on Graces door but walked on in without bothering to wait for her answer, he knew she wouldn't anyway.

"Are you aright?" he asked, walking over to the figure that lay huddled amongst a pile of blankets and pillows.

"I'm fine" Grace sniffed, wiping her eyes.

"Do you want to talk?" Eli offered even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. Much to his relief Grace shook her head.

With a slight smile Eli sat down next to her on her bed, "you know I was thinking" he whispered suggestively, drawing her to him gently.

"About what?"

"The fact that we have never had sex in your bed?"

"We haven't?" Grace asked acting surprised.

"Nope, never"

"Well it's about time that we changed that isn't it" Grace replied sighing contently as Eli lips brushed her neck softly.

As much as I hate to admit it at the time I was so scared of losing him. For those months while our parents were away Eli had become my life, my world, it was almost like he was apart of me.

But not matter how scared I was of losing him nothing could have prepared me for hearing him admit that what was happening between us actually meant something. They were the words I had been waiting to hear all summer but once they were spoken I almost wished that he could take them back. Because acknowledging that it meant something made it so much more real, and it meant that once our parents returned we would be giving away something that actually meant something, as opposed to, well something that meant nothing.

Maybe I should have taken Jakes warning more seriously, maybe going and staying with him for the rest of the summer would have made things easier, would have prevented mistakes from being made. I don't know.