Chapter two is now done and ready to be read.
Chapter two
Jessie is sitting at a table in the cafeteria and is picking at her salad, not really eating anything. Katie and Tad are walking towards the table bickering about the night before.
"You're such a sleaze. You've shown no interest in Sam before and yet as soon as she looks your way you become her little puppy dog."
"Crap," Tad yells and throws a chip at Katie. Katie ducks and the chip lands on Jessie's plate.
B/W Jessie: I would do anything for a chip…(Jessie holds the chip between her fingers and throws it away with disgust).
"Jess, you shoulda seen his eyes. They just bulged outta his sockets and he fell over his feet. He woulda eaten his left foot if she told him to."
Tad grumbles and takes a bite of his burger. Jessie laughs half heartedly and goes back to playing with her salad.
"So, since the two of you are in your own little worlds, I'm just gonna chat to chat to myself," Katie talks to herself.
"You looked amazing last night, Kate. Your ass looked so hot in that mini skirt and that low cut top was so see-through that everyone could see your third nipple," Katie rambles on as she munches away at her chips.
Tad spits out the juice in his mouth and starts to cough. Katie and Jessie laugh together and Katie slaps Tad on the back.
"I guess I have your attention now," she laughs and Tad and Jessie glance at each other.
B/w Jessie: I wish I was as confident as Katie (wistful smile).
Katie goes back to eating her chips and Tad glances at Jessie as she looks down at her plate with a frown on her face.
B/w Tad: She's so intense. What kinda guy could ever handle her? (breathes out and shakes his head in awe) Yet, there's somethin' about her that turns me on.
Tad takes a sip of juice and hesitates before speaking.
"So Jessie…why didn't you come last night?" he asks, trying to sound as casual as possible.
Katie holds back a laugh.
B/w Katie: Gawd, guys are so obvious! They might as well have big L's tattoed onto their foreheads.
Jessie continues to play with her food and doesn't look up when she replies.
"I, uh, was busy…homework and stuff," she mumbles.
Katie takes notice of Jessies shyness and smiles softly.
"That's my girl…always studying, never having a break. You and me need to take her out one night and have our way with her, right Tad," she smirks and nudges his arm.
Tad blushes slightly and covers it up with a laugh.
B/w Tad: Katie always has a way of making a situation awkward. I have no idea how we ended up as friends (laughs awkwardly).
Jessie and Tad go back to eating their food and Katie just shakes her head and laughs.
(next section)
Mr Dimitri shuts his diary and stands up from his chair. He looks around at the students and smiles.
"We had a wonderful run this year and I am proud of each and every one of you."
Grace smiles slightly but keeps her eyes focused on her desk.
"And because of all your hard work, the school has decided to organise a special party for all of you."
Everybody starts to talk and yell out in approval. Grace and Julie smile at each other.
"And you are all allowed to bring partners," Mr Dimitri adds.
Julie winks at Grace.
"I am so inviting James to the party."
Grace offers an encouraging smile but then looks down at her desk and bites her lip.
B/w Grace: as if any guy would want to go to the dance with me (she sighs and turns away from the camera).
"You could always ask Kip. I know that he's got a thing for you," Julie suggests.
"Kip? He's got an annoying lisp and he always smells of BO."
Julie laughs and shakes her head in amusement.
B/w Grace: even my friends don't think I can get a guy (sighs).
"The party is on the 27th, in four weeks time. The theme is Romeo and Juliet and you shall all dress up, including your partners."
Julie pretends to swoon and the class laughs. Grace pokes her arm and laughs as well. The school bell rings and everyone starts to get up.
"If you are bringing a partner you must sign up in order to arrange the right amount of food and beverages. If you want to help out with arrangements please sign up. The sheets are up on the notice board in the hallway. See you tomorrow."
Mr Dimitri picks up his books and leaves the room. Grace and Julie take their time getting to their next class. Eli and a group of his friends are walking towards them. Grace blushes a little and looks away. Eli coughs a little and gets his friends to stop walking.
"Hey Grace, Julie."
Grace and Julie reply and get ready to keep on walking but Eli coughs again as he notices Mr Dimitri putting the notices up.
"Ah, so you guys are having a dance?"
"Great. A group of drama geeks quoting Shakespear and sipping apple juice," Cooper laughs and Eli nudges him to shut up.
"That's us. Drama geeks," mutters Grace.
Grace indicates to Julie that they should keep going and Eli sighs.
"Well, uh, see you guys later," he says half-heartedly.
Once the girls move on Cooper looks at Eli in disbelief.
"What the hell was that about?" he says with disgust.
"What was what?"
"You being nice to your step-sister and her geeky drama friend."
"We live together. We kinda have to get on together. And her friend isn't that bad looking."
"Yeah, if she got a boob job and gained a personality," laughs Cooper and the other laugh along.
"Forget it," mutters Eli and walks off.
"Common man, I was just kiddin'."
Eli waves his hand and keeps on walking. Cooper looks at his friends and they all shrug.
(next section)
Grace is sitting in the school courtyard under a tree. She is covering her face with her hands and the tears are pouring onto her lap. Eli notices her in the distance and stands for a minute before he walks over.
B/w Eli: it hasn't even been a day and I've already screwed up whatever chance I had with Grace.
Grace looks up and sees him standing there motionless. She wipes away her tears and waits for him to make a move. He walks over and sits down next to her. He wipes away a tear with his finger and puts his hands into his lap.
"I'm a jerk."
Grace looks down at her hands.
"Yes, you are."
"My friends expect me to act in a certain way and it's hard…"
"What's hard, Eli?"
Eli plays with a blade of grass and avoids looking at her. Cooper and a few others are standing at the opposite end of the courtyard.
"It's hard to show the real me when I'm with them."
Eli throws the blade of grass away and turns to face Grace.
"Well, it's hard for me when you show the fake you or whatever you want to call it," she blurts out and a tear drop.
Cooper and the guys are looking over at Eli and Grace, wondering what's going on and pointing at them.
B/w Eli: there's always that point in life where if you don't make a move then it's just not gonna happen.
Eli takes a deep breath, places a hand on Grace's shoulder and leans in towards her. Grace turns to him and Eli places his mouth on hers.
