Author's Note: This part centers more on Eli/Grace than Jessie/Katie.
Author's Note 2: The dashes mean either a change in narrative or time. I know this might make things a little confusing but hopefully you'll catch on to what's what.
Author's Note 3: The lines in italics are the lyrics to "She's the Blade" by Sugarcult. They're there for two reasons: (1) To provide breaks in the chapter. (2) I thought it would be a good song to play in the background. It's almost like Sarah's theme song because it characterizes her so well. It also foreshadows what happens later in the story.
Feedback: Greatly appreciated.
PART V: Saturday Night Fervor
Don't you make a move tonight. / You can only stagger.
Grace and I enter the downtown club. Instantly, the smell of sweat and sin bombard my lungs. There is a huddled mass at the center of the room. The people move together but nothing is in sync – only their focus. The band stands above them on an elevated stage. They are bathed in artificial light while everyone else looks on in the shadows. They are gods – just for the moment.
"Wow. They're really good," comments Grace in an attempt to win my favor.
"What?"
I wasn't paying her much attention.
"The band..." Grace clarifies.
"Oh. Yeah. They're great," I respond, a bit distracted.
I search the crowd for the particular reason why I came here.
------
Once she's got you in her sight. / You're the one she's after.
"Eli!" I called out to an expected face at the other side of the room. "Come here a second."
'Cause she's the blade and you're just paper.
Since Katie isn't going to help me debauch this girl, I am determined to find somebody else to do it – wittingly or not.
You're afraid 'cause she's got closer.
Revenge became my only want, if not need. And if Katie wants to fuck away a valuable Saturday "healing the world" with Mrs. Jesus then I say, "Cheers." I am perfectly capable of procuring my vengeance without her.
You're backsteppin' and she's backstabbin' everything in your life.
"Grace, this is Eli Sammler." I said, introducing the two for the first time.
At first sight of him, Grace froze conspicuously. Thirty seconds passed and she still stood there – mouth agape.
"Is she okay?" asked Eli, concerned and a little frightened.
"Yeah. She's just shy," I answered coolly.
"You know, Eli, you and Grace have a lot in common." I began, trying to start a conversation between the two.
"Like?" asked Eli with a tone of doubt.
"Like..."
I paused to see if Grace would answer but she remained comatose.
"You've both just moved here recently..." I added lamely.
"Oh yeah?" humored Eli. "Where from?"
[Now here is when Grace finally says something, which is a step, but whether it is a step up or a step down from not saying anything at all is debatable.]
Grace opened her mouth to reply. Noise came out, but it didn't form into complete, comprehensible sentences. Instead, she made a high-pitched, inhuman sound which was like the mating call of a seal that inhaled too much helium.
"Are you sure she's all right?" asked Eli, now more frightened than concerned.
"Of course she's all right," I said, trying to convince myself more than Eli.
I looked to Grace and signaled her to say something.
"Grace, say something."
"Hi. I'm Grace!" she exclaims which is fine – if it had been said about two minutes ago – but now it runs along the lines of slight insanity.
"See? She's perfectly fine."
I tried to reassure Eli with a smile but I think it only furthered his fear.
"Okay..." said Eli, slowly backing away. "It's been nice meeting you, Grace. But...uh...I think my friends are calling me. I have to go. Sorry."
She stole everything your heart desired. / Now you want it back.
"Wait. Eli..." pleaded Grace, in a little over a whisper.
Eli stopped dead in his tracks. He was probably as surprised as I was to hear Grace finally speak something intelligible – at least for her standards.
"What is it?" asked Eli, newly intrigued.
"I don't know..." responded Grace sheepishly. "I haven't thought that far through yet."
Eli must've thought that what Grace had said was something clever because he began to chuckle, which made Grace smile.
"You know, you have a really pretty smile," remarked Eli as he brushed away a loose strand of hair from Grace's face.
The whole scene deserved an eye-roll; it was so sickeningly cute. I half-expected a dulcet choir of pretty, little birdies to appear out of nowhere and begin to sing Carpenters songs.
One by one you count the fights. / Does it even matter?
"Hey, Eli, are you still looking for a job?" I asked, knocking Eli off of his hypothetical cloud which was clearly made out of hypothetical cotton candy.
"Yeah...Why?"
"Well, Grace, didn't you mention how you've always wanted to learn how to play the guitar?"
"I did?" asked Grace with genuine stupidity.
"Yes, Grace. Don't you remember?"
I gave Grace a slight jolt to her memory – which is, oddly enough, located in her ribs.
"Ow–f course! I did," said Grace, her memory miraculously regained.
"And, Eli, don't you play the guitar?"
"Yeah..." answered Eli warily, following where this was going.
"So why doesn't Grace pay you for guitar lessons?" I casually suggested.
Grace's face lit up at the sound of the proposal but feigned seriousness when Eli looked back at her for her opinion.
"It's okay with me," said Grace nonchalantly, trying to hold back her excitement.
"I don't know..." said Eli, a bit hesitant.
Obviously, the boy needed a little incentive.
"C'mon, Eli..." I whispered, moving close enough for him to feel my breath against his skin. "Is it really that hard?" I placed my hand against his chest and felt my way further down. "A young, experienced man like yourself... I'm sure Grace can learn a lot." I reached into his pants pocket and grabbed for his – wallet. I took it out and assessed its contents.
"Just as I thought..." I said, smiling mischievously at what I had found. I pulled it out slowly for all to see. "Ribbed – for her pleasure. Why, Eli, you do care." I snickered at him derisively before returning the item to its place and closed up the wallet.
Grace's face was redder than Eli's.
"Now, Eli, unless we started using prophylactics as currency, I suggest you take the job."
Now she's got you by surprise. / Misery's your master.
I held out the wallet and signaled him to take it. He snatched it back and placed it into his hind pocket.
"Fine...I'll do it," surrendered Eli.
"That's a good boy..." I whispered, patting Eli on the head. "I'll have Grace call you and inform you on the –" I looked down beneath his belt buckle before continuing, "minor details."
I smiled at the ease of Eli's subjugation.
"À la prochaine..."
She stole everything your heart desired. / Now you want it back.
"Let's go, Grace."
Without question, she followed me like a mindless dog, leaving Eli to stand alone.
"Oh, and Eli..." I said, stopping midway to the exit. "Don't keep condoms in your wallet. It's terrible for the latex."
She stole everything. / She controlled everything.
