Thanks for all the wonderful, encouraging reviews! I hope all of you are
enjoying reading this as much as I enjoy writing it! Just to let you know,
this is the second chapter I uploaded today, so make sure you read Chapter
Four before starting this. I'm currently working on Chapter Ten. So far so
good! I decided to try and write two chapters a day, that way I can have a
nice stockpile, if you will, for days that I don't have the time to write.
This chapter has some nice Eli and Grace moments, but I will let a secret
out - there will be more to come! Anyway, hope you liked it. Also, make
sure you check out the "Coming Soon." part at the end. I decided since I am
writing a head, I could give you a little sneak peek of the next chapter to
follow. Let me know how you feel about this new feature, please! Hope you
like this chapter! - K
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Chapter Five
True to her word, Grace was downstairs in fifteen minutes, showered, dressed, and made up. Eli opened the door for her as they made their way out to the Jeep. While she was getting ready, he had taken the roof and windows off of his Jeep because he knew how much Grace loved having the wind hit her face and enjoyed to let her hair fly.
"Where are you looking?" she asked, as they drove through the town.
"Well, there are only a few apartments in town. I figured we could check those out today. If I don't find anything, I'll start looking in Chicago this week."
"Great! Sounds like a plan."
They soon parked at a very luxurious apartment complex. Grace thought the grounds were beautiful. Eli thought it looked out of his price limit. They entered the leasing center where they met a young woman named Cindy who took some information. Soon, they were riding in a golf cart with Cindy to the model.
"This one is a two bedroom unit. It's 1400 square feet," she described as she unlocked the door. Eli and Grace walked through the meticulous model. It was decorated in deep burgundy and gold. The kitchen had forty-two inch white cabinets with brass knobs and the counter was dark green granite. The floors were either a very plush beige carpet or twelve inch beige tiles. Cindy stayed in the foyer while they looked around.
**Grace - "It was such a beautiful apartment. perfect for me. but I couldn't imagine Eli in it. It just seemed too. formal?"**
When they entered the master bedroom, Eli was shocked. The bedroom was larger than the one his Dad and Lily shared. Grace went into the bathroom.
"Eli. come here!" she whispered. He quickly ran in behind her. "Look how big this tub is!" she squealed. She kicked off her sandals and climbed into the empty bath tub. "Come join me!"
**Eli - his eyes widen and he smiles.**
Eli took off his sandals and climbed into the tub, facing Grace. "I really don't think I can afford this place, Grace. I've been trying to build up my savings account to buy my own house, so I don't want to spend too much right now."
**Grace - "Eli has a savings account?" she gives a quizzical look. "Eli wants to buy a HOUSE?"**
"I understand." He stood up. She reached her hands up. "Help me out?" He grabbed her hands and held them while she slid back into her sandals.
After giving Cindy the negative news, they were on their way to another complex. When they build up, they noticed it was a shabby looking building. "It could be shabby chic!" Grace said, trying to make the place sound better than it looked. They had to park two blocks away, as all the street spaces were taken. They quickly made there way to the building.
**Eli - "Maybe it isn't so bad on the inside?"**
There, they met a sweet older woman named Helga who spoke with a heavy German accent. They followed her up the long, dark staircase and then down a long, dark hallway. "Tis vill be apartment." She unlocked the door and entered the unit.
Grace would have shrieked, if she didn't think it would be rude. This place was a complete nightmare. She looked, wide eyed, at Eli.
**Grace - looking around with a look of pure horror on his face. "He cannot live here. He just can't. Oh my gosh - is that a cockroach? And what IS that smell?" she asked, while holding her nose and standing up on a chair.**
He looked around. It was a complete dump, but he knew it was well in his price range. He tried to look for some feature that was rewarding, but the harder he looked, the more depressed he got.
Helga was trying to make small talk. "How long you been couple?" she asked.
**Eli - he let out a loud sigh, "Only in my dreams."**
**Grace - she gives a huge wink, throws her head back and smiles, "Might as well have some fun in this hole."**
Eli was ready to explain their situation when Grace grabbed his hand, gave him a wink, and said, "Just three months."
**Eli - looks down at his hand, "Oh my gosh. Remember with your first crush in middle school? When they hold your hand for the first time and you get this tingly sensation all over your body? It doesn't change when you are in your twenties. I hope that sensation never goes away," he looks back at his hand and smiles.**
"Very nice. You like apartment?" Helga asked.
"Yes, it's very nice," Eli started. Grace gave his hand a very tight squeeze. "Do you think I could take a few days to think it over?"
"Very good. No one has shown interest yet."
They said good-bye to Helga and ran down the stairs.
"Why did you say that?" Grace whispered. "That place had more cockroaches than New York City."
"I know. I know. but I don't want to veto it. It's a great price. With a little paint, the right furniture. it could be nice," Eli responded, still amazed that they were still holding hands.
**Grace - "I know his Dad is an architect and has an eye for design. And both my Mom and Karen are very good at decorating their homes. but I don't think the best interior designer in the world could make something of that place. It just was disgusting. I hope he doesn't take it. He deserves a better place to live. I'd rather he remain in the garage then move there!"**
They quickly left the apartment building and, just as they stepped outside, they realized it was pouring. Grace bent down, letting go of Eli's hand, and took off her sandals, holding them in her hands. "Let's run for it!"
They both ran as quickly as they could, but then, once they got to the Jeep, they realized that the top was off.
"Follow me!" Eli ran to a nearby alley that had an overlook that they could stand under. Grace huddled next to him, shivering. He wrapped his arms around her, trying to keep her warm. She glanced at him, appreciatively.
"Thanks, E."
"Don't thank me! I'm the one who dragged you out this morning and I'm the dodo who took the roof off the Jeep!"
"Don't sweat it. It's been an adventure!" she smiled, giving him a squeeze. They both looked at the pavement. "It doesn't look like it will be slowing down any time soon."
**Eli - "God, I hope it never stops raining!"**
Once again, Grace shivered. This time, Eli bent down and hugged her tighter, his chin resting on her head. "Is that better?"
**Grace - "What is going on? Why is Eli cuddling me like this?" She smiles.**
"Yeah. thanks." she looked up into his eyes and smiled. Then, she looked and saw that the rain was slowing down. She pulled away a bit and smiled again, "Looks like it was a quick shower."
Discouraged, Eli tried to hide his disappointment, but, as he looked at her, he realized that she had been wearing a thin, light yellow top that was now very much stuck to her body. He tried to look away, to be a gentleman, but he had to look.
**Eli - smiles, "Wow. I had no idea that Grace looked so good." His smile grows bigger. "Come on, you would have looked, too!"**
Grace noticed him smiling at her, looked down at her clothes, and realized that her shirt was clinging to her body and that her bra was quite visible.
**Grace - "He's checking me out again!!!"**
"Eli!" she yelled, playfully punching him. She pulled her shirt away from her body and rolled her eyes, smiling. "Come on, let's go."
Soaked and cold, they decided to stop the search for that day. Grace stated again how much she disliked the second apartment, but Eli continued to think it would suffice. When they pulled in to the driveway, Grace ran up to her room as Eli replaced the roof and windows. He knocked on her bedroom door when he was finished and entered. She was changed and had her hair up in a towel turban.
"Sorry for my. um. inappropriate behavior downtown. I." he started.
"Don't worry, Eli. I understand how the male hormones can behave," she interrupted, smiling at him. "Do you mind if I still catch a ride to work?"
"Not a problem. The seats will be dry by then."
"Great! I'm going to study for a while then."
"Alright. See you at two thirty?" he asked.
"Sure thing," she smiled, opening up her botany book.
As he left her room, he smirked.
**Eli - "I saw Grace in a wet t-shirt!"**
Grace tried hard to study, but couldn't stay focused on the boring subject matter. Her mind kept going back to the rain and Eli. Sure, they had hugged before, but the way he held her this time was different. It didn't feel like the hug one would give his step-sister. Then, she remembered how she had first grabbed his hand. Why did she do that?
**Grace - frowning, "Did I lead him on? I hope not. I don't want to give him any mixed signals. or any signals for that matter." She begins to smile, "Of course, this is Eli. Eli, who was my first crush. Eli, who was the first boy I ever wanted to kiss." As she says that, her smile begins to fade and soon she is frowning again. "Eli. who is my step-brother."**
Shaking her head and all thoughts of Eli away, she turned back to the book and continued to study.
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Coming Soon to Perspective
All this time, Eli was watching them from his office, frowning as he saw the guy Grace once liked hold her hand.
**Eli - "It's too late. They have a history. We just had a moment." - he frowned.**
Eli turned towards his computer and opened up the first email in his inbox. It read:
Dear Eli,
I know it's been so long since we have last spoken or saw each other. I got your email address from the school's alumni site - hope you don't mind me writing to you. I have heard that you are now a manager at a bookstore downtown. I would love to stop in and see you sometime.
I just recently moved back to town after spending the last seven years in L.A. I hope you will try and contact me soon. All my heart, Carla
PS - How is Grace? I haven't heard from her in years. I hope all is well with her, too!
Eli sighed, running his hand through his hair. Carla was in town? And she wanted to see him? What was he going to do? He knew if she wanted to see him badly enough, she would, so he couldn't hide from her. He looked out his office window and saw Grace and Spencer having a very animated discussion, and then she reached up and hugged him again.
**Eli - "Something is happening. Grace is never this physical with someone that's just a friend."**
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Chapter Five
True to her word, Grace was downstairs in fifteen minutes, showered, dressed, and made up. Eli opened the door for her as they made their way out to the Jeep. While she was getting ready, he had taken the roof and windows off of his Jeep because he knew how much Grace loved having the wind hit her face and enjoyed to let her hair fly.
"Where are you looking?" she asked, as they drove through the town.
"Well, there are only a few apartments in town. I figured we could check those out today. If I don't find anything, I'll start looking in Chicago this week."
"Great! Sounds like a plan."
They soon parked at a very luxurious apartment complex. Grace thought the grounds were beautiful. Eli thought it looked out of his price limit. They entered the leasing center where they met a young woman named Cindy who took some information. Soon, they were riding in a golf cart with Cindy to the model.
"This one is a two bedroom unit. It's 1400 square feet," she described as she unlocked the door. Eli and Grace walked through the meticulous model. It was decorated in deep burgundy and gold. The kitchen had forty-two inch white cabinets with brass knobs and the counter was dark green granite. The floors were either a very plush beige carpet or twelve inch beige tiles. Cindy stayed in the foyer while they looked around.
**Grace - "It was such a beautiful apartment. perfect for me. but I couldn't imagine Eli in it. It just seemed too. formal?"**
When they entered the master bedroom, Eli was shocked. The bedroom was larger than the one his Dad and Lily shared. Grace went into the bathroom.
"Eli. come here!" she whispered. He quickly ran in behind her. "Look how big this tub is!" she squealed. She kicked off her sandals and climbed into the empty bath tub. "Come join me!"
**Eli - his eyes widen and he smiles.**
Eli took off his sandals and climbed into the tub, facing Grace. "I really don't think I can afford this place, Grace. I've been trying to build up my savings account to buy my own house, so I don't want to spend too much right now."
**Grace - "Eli has a savings account?" she gives a quizzical look. "Eli wants to buy a HOUSE?"**
"I understand." He stood up. She reached her hands up. "Help me out?" He grabbed her hands and held them while she slid back into her sandals.
After giving Cindy the negative news, they were on their way to another complex. When they build up, they noticed it was a shabby looking building. "It could be shabby chic!" Grace said, trying to make the place sound better than it looked. They had to park two blocks away, as all the street spaces were taken. They quickly made there way to the building.
**Eli - "Maybe it isn't so bad on the inside?"**
There, they met a sweet older woman named Helga who spoke with a heavy German accent. They followed her up the long, dark staircase and then down a long, dark hallway. "Tis vill be apartment." She unlocked the door and entered the unit.
Grace would have shrieked, if she didn't think it would be rude. This place was a complete nightmare. She looked, wide eyed, at Eli.
**Grace - looking around with a look of pure horror on his face. "He cannot live here. He just can't. Oh my gosh - is that a cockroach? And what IS that smell?" she asked, while holding her nose and standing up on a chair.**
He looked around. It was a complete dump, but he knew it was well in his price range. He tried to look for some feature that was rewarding, but the harder he looked, the more depressed he got.
Helga was trying to make small talk. "How long you been couple?" she asked.
**Eli - he let out a loud sigh, "Only in my dreams."**
**Grace - she gives a huge wink, throws her head back and smiles, "Might as well have some fun in this hole."**
Eli was ready to explain their situation when Grace grabbed his hand, gave him a wink, and said, "Just three months."
**Eli - looks down at his hand, "Oh my gosh. Remember with your first crush in middle school? When they hold your hand for the first time and you get this tingly sensation all over your body? It doesn't change when you are in your twenties. I hope that sensation never goes away," he looks back at his hand and smiles.**
"Very nice. You like apartment?" Helga asked.
"Yes, it's very nice," Eli started. Grace gave his hand a very tight squeeze. "Do you think I could take a few days to think it over?"
"Very good. No one has shown interest yet."
They said good-bye to Helga and ran down the stairs.
"Why did you say that?" Grace whispered. "That place had more cockroaches than New York City."
"I know. I know. but I don't want to veto it. It's a great price. With a little paint, the right furniture. it could be nice," Eli responded, still amazed that they were still holding hands.
**Grace - "I know his Dad is an architect and has an eye for design. And both my Mom and Karen are very good at decorating their homes. but I don't think the best interior designer in the world could make something of that place. It just was disgusting. I hope he doesn't take it. He deserves a better place to live. I'd rather he remain in the garage then move there!"**
They quickly left the apartment building and, just as they stepped outside, they realized it was pouring. Grace bent down, letting go of Eli's hand, and took off her sandals, holding them in her hands. "Let's run for it!"
They both ran as quickly as they could, but then, once they got to the Jeep, they realized that the top was off.
"Follow me!" Eli ran to a nearby alley that had an overlook that they could stand under. Grace huddled next to him, shivering. He wrapped his arms around her, trying to keep her warm. She glanced at him, appreciatively.
"Thanks, E."
"Don't thank me! I'm the one who dragged you out this morning and I'm the dodo who took the roof off the Jeep!"
"Don't sweat it. It's been an adventure!" she smiled, giving him a squeeze. They both looked at the pavement. "It doesn't look like it will be slowing down any time soon."
**Eli - "God, I hope it never stops raining!"**
Once again, Grace shivered. This time, Eli bent down and hugged her tighter, his chin resting on her head. "Is that better?"
**Grace - "What is going on? Why is Eli cuddling me like this?" She smiles.**
"Yeah. thanks." she looked up into his eyes and smiled. Then, she looked and saw that the rain was slowing down. She pulled away a bit and smiled again, "Looks like it was a quick shower."
Discouraged, Eli tried to hide his disappointment, but, as he looked at her, he realized that she had been wearing a thin, light yellow top that was now very much stuck to her body. He tried to look away, to be a gentleman, but he had to look.
**Eli - smiles, "Wow. I had no idea that Grace looked so good." His smile grows bigger. "Come on, you would have looked, too!"**
Grace noticed him smiling at her, looked down at her clothes, and realized that her shirt was clinging to her body and that her bra was quite visible.
**Grace - "He's checking me out again!!!"**
"Eli!" she yelled, playfully punching him. She pulled her shirt away from her body and rolled her eyes, smiling. "Come on, let's go."
Soaked and cold, they decided to stop the search for that day. Grace stated again how much she disliked the second apartment, but Eli continued to think it would suffice. When they pulled in to the driveway, Grace ran up to her room as Eli replaced the roof and windows. He knocked on her bedroom door when he was finished and entered. She was changed and had her hair up in a towel turban.
"Sorry for my. um. inappropriate behavior downtown. I." he started.
"Don't worry, Eli. I understand how the male hormones can behave," she interrupted, smiling at him. "Do you mind if I still catch a ride to work?"
"Not a problem. The seats will be dry by then."
"Great! I'm going to study for a while then."
"Alright. See you at two thirty?" he asked.
"Sure thing," she smiled, opening up her botany book.
As he left her room, he smirked.
**Eli - "I saw Grace in a wet t-shirt!"**
Grace tried hard to study, but couldn't stay focused on the boring subject matter. Her mind kept going back to the rain and Eli. Sure, they had hugged before, but the way he held her this time was different. It didn't feel like the hug one would give his step-sister. Then, she remembered how she had first grabbed his hand. Why did she do that?
**Grace - frowning, "Did I lead him on? I hope not. I don't want to give him any mixed signals. or any signals for that matter." She begins to smile, "Of course, this is Eli. Eli, who was my first crush. Eli, who was the first boy I ever wanted to kiss." As she says that, her smile begins to fade and soon she is frowning again. "Eli. who is my step-brother."**
Shaking her head and all thoughts of Eli away, she turned back to the book and continued to study.
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Coming Soon to Perspective
All this time, Eli was watching them from his office, frowning as he saw the guy Grace once liked hold her hand.
**Eli - "It's too late. They have a history. We just had a moment." - he frowned.**
Eli turned towards his computer and opened up the first email in his inbox. It read:
Dear Eli,
I know it's been so long since we have last spoken or saw each other. I got your email address from the school's alumni site - hope you don't mind me writing to you. I have heard that you are now a manager at a bookstore downtown. I would love to stop in and see you sometime.
I just recently moved back to town after spending the last seven years in L.A. I hope you will try and contact me soon. All my heart, Carla
PS - How is Grace? I haven't heard from her in years. I hope all is well with her, too!
Eli sighed, running his hand through his hair. Carla was in town? And she wanted to see him? What was he going to do? He knew if she wanted to see him badly enough, she would, so he couldn't hide from her. He looked out his office window and saw Grace and Spencer having a very animated discussion, and then she reached up and hugged him again.
**Eli - "Something is happening. Grace is never this physical with someone that's just a friend."**
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