Here and Now

Chapter 3

"Grace! Wait up!" Carla called out to Grace as she walked out of the school gates. "Where have you been these days? You're never around. I ring you at home and your either not there or the phones engaged" Carla complained, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a packet of cigarettes.

"Oh yeah sorry about that, my mum always seems to be on the phone lately and I have been kind of busy" Grace explained, shooting a distasteful look towards the packet in her friends hand/

"Kind of? It's like I never see you anymore. You're always running off somewhere." Carla got a mischievous gleam in her eye. "Wait. DDon't tell me, it's a guy isn't it. You've started seeing a guy and you don't want anyone to know" Carla smirked as a deep blush spread over Graces face. "Come on who is it?" Carla asked, "Please?"

"No it's not a guy" Grace shook her head, not wanting to reveal any details, how could she, there wasn't anything to tell.. "I've just been busy lately I guess, what with mums new job, and this mystery guy she's been seeing" Grace explained hurriedly before Carla had the chance to protest, after all, it wasn't a complete lie, her mother had just recently found a new job, along with a new guy who she seemed to be spending a great deal of time with.

"Hmm, I still think this is about a guy, but anyway, what are you doing this afternoon?" Carla asked, dragging deeply on her now lit cigarette.

"Carla, you want us to get in trouble or something?" Grace asked worriedly, after all, they had come to a stop just outside the school gates and anyone could have seen them, plus it gave her an excuse to distract Carla from the topic at hand.

"Girl you need to chill and don't think I'm going to let you change the subject that easily" Carla laughed, "but don't worry, I figured you were busy so I'll catch you later okay?" with that she tossed her cigarette butt to the ground and stepped on it for a second, before turning and walking away without a second glance back.

"Rick, I really have to get going. Grace and Zoë will be home from school any minute now, but I'll talk to you later okay?" said Lily. It was Friday afternoon and Lily was lying on the couch talking to Rick yet again.

"Will you think about what I mentioned earlier? About me meeting Grace and Zoë?" asked Rick from the other end.

"I'm just not sure how they'd feel about it? After all, you are the first man I've dated since Jake," explained Lily sitting up.

"They do know about me though don't they?" asked Rick, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

"Well I told them you were just a friend but I'm sure Grace knows" Lily replied, sounding slightly unsure of her-self.

"You're sure I know what?" Grace cut in as she walked into the room where her mother lay.

"Rick, I have to go, Grace just got home. I'll think about it though," Lily promised as she hung up the phone.

"Think about what?" Grace questioned her mother again, expectantly. Lily took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves, she was unsure of how to answer Graces question without being completely honest with her.

"Can you go and get Zoë for me" she asked her eldest daughter, "there is something I would like to talk to you both about".

Grace and Zoë both sat on the couch, quietly observing their anxious mother who sat opposite to them, her hands folded tightly in her lap.

"So what did you want to talk about" Grace asked her mum impatiently, "Eli's going to be here any minute now".

"Okay" Lily said taking a deep breath. "You know that friend I told you about? Rick? Well, things are a bit more serious than I said," Lily said hesitantly, a worried look on her face.

"Rick?" Zoë asked having no idea of the man whom Lily was talking about.

"If that's all then you need to start worrying less" Grace laughed at the shocked expression on her mothers face. "Mum, I know and it's okay really, but I have to head downstairs now, Eli should be here any second now".

"Who's Rick?" Zoë asked yet again, feeling confused by the conversation.

"Mums new boyfriend" Grace tossed over her should pausing momentarily before she left the room, leaving to her mother the task of explaining to her youngest daughter what a boyfriend was.

"Oh, no one ever tells me anything in this house" complained Zoë, looking hurt.

"Grace? Zoë? There's one more thing; Rick would like to meet you both. I was thinking dinner maybe tomorrow night?" that got Graces attention, both girls turned and stared at their mum. It was one thing for their mother to have a boyfriend, but it was a completely different story if Lily was ready for him to meet the family, it must be serious!

A long anticipated knock at the front door startled Grace out of a daze and she dashed to the front door

"Come on in" Grace offered as she opened the door to a slightly distressed looking Eli.

"Sorry I'm late" Eli apologized "My dad has been giving me a hard time about where I have been in the afternoons the last week" he explained.

"Have you ever considered telling him the truth?" Grace asked as he followed her up to her room.

"And what, have him give me, I don't think so. That'll just confirm his thoughts as to me being a failure," Eli muttered.

Unfortunately as Eli was having his rare moments of openness Grace was off in another dimension, one that involved her mother becoming serious with another man. How could she not have noticed it before?

"Grace? Is something wrong?" Eli's voice called out bringing Grace back down to earth.

"Don't worry about it," she said brushing him off.

"No really, you know you can talk to me about anything?" said Eli, moving closer to her.

"Well its just that my mum has started seeing someone new and I didn't realize just how serious it was until this afternoon. She wants me and Zoë to meet the guy," explained Grace not sure how to continue. "I know what that's like" Eli agreed knowingly, "My dad has just started seeing someone new as well.