Here and Now

Chapter 5

Eli was left to simply stand there, standing after Grace as she walked away. He had never meant to cause any trouble, never meant for them to become friends. But she had the ability to make him feel as if the world stopped spinning whenever they were together. As if everything had slowed down and he didn't need to panic so much about the future. He made her believe that he may actually be able to do something with his life. He just hoped he could make it up to her, but he couldn't see how.

"Hey Eli!" Coop called, his head appearing around the front door, causing Eli to turn slowly in his direction. "You ready man or what?" Coop asked, disappearing again.

"Coming!" Eli called as he walked back into the house.

"What's with her man?" Wink asked as Eli walked down the basement stairs.

"Guys there is something I have to tell you" Eli started, taking a big breath.

"Don't tell me, Grace is your new girlfriend" Ted, Wink and Coop all burst out laughing causing Eli to groan at their lack of ability to be serious. Ever.

Eli rolled his eyes and walked over to the mini bar, opening it he continued. "Grace is tutoring me in English" There, is was out there now. They knew the truth, now they could lay off.

"So? You've always sucked at English. We all know that. What's the biggie?" Coop asked a disbelieving look on her face.

"The biggie is I'm gonna fail English and if my parents find out that's the end of us. They told me already, keep my grades up or I'm out of the band" Eli broke off as the guys' faces grew serious. "I think his serious this time.

Lily had only been home for moments before Grace burst through the front door and ran upstairs.

"Grace!" Lily called out concerned, following her up the stairs. "Grace are you okay?" Lily asked once again as Grace slammed the door to her bedroom.

Lily knocked on Graces door "Can I come in?" she asked cracking the door open slightly.

Whatever" came Graces muffled reply as she curled herself up into a tight ball on her bed.

"Did something happen at Eli's?" Lily questioned without luck as she observed her clearly distressed daughter. No reply came from the girl who lay sobbing on her bed so Lily left the room, aching for the days where Grace used to share everything with her as opposed to shutting her out.

"You know where to find me" she offered softly as she closed the door behind her and made her way back downstairs and into the kitchen.

Grabbing the phone she dialed Rick's number. She'd had a terrible day, first he new boss Kirsty, then now Grace. But somehow Rick seemed to make all her problems go away. Rick had mentioned quite a few times that it was time to meet the girls and although today wasn't the right time Lily had to agree. No matter how bad things were at work or home Rick was always there for her, and that's what mattered. The phone rang several times before anyone answered.

"Hello?" asked the familiar voice of Rick.

"Hey it's me" answered Lily with a smile on her face.

"Hey me, what are you doing?" Rick asked, smiling on the other end.

"Nothing much, apart from fighting with Kristy at work, and having Grace upstairs probably still crying her heart out but not wanting to talk to me. Listen, I was thinking about what you said the other day,"

"I said a lot of things to you the other day" cut in Rick, Lily laughed at the memory.

"I was talking about how you said it's time for you to meet Grace and Zoë" Lily explained.

"Oh?" asked Rick cautiously, not wanting to push the subject.

"How about tomorrow?" asked Lily, completely surprising Rick.

"Tomorrow's great" answered Rick, smiling on the other end, "But are you sure you're ready for this?" he asked, hoping she would say yes. "I'm sure"

"Pick up the phone, damn it" Eli cursed under his breath. It was around 8 o' clock and Eli had finally worked up the courage to call Grace. After all Grace had said she would see him tomorrow afternoon.

"Hello, Lily Manning speaking" Graces mother answered the phone.

"Hi, this is Eli, can I speak to Grace?" asked Eli trying hard to sound polite.

"Oh, hello Eli" Lily answered; Eli couldn't read the tone of her voice. "Grace isn't actually feeling all that well so she's gone to bed but she told me to tell you if you ring that she will see you tomorrow afternoon at her locker, okay?" Lily rushed. Whatever had happened with Eli, Grace obviously didn't want her getting involved.

"Umm, thanks I guess, tell her I'll see her then" Eli said hanging up the phone. Well that went well, he thought bleakly, yeah extremely well.

xxx

"Grace? Can I come in? Lily asked, standing in Graces open doorway.

Grace was lying on her stomach, in the middle of her bed, reading.

"Yeah, I guess" she answered waving an arm at Lily.

"That was Eli" Lily told Grace.

"Yeah I heard" Grace said, allowing no emotion to show in her words.

"He really seemed to want to talk to you" said Lily, a concerned look on her face. Getting no response from Grace Lily continued "He said he'd see you tomorrow".

"Oh okay then" Grace kept on reading.