Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long since I updated! I have been swamped, but I promise this story will go on :). I hope you like this chapter! I am making this story up as I go along so who KNOWS where it will end ^_^. Any feedback is greatly appreciated! xoxo
Saturday had finally come. Elli awoke promptly at 6:00 am with butterflies already stirring in her stomach. She hadn't felt this way in a long time. Maybe it was the novelty of the whole situation; going on a date with Gray. A much needed break from the tediousness of life in Mineral Town.
Elli had heard through the grapevine about a possibly budding romance between Gray and Mary. Although Elli wasn't a particularly good friend of Mary's, she felt a slight pang of both guilt and jealousy at the thought.
Elli began to question herself. Maybe it wasn't a date at all. Had she made more out of the situation than it actually was? Elli put on her dress and apron and walked downstairs to find the Doctor already doing work at his desk. It was unusual for him to get to the clinic before Elli.
"Good morning Doctor!" Elli chirped. "G-good morning Elli." Replied the Doctor. Elli turned towards her desk confusedly. It was almost if the Doctor looked nervous. He barely looked up at her.
Just as Elli began her paperwork for the day, the clinic's most popular patient came through the door escorted, per usual, by his daughter Karen. "Ah, Jeff. How can we help you today." Elli redundantly asked. Jeff groaned. "The usual." Karen sighed giving Elli a grin behind her father's back.
Elli grabbed his medicine while observing her surroundings. Could this day get any weirder? Now Karen and the Doctor weren't even speaking. None of Karen's lecturing today? No snarky comments? What was going on in this town?
As she poured Jeff's medicine Elli beckoned Karen over. "Hey!" Elli whispered. "Hey! So…today's the big day." She said with a wink. "Exactly. You think I can drop by after work? I need some girl time prep." Karen shot Elli a smile. It was a real, genuine smile…one that Elli hadn't seen in a long time. "Wow, Elli. You're really bent out of shape over this boy, aren't you?" Elli paused for a moment as her cheeks turned the color of moon drop flowers. "Shh! Ok, you're place. 4:30. I'll be there." "Sounds great. And Elli…I'm happy for you." She flashed that smile again. "See you later."
Jeff drank his medicine and sighed. "Alright, Dad. Back to work. Mom is waiting for you so she can head over to the square. Thanks Elli!" Karen led her father out the door without so much as a glance at the Doctor. Elli buried herself in her work hoping that time might pass more quickly.
4:00. Finally! Elli put her files away and hastily walked upstairs. She picked out a blue tank top, long white skirt, and light red sweater to go with it. She put on some light gray flats, perhaps subconsciously, to solidify the outfit. It was 4:25. Elli looked in the mirror one last time and headed over to Karen's.
"Bye Doctor! I may be back late, but I will see you tomorrow for work!" The Doctor looked up at her and paused for a moment. She looked grown up, and for the first time, he saw her almost as beautiful. "Bye, Elli." He smiled softly and looked back down at the papers on his desk. As the door shut behind her, the Doctor felt a strange wave of loneliness wash over him. He thought about his talk with Karen and remembered that Elli was due for her date with Gray. He decided to go clear his head in the mountains Part of him hoped he might run into Karen again to ease his sadness and take his mind off of the situation. He had a lot to ponder as he left the clinic and headed towards the mountainside.
Karen heard a knock on her bedroom door and opened it with a calm excitement. "Welcome to Karen's girl prep central! Wow, Elli. You look great!" "Really? You think this is ok?" Elli smiled proud that she chose a Karen-approved outfit on her own. "Yes! Come sit!"
"So, give me the details." Karen patted her bed gesturing for Elli to sit. "Oh, boy. Well to make a long story short…Gray and I had a surprisingly deep conversation about our pasts and 'woes' of the present. He said he was going to help me 'take a break' tonight at the beach." Karen appeared speechless for once. "Woah, Elli! I have no idea what that entails, but you have my interest that's for sure. That's probably the juiciest gossip I've heard in years. Who knew Gray was so...well I don't know what, exactly. Here, I have the perfect thing for taking breaks at the beach." Ah, there was that Karen grin.
She opened a box in the corner of her room and handed Elli a bottle of wine from her secret stash. "Here, take this. You'll be sure to have a good time." Elli reluctantly smiled. Usually she would turn down alcohol. As a nurse, she knew the consequences of drinking (both physically and emotionally); however tonight she felt bold for once. She accepted the bottle and put it in her bag.
It was already 5:00. Elli still had an hour before she needed to be at the beach. "So…any idea what's going on between Gray and Mary?" Elli meekly asked Karen. "Hmm…I really don't know much about it. I have seen him leaving the Inn to go visit the library, but that's about all I know. She's kind of mysterious you know?" "Yea." Elli sighed seeming slightly discouraged. "Maybe that's her appeal." "Hey! Don't think about that now. Gray asked YOU to the beach tonight, didn't he?" Karen gave Elli a little nudge. "True…" Elli smiled.
Elli's heart started to pound as she looked at the clock. 5:45. "Ah! I better start heading over!" "Yes! Wait, before you go…I have a little something that may make a little more of a statement." Karen flashed that grin and pulled out some red lipstick. "Here, try a little bit of this. Hehe." Elli rolled her eyes, but going along with the outgoing theme of the night, she grabbed it and put some on. "Perfect! You look great Elli. Now, go get that boy and have a great time. And don't forget…you owe me details later." Karen winked. "Of course! Ok, here I go! Thanks for everything Karen. I'll talk to you soon!" Karen smiled.
As the door closed behind Elli, Karen thought about how she might shake things up in her own life. What about that farmer boy? He was just about the most exciting thing to happen in this town since the Inn started serving liquor. Karen gave it a thought. Even if they never had a romantic relationship, even some new conversation might be revitalizing. Karen spruced herself up before heading to the Inn to meet Rick and Ann for some Saturday night fun.
Elli took her time as she walked over to the beach. She steadied the bottle of wine in her bag as it sloshed back and fourth. Elli's heart pounded. She took a moment to brush herself off and remember the words of encouragement Karen gave her. "You got this, Elli." She whispered to herself. She walked with a little swag in her step after catching her reflection in the wine bottle. She smiled as she approached the beach and saw Gray waiting for her.
As Elli approached Gray, he took the chance to look her up and down while she couldn't see him doing so up close. "Wow." He thought to himself. He had never really seen Elli in anything other than her work clothes, which hid her body from head to toe. She was unspokenly considered the "chubbiest" of the girls in town. In reality, Elli was just hiding away. Perhaps this applied to her emotionally, too. In a way, maybe Elli didn't want the male attention from anyone, other than the Doctor. Maybe she belonged to him. Gray was both captivated and intrigued. He hoped to find the answer one day. For the first time, he noticed her curves and her beautiful, olive skin. As she approached, she smiled with those adorable, red lips.
"So, you decided to show up." Gray teased with a crooked grin. "Well, of course! How could I pass up the chance to 'take a break'." Elli shot a coy smile back at him.
Gray was wearing a plain blue t-shirt, black shorts, and, of course, his favorite hat. Elli realized she had never seen him without his work jumpsuit on. The blue shirt hugged his muscles and seemed to make his eyes sparkle. That blacksmith work seemed to be paying off. In a way, maybe Gray too hid behind his work, clothes and all. Maybe, it defined him. Elli also hoped to find out one day.
Gray sat down in the sand. Elli sat down next to him with a clunk. Her bag hit the sand and the bottle of wine rolled out. Gray stared at it for a minute while Elli panicked inside waiting for a response. Gray started to chuckle. "So, this is how you take a break?" His side grin was starting to grow on her. "Heh heh. Well…no…not traditionally…" Elli remembered Karen's words again and intended to stay confident.
"I don't drink." Gray said. "The old man would never approve. It's like, fun is dead to him these days." Elli smiled and popped the cork. "Ok, fine. But, that's not going to stop me!" She took a swig. Elli was confused by her own actions. What was this feeling taking over? She finally identified it. It was freedom.
"Ah, screw it." Gray sighed. "Give me some of that." Elli noticed that sly Karen "forgot" to give them any cups. Gray didn't think twice as he chugged down a big sip of wine. They both giggled as this was so out of character for both of them. They were rule breakers in their own right.
"So, Gray…I believe you owe me a story." Gray chuckled. "Ah, was hoping the wine would help you forget that…ok fine." Elli leaned back ready to listen. "It's really not that interesting…I was never a scholar…I'm not particularly good with people…to make a long story short I was shipped out here by my parents to 'learn' a thing or two from my grandfather. It was almost as if it was to punish me or to teach me a lesson. So, here I am. I'm determined to show the old man that I am up to the task and can handle whatever he throws at me…if for no other reason to spite those who doubted me." Gray shrugged his shoulders. "See…not all that interesting." He shot Elli his sideways grin. Elli smiled back. "Here." She handed him the wine bottle and he took another swig.
Elli was starting to feel a little tipsy and thus, much more bold. "So, on a more interesting note…what's up between…you and Mary." Elli was shocked that she actually asked that out loud. Maybe, it was the red lipstick.
Gray chuckled with a huff. "Well, wouldn't you like to know." He teased. Elli looked away embarrassedly. "Ok, ok. To be honest, I really have a lot of respect for Mary. She is always teaching me something new and…helps me, well, sort things out. I was honestly thinking of leaving for the city…but she encouraged me to give this town a chance and try to find something that I am passionate about. She brings me back down to earth." He looked down and smiled softly as if reminiscing. Elli didn't know how to feel.
"How about you and the Doc? Do I hear wedding bells in the future?" Elli looked Gray straight in the eye. "Hmm…that's a story for another time." She said taking another swig from the bottle. "Ok then, how about next Saturday?" Gray chimed in. Elli thought for a minute. "Maybe…I'll think about it." She said in her own half passive aggressive, half flirtatious way. Gray looked away. "Ok, well think all you want. Let me know when you decide." He smiled half-heartedly. "Ok!" Elli said snapping back to her usual perky self. She picked up her bag. "Well, Gray thanks for the chat. I'll see you around, ok?" "Yeah, I had a good time…see you soon…" Gray sighed in confusion as he watched her walk down the beach and disappear into the square.
Gray stared out at the ocean as he tried to sort out his thoughts. This town was becoming more interesting than he could have imagined. Perhaps he would find his passion sooner than he thought.