Chapter Forty

...but perhaps Eponine never really wanted to leave but perhaps she meerly needed a chance to be free and feel alive for once in her life-

Elliot looked up from the paragraph to glance up at Grace whose eyes were still fixated on the current page.

Her ocean-like eyes were darting like ping-pong balls, like they always did when she became absorbed in a story.

As per their usual routine, they were reading their pastime novel, Constellational Thoughts of a Wanderer.

Elliot had to admit that it had grown to become one of his favorite books or even the number one story he enjoyed. Or maybe it was simply because it was Grace's all time favorite novel as well.

Or maybe he simply enjoyed their reading sessions where Elliot got to spend time with her, even if it meant not exactly reading at all and just observing her and coming up with more reasons why he was so in love with her.

So many that he had lost count of.

A strand of her golden hair fell from her ear and he gently put it back in place, letting his fingers linger on the spot for a moment.

She looked up at the contact and gave him a gentle smile.

She was wearing an oversized printed tee and her hair was done up in a messy bun that attempted to hold her golden waves in place.

They were both currently sitting upright on the bed mattress, their legs crossed over and a pillow thrown on top of their disorderly arrangement of limbs, supporting the book up.

Although it was still in the morning hours, Grace still managed to look gorgeous, especially when the peaks of morning sunlight tickled her face and curve across her features, seting alight her hair in the process.

The word pretty was never one that Elliot would use to describe her; it simply didn't do enough justice.

Grace wasn't just 'pretty' like a dainty ornament, she was as stunning as the sun.

"What are you staring at?" Grace mused, snapping him out of his daze.

"I would kiss you right now but I wouldn't want you to suffer from my morning breath," he joked.

Grace let out a laugh.

Elliot continued to play with a strand of her hair as they read until the door jarred opened slightly with a creak.

"Good morning..."

Susie rubbed her eyes with the arm of Mr Carrot and hobbled her way onto the bed, burying herself under the covers.

"Oi, time to wake up fairy," he tusked, just as he flipped the doona over and discarded it on the ground, revealing a snuggled up figure on the end of the bed.

"No... still sleepy..."

He shook his head and sighed,

"You should have just stayed in your own bed anyway then,"

"But... I wanted... to hang... out with... you... guys..."

Grace slid a bookmark on the current page and placed the novel on the wooden side table.

She glanced at him quickly and gave him a look as if to say, to be continued, and Elliot stood up from the bed, stretching his arms.

"Come on we have school soon so... get off the bed Sue!"

A clear groan of frustration managed to escape of the little girl's mouth until it ended off weakly into a tired sigh.

Grace rolled her eyes at Elliot before standing up off the bed, straightening up where she had sat.

"Bossy, bossy, bossy," she sighed, shaking her head before turning to Susie.

"Hey Susie, how does Nutella toast sound?"

Grace gently wrapped her arms around Susie's cuddled position and lifted her off the mattress to carry her.

"That sounds good," Susie said with enthusiasm even though her voice was still slightly laced with sleep.

Elliot gave Grace a look of annoyance but she just stuck her tongue out at him before walking out of the room with Susie in her arms.

~

Elliot was in his room still, finishing off the last trigonometry question he had left for homework whilst packing the rest of his belongings.

He heard a door shut from across the hall and a patter of footsteps.

Wow, weren't girls supposed to take longer getting ready, he thought to himself.

"All set for school?"

That was Grace's voice.

"Yeah! See? My bag is all ready and my shoes are already on with the laces done!"

That was obviously the little fairy's voice.

"Wow, you're becoming an expert at tying laces up aren't you?"

"Yes I am! Anyway, thanks for breakfast Grace!"

"Of course, I make it everyday don't I? And besides, you say thanks everytime too,"

"That's because I realy like it when you make breakfast because..."

There was a pause until the voice continued talking in a loud whisper.

"You make it extra yummier than Elliot does..."

"I heard that," Elliot called out as he stepped out of his room and zipped up his school bag with the last of the textbooks inside.

Susie covered her mouth, trying to muffle her giggles and disguise her humor.

"Oh I'm so sorry Elliot I didn't mean that," she said, exaggerating her concerned tone and obviously acting.

"Nah that's okay," Elliot sighed, playing along.

Grace patted him on the back.

"Sorry Eli," she shrugged.

They both simultaneously faced Susie, watching her until she exploded into a fit of giggles.

"Ah...that's...so...funny," the little girl squeaked.

~

Elliot held both Susie's and his bag on both shoulders, following a skipping girl move out the door.

He turned and faced Grace who was standing right behind him, still in her 'lazy clothes' as she referred to them as.

Elliot took a step towards in front of her and looked straight into her eyes.

"Are you positive that you'll-"

"Yes, I'll be fine. Stop hassling me about it for the a thousandth time!" Grace cut in.

"But you know if you ever-" he insisted.

"Eli, I will be okay. And it's not like your leaving to go to the other side of the globe. It'll only be for a few hours."

He let out a sigh, knowing that Susie was waiting for him and gave in.

"See you soon?" He asked, his face a breath's away from hers.

"Soon." she smiled, giving him a peck.

He gave her another glance before stepping out towards the front gate and to an awaiting Susie who did not seem overly satisfied...

Elliot stopped in his tracks before hastily dropping the bags on the ground, running up to the porch to a confused Grace.

He grabbed Grace by the waist and kissed her deeply with much enthusiasm.

Her eyes were open in surprise for a second but she closed them and gave in to Elliot's willingness.

Elliot could have sworn he heard Susie cheering from a few metres away.

Once he let go of her, Grace let out a raspy laugh.

"You're an idiot," she said shaking her head.

"I'm yo-"

"Elliot Dallas don't you dare finish that sentence."