~A Once and Again Series~

The Way We Were

<<<Chapter 4//How to Feel>>>

"You broke up with Jennifer?" Kevin asked Eli in shock.

Eli shrugged, looking around the crowded hallway. "She kind of broke up with me."

"What? Why?" Kevin asked.

"I don't know. Girls are crazy." Eli said bitterly.

"You got that right." Kevin agreed, and then spotted his newest girlfriend, Julie and took off down the hall towards her. Eli watched him and shook his head.

[[Eli - I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about this.]]

Eli continued down the hall and stopped as he spotted Jennifer further down. He stood and looked at her for a few brief moments. Jennifer was talking to Lisa and as Eli watched her, Jen turned her head towards him and their eyes caught.

[[Eli - I really liked Jen.. I loved Jen.]]

Jen turned her head away and she and Lisa walked hurriedly down the hall, away from Eli. Eli sighed, shook his head again and continued walking.

[[Eli - But I don't think I regret that we're over. I'm glad about it.. is that weird?]]

Eli stopped at his locker and quickly spun the combination. He opened it and took out his math book and closed it harder than he intended to, causing it to slam shut. He turned and was surprised by Grace's face.

"Hi," Grace said uneasily.

"Hi," Eli looked at her and then away. And then back at her.

Grace struggled to come up with something to say. "I heard that Jennifer's in Mock Trial. Are you doing that too?"

"Uh, no. Actually.." Eli looked at her, studying her. "Well, you'll probably hear it from someone else today, anyway.. Jen and I broke up."

"Oh." Grace said with surprise.

[[Grace - I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about that, cuz I like.. wished for it to happen. I wanted them to break up, and now they did. But how can I be so happy about it when I feel so guilty?]]

"So, are you doing Mock Trial?" Eli asked.

"No, no." Grace said. "Not me."

"Well, I have to get to class."

"Okay." Grace watched him go, and finally allowed herself a big smile.

* * *

"Judy, this is Rick," Lily introduced them. "Rick, this is my sister, Judy." Lily waited as Judy and Rick silently appraised each other.

"Hi Judy. Lily has told me so much about you." Rick said, uncomfortable with the whole formalness of their introduction.

Judy looked Rick over once again and began sorting a pile of books. "Same here."

Lily frowned slightly and pulled Rick away and showed him around the bookstore. When they had made the small trip, Lily brought him back over to the front, where Judy was sitting, putting books away.

"So, Lily told me you're thinking of putting a coffee bar in here." Rick said after a little nudge from Lily.

Judy looked up at them and stands up.

[[Judy - Am I supposed to like him right away? Am I just supposed to accept him because he's my sister's new boyfriend? I don't know how I feel about Lily dating again..]]

"Yeah, well, maybe." Judy gave them a forced smile, and once again looked intently at Rick. "So, you have kids?"

"Yes, two. Eli and Jessie."

"Does your ex-wife have custody - or do you share?" Judy asked.

"We share." Rick gave Lily a small, questioning glance, but Lily pretended not to see it, and let Judy's questions continue.

"How long have you and your wife been divorced?"

"About three years," Rick answered.

"Hmm." Judy turned back to the books and this time Rick made sure Lily didn't ignore the look he shot her.

"Well, we're going," Lily said to her sister.

"Alright, I see you around, Rick," Judy said, her tone making it sound like she doubted she would.

"Bye." Rick and Lily left.

As soon as they were outside, Rick turned to Lily, "She hates me."

"No, no.. she just wants to make sure you're the right for me," Lily said.

Rick raised his eyebrows slightly, "Am I?"

"Yes," Lily leaned into him and they shared a kiss on the sidewalk in front of the store. They didn't notice Judy watching them through the window.

[[Judy - I never liked Jake, not really. I pretended I did, but still.. it was like having someone steal my sister away from me. After she met Jake, he was all she could talk about.. I hated it. Rick.. Rick could be another Jake, and that's what I'm scared about. I don't want to lose her to this guy.]]

Lily and Rick continued down the sidewalk and Judy went back to her books.

* * *

"Hi. Is Julie there?" Grace asked into the phone that night.

Julie mom replied, "Oh, sure, hold on."

After a pause, Julie came on, "Kevin?"

"No, it's me, Grace." Grace said with annoyance.

"Oh," A pause, "What's up?"

"Nothing, I just felt like talking." Grace said.

"About what?"

"Julie! We never usually have a reason for talking. We just.. talk."

"I know, Grace, and I would talk to you, but I'm expecting Kevin to call me. So, unless you had something important to talk to me about, I think I should keep the line open." Julie explained.

Grace frowned at the phone. "No, I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow, at school."

"Okay, bye, Grace."

"Bye." Grace hung up the phone and looked at in anger.

[[Grace - I'm losing my best friend to a guy. But, she was never a really good friend to begin with, I guess. I don't know.. it still hurts.]]

Grace went in the kitchen to hang the phone back up on the charger. Her mother was preparing dinner.

"Oh, Grace, can you set the table?" Lily asked as she saw her.

Grace reluctantly set the table for three. She walked back and leaned against the island counter and watched her mother cook. "Mom?"

"Yeah, sweetie?"

"What do you do when your best friend suddenly isn't your best friend anymore?"

Lily turned to her daughter, "What do you mean? Did you and Julie have a fight?"

"No, but she has a boyfriend, now. And that's all she cares about now." Grace explained.

Lily turned off the burners and transferred the food onto plates.

[[Lily - Is that how Judy feels?]]

"Have you tried to talk to her about this?" Lily asked.

Grace sighed. "No.. just forget it, you don't understand."

[[Lily - Does Judy think that Rick is all I care about now? Does she think she's losing me to him?]]

"Grace--"

"No, I don't want to talk about it." Grace carried the plates over to the table and called for Zoe. "Zoe, Dinner!"

* * *

"Lily!" Judy opened her apartment door to her sister. "Hi." Judy looked past Lily, "Is he here?"

"No." Lily smiled, and pushed past her, letting herself in the apartment. "It's just me."

Judy closed the door behind her sister and waited. "Why are you here?"

"Do I need a reason to come visit you?" Lily asked.

"No, but I feel like you do have a reason.." Judy looked searchingly at Lily, "This is about him, isn't it?"

"Rick. Yeah, it's about Rick."

Judy sighed, "I knew it."

[[Judy - It's starting already.. he's all she cares about..]]

[[Lily - How can I get Judy to see he's not all I care about? And how can I get her to accept him?]]

"You don't like him, do you?" Lily asked.

Judy searched for the right answer, "I don't know him."

"But I know him, and I like him, isn't that enough?" Lily asked pleadingly. "Can't you like him, because I like him?"

Judy shook her head, "I don't think it works like that."

"Judy, I want you to like him. I need you to like him. What you feel about him matters to me."

"It does?" Judy asked softly.

"Yes, you're my sister.. my best friend. I need you to accept him." Lily said.

Judy walked away from her sister, and then stopped and turned around. "Okay."

"Okay?" Lily turned and faced her, her voice hopeful.

"I accept that you're dating him. I'm just not sure if I like him." Judy paused and fought to get the next words out, "I don't want to lose you to him."

"Oh, Judy," Lily said and they hugged. "You won't!"

"Are you sure?"

[[Judy - Okay, maybe I was wrong.. maybe everything is going to be alright. I still don't know how I feel about.. *long pause* Rick.]]

"Yes."

* * *

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