I guess I didn't actually post the next three little stories! LOL Whoops! Here we go!

Insides
INSIDES

She felt an eternity had passed before she finally broke the silence. “What?”
“What?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes Eli, I asked what because you came up here to my room. Was there a specific reason?” Grace held onto the doorknob because she began feeling nauseous.
“Oh yeah. Your mom wants me to take you to work. I'm leaving in a few minutes so be ready.” Eli needed to walk away. She had this way of tying his stomach in knots and he couldn't for the life of him figure out why.
It was all she could do to stop herself from curling up in the fetal position. She'd see his face and her insides would jumble into a crazy mess.
Grace B&W
“No boy should ever make a girl feel that way. Girls are better than that.” She's standing in the dark with only the light of the lamp illuminating her eyes that were telling a completely different story. ~~~~~
She'd also convinced herself there was no way Eli would ever feel that way about shy, backward, bookworm Grace. “Yeah, I'll be down in a few minutes. Can you wait that long?”
“Uh yeah, sure. I'll be in the car.” He turned and walked to the steps. He grabbed the railing, tried calming the butterflies inside him, walked quickly down the stairs and out the door.




Green


“Gracie?”
She jumped. “Yeah Dad?”
He chuckled. “Are you okay?”
“Sure Dad. Fine. Really.” Grace lied and had a feeling her father knew it, especially considering the tone she was using.
“Gracie, you're not using complete sentences and you expect me to believe you're okay?” Jake always knew when his daughter was lying, even if he never let on.
“Really Dad, I'm okay. Just a little tired. I didn't sleep well last night.” Grace knew the instant the words left her mouth she would have to stand there and listen to her father question her god only knows how long and she didn't have any answers for him. She couldn't think straight because she'd been watching Eli flirt with one pretty girl after another the entire time they've been at work. Grace felt as though she were turning the same shade as the Jolly Green Giant and she knew from experience green was not a pretty color on her.
“Okay. Well try to get more sleep tonight okay Grace?” Jake went against his better judgement and chose not to push the subject with his daughter.
“Thanks Dad.” Grace said quietly and watched her father walk back to his office before returning her gaze to Eli and his newest blonde friend. “Yeah Grace, you do not look good in green” she whispered under her breath. “Not good at all.”





FRIENDS





She threw herself on her bed and said “thank god that's over.”
“What's over?”
Grace jumped. “Geez Zoe, couldn't you knock?”
“What? Your door was open. Thank God what's over? All you did was work at Daddy's store. Were they busy?” Zoe waited patiently for an answer from her sister.
“Not really. I just didn't have a good day. Nothing more.” Grace laid back down on her bed, shut her eyes and hoped it would be enough to make her little sister leave her alone.
No such luck as Zoe asked again, “why was today any different? If they weren't busy what was so bad?” She wouldn't leave it alone.
“She won't answer you Zoe.”
Grace sat up again and glared at her step-sister. “Can't you knock or better yet, can't you mind your own business and stay out of our conversation?”
“No” she simply stated.
No answer from Grace and Zoe was too busy waiting for a fight to utter another word.
“I know why she had a bad day Zoe.” Jessie dared Grace to respond.
“Hey Zoe, why don't you see if Mom is home. Daddy needed me to tell you both something and I wanted to tell you together.” Grace hoped Zoe fell for her ploy to be alone with Jessie.
“Sure.” Zoe smiled at Jessie before walking downstairs to find her mom.
“So, got something to say Grace?” Jessie dared.
Grace stood. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do. I don't know what you were going to say to my sister but it is none of your business.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“He's my brother so he is my business.”
“What does Eli have to do with my day at work?”
“Still in denial I see.” Jessie shook her head. “That's okay Grace. Keep denying your feelings and maybe you'll believe it.” Jessie turned and walked to her room.
“We're friends. That's all...friends.” She paused a moment and added. “Honest. Eli and I are only friends and that is all we will ever be...friends.” Grace ached inside after hearing the words she knew she didn't feel...and not another soul believed.




tis all!