All written for: Arcadia 100
Title: Beautiful Disaster
Characters: Grace/Luke
“I am so tired of keeping this a secret!” Luke said for the six hundred and fifty third time since Grace had made him sign that stupid contract.
She just rolled her eyes. “Come on, Girardi, do you really want our relationship to be the gossip of Arcadia High?”
“Honestly, Grace, I don’t care. I’m proud to have you as a girlfriend. But if you don’t feel the same way about me and this relationship, maybe we should call it quits.”
“All right,” she sighed in defeat. “But I guarantee it will be a beautiful disaster when everyone finds out.”
Title: Surprise!
Characters: Grace/Luke
“All right geek, why is that box moving?”
Luke smiled. “It’s your birthday present, Grace. Open it.”
Warily, Grace picked up the box Luke had brought her. She slowly peeled away the paper, afraid that whatever was in the box was a failed science experiment that would possibly do bodily harm. Suddenly the lid flew off the box and Grace cringed. After a moment, she realized that there hadn’t been an explosion, but her face was terribly wet.
“You bought me a puppy?” She looked at Luke, incredulous.
He looked very satisfied with his surprise. “Yep, his name is Einstein.”
Title: Dance With Me
Characters: Grace/Luke
Dance with me,
it can't be so hard
Time to reveal
what's in your heart
“Dance with me.”
“What?”
“Dance with me.”
“What are you talking about geek? We’re in the middle of the cafeteria and there is no music.”
Luke gave Grace a penetrating gaze.
“Dance with me, Grace. Right here. Right now. Prove to me that you aren’t embarrassed to be my girlfriend. Let all these people see how much you care about me and how much I care about you.
“But… ”
“No buts, Grace. Dance with me or it’s over.”
Grace took a deep breath and stood up.
“All right, geek, but if you step on my toes, I’ll slug you.”
Title: New Feelings
Character: Luke
Wow. I always thought I was a total dork and that no girl would ever like me.
I guess we are a pretty mismatched pair. Why do people put so much importance on looks? We have a lot in common. We’re both smart people. Isn’t that what matters?
These new feelings are so confusing. I had resigned myself to being alone before we moved to Arcadia.
This town has my whole family turned upside down - some good and some bad.
Joan is acting weird. Kevin is acting normal. And I have a girlfriend.
Must be something in the water here.
Title: Wanting Love
Character: Grace
Eyes downcast, she made her way through the halls. She couldn’t look up because all she saw were happy couples. It startled her to realize she was jealous.
Joan and Adam were over there, heads together, giggling about something. The three of them were supposed to hang out later.
And there, Luke and Glynnis with their heads together, probably discussing some mathematical equation.
It made her feel awful. Why did she have so much trouble finding love. Or expressing her feelings. She hated being the way she was. She just wanted someone to love. Was it too much to ask?
Title: Between a Kiss and a Hard Place
Character: Grace
Dear Diary:
The geek gave me a rock today. I don’t know what to think about it. He rambled on about how sometimes you see something and you just know it’s perfect for someone else and you buy it. I hope he’s not making too much out of that kiss.
Dear Diary:
What the hell have I gotten myself into? Joan ended up in the hospital today. Luke walked me home. In the rain. One minute we were arguing and the next minute we were kissing. What am I doing? I don’t want to be someone’s girlfriend. Or do I?
Title: A Wedding
Characters: Grace/Luke with a cameo by Helen/Will
Helen dabbed her eyes with a tissue as Will grabbed her hand a little tighter.
The beautiful young woman standing before them in the white dress ended her wedding vows.
“Being with you is the best thing that has ever happened to me. With you, I will have poetry in my life...and adventure...and love. Love, above all. And that is all I need.”
Tears streamed down Helen’s face as her son took his bride’s hand.
“We fit together like a magnet. Opposite poles, irresistibly attracted to one another,” Luke began. “I will love you until the end of time, Grace.”
Title: Dinner Date
Characters: Grace/Luke
Grace was embarrassed. She didn’t know why she thought she could cook a romantic meal for Luke. Romance just wasn’t in her blood.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized across the table. “It’s not very good, you don’t have to eat it.”
Luke swallowed another mouthful.
“It’s fine. And it was really sweet of you to do this for me.”
“Don’t tell me it’s the thought that counts. This food is barely edible. I don’t know how you can eat it.”
“I think it tastes good. As a matter of fact, I want some more."
Grace smiled as she gave him seconds.
Title: Confusing Feelings
Characters: Grace/Luke
“I don’t understand you, Grace. I thought we finally admitted we had feelings for each other and now you’re pulling away.”
“I told you I wasn’t into you.”
“And then you kissed me.”
“I know.”
Luke reached to pull her into his arms. She jerked away.
"Sometimes I think that you want me to touch you. How can I when you build the Great Wall around you?"
“I’m sorry, Luke. I just don’t know what I want. I keep telling myself I don’t want you, but …”
Luke cut her off by pulling her towards him and kissing her passionately.
Title: Halloween
Characters: Grace/Luke
“I look ridiculous in this. I can’t believe I let you talk me into going to the Halloween dance as Romeo and Juliet.”
“Grace, you look beautiful.”
“Don’t lie to me, Luke. We’ve come too far to start lying to each other now.”
"Grace, I promised you a long time ago that I would never lie to you. You look incredible and here I stand with this sword in my hand and thank God that you agreed to be my girlfriend. But I have to admit, I feel foolish carrying this sword.”
“I think you look sexy carrying a sword.”
Title: Good Morning
Characters: Grace/Luke
“Good morning, dear.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah, fantastic morning. Your daughter spilled her orange juice all over her homework and your son refuses to sit still and eat his breakfast. Wanna give me a hand?”
He put his briefcase down and closed the distance between them. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and kissed the back of her neck. “I love you,” he whispered against her ear.
She turned around to kiss him. Something more important caught her attention.
“Luke Junior! Stop running with scissors!" Grace shouted, ducking around her husband and going after her son.
Title: The Closer You Get
Characters: Grace/Luke
“Wait.” Grace pushed Luke away as he went for another kiss.
“What’s wrong?” He got a concerned look on his face.
“This is all happening too fast for me.”
“What do you mean?” He took a few steps away from her.
“This is all new to me.”
“I understand. It’s new to me too.”
Grace took Luke’s hand.
“I like you, Luke. You know that. But the closer you get, the more my instincts want me to pull back. Let’s take it slow.” She smiled at him.
“I can handle slow.” He smiled back.
Grace leaned in for a kiss.
Title: No Second Chance
Characters: Luke and Glynnis
“Glynnis… what are you doing?” Luke stammered the words as Glynnis placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned towards him.
“What’s wrong, Luke? You used to like it when I kissed you.”
Luke removed Glynnis’s hands from his shoulders. “I’m with Grace now.”
Glynnis rolled her eyes. “But, Luke, I’m back to being me again. I’m not dressing up and wearing make-up anymore. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“I am with Grace and we are happy. I’m sorry if you changed again because of me, but I don’t want to be with you anymore.”
Luke turned and walked away.
Title: Sneaking Out
Characters: Leah (gender bent Luke)
Leah Girardi tiptoed down the steps, trying desperately not to wake her family.
She was still having trouble believing that she, the good child, the bookworm, the one who covered for Joan and Kevin, was sneaking out of the house while the rest of her family slept.
But she knew her family would freak if they found out why she was sneaking out. She still hadn’t worked up the courage to tell them about her relationship with Grace yet. She knew that Joan suspected, but with her mom on this Catholicism kick, she wasn’t sure how to bring it up.