I Spy With My Little Eye

Chapter 15

Grace:

I wasn’t sure why both of his sisters got the same look on their faces when I mentioned Eli getting dressed. Or why they drug him back into his/Cammi’s room. I didn’t know until Izzi came out squealing which I found very uncharacteristic. Eli quickly followed wearing what he had been wearing yesterday when he first woke me up. I had to admit it looked good on him. Cammi skipped along happily behind her twirling her hair around her fingers.

Both of his sisters were gorgeous, thought almost complete opposites. Cammi was shorter and curvy even though she was only 15 with short strawberry blond wavy hair and freckles. She had delicate features, a small nose, large round eyes, a rosebud mouth and a small dimple in her chin. Both of them had the same un-nerving blue eyes that they shared with Eli and dimples when they smiled, also a trait they shared with Eli. That’s where they resemblance ended. Izzi had long strait black hair. It was darker than Eli’s but not by much. Her aristocratic features gave her a stern, haughty appearance. Her nose was long and thin, her eyes were more almond shaped than Cammi’s with long black eyelashes. Her perfectly arched black eyebrows made her eyes stand out even more. Her face was thin and pale even though she had an epic farmers tan. She was tall and thin. Honestly, she scared me, even if she was younger than me. They both seemed to adore Eli and I could tell the feeling was mutual.

“Iz I refuse!” Eli shouted causing me to jump as he reached out and snagged her by her waist lifting her up and spinning her around, so she was standing behind him.

“Please Eli!” she begged, tugging at his arm, “We won’t take all day I swear.”

“You always say that, and we always take all day.” Eli said, “Besides no one else wants to go.” He crossed his arms over his chest blocking her from view.

“Cammi wants to go!” Izzi reached out and grabbed her sister’s arm and pulled her next to her. Cammi gave a little squeak.

“No, I don’t.” she whined.

“There will be a pet store there.” Izzi said almost threateningly.

Cammi squealed and started bouncing, “Yes Eli can we go please?! Can I get a bunny?!”

“No, and no.” Eli said throwing up his hands and spinning on his heal.

“I don’t want to go if I can’t have a bunny.” Cammi pouted. I couldn’t help but smile. I had never had any siblings and I had always wanted one.

“You’ll want to go.” Izzi said through clenched teeth, “Or I’ll tell Eli about a certain someone.”

“Yes! Yes, I want to go!” Cammi said bouncing on her toes.

“d**k wants to go!” Izzi said flashing Levi a smile. I could only imagine he would agree with her because he would agree with anything she said.

“Of course, I do!” d**k said then got a confused look on his face, “You’ll be there right?”

“Of course.” Izzi said an evil smile crossing her face, “What about you Grace?” Izzi turned to me with a pleading expression and I dumped the peppers into the eggs.

“Go where?” I asked calmly glancing at Eli who had went pale and was shaking his head back and forth. He looked terrified.

“Shopping for clothes for Eli.” Izzi gave me a sweet smile. It amazed me how she could quickly change from scary to sweet without even trying.

“Of course!” I said I’ve been trying to buy him cloths for a while now, but he was being difficult, “But we have to get Levi some stuff too okay?”

“Your dad won’t let you!” Eli said pulling his last card in desperation.

“I’ll call him?” I shrugged and pulled my phone out of my pocket as I started cooking omelets. I pressed number two and held it. The phone rang twice before he picked up.

“Gracie? Is everything okay?” He sounded halfway panicked.

“Yes, Daddy everything’s fine, I was just wondering if you would be alright if we went to the mall.” I asked trapping the phone between my ear and shoulder as I flipped the omelets, “We’re very bored and would like to get out and see the city.”

“You’ll take both of the boys with you?” He questioned sternly.

“Yes Daddy, I will.” I said flashing Eli a smile as he glowered at me.

“And you’ll call me when you get home?” He asked his voice relaxing.

“Of course, I will.” I said trying not to start jumping up and down while Izzi looked at me so expectantly. “So, can we go?”

“I suppose you can go.” He said with a sigh, “but be careful!”

“thank you Daddy!” I said quickly, “We’ll be at the Cherry Creek Mall okay?”

“Alright sweetie.” Daddy said softly, “I love you.”

“I love you too Daddy.” I said and hung up.

“Ha! Suck it!” Izzi said jumping and spinning around pointing a finger at Eli.

“Can we at least eat first?” he asked, shooting Levi a glare, “Traitor.”

“Hey, don’t give me that look dude!” Levi lectured, “If it was someone else, I would have been on your side, but this is your sister! This is my shot.”

Eli shook his head and jammed his hands into his pockets, “I hate to break it to you dude, but you never had a shot.”

“She doesn’t think so or she wouldn’t have asked my opinion.” Levi crossed his arms and stuck his nose up in the air.

“She’s right here.” Izzi said, “and she can confirm, you never had a shot.”

‘Don’t say that Izzi, there’s a spark there and you know it!” Levi pleaded. Izzi just rolled her eyes and turned to Eli with a grin on her face.

“You love me Eli and you would have went anyway.” she said hugging him quickly.

“Stop being right.” He mumbled under his breath. He walked into the kitchen and poked the omelet with the spatula.

“Don’t touch it!” I shrieked jumping at him and pushing him away, “I don’t want you to ruin it!”

“What is he ruining?” Cammi chirped skipping up to us, “ooooh omelets! Eli leave!”

“No.” Eli crossed his arms over his chest and stepped back into the kitchen. I rolled my eyes and went to get the plates. Which sadly were in the cupboard that I could never manage to reach. “Besides, Grace needs me to get things off the top shelf for her.” He said with a chuckle as he pulled the plates down from the cupboard. I saw Izzi and Cammi exchange looks that I had no idea what they meant as Eli reached around me to get the glasses also. He smiled at me and blushed a little bit. It was cute and made me blush too.

“Is that all princess?” He asked handing me the last glass.

“C-could you set the table?” I asked holding up the plates. He gave me a smirk and took the plates from me. Okay I had to admit there was no way not to be attracted to him, even if he had the worst mood swings in the world.

“Grace likes Eli.” Izzi whispered in my ear scaring the bageezies out of me. I jumped like three feet in the air and let out a shriek.

“Izzi stop scaring people!” Eli commanded.

“Psh, make me!” Izzi demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

“If you don’t, I’ll tell mom about your tattoo.” Eli said as he concentrated on putting the silver wear in place on the napkins.

“You wouldn’t” Izzi narrowed her eyes gave him a hard look.

“Wouldn’t I?” Eli said flashing her an evil smile.

“You guys are so related.” I said shaking my head as I scooped the omelet out and place it on a serving platter. I was proud of myself for reaching it.

“What do you mean?” Cammi said innocently. Maybe she wasn’t like the other two.

“You threaten each other to get what you want.” I said bringing the omelet over to the table.

“Oh…” Cammi said following me, “It’s a family trait.” she shrugged and sat down across the table from me. Izzi sat on my left while Eli sat on my right. Levi sat between Izzi and Cammi.

When we finished breakfast, without any yelling or without any unwelcome visitors we grabbed jackets and headed out the door to Eli’s car down in the parking garage. I sat up front with Eli while Levi and the girls sat in the back. We drove to the mall with the music blaring but little conversation. Eli liked anything and everything. Whenever a commercial would could on one station he just pressed seek and changed to a station with music playing. We listened to everything from oldies to opera. I found it odd that he really didn’t care what kind of music he was listening too as long as it was music and not commercials. Him and his sisters sang along to every song they knew. The best part was when Eli started singing “man I feel like a woman” by Shania Twain. He got really into it. His hands played imaginary drums on the steering wheel while he bit his bottom lip and nodded in time with the music during the guitar solo. Little to say I was cracking up by the time we reached the mall, and everyone was giving me weird looks, but they couldn’t see his face.

“That’s it Grace.” Eli said unlocking the car and pulling off his seat belt, “No more drugs for you.”

“You’re just so funny!” I laughed while catching my breath as I got out after him.

“Let’s just get this over with.” Eli’s shoulders sagged as he looked up at the two-story mall in front of us. We walked into the mall together. Eli, being drug by Izzi and Cammi a few steps ahead of Levi and I. Levi nudged me and smiled wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. I had no idea what he meant by this action, so I choose to ignore him.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” He asked looking at Izzi with a smile plastered on his face.

“Um… yeah.” I agreed giving him a confused look.

“I could be your brother in law someday very soon.” I threw and arm around my shoulder as I gave him my best “you have got to be crazy look.”

“And how would that work?” I asked shrugging him off.

“You like him.” Levi shrugged and gestured to Eli who was hiding behind cars while Cammi and Izzi tried to drag him into the mall. I smile a little to myself. It was a cute site. I wondered what it would be like to have sisters or a brother. If I had a brother, I would want him to be like Eli.

“I don’t like him like that.” I said calmly my voice soft as I watched them run around the parking lot.

“Uh huh. Yeah and Izzi isn’t the most beautiful girl in the world.” Levi rolled his eyes. I giggled at his expression.

“I don’t like Eli like that.” I said, “Besides I’m pretty sure he hates me half the time anyway.” I shrugged and shook my head at Levi.

“Not everyone can fall in love like Izzi and I.” He said matter of factly.

“You, my good man,” I said trying not to bust out laughing, “are delusional.”

“Just cause she doesn’t know it yet.” He said defensively. Iz and Cammi managed to wrangle Eli from the parking lot and we all entered the building together.

“If you need me,” Eli said turning 90 degrees, “I’ll be in the food court.”

“You’re not allowed to leave me alone remember.” I said grabbing his arm and spinning him back in the direction of American Eagle.

“Stupid work.” He mumbled, jamming his hands in his pockets as he glared at the stores around us like it was their fault for his unhappiness. I linked my arm around his as we continued to waltz through the mall looking for just the right store. I personally decided American Eagle just wasn’t Eli’s style. Probably because his jeans were mainly from Wal-Mart and his shirt, upon closer inspection, looked to be about five years old. The only thing that was really nice that he owned that I would never change was his leather jacket.

“So, Eli,” I said, breaking the silence and his glowering, “when was the last time you went shopping?”

“When my sisters’ drug me to the store last.” He shrugged and watched his feet as he walked.

“Which was?” I prompted looking up at him while his face reddened

“I’m a guy Grace, I don’t go shopping.” he explained slowly, looking at me in disbelief, “I mean I know some guys shop but I’m not one of them. Spending money actually hurts, a lot.”

“It does?” I asked confused how spending money could cause physical pain.

“Yes.” He said simply like that was final. I pulled him into an Abercrombie store deciding we would go with the all-American boy look. He let out a strangled cry as he looked around with the most disgusted look on his face. The girls and Levi followed and Cammi had a similar look on her face.

“I’m seriously reconsidering the food court.” He mumbled as I let go of his arm and went about trying to find him the perfect ten outfits. Eli stood by the door looking uncomfortable. I sighed and walked over to him and handed him some clothes I had picked out then grabbed his arm and dragged him behind me. I alternated between handing Levi clothes and handing Eli clothes as I worked to find them each suitable outfit that they would like. It was harder than it sounded. Pink was out, and anything that was a softer color. The only color I forced Eli to try on was baby blue. He didn’t need any help making his eyes stand out, but I thought it would look amazing on him with his almost black hair. And I was right.

“Grace I am not buying this!” He told me defiantly tossing the shirt in my general direction.

“Yes, you are,” I finalized simply, picking it up and dusting it off, “Besides it’s my money.” with that comment Eli looked over the top of his dressing room at me. He shot me a glare.

“You will not spend a dime on me Missy!” he said seriously.

“I can and I will.” I placed my hands on my hips and glared back at him.

“Eli can I get this dress?” Cammi asked coming around the corner and holding up a dress. It looked really short. Eli pulled his shirt over his head and looked at the dress skeptically.

“Try it on first.” He said pulling the clothes I had deemed acceptable from my grasp. He tossed the shirt on the rejection rack and walked out into the main part of the store.

“Iz you are not buying those shorts!” He said yanking them away from her and dragging her into the dressing room area.

“Why can’t I get them?” she whined as he handed her the clothes, I had picked out for him, “Why did you drag me in here?”

Eli pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed like he was trying to collect his self. I wasn’t sure why he was getting stressed all of the sudden. “Just don’t let Grace touch those clothes.” He ordered, going back into the main part of the store.

“What’s wrong with him?” I asked sitting beside her in the waiting chairs.

“he gets like this.” she shrugged and patted the clothes on her lap, “after about thirty minutes he starts freaking out on us. It means we need to take a trip to the food court. He won’t be able to sit still till we shove someday old Chinese food down his throat and let him suck down three Orange Julius.”

“What happens after that?” I asked looking at her curiously.

“He walks around like a happily fed zombie.” Izzi said.

“So, we should have waited to get his cloths?” I asked a plan forming in my head for him to get the blue shirt.

“Yes.” Izzi gave a curt nod as Cammi came out of the dressing room smiling nervously as she tugged the hem of the dress down.

“So, you and Levi…?” I trailed off glancing at her. Amazingly Izzi blushed and Cammi beamed. I didn’t think it was possible for Izzi to blush. She just didn’t seem like that kind of girl. Then again, I wouldn’t have suspected shopping either.

“He’s like 20, I’m 17.” she mumbled looking away, “it’ll never happen.”

“Yeah but you can be nice to him.” I said gently pulling the clothes from her and placing them on the rejection rack.

“Cam, go change.” Eli ordered, still being his overly jumpy self, “You three are going to go with d**k to the food court, or another store okay.” it wasn’t a question.

“What about you and Levi?” I asked turning to him with a hard look on my face. I just felt like he was going to ditch me.

“I’m going with you.” Levi flashed Izzi a smile, “I can’t leave you three love ladies unprotected with evil things about, now can I?” he wrapped an arm around Izzi who looked like she was about to faint if she didn’t breath soon.

I looked over at Eli questioningly. He gave me an apologetic smile as Cammi came back out holding the dress up to her big brother.

“I’ll buy it for you later Sweetie.” he said ushering us out the store. As we were turning to head to the food court, I say Amber waltz by in all her black hearted glory.

“Evil B*tch.” Levi hissed under his breath as she walked pointedly up to Eli. I felt my body tense as I stuck my nose up in the air and marched away as quickly as I could. If Eli wanted to spend his time with demon spawn that was just fine with me.