And I Thought I Was Rid Of You
Clare's POV
He wasn't far from me.
He stood, listening to his lab partner talk excitedly about something Eli was obviously trying his best to pretend to be interested in. He kept looking from me to Kyle, as if willing Kyle to finish talking.
The next time he looked back at me I smiled at him, he grinned back helplessly.
My heart beat wildly. It only took the slightest look or smile to make me melt. I couldn't hear what Kyle was saying, but I watched as Eli put a hand on his arm and say something. Kyle's face fell, but he didn't protest as Eli turned and walked away.
"Sorry." he apoplogized. "He's really into chemistry." He motioned back towards Kyle.
I smiled. "You're sweet for trying." I said as we walked towards the door.
"Trying what?" he asked, confused.
"For trying to be interested in chemistry for him."
Eli shrugged. "My grades depend on his intellect. So keeping him happy seems mandatory."
We walked out to Morty and headed out. "My parents are gone this weekend. They went to some 'marriage reformation' seminar our pastor begged them to go to." I said, my use of air quotes making Eli smile.
He watched me closely. "You really hate being alone, don't you?" he asked.
"Sometimes, I like it. The quiet is good, occasionally. But, other times….." I searched for an explanation that would make sense.
"Sometimes the silence gets too loud?" Eli guessed.
I was surprised. That was exactly it. "Yes! Exactly."
Eli nodded. "I get that."
I watched him, knowing he was thinking about his own frequent solitude. We road in silence, both of us needing the time to think. One of the things I loved about Eli most was the fact that he could be silent. He knew that sometimes I just needed to think, and that thinking could get lonely.
"What's your family like, Eli?"
"I'm not sure you really want to know that, Clare."
I wondered if I did. "I'll know better if you tell me."
He shrugged. "What do you want to know?"
"Do you have any siblings?" it seemed like a generic enough question to start with.
"I have two older brothers. One ran off to some town in Bolivia, the other is the picture of perfection. He lives in Maine, married with a kid."
He didn't seem to want to talk about it. I let it go. Bolivia? I thought. If you're going to run away from home, why would you choose Bolivia?
"He's a Christian, he's a missionary there."
I looked at him. "My brother. Bolivia." He said to jog my memory.
I stared at him. Crap. He really could read my mind. "Are you absolutely positive that you can't read my mind?"
Eli smirked. "It's one of my many talents."
I laughed. "Sure."
Eli pulled up in front of his house. "Why are we here?" I asked.
Eli smirked at me. "Your parents are gone for the weekend and my mother is undoubtedly gone. Why else?"
I smiled, blushing, abandoning my former Saintliness. I found myself not caring anymore. Eli caught me up into his arms as I exited the car.
No one's lips had ever felt so much like they belonged against mine as his did. Eli let me go for a moment as we walked closer to the door. We stopped again in the doorway, as Eli pulled me back into his arms. His hands slipped under my shirt as I reached back and opened the door.
We stumbled in. I opened my eyes for a moment and my face instantly flushed. "Eli,"
"Something wrong?" he asked, pulling his lips from my neck for a moment.
"Eli," I tried again.
"Spit it out Edwards." Looking back, I would have hit him then if I hadn't been so embarrassed.
I grabbed a hold of his shoulders and turned him towards the living room.
Eli's mouth dropped open.
There, on the couch, sat his father.
