A/N: Hi guys! I'm back. This is the same story as it was before with the exception of some inspiration, a new direction, and a lot of editing. This is chapter one and two of the initial draft edited and put together. I'm working on the rest of the chapters now and hopefully the story will turn into something that I'm more proud of. Please, give the story another chance. I'll be forever grateful! I hope you enjoy it, suggestions and whatnot are more than welcome. Thank you!

The thing that I need to start remembering with Alli is that when she says she and Drew aren't going to break up anymore, she's often wrong. I let myself believe it because I know she believes it but I'm usually the one to suffer when they break up again. This most recent break up has sent her into a full on girls night kick. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that she didn't get depressed this time, but this is the fourth night in a row that we've gone out to clubs. I mean, I have school and a job. I can't handle this for much longer.

True to form, Alli went all out for this night, claiming it'd be the best one yet. She had bought both of us new outfits, full spa treatments and she did my hair and makeup. I don't like to feed into her materialistic form of coping but I had to admit, I looked hot. I was wearing a strapless red lace dress, with a sweetheart neckline. Over it, I had on a black studded leather jacket with these very gorgeous black lace heels. Alli gave me black smokey eyes and cherry red lipstick to match and, though it's not my usual look, I felt so good. Maybe this would be the best girls' night yet.

Hey, Alli was there to help me cope through my break-up, who am I to deny her the same treatment?

The girls' night thing is a part of this female empowerment kick. Since Alli broke up with Drew this time she's not wallowing. She says she's realized that women don't need men and she sure as hell does not need Drew. Thus, as we hopped out of the cab and walked the sidewalk towards the club, I had Single Ladies playing on repeat in my head.

A couple more steps and we arrived at the doors of Lush. From what Alli told me, it is the hottest club in Toronto right now and I started to think it was true as I took in the unbelievably long line. The line wound around the corner and out of sight, I scanned it quickly, taking in the club-going population. I saw dozens of girls in tiny dresses and precariously tall heels and I thought, "What the hell are all these crazies thinking? It's freezing outside."

A cold gust of wind raised goose bumps on my exposed legs and I laughed to myself, thinking, "Gosh, I guess I'm just as crazy."

Alli let out a huff next to me and said, "The end of the line awaits!"

I turned on my heel to walk after her, away from the source of loud dance music when I heard a voice behind me.

"Clare?"

I turned toward the voice and realized it was the bouncer who'd called for me.

"Oh my gosh, KC? Is that you?"

He nods and gives me a toothy grin before opening his arms for a hug. I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around his-now very broad-shoulders. I revel in the warmth of him as his arms squeeze, quite tightly, around my waist. I pulled away to look at him from head to toe. He'd certainly buffed up since high school. We caught up briefly, me talking about university and my waitressing job and he told me about the exciting life that his bouncer job provides.

Alli joined in quickly, earning a fierce embrace of her own from KC.

After chatting quickly, he said, "You know, I never thought I'd see the day when Saint Clare would be going clubbing looking like, well, this" gesturing to my attire.

I blushed and Alli said, "Aren't I a miracle worker?"

He looked me up and down appreciatively and nodded at her. Thoroughly embarrassed I decided now would be a great time to make my exit.

"Well, Baby Bhandari, like you said, the end of the line awaits us. KC, we'll be back here in a few hours!" I took a few steps away with Alli in tow when KC grabbed my wrist.

"Not so fast. Anyone who looks like this," he gestured to my attire, "doesn't have to wait in line, Clare-bear." He said with a wink.

Before I could register the comment, a giggling Alli took my other hand and led me past KC towards the pulsing, bright club.

I smiled at KC and shouted, "thank you!" He mouthed "call me" but I pretended not to notice and didn't allow it to get in the way of his nice deed.

Alli lead me towards a large mahogany door and we were suddenly in the throng of one big party. In front of me I see her throw her head back and let out an exclamation of some sort but the pumping music is too loud for me to actually hear it. She turns to me and motions towards the bar. I nod and let her lead the way, weaving us through the crowd with our hands still entwined.

Once we reach the bar I've already become more excited about being here. Just making our way through the mass of people has brought my energy up.

I'm trying to flag down the, very cute, bartender when I notice that, next to me, Alli has flagged down a cute man of her own. I look at her and realize she's making her sex eyes and follow her gaze. My eyes land on a guy that looks much like Drew, simply a few inches taller. Ha, typical. Every guy she's even looked at in the last few nights resembles Drew.

As I watch, the guy motions at her to come over and join him. She smiles and her glance shifts to me, her eyes no longer flirty but pleading. She's coping, right? I smile and say, "Just go already!" She kisses my cheek and says, "text me if you need anything!" while she struts off to the other end of the bar.

Once alone I realize that I might as well get a drink to pass my time. I flag down the bartender and order myself a rum and coke. As I say it, true to my Saint Clare roots, I know I won't drink it but my Grandmother once told me that real ladies can handle men's drinks. So, whenever it's a social requirement to drink, I order a rum and coke.

As cute bartender places the drink in front of me, I try to pass him a ten dollar bill but he waves my hand away, simply saying, "It's covered, sweetie. Courtesy of that gentleman-" he turns his gaze to what is now an abandoned seat at the other end of the dark wood bar, and finishes with, "who seems to have run away."

I tell the bartender to thank the guy if he sees him again. I sit back on my stool and take a sip of my drink. It burns my throat all the way down. Yuck, how bitter.

I place the drink back down just as warm breath hits my neck and a sultry voice says, "Blue eyes, don't you know it's dangerous to look this good when you're alone at a bar?"

I swivel my seat to get a full view of a set of piercing green eyes and the body attached to them. Elijah Goldsworthy.

Instantaneously, I feel my heartbeat speed up and the heat rise in my cheeks. I glance him up and down quickly. Taking note of his fitted white dress shirt, with a black satin vest over top, complete with black skinny tie, tucked into a pair of black skinny jeans. His hair is shaggier than I've ever seen it- with a permanent sex hair quality. The smirk already sitting on his lips is enough to bring me out of my trance and fuel up a good response on my tongue.

"It's a risk I take wherever I go, Goldsworthy."

He chuckles quietly and appraises me up and down with dark eyes, before saying, "That's always been true, Edwards."

My mind is reeling trying to figure out how I should act with him. It's been so long, he hurt me so badly and, yet, he's acting like we haven't missed a beat. The cynical part of me notes that it might be the last time I ever see him so I decide I must make the most of this moment.

I run my eyes from the floor up his body and as our eyes meet, I mirror his smirk with my own and say, "Is it you that I have to thank for the drink?"

He places a hand on his chest and mocks in fake horror, "Are you accusing me of trying to corrupt a Saint with hard liquor?"

I take a sip of my drink and glance at Alli in the process. She's staring at me intently, completely ignoring tonight's Drew lookalike. My mind notes that she's watching because this is a big deal. This is Eli Goldsworthy, in Toronto, in this bar, within arms' length. Her one look makes me realize this is what girl's night out is all about. Being reckless, careless and stupid.

As this notion forms within me a very good dance song* begins blaring through the bar. The beat, the lights and the alcohol have provided all the courage I need.

I let out a cold chuckle and place my hand on his chest. "I was corrupted a long time ago, Goldsworthy."

With that I stood up from my stool and stepped around him, making sure to press my, scantily clad, chest against his. He turned with me, his eyes never leaving mine.

As the distance between us grew he reached for my wrist and said, "You're not running away from me, are you blue eyes?"

With a wink I slid my arm upwards placing my hand in his and nearly purred, "Never, Elijah, I'm just trying to thank you for the drink."

With that, I pulled him behind me into the hot, sweaty crowd of people, aiming for the middle of the dance floor.

When I finally found a small hole in the crowd of people I stopped short and turned on my heel to face him. He looked down at me with one of his eyebrows raised, his eyes curious, and a smirk playing at his lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck and brought my hips flush with his before I started swaying them from side to side.

He took a few seconds to react, failing to hide the shock on his face. After just a few sways his hands found my hips and his waist started shifting with mine. We fell into a rhythm that swung with the music.

The movement of our bodies caused my dress to ride up on my hips and it almost caused me to lose my nerve. Grinding on someone who is practically a stranger is uncharacteristic for me. Add it to being this exposed in a very public place and my resolve waivered. I silently thanked God that it was so dark in here that no one really could've noticed my, now fairly, exposed thighs.

Though to my chagrin, Eli must've noticed because his eyes were now smouldering and clouded with lust. His hold on my hips grew a little tighter and I couldn't help but notice, as he rolled his hips forward ever so slightly, that his pants grew a little tighter too.

The one movement set free all of my cares. So what if I hadn't seen him in two years? So what if he left me? I hadn't been with anyone since Eli, since two years ago, and it felt so good to have him against me again. An urge began growing in my stomach, a little frenzy of nerves that caused me to retaliate and grind my hips in his direction.

The littlest moan escaped his lips at the surprise and, oh, it was a sound that could make my toes curl. His hands slid down to cradle my ass and this time he purposefully ground his hips forward into my core. I nearly threw my head back in ecstasy.

Normally I would never be taking part in this kind of a thing. For the past three girls nights this week, and every girls night since Alli and I have been legal, I've always sat at the bar alone or danced with Alli and Fi. Never did I ever think I'd be this girl; this girl who is dry humping an ex in a revealing dress in the middle of a dance floor; this girl who throws away her morals without a care in the world.

I guess Eli just makes me this girl.

I stared up into his green eyes and I knew that I was already losing my own game. His touch was too familiar, his scent was too intoxicating. I knew that I had already started falling and we had hardly exchanged more than a few sentences.

My fight or flight instincts slowly kicked in just then and I froze.

I can't drop everything and be this girl every time he's around, that nearly tore me to pieces the first time. I won't do it again. My heart cannot take too much recklessness before it threatens to give out on me again. To hell with girl's night, I need to protect myself.

Without looking into those emerald orbs I took my arms from around his neck and pushed lightly on his shoulders. I mumbled words of escape, something like, "I need to go." before pushing into the dense crowd again.

*the song that they danced to, in my mind, was Obsession by Sky Ferreira.