Chapter 1
The first time he sees her is outside sitting on the porch of the newly bought house her parents purchased. She swings her legs absentmindedly much like a small child, except she isn't. She wears a light purple sundress and dark sneakers. She should be around his age maybe a year younger but all he knows so far is that she fascinates him. The sort of fascination he would have toward the road kill his father calls food. She doesn't notice him watching from his porch steps across the street.
She isn't like the other girls
He sees another girl come out from inside; she is wearing something his mom would wear to a date, and not the professional kind. They are sisters. Swinging feet looks up at the older daughter and they exchange glances before the other sister starts to take things out from the open trunk in the drive way.
He sees swinging feet sigh and get up to help her sister. She looks up, sees him, and gives him a small smile before starting to carry boxes into the new home. However he doesn't smile back.
He tells his mother about her during dinner as he studies what she calls "Salisbury Steak".
"Maybe I will make them some house warming cookies." His mother beams.
"Maybe you should buy them." He suggests.
"Eli!" his mother laughs, "But that would beat the point. I promise they will be perfect."
He only eats a lot less than half and goes up to his room.
His room is a nice size for an only child and is a sandy color. He doesn't mind that though.
From across the street he can see swinging feet with the light on and the faint sound of music erupting like a volcano in her room. She doesn't dance though like he would expect, instead she just sits on her bed and with a laptop, her lips move and she smiles.
He is curious to know who she is talking to.
It can't be her boyfriend he thinks, she's too different.
He likes different.
He stays and watches her for a while just to see what she's doing. When 9 o' clock comes around she closes her laptop and places it on the nightstand, then gets up and turns of her light.
They start school on Monday and he is anticipating it. He wants to be the one who escorts her around the hallways and to take her to her classes. He wants to eat lunch with her and make her laugh because he wonders if it will sound better than her voice which he is sure sounds just as great.
But its only Tuesday and he has to wait six days before he can claim the prize that is his new neighbor.
The next day he gets up bright and early and takes a shower. He puts on his best shirt and nicest smelling cologne.
He rushes downstairs to see his mother sipping coffee.
"What's the occasion?" she smiles noticing his outfit and smell.
"Are the cookies ready?" He urgently asks.
"Yep, freshly baked." She motions to the place the counter.
"I'll take them." He carefully grabs the plate and walks over to her house.
He knocks patiently and hears the opening of locks. He is smiling like a mad man.
Much to his disappointment the older sister opens the door.
Her hair was like a fierce lion's mane, not washed and sticking out in wild directions.
She gives him a strange look before eying the cookie plate.
"These for us." She yawns.
He nods.
She motions for him to come inside. He does, eyes moving frantically to see if she's around.
"Who's there?" he hears a light and mildly tired voice call.
"I don't know. Neighbor?" The older sister replies causally.
He slowly makes his way to the kitchen and sees her.
His smile reappears and he extends the plate to her. She gives a small laugh and takes them.
"Thanks." She grins.
"My mom made them"
"Cool." She replies.
"My name is Eli." He says, "I live across the street."
"Yeah, I saw you outside yesterday. I'm Clare."
Her name suits her. She has a peaceful and calm look about her.
Her hair reminds him of strawberries. It has richness to it and it is lightly curled.
"What school are you going to?" he can't help but ask.
"Degrassi." She answers.
"Me too," he tries not to sound excited.
She smiles again, "Well, I guess I will see you there."
"If you need help finding your classes, I could show you around." He informs her.
Clare nods, "Sounds good."
They stand in the kitchen, doing absolutely nothing.
He takes time to examine her; she's wearing a blue skirt and a plain white shirt. Her shoes are still the same. Eli watches her intensely. He strangely enjoys watching her blink, there's something about her eyelashes.
"So, are you a junior?" She asks.
"Senior." He responds.
"We have to unpack. But, would you and your folks like to come over for dinner tonight? Maybe around eight." She offers.
"Sure, my mom would like that."
She smiles and they walk to the door.
"Bye, Eli." She smiles brightly.
"Bye, Clare."
She waves and he goes back over to his house.
"Did they like the cookies?" his mother asks.
"I don't know. They invited us over for dinner tonight." He says extremely proud of himself.
"Oh, that sounds nice. Should I make something?" She asks.
"Uh, dessert I guess."
His mother nods and he goes up to his room.
It's still early and he can't sit still. At all.
He walks around the hallway, then sits at his desk and writes about her.
His writing is strangely happy. He doesn't write happy he writes murderous, death, and evil. Him writing like that either means the world is ending or Clare is just really a girl he desperately needs to be around.
Oddly enough his obsessive writing about the girl across the street comes to a screeching halt when his mother informs him it's time to go.
His mother wears a tight cocktail dress and his father wears a button down shirt with slightly ripped pants.
Who would guess they were actually a family? No one.
They appear at the door and his mother hands him the apple pie and knocks on the door.
An older woman appears and smiles.
"You must be Eli's parents, how nice to meet you." The woman eyes his parents with a little disappointment.
Looking for something? Eli thinks sarcastically.
"I'm Cece and this is Bullfrog." His mother motions to her and his father.
"Helen." She says.
"Hello." His father croaks ironically
"My husband won't be able to make it to dinner but that's okay." The older woman says.
"Clare! Darcy!" She shouts.
"Coming mom!" the oh-so-familiar voice calls.
Clare walks down the stairs as a striking vision.
Wearing a light pink dress and low white heels completed with a small white flower on the side of her strawberry blonde hair. When she sees him she smiles.
He replies with a lopsided smirk.
Darcy comes down next in a dark red lace dress and long black heels.
She probably thinks she's all that. Eli laughs to himself.
His attention turns back to Clare when she approaches him.
"Nice to see you again." She smiles brightly.
"You too, Clare." He smiles back.
"Come sit." Helen insists.
Eli sits in between Clare and Darcy.
"Sorry again for my husband's absence." Helen says when everyone I seated.
"Yeah, because he doesn't give a shit about us anymore." Darcy says carelessly.
"Darcy!" Helen hisses.
Clare plays with the peas on her plate avoiding the whole dinner table conversation.
To Be Continued…
I am currently still working on my fanfic Just Dandy but this idea has been in my head for a while so…. There ya go. Read and Review for more. Also, the links to Clare and Darcy's dresses are on my profile.