A/N okay. This is my first fanfic... in this story, Clare's birthday is in July, she just graduated from high school...that is when this takes place... hope you enjoy it!

Edited by smilelaughread, 14/08/12

CLARE'S POV

"Wake up, Clare-Bear." I felt the soft hands I had grown so used to gently shake my shoulder. "Happy eighteenth birthday, Clare."

I opened my eyes, smiling when I saw those beautiful green orbs staring back at me.

I had been with Eli for a couple of years now, and we'd both recently been accepted into the University of Toronto after Eli waited a year for me to "finally" graduate, so we could go to university together.

I still lived in my parents' house, although my parents had more or less abandoned me. They came rarely, showing up once, maybe twice a month, only to leave me money to buy food for myself, and ask me briefly how I was. Although it broke my heart to see my parents, who had showered me in love while I was growing up, give up on almost all aspects of their former lives, I couldn't deny how good it felt to have so much freedom, which gave me the chance to have Eli sleep over... I guess I was also glad that Cece and Bullfrog were such lenient parents.

"Clare... penny for your thoughts?" He asked. I shook my head, trying to clear it of the melancholy thoughts – my parents did not induce happy thoughts.

"It's nothing, Eli, I'm just tired." I sighed, making to get out of my bed. He stood up as well, stretching in the process and giving me a nice look at his chest.

"I gave a very special birthday surprise for you Clare" he said, smirking. Oh, that smirk. The one that made me melt. The first time I saw it, the day he got out of his car to apologize for running over my glasses, I think my heart stopped beating. That same heart has been his ever since. I loved this boy so much!

Although we'd had a really long relationship, he and I'd managed to keep me pure. It was as if we had an unspoken agreement not to go too far, to wait until marriage, and I was secretly hoping he would propose soon.

I was tired of waiting, and at times saw how much it upset him too, although he never, not once, overstepped his boundaries. Now that I was eighteen, I hoped he would propose as soon as he could...now what was that he'd said about a surprise?

I laughed as he picked me up, bridal style.

"Where to, m'lady?" he questioned, looking not at all troubled by my weight in his arms. "Today is your birthday, one where you are finally considered an adult. That means it is a very important birthday, which in turn, means you get to be pampered by none other than me, all day long. Lucky you!" He joked, and I couldn't help but smile back.

I thought for a moment, thinking up my first request as Birthday Girl. "Make me some pancakes, I am very hungry," I said, trying and failing to keep a straight face, trying to put on my best "I-am-better-than-everyone-else" look.

He smirked, saying, "Coming right up."

He carried me all the way down the stairs, impressing me in that he didn't stumble even once, and set me down on the couch. Then, he immediately got up to make the pancakes I had requested.

As he worked, I looked at him. More accurately, I stared and drooled.

Trying to save the best for last, I started at his feet, working my way up his extremely sexy skinny jeans. They were skin-tight, and I wondered briefly how he'd managed to squeeze into them. I was glad he had, of course, because they outlined the wiry muscles his legs had. The jeans also covered his butt, of course, and I had to take a moment to appreciate it. I swear, I had an unhealthy obsession with that butt. But for good reason, because it was the best I'd ever seen.

My eyes trailed up his incredibly toned upper body, taking in the abdominal muscles on view with his lack of shirt. It also granted my eyes access to the line of hair that disappeared beneath his waistband. That elusive line of dark hair teased me, so I moved my gaze up.

I looked from his hair, which was still slightly messed up from sleeping, to his plump, full lips, then finally, his deep, forest green eyes. Speaking of those eyes, they were looking at me in amusement.

"Are you checking me out?" He asked playfully, smirking once again. Then he struck a pose, looking over his shoulder like some kind of model. "Do you like what you see?"

I laughed at his funny behavior, then I paused and said, "You know it," my voice full of sincerity.

His smirk turned into one of the widest smiles I have ever seen on him, and he took the few steps from the stove to the couch, enveloping me with a hug, with his scent. I inhaled deeply, laying my head on his chest.

In that moment, there was quiet and peace, and everything was perfect.

Then, I felt his chest rumbling underneath me, and it took me a moment to realize he was chuckling.

He gently kissed my reddish-brown locks, and said, "Clare... I don't think you know how much I love you. Unfortunately, m'lady, I need to go." He smiled at the use of the nickname.

Immediately, I started panicking. Where was he going? Then, I noticed the smirk on his lips and he simply said, "The pancakes will burn," as a way of explanation.

Oh, right, he ws making pancakes... silly Clare.

He got up, flipped the pancake, and proceeded to make some more. Time passed and I waited. When he had a plate stacked high with some very scrumptious-looking pancakes, perfectly browned on each side, he opened the door to the fridge. Then, he took out the maple syrup and poured it liberally on top of the pancakes, effectively drowning them in syrup. He got a fork from a drawer, all smooth and lithe movements that made it seem as though he'd lived in my house all his life, and walked towards me once again.

He sat on the table in front of me, with me still on the couch. I laughed when he started feeding me pieces of pancake, feeling like a princess, and started laughing uncontrollably when he began sneaking a bite or two for himself every now and then.

When we finished eating all of the pancakes, he set the plate down beside him, sat down beside me , and turned his head towards me. With that, he kissed me passionately, our lips fitting perfectly together, both of us tasting of sweet syrup.

I slowly shifted onto his lap, straddling him, and deepened the kiss. His tongue slowly traced my bottom lip, asking for entrance, which I happily allowed. I decided, since it was my birthday, that I could do whatever I wanted to, so I slowly moved my hips toward his, hearing a soft moan escape his lips. A heavy hardness pressed against my thigh, and I ground my hips toward his again. He pulled away, panting, when I did it.

I smiled triumphantly at his dishevelled appearance and stuck my tongue out at him, which proved to be a mistake because he leaned forward and gently sucked on it, kissing me once again.

A while later, I lay, panting, on his chest, and slowly fell asleep. Kissing sure was exerting, I learned!

ELI'S POV

I sighed, listening to her soft breathing as she slept on my chest.

I knew she was expecting me to pop the question today, but I wasn't going to.

Today was her birthday for God's sakes!

I wanted to take a day that was ordinary, and propose then, just so we could have another day in the year to celebrate, rather than cramming it all into one day.

I had gone ring shopping with Adam to look for a ring some time ago. I owed him big time, because if he hadn't dragged me into that last jewelry store, I never would have found the most perfect ring I'd seen in all my years. Lots of people in the jewelry stores had looked at me funny, wondering why some kid just out of high school needed a ring. I didn't care, because both Clare and I had passed the legal age of consent, and we practically lived together, anyway!

I chanced a look at the clock.

Wow! Clare had been sleeping for almost an hour!

I decided that I should wake her up or we would miss a very important part of the day!

"Clare," I gently shook her, like I had that morning. "Wake up."

She woke up, but started mumbling incoherently until I kissed her, to which she responded.

I smirked, helping her off the couch.

"Let's go, Clare," I said. "Time to put this on," I held up a blindfold.

She looked excited at this but immediately asked "Where are we going?"

I sighed dramatically. "Well Clare, you see, if I told you where we were going, you wouldn't be surprised when we got there." I said, earning a giggle from her.

"Well then, let's get going." she said, grabbing the blindfold. "You know, I'm not a very patient person."

"I'll remember that," I remarked, and tied the cloth on. Then, I led her to Morty, and helped her with her seatbelt. When I was sitting comfortably, I pressed play on the CD player, which blasted a mix of Clare's favourite songs, courtesy of her iPod. I laughed when she began singing along, looking adorable.

I drove around in circles so that she wouldn't know in which direction we were going, disorienting her slowly but surely. Then, I slowly drove to the where I had set up her "surprise". When I stopped the car, she eagerly opened her door and stepped outside, still blindfolded. A slight stumble reminded me she could see anything, so I took her arm and led her to the exact place she needed to be

I told her to take off the blindfold.

CLARE'S POV

I gasped, "Eli,"

When I'd opened my eyes, my gaze had fallen upon the most beautiful thing anyone has ever made for me. Eli had set up a picnic on a floral blanket, and there was an old fashioned basket on the edge. When I walked over to it and opened it, I nearly screamed with joy!

Eli had brought all of my favourite foods! He'd brought ham, cheese, and pickle sandwiches, grape tomatoes, chocolate covered almonds, and my favourite: fruit salad! I ran over to Eli, who was still standing by Morty with his signature smirk and an amused glint in his eyes.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him down beside me, and we sat there, safe in each other's arms, looking at the beautiful, clear lake that reflected all of the trees surrounding it.

All of a sudden, Eli began to tickle me, and I started to laugh uncontrollably. We tumbled to the ground with him on top of me, although he kept his weight off of me. He took the moment to sneak a kiss in and soon we were, as Alli would say "majorly sucking face".

When we broke apart to take a breath, Eli smiled and said "Let's go swimming."

I laughed at his suggestion, not even thinking that he might be serious, and said, jokingly, "I bet you would love that Elijah," wiggling my eyebrows up and down, teasing him. "But I seem to have forgotten to wear a bathing suit. Not like you would have wanted to give up part of the secret but..."

I trailed off when I saw his smirk, realization crashing down on me."Oh, Eli! You stole one of my bathing suits from my dresser, didn't you?"

He started laughing "Actually... Yeah. You know me well, Edwards" He admitted. Then, he threw the bikini to me... "You'd better put it on soon, Edwards, or I'll dunk you in the water, clothes and all!"

When I saw what bathing suit he had packed for me, I blushed. It was one Alli had picked put for me and it was a bit...revealing. Whatever, I thought, rolling my eyes. Today was a day for chances! I changed into it while Eli dutifully looked away; I was still blushing furiously.

"Eli, I'm done," I called to him. He turned around, smirking when he saw me, then took off his shirt and ran towards me, pulling me to the water. When we got in, I was pleasantly surprised to find the water warm...

Then, Eli splashed me and I yelled "Ooh! It's on Goldsworthy," splashing him back. We laughed, splashing each other until I ran over to him, hugged him, and linked my legs around his waist, kissing him furiously. I ran my hands up and down his exposed upper body, still kissing him, and he stepped back to more shallow water, where he sat down, me straddling him, and continued kissing me. When I was content and sure my lips were swollen, I leaned back and sighed, saying.

"Wow! I wish this moment could last forever,"

"I agree" murmured Eli against my wet hair, kissing my forehead lightly.

He picked me up, and we lay down on the blanket, which would act as a towel. We cuddled up, suddenly cold in the shade. I traced patterns on his stomach and stopped when I noticed he was falling asleep. The moment I stopped, his eyes popped open. "Why did you stop?" He asked "That felt good".

I laughed, placing my head into the crook of his neck. I suddenly inhaled deeply, loving the moment, thinking how this was the most amazing birthday ever!

Suddenly, I heard his stomach growl, and laughed into his neck, as I felt his cheeks heat up. I looked up, Eli blushing is so rare. I brushed some stray strands of hair away from his face. He was so cute... He looked at me sort of funny and it took me a second to realize I had said that out loud.

I smiled, shaking my head in mock disproval. "Let's eat," I said.

A/N okay. This is the first chapter of my first FanFic. I hope you liked it and I will update soon. I would appreciate reviews... :)

p.s. wow! 2000+ words... wow