Post Drop the World where Eli and Clare's breakup has only served to make Eli more determined to win over her affections. Will a new English project help his case, or just make him more obsessive?

Clare stood in front of the bathroom mirror at school, absentmindedly running her hands through her ringlet curls. Other girls filtered in and out with their nose turned up at her because she was that girl. The girl whose boyfriend crashed his car for her, and then, in an act of self-preservation, broke up with said boyfriend on the spot.

It was completely unfair. SHE wasn't the crazy one, but everyone was acting like she could become unhinged at any moment. It wasn't the greatest feeling, and she wondered whether or not Eli ever felt like this.

"Clare! Where have you been? We were supposed to meet out front like 20 minutes ago!" was all anyone within a 50 foot radius could hear as Clare's best friend Alli stomped into the bathroom. Clare shook her clouded head and turned apologetically to Alli.

"Sorry, I guess I just am a little out of it," she said with a soft smile while walking out the door, Alli close on her heels.

Alli sympathetically put one hand on her shoulder, "Hey, it's alright. I saw Eli in the Cafeteria with Adam. He looked a little sick to be honest," she said but regretted it instantly when she saw the distressed look on her friend's face.

"I hope he's okay. I didn't want to hurt him, but I thought it was for the-"

"Clare you don't have to explain anything to me. He was whacked out-always calling you, never leaving you side. If I were you, I would have gotten a restraining order," Alli grimaced as she thought of the scariness Eli had put Clare through.

They separated at the end of the hall and Clare headed toward English. She took a deep breath, but could barely choke it out because at that exact moment Eli brushed past her, with a deliberate shoulder touch, and practically speed-walked into Mrs. Dawes' room.

Okay, she thought. He's angry, but she expected this much. She sat down in her seat and turned to find Adam but he was nowhere to be found.

"He's not here, " Eli muttered so quietly, she wasn't sure he'd even said it, but then he started saying something about the flu, Clare knew he must be talking to her. She opened her mouth but no words came out so she shut her jaw and turned back around in her sit just in time for Mrs. Dawes to saunter in, her skirt whirling behind her.

"Class, we have a very exciting project to start today! We will all be bringing to life a famous Shakespearean work. Now I know this sounds like your previous project, but there's a surprise twist! We will be sending in these pieces for the Annual Shakespearean Art festival in Toronto, and the winners will have their piece on display, a $2,000 dollar scholarship, and a whole day off of school to attend the festival!" The class started to buzz excitedly, but Clare looked down at her cuticles. Who would she even be in a group with? Adam was closer with Eli, and that SO was not going to happen.

A junior Clare had never spoken to raised her hand. "Mrs. Dawes, can we choose our own groups?" Please say no. Please say no, Clare thought hard, trying to transmit this message to her teacher a la the air waves. Mrs. Dawes pondered the notion before shaking her head, and Clare was letting out a massive breath until she opened her mouth again.

" I rather think you all had quite a bit of success in your last groups," she said with a knowing, mawkish look at Eli an Clare, "Let's stick with those." Eli's mouth turned up in a Grinch-like smile that made Clare's stomach churn. How would she get out of this?

Eli's POV

For a hearse driving, black wearing, punk rock music listening son of a gun, God sure did help his sorry ass out sometimes. He was going to get to work with his Clare again, and Adam wasn't even here to third wheel it. Eli would never wish an illness on his best friend, but what's a little fever and cough when his relationship with Clare was potentially on the mend?

Clare moved over to his desk with a sheepish look on her face. " I think we should do Julius Caesar. Easy to depict, an a real crowd pleaser, not that will win. I mean there's hundreds maybe thousands entering but I guess our grade is on the line too so….," she trailed off when Eli just sat there staring at her. "What?" she asked a little irritated.

"Oh nothing, just that you're already psyching yourself out and we haven't chosen a play yet. I personally think we should do Romeo and Juliet again. I mean we relate well to it, and frankly, Julius Caesar would only please the gore-loving jocks who attend these festivals to get into their girlfriend's pants.

Clare blushed at that last part and muttered a quick "fine" before writing down Romeo and Juliet on the top of her paper. "Eli, I think we should work on this separate. It's too soon after our breakup, and I'm really busy anyway."

"Busy? What, do you already have another boyfriend? Jeez Clare, "he said with a disgusted look on his face. This is what Clare meant. When he acted like this, like he owned her or something, it made her feel suffocated.

"No, not that it's any of your business though. I just have a lot of homework," she replied quickly and sternly.

"You know what Clare? It's my grade too, and I think working apart will seriously hurt our project. If you don't comply, I'll be forced to tell Dawes, "he said, motioning to their teacher who was currently talking Connor out of a space-themed Taming of the Shrew.

Clare inwardly groaned, "Fine," she said, "but not until Adam gets back."

"Au contraire. Adam will be out for at least a week with the bird flu or some shit. My place or your place tonight?" Clare widened her eyes.

"Eli, I don't-"

"Clare, I'm not going to jump your bones or something…Look, if we are gonna win this thing, which I really think we could, we need to put aside our differences for the time being. What do you say?" He held out his hand, the one with the skull ring.

Clare sighed, "Okay, okay." She took his hand and shook, and it made her slightly nervous when Eli held on a little too long.