NFA: Okay this is my first fan fiction EVER. I would love the feedback, and I am writing chapter 2 at the moment, but it is not complete yet. I would love to be able to update once or twice a week, but we'll see how lazy I am. But since the first half of the season is in the last week (omg) I will probably be able to update more often. ALSO I wrote this BEFORE we found out that Julia, Eli's old girlfriend, had died in a car accident. It's not that I didn't think that's what had happened, I just wanted to be a little different and have a different theory. So if you're going to write a review yelling at me for having a different name, and cause of death, please don't. I am aware, but this was written BEFORE.
Clare looked up from her English assignment to find Eli looking at her, "what, do I have something on my face?"
Normally she would have just played it off as a joke, but there was something about Eli that just made her want to be as close to perfect as can be.
"No," Eli said with the smallest hint of a laugh, "I just… I wanted to ask if you wanted to work on the new assignment today after school, um, at The Dot?"
"Oh, ah sure," she could feel the blood go to her cheeks as she blushed.
"Sweet," Eli smiled, "oh, and your face looks perfect. I love the rosy cheeks."
Clare buried her face in her hands then leaned forward and smacked Eli's arm, "you're such a jerk," she was kidding, "you didn't have to point it out!"
"One: ouch! Two: I really do love the rosy cheeks, you wear 'em well," he smiled and Calre's anger melted away.
She hated how his quips and smile could make her forget about her anger; oh and those eyes, they just make her melt away.
Eli was now looking down at the teacher's write-up about the new assignment. This class would have probably been a huge bore if Clare weren't in the class. He knew a couple other people in the class, mainly because of his sciences and socials classes, but he didn't really get to know them so he actually had no clue if they were nice or even wanted to be friends with him.
He didn't really mind that much though, he had all the friends he needed, Adam, whom he recently found out was transgender, and Clare, whom he liked, but he wasn't sure if he should actually go after her. After his last girlfriend died, he had been really weary about getting that close to girls in fear it would happen again.
"It wasn't your fault," he was constantly told, "she wanted to go."
None of that helped him though. He always felt it was his fault. After all, right before it happened he had to tell her that he was moving, not that he wanted to. But Meghan, his girlfriend, was in a bad mood already, and this had sent her over the edge.
Eli had driven her home from a movie the day after and she asked him if he could pop into the variety store and get her something to eat. So he stopped, parked in the back since the streets were overcrowded and went inside. When he came back he had the biggest shock he had ever had. Meghan was stone cold frozen. She had her eyes closed and only twitched every so often. She held a bottle of pills in her hand. Eli immediately dropped the food and called the police. They came and rushed her to the hospital and Eli's parents told him that Meghan was dead.
He never fully moved on, but since he had moved away for a couple years he had sort of gotten used to it. Moving back to Toronto this year though wasn't helping him. Almost everyday he had to drive by where Meghan overdosed, in his car. Then there was Clare… He liked her, but he knew her family seemed to be on the rocks and his family had a history of moving.
"What if we do get together then I have to leave again," he often told himself, "what if because of her family's problems it becomes the Meghan situation all over again?"
Suddenly the bell rang, snapping Eli back to reality. He quickly packed his bags so he could head to The Dot. Before he headed to The Dot he had to grab something from his locker, specifically a little gift for Clare. He felt like he had to repay her for being so nice to him... and he felt guilty he flirted but he still wasn't sure if he wanted to make anything official.
He stared at the little wrapped box for a couple minutes then snapped back. He looked at his watch, "oh crap!" He almost shouted, realizing if he didn't leave now, there was no way he would get to The Dot before Clare, which he needed to be. He talked to Peter to arrange a special seat, just for Clare and him.
He closed his locker quickly and rushed to his car. Arriving at The Dot, he spotted Clare slowly walking up with Alli. Eli ran inside to find Peter to find the seats, "right this way," Peter said with a smile, "and let me give you some advice. The Edwards are really nice people, especially their mom. When and if you meet her, be polite and she'll love you… Hopefully."
"Ahahaha, thanks man," Eli realized that he never once thought about meeting Clare's parents, mainly because he met Meghan, his only girlfriend, through her parents because his dad knew her dad from high school.
At that moment Clare came into view, this time alone.
