Clare POV
I stood at my locker, wondering which books I needed for my next few classes and pondering how I did on my history exam. I needed an A, it was the only class I had a borderline grade in. With that in mind, I slammed my locker. (after all I was a straight A student)
"Oh my gosh!" I muttered as I jumped with fright. I hadn't realized Eli had been standing behind my locker door the whole time. "You scared me!" I exclaimed.
"Well, I tend to have that affect on people," he answered while wearing that stupid smirk. I stifled a giggle and he walked me to English class.
"How was your History test?" he asked. It had been two weeks since we met each other and over that time we formed some special friendship. But, for some reason I wanted more. Don't get me wrong, I loved having him as a friend, but deep down I felt that our relationship should be escalated to the next level. He always teased me! None of my other friends acted like him. Well, he was pretty different. The only gothic kid at Degrassi. So why was I attracted to him? Everyone else thought we were dating by the way he was always with me, all the time. But he didn't seem to care what everyone else thought. So I guess, if he was happy, so was I.
"Well, OK. I guess. I never was a brainiac at memorizing dates."
"Clare Edwards is struggling in a class? I thought pigs would fly before that happened!"
"Shut up!" I said, while trying to hold back a smile. He always made me smile.
"Here's one date I hope you can remember. Saturday night, the Dot? We can look over your History there, I've taken it before, remember?"
We walked into Ms. Dawes' classroom. Even though I was only in 10th grade, I was placed in 11th grade Advanced English. And Eli just so happened to be in the same class. Somehow, we ended up as English partners a couple weeks ago. At first, I dreaded being paired with the goth boy and wished I could transfer to another class, but now it was the highlight of my day.
As we took our seats I managed to answer him, "Like as a date?"
My heart swelled, was he asking me on a date? I had been waiting a week for this question, and I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. For some reason he always had a star role in them.
"Yeah, Clare. It's kinda called a study date."
"Well, uhm," I trailed off, "It sounds more like tutoring, but I accept." I shot him a smile and he gave me the weakest smile back and I blushed. By his facial expression, I could tell he loved it when I blushed.
Eli POV
SCORE! Finally, she wanted to go on a date with me. I guess if I had mustered up the nerve last week, she would have said yes. But, whatever, she just said yes. The two weeks of making fun of Clare had payed off. I wonder if she knows that she's all I think about. Clare's timidity, her smile, her piercing blue eyes, her soft pink lips, her flawless,pale skin. I especially like the way she blushes at anything I say. It's quite adorable. Stop. What the hell Eli? What happened to -ass? In two little weeks, she had managed to change some part of me. Is this what love felt like? But,we haven't even had a first date yet! God, I was falling for Clare fast.
"Pick you up at five?"I whispered back. I hadn't even realized had started a lecture on Shakespeare. "And don't worry, I'll keep Adam away." I whispered. She smiled back, "Five thirty? I've got a babysitting job."
"Sure." I smiled at her and she blushed back. Adam was only sitting a seat away from me. Damn Adam, always being the third wheel. He was like the brother I never wanted, but I never got to actually be alone with Clare. He was always sitting with us at lunch, it got kinda annoying. The only alone time we got was in the hallways, most of the time. I wonder if she wants to be alone just as much as I do?
", . You can flirt after class. Now can somebody tell me what's ironic about this sentence?" I looked over at Clare and she was blushing even ore, as if that was possible. I couldn't help but stare at her. She was so …perfect. She didn't deserve me. I had given her a week trial, but she didn't know it. By the way she always sat with me and adam at lunch, didn't object when I insisted I walk her to class, and by the way she texted me back almost as immediately as I texted her, I could tell that she liked me. Maybe even more than friends. So I had asked her out and she said yes.
I was glad it was a lecture day, I could mull all of this over. Clare sat awkwardly at her desk, scribbling notes. I just stared at her all class. I'm such a creep. Oh well, people can think what they want. I can not get my eyes off her. Clare's so different than any other girl at this school. They're all popular obsessed, cheery, and have fake tans. I can't stand girls like that. Maybe that's why I like Clare so much?
All class, she tried hard not to make eye contact with me, but every once in a while she managed to lock eyes with me. And of course, her cheeks turned the slightest shade of pink. Before I knew it, class was over. Since I did nothing all class, I had nothing to pack up. I was surprised didn't grill me. She hates when people don't take notes. I walked over to Clare's desk, she was still packing up.
"What a neat freak!" I joked.
"At least I can find my books."
"Who cares? It's not like I do the homework anyway."
"Sometimes I wonder how you're in AP classes."
"You wonder about me, Clarebear?" She actually thought about me? So I wasn't the only one?
"Uhm, well,no! It just seems like you shouldn't be in AP."
"Please, I know my literature just as well, hell, better than you do."
"Ha, I'm sure you do. You're telling me that the bad ass of Degrassi reads Shakespeare in his free time?"
"Yup, is that a bad thing? There's more to me than you think, Edwards." I shot my signature smirk at her and as if on cue, she blushed right back.
Clare POV
All week, Eli had made flirtatious comments to me. Did that mean something? Or was that normal? He waited in line with me to buy lunch, even though he wasn't. And he continued to walk me to class and send me "Good morning, Clare!" texts every morning. But we were just friends, right? But he had asked me out on a date. Well a study date, but whatever. He even said it was a date! Were we a couple? Did he think we were? I lay in my bed Saturday morning, pondering. Was I pathetic for thinking about him this much? I never thought about K.C. like this. But KC was a jerk. Did Eli really like me? Or was I the target of some cruel joke? You don't see many goth 11th grade boys walking around with shy, little 10th grade girls. But I doubt Eli would do that, he just didn't seem like the type. I hadn't even realized that the scent of waffles wafted into my bedroom. My Mom was trying to win my Dad back, again. They'd grown so far apart. He was always "working". Sometimes I wondered if he really was. Well, I guess if Dad was "working" again on a Saturday morning, Mom would need someone to eat the waffles.I peeked at the clock:9:36. More than 7 hours until my date with Eli. I slipped on my robe and slippers and clomped down the stairs.
"Good morning, honey!" My mom said gleefully.
"Morning, Mom" I said in mid-yawn.
"Get enough sleep?" She looked concerned.
"Yeah," I lied. The truth was that all night I thought about Eli and his stupid smirk. Finally, at 3AM, I managed to fall asleep. I was pathetic. I never gushed over a guy this much before! I grabbed a waffle, smothered it with syrup, and cut it into perfect little squares.
"Where's Dad?" I said, trying to mak conversation, although I already knew the answer.
"Work." Of course. It was amazing, whenever I was with Eli, I didn't even think about my parents. It's like he washed away all my worries. Was it possible for a high school boy to be the answer to my problems? I spent the rest of the afternoon in my room reading my favorites of Edgar Alan Poe. Surprisingly, he also read them too. Every lunch, we would discuss our opinions on each story. For some reason, I was drawn to it even more now. Well, atleast it seemed like the after noon. I looked at the clock.12:30. Grr, now what? I decided to change out of my PJs and into a floral blouse, jeans, and sneakers. I brushed my hair and put a flower clip in it. Why not? I didn't have to look like a dork all the time.
"Bye, Mom" I yelled as I ran down the stairs and out the door. I was careful not to trip because I had done that before. That did NOT end well.
"Bye. Where are you going?"
"On a walk!" I yelled as I shut the front door. Well, what else was I going to so with my day? I wasn't in the mood for reading and TV rotted your brains. There were more than 4 hours until I saw Eli, anyway. I didn't even know where to walk. Even though it was the end of September, I didn't need a coat. I t was an oddly warm day. I must have walked 45 minutes, past townhomes and the county park. Somehow, I ended up sitting on a bench along a not-so-busy road as I watched the cars go by. After a few minutes, I was about to walk home. But, I saw an oddly familiar shape come down the sidewalk. It was Fitz. .God. I wanted to run, but it was if my feet were planted in the ground.
Eli POV
I turned up Morty's radio, blasting some obnoxiously loud music into the speakers. I never did much on a weekend. There was nothing to do. I had only woke up 15 minutes ago, but my Dad wasn't home. I was going to die of boredom today. Five o'clock could not come fast enough. So, here I was, taking Morty for a joy ride. I couldn't wait to see Clare's face again. Woah, that's ironic! Why does that girl sitting on that bench with her boyfriend look like Clare? I must be seeing things. Get a hold of yourself, Man! WAIT! That is Clare. With..Fitz? What? That doesn't make any sense. The closer I got, the weirder the scenario got. But then I realized that Clare was squirming away from his grasp and yelling.
"Let go!" I hear her cry. I'd know her voice from anywhere. I pushed down the gas pedal as hard as I could and then pulled over.
"What, you don't want some alone time with Fitzy?"he laughed. I slammed the door behind me and stomped over to the bench. Clare looked up, stunned, but at the same time relieved I was here.
"You heard her. Let go." I demanded.
"Why? How do you know she doesn't like me, Goldsworthy?"
Anger raged inside my body and took over like a tidal wave. My muscles tensed. How dare he. Poor, innocent Clare. It was as if I couldn't control my body and I walked over to him, not caring that he was inches taller than me. I wasn't sure why, but I was always happy to fight him. Predator versus Prey. My muscles were no longer in my control and I popped him in the jaw. I hope that hurt, I wanted to say. Clare backed away terrified, she had obviously never partaken in something like this before. Now, we were standing, facing each other and pushing. He threw a punch right at my nose. I could feel the blood start to drip. He backed me up right against a tree and kicked me in the "private area". I buckled over in pain, just like I had last weekend when he had come towards me with a knife. God, I hated Fitz. What was with him and his need for power? But, this was far from over. I wasn't gonna let him get this satisfaction.
"Ha. Teaches you right Goldsworthy."
"Stay away from my girlfriend." I growled. Did I just say girlfriend?
And with that he turned nonchalantly and walked away. I hated him. I mean this was bad enough. But in front of Clare? She hated this feud and I wondered what she had to say about it…
Clare POV
I was stunned. Did Fitz really have the nerve to do what he had just done? And did Eli just call me his girlfriend? Or was I just hearing things?
"Eli, are you OK?" I rushed over to him, now laying on the ground. He had a bloody nose and was obviosly going to have some bruises.
"Yes, I'm fine Clare and how are you?" he retorted It was amazing that he could have a sense of humor after what just happened.
"Fitz is such an ass, what ails him?" he went on, "The question is, are you OK Clare?"
"Well I was just taking a walk.." He cut me off.
"Probably the most exciting walk ever now that I'm involoved, huh?" he smirked.
Eli's face quickly turned from humor to anger. "He's gonna get it. What the hell is his problem?" I hated this stupid feud between them. Eli was in danger everyday.
"No, things are bad enough. Don't make it worse!" After giving Fitz a fake Id with the name of a convicted arsenist, I thought this was over, but no. Would it ever be?
"Did you not just witness what he did to you, Edwards?"
"Well yeah. I was kinda the victim," I said, " But I'm fine, So just drop it!OK?"I guess he did because he shut up.I pulled a tissue out of my pocket and started dabbing his nose.
"Holy crap, I'm bleeding?"
"Just a little," was my answer. I looked into his piercing green eyes. They were gorgeous and his flirtatious smirk just made me want to kiss him! Woah? Hold up? Did I just say kiss him? Before I knew it, our faces were just inches away from each other. He leaned in and our lips touched. I was retty sure that I just felt sparks. He kissed me gently, but with so much passion. It just felt so...right. Kissing KC never felt this way. He gently pulled away and I gasped.
"Woah, was that OK?" he asked "Or did I just cross the whole friends thing?"
"Yeah, it was fine, actually" I answered in a daze. Wow.
"Well, I try."
"UHm, did you say..girlfriend?" I asked, biting my lip.
"Yup, is that alright with you blue eyes?"
"Yes," I answewred my smile glowing.
"Well that was an odd start to our first date." He exclaimed.
Date? It really was one! He wanted it to be one. Were we a couple now? Obviously, my excitement was showing because he just smiled and laughed, his adorable laugh. That kiss had been so much better than the one for English class.