Chapter 1: Old memories lead to new ones

"He's going to be here any second?" Clare looked up at Eli in frustration as she spoke. "Cece invited Randy and his family over, I didn't know until today. I'm sorry," he desperately replied, saying every word as clearly as he could, as this had been the 5th time he'd gone over it. Clare rubbed her temples. "But Eli, this was supposed to be our weekend."

"I know, I'm sorry."

Eli leaned in to kiss her forehead but she slid past him, taking a seat at the kitchen table. If anyone should be mad, it should be me. Eli walked slowly into his bedroom, shut the door, and locked-or at least thought he locked- it. He turned around to a view a face down picture of him and Randy sitting on his rusty bedside table. Eli made his way to it and picked the old photograph up with trembling hands, staring at his 9 year old self. Randy was on Eli's right, with his arm over Eli's shoulders. They were both smiling big, really big. Camp Lakota. Eli thought, after taking a look at the mossy lake in the background. Those were the days, he thought. Before Randy tried to- no, he didn't. It was just my imagination. Just like Bullfrog had said. But what if… what if he does the same to Clare? No. He wouldn't. Not to Clare. But he did to Julia and-

Eli heard a knock on the door and shifted around, tossing the picture on his unmade bed. "Hey," Clare said, awkwardly walking into his room. "I'm sorry for overreacting, it's just that… this was supposed to be our weekend, you know? No parents, no distractions… Just us." Eli gave a small smirk then sat on the edge of his bed. Clare joined him. "I love you, you know that right?" Eli asked. Clare looked down at her now sweaty palms and couldn't resist a smile. "I know," she replied, now looking into Eli's eyes. "Oh," Eli added, "be careful with Randy, he can be, well, um-"

Eli was cut off when he heard yet another knock, followed by the uninvited opening of the door. A tall figure stood there, saying nothing. Clare swung her head back to face the figure, who she assumed was Randy. "Well well well, Elijah Goldsworthy. How long has it been now? 4 years?" came a voice Clare knew too well , as the dark figure stepped further inside the room. Clare's eyes popped open when she realized who she was confronted by. "Randy?" Clare asked, stepping up from the bed. "Randy Peterson? Is that you?" Eli looked from one person to the other, obviously dumbfounded. He gulped. "You um, you know each other?" Eli asked, directing more to Randy than Clare.

"Small world," Randy said with a smile, ignoring Eli's question.

"Isn't it?" Clare giggled.

"Um, you know each other?" Eli repeated, standing up and staring straight at Randy.

"Where do you think Clare got the nickname Clare-bear from?" he replied, without taking his eyes off Clare.

"Eli, Randy and I used to be neighbors, until he moved of course."

"Yeah, but now that I'm back, I'm thinking Clare-bear and I should catch up on a few things," Randy added, licking his lips.

"Clare has to go now," Eli interrupted.

"Oh, um, okay, call me later Eli?" Clare asked, but less of a question than a command.

Before Eli could answer, Clare was gone. "Randy, we need to talk."

…

Clare arrived home with a smile on her face. Running upstairs to find her mom, who was folding clothes in the laundry room. "Mom, remember Randy, our neighbor?" she asked, a bit jumpy which made her mom concerned. "Oh yes! The sweet little boy you had a crush on?"

"It wasn't a crush," she blushed, "We were only 11."

"Still counts," Helen informed, with a joking tone in her voice.

"Well anyway, he's back!"

"He's back?"

"Yes! And better yet he's one of Eli's best friends," Clare blurted out, knowing that she was exaggerating a bit at the end there.

"Well that's great honey! You should invite him over for dinner, Eli too."

Clare smiled thinking how great that would be to catch up on things. "Oh I will," she said to herself, leaving her mom and half-skipping to her bedroom. She pulled out her phone and her smile widened.

1 New Message

She flipped open her phone, surprised that it was an unknown number.

Hey Clare-bear! Eli gave me your number since I told him about how we used to be such great friends. He even insisted we go to lunch or somewhere soon? Maybe you could show me around. Call or text me soon :)

-Randy

So what do you think? Worth to add another chapter? Review!