A/N: This is a bit fluffy/nerdy, but it got into my head during my workout, so needless to say, I had to do it. This is a short trilogy.
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Degrassi
First Comes Love
And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cuz I know that you'd feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
The cool spring air raised goose bumps on Clare's arms, which were wrapped around Eli's neck as they slow danced. She outwardly shivered, making Eli frown.
"You okay?" Eli asked, pulling her closer. She nodded her head into his chest. "I still can't believe you talked me into going to my-" he shuddered at the thought- "junior prom."
"Oh stop complaining," Clare playfully snapped. "You know you wanted to come."
"YOU wanted to come," Eli corrected.
"Well, yes. What girl DOESN'T want to get all dressed up for her boyfriend?" She tilted her head up, smirking (and God only knows who she learned THAT from).
"You're saying this is all for me?" He twirled her, matching his lips to hers before pulling her in to make them meet.
Breaking the kiss, Clare whispered in her best seductive voice: "You betcha." Eli gulped as he took it all in. She wore blue for him, of course. A simple halter a-line gown; turquoise was the exact shade, actually. The soft, simple silk fabric felt smooth under Eli's hands, which trembled when Clare looked up with her big, blue eyes, completely illuminated by her dress.
"So," Eli began. "Have I told you that you look pretty damn spectacular tonight?"
"No, but I assumed as much when your eyes bugged out of your head as I walked down the stairs at my house." Eli laughed. Clare's mom forced the couple to pose for no less than fifty pictures. On one hand, he wasn't too happy about this; he didn't need physical proof he wore a tux with a TURQUOISE vest. The other hand though, ensured that Clare's image from this night would be available for him to look at always. (It didn't hurt that most of the pictures displayed her posed in his arms).
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cuz sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight
"You know, Goldsworthy, you don't look so bad yourself tonight." The couple smiled at one another.
"I'd look better if SOMEONE had let me wear red!"
"Red and turquoise do NOT GO TOGETHER, for the LAST FREAKIN' TIME!" Eli laughed.
"Calm down, Edwards!" Eli pushed her away, holding her by her shoulders. "I'm just teasing you. You know I love you…in blue."
Clare's heart dropped from her chest to her stomach. She thought Eli might pull a romantic comedy cliché out of his back pocket and FINALLY tell her he loves her. He would never do such a lame thing on PROM NIGHT, of all nights, of course. IF he even loved her…
"Edwards? Clare? You're spacing out on me." Clare shivered. Eli pulled her close. "Geeze, whose idea was it to have the main dancing area OUTSIDE for a prom in CANADA?"
"…Mine," Clare squeaked. It was Yearbook's staff year to plan the prom. Eli literally hit his face with his palm.
"Shit, Clare…I'm sorry. It's lovely out here, really, the twinkle lights are…great, I just hate to see you cold…" Clare giggled.
"Eli, did you just use the word 'lovely'?"
"I know, I know, hard to believe I'd use descriptive adjectives meaning 'pretty' on anything or anyone but you…"
"You're turning into a sap."
"Shut up."
"Gladly." She kissed him softly.
And I don't want the world to see me
Cuz I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
"You know, Clare, I DO like the music selection," Eli noted as the two continued to dance.
"I figured you would. I really pushed for actual MUSIC, and not the auto-tuned CRAP they play on the radio these days." She smiled coyly. "I may have requested this song specifically."
"Oh really?" laughed Eli. "And why is that, Miss Yearbook-Master-Extraordinaire!"
Clare blushed. "No reason, really."
"Could it be because this is the song that played the first time we ever slow danced?" Eli placed a look of mock horror on his face. "Edwards! You thought I forgot! I'm hurt."
"Eli…" he silenced her with his lips (as he so often did).
And you can't fight the tears that ain't comin
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive
"I feel like I'm in a damn John Hughes flick," groaned Eli. "Everyone is wearing something so…poufy."
"I'm not!" exclaimed Clare. "And don't knock John Hughes…The Breakfast Club is one of my favorite movies!"
"Yeah, but come on, it's completely unrealistic," Eli scoffed. "Detention is NOTHING like that."
"You WOULD know, huh?" teased Clare. "Sometimes I wish my life was like an 80s movie."
"What? Why?"
"I don't know, I know it's all completely cheesy, but…sometimes cheesy is fun." She blushed (again).
And I don't want to world to see me
Cuz I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
"Edwards…it's refreshing to know that as amazingly different as you are, you're still a lot like other girls in ways that help me understand you," Eli smiled, then looked thoughtful. "Not that I need the help."
"Eli!" She playfully hit him (yes, again).
"I think this is one of the last songs, Clare." He quirked an eyebrow. "Can we get out of here? I have somewhere I want to take you."
"Eli, we have to go to the after-party-" Clare started, but Eli cut her off.
"And we will, this won't take long, but please, come with me." He grinned, then looked at her thoughtfully. "Do you trust me?"
Clare hesitated, only briefly, then conceded.
A short time later…
"You know, Edwards, not many girls are lucky enough to be escorted to their proms in a HEARSE," Eli declared after opening Clare's door.
"I take it we're where you wanted to take me?" Clare sounded annoyed, and for good reason. "May I take off my 'blindfold' now?" Eli laughed. When the two got in Morty, Eli took her black tie off and insisted that Clare let him tie it around her eyes. He had to surprise her, after all.
"In just a minute…" With one hand on her shoulder and the other on the small of her back, Eli led her to his destination: a bench. He helped her sit. "Okay, here." He took off the makeshift blindfold. Clare looked around and frowned.
"Eli, where are we?"
"You don't know, Edwards?" Eli smirked. "Why, this is the first place we hung out-outside of school, anyway." Clare smiled as the recognition set in. Eli brought her to the bench on the street he made her prove she didn't care about the opinions of others…so many months ago. "I remember thinking you were so damn cute when you screamed yourself blue."
"Ha ha, Eli."
"Seriously, your face matched those pretty eyes of yours!" Clare blushed as she looked down. "Ah, and then you did that." Eli's grin grew. "You see, Edwards, that was the day I realized you were more than just a pretty face. I simply HAD to know you…" he leaned forward, took her face in his hands and placed his crooked lips on her soft ones.
"That's all sweet and all, Eli, but I still must beg the question: why did you bring me here?"
Eli swallowed and looked down. Clare could tell he was nervous, which intrigued her, because how often does THAT happen? "Clare, I…I have to tell you something."
"What's that, Eli?" she asked softly, encouraging him to go on with her smile.
"I love you, Clare." His eyes bore into hers with (false) confidence. If Clare didn't know any better, she would have sworn they were coated with tears that threatened to fall.
"Well, that's good," Clare said. "Because I love you too." Eli's face lit up.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah!" Clare laughed as Eli pulled her in for an ecstatic kiss. His tongue begged for entrance into her mouth, and she complied, because this moment was one of those perfect ones in time. She wanted to remember every detail so she could press stop, rewind, and play repeatedly. She giggled into the kiss, making Eli (reluctantly) pull away.
"What is it?" he asked.
"It's just, I kind of got my John Hughes Movie Moment!" Her giggles escalated. Eli's face twisted into (not so) mock horror as he realized she was right.
"Shut up, Edwards." He pulled her in again, but not before she could get in the final word: "Gladly".
They never made it to the after party.
A/N: I ALSO don't own "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls. Yes, it's an overused song, but it's good. Also, the next two chapters will be based around songs by them. Yay!
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