I'm sorry for kind of rushing into this, but it's Christmas tomorrow, and I don't wanna leave you guys on a cliff for like, a week. So hope this satisfies, and review or I might bite my brothers. Maybe, we'll see.

Lol, nooo, I bit him last night.

But review.

Please?

Thanks, you signed a contract promising to, mentally.

REVIEW.

Clare pursed her lips.

"I never said that." she defended quickly. Eli matched her pace.

"But you thought it."

She narrowed her eyes. "How would you know that?" she asked, putting a firm hand on her hip. He laughed to himself.

"Would you believe me if I said...I could read minds?" Eli asked, tension lingering through the brisk air.

"Maybe." she said, putting her thumbs through her belt loops. He stepped closer.

"What if I said that I did run really fast this morning, but for a reason?" he said lowly. Her breath caught.

"I saw that, I'd have to believe it." she breathed.

"What if I told you I was immortal? Would you believe me?" he asked gently. Clare looked down to her hands.

"I don't want to." she said. He tilted her chin up with two fingers, forcing her gaze. He leaned in closer.

"But do you?" he asked. His scent allured, making Clare get a chill up her spine.

"I have to." she whispered softly. He stepped back, to watch her expression. She stood frozen, as if she were a marble statue.

"What's on your mind?" Eli asked, already knowing the answer. She hid a smile.

"That I should run." she answered honestly. He stepped towards her once again.

"And why aren't you?" he asked. She shook her head.

"I trust you. I don't know why, I don't even know your name. But I trust you." she explained. He stepped even closer.

"Do you usually kiss strangers?" he asked. Her knees went weak.

"Not usually-" she started, but she was interrupted by Eli, swooping down, to kiss her.

He pressed his lips gently to hers, not wanting to scare her. She wove her fingers into his messy hair, pulling gently. His tongue flickered against her bottom lip, conserving carefully. He pulled away slowly and reluctantly, pressing one final kiss to her swollen lips.

"It's Eli." he said with a wink, climbing off of the roof, leaving Clare speechless.

"So...he kissed you?" Adam asked. Clare nodded slowly, drinking her water.

"Do you even know his name?" Adam asked, unbelievably. Clare shrugged.

"Eli?" she said. He scoffed.

"Eli what?" he asked. Clare dipped her head.

"Whatever. I just don't think he's good for you." Adam said flatly.

"Um...I don't think he'll do any harm." Clare said softly. Adam narrowed his eyes.

"You know something." he said. She bit her lip.

"It's a secret. I'll be fine, though, he won't hurt me." Clare assured, trying to escape. Adam grabbed her arm.

"What is it?" he asked, his blue orbs beckoning. She shook her head.

"It's nothing. Well, yes, it is something, actually, everything but-" Clare said nervously. Adam turned his attention from the floor to her.

"Tell me." he said gently, but through clenched teeth. Clare got closer.

"He's...not like most guys." she covered. He scoffed.

"Yeah, neither am I." he deadpanned flatly. She rolled her eyes.

"I'll be okay, Adam, don't be such a dad." she said, hugging him.

"I try to be a good friend, and I'm called a dad?" he mocked, fake pain in his voice. She laughed.

"See ya later." she said, waving and walking to her locker. She grabbed her science book, but then sighed and put it back.

"Screw it, I'll do it tomorrow in homeroom." she said out loud to nobody.

"Who are you talking to?" Eli joked. She laughed lightly.

"Myself. I'm going nuts." she said, running a hand through her hair.

"Maybe I can help. May I walk you home?" Eli asked, reaching for her hand.

"What about the hearse?" Clare asked, taking his hand and wrapping it around her shoulder. He leaned into her ear.

"I can run back later." he whispered, not wanting to be heard.

"Alright," she sighed, giving into him.

Clare watched as her breath turned white in the sky and then faded, only to become a new part of the fall air. Her flats crushed against the dead leaves as she and Eli turned around the corner.

"So wait, how come you aren't like, dying from my scent right now?" Clare asked, referring to her general knowledge from Twilight. Eli laughed.

"Because, unlike Edward Cullen, I can only smell if it's," Eli fished for the right word, "out in the open."

"Which means..." Clare said, not getting his choice of words.

"If someone has an open cut, I'll be able to smell it, and well, loose my suave and cool image," he teased, "but right now, all I can smell is your perfume." he said sweetly, nuzzling into her hair.

"And...you drink human blood, right?" Clare asked nervously. Eli sighed. He'd wanted to avoid that question.

"Only if they're dying. Even then, they just become immortal, not completely dead." Eli explained. Clare nodded.

"Are you scared?" he said, stopping in his track, getting closer to her.

"No, just don't eat me." she said. Eli laughed through his nose, kissing her gently. With every string of control his teenage hormones had, he pulled away and started walking.

"Coming?" he asked, seeing that Clare had stopped walking overall.

"Nope. My house is here." she said, giggling. He laughed.

"Well, do I get a kiss?" he asked, walking towards her.

"Hm...nope!" she said, running to her house.

"You're gonna be the death of me, you know that?" he called. She laughed.

"Impossible!" she called back. He laughed, running back to get his car.

Meanwhile, Clare was having a mini meltdown in her room. She called Alli quickly, informing a 911 situation, and to come 'ASAP'. Alli climbed through the window, panting. Clare laughed.

"Our door is unlocked, you know." Clare said, jumping off her bed. Alli sat on her beanbag chair.

"So what's up?" Alli asked. Clare sighed.

"It's about the new kid, Eli..."