Different Perspectives
Eli Goldsworthy and Clare Edwards
Summary: Clare is the rebel; the black-wearing, smirking, bantering, fiction writer. Eli is the alter boy; the bright colored, sweet and kind, aspiring journalist. Opposites attract, don't they?
Chapter 2: English Partners
"Do you know some of the greatest works of all time? Letters. They reveal the hearts and souls of world leaders, of great artists, and now of you." Miss Dawes peeled away an assignment from the others and dropped it on Eli's desk. He flipped over the stapled work to see in bright bold ink, "C". This was crazy. He had written an essay on gun control, which was very good if he did say so himself. He had never gotten a C before.
"Miss Dawes," Eli asked. The woman turned to him; adjusting the glasses on the bridge of her nose.
"Yes, Eli."
"There must be something wrong," He argued; picking up the paper to refer to his grade. "This is a mistake."
"Well, your early assignments were divine but recently your writing has become, distant; impersonal." Eli was completely offended. He had worked hours at his laptop to perfect this piece; all of his pieces had fine detail and voice. Maybe she had forgotten.
"I used complex sentence structure and advanced vocabulary." He stated, pressing hard on the printer paper between his fingers.
"Yes, but your assignment didn't tell me anything about who you are; what you want. You can't hide behind facts and articles forever Mr. Goldsworthy."
"I—I'm not hiding." Eli stuttered.
"Then prove it, to your writing partner." She said and motioned towards Clare Edwards who was sitting in the desk in front of him. From behind her, Eli could see the uncapped Sharpie doodling aimlessly on her fingernails and skin.
"Me?" She questioned, a smirk probably adorning her pretty little face.
"Yes you. You write well but… you're a little wordy. You and Eli will be editing and revising each other's work this semester." She smiled.
Eli glared at the back of her head. Those golden brown curls of hers were srunchied into a tight ponytail while neon lightning bolt earrings dangled from each ear. For some particular reason he did not want to be paired with Miss Know-it-All Edwards this semester. Just thinking about her unending sarcasm made him want to vomit.
"Great," Eli muttered. "That will be fun."
"I see we have a very special partnership on our hands people. Oh, like Silva Plath and Ted Hughes." Miss Dawes mentioned excitedly.
"Silva Plath killed herself," Clare spat out beneath her breath. Suddenly the class of junior students errupted in a quiet wave of chatter and giggles.
Eli rolled his eyes at the comment and slammed his book shut. The prerecorded bell rang and the students dispersed, leaving only Clare and Eli in the classroom. He rushed to shove his books in his bag and head for the door but Clare met him there, shoving Eli into the door frame. He scoffed, which only received a silly shake of her head in return. It was as if his struggle to her was amusing.
After pushing past him at the door way, Clare hiked her backpack onto her shoulder and disappeared down the hall. Waiting for Eli outside Miss Dawes' room was Adam, but he hadnt really noticed him yet. He was too interested in the goregous senior chatting with Holly J.
"Still have the hots for Miss. Coyne?" Eli mused and elbowed him in the gut. Adam jumped at his contact and smirked.
"Of course, why wouldn't I?" He shifted the bag on his back and glanced Eli in the eye. "She's breathtaking, isnt she?" He said dreamily, almost to himself, rather then his friend.
"Why don't you go talk to her?" Eli offered.
"And why don't you talk to Clare?" Adam shot back.
"What about Clare?" He asked. She was his new writing partner not his new girlfriend. Adam should have nothing to say about her.
"I saw your scramble at the doorway. I was right,"
"Right about what?" Eli asked curiously.
"She likes you." Adam said a matter-of-factly.
"As if." Eli snorted and let Fiona catch his eye. The two seniors were heading their way. Plotting quickly, he grinned and looked between drooling Adam and Fiona approaching. "So are you sure you don't want to talk to her?" Eli asked.
"I wouldn't know what to say—"
"Think fast!" Eli called and pushed Adam in Fiona's direction. The two collided. Fiona jumped in surprise as Adam ran into her and Holly J stepped out of the way just in time to see a flustered Adam try and talk to her friend.
"Oh, um, hi Fiona," He choked out.
Fiona pulled back just as confused. "Oh, hi," It seemed like a name could not come to mind. "It's Adam… the quarterback's brother, right?" And in two seconds flat, Adam's face fell.
"Um, yeah, I'm the other Torres." His hand reached past his shoulder to nervously rub the back of his neck.
"So, it was nice seeing you around." He muttered shly.
Fiona gave a small smile before glancing at Holly J in disgust. "Sure, see you around." She said before manuvering past Adam and relinking pinkies with Holly J. Adam pivoted to watch her walk away, a sigh escaping his lips.
"Tough break," Eli said and patted him on the back. "Atleast she knew your name." he smiled reassuringly at his best friend.
"Just drop it, Eli." Adam spat back, very unamused. He moved his backpack to the other shoulder and turned the opposite direction.
"She'll remember you now," Eli called over his shoulder at Adam's retreating figure.
"Forget it, Eli." He replied and shoved the double doors open to the parking lot. Eli looked behind him to see him disappear and ran after him, smiling.
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