"I'll have a grand-slam and black coffee, please." Eli said to the waitress, closing his menu and smiling widely at her. Coffee was, like many other things, something he couldn't bear to part with. "And can I have the number five?" Clare asked politely. The waitress was very familar to the both of them, for they had been coming to the diner for weeks now.
"Your eyes look stunning in this light." He said kindly, tipping over the salt-shaker and spilling salt all over the table. They fumbled hands, both trying to pick it up to prevent more spilling. "Thanks. How have you been these past few days?" Clare said awkwardly. "Okay, I suppose. Can we drop this act now? I know we've encountered a rough patch, but we need to overcome it. I need you right now, Clare. I can't pull off this facade anymore."
"I don't know if I can trust you." Clare returned bitterly with a twinge of nervousness. What Eli didn't know: Clare had cheated on him in vegeance of the rumors that had been spread about him cheating on her. What Clare didn't know: The rumors were lies.
"Come on!" Eli replied, throwing his arms back, smirking. "What you did was foul, Eli." she whisper-yelled under her breath, giving him 'the eyes'. "So you still believe that... If I cheated on you, why would I be here with you right now? Why would I want anything to do with you? Answer me that."
"Because you don't want to hurt me." she said, sounding like she was in pain. The secret she was hiding from Eli was taking it's toll on her. "Where do you even come up with this stuff?" he laughed. (Direct quote from Degrassi :3) "Jesus, if I didn't know better, I might think you're hiding something!" he added in sarcasm, making her heart drop to the pit of her stomach.
"Uh... I guess you're right. Who needs grudges anyway? Haha." Clare laughed awkwardly, trying to hide the flushing of her cheeks. Eli's face lit up. "I knew you would come around. Who's at your house tonight? I was thinking you could come over and watch a movie with me or something."
Clare knew what he meant by 'watch a movie with me or something.' It was more than that. He didn't beg her for sex. Truthfully, she knew he just wanted someone to hold. "You'll laugh if I tell you the real reason I want you to come over!" He had told her weeks before as they laid in his bed together. "No I won't! I promise." she responded, giggling.
"I like it when you fall asleep in my arms, and they go numb. I like the feeling of not feeling. Does that make sense? I love it when your body is pressed against mine and my arms start to tingle. It's like my body's natural reaction to yours." Eli said, the words rolling off of his tongue so gracefully and with such a great amount of meaning.
"That's not silly, that's romantic. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." They snuggled closer, Clare resting her head against his chest. Their relationship was like a romance novel.
Now, she often found herself pondering the kiss she shared with Fitz. Was it really considered cheating? I kiss my grandmother... she thought to herself. It's not like it went any farther than the kiss. Almost doesn't count in love roulette. It wasn't just the kiss. It was the purpose behind it, that she was trying to get back at Eli. It was the first rumor she heard about him and she assumed it to be true.
"Dad's there tonight and for the remainder of the week. You know, he's less uptight about letting me go. I'm sure he will." Several minutes later, their food arrived and the conversation had fluttered away to something less stressful. Finally, the kiss was off of her mind and she was no longer freaking out about it.
They finished their food and drove back to Clare's house, his hand gently rested on her thigh. "I had fun this morning." she told him, straightening his scarf. "So did I. I'm glad we're back together, if what's been going on for the past few days can even count as a breakup." signature smirk creeping across his face.
"Let's not say those words. They give me chills. Call me at six, okay?" Clare leaned in to kiss Eli, their lips gliding together, perfectly insync, for several seconds. As she walked inside she waved at him and he honked, pulling away from her house. I'll just stop worrying about this. Eventually I'll tell him. The time isn't right yet...