Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Degrassi.

This chapter is sweet as sugar! Get ready to awww!

Chapter 2

Clare's POV

We walked side by side for what seemed like several hours, but in actuality we had only been walking for about ten minutes. My body and mind were humming in the satisfaction of meeting Eli. Who was this mysterious character? What would this become?

"Favorite color?" I blurted out.

"We're playing twenty questions? When did we decide on that?" He responded.

"We didn't decide anything!"

Eli let out a small laugh and my heart melted at the sight of his happiness.

"Well Clare, if that is your real name! If you couldn't tell, I'm not really into color. I'm more partial to shades...specifically black."

"Hmm." I responded, taking his answer into consideration.

I chuckled and gazed ahead of the trail for a moment. I had never known anyone like this before. Eli had a wit that was delightfully charming. Was he trying to be dazzling? And why was I so enamored with him?

For a moment the backs of our hands brushed together and I felt an electric shock radiate throughout my whole body. I let out a slight gasp and my infamous blush appeared. I suddenly hoped that he hadn't seen my blush at our contact, but the smirk on his face made me think otherwise.

"Is it my turn to ask a question?"

My mind was so clouded that I had barely heard him. His voice was soft, yet deep. I was amused that a boy could have a masculine tone while maintaining a gentle quality to their voice. Was there anything that didn't fascinate me about him?

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Eli's POV

I didn't know what it was about her. I only knew that I was fascinated. Her gaze was intoxicating. The pools of blue that stared up at me were mesmerizing, and I did all that I could not to get lost in them. I felt the need to reach out and touch her cheek. Her skin was a smooth ivory, a few freckles covering her nose.

Am I insane?

I had loved once, though it had only ended in disaster. I thought I had loved. Did I want to try this thing again? Was I actually considering pursuing a complete stranger? I had to snap out of it!

Coming back to Earth, I once again realized that it was my turn to ask a question. I cleared my throat and Clare's eyes fluttered. I realized that I was not the only one day dreaming. There was something satisfying in the fact that we could find complete comfort in silence. I was accompanied by a new acquaintance, and each of us had barely spoken to one another. We were strangely content with the quiet.

Clare suddenly turned to me and nodded, and I started to brainstorm a question. My mouth turned up into a smirk and I proceeded to ask my question.

"Why are you here?"

Clare squinted for a second before turning to look at me.

"Excuse me?" She said.

"Why are you here? With me? Do you often wander around parks with complete strangers?" I interrogated her. My snarky behavior was getting the best of me and I suddenly hoped I hadn't offended the beautiful creature beside me.

A faint blush appeared on Clare's cheeks. I could tell she was flustered. Her tendency to be embarrassed was utterly adorable.

"I suppose I could ask you the same thing."

"Suppose you could." I flashed her another smirk. She instantly smiled and turned her head. What was I doing? Flirting? Wasn't I usually mean and unforgiving?

I suddenly came to the realization that the essence of Clare Edwards was invading my usual dark and maniacal persona. I had never known a girl who could make me nervous. It was as if she was breaking through a shell that surrounded me. I had never been comfortable enough with another person where I could be myself. Smiles and laughter were a rare past time in the life of Eli Goldsworthy.

We walked side by side for a few more moments, each of us maintaining the silence. I saw Clare take a few steps ahead of me, her curls bouncing as she walked.

In a daze, I heard the snapping of a tree branch and noticed that Clare was now on the ground. She hissed and held her knee. I instantly paced toward her and dropped to her side.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just so clumsy some times! To think my parents waisted all of their money on years of ballet lessons. Some good that did!"

I chuckled. How is it that this girl could make light of such a bad situation?

She caught me staring at her. The next thing I knew Clare had her hand on my bicep and was trying to lift from the ground. She fell back and hissed in pain.

"Allow me!" I kneeled beside her and swiftly lifted her. Her legs dangled over my arms and I supported her head. I let her body lay supported gently against my chest.

Clare smiled at me and made direct eye contact.

"Thanks!"

"Don't mention it." I started to walk back toward the bench where we were sitting prior to our casual stroll.

We walked in silence until Clare's head perked up.

"Eli?" she asked.

"Hmm?"

"Why are you so kind to me?"

"Well despite the utterly terrifying kid you might see in front of you, I happen to be a pretty nice guy!"

"Oh, so the rumors aren't true then?"

My mind suddenly went into a panic. Rumors? What did she know? I looked directly at her.

"And what are these supposed rumors, Edwards?"

"Oh, people talk you know? With all the he-said, she-said, I can barely keep track!"

"Clare?"

"Well people have implied that you're kind of a grouch. It didn't dawn on me until now that we went to the same school. And I just remembered someone mentioning you were kind of a sour puss. But you are so kind to me, I can hardly believe the rumors could be true!"

I thought for a minute, contemplating on how to answer her question. She was right, we both attended Degrassi Community School. We might even have had a class together before, but neither of us hadn't realized until now. How did I go without noticing Clare? Was it because I was usually so wrapped up in my own sinister head that I blocked out the light that is Clare Edwards? Did we just have opposite schedules?

Clare cleared her throat and my mind snapped back to her comment about the rumors.

"Well Edwards, I hate to tell you this, but they're called rumors for a reason. And I'm going to go ahead and guess that you didn't hear them from the most reliable of sources."

"You could say that." Clare smiled and a feeling of lightness flooded my heart.

Really? Was I this weak? The truth is that I knew it wasn't a weakness. It was a foreign feeling, an overwhelming intoxication, an invasion of light and warmth.

I was a dark night sky, and Clare Edwards a bright, sunny day. We were completely opposite in every way, yet one could not function without the other.

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Clare's POV

My head was clouded as I breathed in Eli's scent. My nose brushed up against his chest as he carried me and I smiled in satisfaction. It was a clean scent, with a hint of peppermint. The firmness of his chest combined with his intoxicating perfume was completely satisfying. I closed my eyes for a moment and instantly pictured Eli hovering over me. We were trembling; hot mouths exploring skin, hands gripping firmly.

My eyes snapped open immediately.

"Clare?"

"Y-Yes?" I stammered.

"I'm going to set you down on the bench okay? Let's just take a load off for a little while, and then I can drive you home...where ever home is."

I smiled at him, hoping he hadn't noticed the heated moment I was having a moment ago when I was lying in his arms. Eli gently placed me on the bench, and set my legs down so they didn't hit pavement. He sat next to me and simultaneously we stared into each other's eyes.

Eli reached up and lightly brushed his fingers along my jawline. I let out a soft whimper and he smiled back with that smirk that was sending me into cardiac arrest.

"Clare?"

"Yes Eli?"

"May I kiss you?"

My mouth slightly parted, in shock of what this beautiful creature had just asked me. A lightness permeated through my eyes. A gentle smile covered my face. I lightly nodded my head yes, and prepared myself for the warmth.

Eli slowly leaned over and cupped my cheek with his cool palm. He placed a gentle kiss on my lips, and my body hummed in pleasure. He slowly deepened the kiss and I smiled at the tenderness of it. I felt his other hand gently brush my arm, and my instant reaction was to grab hold of his smooth locks. He whimpered as I lightly tugged at his hair, and my other hand smoothed over his chest.

As soon as the embrace ended, I immediately missed the feeling of Eli holding me. This was unlike any other kiss I had ever had. Certainly unlike any of my experiences with KC. Eli's kiss was caring and gentle. He was completely respectful, and seemed to be more interested in my pleasure than his own. His beauty drove my heart into over drive. I didn't know what this was.

I had just kissed a boy I barely knew. My heart was racing, and Eli and I gazed at one another. His green eyes were now gleaming with adoration.

This wasn't lust.

Elijah Goldsworthy and I had fallen in love with each other on that glorious afternoon.

And this was only the beginning.