A/N: Sooo, I am so stupidly sorry about the long wait, guys! D: I have a full time job and it really just kills me. But with the holidays coming up, I should have more time, so cross your fingers! Anyway, this is what I've been working on. I think it's a lot better than last chapter, but I guess it's your opinion that matters. So, let me know your opinion by reviewing, yes?

Also, I am in the process of writing a side story to Birth Control. It's called Contraception. lol, fitting, eh? Like I said, my time is limited, but I'm working on it. Not to mention, I have the flu - which is awesome.. not. haha.

Also Also, I've been seriously debating doing one of those iTunes Shuffle things. I know a lot of people have done them (and a lot have been flops..) but I think I might be able to make it work? What do you think? If I took the time, would you read/review? Let me know!

Disclaimer: Degrassi is not mine. Womp womp womppp.


I'll admit it, I was grumpy.

I'd never worried about Eli being faithful before – he'd never given me a reason to! And, really, he still hadn't. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something awful was quickly approaching. Even if they don't want to admit it, almost every girl is attracted to Eli. He may not be your average high school jock who drinks raw eggs for breakfast and picks his teeth clean with the bones of scrawny freshman geeks, but he was the brooding, mysterious guy on campus.

Even Saint Clare fell for him.

There's just something about nothing, you know? It's that feeling of not knowing someone and wanting to figure out what makes them tick. Eli is complex and beautiful and agonized and tormented and hidden. But that's what made him so easy to cling to. I had never met anyone like him, and most importantly – I'd never met anyone who I couldn't figure out, who I couldn't help.

Speak of the devil. The one and only Elijah Goldsworthy interrupted my excessive, somewhat possessive thoughts about . . . well, about him.

"Hey there, hot-head." I looked up from my latte only to melt into my favorite pair of green eyes. He was smirking at me, clearly because of my jealous demeanor before we left school for the Dot only twenty minutes ago.

"Shut up," I groaned, sinking my face onto my palms. "Please, shut up." I knew that he was going to take this thing to new levels. I wasn't going to hear the end of it. 'Clare, you're such a hypocrite!' And he'll be right. When he had issues with Fitz, I was the voice of reason. Turn the other cheek, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind – all that jazz. Yet here I was, contemplating the slow and tortuous death of Degrassi's newest skank fest.

Eli laughed slightly before Peter strolled up to our table, starting a brief conversation with Eli about Lord-knows-what.

I tuned their words out and watched Eli's lips move professionally. His dark hair swept into his eyes and his green orbs peeked through the strands playfully. I couldn't get enough of his olive skin or sardonic behavior. Ironically enough, the Saint ate the forbidden fruit – because let's be real, who ever saw Edwards and Goldsworthy being an item? Not including Ali or Adam, of course.

The last thing I needed was for my boyfriend to catch me staring and call me a stalker for the rest of the day, so I looked around the dining room nervously.

My mouth fell open when I saw at least nine girls glancing at him flirtatiously. They weren't all together, but still! They were just a couple of random Degrassi underclassmen that couldn't seem to keep their eyes off of my guy.

Calm down, I reasoned with myself. You're being paranoid.

I didn't want to keep looking for infatuated girls. It's like when you walk into a room and you want to check for spiders, and you find like, three. But if you would have just grown some balls and not looked around, you wouldn't have ever noticed them!

Does that make any sense?

Whatever.

It was all that Miranda's fault! If she would have just stayed where she belonged in Halloweentown with Jack Skellington, none of this would have happened!

Eli and Peter were still talking, so I was still awkwardly finding somewhere to focus – kind of like when you're sitting by yourself like a loser, so you pull your phone out and pretend to text someone? Yeah, like that.

It was then that the door dinged and I turned to see the one and only Miranda Osbourne walk into the Dot with all the dark pride that one zombie chick could muster up. She had dark purple ear buds pressed into her ears and almost knocked over a waiter with five milkshakes on his tray. She didn't even bother to apologize!

I rolled my eyes and sighed dramatically, crossing my arms over my chest and shifting my head to – well, to wherever the new girl wasn't.

"Uh, Clare?"

I raised my brows at Peter and mouthed a half-hearted, "Yep?"

"Look, when you talk to Darcy again, could you tell her that uh, that I miss her? And you know, that I'd like to talk to her sometime." He looked uncomfortable, and I almost felt bad for the guy but I was too busy being selfish and worrying about my relationship with Eli.

"Why don't you tell her yourself?" He blinked at me and I rolled my eyes. Again. "She comes home in two days, Peter," I breathed.

"Seriously? Well, that's great! I'll come by to see her then - "

" - Hello! What's a girl gotta do to get a mocha 'round here?"

Peter smiled sheepishly and turned to take care of his rude customer, clearly embarrassed.

My eyes squeezed shut in anger when I put the rude voice to the face. Miranda thought she could just walk into this place and treat people however she pleased!

Come on, Peter. Spit in her mocha. Be a man!

Dear God, what was happening to me?

While Peter strode away, Eli studied my face pensively. It was quiet between us for at least three minutes before he broke the ice. "You mad at me, Edwards?"

I immediately perked up, pulling my brows together. "No! Of course not. Eli, I'm sorry. There's just, I don't know. Forget it." I groaned in frustration. Eli reached for my chest, unfolding my arms and grabbing one of my hands, lacing his long fingers with mine.

"I love you," he offered sweetly.

How could I be worried about us? He only wanted me, and I knew that. My heart softened a little bit and I immediately felt stupid and impulsive.

"I love you, too."

I grinned at him, inching forward slowly. Eli met me halfway and nuzzled my nose. I could feel his breath tickling my face, and little goosebumps danced across my skin with vigor. Butterflies fluttered in swarms deep withing my stomach. After almost a year of kissing Eli, you'd think I'd be better at it. But nope, he still makes me feel all girly and innocent and lovey-dovey – just like the first time we met.

Just as his strong lips captured my bottom one expertly, someone cleared their throat next to us.

I huffed in annoyance, knowing only too well who would be the source of our interruption. We locked eyes and I could almost hear her evil laughter. This girl was so obvious!"

"E! Katie! Funny running into you guys, eh?" I flinched at Eli's new nickname and rolled my eyes.

That's three times, now.

"It's Clare," I growled.

"Whatever." She batted her home-wrecking eyes at Eli and cooed, "So, E. About that concert?"

Eli swallowed nervously and peeked at me, giving me one last chance to change my mind. I took the bait. What can I say? This girl was so not going to a concert with my boyfriend.

"Actually, Ozzy," I started and Eli held back a grin. Miranda pursed her lips in aggravation. "I decided that I'm going to the concert." She glowered down at me and I stood up to meet her face to face. Eli stood, too, obviously afraid of where this was going.

"Clare," he said quietly. "Baby, let's go. We're gonna be late."

"You're right," I mumbled with a smirk, never looking away from Miranda. Still, neither of us moved.

Miranda licked her lips and flared her nostrils. "Late for what?"

When I didn't answer, Eli quietly explained that we're having dinner with his parents before they leave for their cruise in the Caribbean. I noticed the anger in her face that Eli would have never picked up on. It's the Gift of the Female, I suppose.

That's right, babydoll. My boyfriend's parents love me so much that they invited me over to say good-bye before their romantic getaway. Oh, and while "E" has the house to himself, I'll be over almost every night. And on each of those nights, we'll be in his room . . . well, you get the rest. So, suck on that!

"So, let me get this straight. You actually want to see Dead Hand?" She laughed darkly and I stepped closer, raising my chin challengingly. "It's just that, you don't look like the kind of girl to be at, well . . . you do know that Katy Perry won't be there, right?"

"Cute," I drawled. "But, what can I say? A bet's a bet. What kind of girl do you think I am?"

"You don't," she whispered, "want me to answer that."

I'm pretty sure that Eli heard what she said because he was suddenly groping my arm, begging me to leave with him.

"Well, then. We're on the same page, yeah?" I grinned at her and grabbed Eli's hand innocently before strolling out of the building. Heads turned from this way and that, glued to our retreating figures. And this time, it wasn't just because Eli was so attractive.

That was the moment when people began to question Saint Clare and her good-girl attitude.

xXx

My head was resting lazily on Eli's lap and his fingers traced imaginary shapes on my scalp. My eyes were closed while enjoyed the sensation, but I could feel his stare. There was some noise coming from the kitchen where CiCi, Eli's mom, was making dinner. His dad, Bullfrog, was upstairs packing at last minute.

I opened my eyes and saw as Eli stared at me unashamedly. After a couple of seconds, he laughed quietly. "You're seriously coming with us to the concert?"

"Maybe," I giggled. "At this point, I'll do anything to keep The Wicked Witch from jumping onto you and Adam's bandwagon."

"Clare," he mumbled, his voice nothing but sincere. "You know that you're everything to me, right? This girl, she'll keep trying, but I don't want her. Julia could jump out of the ground and I'd still just want you." He grabbed my chin and stroked my cheek lovingly. "I love you, Edwards. I promise."

My eyes watered for a brief moment and my throat got all scratchy. "I know, I know." I sniffled, chewing on my lip delicately. "I'm being stupid, huh?"

"Duh," Eli joked, his eyes sparkling.

We both fell into a comfortable silence with random tickles and pokes and laughs and love. And I was on Cloud Nine. No one was going to bring me down, ever. How could they? We were in love and we were untouchable.

"Eli?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you, too."

But how long could we expect that to last?


So, what's the verdict? Terrible? Decent? You liked it? Loved it? Let me know! I'd love to hear what you have to say. You can also reach me on Twitter! InsightDelight. Feel free to follow me; I'll follow back :] See you all next time!