Thanks for the amazing reviews! I try to update once if not twice a day because of the reviews! :) Sorry, this chapter is kind of bad. It's kind of a filler, but bear with me. The next chapter is going to be amazing.

Clare

"Ouch!" I cried, dropping the burning hot waffle that had just popped out of the toaster, onto a plate.

Eli laughed. "That's a first. A waffle hurting someone."

I flipped on the cold water on the kitchen sink and stuck my slightly burned fingers under it. Eli stood up from the table and came over and grabbed his waffle.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, it just stings a little." I said, turning off the water and gently drying my raw fingers.

He grabbed my wrist and looked at my fingers. "Doesn't look too bad."

"I'll be fine." I said, smiling weakly as I grabbed the box of cereal and a bowl out of the cupboard.

"Well, you got any syrup or something? I don't really like plain waffles." he said.

"Oh yeah, I think we do." I said as I opened the fridge and peered inside. "Actually, I take that back. We have whipped cream and strawberries though."

"That'll do." he said, sitting down at the table.

I took out the package of pre-cut strawberries and set them down on the table. Then, a brilliant idea popped into my head. I hid the bottle of whipped cream behind my back and stood there, smirking at him.

He stopped what he was doing and stared at me, puzzled. "Uh, where's the whipped cream?"

"Right here!" I yelled, flipping the cap off the bottle and spraying it in his face. He sat there for a few seconds, shocked. Then he wiped away the whipped cream from his eyes and I could see him smile, even through the whipped cream covered most of his face.

"Oops, I missed your waffle." I said, playfully.

"You'll pay for that Edwards!" he laughed, jumping out of his chair and knocking it over and grabbing the bottle out of my hands. He grabbed me by my shoulders in a firm grip so I couldn't move and pointed the nozzle right at me.

"Oh no, please don't! I surrender!" I said, barely able to say it because I was laughing so hard.

He looked at me for a second and then burst out laughing as he sprayed some on my nose. I then tackled him and he fell dramatically onto the floor, holding on to me so I fell with him. I was laying on top of him, in a kind of awkward position. My cheeks flushed as I got off of him and stood up. Even though Eli and I slept in the same bed last night, I still had boundaries that I wasn't going to bypass. It was still too early in this relationship for too much physical affection, and last night was the one and only time I'd let him over after dark. I mean, the cuddling and stuff that occured last night was just what I needed after hearing the news about my parents. And no matter how much I loved last night, it was a one time thing. Eli was there when I needed him, and for right now he was all that mattered to me.

I turned around and grabbed a napkin and started wiping my nose off. I could hear Eli stand back up.

"Uh, I'm gonna need a few towels." he said.

I grabbed another napkin and he reached his hand out for it.

"I got it." I said softly, as I started wiping the dairy topping from his cheek. And gee, how could I have not have noticed his gorgeous emerald green eyes before? They were practically sparkling. He smiled a little bit as I cleaned him up. I could tell he was a bit embarrassed about the awkward thing that had happened a few seconds ago; he seemed tense.

I threw away the napkins and grabbed my bowl and filled it with cereal and milk. He leaned against the sink and ate his waffle.

"So" he said "are we still hanging out later?" he asked.

"Of course. I don't break plans." I said.

...

Eli

For some reason, Clare seemed in way too great of a mood for just founding out about her parents divorce last night. She didn't even get into details about it with me, which made me think she was bottling it up. I was concerned, because after my parents split I was a psycho for weeks. She was acting like nothing was wrong all of a sudden.

"Of course, I don't break plans." she said.

"Well, if you need some alone time or you need to be with your mom, I understand." I said, taking the last bite of my waffle and putting it in the sink.

"No, my mom probably needs her alone time and I'm fine."

I sighed. "Clare, are you okay?"

She stopped eating and dropped her spoon in her half eaten cereal. "I'm fine. I just said that!" she said through clenched teeth.

"Okay, sorry. Just asking." I said, a little shocked. "It's just after my folks split I just really needed some alone time."

She put her unfinished bowl in the sink and looked at me, she looked kind of... angry.

"I don't need you telling me how I should and should not feel and what I should and should not do about it. I'll deal with this my own way Eli!" she roared.

I stepped back and grabbed my blazer off the back of the kitchen chair. "Okay, I'm sorry. I was just trying to uh, help."

This was definately not good. It was clear as freaking day that she was about to have some kind of emotional meltdown. Her eyes were already sparkling with tears. And I had no clue how to help.

"Clare, we can hangout anytime. I think right now, what's best for you is some alone time." I said as I slipped my arms through my blazer and crossed my arms, a little afraid about her reaction.

She faced the sink and then turned around, tears streaming down her face.

"Maybe I was wrong about inviting you off all people over last night." she said angrily.

"Clare," I said. "You're all mixed up."

Even though I knew she was just a complete wreck, her words cut through me like a knife. I didn't realize until now how much she really affected me and how much I really did care about her. How could one night with Clare Edwards completely change me like this?

"Get out." she said.

I held up my hands in a surrendering way. "Sure."

I wanted to run up to her and wrap my arms around her and tell her everything's going to be okay. But I knew what Clare needed right now, and however much she think she didn't, she needed to be alone and to sort things out. I walked out of the kitchen and out of her front door and got in Mortey. I sat there for a minute, just as confused about everything as she probably was. One thing's for sure though, I wasn't the same guy I was yesterday.