Note at the end, please read! :)

So this was it. It was just Eli and I with cold pizza and watered down soda in front of us on the table. It had only been about 2 minutes since everyone left and things were already starting to get a little awkward. I was still on the other side of the table so I looked at Eli and saw him look down and begin to play with the rings on his fingers. I looked around nervously, took a deep breath, and with all the confidence I had in me, scooted over so that I was sitting next to Eli. He looked up and gave me a small smile, which I returned and he asked me something that surprised the hell out of me.

"Do you wanna dance?"

Shocked, I just looked at him with wide eyes and nodded my head yes. He slid out of the booth and waited for me to join him. I slid out of the booth and Eli gestured for me to go first. He followed with his hand on the middle of my back this time and I could feel his hands making my skin burn with intensity, even with my shirt on. It was so weird because he's touched me before giving me high fives or quick hugs, but this was totally different. I began to sweat as we made our way to the dance floor, his hand still burning into my back.

The band that was up now was playing upbeat 90s alternative rock-like songs. There were other couples on the dance floor tipsily and drunkenly dancing away. They were causing a huge scene and they didn't look like the best people to be around. I suppose Eli sensed I didn't quite want to be around those people, so he led me to the far left corner of the dance floor, just about where we were when we watched Bullfrog's band play.

I turned around to face Eli and he was looking down right into my eyes. He seemed a bit nervous, but he took my left hand with his right and I could feel that his palms were sweaty; he laughed nervously as he took my hand in his. I tried looking anywhere but his face because otherwise I would have probably exploded from all the feelings jumbled up in my body. I mean, I was dancing with Eli Goldsworthy. This guy I've been attracted to literally since the moment I had met him. I had never been so attracted to a guy in my entire life and in that moment I knew that if he didn't like me back, it was going to hurt so much and I wouldn't be able to ignore the hurt. His left hand crept to the small of my back, and I didn't protest at his hands being so low because honestly it felt comfortable and it just felt right, and we began to dance.

Little did I know though, Eli was an incredible dancer. Well, he wasn't So You Think You Can Dance worthy, but he was a lot better than I was. He led, but it didn't help that I had a heel on my boots. I wasn't used to wearing heels, let alone dancing in them, so I kept either tripping over his or my own feet. At first I kept saying sorry every 4 seconds but after a minute Eli and I were just laughing about it and it didn't matter that I wasn't a great dancer because we were just having a great time. Since I wasn't a great dancer and I was tripping all over the place, Eli pulled me closer to his body to keep me balanced with each trip and stumble I made. The sooner I realized that, the more I 'stumbled'.

After dancing for 3 songs the band ended their set so Eli asked if I wanted to take a rest, and I said yes so we went back to our booth. I slid in first so my back was against the wall and Eli slid in and rested his back against my body and put his hand on my knee. I didn't know exactly what to do, so I just put my chin on my right hand on his right shoulder and my left hand was wrapped around his shoulder on his left arm. The next band came on and Eli was tapping his fingers on my knee to the beat of the music.

We didn't say anything. We just sat there listening to the music while he tapped and traced shapes into my knee and I did the same to his arm. My face was so close to his neck and face all I wanted to do was plant a kiss on him, but it was too risky. After awhile Eli got up to go to the bathroom so that gave me a chance to check my phone. 12:30 AM. Holy crap I was out SO late. I saw Eli stop at the bar to talk to his dad and his dad's band mates so I just sat there drinking watered down soda and waited for him.

It had been about 15 minuted and I was starting to feel really uncomfortable. The people in the bar were only getting more and more drunk and I was completely out of my comfort zone. Luckily Eli came back just in time before I was going to just straight up leave.

"Sorry about that, once you start talking to the band mates, it's hard to end the conversation."

I couldn't help but to smile. "It's ok, haha. I've just been kind of people watching and what not…"

Eli looked nervous. It looked like he was thinking when he suddenly put his arm over my shoulders. I tried to act as cool as I possibly could (but let's face it – I'm Clare Edwards, I'm practically the definition of awkward) so I just crossed my legs, put my hands in my lap, and turned my body to fit in his a little more and face him.

"So, are you having fun?"

I smiled, like I always do. "Yeah, I'm having fun. Bullfrog's band was great, but I'm a horrible dancer so…"

"Clare, you need to lighten up" and from there he began to tickle me on the sides of my stomach. It was horrible and by horrible I mean I secretly loved it. I couldn't stop laughing. It was such mindless cute flirting that I didn't even say 'stop' when he was tickling me. I just tried to move his hands and after a bit he stopped, put his arm back around me, and his other hand on my knee.

Calming down I put my head back and turned my face to him. He was looking directly at me with our faces no more than 3 inches apart. I wanted so much for him to lean in and kiss me, but he didn't, he just kept looking at me with his piercing green eyes. I pulled my head back nervously and looked at the time on my phone. 1 AM and the bar was closing at 1:30 AM.

"I should get going Eli" and from there he gave me a sad puppy dog look, but said okay and that he would walk me out.

I collected my things and we walked to the bar exit. Once outside he put his arm around my shoulders so I put my arm around his torso as we walked the short distance to my car. Once we got there I turned around out of his embrace.

"Thanks for inviting me Eli, I really did have a great time."

"Any time Clare, I'm glad you were able to come. Thanks for keeping me company after Cece left."

"Not a problem." I lingered a bit not looking directly at him. "So I guess I'll see you on Monday?"

"Uhhm, yeah." I looked at him hoping he'd make a move. "Bye Clare."

"Bye Eli." I turned around in disappointment to unlock my car door but I heard Eli say something.

"Wait."

I turned around and suddenly his lips were on mine. It wasn't a long kiss. There was no tongue. His hands barely touched me. I was so surprised it didn't even feel like I kissed back. I opened my eyes and he said bye once more as he walked backwards toward the bar looking at me.

I stood there with a stupid smile on my face. I touched my lips and turned around to unlock my door and drive home. The entire ride home I didn't even turn on music. All I thought about was the night's events; my hot new outfit impressing Eli, meeting his family, dancing with him, sitting with him in the booth, and him kissing me. Eli Goldsworthy kissed me goodnight. I couldn't stop smiling the entire ride home. There were moments when I was concentrated on stopping at a red light or watching my surroundings, but then I'd remember the way his lips felt on mine and I felt a sudden kick of feelings go through my body and make me squeal with happiness.

Once I got home I changed into my pajamas, took my make-up off, and got in bed. First I texted Alli and told her I had a lot to tell her and that we should definitely go to The Dot tomorrow to discuss my night. As I was setting my phone down on my nightstand so I could go to sleep I got a text message. I figured it was a text from Alli so I looked, but it was a text from Eli:

"Thanks again. Night cutie :)"

My heart raced. I didn't text him back because I honestly didn't know how to respond. I got my answer and Eli liked me back. I put my phone on my nightstand, got under the covers, and drifted into the most blissful sleep I'd had in awhile.

So that's the end! Maybe? I know it can definitely be stretched out into a longer story, but I haven't written anything and I didn't know if I should or shouldn't continue the story. So if you want me to continue, just let me know! Either in a review or on my tumblr (heyybrianna).

Also the story was inspired by something that actually happened to me. I thought it would be a really good eclare story, so I wrote this! If I were to continue, it'd be all eclare and nothing else taken from my life. But there ya go! Thank you all so much for taking the time to read, follow, review, and favorite. It means a lot considering this is my first story!