SURPRISE! Before this chapter I haven't updated this since September of last year. I'm terrible. But at least I'm back! I was inspired for this chapter so I just wrote it out before I had to do something.
P.S. I started this story when Imogen was still Eli's stalker so that's why she's like this in this story. Don't review and tell me that Imogen's doesn't act like this anymore. She doesn't but she used to. Also this is a story.
Tweet me at hereinyourarms_ and if Tumblr's more your thing then follow me at returntomemysunandstars.
Thanks for reading and please review!
Chapter Five - Need You Now (Lady Antebellum)
It was nice having Clare in my arms. She was just a girl that didn't care if she looked silly as she danced with me, she didn't mind every time I dipped her back, she just squealed. Clare was a great person to be around at a party. She had fun without having to drink. It was kind of refreshing not having to drink at a party too. Usually I would've had my third cup of beer by now but I was having just as much fun without it.
I had Clare's back against my front and she was moving with me in a completely casual way. I think she's letting loose a bit without actually compromising her own composure. I leaned down to her ear to say, "Having fun?"
"Yes," she tilted her head to me smiling. "I never thought it'd be at a party like this."
"Glad your first time isn't completely terrible," I retorted smirking. I stayed leaning down to her, pulling her even closer, and I was glad when she didn't move to put more distance between us. She was pressed up right against me and I felt her heat. When I danced with a girl like this usually they'd waste no time grinding up on me.
"ELI!"
A high pitched voice made me turn my head and I saw Imogen walking toward me, cups in her hands. I stepped away from Clare which made her turn around too.
"You're here!" she shouted happily over the music. She engulfed me in a hug and I felt some liquid dampen the back of my shirt.
"Hey," I tried to say as happily as possible. "Thanks for inviting me."
"No problem!" she replied. I turned my head to Clare for a second and Imogen's expression turned a hell of a lot colder than what she looked like at the sight of me. "Clare Edwards."
"Hi Imogen," Clare said shyly, putting her hair behind her ear.
"Didn't recall inviting you," Imogen said coldly.
"She's my guest," I defended. "I told you earlier that I had someone over at my house. It was Clare. We were doing homework and she had dinner with my family and I couldn't just ditch her and you told me to bring her along."
"I didn't think you meant—" Imogen was practically glaring at Clare at this point but then she completely changed her tone and smiled. "Nevermind. Do you want some?" She held out one of the cups to me and I took it, realizing how thirsty I was after dancing with Clare. It tasted like a different kind of beer than the one from the last party but I drank half in one gulp.
"How about we dance?" she asked me.
"Umm…"
"Excuse me," Clare interrupted the conversation. "I'll just…go somewhere."
"No, wait—"
"Bye!" Imogen told her and she grabbed my hand, pulling me into the crowd. I lost sight of Clare amongst all of the people and didn't even realize that Imogen was already dancing against me until she grabbed my head to turn it to her.
It was obvious that she wasn't going to let me find Clare anytime soon so I danced with her. While her back was turned to me I downed the rest of the drink. I went to put my hands on her waist when she offered me the rest of her drink, saying she wasn't thirsty anymore. So as we danced, I drank.
The only time she would leave my side was to get me another refill and during that time of freedom I looked around for Clare. I was afraid she already left when I couldn't find her but she got a ride with me and I didn't think her house was anywhere close to here.
Imogen would come back with the new drink so because I was so worried about Clare, I just continued to drink. It made no sense but I did it anyways. With every drink I could feel myself getting a little more lightheaded until I had no idea what I was doing.
Once I finally became conscious again I was pressed up against a wall being sloppily kissed. Through my slightly blurred vision I could see that it was Imogen kissing me and I was in a room that could only be described as her's.
It was if I was outside of my body looking at myself doing something I didn't think I would be. I had no feelings for Imogen whatsoever but I was responding to her. My hands were all over her back and kissed her mercilessly. Imogen went to my neck and the feeling of pleasure I had finally made me wake up and stop.
"Wait," I manage to say. I gently pushed Imogen away and ran my hands over my face, trying to get my vision more clear.
"Why, we were having fun," she whined, moving closer again. Despite me pushing her away she managed to get her arms around my neck and she pushed against my slight arousal. "Come on Eli, I've wanted this since I saw you."
"I'm drunk," I tell her. "And you sound desperate."
I was aware how rude that sounded but I was someone who said exactly how I felt when I'm drunk. This was not an exception to that.
"I'm drunk too so we're even," she says to me. "I won't tell."
"No," I tell her forcefully. I walk over to her bed and sit down before the dizziness made me fall to the floor.
"Fine," she pouts. "You can stay here so you don't have to drive home. You can leave early tomorrow to get ready for school."
I lay down in her bed without another word, feeling my shoes being taken off of me right before I doze off to sleep.
I walk into Ms. Dawes classroom with a pounding hangover and undoubtedly smelling despite the fact that I managed to get home to change. This morning I was completely confused where I had woken up but Imogen was laying beside me while I slept on top of her comforter. The only thing I had off was my shoes so I was completely relieved to know that I hadn't slept with her. I slipped out of the room before she woke up.
Now, a few periods into the day, my hangover was just getting worse. I needed some Tylenol or something, or at least more sleep. But I wasn't going to get either any time soon. I slowly walk to my desk only to make my terrible condition a lot worse than it already was.
Because Clare Edwards was already sitting in her seat, reading a book. And I completely forgot about her last night. Between dancing with Imogen and downing drinks to when I was in Imogen's room, Clare completely slipped from my mind. She obviously got home safely but that didn't mean I was forgiven of anything.
"Clare," I said slowly, taking my normal seat in front of her.
She looked up from her book and then looked back down. Shit. "Clare, I'm so sorry. I just—"
"Disappeared on me," she finished for me, still not looking me in the eye.
"I couldn't find you and—"
"So it's my fault?"
"No!" I said a little too loudly. "I was drunk and I just completely forgot. I'm sorry."
"You know, I had to walk home," she finally sets her book down and the look in her eyes is enough to make me feel as if she was trying to kill me with her eyes. "I waited for you for hours and then Imogen starts kicking everyone out. She told me that you were sleeping in her bed and told me to leave. So I walked home."
"Shit, Clare, please I'm—"
"Save it, whatever 'deal' we had before, we're stopping that," she tells me with a serious voice. She went back to reading her book and I turned in my seat, putting my pounding head in my hands.
Last night made me realize how much I liked being with Clare. We agreed that she'd help me decipher all of the weird stuff I was getting and that didn't even matter anymore. I managed to ruin both figuring out that mystery AND being Clare's friend in a matter of…one day.
I think I slept the entire English class because I woke up to an empty classroom and Adam hitting my head, making the feeling worse. "Get up, the bell rang," he said to me almost coldly. Shit, Clare must've told him.
I did get up though and like a zombie walked towards my next class. I just slept during the rest of my classes and only woke up to go to my next sleeping place. When the day finally ended I was practically running to my car to leave. I started up Morty and got ready to speed out of the parking lot when I slammed on my brake.
Clare was standing right in front of my car, arms crossed over her chest.
I rolled down my window and yelled, "What the hell Clare?! I could've run over you!" I didn't mean to sound that harsh but I almost ran her over. I couldn't exactly keep calm at that moment.
She started storming towards me, even angrier than how she looked in English. Once she got to the car she opened my car door. "Get out," she demanded. Despite being slightly turned on at this completely different side of Clare, I was confused.
"Why?"
"Because I don't trust you to drive yourself home without something going horribly wrong."
I scoffed. "I got here this morning didn't I?"
"By some luck," she glared. "Now move over."
"Clare, come on—"
"No. I'm not taking any chances. If later on today I hear that some idiot crashed his hearse on his way home then…well, I won't have to if you just let me drive you home."
Even when Clare's pissed at me, she wants to help me. I didn't understand that at all. But this was Clare. Even Adam who's heart was broken by Clare said that she didn't have a bad bone in her body. So she could've just let me drive off and I'm sure I would've been fine but she didn't want to risk it. She didn't want to risk my life.
So I scooted over the seat and Clare climbed into the driver's side. It was weird sitting in the passenger seat but as Clare started to drive to the direction of my house, I could actually just rest. Before I knew it, Clare was parked in my driveway and she was handing me my keys.
"I'm sure you could make it to your door by yourself," she said stoically. Clare left the car before I could even take a hold of the handle.
"Wait!" I called after her, practically falling out of the car. "Clare!"
She was already halfway down the street when I finally made it to the sidewalk and I had no choice but to run after her. With my head still pounding and my body feeling extremely weighted down, it was a hard feat. "Clare!"I continued to shout as I ran. But my body was just too tired to get to her halfway. I stopped, put my hands to my knees and panted in exhaustion. I should really stop drinking or at least stop drinking that much.
I saw some brown shoes appear under my gaze and without standing up fully I turned my head up. Clare had a concerned look on her face. She helped me stand up straight and ended up helping me to my house. I decided not to say anything so I wouldn't make her angrier.
Once we were in my house she helped me to my bed. I let out a sound of relief, finally being comfortably horizontal. I noticed Clare putting aside my backpack and then went to leave.
"Sleep. Try not to do anything stupid between now and tomorrow. See you at school."
Clare left my room and I listened to her steps until I could hear the front door close. Once it was, I turned onto my back to look up at the ceiling. Clare was sending completely mixed signals. Did she hate me? Did she forgive me? Was there any chance of starting over? Would she ever think of me like I thought of her? Which was, ever since she caught me skipping, all the time now.
But I pretty much ruined any chance of earning her trust with me dragging her to the party and then leaving her for Imogen. But I would try to build that trust again, just as long as she still wanted to talk to me. I wouldn't blame her if she didn't after today. I don't think showing up hung over, sleeping in class, and almost running her over all in one school day helped my situation at all.