A/N Hi... read and review please!
It was almost dark by the time we left the mall. Lauren was still hanging out with us. I am glad Clare and her are getting along.
"Clare" said Lauren "yah?" Clare says "If a quiz is quizzical, what are tests?" "Testical" Clare says happily, then pauses and blushes. Me, Julia and Lauren made the joke up, and it is funny to see Clare all flustered, muttering "I'm so stupid...why would I say that...holy...wow".
I catch Lauren's eye in the mirror, and we both start laughing, just like old times, although it used to be Lauren driving, Julia in the seat beside her, me either in the back, or squished up front. I sigh, although I love Clare, seeing Lauren reminds me of Julia, and that hurts.
Soon enough, we are pulling up at Clare's house, and after I park, I say "oh my god! I'm so stupid...sorry Lauren, I didn't take you to wherever it is you're staying" I turn to Clare "do you think she can hang out with us for a while longer, I don't want to turn Morty on right now, I tired him out today" Clare smiles. "Sure".
We look at Lauren, who has an amused look on her face "Eli, do you sleep here?" she asks me "You didn't go to your house, you came here." I smirk, saying "still very smart I see. And yes, I do stay here. Clare's parents don't come by very often so I-"Lauren cuts him off, laughing "you stay here to "keep her company" right?" she puts quotation marks around the words 'keep her company' and I quickly says "No Lauren, Clare and I aren't like that. She... I...we enjoy each other's company and..." I pause "I am worried about Clare staying here by herself, so I stay here with her." Lauren seems to sense Clare's discomfort on the topic, and quickly changes it "So, do you want to show me around Clare?" she asks, looking at Clare. Clare nods, fumbles around her purse to find her keys, steps out of the car, and unlocks the door, stepping inside after Lauren and I do, and closes the door behind her.
Later...
I look at the clock above the stove in Clare's kitchen, where we are currently playing cards on the table. We are playing a game that is kind of like poker, using grapes to gamble. The clock says 11:30pm so I turn to Lauren and Clare, who both look at me, then turn and whisper something to each other. I wonder what they're talking about. "Lauren, it's late, do you want to go to... where are you staying?" I ask "oh! I actually don't have a place to stay; I just got here this morning. What is the closest motel? I could get a room there." She answers, frowning slightly. Clare, being the good person she is, looks at Lauren and says "you could stay here" she turns to me, and I nod, not finding any problems with the idea. Lauren smiles brightly, pops a grape into her mouth and says "thanks guys, you're so nice". Clare smiles brightly, and stands up. "Where are you going?" Lauren and I ask at the same time. Clare looks at us weirdly and says "I am going to set up the inflatable mattress where you" she points at me "will be sleeping". I mock frown, then smirk. She turns around and goes upstairs.
When I turn back to the table to clean up the grapes, which are all over the table and floor, Lauren asks me "do you love her Eli?" I look up at her and say "yes". She glances at the stairs, to make sure Clare isn't there, and adds "have you two...done it?" I shake my head "no". She looks a little shocked and asks "why not?" I smile and say "she has a purity ring, she is waiting until she is married..." Lauren makes a really loud, high pitched squeaking sound and says "did you propose? Ohmygosh! Does she know you want to" she lowers her voice "marry her?" once again, I shake my head. She looks disappointed, until I add "I got a ring, I just haven't asked her". She smiles again, and asks quietly "can I see it?" I nod, and whisper "I'll show you later".
Just then, Clare comes downstairs, looks a little surprised at how close we are and our lowered voices, but she puts on a smile and says "Lauren, do you want to take a shower? Or borrow some pj's?" Lauren nods, and skips off up the stairs behind Clare. Just a few minutes later, I hear the water from the shower running, and Clare comes down the stairs, and kisses my cheek.
"Eli, are you going to be okay with Lauren here? In a few days it's gonna be the day Julia was killed..." she trails off. My face grows serious "Clare, it will be fine" I say firmly. She nods, and walks over to the sink to get some water. As she is sipping from the cup, she says in a very small voice "why were you two so close?" I half-smirk, knowing she would ask this question. "Clare, first of all Lauren and I are just friends, and second, I was telling her a secret." "What secret?" she asks, and I mentally kick myself "ummm... I can't really tell you. It's a secret" she frowns but accepts the answer.
I hear the water turn off upstairs, and say "are you going to take a shower now, or should I?" she waves her hand in front of her face "you can go, I took one this morning, or should I say this afternoon". She still looks distracted so I walk up to her, and put my fingers under her chin, making her look at me. I lean forward to kiss her. Our lips come together, and I am surprised to find that hers are icy cold. It must be from the water she was drinking. As we deepen the kiss, I reach down, gripping under her thighs, and pick her up so she can sit on the counter, when she pulls away to take a breath, I continue kissing her cheeks, down her neck, then I nip at the spot where her neck and shoulders meet, and she moans softly. I kiss back up to her lips, and she moves hers against mine, intertwining her fingers in my hair, pulling softly.
We are interrupted by a little cough from the stairs, and we both look up at Lauren, slightly blushing. She laughs "I am sorry to have interrupted your little make-out time, but I was wondering where I am going to be sleeping. I woke up really early this morning to catch the morning bus, and just want to sleep" Clare hops down off of the counter, and we all make our way upstairs. I take my pyjamas from one of Clare's drawers, to Lauren's amusement, and walk into the bathroom, locking the door behind me.
CLARE'S POV
As soon as the water starts running in the bathroom, I turn to Lauren and say "you and I will sleep here" I point to my bed "and Eli will sleep there" I point to the mattress on the floor. Lauren walks over to my bed, and sits there, grabbing a pillow. I turn away from her, and put on my pj's. When I look back at her, I am surprised to find Lauren still sitting up, not lying down. "Do you love Eli?" she asks me, her voice low. I nod immediately, and say "I wish he would propose to me, I love him and want to..." I blush, but Lauren doesn't look fazed "you want him" she says, and I nod.
She is about to say something, when Eli walks out of the bathroom. He walks around my bed, and plops down on the mattress on the floor. Me and Lauren look at each other, and follow his example, lying down and quickly falling asleep.
A/N yay! I did it... I finished the chapter! Thank goodness for internet in airports! Ok guys, please review! I'll see you in a week when I will have at least one new chapter and a tan! :D
also, yes i know, crappy ending... again. more things will happen in the next few chapters!
thanks for reading and reviewing (please!)
vacation, here i come!