So you guys know how much I love parties
Clare had a friend over. They were taking advantage of their pool while her father was out and her mom let her have a friend over for once. She of course let Alli and they've been swimming in the pool for hours. "So you should invite Eli to the party."
"Why would I invite him to a party Im not even going to? "Clare questioned removing her wet, matted hair from her face.
Please Clare, for me." She begged pressing here hands together in a pleading gesture.
"Okay but I don't dance in the provocative way like all you guys do, its gonna be a waste of my time and Im gonna feel uncomfortable."
"What if Eli wants to dance with you like that? Does he know you don't like grinding?"
"He doesn't know but he'll find out I guess if we go. Im not gonna do it just because he wants me to. " She responded.
"Its called compromise Clare, this is your part as his girlfriend, to make him feel good."
"Alli, don't. Im not going to feel pressured to do it so you can stop. I'll go with Eli and we'll talk and eat, drink nonalcoholic beverages and enjoy the music , that's all. You asked me to come and I will."
Alli sighed, "Fine, thanks anyway." She softly smiled. Clare climbed out of the pool and walked to her dress and looked in the small pocket and pulled out her phone and texted Eli,
Party tonight? Alli's dragging me and I don't wanna be alone
-Clare
Not even waiting minutes, Eli texted back and she looked down at her phone,
Is it one of those elegant parties? Cus if so Im not feeling it
-Eli
Just because my family has a lot of money doesn't mean everything I do is elegant and requires lots of money. But it's a regular college party.
-Clare
Send me the address. I'll meet you there
-Eli
Clare asked Alli and soon sent him the deets. Putting her phone away, she walked back to her pool and hopped in.
XXX
"Alli, nope. Not happening." She stripped of the skimpy red dress Alli had brought of her owns for Clare's to wear.
"You look hot." Alli tried to boost her sprits.
"And like a slut and never will I ever be able to leave this house like that. Why cant I just wear jeans and my flower shirt?"
"Clare, you honestly have the wardrobe of a 12 year old. You're 18, be sexy." She encouraged. "Eli will like it."
She sighed and pulled at her hair, "Its not me." She argued. "Fine Clare, pick something that is you and I'll judge it. My only rule is you have to show some leg. Skirt or Dress." Alli demanded.
"Okay." Clare compromised. She looked through her closet for a while trying to find something to Alli's satisfaction, "I give up." She flopped down on her carpeted floor.
"Don't you have a black dress?"
"Its long though." She sighed. "I have a black dress in my bag if you want it but it might not satisfy your needs."
Clare looked through the bag and pulled out the dress, "I'll just try it on." She walked into the bathroom and stripped of her previous dress and pulled up her the black dress. It stopped mid thigh and was a bit too fitted for Clare's interest but wasn't skin tight. And there were thin straps and she was honestly content with how it looked.
She walked out of the bathroom to Alli, "Is this good?"
"Perfect, you like it?"
Clare nodded, "Okay, we're taking too long. Can you do my makeup and we can leave?" Alli nodded as Clare straightened her own hair. Her makeup was soon done and she put on her jean jacket and some shoes. "Okay, come on." Alli said taking her hand and out the house they went.
Soon arriving at the party, Clare was shocked and felt out of place .Everyone was wearing short skirts, showing their stomachs and she was probably the most dressed up female at the party. "Alli, this is awkward."
"Do you want me to wait with you until Eli comes?" She asked. Clare nodded as she waited on the couch with Alli, texting Eli but not getting responses.
"What if he doesn't show?"
"Clare, um that looks like him according to the pictures you showed me." Alli pointed to a black haired guy dancing or more so having sex with their clothes on with a girl.
She nodded, "Yeah it is him and I don't know why he didn't inform me that he was here." She sighed. "Do you want me to get him for you?" Clare faintly smiled and nodded.
Alli got up and walked over to Eli and softly touched his shoulder. He looked up and at the girl in front of him. He stopped dancing, "Um hi."
"Im Alli, Clare's best friend. She wants you." Alli pointed to Clare on the couch. Eli looked over and smiled walking over to her. "Hey." He smiled sitting down besides her leaning in for a kiss.
She pulled back, "You're all sweaty."
"Sorry." He said wiping his forehead with his t shirt. "Wanna dance?"
"Um no actually I wanna talk with you."
"Yeah sure." She took his hand as she led them out of the party cite. "What'd you wanna talk about?" He asked.
"I don't think you're supposed to be dancing with other girls like that when you're in a relationship." She said shyly looking up at him.
"Um I didn't realize I wasn't supposed to. I always do, I didn't know I couldn't."
"I don't like it. " She confessed blushing.
"Alright, I wont do it. Sorry." He kissed her cheek. "Do you wanna dance with me then?" He asked.
She blushed, looking down. Pulling a strand behind her hair she looked back up to him, "I don't dance like that."
"Do you want me to teach you?" Eli asked.
"Its not that I don't know how, I—I just don't want to."
"Alright then do you wanna just sit down or something?" He asked. He was too confused as to why she would come to a party she wouldn't even dance at but didn't further his interrogation.
She responded with an okay as they went back inside. Eli sat on the couch and Clare sat next to him. "If youre not gonna dance with me, can you at least sit on my lap?" He asked. She nodded and sat in his lap as he requested and looked around at everyone.
"How can you dance like that?" She asked looking back at him. "Its gross."
"How?"
"Its like having sex with a stranger."
"But it feels good and its fun. And you cant judge cus you never done it."
She shrugged, "I guess I cant."
Eli was bored and the music was so good and was tempted to dance. He began to move his legs in a rhythmatic movement, moving Clare's body to move up and down on top of him. He wrapped his arms around her waist. He began to move his hips against her and she looked back towards him, "Its uncomfortable."
He stopped his movements and sighed. "Clare, I don't know why you invited me if you wont dance with me or wont let me dance with anyone else. Why'd you come if you don't dance?"
"Alli wanted me too."
"To leave you alone in the corner?" He asked. She softly bit her lip and looked away.
"Clare, Im bored." He said honestly. "Can we go?"
"But Alli-"
"Is off having a good time." Eli interrupted. "And youre not and neither am I."
"Okay we can leave." She softly said. Eli got up and went to Alli and told her they were leaving. She nodded and continued dancing. They walked out and began walking down the block in silence, hands interlocked.
"Are you mad at me?" She asked.
"No." He replied as they continued to walk with no set destination.
"Then why wont you talk to me?"
"Im fine, I just-Im hoping our relationship isn't like this the whole time."
"Like what?" She asked quickly, a bit scared.
"Us going out, you not wanting to do things because youre too reserved about it. You have this wall built up that I cant break down and I just-I don't want it to be always be like this. I want to be able to go to parties with you and dance and have fun or break rules and take risks but you don't seem to even want to do the least of it."
"Im not supposed to do want to do that." She argued. "Its not right."
"Says your father. You're 18, who gives a fuck what he says?"
She stopped and untangled her hands from him. "Don't say that about my father."
"Im sorry but how will this be any fun if we don't do anything?"
"You're so persistent on me disobeying my father and I cant."
"Yes you can!" He yelled.
"I really cant."
"Clare, youre an adult already. You may not have your own house but youre wise enough to do things on your own without anyone else telling you to."
"Elijah!" She yelled. "He beats me, I can never do that." She teared. "I cant even imagine going against one rule because he will find out and he always does and I will get beat. And he will hurt me until he knows I understood his rules." She cried. "I can never do that, Im sorry."
Eli sighed and took her in his chest as she loudly sighed, "Im sorry." He apologized. "Im so sorry, I didn't know he did."
She shook her head, "Im sorry for not telling you and being such a prude."
Eli softly laughed, "Its alright" He turned her face to him and wiped her tears and softly kissed her lips. "It'll be okay."
She shook her head, "Im already risking so much by doing this with you, being with you. You don't know how much courage it took for me to be with you."
Eli picked her up and Clare squealed, wrapping her legs around him. He smirked and kissed her once more, "Do you want to come over?"
"I think I should head home."
"Is your dad there?"
She shook her head, "Work needed him, he left for New York."
"So he'll never know." Eli replied kissing her neck.
"My mom is still home and awaiting my arrival undoubtedly."
Eli laughed, "She's the first one in the house to always sleep. I doubt she's awake at 1 in the morning."
She licked her lips, "Put me down please?" He put her down. "So you wanna go home?"
"Not really but I don't have a choice."
"Youre gonna rebel at least once tonight."
"Eli, I told you about my dad."
"Beautiful, he's in New York. You're good." He picked her up and walked her to his car and drove them off to his house. He pulled up and parked his car, "Don't judge me, my house isn't nice like yours."
"I don't care." She shrugged. He walked in his apartment building and went up the elevator to the fifth floor and unlocked his apartment door. Clare walked in and looked around and it was kind of small for her liking but she wasn't going to mention it. There was a lot of music stuff and papers all over. Eli turned her to him, "Sorry, its messy."
"No, its okay." She smiled.
"I live by myself so I didn't need much." He answered her conclusions. She nodded, "Im not judging, stop justifying everything. Its okay." He nodded and brought her to his bedroom. She stopped at the doorway, "Why are we going in here?"
"You don't trust me do you?"
"Of course I do." She answered.
"Then don't ask questions." He brought her in his room and they both sat on the bed and Eli turned on the TV. She hesitantly tied her hair back and swallowed the lump in her throat. She looked at him and back at the TV. "Im gonna get something to drink." Eli nodded as she got up and walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge. All she saw was alcohol and water. She grabbed a glass and poured some water and walked back in the room. She lied next to him and Eli smirked as he kissed her cheek.
She pulled away and looked at him, "You drink?"
He chuckled to himself a bit, "Yeah, Im legal ya know."
"I know, its just-you know its bad for you."
"Clare, Im not stupid." He replied.
"Why do you have so much? Do you get drunk a lot?"
"Sometimes, why are asking all these questions lately?"
"Im just trying to know you better, that's all." She justified.
"Yes, I drink. Okay?" She nodded as he pulled her in to lie on his chest. She looked at him, "You don't smoke, right?"
"Clare dammit. Stop, Im an adult, I can do whatever the hell I want.
"I know." She whimpered. "Then why do you care?" He asked. She looked at him as tears formed on the edge of her eyes.
"Im going home." She got up and grabbed her things. He sighed and facepalmed. "Come here."
"Why? I keep making you angry." She wiped her bottom lids. "Why do you keep getting upset at me? Im just asking questions."
"But its like you're trying to push me away by asking if I do all these things you don't approve of."
"Im sorry for making it seem like that but I wasn't. Just because I don't like you doing it doesn't mean I don't like you."
"You're making it seem like it to me." She sighed, "Im sorry…again."
"Have you never drank before?" He asked as he pulled her to sit back on the bed. "Oh god no." She shook her head.
"Tell me this, whats the riskiest thing you've ever done?"
Clare blushed and shrugged, "I didn't hand in an assignment once and this."
"Wow Clare, daredevil I must say."
She laughed, "Well sorry for not being raised as a rebel." Eli playfully rolled his eyes, "This week I will get you to do something out of your comfort zone without you even realizing."
"Okay." She smiled softly. "We'll see."