A relatively short, uneventful chapter, but I hope you all enjoy it anyway!

7. No Idea

A knock on the bedroom door startled Eli, and the door opened quickly before he had the time to at least duck under the covers.

Randall stared at Eli for a moment, then at Clare's sleeping form on Eli's chest. "I don't want to jump to conclusions here…" Randall started off slowly, obviously attempting not to blow up.

"Sir, we were only sleeping," Eli said quickly, an honest expression crossing his face.

"With your shirt off?" Randall asked tightly.

"…Clare was cold," Eli mumbled, not knowing if that excuse would stand.

"Right. Well…when she wakes up, I'd appreciate it if you put your shirt back on then. Do your parents know you're here?" Randall said.

"Yes, they do, sir," Eli lied.

"I guess I'll…see you later, then," Randall muttered curtly before closing the door and walking downstairs.

Eli chuckled after he left, and the vibrations he made caused Clare to wake.

"What did I miss?" she mumbled sleepily, sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

"Your dad just came in to check up on you," Eli said, stifling laughter.

Clare's eyes widened practically as large as saucers. "My dad?"

"Yep. No worries; I lied and told him we were only sleeping."

"My dad?" Clare repeated, her voice panicky.

"Clare, calm down. He didn't blow up, or start yelling, or anything," Eli assured her.

"That's how you know he's absolutely furious," Clare whispered fiercely. "If he's able to seem calm about a situation that he should get mad about, then that means he's trying really hard not to blow up, because if he does…oh God, Eli!"

"Well…I'll stick around for awhile so he can't start screaming at you the moment I leave. If I hang around long enough, he should cool down by the time I have to leave. Okay?" Eli asked, kissing Clare's forehead gently.

Clare sighed. "Thanks." After a long moment of silence, Clare suddenly burst out laughing. When Eli looked at her curiously, Clare said, "I just realized how hilarious that must have been. For you."

Eli wrinkled his nose. "Well thanks."

"Sorry. Just when I thought my parents were beginning to like you…your rep just got ruined again."

"You're the one who messed it up for me first, remember?"

Clare waved her hand dismissively, trying to ignore the wave of guilt that was about to crash over her. "Yes, yes, well they would have found out about you and what you're like eventually."

Eli rolled his eyes. "Whatever. So, what's on your emotional agenda today?"

Clare narrowed her eyes playfully at him. "Haha, very funny." Clare paused. "Depends."

"On?"

"On whether or not you can keep me distracted all day," Clare said, giving a small smile.

A small ringing sound seemed to suddenly come from Clare's floor, and Eli grunted as he reached down to pick up his pants, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

Eli studied the text for a minute, holding back a grin. He dropped the phone beside him, then looked at Clare. "How does going to a socialite party sound to you?"

A smile crept onto Clare's face. "What do you mean?"

"Adam just texted me. He said Fiona's throwing a party tonight for a bunch of high-class people and invited us. She said, quote, 'To hopefully lift Clare's spirits.'"

"That's way too kind of her," Clare began to protest.

"Clare. Stop right there. We're going. You're going to enjoy yourself. You, me, and Adam - we're going to have a blast. Okay?"

"I thought fancy parties weren't your scene," Clare teased.

"Where did you come up with that idea?" Eli scoffed.

Clare rolled her eyes. "Never mind, then. What time is it?"

"Seven o'clock. Will your dad let you go?"

"I don't really care what he has to say."

"Clare, can we please not go down that road again?"

"What do you mean?"

"The rebellion against your parents. Can we not do that again?"

Clare sighed. "All right. You got me. But I won't ask for his permission to go to that party."

Eli got out of bed, and Clare blushed and turned away as he pulled on his pants and shirt. He ran a hand through his hair and smirked sheepishly at Clare.

"So, will we be having a delightful breakfast with your father?" Eli asked.

Clare chuckled awkwardly, getting up but keeping the bed sheets pulled around her. "Sure. Can you go so I can change?"

"Do I have to wait for you downstairs?"

"…No."

"Then I'll wait outside your door," Eli said firmly as he walked out the door, leaning against the doorframe as Clare closed the door in his face with a teasing grin.

After a few minutes, Clare came out of the room looking refreshed and clean, any trace of what they had done last night erased as shown in her soft, brushed curls and her powdered-dry face. Eli smiled at her and followed her down the stairs into the kitchen, where Randall was sitting at the table sipping coffee and reading the paper, like any dad would be pictured in a movie.

Randall looked up when the couple entered the kitchen, staring at Eli like a hawk. Eli avoided his interrogating eyes. Eli leaned against a counter awkwardly and watched the father and daughter - well, mostly Clare.

"'Morning, Dad," Clare murmured, sitting across the table from him. A plate was already set for her, some buttered toast and eggs on it. She picked up a piece of toast and nibbled on it, not looking at her father either.

Randall cleared his throat. "Care to explain what Eli was doing in your bed with you?"

"He came over last night, and I didn't want him to leave," Clare said bluntly.

"And you didn't find it necessary to tell me he was here, much less spending the night?" Randall pressed.

"No," Clare replied, finishing off her slice of toast and starting on her eggs.

Eli wanted to tell Clare to stop, but decided not to say anything. Even if they were talking about him, it wasn't his place to say anything.

"Clare Diana Edwards," Randall warned her.

"Yes?" Clare asked, looking at her father with an irritated look on her face.

Randall sighed. "Look, Clare, I know everything's been rough on you lately, but -"

Clare stood up suddenly and walked over an took Eli by the arm. "You have no idea, so don't pretend that you do," Clare said coldly to her father. "Come on, Eli."

"Clare!" Randall called angrily, but Clare ignored him, dragging Eli out of the house and to Morty.

"Clare, where are we going?" Eli asked.

"I don't know. Take me anywhere, Eli. Anywhere," Clare grumbled, getting into the passenger side of the door.

Eli frowned but got into the driver's seat, starting the hearse and pulling away from Clare's house.

Clare turned slightly and looked back at her house, watching the house get smaller and smaller as they drove farther and farther away.

Author's Note: I had writer's block, then came up with an idea, but realized I couldn't use it until the next chapter unless I wanted to make this chapter really long, so... xD Review please! :)