If you thought you liked the last chapter…

Wait until you read this one…

Though, don't get too carried away with the imagination…

X_X

Chapter 7- CanYouStayAMomentPlease

Clare clutched tightly to Eli, careful to not let him fade slowly from her grasp. They had made the walk to the Dot unharmed, shoes crunching over the brittle pebbles that littered the concrete sidewalk. Though, when Eli had directed Clare up the old concrete steps, she had paused, blue eyes glancing with fear inside. Her icy irises followed Peter as he swiftly wiped down the silver bar with a single white dishcloth; watched as Ali flipped a thin paper page in Drew's text book, black fingernails motioning to the page. She looked at Drew's puzzled expression, hand ruffling his hair as he attempted to interpret the quandary Ali had been motioning too.

"Are you alright?"

Eli's sweet voice evaded her thoughts, breaking her gaze from the many teens that littered the inside of the small café, just as the small pebbles had littered the sidewalk.

Clare shook her head, striving to clear her mind of the many hazy thoughts that were boiling heavily. "Can we… uh… go somewhere…," she attempted, though lost her train of thought.

"Less crowded? Eli answered, raising an eyebrow.

Clare nodded, clutching Eli's hand tightly as she made way back down the small concrete steps. "Please?" she asked.

Eli nodded, green eyes leaking with concern. Though she knew she had promised to give him time, Clare secretly wished that Eli would proceed on with the process. Sighing, Clare realized that, no matter which form Eli had taken and would take in her life, she would be lost without him.

"As much I would love to catch up on the reality show your life has become, I have to catch up with Drew," Adam mentioned, blue eyes pulling through the sleek glass to settle on his frustrated sibling. "Mom wants us home soon."

Eli nodded. "Alright, man. Don't have too much fun." He smirked. "Text later?"

"Nope- I'm going to ignore you completely."

Adam returned Eli's infamous smirk before he made a quick wave in Clare's direction, and turned to jog his way up the concrete steps. As his silhouette dispersed behind the sheer glass door, Eli turned towards Clare, whom kept a firm grip on his long, pale fingers.

"Where to, milady?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Clare let a smile touch her lips at the light smirk that pulled on the corner of Eli's mouth.

"Anywhere away from here," she replied faintly.

Her eyes drifted faintly towards the direction of the small park, though quickly returned to Eli's soft features. Her tense shoulders seemingly calmed by every glance he gave her. She watched as Eli's green irises twinkled with excitement. "I think I can do that."

His long fingers tugged on her own delicate ones, resulting in Clare following silently in Eli's soft footsteps upon the light pavement. The soft breeze felt nice on Clare's flushed cheeks, blowing Eli's chocolate hair around his face, momentarily shadowing his dark green eyes. The chilling winds seemed as if they had picked the worries from her mind, carrying them along the steady current the wind created, causing her fears to drift far from the bouncing shadow that followed her moving body, settling a ways away.

Slowly, Eli's vintage hearse came into view, and a smile spread upon Clare's rosy lips. Morty's sleek black exterior casted rays of light over the asphalt parking lot, an invitation Clare found difficult to resist. Eli led her towards the passenger door, slipping the silver key that was hooked to the chain hanging from his belt loop, and quickly injecting it into the lock. He tugged on the small silver handle, the door pulling open with ease. Clare cheeks filled with color as she moved around Eli to fall into Morty's soft, black interior. Eli's grasp slowly left hers as he pulled his hand away, softly shutting the vintage door.

Eli swiftly made his way around the front of Morty and paused at the driver's side door. His gaze followed Clare's baby blue eyes as he slid the key into the silver lock. The familiar click sounded, and he tugged on the handle, quickly opening the black door, proceeding to slide down into his seat, and close the door quickly behind him. The familiar smells of Morty wafted to his nose, welcoming Eli into a state of what he had come to know as comfort.

He could feel Clare's soft eyes on him as Eli lifted his hand to set the vintage silver key into the ignition, turning it forward until Morty's motor became ignited. He prayed that his beloved car would not break down on him as of right now. Luck was with him as the familiar purr of the engine filled his the silent atmosphere. A sigh of relief filled his chest as his hand reached to flick the volume button for the radio, the silence soon shattered by The Black Eyed Peas I Gotta Feeling. Eli's nose scrunched in disgust as he quickly made way to push down the next button. Clare's giggles filled his ears.

"Are you laughing at me, Clare Bear?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Clare narrowed her eyes, her own small nose pulling back in disgust. "I was really hoping you wouldn't catch the name Peter had called me…," she sighed. "And, yes, I am laughing at you."

Eli only smirked as his fingers found the tuning dial, scanning the many channels the radio had to offer. Though, nothing seemed to catch Eli's interest.

"May I?" Clare asked after a moment.

Eli nodded, allowing her fingers to replace his on the tuning knob, proceeding pulling the car into reverse. He settled his hand on the back of Clare's seat, noting how close her sweet auburn hair was to his fingers. He attempted to remain focused, eyes scanning the crowded lot that lay outside the reflection his review mirror offered, looking for anyone that would step into his way. Seeing no one, he quickly backed out of the small parking spot.

"This alright?" Clare asked.

Her nimble fingers removed themselves from the small black knob. Eli listened closely to the station, pulling Morty to lie straight, before setting the car into drive and setting his boot on the gas pedal.

Desperate for changing…

Starving for truth…

I'm closer to where I started…

Chasing after you…

The crisp lyrics hindered Eli's previously beating heart. He recognized the band- Lifehouse- though the song did not register into his mind.

"Which is…?" he asked allowed, hoping Clare would catch on to his question.

Clare giggled lightly. "Hanging By A Moment," she replied, settling back into her seat.

Forgetting all I'm lacking…

Completely incomplete…

I'll take your invitation…

You take all of me now…

Eli's lips pulled to the side in a smirk. His eyes watched the road carefully, never leaving sight of the black asphalt. Though, he could see the delicate girl that sat beside him, nearly a foot away, from the corner of his green eye. She was a marvel compared to what he had originally been used too. Even before… Julia… Eli had always felt incomplete, as if something vitally important had been missing from the picture that had been painted in his life. Though, from the moment he had met Clare, she had invited him in, not remotely caring what his attire had caused his reputation to consist of, not knowing what his past had become. And, without thinking, he had gratefully accepted it.

I'm falling even more in love with you…

Letting go of all I've held onto…

I'm standing here until you make me move…

I'm Hanging By A Moment here with you…

"Guess I could have gotten that from the lyrics," he commented, chuckling.

Clare smiled, returning his laugh. Though, she could not help but feel as if the lyrics that were currently spilling from Morty's vintage speakers spoke the meaning of the truth. Every moment she spent in Eli's presence, she couldn't help but feel as if she had fallen for him even more. Every time his lips pulled back into a smirk; every time his green eyes twinkled; every time his sharpie nails clenched into tight fists; every time he teased her about something little. She couldn't help but fall even more for him then had originally been intended.

I'm living for the only thing I know…

I'm running and not quite sure where to go…

And I don't know what I'm diving in to…

Just Hanging By A Moment here with you…

Every second of every day was a threatening moment. Anything could happen between the blink of an eyes and the intake of a breath. Eli hadn't known anything besides what a miserable existence his life had become. Now, it felt… almost amazing… to have something to look forward to each day- to have something to make his world consist of.

There's nothing left to lose…

Eli felt his fingers lift from the steering wheel, and reached over to grasp Clare's.

There's nothing else to find…

Clare squeezed Eli's hand lightly in return, entwining their fingers.

There's nothing in the world…

That can change my mind…

Eli tugged on Clare's hand softly, pulling it lightly to his lips, where he left a small kiss upon her knuckles.

There is nothing else…

Clare cheeks filled with heat, though she couldn't think of a better place to be at that moment in time. She had never felt so at… ease with herself. Never felt as if she belonged to someone. Never felt as happy as she had at that moment, simply because a certain being had been sitting beside her. Though, there was nothing else that could turn her back towards those thoughts at that moment in time.

Desperate for changing…

Starving for truth…

I'm closer to where I started…

Chasing after you…

Eli rotated the steering wheel towards the right, feeling Morty's tires pull onto an old dirt road. The potholes created a rough turbulence in the car, causing Clare to grasp Eli's fingers more tightly. He couldn't think that he were closer to where he had started in the beginning, if not farther. He had thought the relationship would be hopeless, filled with regret, and end in despair. Never before had his predictions been incorrect, until he had met the blue eyed girl that clutched his hand tightly.

"Hmm…," he considered aloud, "maybe I'll keep that song around."

"Maybe?" Clare asked, lips pulling back into a smile.

Eli smirked. "Just maybe."

He pulled into a small dirt crevasse, just beside the dusty, washboard road. Clare looked around, blue eyes glancing curiously over the surroundings that lay outside Morty's metal frame. Vaguely, she felt Eli's fingers slip from her own, and the soft clank of his door evaded her thoughts, though her eyes remained glued upon the scene that lay out in front of her. Eli had parked next to a small wooden cavern, slightly resembling that of a cabin. Around her lay an abundant of trees, blocking off any sign of civilization for what seemed to be miles.

She felt her door open, causing her to turn her attention from the gorgeous scene that lay out in front of her towards an even more brilliant one. Eli stood on the light brown dirt, hand lowered down towards her. Clare took it gratefully, black flats stepping onto the gravel. She turned to slam Morty's door, noticing the dark cloud of dust that lay atop the car's once sleek, black exterior.

"I'll just have to take him to a carwash," Eli noted, as if he had picked through her thoughts. "It's worth it."

He warm hand didn't let Clare's drop as he led her around the wooden fortress, pulling her towards a small river that flowed silently. The soft smells from the many flowers that surrounded it wafted towards Clare's nostrils. The light trickling of water evaded her ears as she watched the steady currents make their way down stream.

"Eli- what is this place?" she asked at last.

He stopped, looking from her, then to the river, and then back to soft, though curious features. She watched as he leaned back against the wooden cabin.

"This cottage used to be owned by my grandparents," he replied lightly. His green eyes searched until they held her own icy ones. She mirrored his position against the wall, finding it far more comfortable then standing beside it. "I used to come here when I was little and go fishing with my grandfather. Though, he died nearly a year ago. My grandmother didn't follow nearly too long afterwards."

Clare felt her smile fall into that of a frown. "Aww, Eli," she mentioned. "It's so… beautiful."

She tore her eyes from his gaze for a slight moment to take in the scenery that lay around her. The soft breeze that blew through her cinnamon curls, pulling at his chocolate waves. The sweet scene that the tiny flower's nectar gave off.

"It is," he agreed. His eyes hadn't followed hers, though remained upon her face. Clare felt her cheeks flushed, and she looked down, praying that her short hair covered the majority of her reddened cheeks. "Let's talk about something more important."

Clare looked up, cheeks returned to their normal flourished pale pink. "Like…?" she asked, curious to as what his answer would be.

Eli smirked, pushing off from the old wooden wall. "Oh, maybe how you're going to thank me, for sending Fitz on his merry way."

Clare raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. She knew this boy would have something up his sleeve, though she hadn't known what. "And, what do you propose that to be?"

"Oh," Eli replied, leaning closer, "I don't...," –he was so close now, Clare could feel his breathe upon her face, smell the cinnamon that left his lips- "know."

Clare gasped as Eli's lips touched her softly. Though, her eyes became dark as they closed at his touch, hands pulling up to rest upon his shoulders. Eli's hands lay lightly on her waist, pulling her closer to him. He tilted his head, pushing her hair aside, causing the kiss to deepen. Her lips moved slowly atop his, not asking for much. Though, he responded fervently, a hand finding way into her soft curls. Her breathe became hitched in her throat, pusle moving quickly beneath his fingers.

She couldn't believe he had actually kissed her… this time with nothing to hinder him from continuing. There was no person watching, no camera recording, and no lines to memorize. All she could feel were his soft lips; feel his touch send sparks through her skin. She felt her back softly hit the wall of the cabin. Her fingers moved from his shoulder to reach behind his hand, tangling in his thick brown hair.

Just Hanging By A Moment here with you…

X_X

Did the kiss factor in too quickly?

I was attempting to figure a way to make it fit…

Maybe I've nailed it…

Maybe I haven't…

Reviews would be lovely…

Just as a unicorn eating a cupcake would(:

xTonksx