All I Wanted
"Everyone will be doing a video presentation for their mid-term. You can pick any scene from any piece of literature we've studied this semester or anything you've written. This is a partner project so pick away." Ms. Daws went back to reading some thick novel at her desk, leaving us to talk amongst ourselves.
Eli turned around, feet on his chair, to face me. "Wanna be partners Plath?" He asked, excitement seeping into his tone. I nodded happily. This was no normal project. It could actually be considered fun.
"Well, which scene do you want to do?" I asked, unsure. There was a lot of ground to cover. Too many stories had been read and then there was everything they had written! Thinking about choosing made her head hurt.
"I think we should do it on Clara Edwin. She's an ingenue." I felt my smile go down like bricks had been dropped at the corners.
"Ugh, I'd never play a floozy like her." I shuddered as I thought back on his story. All I'd learned from it was that prostitutes made a lot of money and that Eli was probably as perverted as I was back in my vampire days. "How about we do one of my stories? I have this one that I wrote back in my K.C days that I think would work." At least it would be original.
Eli grimaced at the mention of my ex-boyfriend. I couldn't blame him; that had been my reaction for months. "I'll have to read it. But if we do yours I want to do mine. We'll let Ms. Daws decide which is better." I nodded regretfully. This was probably going to end badly. Me as Clara? Ugh, being a slut for five minutes wouldn't kill me. Hopefully.
"Yeah, maybe we can get Adam to be our camera man or something." The bell's shrill ring echoed throughout the halls, marking the end of class.
"Do you want to work on this after school?" He nodded yes.
"Meet me at Morty?" He suggested casually. I smiled.
"Sure." Then I put my bag over my shoulder and walked out the door. He had no idea.
I pulled my laptop out of my tote bag. I didn't just carry copies of all of my stories around with me. Instead I kept my laptop on me. I always typed everything so I just needed to pull the story title read "Breaking Even". That had been like my break-up song. It made all the sense in the world too. K.C had cheated on me with the pretty blonde cheerleader with the voluminous body. Then he got to go home and sleep soundly in his bed every night while I was wracked with tears and doubt and self-pity. That breakup did a huge number on my self confidence, but now- six months later- I'm finally over him.
This story was started when I still wanted him back, though. When I still believed he was worth my time. I remember the day Alli found my story. It wasn't finished then and it still isn't now. I had told her
"I still need to write the part where the girl gets back the guy". It was still true but for a different reason now. K.C was my start. It was awkward and rocky and painful. Then I met Eli. He was like a breath of fresh air; a day without his sarcasm and wit seemed dreary now. I had moved onto a new guy; he was charming and smart and I loved every second I spent with him. Now all that I had left to do was get the guy. Easier said than done but I refused to let him slip between my fingertips like so many other opportunities had in the past.
I tapped the desk to the tune of I'm Yours by Jason Mraz as I reread my story. I wasn't sure what part I wanted to act out, though. Somewhere in a small corner of my mind I faintly contemplated Eli saying this wasn't personal enough. If he really said that I'd find someone to beat him up for me. It's not like he didn't deserve it for playing with fire so much.
"Such a gentleman!" I said, feighning surprise. "Who knew!" Ethan bowed, humoring me, and put his hand out.
"Anything for a pretty lady." I blushed, taking his hand. We walked amongst the trees, mindlessly chatting until we came to a clearing. It was beautiful.
The open space was full of flowers and the setting sun lit the sky with multiple hues that twinkled brilliantly from behind the mountains. The cliff overlooked the entire town. People looked like ants and the noise of the city was too far to reach our haven. I went closer to the edge and sat down, taking in the view. "It's beautiful." He didn't even glance at the wonder that was our town at twilight.
"I know." I turned my face to look up at him and gasped. He was so close. Ethan had bent down behind me, his face mere centimeters away from mine. We were so close. Closer than ever before. I'd always had very clear boundaries, unwilling to give my heart away again just to have it given back broken and bruised. I could smell him. He didn't wear cologne but he had a warm woodsy smell. It was welcoming. Ethan's breath fanned over my face enticing me. I took a jagged breath in. His eyes were so green and they never lost contact with my blue ones.The rest was still unfinished. That was my favorite scene from the whole story. Where Caroline and Ethan finally go on a date and admit their feelings for each other. I never finished the ending though. I haven't gotten any further in real life to be able to write about it. We were definitely doing this scene. I printed two copies out. My last period was Study Hall so instead of doing nothing for the next twenty minutes I highlighted dialouge and added sidenotes. This was going to be perfect. When the bell finally rang I gathered all of my stuff and walked into the school parking lot. Eli was already leaning against his car along with Adam. I took faster steps; anxious to get started.
Ethan's face came closer and closer to mine. My heartbeat sped up. Was I scared? No, not at all. Did I want this? One look into his eyes gave me my answer. Yes.
"I love you Blue Eyes."
"So, how should we do this?" Eli asked, his hands behind his head.
"Well, I don't know about you but I need to get a different outfi to play my character in." I stated. He nodded, a newfound smirk on his face.
"Yeah you need way less clothing if you're going to play Clara." He winked, sliding into his seat. I followed suit and Adam climbed in the back. The hearse went in the direction of my house first, since I needed clothes and they didn't.
"Okay you're coming too." I stated when we pulled up in front of my door. Eli merely shrugged, following me in. Adam chose to stay in his car though, napping. We went up the stairs to my room quickly.
"Okay! What should I wear while playing the sluttiest of the sluts?"I opened my walk-in closet wide before falling back onto the bed. It was his character so he got to pick.
Eli curiously wandered into the closet, picking through my wardrobe as he did so he muttered things like "Not low-cut enough" and "Not quite." Ten minutes later he came out with a pile of clothes. Eli dumped them on my bed, sorting them into an outfit.I wasn't even surprised at what he picked. My V-neck red shirt that I never wore because it showed a little too much cleavage, my black skin- tight leggings that went all the way to my ankles, a miniskirt that Alli'd picked out (enough said), and some red heels that had been Darcy's.
I dropped my makeup bag on top of the pile, deciding that if I was going to do this I might as well do it well, then went into my closet to search for Caroline's outfit.A few minutes later I came back out, a triumphant smile on my face. I'd picked out a deep blue scoop-neck shirt and some capris. It was simple yet sweet. Just like Caroline. Anything else I may need we already had packed away in another tote bag. I looked at Eli. Did he need anything? I shrugged out of the black hoodie Eli had lent me a few days ago and handed it back to him. "Use this for my scene instead of your blazer." He smiled for reasons
unknown before we exited my house and walked back to the car.
"So, where we headin'?" Adam asked, yawning.
"To Above the Dot." Eli responded smugly. I just wanted to get over with this...
I read my lines, silently memorizing. "Do I have to do this?" I pleaded Eli for the upteenth time. He smirked joyously. Obviously he was loving this new side of Clare. The one that wore seductive clothing and bright red lipstick, because once again he answered with the same, "Hell yeah" as before. I sighed as I got into place. The faster this was over with the quicker I'd be out of these clothes.
"Aaaaaand, action!" Adam cried over the heavily pumping music of the club.
I walked from within the sea of people dancing and went over to the (nonalcholic) bar, pretending to be hot. Eli was a bartender -we'd convinced Peter to let him back there so we could shoot the video- and I was the hooker trying to get him to come home with me. Oh, how the tables have turned.
"Hey, Handsome?" I started in the most flirtatious voice I could muster. Eli walked over to me slowly, testing my patience. "You sure know how to pull of black. They need to redefine sexy." Eli looked bored almost yet flustered at the same time. I leaned in a bit closer now; my lips almost ghosting over his as I spoke. "How about you and I go somewhere a bit more private. Get to know each other." I whispered seductively. He held his breath, probably trying to clear his head.
"Not interested." He said breathily. I cocked my head a bit, leaning just a little closer.
"Oh really? Your loss then, I guess." I said. Then I walked away. Back into the crowd. When I was sure that Adam had called cut I walked back over to my friends expectantly.
"Soooooo, are we good?" Adam openly gaped at me.
"Good! That was amazing Clare! I had chills!" Eli remained quiet while Adam went on talking, his eyes a tad darker than normal.
"Okay then! To the park!" I said happily. I grabbed both of their wrists and towed them out of the loud club. This time I sat in the back so that I could change from Clara to Caroline. I removed all of my makeup and reapplied my norm rather than all of the lipstick and dark eyeshadow. Then I pulled on my outfit along with the silver flats I'd been wearing earlier. Perfect. The car stopped and I climbed out leisurely. We walked over to the bench Eli and I had sat at the day we skipped. I pulled out both copies of my story and handed one to Eli. He took it and began reading. Rather than awkwardly waiting for him to finish I went over to the swings with Adam, who threatened to kill me if I ever told anyone about him on the swings. I laughed, loving the feeling of the wind in my face.
"Ahh, the perks of having a transgender best friend!" I said playfully, eliciting a laugh from Adam. I was totally over it. Now I welcomed the idea.
"How does it end?" Eli asked casually. He was leaning against the base of the swing set wearing his hoodie, looking up at me with expectant eyes.
"There isn't one." I stated simply. His eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
"Then how do we do the end of the scene?" He asked amused. I shrugged.
"We improvise." He laughed and soon I joined in as well, high on vitamin D.
"Sure, well where do you want to do this?" He asked, a smile still on his face.
"Follow me." I jumped off of my swing, landing on the balls of my feet, and started walking over to the forest that was located at the edge of the park. The perfect venue for the perfect date scene. There was a dirt path that went through the canopy of trees from people walking through so often. I sighed in contentment. This place was amazing.
"So, do you know your lines Ethan?" He smirked.
"Absolutely! What about you Caroline? Haha, so his sarcasm strikes again.
"Yeah, I think so." I sat down on the ground, getting into position. "Whenever you're ready Adam!" I called. I felt nervous. Not just because we were acting, but because essencially I was going on a date with Eli. I swallowed, I could NOT screw this up. Adam called "Action" and then we started.
"Such a gentleman!" I said, a smile on my face. "Who knew!" Eli bowed dramatically and put his hand out to help me off of the ground.
"Anything for a pretty lady." I blushed before graciously taking his hand and he pulled me up to him. We were close and he looked into my eyes. Then El twined our fingers together and started walking, pulling me along with him. "Come on, I want to show you something."
I nodded, silently marvelling in the warmth of my hand in his. It felt so... right. We talked and talked. Discussing things that I'd always wanted to ask him about, but never got the chance to talk about. The afternoon was beginning to give way to twilight and the redish-orange rays were shining through holes in the roof of leaves above seemed to be enjoying the improvising because there was a content smile on his face and our hands were gently swaying between us.
"This has been the best, Ethan, really." I said, smiling. I squeezed his hand, wishing I could say Eli instead. He glanced at me, eyes bright and tugged me closer, putting his arm around my shoulder.
"I present, my favorite place like, ever." My eyes widened. The clearing was exactly like I imagined it. Small, pretty, and peaceful. The cliff overlooked the city, bright lights looking like tons of stars, shining in the distance. I took a few steps closer, remembering to stay close to the script.
"It's beautiful." I sighed dreamily. I felt Eli's breath wash over my neck.
"I know." I turned my head so that I was face to face with him, fake shock on my face. Internally I was cheering. I was so close to Eli, but this was where the script ended. He didn't have to kiss me. However, I liked him and I really really wanted him to. "I love you Blue Eyes."
I leaned closer just as he did. Our lips met and it was like magic; it was sweet yet demanding. There was only one thought that still lingered in my mind.
"Perfect."
A/N- So I changed a lot and I also decided to skip the Adam stuff. I got bored. I hope you liked it:) Next up is the I killed my girlfriend stuff.