Clare

New Years and things are sort of getting back to normal. My mom decided not to press charges against my dad; he's gone back to the states. Darcy is only sticking around another week before she goes back to Africa and all my relatives have finally stopped calling every day. Their concern is appreciated, but it gets annoying having to answer the phone all the time.

I put the finishing touches on my look and I went downstairs. My mom was having a girl's night in with her friends. I kissed her goodbye. She didn't give me a curfew, so I'll assume there isn't one. Eli and I have a date tonight and he guaranteed me that is would be one hundred and ten percent fun and adventure. Like every other date of ours isn't? Eli is the definition of fun and adventure…I went over to the Goldsworthy household. I knocked on the door, Tommy answered.

"Clare, Clare, Clare… Don't you look hot? Come on in. Eli's uh… strangling Eliza or something… she wore his favorite pair of jeans without asking."

"They wear the same size?"

"You would be surprised Clare. She borrows his clothes all the time... Don't know why he's all angry right now. So uh, is he acting right? Making you happy?"

"Yeah."

"That's good… Just making sure."

It was awkward sitting in the living room with the "older Goldsworthy"… He wasn't being mean or forward, I guess the silence makes everything awkward though. I waited downstairs for five minutes until Eliza ran down the stairs wearing the jeans, oh… those jeans… She hid behind the couch. Eli came down in his boxers, holding a piggy bank full of change…

"Eli… what are you doing?"

"Shhh… Clare you'll scare her away. I know she's here and she's going to give me my damn pants back."

"Eli, you have other pants."

"But these are my favorites! Stealing a man's pants is like stealing his car. You don't do that."

"Oh okay…"

He looked behind the couch and Eliza made her escape, creeping back up the stairs, except she knocked over the remote. Eli looked and then the fight was on. They went back up the steps and it literally sounds like a gang of dogs, cats and elephants fighting and rioting. After five minutes of the noise Tommy got up and intervened. Ten minutes later Eli came down wearing his pants and Eliza was putting money into her purse. I guess things are all worked out?

Eli grabbed me by the hand and pulled me up from the couch. He kissed me on the cheek and sniffed me. That was a new one, but I can't say I didn't enjoy being er… sniffed. We went out to Morty. Eli held the door and closed it for me. Wow, so I get the princess treatment tonight?

"Sorry you had to see that…"

"It's okay; I'm so used to seeing guys try to kill their younger sisters with coin filled piggy banks."

"I needed a blunt object and it just happened to be there, and blunt."

"I'm sure… It was funny though. I was entertained."

"That's why I love you Clare. You laugh at things other people would spaz out about."

"That's the reason you love me?"

"Well, part of the reason spazzy… Chill out."

"Whatever, where are we going?"

"You, my dear… will have to wait and see."

"Eli… you know I hate surprises."

"I always surprise you."

"I know…"

"You love it, admit it."

"Smartass."

I sat back and enjoyed the ride. I had no idea where we were going… For all I know Eli could be taking me to Zeus' swinging New Year's Eve party on mount Olympus… while I pondered about all the places we could possibly be going, I absent mindedly fiddled with the necklace he got me, dead giveaway that I was thinking too hard.

"Clare Edwards, relax your brain or it will explode!"

"Eli, I can't help it."

"You will never figure out where I'm taking you. You've never been here before."

"Oh, well… Just a hint."

"You'll love me for bringing you here. You'll ruin the fun and surprise if you keep on."

"Okay… Fine."

About forty minutes later, we pulled into a little off road trail… a path was made with gravel and worn in. There were trees all around. However, the graveled path led us to an open spot, it was a huge lake! The moon looked like I could reach out and grab it. The way it was reflecting in the water make grasping it look even more possible. It's beautiful!

Eli got out and walked around to open my door. He helped me out of the car and led me to the back of Morty where there was a small table, two chairs and a picnic basket. He put on some mood music and lit a candle that'd been bolted to the table. This was so sweet, this was perfect.

I stepped in and took one of the seats. He took the other. In addition to the picnic basket I noticed fireworks. Wow, Eli really put on the ritz. I found myself smiling foolishly because I re-realized how lucky I was to have him.

"Okay, now you have to eat the food even if it tastes horrible. I made it myself."

"God help us both."

"Now who's a smart ass?"

"Still you..."

"Ha ha."

Before he took the food out he set the alarm clock on his phone, I guess to midnight. Then he pulled out two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with apple slices and a six pack of cupcakes. I was worried for nothing…. He laughed at the relief in my face. Our junk food feast began romantically but ended with us smearing cake all over one another's faces while trying to feed each other. It was a truly fun moment, but I probably won't think so when I'm cleaning cake out of my eyebrows.

Just as the cleanup ended, Eli's phone chimed. He'd moved over to me during the cupcake war, so he pulled me close. I hugged him back. He looked me in the eyes and I got lost in his jungle green glare.

"Happy new year Clare."

"Happy new year Eli… Now kiss me."

"Don't have to tell me twice."

He kissed me, passionately, gently and perfectly. He grabbed my hand, locking our fingers and he pulled me even closer to him. I ran my fingers through his hair and he started to explore my body with his hands… He started with the buttons on my shirt, first looking to me for approval. I nodded my head, giving him the green light and he undone the buttons, carefully… kissing the newly exposed flesh as he went.

I wiggled out of my shoes while he done that. I managed to undo Eli's pants and start moving them down with my thighs. He stopped and started laughing. Not even just chuckling anymore, laughing… What the hell?

"Something funny?"

"It's just that… Clare I don't think I've ever seen you so impatient and aggressive… It's sexy, I'm just wondering how in the hell you are pulling my pants off with your thighs."

"Eli, I am impatient because… I don't know. I just want this. It's been so long…"

"Yeah, what a month now… And you're the one burning in lust."

"Goldsworthy just shut up… Stop thinking and fuck me… mercilessly."

I don't know what happened to me! I don't know where those words came from and I don't know why I said them. Suddenly I just wanted to be delt with. Eli must have been surprised too because his jaw dropped in shock. If only he knew I was as taken aback as he was. However, the trauma of my words didn't last long because he was soon undressing me with one hand, and undressing himself with the other. Before I could give myself time to wonder again what in the hell I'd gotten myself into…. Eli and I started having the hottest sex we've ever had together.

He didn't hold back like he usually did, but he wasn't trying to hurt me either. It was harder, faster, and deeper than I've ever felt it before… deeper than I've ever felt him before. The sound of our moans filled the small space of the hearse. That and the sound of our exposed skin making contact with each pleasure inducing thrust. The pressure soon started to rise, until finally I erupted. It was like I was having chills during a hot flash. My body was buzzing and my skin was sensitive to the touch. Eli soon followed me and erupted himself; he collapsed on top of me and wrapped his arms around me. I hugged him too and we laid there naked, breathless and utterly satisfied.

When we regained our strength we redressed. He opened up the hatch and we got out of the back. He grabbed the fireworks and we walked to the lake. He set the fireworks off. They were beautiful. What was an even more beautiful sight was seeing how Eli's face lit up. He looked like a child in a toy store.

After the fireworks we sat on a picnic table and watched the moon's reflection on the water. We talked about what happened tonight, what's been happening in both our houses lately and we even had a Twilight debate… Well, not so much as a debate as it was an argument. He says Jasper should have gotten to Bella, and I of course disagree… In the end we decided to agree to disagree…

A few minutes later my mom called and said I should come home. The party was over, so Eli and I got into the car and he started on the ride home… He made sure to drive extra slow though… I cuddled up to him and put my head on his shoulder. It didn't seem to affect his driving…I eventually fell asleep like that and when I woke up we were in my driveway. I yawned and stretched.

"Well my lady, we are at your place. See you tomorrow?"

"Maybe you will, maybe you won't… I have plans with the girls."

"Yeah yeah… I love you Ms. Edwards."

"I uh, love you too Mr. Goldsworthy."

He didn't let me get out of the car without taking my breath away with one of his awesome kisses. The blood rushed to my cheeks and I got that goofy smile on my face. Words wouldn't come to my mouth or mind, so I just smiled and waved. He chuckled and gave me the smarty pants smirk of his while I got out.

He waited until I was in the house before he drove next door to his place. When I got into the house it was completely dark and my mother was lying in the middle of the floor. I ran over to her. What's wrong with her? I shook her and she looked up at me drowsily before she….threw up on the floor.

"Hi Clare honey… I'm sorry I…"

"Mom it's okay, let's just get you cleaned up aye?"

"I'm your fucking mother! You shouldn't… You're such a good daughter….I'm not even mad that you're having sex with the emo guy next door…"

"Mom… you're a good mom…The best."

I helped her up the stairs and got her cleaned up. I helped her change into her night clothes and I tucked her in, on her stomach with a wastebasket beside the bed. When I was sure she would be okay I went to my own room.

I showered and put on my favorite night shirt. Once back in my room I laid in the bed, that's when Darcy came crashing through my door, still wearing the clothes from her night out with Peter. She didn't seem too sober either, but I wasn't going to call her on it. I'm too tired.

"Hi little sis… have fun with Eli?"

"Yeah. You have a good time with Peter?"

"The best! Sometimes I miss him so much… Can I sleep with you?"

"Sure."

I scooted over to make room for her. She stole one of my night gowns and put it on then she jumped into my bed. She started fiddling with my hair; she's always liked to do that. I don't really mind much…

"Clare, our family is broken…"

"Yeah, tell me about it."

"I can't get over dad just leaving… Then coming back and acting that way."

"Yeah, he hit mom… I think she's having a hard time with that. Of course she is… She really loved dad. She tried so hard. I watched her try and he was just so… distant and mean."

"Well, at least we still have each other. Was there really a knife at Degrassi a few months ago?"

"Yeah… Eli and this guy had a stupid beef gone too far, they bullied each other… Eli got fed up, poisoned the guy and the dude pulled a knife on him. I don't think I've ever been so scared, I thought he got stabbed."

"You saw it all?"

"Yeah…"

"Wow…"

I put her up on the latest gossip and she told me about her new life. We had a sisterly chat, and even though we were both too tired to pronounce our words… we talked until nearly dawn. I realized that Darcy was right, we don't have dad anymore but have each other… Just me, her and mom.

Reviews please? Thanks guys!