Thanks to all fans who have given such wonderful reviews for this story. I know that you're eagerly awaiting Eclare's moment, but all good stories make you wait. Here's some teasers for you. Enjoy!

ELI'S POV:

I stomped my way up the front steps of Clare's house with purpose and a bit of anger. My lip was split, the blood having finally stopped flowing, and my eye was already bruising, but luckily it wasn't swelling yet. Either way, I was pissed, mostly at KC, but also at Clare who had given me no warning.

Clare answered her door and I gave her no time to speak. "A bit of notice when you plan to sell me out would be nice, Clare."

I walked past her, not waiting for an invitation into her home. I walked straight into the living room, having never been here before, but figuring the floor plan to be pretty simply laid out. I sat down on her couch and waited for my apology.

But it wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be.

"I'm sorry, Eli," she stated simply.

It was then that I noticed her red, puffy eyes, her nose slightly pink from being dabbed with the Kleenex in her hand. She was dressed in sweats, her hair pushed back from her face with a headband. She was a mess. A beautiful mess.

I got to my feet and approached her. "What's wrong?"

"Isn't it obvious by now?" she asked with a hint of sarcasm. She walked out of the room. I followed her into the kitchen, watching her digging around in her freezer and coming out with a few cubes of ice. She placed them into a towel and handed it to me before sitting down at the table.

"I'm not following."

She rolled her eyes at me and sighed. "Why would KC kick your ass if everything was okay between us?"

I narrowed my eyes. "For the record," I began, holding up a finger as my other hand pressed the cold ice to my sore eye. "KC sucker-punched me. Twice. Had the playing field been equal, he'd look a hell of a lot worse than this. So he dumped you when you told him about us?"

She licked her lips and I saw a batch of fresh tears brewing under her heavy-lidded eyes. She shook her head.

"What am I missing here?" I asked, feeling completely confused by all of this. Clare was giving me bits of information here and there, but nothing to help me connect the dots. "If you didn't tell KC about us, how did he find out?"

"I did tell him."

"I figured you had some attack of conscience or something. Sorry that it backfired."

She sighed again and shifted so her feet were tucked up under her bottom on the chair. "I didn't tell him out of guilt, Eli. I told him out of anger and hurt."

"Dammit! What did he do?" I inquired, readying myself for the ass-kicking I would have to give the jerk if he had hurt her in any way.

Her tears spilled over and I sat, helplessly, watching her try to compose herself. When she was finally able to take a deep breath, she explained. "I caught him. With Jenna."

I closed my eyes and shook my head. I had wanted this, but seeing the look, the pain written all over Clare's face, had me wishing that this hadn't happened to her. Clare was tough, but she was also delicate and could be hurt easily. This was going to crush her.

I reached out my hand, until I felt her small, dainty fingers in mine, and squeezed, letting her know that I couldn't take away her pain, but that I was here for her. She looked up at me and smiled weakly.

"For what it's worth, KC's obviously not that bright. To leave you for someone significantly less just proves that. And do you really want to be with someone that dumb?"

I was trying to make her laugh and it worked, if not fully, at least partially. Clare snickered, but I could tell that her heart wasn't really into it. Her face became serious again and she looked off into the distance.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

She turned to face me completely and asked, "What am I lacking?"

"Lacking?"

"I have to be missing something. I was giving him what he wanted. I was giving him more, but still it wasn't enough. So maybe it's not sex. Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm what was wrong in our relationship."

I shook my head slowly. "No. It's not you, Clare. It could never be you. You are amazing. You are smart and kind and beautiful. Any guy would be lucky to have you. KC's an idiot and by the look of my battered face, I'd say he finally realizes that."

Clare smiled at me and I felt my heart drop, like how your stomach feels when an elevator drops from one floor to the next. She leaned in to hug me and I willingly pressed my body to hers, not ever wanting to let go. I breathed in the scent of her and closed my eyes. She was special and I wanted her. With this thought in my head, when Clare pulled back, I kissed her.

CLARE'S POV:

Eli's kiss was familiar, but this one was much gentler than any we had exchanged previously. All those other times had been with purpose, but that purpose was gone now. With this realization, I pushed Eli off of me.

"What are you doing?" I asked him.

His eyes narrowed. "It's not like we haven't kissed before."

"But that was different. We were working toward helping me with the KC situation. KC's not around anymore. So we can stop pretending."

I stared at him. What was that look that passed across his face? It almost looked like disappointment, maybe even hurt. But that wasn't possible. Eli didn't like me. Those were his exact words.

He nodded his head and got to his feet. "You're right. Sorry. Old habits die hard. But I guess we're pretty much done here, right? You don't need me anymore?"

His voice took on a hint of anger and I wondered if I was just imagining it or if he was actually upset with me. He gave me one last look before heading for my front door.

"Eli?" I asked, wanting to resolve whatever confusion I was feeling right now. I did not need to be worried about my friendship with Eli, while also mourning the loss of my relationship with KC.

He turned to look at me, sadly, before smiling slightly. "It was a trip, Edwards. But it looks like the trip's over. See ya around."

When Eli was gone, I stood, staring at my front door for at least fifteen minutes. I couldn't understand why, but I was feeling so incredibly sad at that moment, and my heart was telling me that it had nothing at all to do with KC.