All I Ask Of You
Author's Note: I don't own Degrassi nor any other literary or pop culture references. You can find me on twitter at takethecurve or on tumblr at takethecurve dot tumblr dot com. Also, thank you to my bff and her fiancé, who don't read my fanficiton for providing me with the distraction concept featured in this chapter. It has brought me great joy at their expense for almost seven years. :)
Chapter 14
Every Face A Different Shade
"Just try it?"
"No."
"Please?"
"Absolutely not."
"I can't believe you won't even try it. What happened to take risks? What happened to breaking the mold?" I huffed in frustration, plopping down on my bed, a boxed set of books in my lap.
"See, this is where I don't understand you, Clare. You read these great novels, see great films, and then there's this garbage," Eli complained, swiveling from side to side in my desk chair.
"You're just worried you might like something mainstream," I challenged.
"And you're not seeing that this is just another Fortnight phase," he quipped, rolling his eyes.
"Okay, even I can admit that Fortnight was a phase, but that's over and done with, thank you very much," I pointed. "The Hunger Games are not the new Fortnight!"
"When there are teenage girls in Team Pita Bread shirts, then yes, it's the new Fortnight."
"HE IS NOT NAMED AFTER PITA BREAD!" I shouted exasperatedly for what felt like the tenth time.
"Sure, whatever you need to sleep at night," Eli chuckled.
"Ugh, you're impossible!" I proclaimed, throwing one of my pillow shams at him. He countered by catching it and rushing over to tackle me on the bed. I fell back as he pounced on me, my limbs flailing until he tossed the pillow aside and kissed me, hard. I felt myself begin to melt for what must've been the millionth time in the last two weeks, since I'd gotten the extremely reluctant okay from my mother to keep seeing Eli, which was beyond a doubt because of Glen's persuasion.
Just as Eli's hand began to slide up my side, beneath my tank top, I pushed him back.
"What?" he asked innocently, clearing confused by my lack of enthusiasm.
"So, you know how we looked back so fondly on our previous relationship, full of mutual respect and admiration, where you loved me for my brain?" I asked, pushing myself back to a seated position.
"Yes?"
"So, I'm worried that we're uh... we're..." I twisted my worn leather watch on my wrist, trying to find the right word.
"Spit it out, Edwards," he smirked, clearly enjoying my word fumble.
"Well, it's not that I don't like making out, but... I just feel like... we do it all the time, and every time, it's a little bit... more... and I just... can we do something together that isn't making out?" I could feel the words make little to no sense even as they stumbled out of my mouth.
"Uh... What exactly are you asking?"
"I just want us to... maybe cool it... just a little... because we're... and you're... and I'm not... and it just... I'mnotreadytohavesexwithyou," The words flew out, and my hands came to my face, slapping over my mouth, wanting to push them back in.
Eli looked confused at first as I stammered, before a glint in his eye flicked and he burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" I asked, mortified, feeling my cheeks burn in embarrassment.
"Because you're you," he chuckled, standing up from the bed. "So what shall we do?"
...
...
...
"You want to do a puzzle?" Eli asked skeptically.
"It's summer! Neither of us have jobs, and this is good, cheap fun," I insisted, picking up a box off the shelf with a Parisian cityscape.
"It reminds me of Kindergarten."
"The last time you did a puzzle was in Kindergarten?" I asked, shocked.
"Yeah, you know, those wooden ones with the little knobs that were shaped like the provinces," he replied like it wasn't in the least bit strange.
"You've been deprived," I told him, "And trust me, there are no knobs to hold on to."
Eli leaned close and whispered in my ear, "Oh really?"
I scoffed, shaking my head. "This is why we need a distraction!"
"Very well, very well, give it to me, I'll go pay for your sex puzzle," Eli teased, walking away before I could retort.
I huffed in frustration before taking off after him. Two hours later we were seated on opposite sides of the Goldsworthy dining room table. I knew my table at home was soon to have new occupants on a daily basis, and not knowing how long it would take to finish a three thousand piece puzzle, I decided the Goldsworthys' seldom used table would be the perfect location for our construction.
"These pieces are the size of peanut M&Ms!" Eli exclaimed.
"It's not supposed to be easy," I pointed. "That's why it's called a puzzle."
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Eli rolled his eyes.
"We need to finish the outer edge, Eli, or we're never going to get anywhere."
"She's right, Baby Boy," Cece called from the next room. I heard the oven door swing open, and the smell of freshly baked cookies wafted through the archway between us and the kitchen.
"You only say that because you like her better!" Eli called back, and I heard Bullfrog chuckle from the living room.
"It's because she's a hell of a lot nicer than you, son!" he shouted, his raspy voice fluttering as he held back his laughter. "Not to mention better looking!"
"Geez," Eli winced. "You know, honesty is highly overrated!"
"Only when you don't care for the truth," I teased, fitting another piece into the edge as Cece walked in, carrying two plates of cookies. She set one down in the empty space between us, ruffled Eli's hair affectionately, then crossed through to the living room.
"Thanks, Mom" he mumbled, stuffing a cookie into his mouth immediately.
I grabbed a cookie for myself, and it almost fell apart in my hands, still warm and gooey from the oven, just the way I liked them. As I indulged in my snack, my phone rang beside me on the table. I saw Jake's face staring back at me as I slid my finger across the screen.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Clare. Helen told me to call you and remind you that we all have a meeting with Reverend Duncan tonight at six. She said you might've forgotten," Jake explained.
"Ugh, she's right, I totally spazzed," I groaned, looking at the clock. It was just after five.
"I can swing by and pick you up," he offered. "Dad and Helen are out running some errands, and they said they'll just meet us there."
"Uh... ok. I'm at Eli's; do you know where that is?" I asked.
"Not really, but just text me directions. Five-forty-ish?"
"Yeah, see you then. Thanks, Jake."
"No prob."
I turned back to Eli who had demolished more than his share of the cookies. I reached over and wiped a smudge of chocolate off the side of his guilty smirk.
"We have pre-marriage family counseling with the reverend tonight," I faked a cheery smile as I texted Jake directions to Eli's house.
"Oh man, hate I have to miss that!" Eli laughed.
"Well laugh it up now, the wedding's only a few weeks away," I reminded him. "And that, you don't get to skip."
"Speaking of, Clare," Cece strolled back through. "What does he need to wear?"
I giggled, seeing Eli embarrassed by his parent for a change.
"Suit and tie, preferably," I answered. "No jeans!" I turned back, throwing that last bit straight at Eli, who threw up his hands in mock surrender.
"Mmm... I don't think you've had on a full suit, Baby Boy, since you were the ring bearer in your Aunt Rose's wedding," Cece thought out loud.
"You were a ring bearer?" I gasped, unable to help my laugher. "Please tell me there are pictures!"
"NO! NO PICTURES!" Eli shouted, trying to stop Cece who had already headed to the living room, where the Goldsworthy family pictures rested in a set of albums spread out over two shelves in the entertainment center. "MOM!"
"Oh come on, Eli! You were precious!" Cece cooed, "In your little tuxedo!"
"Oh God..." Eli groaned, as Bullfrog guffawed in the recliner.
"Here we are!" Cece announced, and she passed me a thick leather album. Sure enough, there was Eli. He couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old, sporting a little tuxedo with a lavender vest, bowtie, and pocket square. He already had a mop of dark hair, and he smiled brightly for the camera.
"Oh my goodness!" I squealed. "Look at you!"
"How 'bout we don't, thanks," Eli sulked, slumping down onto the couch.
"Oh don't be like that, you were so cute!" I insisted, flipping the album through a few more pictures.
"She says that like you're not so good-lookin' anymore," Bullfrog laughed.
"Oh you know that's not what I mean," I retorted. "And look, he must not have mastered the famous smirk yet when these were taken."
"Oh no, the smirk didn't come until puberty," Cece explained, and I saw Eli sink lower into the couch out of the corner of my eye. "Alright, alright, I'll put the pictures away!"
I giggled before sitting down next to Eli.
"You know, I can't wait to see you in a suit again," I teased.
"You have seen me in a suit," he pointed.
"No, no, no. The red jacket does not count. I mean a matching suit, with a tie."
"I wear ties all the time!"
"Not properly," I added.
"You know, you didn't complain on our first date," he challenged, and my face turned pink. I underestimated him, clearly, as he embarrassed me in front of his parents.
I cringed as Bullfrog burst into another fit of laughter, and Cece's light chuckle followed soon after. Before I could properly defend myself, the doorbell rang.
"Well, saved by the bell," Eli teased, getting up to get the door as I grabbed my purse.
I heard Jake and Eli exchange pleasantries at the door before I made it there. I pecked Eli lightly on the cheek, still wary of any public displays of affection in front of Jake, all things considering. Once we were in the car, Jake spoke.
"So what exactly is the point of us having to go to this shindig?" he asked, clearly not looking forward to meeting with the reverend.
"I don't really know, some kind of blended family evaluation or some such nonsense," I shrugged. "I was kinda hoping I'd be exempt from this since Mom and I are seeing an outside counselor anyway."
"Oh yeah, how's that going for you?"
"Better, I guess. Well, of course better now that she's not forbidding me from seeing people, and I'm not bitter about this," I gestured between us. "anymore."
"That would help things along, I'd imagine," Jake grinned.
"What about you? What have you been up?" I asked, having not seen much of Jake since our last family dinner with Eli.
"Just hanging around, I guess. I ran into some kids from school at The Dot the other day. Figured I might need to make some friends since I'm single again," he teased. I rolled my eyes.
"Oh really? Who all was there?"
"Uh, Drew and Katie, Adam, Bianca, and I ran into your friend Alli on the way out. She said to tell you she'd be calling you later. Something about that summer camp she did," he explained.
"Science program, actually," I corrected. "That's funny. I'm surprised she didn't already let me know she was home."
I thought on the matter as we pulled into the church parking lot. It wasn't exactly unlike Alli to withhold information, but it did spark my curiosity that she was out and about before at least letting me know she was back in town.
Jake and I met Mom and Glen in the foyer before heading to Reverend Duncan's office. He had set up four chairs opposite his desk, and I sat down at my mother's right while Jake took his father's left, just as we surely would in a few short weeks.
"Good evening everyone," Reverend Duncan greeted warmly. I smiled, taking in his familiar face. Reverend Duncan was a portly man, balding slightly, but he had kind eyes and a warm smile.
"I would like to begin with a short evaluation of your current status in the engagement and how you plan to proceed in merging together as a family," he explained.
I leaned back in my chair and listened to Mom and Glen explain their separate living situations and the stability of their relationship before transitioning into the new house arrangements with Jake taking Darcy's old room as she was no longer living in the country, much less in our house. I nodded in agreement in all the appropriate places, and smiled as Reverend Duncan complimented both families on raising such faithful children. Finally, I suppose he determined we weren't all going to kill each other, and he wished the entire family all the best, and we headed out to the parking lot. Glen kissed my mother goodbye and took over the Martin Construction truck with Jake while I plopped into my mom's car to go our separate ways.
Once we were home, my mom and I ate a light dinner, discussing a few last wedding details, like how I wanted to wear my hair, and if I had any particular jewelry in mind. After promising me a shopping trip to find the perfect earrings, which would be part of my upcoming birthday present, we parted to our rooms, and I finally got the chance to call Alli, having still not heard from her, despite Jake's tipoff.
"Hello?" she answered, sounding slightly off.
"Hey, Jake told me you were back in town!"
"Yeah, I just got back this morning. I ran into him in town," she explained, her voice seeming to come to life a little.
"So what's up?" I asked, still confused.
"Dave had sex with another girl," she blurted, taking me by surprise. I wasn't sure how to respond. Last I had heard Alli and Dave weren't together, so I wasn't sure what I should say.
"How did you find out?"
"We've been texting and skyping all summer, and I just figured when I came back that he would be waiting for me," she explained, and I could hear her voice strain as she fought back tears. "And when I got back, we met for coffee, and he told me that he had been seeing someone. Her name's Jacinta, and they hooked up over the summer!"
"Alli, I'm so sorry," I tried to comfort her.
"I can't catch a break, Clare! It's like every time I take a step forward, I get shoved two steps back!"
"It'll be alright," I insisted. "There are other guys out there, better guys!"
"Easy for you to say, you've got a tall, handsome lumberjack on your arm!"
"Not... exactly," I winced. "It's a long story, but Jake and I are done. I've been... actually, I've been seeing Eli again."
"What?" Alli exclaimed.
"I've been seeing Eli," I repeated.
"You've been seeing the guy who crashed a car into a wall and lit a fire onstage at school?" she asked skeptically.
"You know, you've never given him a chance. Eli was sick. He's better now!"
"I can't believe this," Alli breathed.
"Why not?" I asked, annoyed by her prejudice.
"Because you've been down this road! It goes to crazy town!"
"I don't want to talk about this anymore," I stated, fury pulsing through me.
"Look, I'm sorry, I'm upset, and maybe I just need to digest my own drama," Alli apologized, but I couldn't feel the sincerity.
"It's fine, I'm gonna go to bed."
"I'll call you tomorrow, okay? We can grab lunch or something," Alli insisted.
"Sure, I'll talk to you tomorrow," I replied, ending the call.
Our conversation had strayed back down a familiar path in regards to Eli, and I didn't have the patience to deal with her unwarranted disdain this time around. Alli was my best friend, but so was Eli, and if I had to choose, I knew which side I was on.