Oh gosh I'm so sorry for not posting for like a week. I've had a test every day this week and it's been BRUTAL. I hope people are still here to read this. It's coming to an end though. Maybe 5 more chapters, 6 at the most.

If you're reading this, thanks for sticking around

By the way it's been about a week and it's now Saturday morning, I really don't like writing about them going to school. Haha.

Clare's POV

It's going to take me a while to get used to the fact that I'm not going to wake up next to Eli every morning. But Eli snuck in every now and then on weekdays. It was so devious, sexy even. I groggily awoke and somberly looked at the empty space next to me on my bed. Besides the fact that I was alone the whole night, I slept well. I got up and stretched as I walked over to my full-length mirror. Ugh, I guess today is a hat day. I went to the bathroom to get ready for whatever the day threw at me. As I combed my hair till it was soft and wavy, I heard mom call me.

"Clare? Could you come down here for a minute?"

"Yeah, I'll be right there."

What did I do this time? Maybe it was another talk about Eli, or maybe she bought me something. I had no clue. I just hope I'm not already in trouble after my first day back. I hesitantly walked down the stairs and sat across from her at the table.

"Yeah mom?"

"Clare, I wanted to talk to you about Eli."

"Again?"

"Yes again, I think I have the right to know about my daughter's boyfriend."

"I guess so, but nothing you say about him will make me change my mind."

"I know, and I don't disapprove of Eli. He's a very sweet boy, protective too. I just wanted to discuss the fact that you two are having…um."

"Sex?"

"Yes that." I was getting fidgety; having the sex talk with my mom wasn't my favorite thing.

"Well, there isn't much to say.."

"Can I ask why you did it?"
"Well honestly, I love Eli mom. I don't think it matters whether I have sex before or after I get married because, Eli is the one I'm going to marry." I sheepishly rose my hand up and showed her my ring.

"What? He gave you a ring… You're sixteen Clare.."

"And he knows that, which is why it's a promise ring, for when we're older. Eli feels the same way about me as I do about him." My mom stayed silent for a moment until more questions popped into her head.

"Well, I don't approve of you having a sex life Clare. I don't think I ever will. But there's nothing I can change about what happened."

"Good. I didn't expect you to approve."

"Are you guys at least being safe?"

"Mom.."

"Well are you?"

"Yes we are. I've been on the pill for a while. I got it from the free clinic."

"You could've asked me to go with you, you know that right?"

"Mom, really?"

"I wouldn't have liked it, but I would've gone. Back then I might have bought the 'it makes my periods lighter' excuse. But I'm happy you're taking precautions."

"I'm not stupid mom, I don't plan on having a kid at sixteen." My mom put her hand on my head and lightly patted me.

"I know I raised a smart child."

"Thanks mom, I really want you to like Eli. He didn't pressure me to do anything by the way…"

"I know, you make your own decisions. Ever since you were born actually. And I do like Eli, as much as a mom could like a boy that's having sex with her daughter. Now, what do you want for breakfast?" I laughed and hugged my mom, surprised by my outburst of love. My mom settled on omelets and I sat on the couch.

Beep Beep.

Who could be texting me so early?

Hey Clare! It's Alice, do you think you could meet me at the Dot at around 1ish?

I guess Adam gave her my number; I wonder what she wanted to talk to me about.

Sure Alice. See you then!

I snapped shut my phone and sat at the table waiting for my omelet.

I sat at my usual table at the Dot as I waited for Alice with my decaf tea. I saw some regular faces here, all animatedly chatting away. I glanced out the window and saw that the sky was becoming a depressing gray color, it was going to rain. Shit, I didn't bring an umbrella. I saw a stressed out Alice holding her jacket over her head as she walked inside.

"Hey Alice, cold outside?"

"Freezing! I can't believe it's going to rain, stupid weatherman."

"Right? Anyway what did you need to talk about?"
"Well, it's about Adam."

"Oh boy, something wrong?"

"No, no, he's amazing. Perfect actually, but I wont bore you with gross details about us."

"I appreciate it, so then what is it?"

"See, Adam got me this really nice bracelet." She put her hand on the table and I saw a gleaming white bracelet fashioned nicely around her wrist.

"Wow! That's really beautiful, aw Adam."

"Right? So, I thought that I had to do something special for him."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Well, that's where you come in. I have no idea what to get him! I know about his interests like videogames, comic books and well of course beanies. But none of those things could ever amount up to what he gave me!"

"Hmm, let me think." My mind flooded with ideas, some completely unrealistic but some also worthwhile.

"Okay, well I know this bookstore we can go to, they also sell comic books. I saw something that Adam might like, Eli mentioned something about it to me. Come on let's go see."

"Yay! You're a life saver Clare." She energetically hugged me and after I paid for my tea we started walking towards the store.

This little bookstore was my personal secret. Not many people knew the wonderful books it carried, just because it was a little run down in the front. It had many rare editions of books and some books you couldn't find anywhere. It was one of my favorite places in the world, and the girl that worked there was always nice to me.

"Hey Clare! Back for another book?"

"Kind of, do you remember that section you showed me a couple weeks back? The one with the limited edition comic books?"

"Oh yeah it's back here." She guided us to the very back of the bookstore as Alice looked around with a childlike gleam in her eye.

"This place is so unique Clare.. How did you find it?"

"Let's just say I have an unhealthy obsession with books." I winked at her as we finally saw the wall full of comic books.

"Here you are, looking for something in particular?"

"No it's okay, we'll find it. Thanks Tracy!"

"No problem, I'll be upfront if you need anything."

"So Adam's favorite comic book is the china town saiga right?"

"Right…"

"Okay give me a minute." I searched up and down the tightly packed wall and finally found the china town saiga collection.

"Here! Okay, now these are all limited edition, so pick!"

"Eek! Okay, um… ooh what about this shiny one?"

"Holy crap, that's a first edition! Look it's even signed by the creator!"

Alice looked at me weirdly and I noticed that I knew way too much about comic books.

"Sorry, heh, I guess I spend too much time with Eli."

"Got that right, but I think it'll be perfect! Thanks so much Clare!"

We walked up to the front, Alice being barely able to control herself and paid for the expensive comic book.

Beep Beep

Gee I guess I'm popular today.

Hey beautiful, meet me at the park for a little picnic?

He was so sweet, and that tea wasn't very filling.

Definitely, can't wait

I said my goodbyes to Alice and Tracy as I quickly walked to the park. I didn't even have to look for Eli, he was sitting on our regular bench right in front of the park, accompanied by a cliché picnic basket.

"Hey Clarebear" He chastely kissed me, even though I wanted more.
"Hi, so, what do you have in there? I'm starving."

"Haha, I knew you'd say that. So I have macaroni and cheese, turkey sandwiches, cold pasta and some soda. Good enough?"

"Perfect. Let's find a spot."

We walked around aimlessly as we searched for an unoccupied spot. I guess Saturday was park day as it took longer than we thought to find somewhere nice. After a while of walking, we found a peaceful patch of green grass near a fountain.

"How about here?"

"Yeah, looks good. Maybe I can push you into the fountain."

"Try and you're dead Goldsworthy, my hair is a mess enough already." I tugged at my hat and sat down.

"Oh calm down, your hair is fine." He pulled my hat off as I tried to grab it back, but it was no use.

"Fine, no hat. Let's eat."

I helped myself to a plate of everything, watching Eli just pick at a piece of chicken.

"What? Not hungry?"

"No, I'm kind of distracted by your beauty."

"Corny, but cute." I kissed his nose and scooted closer to him.

"That's better, so how was your day?"

"Ugh, taking care of a puppy is harder than it looks. Do they need to pee all the time!"

"Well I think everyone has to. But are you at least having fun with Jas?"

"Oh yeah tons. Even if he is a devious little pup, he keeps me occupied."

"That's good. Ooh did I tell you that Adam got Alice an amazing bracelet?"

"Well, Adam told me, but he was too excited to explain it. What's it like?"

"Well nothing compared to my ring, but it's a simple white gold band that shimmers all the time."
"Wow, sounds special. It's great that Adam has some one, now we're both really happy."

"I know I sure am. Alice wanted to get him something in return so she got him a first edition china town saiga comic."

"Holy fuck really? He's going to flip."

"And…"

"And what?"

"I got a little something for you."

"No you didn't. Oh my god Clare. Really you didn't have to."

"Oh but I did." I pulled out the secret comic that I bought, and handed it to an already shaking Eli.

"AH. It's the one comic I don't have! Issue number 43 of the Goon! Clare I love you, I love you I love you I love you!"

"I thought you'd like it!" He was giggling like a little boy and flipping through he comic pages, sniffing them as they passed by. He planted a kiss on my lips and hugged me tight.
"That seems to be happening a lot today."

Eli and I talked a while still sitting on our cloth as the sky started to turn a pretty orange and yellow. I didn't know something so pretty could be so wet. It started to downpour as Eli and I scrambled together our stuff to make a quick getaway.

"You don't happen to have an umbrella do you?"

"Nope. Looks like we're making a run for it!"
He took my hand as we childishly jumped in the puddles and tried to outrun the rain. We got to his house and tried to convince me to come inside.

"Are you sure you can't come in? Not even until you dry up?"

"No, as much as I'd like to, I'm expected home for dinner remember?"

"Right, you don't live here anymore… Can I sneak over tonight?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way." I fluttered my lips over his, quickly kissing him and leaving him wanting more."

"Hey!"

"Bye Eli!" I saw his face scrunch up cutely as I left him standing in his doorway.

The rain halted to a soft drizzle, it was calming as I walked down the street passing the Dot. I saw a shadowed person walk up to me, expecting it to be somebody I knew I walked up to them. I didn't expect to see what I saw.

"KC?"

"Hey Clare…" I looked up at his tall stature and saw his face. His hair was stuck to his forehead, meaning he was waiting here a while.
"What do you want KC? I can't forgive you for what you've done to Eli."

"I know, I just wanted to tell you I was sorry. Here, I bought you a latte. To warm you up."

"How did you know I walk past the Dot to get home?"

"We did used to date you know."

"Right… Must've blocked that part of my life out."

"Okay well. I said my piece, I just hope in time you can forgive me. I am really sorry."

I didn't completely believe him, trusting my gut instincts, but his face looked forlorn. I accepted the latte, being that I was freezing and I walked away. I faintly heard him say,

"Bye Clare…"

I was almost home as I sipped my latte, hoping I would warm up quickly. One more house and then I was,

Whoa, what's happeni-

All I felt was cold wet ground.

Heh cliffy?

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