Hey there, lovely readers of mine.
I have no idea why I suddenly thought of this. I played around with this idea for a while, though I'm not completely satisfied with how it came out.
This is my very first future fic, so bear with me on all the mushiness that is about to ensue. I hope you enjoy it though!
The silence was deafening. Clare's sniffled and occasional hiccups were the only sound in the too quiet room.
From where he was standing, Eli could see her face clearly as she stared off into space. Her cheeks were glossy from the tears and her eyes were shiny and bloodshot. Her button nose, which scrunched up with every sniffle, was painted cherry.
"Where does this leave us?" She suddenly asked, breaking the silence. She turned to look him in the eyes, her own reflecting confusion, pain, and heartbreak. Eli moved to sit beside her, never breaking eye contact. His larger hand enveloped her smaller ones.
"I don't know." He answered honestly. Indeed, he did not. Neither did. Clare sniffled and began to speak.
"When Darcy left for Kenya, she and Peter had a long distance relationship." She replied calmly. Her neutral face quickly turned sad. "But, after she left, he started dating Mia Jones and got into Meth and whatnot." She laughed, one, harsh, bitter chuckle.
Why was God punishing her like this? The one stable thing in life, the one person who had been with her through thick and thin, was leaving.
Moving to California. She thought bitterly. She couldn't bring herself to be upset with Eli, though. She wanted him to be happy and if moving made him happy, so be it. If she had been given the same scholarship he had received, she would've left too. Besides, he would be doing what he loved.
"I don't intend to cheat on you, or do drugs." Despite his smirk, Clare knew that he was being sincere. Sighing, she rested her head on his shoulder, her tears resurfacing.
"When do you leave?" She asked sullenly. He ran his fingers through her silky, auburn curls.
"The day after graduation." Her breathing hitched. Graduation was next week.
"I only have one more week with you?" She questioned angrily. She pulled back to look into his eyes. His emerald orbs bore into her sapphire ones as he nodded. She frowned and touched his cheek gently, seeing the pain in his own eyes.
"Will you call? Every day? Will you write? Will you email me? Will you visit?" She asked desperately. He nodded and leaned in to kiss her.
"I promise, Clare."
X
Graduation was…emotional, to say the least. Clare had been crying all the way through. She cried when Eli received awards. She cried when he received his diploma. She cried when the valedictorian read his speech.
Sure, she was proud of him, but she was also depressed. This was her last day with him.
After driving to Adam and Drew's house, they attended the graduation party. Clare smiled cheerily and laughed with her friends. She waited patiently, her cheeks beginning to grow tired from all the smiling, while the graduates took pictures.
After about an hour, Clare and Eli left to his house. The emptiness was eerie, but the silence was not uncomfortable.
With shaky hands, Clare had done what she had wanted to do for a long time. She handed him her purity ring. He was befuddled, his mouth hanging open in astonishment.
"I know I made a pledge to wait for marriage, but I don't want to wait anymore." She touched his cheek with her fingertips. She was happy to finally be doing this.
"I've been thinking a lot. I love you, Eli. And I want to do this with you. I don't know how long we'll be apart or even if we'll see each other again, but I do know that I won't love someone like I love you right now. So, I want to give you my most precious gift." She leaned in and pressed her lips softly to his.
He pulled away from her and searched her eyes.
"Are you absolutely sure, Clare? I can wait, you know. I don't want you to do this because you think we might not see each other again." She smiled softly before nodding.
"Yes." She whispered. She grasped his hand tightly and dragged him upstairs, to his bedroom. Both of them sat down and stared into each other's eyes.
"I love you." She murmured.
He pressed his lips to hers feverishly, letting his hands roam all over her body. He broke the kiss and stared into her eyes.
"I will always love you, Clare Edwards." He proceeded to remove their clothing slowly, piece by piece.
Her soft sighs and moans were the only sounds in the house as they made love. It was a night of intimate passion and sweet words. A night that Clare Edwards and Eli Goldsworthy would carry with them for the rest of their lives.
X
Clare tapped her foot impatiently, waiting for the woman over the intercom to announce the arrival of a certain plane.
"Would you relax, Clare?" Adam asked in a teasing voice. Clare huffed and pouted, but stopped the insistent tapping of her foot.
When the announcement was made, Clare felt her heart stop.
It hadn't been easy. Clare and Eli had been struggling with their long-distance relationship for a little over two years now.
His only visit was for her graduation. Clare had missed him terribly and was elated when he announced that he would be moving back to Toronto.
Their relationship was strained due to being so far apart, but neither party was willing to give up. They had made it work, despite all odds and obstacles.
When a flood of people came through, Clare's eyes darted through the crowd. She spotted him instantly.
Clare maneuvered her way through the crowd.
She called his name once. He spotted her and smiled brightly. He dropped his carry-on and moved to meet her halfway.
It would've been perfect, a movie moment come to life, had a man not pushed her so roughly. She tumbled forward. Eli caught her, but lost his balance. They toppled to the floor.
All eyes were on them. Clare started to laugh hysterically. Tears squeezed out as he soon joined in. They laughed and laughed, looking ridiculous as they lay on the dirty floor, in the middle of the crowded airport.
But as soon as their lips collided, it didn't matter anymore. Clare had missed him too much to care that she was giggling and crying and kissing him at the same time.
When they both stood, Eli wrapped his arms around her and twirled her in a hug.
"Uhh, guys? I'm still here, ya know!" Adam called, walking over to them. The three of them stood, grinning at each other.
Eli and Adam exchanged a quick hug. Eli grabbed his bag off the floor and grasped Clare's hand tightly in his.
"I've missed you." He murmured, kissing her forehead, her eyelids, her nose, and, finally, her lips.
"I've missed you, too. More than you could possibly imagine."
Super syrupy and sugary, I know. Next chapter will probably be a little less…sickeningly sweet. Review?
~S.S.