A/N: Hola Eclare fans! I apologize for the very long wait. I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out how I was going to write this chapter. But better late than never I guess. Enjoy!
Eli had picked up Clare early on prom day, around 10:30 am so that the two of them could go eat breakfast together at IHOP. Eli ordered his usual; straight black coffee and a plate of blueberry pancakes. Clare had an omelet with cheese, ham, tomato and green peppers as well as a piece of buttered toast. Eli watched her, taking a sip of his coffee, as she cheerfully ate her omelet. She looked up, locking eyes with him.
"What?" She asked, beginning to blush. Eli, amused, lowered the mug from his lips and smiled.
"I'm just thinking about how beautiful you're going to look tonight." She smiled shyly, still blushing, and lowered her gaze to her lap.
"Thanks for going with me Eli," she murmured, twisting her abstinence ring on her finger. He raised an eyebrow.
"Of course. Who else would I go with? None of those other blonde bimbos at Degrassi are as pretty as you." He leaned across the table, whispering to her. "Besides, I much prefer brunettes." Clare's cheeks flamed up again and Eli laughed, taking another bite of his pancakes.
Prom was going to be amazing.
Eli fingered his guitar pick necklace briefly before buttoning up his white dress shirt. A purple tie was sprawled across his dresser, next to his rings. Picking it up, he looped it around his neck and tied it, tugging on the bottom slightly to make sure that it was tight. He and Clare had gone to this shop so that they could match her dress color and with his tie and vest.
The dark haired boy looked at himself in the mirror, studying his reflection, before smiling a little. He turned and picked his vest up off of his bed and shrugged it on, buttoning it and making sure that his tie was securely tucked inside. The tux jacket came next, completing his look. He swept his hair away from his eyes and looked at himself one last time in his mirror before pocketing his car keys and walking down the stairs.
"Oh! My baby boy! You look so handsome!" Eli rolled his eyes at the sound of his mother's voice and she enveloped him in a hug when he reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Mom…"
"Your mom's right," Bullfrog said, approaching the stairs. "You do look great. But are you sure Clare wants you guys riding in Morty?" Eli nodded when his mother released him.
"She actually insisted on going in Morty. I was a bit surprised myself." He walked past his parents and headed towards the door. "I'll catch you guys later."
"Eli!" Cece called out. Eli turned briefly. She held up the camera in her hands and smiled. "Pictures!" Eli groaned, his shoulders dropping, and walked back to his parents.
A black hearse named Morty pulled up to Clare's house and the engine was cut. Eli stepped out, smoothing down his tuxedo, and closed the driver's door behind him, walking up to her front door. He took a deep breath, and exhaled, before knocking on the door.
A few moments later, the door swung open to reveal Clare's dad. He nodded curtly at Eli before stepping aside, allowing Eli to enter the house.
"Clare! Eli's here!" He called out. Eli looked up and his breath caught in his throat as Clare appeared and began descending the stairs. She was wearing the purple dress that they had bought when shopping, and instead of wearing her abstinence ring around her finger, she had it strung on a silver chain around her neck. She wore dangling silver earrings and a few bangles around her wrist. Her hair was in its usual curls and her make-up was fairly light; lip gloss, some mascara, blush, and light purple eye shadow.
"Wow Clare," Eli managed to choke out. She made her way over to him and intertwined their fingers. "You look…stunning." She smiled softly.
"You look great too." They stood there in Clare's foyer, smiling at each other until her dad cleared his throat, holding up his Nikon camera.
"Pictures?"
Clare gripped Eli's hand tightly as she looked around the ballroom and the giant mass of people on the dance floor. The lights were dimmed and stars hung from the ceiling and white lights were strung across the room. Near the center of the room sat a fountain, glowing brightly as it spewed water out of it.
"This is everything I thought it would be," Clare whispered. Eli smiled and tugged her to him, pressing his lips to hers. His thumb stroked her cheek softly and her arms slowly slid around his neck. They pulled apart, smiling.
"Come on," Eli said, grabbing her wrist. "Let's dance." He pulled her onto the dance floor.
Who knew Eli was such a good dancer? He and Clare danced to songs that had actual moves, songs that didn't have moves, just plain weird songs, and of course—slow danced. During those, his hands would rest on her hips and hers around his neck. He would whisper the lyrics to the song into her ear, his voice low and husky, and make her shiver. They kissed and laughed and danced—they made the night everything they wanted it to be.
And that's all that mattered.
Eli pulled up to Clare's house and turned off Morty. He got out and went over to the passenger's side, opening the door and helping Clare out. They walked in silence up to her front door, where the porch lights were on. Clare turned to Eli, tucking a curl behind her ear, and smiled.
"Tonight was…amazing. Thank you for everything." She leaned forward and kissed him, nibbling on his bottom lip. He opened his mouth and his tongue slid into her mouth, clashing with her own tongue.
"Clare." The two pulled apart to see her dad standing at the door, looking impatient. Clare blushed a bit and stood on her toes to whisper in Eli's ear.
"I love you."
And with that, she gave him a kiss on the cheek before disappearing inside her house, leaving Eli standing on her doorstep, staring at the closed door in front of him.
"I love you too."
Reviews make me VERY happy! And a picture of Clare's dress is on my profile! :) Ideas for future fics welcome! :)
