Disclaimer: I still don't own these idiots, but they own me ;)
Clare had had enough of the sweltering heat of the East Coast. She lay on the bed, half-naked and fanning herself with a few sheets of paper from her blossoming manuscript. It was only the first draft, and Clare didn't mind if it got sweat stains on it; it was a lousy first draft anyway.
"I could get used to this," Eli drawled, lying on the hardwood floor in front of the open window.
"What?"
"You lying all sweaty and naked on my bed."
"I thought it was our bed now, first of all," Clare said, sitting up to stare him down. "Second of all, I am not completely naked."
"Well, we can fix that," Eli said, hopping up off the floor and onto the bed next to Clare. He moved so that he was on top of her, slowly kissing her neck.
"Nooooooo," whined Clare. "Too hot!"
"I should hope so," laughed Eli.
"You're all sweaty," Clare giggled. "Get off me." Eli groaned, but complied.
"I guess you have a point," he said. "I think this shirt might be permanently stuck to me."
"Ugh, what are we supposed to do?"
"How about Coney Island?" asked Eli.
"Really?"
"Why not? We need something to celebrate the start of your Columbia experience next week, and if we stay in this hotbox, we'll melt. I'd prefer to melt on a roller coaster." Clare contemplated the idea, eventually tossing her first draft into the air.
"Go put some pants on." The pair scrambled to find clothes that weren't drenched in sweat and rapidly took off toward Eli's car out in the street. Rolling down all the windows, they blasted the radio and headed toward Coney Island with the wind in their hair and smiles on their faces. Half an hour and one obscenely expensive parking spot later, Clare took Eli by the hand and ran toward the first ride she saw. Two loops around the Cyclone was all it took for Clare to deem roller coasters the devil's game, but it didn't stop Eli.
"One ride on Thunderbolt," he pleaded.
"It has a 90-degree drop! I do not have that big of a death wish," said Clare.
"You have to experience it at least once!" Eli cried. "One ride and I promise, no more coasters, and I'll buy you all the cotton candy you want." Clare whined but allowed Eli to drag her toward the towering terror before them. She screamed then entire time, while Eli simply laughed, both at the thrill and at her.
"If you ever make me get on something like that again, I'll shave your head," said Clare, breathlessly.
"Oh, I won't" replied Eli. "I'm pretty sure you blew out my eardrums."
"I did try to warn you," Clare laughed. "Now, about that cotton candy…" Keeping his word, Eli bought her the largest swirl he could get his hands on, watching as Clare's eyes lit up like a toddler's. The pair took turns nibbling on the sugary goodness as they spun side by side on the carousel.
"You know what this reminds me of?" asked Eli with a mouthful of blue cotton candy. "The Frostival we had my senior year."
"Aw, that was when we started reconnecting," sighed Clare. She leaned over to kiss him, nearly falling off her horse in the process.
"That night will always be one of my favorite memories of you." Clare blushed at the sentiment.
"I love you," she smiled.
"I love you, too," said Eli. He reached over to steal more cotton candy as Clare laughed.
"Oh hell no, the last bite is mine." Eli exaggerated his pout as Clare stuffed the last of the candy into her mouth. Following their trip around memory lane, Clare set her eyes on a large stuffed pig and challenged Eli to a game of water guns, which was a big mistake.
"How the heck did you manage to not only win three times in a row but also manage to get me wet?" Clare gestured to the water stains on her shirt.
"I'm just that good," smirked Eli, giant pig under his arm. "Now, you will only receive this pork chop when you admit honest defeat."
"No way," said Clare. "You definitely cheated, somehow."
"Your loss." As soon as Eli looked away, Clare ripped the plushie from his arms and made a beeline for the beach. As she hit the sand, she ripped off her shoes, and with the pig, threw them into a pile and ran for the sea. She yelped as the cold water lapped at her feet, and Eli caught up and picked her up, spinning her around before placing her farther into the surf. The two splashed each other for a while, laughing all the way. In a split second, Eli could see nothing else but Clare, beaming in the sunset with saltwater dripping down her face. All he could feel was bliss and love. Clare looked at him inquisitively, and Eli placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her. Deepening the kiss, Clare wrapped her arms around him, completely content.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah. I'm just admiring how beautiful you are," said Eli.
"Mr. Goldsworthy, are you trying to seduce me?" joked Clare.
"I should hope so." He kissed her once more. "I love you, Clare."
"I love you too, Eli."
"Are you hungry?"
"Starving." Still sandy, the pair made their way back to the boardwalk for some of Clare's new favorite food: New York pizza. Eli watched in both awe and hilarity as Clare stuffed her face with pepperoni covered slices. The city life suited her, and Eli could see them building a life in New York together. Clare might only be entering her first year at Columbia, but Eli knew what was next for them. At that moment, fireworks began to illuminate the night.
"They have fireworks?" asked Clare.
"Oh yeah, almost every night," said Eli. "It helps ward off the evil spirits known as New Jerseyans."
"Don't say that too loudly," said Clare. "They might come and steal our pig."
"Peter Porker can fend them off," Eli joked. He joined his hand with Clare's across the table and together, they stared at the fireworks until midnight came. As they drove home, Clare sleepily stared at Eli, her head resting on the large stuffed animal. Part of her worried that living together while in school might cause strain, but she knew if they could get through the trauma they faced in high school, they can get through anything. At home, Clare promptly turned on the fan and opened the bedroom window, stripping off her clothing and flopping down on the bed. Eli laughed at the drama and left for the bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, he worked over a plan in his head. He knew working more hours was impossible given his course load, but as long as he saved more and ate fewer kabobs, he'd be able to make it. When Eli entered their room, Clare had slipped on a large t-shirt and lay sprawled out on the bed.
"And here I thought the whole point of the heat was to get naked," joked Eli, flopping down beside her and resting his arm around her waist. "Clare?" Unbeknownst to him, Clare had already fallen asleep. Smiling, Eli placed a kiss on her shoulder and laid down with his mind made up: he was going to marry her.
The chapters are probably gonna be short-ish from now on, and I promise there will be more smut and maybe some drama! There will be time jumps, how far apart, I have no idea. This story writes itself. Enjoy, fellow Degrassians 3
Sidebar: I am allowed to make fun of NJ, I'm one of the idiots that lives in it, don't me
