Back at school Eli, Adam, Alli, and I were all in one same class. Our health teacher, Mrs. Kwan said that we had a special project to do. "Okay, first I'm going to pair you up. Clare and Eli, Alli and Adam, K.C. and Jenna, Anya and Owen ad lastly Holly J and Sav." Mrs. Kwan said, Eli and I grinned at each other. "You guys are all going to be married this week and you will have to take care of a baby. The baby will have a camera and is to be treated like a real child. Half of your grade depends on this." Eli got up and came back with a baby boy.
"This is Eli Jr." He said smirking.
"Whatever you say." I said smiling. This project would be a great distraction for me. The bell rang and Eli took my hand and our baby and we walked to English. We had to take our baby to all of our classes, which was absolutely ridiculous.
Mrs. Dawes then walked in. "Eli, why do you have a baby?" She said sounding amused.
"His name is Eli Jr. and it's for a Mrs. Kwan's project." He said skeptically. All of a sudden the baby started to cry. "Crap!" Eli said and I smiled at him. The rest of the day went just as bad. On the way home in Eli's hearse I held our baby while Eli drove. Finally we were home, Eli dropped the baby and I off. "I'll be back. I'm going to go get food and junk." He said and I pecked him on the lips then started to walk in the house. When I walked in Bullfrog was sitting on the couch reading. The baby started to cry.
"Clarabelle, why in the hell do you have a baby?"
"A project." I said with my face going red.
"Oh, can I see the baby?" He asked.
"Um, sure?" I said a bit confused. Bullfrog then grabbed the crying baby and shook it.
"Shut the hell up!" He yelled.
"Bullfrog!" I yelled snatching the baby from him. He laughed. "It's not funny." I said walking upstairs. Soon Eli was back.
"Hey Blue Eyes." He said. "How's Eli Jr?"
"Good. Do you want to feed him?" I asked.
"Yeah." Eli said and started to pretend feed the baby.
I got up from my bed. "I'm going to go shower okay?" I said.
"Go ahead babe, I got this." Eli joked. I walked to the bathroom, took my clothes off and got in the shower. All the bruising in my legs were almost gone now and I wad glad. Soon I was done. I put on some pajamas and padded to my bedroom. "Will you watch Eli Jr. while I take a shower?" Eli asked me.
"Yeah just lay him down." I said then Eli lay the pretend baby down gently on my bed. He pecked me on the lips then headed to the shower. I was bored so I decided to call Alli.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Hey Alli!"
"Oh hey Clare, what's up." She said casually, then I heard crying in the background.
"Uh, what's that?"
"That stupid baby!" Alli screamed.
"Good luck. " I laughed.
"Ha ha. Laugh all you want Clare, but when you and Eli start having babies I'm not babysitting." She said and hung up. What? Why does everyone think Eli and I have sex? I wear a purity ring! I sat there and mentally argued with myself until Eli came into the room.
"Pure hearts wait." I said.
"What?" Eli asked.
"My purity ring." I mumbled.
"My Saint Clare." He said and smirked.
"Um, Eli can I ask you something?" I asked and Eli nodded. "Well, if you were ready and I wasn't, would you be mad if I uhh... Didn't want to do it?" I asked turning pink.
"Clare, it's not like that. I would wait for both of us to be ready. I would probably wait for you to make the first move so I wouldn't look like a jackass." Eli said and smiled.
"Okay." I said and smiled, very content with his reply. I then took off my purity ring and placed it in the palm of my hand. I blushed and smiled. I was giving myself to him.
"What's this for?" He asked, knitting his eyebrows together.
"I want you to have it. When I'm ready, I will give myself to you." I said nervously.
"Clare?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't ever leave me okay?" Eli pleaded.
"I won't. I promise." I said and pulled him into a warm loving embrace. Then the baby started crying.
"Dammit." He mumbled. I picked up the baby and started to rock it.
"I think I'm going to go to bed." I yawned.
"Do you want me in here with you?" Eli asked.
"I think we should sleep in separate beds tonight." I said. Eli got up.
"Goodnight Blue Eyes." Eli smirked. I then got under the covers with the pretend baby and drifted into a deep sleep. It was later in the night, I was woken up by a loud crack of thunder followed by a flash of lightning. I gasped. I grabbed Eli Jr. and quietly tip toed over to Eli's room. I poked his shoulder.
"Eli!" I whispered. He rolled over. Eli was shirtless, and wearing a black string with my purity ring on it.
"What Clare?" He mumbled.
"I'm scared of storms." I said.
"Well come on then Blue Eyes." Eli said scooting over. I then got in the bed with him and laid the pretend baby between us.
"I love you Eli." I whispered.
"Love you more." He mumbled as we drifted off. In the morning I was awake before Eli. I got ready for school and soon after I was ready Eli got up too. We got the baby then drove to school.
"Did you sleep good?" Eli asked while we were driving.
"Yeah." I said blushing.
"I didn't know you were scared of storms." He commented.
"Ever since I was little."
"You don't have to be scared anymore." He said and kissed me chastely. The rest of the week went great. We got an A on our project, as our baby was in perfect condition. Everything went back to normal and my relationship with Eli was getting stronger everyday. After school on Friday, Eli and I were having a pretty heated make out session. Eli's hands lingered at the bottom of my shirt, his nimble fingers barely brushing at the new skin. I gasped. "Don't be so tense." He mumbled kissing my neck. By then we were laying back on my bed his hands still at the hem of my shirt. He then began to place tender kisses on the side of my neck. I decided to be daring and I kissed Eli's throat. I felt him smirk against my skin. Slowly, he began to push my shirt up. "May I?" Eli asked.
"Yes." I whispered blushing furiously. He gently pushed it up and pulled it over my head. Eli kissed my lips again as I tried to cover myself.
"It's just me." He mumbled, coaxing me. I was only in my jeans and light pink bra. Eli then kissed my neck and sat up to look at me.
"What?" I asked. Eli frowned.
"The scar on your stomach. What happened?" He asked, eyebrows raised.
"I uh, c-cut myself." I murmured.
"What the hell! Why?" He yelled.
"My dad's abuse. I just felt ugly." I whimpered starting to cry.
"Clare. Don't ever say that. You are beautiful, inside and on the outside. I love you." Eli said comforting me. "Don't ever do that to yourself ever again."
"I promise I won't." I sniffled as Eli pulled me into a hug.
"Shh. It's okay honey." He cooed.