Chapter 4
Ugh, I'm SO sorry I made you guys wait for so long! But here is the end of the story! If you guys remember, there was mention of another story arc with Fitz, I won't promise anything, but that was supposed to be the continuation of this story. So we'll see! But for now, here is the end of the story that took forever to write! :)
Clare tip-toed into her house, shutting the door carefully. She didn't want to try to come up with her and Alli's fake conversation and she really wanted to be alone for a while longer. She quietly crept up the stairs and into her room. She shut her door gently and let out a small sigh. What was she going to do now? Pack her carry-on? She rolled her eyes and fell onto her bed. She reached for the pillow she had held on to earlier, but stopped and narrowed her eyes at it before kicking it off the bed. It no longer was the pillow she had snuggled with while Eli ran circles in her mind, but a reminder of what she lost.
She sat up in the bed and looked down to her pocket. How could she have forgotten to check her phone? She reached into her pocket, whipping the phone out and snapping it open.
Nothing.
Had she even sent the text properly? The buttons on her phone made little clicking noises as she went back to the text.
'It says the text was sent…I did send it to Eli, right?' She looked to the bottom of the screen.
'Sent to Eli G…I guess he still hasn't read it yet…'
She let out a long sigh and stood up, flipping her phone shut. What she really wanted to do was call him, but she knew Eli would be able to hear the disappointment in her voice. And how would she explain that?
' I'm super sad I'm heading to Europe for the summer because you won't be there.' She rolled her eyes at herself.
She looked around the room and finally caved. She grabbed the bag she always used as carry-on for the flights she'd take to her grandmothers and began to fill it up. She grabbed two of her vampire books, a magazine Alli had let her borrow, her blue iPod, Eli's headphones-
She paused, the headphones just above the bag. She sat on the edge of her bed and she slowly pulled them back to rest in her lap. She smiled softly. How long had she had these? Eli had given them to her so long ago. She had grown so used to using them; she completely forgot they were technically borrowed. Clare gingerly put the earphones around her neck and stuffed the long cord into her pocket. She wasn't sure if she wanted to risk bringing them to Europe, but she also wasn't sure she wanted to risk leaving them here. After all, it would be a nice reminder of that 'boy back home'. She shook her head and stood back up. The sooner she was done packing, the better. Then, at least, she could have the rest of the night to get her mind straight. She reached for the picture of her, Eli, and Adam that had been placed in the corner of her mirror and placed it in her book. It would make a great bookmark.
Eli sat there on the couch, and let out a long sigh as he held his face in his hands. Things always seemed to do this; take a turn for the worst. Clare deserved better than this. She deserved a guy who cared about her enough to not leave her waiting for entirely too long.
"So, uh. You okay, Eli?" Adam finally asked from his seat on the floor. He hadn't moved since he'd handed the phone to Eli, torn between pretending nothing was wrong and consoling his friend.
Eli didn't respond for a while. Adam sat there, looking at Eli, then back to the movies in his hand, then back to Eli. When Adam began to feel a small twinge of awkwardness, he opened his mouth to say something, but he closed it in surprise when Eli stood straight up.
Eli's fists clenched as he looked around the room. He eyed his phone and the keys sitting on the table and picked them up hurriedly.
"Dude, what-"
"I have to tell her, Adam. I don't know what happened; if something came up or her parents won't let her, I don't care. If she can't come with me tomorrow, fine. But I'm not waiting to tell her anymore. You were right, she won't wait around forever."
Adam stood up, still holding the movies in his hands. "So you're just going to drive over there and tell her everything…put all your cards on the table?"
Eli zipped up his jacket. "That's the plan."
Adam tossed the movies onto the couch and crossed his arms. "Finally."
Eli gave Adam a last look just as he was leaving his room. Adam smiled reassuringly at his friend, which seemed to diminish any doubts that Eli had about what he was planning on doing, because Eli was out the door and in his car moments later.
Did she really just think of that? It would make a great bookmark? She shook her head and rolled her eyes at herself. This whole thing was ridiculous. She was leaving for Europe with her parents tomorrow and she needed to get a grip. She reached for the earphones around her neck and took in a breath. She let the breath out in one big sigh and moved to the jacket her mother had left out for her to wear on the plane.
"I can't go an entire summer without talking to him about this. I'm going to Adam's house, grabbing Eli and dragging him outside and he will just have to listen to me. Adam can have guy time with him for the rest of the summer. I'm doing this NOW."
She pulled the jacket over her arms and ran downstairs.
"Mom, dad, I'm running off for a minute! I'll be right back, I have my phone!"
And before her parents could stop her from going out on her bike in the dark, she was down the street.
Eli was beginning to feel butterflies in his stomach and he hated them. He hated feeling like someone had so much power over him; but, jeeze, did he love Clare.
He was having trouble going the speed limit. He wanted to get to Clare as fast as possible and finish what they started. Or, rather, start what they had been meaning to start for months.
He let out a nervous sigh. "Clare, I hope you haven't given up on me yet."
Clare peddled faster and faster on her bike. Her legs were burning again, but so were her lungs from the crisp air and her arms from holding the handlebars so tight. The earphones were still around her neck, the cord still in her pocket. She was going to use them as an excuse to see Eli.
"Before I leave for Europe, thought you might like these back. By the way, can I attempt to move on now or are you ready to commit to being with me?"
Yeah, that sounded perfect.
Just as Clare was rounding the corner, she saw headlights halfway down the street. They looked sort of familiar…
Eli slowed down as he saw a bike round the corner. He wanted to get to Clare, but he didn't want to risk anyone's life doing it. But as the bike got closer, he began to make out the person on the bike. Short wavy hair, slender arms; it was definitely a girl. As the girl got closer, Eli could make out more of her features. She looked really familiar.
Once the girl had nearly passed the car, Eli realized who it was and stomped on the breaks. Clare skidded to a stop and jumped off her bike, running back to the hearse she knew belonged to Eli.
Eli opened his door and ran over to meet with Clare behind his car.
"Clare, what are you doing on your bike at night?"
"Eli, why did you stop like that? If someone had been behind you, you could have been seriously hurt!"
"Something could have happened to you!"
"You need to be more careful driving that thing!"
"You could have fallen and no one would have seen you!"
"Just think what would happen if you stopped like that and someone hit-"
Clare was cut off as Eli grabbed her shoulders and kissed her. She pushed against Eli's chest at first, surprised and taken aback by his sudden gesture. He pulled her closer as she tried to pull away, and soon her arms were wrapped around his neck, deepening the kiss. Eli's hands moved from her shoulders and folded behind her back. They had both been waiting for this moment for so long, neither one of them wanted to let go first. But finally, they both pulled away, small, shy smiles on their faces.
Eli let out a chuckle. "Sorry, I just couldn't wait anymore."
Clare opened her mouth to say something, but Eli spoke first.
"So, are you wearing my earphones as a fashion statement? Or-"
"Oh!" Clare unwrapped her arms from around Eli's neck and gingerly brought the earphones from her neck. "I was bringing them to you."
Eli took the earphones from her hands and looked up at her. "This wouldn't happen to have anything to do with you not being able to go on that drive with me anymore, does it?"
She brushed her hair behind her ear with a sympathetic smile.
"Yeah, it does. I'm leaving for Europe tomorrow and won't be back for the whole summer."
Eli's breath hitched in his throat. He was surprised and sad she'd be gone for so long. But he swallowed his sadness and remembered why he'd come to see her. So she'd be gone for a summer. He would still be here when she got back; his feelings wouldn't change.
"I wanted to come bring this back to you since-"
"Oh, come on, Clare. You didn't jump on your bike after dark just to bring me my earphones, did you?" Eli gave Clare that smirk she loved so much, and she nearly melted.
"Well, I-"
Eli kissed her again; he had waited too long not to.
Clare broke the kiss; laughing.
Her breath hit his neck and a shiver ran up his spine.
"You know, if you keep doing that, we'll never be able to have a proper conversation."
Eli chuckled and nodded his head. "You're right, you're right. But let me go first."
Clare smiled, hopeful.
"Clare, I-…what I've been meaning to say is-…ugh, Clare, will you go out with me?"
Clare let a big smile cross her face. "You mean…you want to-"
"-Date you. Be together. Whatever you want to call it. I really like you, Clare. I couldn't wait to tell you anymore."
She threw her arms around him. "You sure waited long enough!"
He pulled her close. "Sorry about that."
She pulled back a little to face him.
"Well, this will be interesting; our first summer as a couple will be spent in different countries."
He put his arm around her neck. "I don't foresee that being a problem. Besides, when you get back, we'll have all the time in the world."
Clare leaned into Eli and smiled. It wouldn't be a perfect beginning, not by a long shot. But at least they'd be together when they got back. She wouldn't have to worry all summer about him finding anyone else. The kisses he just gave her told her that much.
"Come on, I'll drive you home."
He opened his trunk and together they set the bike down. Eli opened the door for Clare, grabbing her wrist just before she sat down. He kissed her again. When they broke apart, Clare giggled.
"I have to get my whole summer's worth of those in the drive back to your house," Eli said into her ear.
"You wish," Clare smirked.
Eli let out a laugh as he shut her door and ran over to the driver's side. They may not have the summer, but they were both certain they'd make up for it once school started again.
And there's the end, guys! I'm sorry I got so busy and finally ended this story, oh, I dunno, FOREVER after I originally published it. I hope you all can forgive me! School has gotten so crazy, I barely have any time to work on my stories anymore.
Good News, though! I'll be uploading a story of mine for REPO! The Genetic Opera soon! This site needs some more Grilo fanfics for sure! And if you guys don't know what REPO! is, go check it out! It's my favorite movie as of ever. :) I love me some Graverobber!
