Okay, its official. I need a story name. If you can think of one before I have, please suggest it. Haha. Anybody figured out what Clare's problem is yet? (;

When I woke up it was light out- that surprised me. I still felt so tired. I sat up in bed slowly and glanced at my clock. It was nine in the morning. I had slept through the night and into the next school day. And all I wanted to do was keep sleeping. I wondered briefly where my mom was, and if she noticed I had missed two days of school already. Shouldn't the school have called? And speaking of calling, I thought, has Eli tried contacting me since yesterday?

It took me a while to drag myself out of bed and find my phone on the ground, where it must have fallen during the night. Eli had texted me. I waited for you to wake up so we could talk, you seemed really upset… but you were fast asleep and your mother eventually made me leave. Please call me once you get this. It was like he knew I wouldn't come to school today. I wanted desperately to tell him it wasn't his fault I yelled- I just needed to be alone. But I didn't have the energy to argue with him over skipping school and feeling terrible. I didn't have the energy for anything. I hopped back in bed and fell asleep again.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Upon awakening again, my clock told me it was six at night. I was not tired at all anymore, the complete opposite of this morning. I was restless. I got out of bed and went downstairs to find a note from my mom on the kitchen table. Clare, working late. Mom. No I love you, no wondering why I'd missed the last two days of school. It didn't bother me, though. I was happy to be alone.

I ran back upstairs and took a really quick shower. It was like I was in hyperactive mode after sleeping all day. I had new clothes to wear but I wanted to shop again. I was using all of my money, though. Then it hit me. My mom kept an extra credit card on top of her drawer for "emergencies". What emergencies required a credit card, I had no idea. She probably never checked the balance anyways. So I got dressed in sweats, just like last time I had gone shopping, and went into her room to get her credit card. The closet was open, and it was a shock to see half of it empty. Dad's stuff was all gone. I grabbed the card and ran out of there as fast as I could.

I went to the same indie shop I had last time, and spent a hundred dollars on a bunch of cute, edgy stuff. The lady at the checkout looked surprised, but I barely noticed. I was feeling ecstatic again.

On my way home, I noticed a car slow down behind me. I should have been scared. I wasn't. Before I even recognized the hearse, Eli had the window rolled down and called out to me. "Clare, what are you doing out here?"

I smiled. Why had I been too upset to talk to him, earlier? He stopped the car and I hopped in. "Hi, Eli!" I practically sang.

"Well, you seem much happier…" He said.

"I am. Sorry I flipped out on you yesterday. My parents finally told me they got a divorce and I thought it wasn't affecting me but apparently it hit me when you came…"

"Oh Clare, I'm so sorry. You should have told me.."

"It's fine." I was still smiling. "I'm fine."

"I can see that," he laughed and gestured toward the bag. "More new clothes, huh?"

"Yep. You should come home with me and I can show them to you." I was half-kidding, since that's a really girly thing, but I did want to hang out with him more.

To my surprise, he agreed. Maybe he wanted to stay with me, too.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Where's your mom?" He asked when we got inside.

"Working," I answered while heading upstairs. I heard him follow close behind.

"Guess it's just you and me, then?" He smirked. Man I love that smirk.

"Guess so." My heart rate picked up speed. I sat down on my bed and patted the spot next to me. He sat down and turned to me.

"You know, I really am glad you're okay. You had me worried there."

"Did I? Wow. Eli Goldsworthy cares about me?" I said with mock surprise.

"I do." He said seriously. He stared at me and I stared back, my pulse practically audible.

"So, wanna show me your new stuff?" He didn't even look at the bags of clothes.

"I have something better in mind."

I pulled his face close to mine and pressed my lips to his. He kissed me back, and I could have just died with happiness. We kept kissing, and I pulled myself on his lap. He seemed more than okay with that. I don't know how long it was before we heard the front door open and shut. He pulled away abruptly, and looked at me, panic-stricken. I didn't really care- I just wanted to keep kissing him. But it was obvious my mother had ruined that. So I gestured for him to follow me to the window and I opened it.

There was a tree with a conveniently placed branch right outside. He smirked and hopped out on to it silently. I had to admit, he was pretty graceful. I whispered, "Eli!" and he turned back around to face me from the branch. I leaned out the window and kissed him again, before smiling and closing the window. He was smiling too, as he climbed down into the darkness.

I heard my mom downstairs, probably making food for herself. I wasn't hungry, even though I hadn't eaten in almost two days. She wasn't going to bother me, I was almost positive. I turned the light off in my room just in case, so she would think I was asleep or something. Then I lay down on my bed and thought about Eli. My heart was still pounding. This was an entirely new feeling. Was it lust? I wanted him. It was a really lovely emotion. I could almost understand why my dad had succumbed to it and cheated on Mom. I imagined Eli still here with me, and that we had gone farther, and farther... I slipped under the covers, closed my eyes, and pictured him getting naked. I could see myself touching him, telling him to do what I knew he wanted to. I let his finger trail down my naval, and then take my pants off…

After, you know, "sleeping with Eli", I just stared up at my ceiling with wide eyes. I couldn't sleep- I wasn't tired in the least. All I could think about was how I wanted Eli to do that to me in real life.

Ooooh, getting steamy in this chapter! Haha, but don't worry. I try not to make anything too insanely graphic. This is just an eclare story, after all! Lemmme know what you think by reviewing! :D