Ch 8

A/N: Adam's POV is in this, just thought you should know. Might occasionally do that but I'm not sure yet. Anyway, this will be broken into two parts of "Still Fighting It" (like the actual episode). Enjoy! :) And please review, favorite, and subscribe! (Man, I sound like one of those desperate YouTube Vloggers).

(Clare's POV)

When I receive an assignment, I'm the type to usually wait to the last minute because I have a skill of procrastinating. But when you're on Goldsworthy's clock, we do things right away. After school, instead of going home listening to My Chemical Romance's new album, Danger Days: The True Lives of Fabulous Killjoys, I get to work on a park bench with these guys. Adam didn't seem too thrilled either but I guess it's better to get it over with now. I've never been a fan of Romeo and Juliet, but I am a huge fan of Shakespeare. Ophelia's monologue from Hamlet brings me to tears every time I come across it. But I honestly think Mr. Shakespeare was making fun of young love in that tragic story. Come on, not even a week into their relationship and they're already dead. They were too busy trying to defend it than actually have one. And of course since I'm the only girl in the group, I get to play the female dumbass lover.

"So, obviously I'll play Juliet. Which one of you wants to be Romeo?" I asked, not expecting Eli to quickly step up to the plate. This got me a little excited because since this was a film project and Romeo and Juliet were passionate for each other, we might possibly… RED LIGHT! No, no, no. I am not going to be excited over the thought of kissing those sweet, tender, full, crooked smile of Eli Goldsworthy's. This is simply a stupid English project for a stupid subject of stupid lovers with not-so stupid people.

I justified Eli's remark with, "On account you're familiar with the material and all." He nodded solemnly, good. I needed to come across that we were just friends, in hopes that I'd eventually want it that way. Logically, I did want it that way. But those feelings that always seem to take away one's logic wanted something different. In other words, I did indeed have the hots for Goldsworthy.

"Yeah, what is he not the expert on," Adam contested. I never admitted my feelings for him, but Adam seemed to know. He gave me that look of what he was implying. Damnit, Adam.

"Uh, shall we rehearse?" Eli awkwardly noted. We all nodded and set all of our equipment on the picnic table. Simultaneously, Eli and I sat on the same side.

"Okay, so when Romeo finds Juliet's body in the Capulet crypt, he can't wait to start his new life with her. But thinking she'd dead, he drinks the poison in order to begin that life," Eli began. If only Romeo had enough common sense to see that Juliet still had color in her skin before he drank the poison..

"But then Juliet wakes up and finds Romeo dead. Hence, why she dramatically stabs herself," I finished. "But you'd think Romeo would have a few minutes before the poison kicked in." I pointed out, looking deep into Eli's eyes. I couldn't really think straight when his face was so close I could kiss it. Shit, no. Enough with the thoughts!

Eli hesitated, "You-u make a valid point. He does die promptly. Then again, their relationship is just as fast." I replied with a smirk but my eyes were still steady on him. "What if Juliet were to wake up and find him alive for a short moment?"

"They could share a final kiss," I concluded. SHIT! Why the hell did I say that? That came out of absolutely nowhere. No, that was not supposed to be spoken. Of course I had to trap myself in this situation when I could've been like, "They could have their last conversation." That would've been boring but it would've still gotten us an A. I think Shakespeare's ghost got mad at me for thinking Romeo and Juliet was a parody and he decided to play a trick on me by making me blurt it out. William, if you can hear my thoughts, I take it all back! Please, I will rave about the greatness of such a romantic story if you make Eli disagree. Please!

"I think that could work," I could see the smile spread all over Eli's face. I don't usually say these things but FML. Mr. Shakespeare, well played. But still, I couldn't help but smile. The hormones took over me at the excitement of getting to kiss Eli. Ah, one kiss couldn't hurt? It could suck and be super awkward, then we could both realize we're better off as friends. Yeah, maybe the good 'ol famous playwright is on my side, after all.

"That's cute," Adam frowned. Whoops, sorry buddy, forgot you were still here. Is it still too late to make him Romeo?

(Adam's POV)

As I was filming Eli and Clare in their moments before they got it on, I had many thoughts going in and out of my annoyed brain. First off, why did Ms. Dawes give us Romeo and Juliet? Out of all Shakespeare plays, she picked the most raved one. Macbeth would've been a better pick. Watching Clare as Lady Macbeth completely emasculate Eli as Macbeth would've been hilarious. Considering I've always pictured them to be like that if they ever got together. It's not even an if, it's when they get together.

Actually I take that back. Eli will definitely jump up when the opportunity comes, but Clare might hold back. Since her former "BFF" and my stepbrother have gotten together, we've bonded. But that's not the only thing that bonds us together. We're both different for obvious reasons, her being into dark comics like Death Note or Gothic literature, Jane Eyre is her favorite, but music is something we both agree on. Not only that, but the feeling of not fitting in so we can understand each other. Eli and I can watch Dr. Who and The X-Files but he will never understand what it's like being that kid that gets constantly picked on for refusing to conform to the majority's beliefs. Only Clare does.

Since Clare and I are good friends, she's told me some things. Like Julian, her first love back at her old school. He was pretty much her, without the female parts. Except for the fact he was a vegetarian which I could never do but I don't judge. Since Clare had no one else to lean onto from her old school, it's a given she'd get attached to him. And he did the same. Due to his fights with his mother, Clare's parents always let him sleepover, in her room. I'm no neurosurgeon but if two teenagers with raging hormones are that close to each other, they're bound to share that special moment. Clare and Julian are no exception. If a guy like that abruptly leaves a sensitive girl such as Clare's life, it won't be that easy to shake him off. Eli has no idea what he gotten himself into, poor guy.

"Adam," Eli cued. I could see the nervous expressions that stuck on their faces. This actually might be entertaining to watch, after all.

"And action!" I declared. Eli grabbed the soda bottle as Clare gave her best impression of a dead Juliet.

"Death come quickly, so I can be with her ASAP," Eli chorused as he opened the bottle of soda and gulped it. As he set aside the bottle, Clare woke up right on time as we planned.

"Romeo, you drank the poisonous hypertose* cola beverage, no!" she purposely cried in an over-dramatic voice. They both paused and stared at each other. Here it comes, the big finale. They got closer and closer… then they paused when their faces were in centimeters diameter. Come on! Just kiss already! You know you want to! And they did as if they could hear my voice and obeyed me like a big-shot movie director. Clare quickly placed her hands all over Eli, one running through the back of his head and the other against his side. He slowly got his hands placed on her arms. You can tell which one is the more experienced one. So this is how filmmakers feel when they zoom in on a steamy kiss. Imagine if it was a sex scene… ah new thought! Repress it before it settles in.

The kiss finally ended and Eli collapsed on the picnic table. I wasn't sure if he was that good of an actor or it actually happened. Clare grabbed the toy lazer gun, kudos to Drew, and shot herself.

"And… cut!" I announced. Clare got up but Eli didn't flinch. "Eli… Eli!"

"Should we do another take?" Eli hastily rose as he started playing with his hair. Spaz.

"Uhhhh…" Clare trailed off, looking at me in consent. Now they're acknowledging and asking for pointers. I shrugged; it's your call, Edwards. "I think we got it," as they both smiled and looked down. Son of a bitch, it's time to look for new friends. I'm officially a third wheel.

(Eli's POV)

Ever been so ticked off but still scared at the same time? You know who's feeling it? This guy. After that unbelievable kiss with Clare, she has given me the cold shoulder. Did I screw up or something? I thought she had a thing for me, too. Now I'm starting to realize maybe it was all in my head. Did the kiss screw things up? I could be a terrible kisser and no one told me! That's probably why Jenna broke it off with me, because I had a bad case of awkward lips.

Time to go crazy on the Chapstick.

I would've talked to Drew about this, but he's too much into the world of Ali Bhandari. So I talked to my PE teacher about it, since he confronted me on why I kept going at it with punching bag during class. I had to be honest and he told me to just ask her about it. But what if she tells me my worst fear? Then he said to move on, there's plenty fish in the sea. Well, what if you're allergic to fish and she's a damn turtle! They never tell you that story. What the heck am I talking about?

Clare, who is causing me unstable mental stability at the moment, is locking her bike against the rack. My time to intervene is now. I walked up to her and she seemed to not even acknowledge I was here. Figures as much. She did the same when I asked her if she wanted to catch a movie during English class the last time we spoke, after the kiss. Adam even seemed lost on why she brushed me off.

"Thanks for returning my calls. Can we talk?" She can't walk away without answering the question.

"No thanks," she gruffly replied as she turned her back. I could hear the music blaring out of her earphones. The lyrics consisted of, "I don't care about anything right now." Little Miss Sunshine. I decided to take it up a notch and grabbed her shoulder. This time she turned around and gave me a straight face. What is this chick's deal? Is she on her period? I yanked the earphone plug from her MP3 which killed the music. Now she went from poker face to pissed off. That was a bad idea but at least it got her attention.

"Well, too bad," I put my foot down. She crossed her arms leaned against one side. Be mad at me. At least it'll show that I can cause some emotion in that body. She then started playing with her necklace. Are you kidding me? Well, it's either now or never. "The other day, that wasn't just a kiss for the film." I needed to keep telling myself in order to stand up to her. She paused, looked up, and continued to put her focus on her necklace. Even though she acted like she wasn't interested, I knew she was still listening. "There's something between us, Clare, and you know it." Please let that be the truth.

She looked up and flat out addressed, "You're wrong." No, I can't be. She's stubborn but I'm not going to give up.

"I'm not a dumbass," her eyes diverted to mine because I don't usually say "ass". If cussing will get her attention, then so be it. "Either you like me or you're a tease who likes to play with people's feelings. And I know it's not the degrading one." I finalized. Then her blue eyes took a deep toll in mine. My hopes started to slowly vanish. "Or is it." Clare, you have to be better than that. You can't be another Bianca or Jenna. You've led me into believing you're not like those girls.

"I'm sorry I led you on," she gravely apologized. Boom, my heart dropped just like that. I am utterly speechless.

"Wow." I went on walking away from her. I hope she'll run after me and tell me she lied only because she didn't want to get rejected. But she won't. She was like all the other girls after all. It really does hurt getting spurned.

*I'm not sure how to actually spell "hypertose" and I couldn't find the correct spelling through internet nor spellcheck. So if I mispelled it, I apologize.