Author's Note: Hello, everyone! Sorry this took so long to get up…I have no excuse except writer's block! Please give me ideas for what you want in the next chapter(s)! It would be greatly appreciated, and I will most likely use your ideas!

This chapter is mainly full of fluff, as will be the next one, so just enjoy, and please review!

God Bless,

Sarah.

"This girl is the most annoying human being to have ever walked the Earth."

"What did she do now?" Clare asked as she sat next to Eli with her lunch.

The conversation they know found themselves in was a normal occurrence for this year- Eli absolutely hated Becky Baker, and with how terrible she sounded to be treating her boyfriend, Clare was beginning to hate her too.

"She totally took over the idea for the play. I finally perfected a modern day Romeo and Juliet, and then I go to pitch it, and she has already pitched an idea, and, and get this! Her idea was approved!"

"So what now? They kicked you off theatre?"

"No, but just as bad: They're making me do the play alongside her."

"Can't you just talk to them about it? I mean, not to be unfair, but you were there first."

"I know, but I guess it doesn't work that way."

"Well you're an amazing director. You can't let this stop you."

"I won't. It's just tough, you know? Theatre is my thing!" He all but growled.

Clare swallowed thickly, noticing the same anger that she hadn't seen on him in so long run across his face. But as quickly as it had come, it was gone, and she calmed herself. She rested a hand on his shoulder and gently massaged it for a moment.

"Eli, you're the best play-writer, you have to keep trying. So what she chose the play? You can leave little pieces of you all throughout it…The dialogue; sets. Cheer up."

Eli turned to face her and smiled, pulling her face close to his and kissing her softly.

"You always know how to lighten my mood," he said quietly against her mouth.

Clare bit her lip as she pulled away, taking his hand as he stood and offered his own to her.

"How do you feel about ditching this place for lunch at The Dot?" Eli asked as walked away from where they had been sitting in the hallway.

Everyone was either in their next class already, or eating lunch, and Eli had indeed promised Clare a day out to eat sometime during the week.

"I'd love that," Clare replied, linking arms with him as they walked to the office to sign out and then leave.

They walked hand in hand to the Dot, which took them all but ten minutes. It warmed Eli inside to feel Clare's hand linked in his own once more- he never thought he would feel that again. It meant a lot to him that she had given him a second chance, and he didn't want to blow it. He especially didn't want to blow it over another girl. So what Becky was taking over his turf? It wasn't worth losing Clare over; he would have to take her advice and just not quit. Eli was never a quitter, though anyway, was he? He had worked hard for his spot in theatre; worked hard to build Clare's trust again. He had even worked hard to buy Morty, and then get over the guilt of crashing him. Yes, Eli pressed onward through everything he did and came out with flying colors- it was time he showed Becky Baker just who was boss of the theatre.

This was the perfect opportunity for him to prove to Clare that he could be levelheaded and kind. He could finally show her what a stable human being he truly was…It was time to grow up. Smiling to himself as he settled on this revelation, he opened the door to The Dot for her and offered her his jacket as they stepped inside and she shivered. The goose bumps that appeared on her were almost immediate, but they didn't surprise Eli. They had been to The Dot various times before and he had always given her his jacket or reminded her to bring her own- she was always freezing in restaurants, but for him it was the opposite. With so many people around you and therefore, so much body heat, Eli could never understand how one could be cold whilst eating among others- but it was his Clare he was talking about…Anything she did was adorable, not confusing.

They found a seat quickly and talked for awhile longer before ordering. Since electives were so slow the first few days back, and no one was sure what classes they were going to stay in and which they were going to change, they didn't have to be back at school for another forty-five minutes. Both of their smiles displayed the happiness they had at simply spending time together, and Clare let her mind wander to how much she could truly now believe this was happening. It was so amazing to her to see Eli so happy and carefree; to feel unafraid to just tell him anything and everything. She told him what career she was thinking of pursuing, she told him that she was going to sleepover Allie's tomorrow night, and she even asked him how his medication was. He had smiled, answered, and been excited for all of those statements and questions and more. Her mind was at complete ease as they slipped in and out of conversation, munching on their sandwiches and chips. For a moment, Clare forget that they were even dating again…It felt like she was talking to him while holding nothing back, so that meant they were only friends, right? Still hurt by the breakup?

But no, they were a couple again. They were actually talking, with no obsession, and no yelling. There was no more Julia, and no more spurts of anger. There was no more asking his permission, or being afraid of his answers. It was just her, and him. And as they finished eating, Clare didn't feel relief that they had been it through an outing without a fight, but she felt sadness wondering when they would do this again sometime.

And then, as he held the door for her, and whispered "you look beautiful today, by the way," as she walked past him, Clare's heart melted and she set their next 'date' for that night- his house.