Alli was skipping to Clare on Monday
"Guess what?" Alli said
"I don't know, what?" Clare said
"Drew asked me out!" Alli said
"Congrats!" Clare said
"Yes, now if you admit you like Eli and he asks you out, we can double!" Alli said
"Alli, Eli and I are just friends." Clare said
"Just keep telling your self that." Alli said and Dave came up behind them.
"Hey Alli." Dave said "Did you get home ok?"
"Awe Dave that's sweet. Yes I did. Drew gave me a ride." Alli said
"Oh good. I was worried." Dave said
"Awe well, I would hope my new boyfriend would give a ride home." Alli said
"Oh great for you." Dave said and he walked away.
"Anyways Clare, when can we double?" Alli said
"Alli what part of no boys no dating don't you get?" Clare said in pure frustration.
"Um all of it." Alli said "You like Eli and it's pretty clear he likes you. I just know you two be so cute."
"Alli I am not ready to date again." Clare said arriving at their lockers "Yes KC and I are friends, but I don't think I can handle another boyfriend. All the drama last year that I had to go through was all do to boys and dating. The reason Jenna and I hate each other? KC and her liking each other. And then there was the whole thing with Declan…" and Alli kinda laughed
"Oh yeah, you mean you kissing his neck?" Alli said
"Exactly." Clare said "I don't need the hassle." She looked at Alli
"Well I am sorry I am not you. I can't deny my emotions Ms. Spock." Alli said. They were getting their books when Jenna came over
"Congrats Clare bear. You mad the squad." Jenna said
"Thanks Jenna." Didn't know what she was getting at
"Well some people don't think that you should be on the team." Jenna began
"And by some people you mean you?" Alli said and Jenna shot her a look that said 'stay out of this'
"Anyways, to prove you are good for the team, you have to raise the money to get new uniforms." Jenna said showing Clare the magazine "We want these ones." Pointing to them "and the cost is 250." She said and Clare just stared "We want them for the homecoming game. So you would have order by Friday" Clare just shook her head
"What? How am I gonna raise 250 by Friday?" Clare said
"Your smart, you'll think of something." Jenna said "Or don't even think about coming to that game or any others." Jenna said and walked away
"Oh just say the word and I will kill her." Alli said
"Just let it go.'\
…..
"I don't know how i am gonna raise 250 by friday." Clare said as she was sitting with Eli, Kc, Dave Connor and Wesley.
"Yeah i got nothing." Dave said. then he looked around "Hey where is Alli?" Then he saw her walking with Drew and the other football players. "Oh ok." he said and looked down. Clare wanted to give him a hug. she knew what it was like to be in love with someone who was in love with someone else.
"So what am i gonna do?" Clare said again
"You could organize a car wash?' Connor said
"Well we always do that." Clare said
"How about a bake sale?" Wesley said
"Oh i could never make enough food for a bake sale." she said and looked at them "But thanks guys." she said then Eli shot up
"Why not do a karaoke night? Yeah my old school used to do that. We raised more than enough money. You'll hit 250 with no problem." Eli said
"Well where can she hold it?"KC said, then Clare's face lit up
"We can have it at the 'the above the Dot'! Peter is always looking for excuese to have people have events at the club."CLare said looking at Eli"That is brilliant"and she gave him a hug.
"My cousin just got a karaoke machine."Dave said "I am sure she will let us use it." Dave said
"And I'll help."Wesley said
"Me too."Connor said
"Oh great." Clare said."you guys are the best."she looked at her watch"I have spare,i am gonna talk to him."She got up.
"I'll go with you." Eli said
"Thanks." Clare and Eli left together.
...
"I know she cant raise that will be out of my hair in no time."Jenna said to Adam
"Don't you think that isa bit much?" Adam said
"Um no! She is trying to take my squad, cause i "Stole" KC last year." Jenna said "I am just surpirsed that she hasnt tried to take you."
"Well you were my frist friend when i got here,so i dont ditch my friends"
"Thanks."Jenna said "Wanna go to the Dot?"
"Yup!"
...
"Peter? Pete are you here?" Clare as she and Eli looked around the club.
"You sure he will be ok with this?"
"Peter used to date my sister, trust me he will." i hope Clare added
"Clare?" Peter said as he came out from the back."How you been kid." He said
"Good."and they hugged "Listen Peter, i gotta favor." Clare said
Ok, I'm listening" Peter said
"I'm on power squad and i have to raise money..and i was hoping i could have a karaoke night. We have a machine and voulenteers, so all we need a venue.." Clare said
"Woah" Peter said "Back up...your on power squad?" Peter said
"Yeah. I just joined" she said "So about the venue..." Clare said
"You wanna hold it here?" Peter said
"Yeah." she said and Peter smiled and said
"Ok sure." and Clare looked elated
"Really? Oh thanks" she gave him another hug. and he put his arm around her.
"No prob." Looking at Eli as if he was really noticeing him "Who is this? Your Boyfr." but Clare vut him
"He is just a friend. Peter Stone, Eli Goldsworthy. Eli, Peter." She said and they shook hands.
"Nice to meet you Eli." Peter said
"Yeah you too." Eli said suddenly feeling uncomfortable by there mean look Peter was giving him. "Ok well lets get going Clare.
"Ok thanks again Peter." Clare said they walked out. Clare looked at her watch. "If we leave now we can make it back for class." Clare said
"Oh gee really?" Eli replied not even trying to hid his scarcsm "You can go. I am gonna ditch." Eli said walking a few feet from Clare. she ran up to catch him
"Ditch?" Clare looked at him "Couldnt you get into trouble for this?"
"Well Ms. Edwards, if you are so scared, you should come and keep an eye on me." he said "Skip with me." he said
"Oh i could never"
"Come on, Do something impulsive...for once." Eli said.
"Ok."
...
Clare couldnt describe how awesome she felt. The farther and farther they got from school, the more scared and excited she became. It was this feeling that was so wrong that ended up feeling so right. They walked to the park. There was a basketball on the court Eli grabbed it
"See Clare, its all gonna be a waste..I can teach you bsketball." Eli said and he shot a basketball
'Yeah i hate basketball." Clare said
"What?" Eli said "Why?"
"I don't have fond memories from basketball," Clare said lookin down
"Awe tell me smiles." Eli said
"It'sjust, last year, during basketball season, is when KC and I were dating." Clare told him " Its where he flited with Jenna and transformed form the nice guy i knew to the jerk i didnt knw." she said
"Wow." Eli said
"What?" Clare asked
"Hearing you side, and KC's side, its just seems like you both said an did stupid things. Eli said shooting a basket but hitting the rim
"Let me guess...In his mind, i was the illrational jealousgirlfriend who wouldnt let him have any fun right?" She said
"Kinda yeah."
"Well i wasnt. and we a didnt always fight." Clare said
"What changed?"
"Maybe in the end it wasnt Jenna or basketball. Maybe it was us realizing we werent meant to be." Clare said
"Please don't take this the worng way, but your alot different than i thought you would be." Eli admited, and Clae shot up
"What do you mean?"
"I thought you would be this boring, know it all, bitchy bible chick." Eli said.
"Am I different good or different bad?"
"Different good. Defentally good." Eli said and shot another basket "Too bad you hate basketball...I was hoping you would stay in the squad untill basketball season was over. You to cheer me on."
"Let's us see if i survive football season."
"You will." he did a lay up
"Your kinda good." CLare said impressed
"Its easy to be good when no one is taking the ball from you." she went for the ball and took it
"Like me?" and she taunted him with the ball
"Oh way to travel Edwards." he went for the balla and sh turned her back to him and he tried to go for it. Once he got he dribbled for the basket and Clare jumped on his back. he dropped and ran around for a minute with her on his back. she got off and grabbed the ball nd shot and made a basket.
"Ok now we have to go." Clare said
"Ok ma'm." he said and saluted her
"Your a dork." and they went to school.
...
"No one is gonna come." Clare said. It was 7:45 on friday and it was suppsed to start at 8.
"Relax." Alli said "Drew invited the football team and all the cheerleaders are gonna come to be able get uniforms." she said. Clare looked around and didnt see Eli
"Where is Eli?"
"I don't know."
"Oh man, he isnt here." Clare said "Look we forgot the raffel tickets. They are at my house. Be right back."
...
Clare came back about 45 miutes later to find it compeletly packed
"What happend?" she asked Alli
"Don't look at us." Alli said
"It was all me." ELi said as he came from behind CLare
"How?" Clare said unable to hide her awe.
"I just got all the guys from the group home to come and invite all thier friends." Eli said
"You did all this for me?" Clare said
"Hey, lets call it school spirit." He said
"Thanks."
...
Jenna could hear everyone at the club, and she was pissed she made her way up there, when they all left
"Sorry Clare, we didnt raise 250." Eli said as he counted the money.
"What? Oh great now i have to face Jenna."
"If you let me finish..."He said "We raised 255." he said
"What?" Clare said
"You did it." he said
"No we did it."a nd she hugged him and he picked her up.
"I hope i am not interupting anything." Jenna said
"No you are nty."Clare said and handed her the two fifty. "Your welcome."
"But..how?"
"I am a part of this team, and i know you ahte me, but get used to it. I am not going anywhere." Clare said and left with Eli. Leaving Jenna speechles
...
"Why did you do it?" Clare asked
"What?" Eli said
"I mean, you help me with gym, you asked me for help in Bio, you help me pln this whle thing. than you save it..why?" she said as she arrived at her house
"Maybe i just wanted an excuse to hang out with you." Eli said
"Oh ok. See you monday." Clare said
"Ok." she headed up her stairs "Clare wait a sc." and as she turned around, Eli pulled her in and cupped her face and kissed her. The kiss wa wonder ful and wasnt liek anthing CLare had ever felt. she wanted to enjoy it but a little voice wouldnt let her
"Ok i gotta go" and she ran up the stairs
"Clare wait." but she was in her house before he could stop her.