Don't shoot me! I know I was gone for a super long time. I probably should have thought twice before starting a story right before all the holidays and taking many trips down to LA (I live in the Bay Area, anyway). I'm back! Holidays are over and I can finally focus on writing again!
I suppose I will answer some questions about the story so you all aren't confused.
1. It's written in Clare's POV
2. In my mind, Eli was going to invite Adam to "The Rock Show" (Blink-182 reference anyone?) the entire time. He simply just saw Clare first and she thought she was going on a date then got friend-zoned.
I think that's it! Anyway, I'm pretty proud of this chapter. I hope you enjoy it! :)
I woke up Monday morning feeling absolutely horrible. I had a headache, my ears were plugged up, my nose was runny, and my throat was sore and scratchy. I had also started my period the night before, which meant horrible cramps, unbearable lower back pain, sore boobs, and the urge to vomit every once in awhile. I was in absolutely no shape to attend school, which meant I couldn't see Eli.
My mom came in and verified on her terms that I was in fact sick enough to miss school. She asked if I wanted her to stay with me today, but I told her no. She had just started a new job a couple weeks ago as a part of now being divorced and not being able to rely on just my dad's salary. I didn't want her to jeopardize her new job just because I was sick for a day. She seemed to really like her new job and it was one of the things that was helping her cope with the divorce. I told her I was a big girl and could take care of myself for one day and she could help when she got home from work. Reluctant at first, she said ok. Before leaving she took out a soup can for me, brought the house phone and medicine to my room, and said she would be home around 6 PM.
When she finally left I went right back to sleep. I woke up around 11 AM and my throat felt extremely dry, so I went downstairs to get a glass of water. I quickly came back upstairs because walking around made my head spin, my boobs hurt from jiggling because I wasn't wearing a bra, and my lower back was still sore. I checked my phone and found I had received a few text messages from when I was asleep.
From Adam:
"dude – where are you? we got a huge new assignment in english today. also some lovesick puppy misses you"
From Alli:
"Soooo…? Anything exciting happen yet at school? Text me back ASAP 3"
A third and final one from Adam:
"hello? answer so i know you're alive and so i can give your boy toy some reassurance you aren't on your death bed!"
I rolled my eyes. I decided I would just call Alli later tonight when my throat felt a little better but decided to text Adam back since he (and Eli) seemed to be oh so worried about me.
"I'm alive! I woke up terribly sick this morning and decided to stay home today. Maybe you can bring me my homework after school ends?"
It was lunchtime at school so he would definitely be texting me back soon. I grabbed my laptop and turned it on while I waited for a Adam's response.
"no excuses super genius! i thought you were ms. perfect attendance award! your homework will definitely be brought to you this afternoon, but not from me…mom wants me home RIGHT after school. eli (happily) volunteered to pay you a visit and risk getting sick to drop your homework off."
Crap. Literally. I felt and looked like crap and the one guy I didn't want to see me like this would be visiting me in 3 or so hours. I texted Adam back.
"Ok. Thanks Adam. Tell Eli I say thanks too and I'll see him in a few hours."
My phone buzzed.
"if eli doesn't show up tomorrow because he's sick i'll know why! coughkisskisscough"
Ignoring him I decided I had to try and look as presentable as I can when Eli comes over. First I took a long hot bath to relax my body. After, I got out and changed into regular gray sweatpants, a long sleeve black sweater, some fuzzy socks, and I put on a blue scarf just to be cautious. I blow-dried my hair so it wouldn't be wet on my neck, but I didn't bother to style it. It was only 2 PM by then so I just stayed in bed and browsed around Facerange while listening to Bullfrog's band in the background.
At 3PM I decided to head to the front room and wait for Eli there while I watched horrible mid-afternoon television, because a book would just give me a bigger headache much to my dismay.
After about a half hour of mindless television I finally heard Morty, Eli's hearse, pull in front of my house. I turned off the TV and waited for my doorbell to ring not noticing my skin beginning to flush and heart beating faster. My doorbell finally rang and I slowly walked over to answer the door.
"Hi Eli" I coughed.
"Hi Clar-oh Clare no offense but you don't look well at all. Here let me close the door so the cold air won't get in."
Eli closed the door and I walked over the couch letting him join me while he piled my books on top of the coffee table.
"So…how do you feel?"
"Ugh, I'm feeling a bit better than this morning I suppose. My body is aching less now that I relaxed all day, my ears feel better too, my nose is less runny, but my headache and sore throat are still pretty present."
"I'm sorry. I wish I had time after school to run to the store to get you some soup or medicine but I wanted to drop your school stuff off as quickly as I could because I didn't know what time your mom would be home…"
"Oh, she'll be home around 6 and don't worry you don't have to buy me anything. There's soup in the kitchen I have yet to make and my medicine is upstairs."
"Well, can I make you the soup at least? Are you hungry?"
I couldn't help but to give him a faint smile, he was being so kind to me the day I felt my absolute worst.
"Eli, you've already brought me my schoolwork, you've done enough plus I don't want to get you sick by you sticking around and being around my yucky self."
"You aren't yucky" he plainly stated while looking me in the eye. "I don't mind at all. You've been alone all day and will be alone until your mom gets home; it's no problem at all. Just help me find a pot and mixing spoon so I can stir the soup, ok? Plus, you won't get me sick." He leaned in closer to my face giving me that trademark devilish smirk, "I never get sick."
I hesitated. I wanted to spend time with Eli, but not while I was feeling horrible. But he brought me my schoolwork and offered to make me soup on my sick day. I also couldn't say no to his smirk.
I gave in. "Ok. Let's go to the kitchen. Thank you Eli."
He stood up and offered me his hand much like Saturday night when we were getting out of the booth to go dance.
So as I helped Eli around the kitchen and sat at the table while he made me my soup. We talked about what happened at school that day. Eli said it was pretty boring and nothing special went on. He said my teachers would give me an extra day to turn in the assignments since he told them I was practically on my deathbed – how sweet (I mean that as sarcastically as I can). Then he filled me in on the huge assignment Ms. Dawes assigned us which was just an 8-10 page paper on a piece of Shakespeare's work we've studied this semester.
I finished my soup and put my bowl and spoon in the sink and sat back down at the table with Eli.
"I know you're going to hate me for saying this because you say you feel yucky and you probably think you don't look or feel your best right now, but you look lovely today for being as sick as you say you are."
I felt myself smile and blush while my eyes shifted to not look at his face. He really knew the right things to say at the right time.
"Thank you Eli. And thank you for Saturday night. I'm sorry I didn't go to school today to talk with you about Saturday night."
"We can talk about it now, if you want. You know if you aren't tired or feeling 'yucky'. I can leave if you want me to." He said motioning toward the door.
I stopped him. "Oh no Eli it's fine. The soup helped me a lot actually thank you for that. We should talk now. We're alone without anyone to interrupt us."
"Okay."
"Okay…"
It was awkward. I didn't know if he wanted me to start talking or if he wanted to begin the conversation. I didn't know what exactly he even wanted to talk about.
He cupped his hands in his lap. "So, how did you like Bullfrog's band? I heard you give him a very cliché answer that he kindly accepted, but what did you really think?"
It was an easy enough question to start an awkward conversation. "I really did like his band Eli. I'm not much into the classic 80s rock I've only ever heard the big singles like Kiss's 'Rock and Roll All Nite' and Bon Jovi's 'Livin' On a Prayer'-"
"Oh we'll definitely have to fix that, Bullfrog and I will be more than happy to lend you some CDs or give you some recommendations."
"Thanks. Also before you came I was actually listening to Bullfrog's band while I was on the computer. I quite enjoy his band's music."
"I'll tell Bullfrog you said – he'll probably want me to bring you to all his shows now. Him and the band want to start playing more weekend shows in the area."
"That's awesome, I'll definitely have to check them out again."
"Yup."
I smiled. It seemed like our conversation was coming to a halt so I brought up another subject to stop myself from panicking or worrying too much.
"Your mom is really nice too. I actually spent a lot of time talking to your parents Saturday night; it was nice. They're both amazing and interesting people. You dad kept me laughing."
"Ah, they're alright I suppose. I just hope Cece didn't embarrass you too much by asking you the story of how we met. I know Adam sure put you on the spot. Remind me to sock him tomorrow for that stunt…"
"It was a little embarrassing, but it's ok. Don't hurt Adam, that's just him. Your mom is sweet, maybe she just said what you were thinking…"
Oh no. Did that really just come out of my mouth? Eli raised his eyebrows at me and leaned closer to me across the table.
"Clare, I really did have a great time with you Saturday night after everyone left and I thought you were too but when I walked you to your car and kissed you, you didn't really kiss me back-" I cut him off.
"Well you surprised me Eli. I mean ugh ok since we're just going to let everything out in the open I'll say what I feel. I really like you Eli and I've wanted to spend alone time with you for a long time but I really didn't want to or know how to make the first move. I wasn't sure if you liked me back or not. Then you asked me out Saturday night and I was so excited. Then you invited Adam and I felt totally friend-zoned. On Saturday Alli even took me shopping to buy a whole new outfit just to impress you. Then when everyone left we got to spend alone time together and I was so nervous but so happy that we were finally alone. We danced, sat in the booth together, you tickled me, and you gave me a surprise kiss goodnight. It couldn't have gone any better that that. You just surprised me with the kiss and I didn't have time to react and by the time the kiss ended you were already walking back inside of the bar. But the entire way home I couldn't stop smiling and your text message at the end of the night only made me happier."
I finally looked at Eli. His elbows were on his knees and his chin was in his hands as he was leaning over looking at me. I didn't know what or if he was going to do or say anything and I didn't know what to do or say either so I just waited. Finally after about 15 seconds he lifted his head from his chin. "Screw it" he said and he kissed me, again.
This time he gave me more time to react to the kiss and I did, but remembered I was still sick. I broke the kiss and put my hand to his cheek and looked at him while his hand was still on the back of my neck.
"Eli, I'm sick we shouldn't be-"
"One: I've liked you since the moment I said 'I think they're dead.' Two: I didn't know you liked me back so I never made the first move because I figured having you as a friend was better than not having you in my life at all even if I was perpetually friend-zoned. Three: Remind me to thank Alli for going shopping with you because now I can tell you this without stuttering or saying it over text message: you looked so incredibly beautiful on Saturday night, you literally left me speechless, Clare. And four: I told you – I never get sick."
I looked at the clock and it was about 5:30PM and I knew my mom would be home soon. I gave Eli a kiss on the cheek and released myself from his grasp and looked at him sadly.
"Well I'm glad we're out in the open. I'm still not feeling 100% better and my mom will be home soon so sorry to say this, but you have to leave."
"Fair enough."
We walked to the door, stopped for a minute, and Eli spoke.
"So, will you be at school tomorrow?"
"Definitely. My mom wouldn't let me miss two days in a row."
"Good. Also, Clare" He grabbed my hands and brought me closer to him "if you're feeling 100% by Friday night, would you like to go on an official date with me?"
I smiled at him and replied, "Yes, of course I would Eli."
He was leaning down to kiss me but before he did I put my finger to his lips. He opened his eyes and scrunched his eyebrows together.
"Hey – if you want to go on a date Friday night you shouldn't be kissing me. I don't care if you say you never get sick, you're only jinxing yourself when you say that. I don't want to be playing Nurse Clare on Saturday night instead of being out with you. See you tomorrow?"
He stood up straight and grabbed my hands, "You win this round Edwards; I'll see you tomorrow. Get some rest."
"Good night Eli."
"That's not how we say good-night, Clare." he said turning back towards me.
I reached my hand to his chest. "It's how we say good-night tonight."
He smirked. I watched him get into his hearse and drive away. I closed the door and began to clean the kitchen up when no more than 10 minutes later my mom walked through the door.
"Hey sweetie, how are you feeling? Did you get some rest today?"
"I'm doing much better mom, thanks. I'll definitely be going back to school tomorrow. I did nap the entire morning and I took a long hot bath after that. Adam dropped my homework off for me, but don't worry he just dropped it off and left. I also had some soup 2 hours ago so I'm not hungry right now."
"Ok dear. Why don't you go up to your room and work on some homework and go to bed early tonight. Take some medicine before you go to sleep ok? I'll check on you before I go to bed."
"Ok, good night mom."
"Good night sweetie."
I got upstairs to my room and checked my phone. Thank goodness I had no urgent text messages from Alli. I heard the TV on downstairs so I figured it would be the perfect time to call Alli and fill her in on the day's events without my mom hearing what actually happened while she was at work.