I hope you guys like this! :) The next chapter will be told from KC's POV and should be up either tonight or tomorrow. KEEP REVIEWING, it keeps me motivated!

Eli's POV -

Not being all to familiar with the overbearing intrigue the thought of Clare provided, I proceeded with caution. Although... the lack of interaction was beginning to be unbearable to deal with. So when Ms. Dawes assigned Clare as my partner, you could say that I was quite delighted. I was eager to get to know her; to know what went on in her mind. Cause' from where I'm standing, I can't seem to get a clear enough picture. All that I knew right know was that Little Miss Clare was a perfectionist and she wasn't too thrilled about working with me. Hmph. I'd just have to change her mind.

Apparently, Little Miss Perfect wasn't so perfect. Her decision to skip class truly came as a shock to me. And her invitation for me to come along? An even bigger shock. Very bold, Blue Eyes, very bold.

"So...Clare. Mind if I choose our destination?" I was the first to speak up as we left the building.

"Go right ahead... Elijah."

Elijah... No one ever called me that. I'd let it slide... this time. I walked towards Morty, taking the keys out of my pocket. Clare, on the other hand, walked right past the hearse.

"... Clare? Where are you going?"

She stopped, turned, and stood still, staring at Morty. Uh oh... I think I knew where this was going.

"We're going in that thing?"

"Whoa. His name is Morty. Respect the vehicle."

"Vehicle? You do know that's a hearse. The thing they carry dead corpses in!"

"What? ... It is? Gee, I had no idea."

I shot her a quick little smirk and got into Morty, starting him up. I turned to see Clare still frozen in place, hesitation clouding her face. A mere ten seconds later, and she had gotten in. I drove us over to McGraff Avenue and parked in a lot off to the side. I told Clare to stay put as I got out of the hearse and walked over to the passenger side. She looked confused and incredibly cute. Opening the door, I stuck my arm ouwards, escorting her through the door.

"Come, my lady." She crawled out, smiling.

"Why thank you, sir." She hooked her arm with mine and we walked off to my favorite bench. Yes... a bench. Seems strange, but I came here a few times a week. I loved sitting there, listening to music, and watching the people go by. It was almost like an escape from reality.

We sat at the bench analyzing each others assignments. Clare grew more and more frustrated with her grade. I tried to uncover a topic she could write about that would be more... personal. And thus came the topic of family. Sadly, old Blue Eyes had parental issues to deal with. Been there, done that. I also learned that Little Miss Perfectionist was also Little Miss Cares Too Much About What People Think. I'd have to get that out of her system.

"Scream. At the top of your lungs." She stood up, straightening out her dress.

"Ahhh..."

"That's the best you could do?"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Wow... she sure could scream. She turned towards me and insisted that I scream as well, but hey, that's just not my style. Our little argument brought me backed up into a pole, grabbing Clare's wrist. We were smiling, fully enthralled. Intuition caused me to lean in, just slightly. But alas, I let to of her gently, petite wrists and she walked off, taking a seat back on the bench. All I could do then... was smirk. Oh Clare... this was going to be fun.

An hour passed as we threw sarcastic, somewhat flirtacious, remarks at each other. Being the gentleman that I am, I offered to drive her home and to my satisfaction, she agreed. When we got to her house, she stepped out of Morty and shut the door. She bent down, her curly locks framing her face.

"Thanks Eli."

"Anytime Clare. Anytime."

Clare Edwards is a truly fascinating creature. There was so much substance behind her engaging beauty...

6:00 p.m. I sat in my bedroom, clad in a black t-shirt and plaid boxers. I stared at the glaring white screen of my computer. It was the only light source in the entire room at the moment and I could feel a headache emerging. I rubbed my eyes as I head a faint ding! come from my speakers.

clare-e23 has signed on.

I waited a minute and proceeded to IM her.

eli-gold49: more public embarrassment tonight?

clare-e23: is that an invitation?

eli-gold49: do you want it to be?

A few minutes passed and I eagerly waited for a response.

clare-e23: love to hang - but i can't

Paranoia took over. Had I done something wrong?

The next morning I was quick to look for Clare and uncover her reason for not being able to hang out. I easily found her at her locker.

"Missed you last night. Was Twilight on T.V.?"

"She thinks she's protecting me by lying but she's making it worse!"

"Wait. Stop. Rewind. And Play."

I found great relief in finding out that Clare had to go to a Church Fundraiser last night although I also found great distress in the fact that she was so troubled by her family's marital problems. It was a subject I knew all too well and I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on anyone. I wanted to help her through this; help her get to the bottom of what was going on with her parents. And so I suggested she write the English assignment letter to her parents about how she feels. Kill two birds with one stone, right? As she read it to the class, she looked so fragile. The sorrow in her eyes was beautiful. Her emotion was raw and real and touching. I knew I was interferring with my suggestion that she read it aloud at the showcase in front of her mother, but I truly had the best intentions in mind. But, when she ran off without reading it, all I felt was guilt.

I drove to her house that evening... to apologize, which is something I almost never do. But... I cared about Clare and I wanted to part in causing her any pain. I promised not to interfere and at this, she placed her hand on top of mine. My mind froze from the warmth of her touch. I stared down at our joined hands and looked up into her clear blue eyes. Clare Edwards... I'm afraid I'm falling for you.