Author's Note: bum bum bum buh da bum

Her clothes were done drying by the time we got home, so I let her change into them while I put our wet clothes in the dryer. I pulled on some sweat pants and a t-shirt and sat down at the kitchen table across from her.

"We said we would talk about this tomorrow," She mumbled.

"We're not talking about anything yet. Just tell me why you let him treat you that way,"

"What choice do I have, Eli? If I want his money, I have to play by his rules,"

"You're better than that," I argued.

"Oh, right. I'm just so fucking perfect, Eli! So fucking perfect, aren't I? You think you know me so fucking well,"

I didn't let her yelling effect me. I clenched my hands and glared at the table. "I do know that you're better than that. Hell, the Clare I met two years ago was having everything go for her! What the hell happened?"

"You didn't know her, either," Clare growled. "She wasn't the perfect girl you thought she was,"

"You need to stop doing cocaine,"

"No,"

I shook my head and stood up, marching into the living room and grabbing the phone. Clare was right on my heels.

"What are you doing? Who are you calling?"

"A rehabilitation center near by. If I can't get you stop, then they can, but I'm not gonna let you keep doing this,"

"No, Eli, stop!" She reached for the phone, but I pulled away. It started ringing.

"Eli, stop!" she screamed and pushed me. "I'll tell you everything, just put the phone down!"

I hung up and set the phone down. "Everything?"

"Everything," She breathed.

I sat down on the couch and she sat down next to me. "The girl you met at the party was not perfect. She already hated herself. A few months after that, my parents got divorced and my dad fucking disappeared off the face of the Earth. My mom went into a downward spiral and started getting with random dudes. And-prepare yourself for a cliche-when they were done with her, they came for me. She finally settled down with this one low-life and he had a son. We fucked off and on for a long time until I got pregnant. I didn't know how to tell my mom and I didn't want to get an abortion so the mother fucker just pushed me down the stairs one day like it was no fucking big deal. The baby died, but I was fine. I was done with all their shit so I ran away. I've seen movies and shit, so I had an idea how to get money and one of my first...uh, customers, gave me some blow one day and it just made sleeping with guys easier, so that's it. There's the whole story. No happy ending for me,"

The images in my mind were not pretty. Everything that she's been through-I can imagine why she would run away. Everything really fell down for her. I knew what that was like. I could help her climb her way back to the top.

"Clare, I know it sucks, but you have to stop doing coke. That's the first step,"

She sighed. "It's not like I want to do it. It just makes sleeping with guys easier when I don't really have to feel,"

"Then stop sleeping with guys," I suggested.

"How will I get money?"

"You'll get a job,"

"It's not that easy,"

I slid over to her on the couch and put my arm around her shoulder. "I'll help you,"

She snuggled into my chest and sighed. "Thank you, Eli. I'm sorry for what I said earlier,"

"Me, too," I kissed the top of her head. "You should die your hair back to auburn. It looked prettier that way,"

"I know," she laughed. "But after I ran away I needed a disguise,"

I chuckled a little, then my phone started ringing. I pulled away from Clare and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Bro, what's up? What time are you showing up tonight?" Adam asked.

I sighed. "Ah, shit. Fuck me, I forgot that was tonight,"

"You forgot about your own grad party?"

"Yeah...uh, I guess I'll be there around 8,"

"Cool. Plenty of time to set up. Thanks, dude,"

"Yeah," I hung up and looked at Clare. "Dammit,"

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"I totally forgot my graduation party is tonight?"

Her face fell a little. "Do you want me to leave? I can find somewhere else to stay tonight,"

Fitz's face appeared in my mind. "Oh God, no! I wanted you to come to the party, but...there's gonna be drugs there,"

She bit her lip. "Oh. Well this could be my test? To see if I can be around them and not do them? I can try, at least,"

I thought it over. If I just stayed with her most of the night, she should be fine. I nodded. "Okay."

I stepped out of the shower and shook my head, water droplets flying everywhere. Loud music was coming from the living room. I wrapped a towel around my waist and walked out.

Clare was dancing around the living room - jumping on the couch and bouncing all around. I walked to the stereo and turned it off. She looked up and blushed - caught in the act. She hopped off the couch and walked forward. Her pupils were totally normal. I smiled. "Why so happy?" I asked.

"Cause we're going to a party," She laughed.

"That makes you happy?"

"Parties are fun," She shrugged.

I smiled at her. "Well, I'm gonna go finish getting ready,"

"Wait, before you go...I wanna thank you-really thank you-for helping me out. The right way," She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled her fingers throug my wet hair.

"What exactly is the right way of thanking me?" I asked, nervous.

She smiled and giggled. "A sincere, honest thank you,"

I smiled back at her and locked eyes with her.

We both felt it in that moment and once we felt it, it happened so fast. She pulled my face to hers and I just attacked her lips. They tasted the same as they did two years ago. Nothing had changed that. I gripped her waist with my fingers and flushed her body against mine.

She moaned in my mouth and the bulge behind my towel got larger. Clare felt it and reached down to drop my towel, then kissed me harder and pushed me towards the couch, completley taking control. I fell back and pulled her on top of me. She sat back and pulled her shirt over her head, throwing it somewhere behind her.

I reached up and held her breasts in my hands. She moaned and started kissing down my neck and chest, biting here and there. I moaned loudly in anticipation when she started kissing the tiny trail of hair on my stomach that led to better things.

"I believe this is the proper way of thanking you," She murmured and engulfed me in her mouth.

I moaned and my hands went straight into her hair, gripping it tightly. She started moving her head back and forth, until her nose touched my groin. I figured after years of doing this, she'd be good, but I had no idea it would be this amazing. My moans grew louder and louder, until she stabbed her tongue into the slit and I came, long and hair, gripping her hair and moaning her name.

She sat back and smiled. "Thank you, Eli,"

"Dear fucking God," I choked. "Thank you,"

"It's what I do," She laughed.

I laid there trying to catch my breath. "Oh. Shit, my bad, Clare. Do you want me to...?" I sat up and reached for her breasts, but she grabbed my hands and put them to my sides.

"It's fine. That was about thanking you and I've been with so many assholes, that I don't even worry about it anymore,"

"Are you sure?"

She leaned forward and kissed the tip of my nose. "I'm positive. Now, come on, we got a party to go to!"

Author's note: as you can tell I'm a very virginal person and i can't write smut. yup.