If anyone is actually reading this, sorry about the longer wait, though I did get this finished quicker than planned. In this chapter Clare and Eli's conversation will be all over the place, just remember Clare is drunk. There will be at least one more chapter, maybe more depending on how the next one goes.

In case you haven't noticed the fic title and the chapter titles are all song titles. If you look up the songs they should make some sense :)

Oh and one more thing, this chapter is dedicated to my DegrassiSoulMate. Our random conversations inspired this idea.

Clare stumbled out the door. How could Jake do this to her, she wondered. "Again", she yelled out loud.

"Again what?" Someone kindly asked.

It was a male voice. Someone Clare knew, she recognized that voice. Who was it? He was walking up the sidewalk towards her. Oh god.

"Eli?" Clare gasped. Of course it was Eli. She just had a horrible realization that her boyfriend has cheated on her again, and probably has been cheating on her the entire time they've been together. Who else would show up at this exact moment besides Eli? The one boyfriend that had never cheated on her and who would never even think of doing that to her.

"Yes, Clare. That is my name. You haven't forgotten it already have you?" Eli lightheartedly joked.

"Oh Eli! Did you come to save me?" Clare's drunken mind made her ask.

"No, Imogen told me that Bianca was having a party and that I should come keep her and Adam company, so here I am," Eli told Clare then calmly asked, "What do you need to be saved from?"

"Jake!" Clare yelled.

Eli started to worry a bit, " Did he do something to you? Are you alright?"

"He cheated on me again," Clare was becoming hysterical now.

"Oh," was all Eli could say at first.

He just stood there watching Clare start to tear up and he had no idea what she should do right now.

At that same moment, Adam and Jake were looking out the window nearby.

"What is that psycho going to do to her? I've got to go help her," Jake said to Adam. He was about to open the door to go talk to Clare.

"NO!" Adam stopped him, "Leave them alone. I think you have helped Clare enough. You helped her right into this mess."

"Fine, but open that window. I want to hear what she's saying and make sure he's not messing with her mind," Jake demanded.

Adam scoffed at Jake's remarks, but complied and opened the window just a crack. After all, Adam also really wanted to hear what Eli would have to say to a drunk Clare.

"Clare, I… I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm not sure I would be any help. What would you like for me to do right now? I'm sorry that someone would do that to you. I honestly don't understand how a guy could do something like that to a girl he loves."

Eli was trying his best to think of anything comforting to say to Clare. 'It will get better' sounded nice, but he knew how it felt to be betrayed by someone who you thought loved you and he knew it would take a long, long time for it to get better. He didn't want to lie to Clare.

"Eli, I could really use a hug right now," Clare interrupted Eli's thoughts.

"Um… do you want me to go find Adam? Or I could call Fiona for you; she gives really good hugs. I'm sure she would come over and help you out. Or no, I could just call your mom to come pick you-" Eli was trying to think of an option that Clare would feel most comfortable with when Clare opened her arms up wide, lunged at him, and clung on tight to his neck.

"Or you could hug me, I guess," Eli mumbled to himself. He had been trying to avoid this option. He knew that if he were to hold Clare in his arms that he may not want to, or be able to, let her go.

Eli's willpower began to break down and he hesitantly began to wrap his arms around Clare's back. The scent of her hair overwhelmed him; he missed that scent so much. He let his emotions get away from him and he held Clare even tighter.

"Oh Eli, you have always given the best hugs," Clare whispered into his ear.

Eli pulled back for a second to look into Clare's eyes when he realized that she reeked of alcohol.

"Clare," Eli asked gently as he pulled back even more, "Have you been drinking? Your breath smells like alcohol."

"No, silly! I don't drink. Adam said the same thing. Why are you guys acting so weird tonight?" Clare giggled.

That proved it to Eli. Clare just went from crying to giggling. She HAD to have been drinking. Oh god. She's probably drunk, that's why she was hugging him right now. It all made sense. He knew it was strange that she would even be talking to him, let alone wrapping her arms around him so tightly. Just the way that he had always loved.

He had to stop this right now. If he could just get Adam to bring her home maybe she could get some sleep and she wouldn't even remember this in the morning.

He could get over it, he told himself. He would just pretend that he had dreamed this all and everything could go back to normal. Clare could go back to ignoring him and he could go back to pretending that it didn't kill him inside when he saw her with another guy.

Eli moved his hands behind his neck to grab Clare's hands. He started to gently remove her arms from around him, but Clare was strongly resisting his actions.

"Come on, Clare. You have to let go. Let me go get Adam. He can take you home. If you are really quiet he may even be able to sneak you into your room so your parents don't find out that you are drunk," Eli tried to reason with Clare.

"Eli NO!" Clare yelled in his face and held him tight again. She laid her head down on his shoulder and continued, "You are the only guy that has ever treated me right. I miss you. I need you right now. You are the only one that can make me feel better. I love you."

"Stop!" Eli demanded and pulled clean out of Clare's grip. He turned his back to her and attempted to take a few deep breaths. "Please don't do this, Clare. I know you don't mean any of it and that it is just the alcohol talking, but if you keep it up I might just start to believe it. And I just can't let myself go there again. Not now. Not since I've been doing so much better."

"But I love you Eli! I'm so sorry. So sorry." Clare stammered, "I'm sorry, Eli. Please, just, I'm sorry. I love you. I still love you!"

Adam was shocked by what he was overhearing right now. Of course he had still believed that Clare never really did get over Eli, but he never thought that she would actually admit it. Maybe alcohol really did make people admit the truth, Adam though back to Eli's advice about Fiona all those months ago. Too bad Eli would never listen to his own advice.

Adam was trying to envision how he could get Eli and Clare to try and work out their problems when he looked over at Jake and caught the expression on his face.

Jake looked hurt. Adam wondered how Jake could justify feeling hurt when he was the one that pushed Clare into this state.

"Dude, what's your problem?" Adam whispered to Jake.

"Did she ever really love me or was I just some rebound from her psycho ex?" Jake whisper-yelled back.

"I don't think Clare can tell the difference between love and infatuation. I think she was just really attracted to you and mistook that for love. But hey, who am I to say? I'm not inside Clare's brain or heart. Adam whispered and was trying to suppress the nagging sensation of starting to feel bad for Jake. "He deserves this!" Adam kept thinking to himself. "Stop feeling bad for him, no good will come of that!"

Jake was speechless. He sat there staring at Clare and Eli for a few more seconds. Then he got up and stormed away. Adam watched Jake leave and thought that he was probably going to drown his sorrows in some random girl's mouth, or worse.

When Adam turned his attention back to his two best friends, he realized that things were slowly falling apart outside.

Eli still had his back to Clare and Clare was crying again.

"Eli, please listen to me. I really do love you. I never stopped. I'm so sorry about how things happened between us." Clare walked up to Eli and slipped her hands around his chest, hugging him from behind. Eli took a deep breath.

"Okay, Clare, I believe you," Eli lied. He decided that his best plan of action at the moment would be to let Clare say her peace and to get her home safe. "Let's walk. It might help to sober up your thoughts a bit." Eli said that last part more for himself.

Adam watched Eli and Clare walk away and took it as a good sign. He knew that Eli would call him if he needed backup, so he went back to the party and tried to enjoy himself. He wouldn't worry about Eli or Clare until tomorrow morning.

Clare took Eli's arm and let him lead her down the sidewalk. She had no idea where they were headed and she didn't even really care at the moment. It just felt nice to be walking next to Eli and to be able to talk honestly with him. Also, it didn't hurt that she was putting some more distance between herself and Jake.

"I really did love you, Eli, I hope you know that," Clare said after they had been walking for a few minutes, "I still do. I should have never left you in the hospital like that. If only I had realized that you were sick and that you were not trying to manipulate me."

"Let's not talk about that right now," Eli said. What he didn't say was that he found it too difficult to talk about that specific moment in his life. It was one of the things that he regretted the most.

"Why don't you tell me what happened tonight that made you so upset and then I'll see what we can do to make it all better," Eli encouraged.

"Well…" Clare was trying to decide where to start. "Well, I don't know if you knew or not, but Jake kissed Alli at the cabin party. I saw it happen. That's where this all started, I guess. Or maybe it started before that. I don't really know."

"I heard. Bianca told me when I got up there. I assumed that's why you ran away that night," Eli said.

"Yeah, it was. I didn't know what else to do. But, Eli, if you knew, then why did you let me go back with him? Why didn't you stop me?" Clare asked.

"Clare, don't you think that I really wanted to stop you? It was really none of my business, though. He's your boyfriend. I had to let you make your own choices. I was just glad that we found you and that nothing bad had happened to you." Eli decided that he might as well be honest now. Clare probably wouldn't even remember this by the time she woke up tomorrow. Might as well lay it all out on the line. No way it could make the situation any worse.

"I really was glad that YOU found me," Clare said.

"I know. I'm sure it made Jake mad that he found you in the woods alone with me. Probably made him think twice about wanting to kiss Alli again." Eli said honestly.

"No, I mean I'm glad it was you, because it made me realize how caring you always are. I wish Jake never found me. Maybe then we never would have gotten back together that night. Maybe it could have been the start of us being friends again."

Eli's heart was starting to flutter. He had to keep reminding himself that Clare really didn't mean anything that she was saying tonight.

"You don't want to be friends with me. I'm crazy, remember?" Eli voiced his thoughts.

Clare started crying again, "You're not crazy; you're bipolar. You said! That's a big difference. You couldn't control what you were doing, you didn't know!" Clare was getting worked up.

"Shh, shh…" Eli patted Clare's back and then he rubbed his hand up and down her arm, "Calm down, calm down. No need to cry. We just grew apart is all. Life took us in opposite directions. I finally got the help I needed and am in the process of getting better now. And you needed to get away from all the intensity. I understand that. It was too much. I was too much. That, plus your parents, was putting way too much stress on you. It wasn't like you could get a break from your parents. I don't blame you for needing a break from me."

"Eli! Why can't you just understand that I was wrong and that I love you and that I wish I had been there for you? We were friends, I could have at least been there as a friend. Adam didn't leave you!" Clare cried.

"Adam also didn't help me clean out my entire bedroom and help me with my hording problem. And I didn't write a story about slitting Adam's throat and drinking his blood. And I didn't ask Adam to lock himself in a room with me," Eli tried to reason with Clare, "And I DEFINITELY didn't make-out with Adam any chance I got." Eli tried to lighten the mood.

It worked slightly. Clare was laughing. Oh, how Eli loved that laugh.

"So, what happened after that cabin trip that led us to here?" Eli changed the subject back to Jake. Although he really didn't want to hear it, he figured that he might as well know the whole story. Talking about Jake also mean that he wasn't talking about himself and his messed up past with the girl that he still loved.

"Jake and I got back together, obviously, but we had to hide it from our parents again. That should have told me that it wasn't a good idea. I don't really enjoy lying to my mom. Then Jake started getting distant. He never wanted to spend time alone with me. Yesterday I asked him to take me to the cabin overnight, just the two of us." Clare explained.

Oh no. Eli did not want to hear this part! Have Clare and Jake been having sex now? No. Stop. Don't think about that. Eli was trying to keep his cool. He opened his mouth to try and tell her to continue, but no words would come out. He just shook his head and waited for her to finish.

"I don't know what good I thought that would do. I probably would have ended up doing something that I would feel really stupid about right now. I thought that I loved him, and that he loved me. I was going to give up everything for MY BROTHER!" Clare laughed, just now realizing how ridiculous that sounded. "Wow, I'm so stupid. How did I ever think that getting back with Jake was a good idea?"

Eli sighed. He was glad that his worst fear hadn't happened. Why did he care? It shouldn't concern him, but he couldn't hide how happy he was as a smile spread across his face.

"You're not stupid. You are so smart. You will do great things, Clare, just don't let us boys get the best of you. Rise above all of our bullshit." Eli patronized Clare.

Eli stopped walking. Clare stopped and turned to face Eli. He looked so cute. He had a genuine smile on his face. Clare loved that face. How could she have ever thought of kissing anyone but Eli? Mmmm… kissing Eli. Now that the thought popped into her head, Clare could think of nothing else. She wasn't sure what came over her, but she decided that she wanted to go for it.

"Alright then," Eli interrupted Clare's train of thought; "We're at your house now. You think you can get yourself inside safely?" Eli asked.

"Huh?" Clare looked around. They were, in fact, standing right in front of her house. How had she not noticed? And dammit Eli! He had unknowingly stopped Clare from kissing him. She didn't know if she would be able to work up the courage again. She needed to form a plan, and quickly.

"Um, do you think you could help me in? I'm starting to feel a little dizzy." She wasn't lying. Her head was spinning. The alcohol was hitting her hard and Eli's smile was hitting her even harder.

Eli saw that she was starting to look a little uneasy and decided it would be all right if he helped her to her door.

"Okay. Here we are now. Home safe." Eli told Clare as he started to back away.

"No. Need more help." Clare said, "I won't make it to my room by myself."

"Clare, I don't think that's such a good idea." Eli stalled.

"If my mom finds me on the couch she'll know something is up. I can't let her know." Clare pushed.

"And if she sees me won't that be an even bigger tip off that something is going on?" Eli was still trying to back away.

"All the lights are off inside. My mom and Glen are asleep. She won't wake up. Don't worry." Clare smiled at him knowing that she had won.

Eli couldn't picture any way that this would turn out well. He went against his better judgment and opened the front door for Clare.

"Fine. Get inside quickly. And BE QUIET! I do not really want to get caught sneaking you, drunk, into your house." Eli said. Praying to a god, that he did not believe in, that Clare's parents would not catch him in their house.

They got inside and Clare headed straight for the stairs that led up to her bedroom. Eli stood silently in the living room, thinking that maybe he could leave her to handle herself. Just as soon as he finished that thought, Clare tripped and fell up the stairs. Damn. She really did need help upstairs.

Eli helped Clare to stand back up and she started to stumble again. He figured the only way they were going to make it without waking up her mother would be for him to carry Clare to her bedroom. He swiftly threw Clare over his shoulder and ran up the stairs as quietly as he could. He opened her door and put her down just inside her room.

"All set then?" Eli asked and Clare sat down at his feel, "I guess not. Okay Clare, UP. Get in your bed," Eli whisper-yelled and pointed toward her bed.

When Clare didn't stand up, Eli hooked his arms under her shoulders and lifted her to her feet. He turned her around, walked her to her bed, sat her down, and then sat down next to her.

"Okay. You're in bed. I think it's safe for me to go now," Eli looked at Clare and told her. She looked him directly in his eyes and started to lean in.

Eli thought she was going to give him another hug, to say goodbye, so he opened his arms to hug her back. He was leaning in a awaiting a hug when she surprised him and kissed him right on the lips. Eli was caught off guard and forgot everything else for a second. He kissed her back.

Clare loved the feel of Eli's lips on hers. She finally got what she wanted and she couldn't be happier in that moment.

Eli loved the feel of Clare's lips on his. He thought he was losing his mind. This couldn't possibly be happening right now. He must be hallucinating. He was experiencing things that were impossible. He was really going crazy now, but this felt so real. Maybe it was real; oh no, Clare is drunk. Eli finally came to the realization that he wasn't imagining that he was kissing Clare and he pulled away quick as he could.

"What's wrong?" Clare innocently asked.

"What's wrong! What's wrong?" Eli asked, "What's wrong is I just kissed you and I have no right to do such a thing."

"No, I kissed you," Clare corrected him.

"I shouldn't have let you. I-"

Clare flung herself onto Eli's lap and pushed him back onto her bed.

"Stay with me," Clare begged as she attempted to kiss Eli again.

Eli turned his head away and Clare's lips landed on his cheek, "That's not a good idea."

"Please, Eli! Please?" Clare kept pushing, " I just want to be with you and only you. I would never regret it. I promise. I wish we would have slept together when we were still together."

"Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa… Clare. No. We are definitely NOT having sex," Eli tried to move out from underneath Clare. "If you relax and stop trying to force yourself into something that we both know you don't want, then I will stay for a little while longer and talk. Talk only."

Clare conceded and moved from straddling Eli to sitting next to him. She put a frown on her face and gave Eli a dirty look.

"Please don't look at me like that," Eli sat back up, "I'm only trying to save you from embarrassment later on."

"No, you're not. You're turning me down again. Just the same as Jake did." Clare whined.

Hearing Jake's name in that moment made Eli cringe. He would have loved more than anything to lay Clare down and not just have sex with her, but to make love to her. It was not right, though. She was not his girlfriend. He deserved no such pleasures. He shouldn't be thinking this way. He shouldn't even be in her room right now. She deserved so much better than him, or even Jake it seemed; someone who would treat her right and who she could count on. Eli wanted to tell Clare all of this, but he didn't even know where to begin.

By the time Eli finished letting all of his self-loathing thoughts play out in his head, Clare was curled up to his side.

"Eli?" Clare softly whispered. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, Clare." It really was. Eli was realizing how happy he was to just be allowed this small amount of time to spend with her.

"For everything, I mean." Clare verified.

"I know." Eli dared to put his arm over Clare's shoulder.

"Can you please just stay with me a little while longer?" Clare kindly asked.

"I would love to," Eli confirmed as he let thoughts of Clare drift through his mind.