Guess what! This is the first half of Love Lockdown- Part 2. I hope you are appropriately enthused. ;)
Enjoy, my pretties! That was a command. Just do it. Nike knows what they are talking about.
Okay, I'm sorry- I promise to get less weird in these Author Notes. Scratch that- I promise to make an effort to be less weird…:
As soon as I could breathe again I put Morty in drive and slowly headed toward home. I almost didn't want to arrive back at my house because then the date would officially be over. Clare's unexpected behavior had just made our evening more enjoyable, but I was sure that by tomorrow she would have returned to her normal overly-cautious self.
So, instead of going straight back to reality I drove to the café where Clare and I had spent our first real time together skipping class. The café itself was closed, so I pulled out my iPod and planted myself on the bench watching the occasional insomniac pass by, just thinking about the evening. To be honest, the date scared me to death for two reasons. First off, it was the most wondrous evening of my life thus far, and it made me think that things between Clare and me could only go downhill from here. Cynical? Yeah, it was, but I couldn't help that the thought was tugging on my subconscious, begging to be brought to the forefront. Everything I had ever had that was good in my life found a way to disappear, so why should this end up any differently.
I pushed my dark musings to the side, not wanting them to ruin the fact that the date really was perfect. Even if this feeling couldn't last, that didn't mean I shouldn't enjoy it while I could.
The second reason the date scared me deserved much more attention- the way Clare made me feel was absolutely terrifying. I knew I loved her, but somehow tonight had cemented the feelings. They were concrete now, and to lose Clare would be ten times more painful than losing Julia, and, frankly, the thought made me quiver with intense emotions that I couldn't fully indentify. Clare was like a bright light, and I was the dimwitted moth that simply couldn't resist her.
Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with the need to tell Clare that I was in love with her. I pulled out my phone only to find that it was one in the morning, and Clare probably wouldn't appreciate a phone call of any variety at this moment. I would have to wait for the right time.
I sat there for a few more minutes replaying all the moments of the date that made my pulse pick up excitedly. I lingered on the last kiss, sighing. I don't think Clare realized how irresistible she was, which, consequently, only made her more appealing.
I checked my phone again for the time: 1:30; time to call it a night. I shoved my iPod into my pocket and jumped back into Morty. As soon as I got home I tiptoed quietly into my room, shutting the door lightly behind me. As soon as I turned around I jumped, seeing all the crap that was piled into the small space. I dropped my head into my hands, ashamed that I had forgotten my room was like this. I had just felt so normal, so ecstatic, all night that I had completely dismissed my issues. That had never happened to me before, and I wondered what it meant. I couldn't linger on the possibilities long, though, because I realized I was plagued with some intense fatigue, and I dropped onto my bed.
When I closed my eyes all I could see were tonight's festivities replying on a constant loop. I smiled, and drifted into a comforting slumber.
XXX
The next morning I ran into Adam on my way up the steps of Degrassi. "Good morning, my dear friend," I greeted him, patting him on the back.
"Someone is in an unusually good mood," he noted, warming to my uncharacteristic buoyancy.
"I am," I agreed, flashing him a smile and holding open the door for him.
"Wow," Adam raised his eyebrows. "Must have been one hell of a date," he accurately concluded.
I laughed. "You have no idea," I started, but he cut me off.
"And let's keep it that way. I'm happy you're so happy, but you can spare me all the gory details." I nodded. I could do that. We rounded the corner and stopped at my locker. "Where is Clare this morning?" Adam asked, looking around.
"Not sure," I told him honesty. However, her absence didn't really worry me; she was probably running a little late, if I had to guess. Clare wasn't used to late nights like I was, so it wouldn't surprise me if she was having a hard time dragging herself out of bed.
The warning bell rang and Adam and I went our separate ways. History was nearly unbearable, though. I just couldn't concentrate knowing that next period was my English class with Clare. Although I wasn't worried about her absence, I was slightly dismayed that I hadn't seen her yet.
So, as soon as the bell rang, I sprung out of my seat and headed for my next class. I walked in, scanned the room, but found no sign of Clare. I had to admit that my concern finally kicked in. Where was she? I dropped into my seat, and just as I was considering texting her to make sure she was okay someone grabbed my underarm, causing me to jump a little. "Whoa!" I gasped involuntarily, but then saw it was Clare and a smile broke out across my face; all traces of worried instantly vanished. "Hey, fun first date last night," I commented. I could tell she was in just as good a mood as I had been this morning. She looked like she was practically glowing with pleasure.
"Mhmm," she murmured her assertion as she pushed her hair behind her ear reveling her piercing.
I narrowed my eyes slightly. I had completely expected Clare to have transformed back into her usual self, but it almost seemed like she was still high on her rebellious streak. I decided to test the waters. "Was it worth the parental meltdown?" I asked her cautiously.
"Absolutely," Clare replied enthusiastically; not at all the response old Clare would have given and she didn't stop surprising me there. "So, what do you want to do tonight? Tattoos?" she suggested.
My eyebrows shot up. What was she going to suggest next; that we run off to Vegas and elope? I was starting to get uncomfortable with how different Clare was acting. Something was obviously going on. I tried to reel her in a little; force a regular Clare response out of her, "They didn't freak out enough about the piercing?" I asked her, gesturing to it with my pen.
Clare totally ignored me. "We could get matching dragons," her eyes sparkled dangerously, "across our backs!"
No way in hell was I going off to get a tattoo with Clare. When, or if, she came back to her senses she would totally kill me if I let her do something so stupid and reckless. So, I diverted her attention, "Can we save something for our six month anniversary?"
Clare's face fell, disappointment flashing across her face before she composed it. "That's a tad optimistic," the way she said it made it clear that she thought the opposite; that I was shooting low. I smiled, thankful that she felt this relationship was going to be long term just like I hoped.
"Only because you're parents might kill me first," I reassured her before realizing that was a plausible possibility. "Do they totally hate me?" I asked her, concern making me scrunch my eyebrows together.
Clare chewed on her thumbnail looking sheepish. "To be honest," she mumbled, her hand making her words a jumble, "I haven't told them about you." She winced, as if this might offend me.
I was a little astonished. She had wanted to introduce me to her parents last week until they had started fighting, so I had assumed they at least knew I existed. "Oh," I answered her, at a loss for words. What does one say to that, exactly? Was it a bad thing that Clare hadn't informed her parents about me; was she not allowed to date, or something?
As I was turning the possibilities over in my head Ms. Dawes walked into the room. "Oh Eli," she began, "I don't like the new rules either, but please tell me that you've got a doctor's note that says you're allergic to cotton and kaki." I looked down; I hadn't even realized that I hadn't put on the uniform this morning. Old habits die hard, I suppose. Not to mention I wasn't looking forward to my individuality being stifled by a dress code.
"This is the real me, Ms. Dawes," I defended myself, "I can't change overnight." So, it was a lame defense, but I didn't have the time to prepare a better one. Ms. Dawes had made it pretty clear that I only had one warning, anyway.
"Oh, that's a noble stance, Eli," Ms. Dawes told me sarcastically. I smirked at her. "You keep on being you," she continued, "in detention."
I rolled my eyes. It figured. Shaking her head, Clare turned to face me. Her eyes had lit up again dangerously. "That's it," she said heatedly.
"I know," I said back, just as upset about this stupid dress code, "how can school dictate how I choose to express myself." It was ridiculous.
"No," Clare dismissed my anger, "about my parents." I looked up at her, not sure where this was going. "They should meet my boyfriend," she declared confidently, placing her small hands over mine which were folded on top on my desk.
Considering I was just thinking that Clare hadn't told her parents about me because she wasn't allowed to date, I was a little confused. "Boyfriend," I asked her, "Really?" Was she sure that was a good idea…
"Mhmm," she told me happily, plucking my pen out of my hands and twirling it in her fingers, "for dinner tonight. After your detention," she clarified. I smiled and blushed, hoping she wouldn't mention that to her parents. I really wanted to leave a good first impression, and I was pretty sure detention would not impress them. I looked up to meet Clare's eyes, but the expression on her face worried me a little. She looked kind of crazed. "Just be yourself," she assured me, as if she could read the insecurities passing through my head, "They'll love you." She bit down on my pen before dropping it on my desk, and turning around to face front.
XXX
After class, Clare skipped off after promising to see me at lunch, and Adam took her place by my side.
"You look like someone just punched you in the gut," I turned to glare at him. "Or like a little kid who just found out Santa isn't real," he continued happily.
"Will you shut up?" I asked him politely.
"Only after you tell me what gives," Adam challenged, "Normally after English you're all big smiles and rainbows because it's your only class with Clare."
"Clare…hasn't been herself lately," I tested saying to words out loud. They sounded like an understatement.
"What do you mean?" Adam asked quizzically.
"I can't really explain it," I told him, frustrated, "but next time you're around her, look her in the eye. You should know right away what I'm talking about."
"Ooookaaay," Adam drew out the word, still confused.
"And on top of Clare acting strange, I have to go meet her parents tonight, and I'm kind of freaked out. What if they don't end up liking me? I'm not always the easiest person to get along with. This dinner could be a total disaster," I felt a little more at ease after getting all that off my chest.
"Dude, calm down; either they'll like you, or they won't, but you don't need to stress so much. It's not like you can change who you are just so they'll like you."
"Touché, my friend," I said, patting him on the back. Adam always told it like it was, and it always reassured me. "See you at lunch!" I called, and walked off to my class.
In the few periods I had before lunch I obsessed over every little thing that could or would go wrong tonight, which probably wasn't the best idea because it did not help my mental stability. But by the time I did get to lunch I managed to talk myself out of my worries. I was going to make Clare's parents like me no matter what; there was no other option.
Adam and Clare were already sitting at our table, and Clare was talking animatedly. Adam was watching her cautiously, and if I had to guess, he was no longer confused about my earlier comment.
"Hello," I greeted them, sliding into my chair. I gave Clare a quick peck on the top of her head as I sat down. "Whatcha guys talking about?"
"Last night," Clare told me happily, "Adam asked about my piercing." I nodded.
Adam's head fell down to the table in between is arms. "I wish I hadn't," he informed me, "she hasn't shut up about it." I chuckled, and Clare lightly punched him in the arm.
"We should find you a girlfriend," She said, perking up. My eyebrows shot up in shock. Clare was never one to play matchmaker. When was the madness going to end?
"Thanks, but no thanks," Adam told her politely, shooting me a questioning look. I shrugged my shoulders, glad to know I wasn't the only one who noticed Clare's different behavior. "If I find someone, great; if not, then I'll just have to continue basking in your relationship glory. Speaking of which, have fun at dinner tonight," Adam said, smiling. He winked at me, and I glared at him in response.
"Oh, we will," Clare informed Adam. Something in the way she said it sounded ominous to me. "I've got to get to class early, I have to talk to my teacher, but I'll see you later, Eli. I hope you're ready for this." She shot me a broad smile, the gleam in her eye glinting alarmingly. I gulped, and nodded as she skipped away.
"What…the…hell," Adam said slowly after Clare was out of sight. "What did you do to her last night?"
"I have no clue," I said, dropping my head into my hands.
One thing was for sure: tonight was going to be an interesting night.
So, I owe all of you guys a huge apology. I really have no excuse for taking so long to update, especially considering this chapter was so short, but it was mostly lack of motivation. And I didn't want to give you guys any old crap to read; I wanted to make sure I was giving you my best work. So, can you find it in your hearts to forgive me? I hope so.
Anyway, the next chapter is going to be loads of fun to write. Who's ready for the dinner? I am! Not to mention, that's the only chapter standing in between me and Umbrella- Parts 1 and 2. Those are going to be intense. I cannot wait!
Once again, I'm sorry guys. I'll have the new chapter up ASAP! Thanks for reading. Your kind words always make my day. =)