Hey guys! Thanks so much for all the mean a lot to me, the feedback anyways. Please enjoy the eighth chapter of "Magic Eli"...
Twitter: TheCliffyG
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Warning: OOC Clare and Eli
Magic Eli
ELI
"Why don't you think taking her out for one date wouldn't be a good way to pay her back? She can pick out a place to eat, then I'll bring her home. She gets a free meal, an apology from a psycho and then we're on stranger terms again. How is that not a good idea?" I asked Jake, as he paced my apartment floor like he was my father, and I was waiting to get a lecture for knocking a girl up, "Dude, you're unstable, how many times do I have to remind you?"
"I don't-I just don't want to be reminded. Clare, when I'm around her, she makes me feel like I'm one of you guys. I don't enjoy being an outcast," I heaved, lying back down on the couch lazily as Jake sat on top of me, "Take her out then."
"Really?" I asked, looking up at him.
He nodded, "Really. You only live once, right?"
"...right."
"But you have to make sure you take your medication before you go, and don't forget you have a shift from midnight to two in the morning. And don't you dare think about leaving me up there alone again," he spat, and I placed a hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry bro, I'll be there."
"Okay, good. I'm pretty sure Imogen says Clare went back to work today, so you should ask her out there. The manager is only allowing her to work certain shifts, so I believe she gets off around six today. That leaves you with at least five hours of dating time with her. Don't fuck it up," I nodded, looking at my grotesque reflection, as I mumbled to myself, "Don't fuck it up."
CLARE
"Ow."
"Ow."
"Ow."
"Ouch!"
"WILL YOU STOP THAT?" Spinner screamed at me, as I sat on my lunch break, trying to eat. But every time I opened my lips slightly to try to put some food in my mouth, it'd stretch my facial expression, causing intense pain.
"It's not my fault," I gritted through my clenched teeth, "It hurts to try and eat."
"I know. I'm sorry I'm low tempered today. It's just, we're busy, and I know every employee needs a break. But honestly, after you eat that sandwich, I think you should take the rest of the day off."
"But I need the money Spin, you don't understand," I whimpered, burying my face in my hands, just thinking about how much money I need to store up for the next few months. My apartment is shit, and yet, the rent seems to go up higher and higher each month.
"Your health is more important than goddamn money Clare! Look at you, you've bags underneath your eyes, you can't eat, you look dehydrated and famished. Please, just take the burger with you to go and come back tomorrow. From a friend to a friend, you need rest," Spin touched my hand, locking eyes with me.
"Fine, but when I get kicked out onto the curb because I can't pay rent, it's your fault."
I threw off my employee shirt, leaving myself in a tank top because it was just too dang hot outside. Forgetting about the food Zig had made me, I grabbed my bag, and charged towards the door. Tears formed in my eyes as I slammed the door open, not caring what customers saw me. My desire to leave on a high note exit was a fail, considering my head was down and I banged right into a hard chest, causing the tears to fall freely and pain to ensue.
"Why can't you just watch where you're fucking going asshole!" I spat, wiping the tears from my face, "Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you...again."
"Eli?" I looked up, and he smirked, "I was coming in to offer you a peace treaty, but uh, looks like you were in a rush on your way out. I'm sorry about your nose, did I hurt it again?"
He examined my face, "Oh God...you're even bruised around your nose, your lip is busted too. Clare, I'm so sorry, I'm very...very...very sorry."
"It's fine Eli, really. You looked like you needed to release the stress that night, I'm glad I was there to be your punching bag. A couple of hits doesn't hurt me. If you ever have some anger issues to let out, I'm your girl," I smiled sweetly, as he looked at me with a twisted expression on his face, "What happened that night Clare...it was an accident caused by my raging emotions and extreme tenseness. That wasn't supposed to happen, and I didn't mean for you to get hurt. I don't hit women, nor do I purposely hit them."
"Okay, but if you ever nee-," I stopped, pain coursing through my nose, giving me an almost immediate tense reaction. "You okay? You really look like you should've stayed home or something today. Your eyes are all-," he placed his pinky close to my eye, trying to find the right words to say without hurting my feelings.
"I know, bloodshot. Hey, I want to do something to get my mind off the pain. If I told you I wanted to do something wild and crazy, would you do it?" I asked, looking up at Eli, who smirked, shrugging his shoulders, "I've got time, what do you want to do?"
"...No, that might be too expensive," I mumbled to myself, thinking of insane ideas of things I would never do, as Eli spoke, breaking my intense thinking, "Nothing's too much money tonight Clare. I owe you, and if you want money or someone to pay you to do something outrageous and crazy, I'm your guy."
My eyes locked with his, testing him, but he never blinked, not once. I smiled, rubbing the tip of my nose gently, not applying too much pressure, but just enough to relieve the intense itch.
"You're going to think I'm crazy but...do you want to go get tattoos?"
Eli and Clare laid side by side, staring into each other's eyes as they received their tattoos. Eli's face never tensed, nor broke gaze with Clare's face as he endured the pain. Clare, on the other hand, was groaning and hissing to every little touch that was given.
"How are you holding up?" Eli asked, as she nodded, "The pain is getting close to unbearable..but, I just hope it comes out okay."
"Almost done here," the guy that was propped up beside Clare, engraving the tattoo into her lower back. Eli stared at him, making sure he didn't pull any funny business considering Clare's back was completely exposed.
"You're all done son," Eli's upper back was patted, signaling he could sit up, and when he did, he felt like he took a breath of fresh air. He smiled at Clare, as he slipped on his shirt, watching as her tattoo was being cleaned around the main area. Although, he didn't want to tell her that her skin was looking a bit raw around the edges.
"Alright sweetie pie, all done," Clare pulled down her tank top, and as she sat up slowly, Eli paid the two men who did both their tattoos, thanking them for the job well done.
"Ready to go?" Eli asked, glancing over at a pained face Clare.
"Yeah, I just, can you help me up? My back is killing me," he nodded, and was by her side in less than a nanosecond. He snaked his arm around her waist, balancing each other out, as she whimpered, "C-Can you take me back to my apartment please?"
"Sure, anything you want."
CLARE
The pain in my back was getting better as each second passed, which I was thankful for, and now the pain coming from my nose was like nothing compared to it. I was overall glad with my decision to get the tattoo, one of the only decisions that I've never regretted in my entire life.
"Thank you for taking me to get it done, I've always wanted one, I just never had the guts to do it by myself," I whispered honestly, as Eli stood awkwardly in the doorway, hands in his pockets and staring at the floor, burning holes through the cracked wood.
"You can come in, you know, if you want. Do you want a drink or something?" I asked, as he shook his head, "I actually have to get going...I have a shift soon at the um, you know, back at the club. I promised Jake I would be there."
"Don't break a promise, go to Jake," he smirked, "Why are you so understanding?"
I toyed with my water bottle, resting my elbow on the island in the kitchen, facing Eli, "Why are you so rational and calm?"
"That's a first," he chuckled, "You know...you're the coolest person I've ever met in my life. You seem so carefree, and like you're floating on a cloud."
"Me? Clare? Me?" Eli's tense face turned relaxed, as he nodded, "Yeah you, you're so...whenever life hands you something, you just grab it and go with it. It's amazing really, I admire you for it."
"You don't know the last of it Eli," I mumbled, "Well, I want to know the last of it."
"What do you mean?"
"Tomorrow night...let me take you out, make it up to you for your nose. Please, I insist. It doesn't have to be a date, just a casual beer between two strangers, and a little walk in the park, or whatever you want to do," he was nervous, without a doubt his sweaty forehead and shaking fists in his pocket reassured me that.
"A casual beer and a walk in the park sounds perfect."
END OF CHAPTER 8
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Hint to Eli/Clare's tattoos: They're both one word.
If any of you guesses the words correctly, then they will get a sneak peek to the next chapter! :)
Love you guys,
Cliffhanger Girl
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