Disclaimer: Come at me, bro. Oh god, please don't.

She tasted like chocolate chip cookies. He smelled like the ocean. Her skin was warm from the anticipation. He felt dizzy from the small moan that escaped her lips, knowing that he was the one who did that to her. He was an expert in the art of the kiss. It wasn't just his lips; he put his whole body, his soul into it, making it impossible to mistake how he felt. It was only a kiss and yet, it felt like so much more, something more special than either of them could put a finger on. Time seemed to stop… and then he did, his breathing ragged, pressing his forehead to hers and his hands to either side of her flushed face.

"Holly J, you're mom is probably wondering why it got so quiet all of the sudden up here," Eli stated between breaths. Holly J pressed her lips to his again, not quite being finished.

"Let her," the girl whispered, those tiny words sending a shiver up Eli's spine. His body was screaming at him to keep going, that Holly J had experience, but he wouldn't pressure her into anything. However, his mind was pulling him further and further from her room, knowing that her mom was just downstairs.

"I should go…" he said as he pulled away slightly to look her in the eye.

"But I don't want you to. I'm not done…" she pouted. He smirked at her, loving the fact that she wanted him to stay so badly.

"And how far exactly were you going to let me go tonight, Miss Sinclair?" he teased. Holly J rolled her eyes at him, smoothing her hair, "What are you doing tomorrow night?"

"I have work,"

"The next night?"

"I'm free.

"Good. It's a date then," and he smirked.

"Oh, a date, really?" she teased.

"Yeah, unless you don't want to date me and you just want to make out…"

"Well, if you insist," and she leaned over, pressing her lips to his again. Holly J knew she was being a bit silly, but after a month of doing nothing but talking, she wanted to really express how she felt, physically.

"I do insist. I want to take you on a date. A proper, real date," he murmured against her lips. She pulled back and smiled.

"You're really serious about this, aren't you?" Eli furrowed his eyebrows at her, a little confused at her hesitation.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be? You are my girlfriend and all…"

"Girlfriend," Holly J repeated, getting comfortable with the thought of being someone's girlfriend again, "I like the sound of that."

"Holly J, I don't hear much talking in there," her mother called up the stairs. Eli chuckled slightly, shaking his head.

"I told you she was starting to wonder," Eli said, standing from the bed and offering a hand to help Holly J up. She took it and he pulled her into a tight embrace, her soft curves conforming to his toned form. She sighed lightly into his neck. This was all she wanted for the rest of her life. She was warm, and safe, and wanted. "Holly J, I can't even express to you how happy you've made me since we met," he quietly confessed. She pulled back from his shoulder, meeting his gaze and smiled lightly.

"Me too." Eli returned her smile and quickly pressed a peck to her cheek. She turned herself around, led him out of her room and down the stairs to her front door. Her mom stood from her place at the kitchen table and walked over, surveying Eli.

"I don't think we've met. I'm Holly J's mom," and she offered a hand. Eli took it with a strong grip and shook it politely.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Sinclair. I'm Eli Goldsworthy," he introduced with a smile.

"You too, Eli. Do you know Holly J from school?" Eli glanced over at Holly J, unsure of how to answer.

"I knew of her from student council events, of course, but we didn't formally meet until earlier this summer," He reached over and lightly took Holly J's hand in his, smiling to her, "I'm thankful that our paths crossed finally. Your daughter is very special to me." Mrs. Sinclair did not mirror the happiness on their faces.

"She's a good girl. Anyone would be lucky to meet her," and she turned, going back into the kitchen. Holly J's smile slipped, knowing that her mother obviously didn't like Eli. Eli just shook his head, wondering why the hell none of his girlfriend's parents approved of him.

"I'll text you when I get home. And I'll see your Thursday, around 6?" he asked, not dropping her hand. She leaned up and let a smile return to her lips.

"Can't wait," and he softly kissed her, not caring if her mom was watching. It ended and Holly J opened the door, seeing him out and watching until he disappeared around the corner.

"So, I'm assuming this Eli is a new friend?" her mom asked in a harsh tone. Holly J closed the front door and rolled her eyes as she made her way into the kitchen. Her mom wasn't going to make her feel bad about being with Eli. She liked him. She knew him better than anyone else and her mom just needed to see that he wasn't all doom and gloom.

"Boyfriend, to be exact," she threw back.

"Really," Mrs. Sinclair deadpanned, "How long have you even known him?"

"Long enough. Like he said, we met earlier this summer."

"So all those times when you said you were hanging out with Anya, you were with him? Holly J, how could you lie to us like that? I thought we raised you better than that."

"I lied to you because I knew you wouldn't understand!" Holly J defended, her voice raising, "I was with Anya some of those times…"

"Holly J, I've been your age. I know that the 'bad boy' is extremely appealing but you're only going to end up hurt."

"No, I won't. Eli is so much more than the 'bad boy' and he wouldn't hurt me. Underneath all the black is a really sweet and kind guy who just happened to have seen more of the bad in the world then other kids his age…"

"You have six weeks until you leave for Yale and you are not giving that up for some guy with a bruised soul," Mrs. Sinclair interrupted. Holly J opened her mouth to retort but closed it just as quickly. Yale. She had been so worried about Clare and being a rebound that she had forgotten about Yale. He knew about her going away to school, she had told him about it, but now it just seemed so much more real. Eli may not hurt her, but Holly J feared she was going to hurt him.

"We'll deal with Yale when it gets to that point," Holly J responded quietly.

"You can have your fun for the rest of the summer, but mid-August, we're getting on that plane and you're going to school," her mom finished. Holly J sighed and took the stairs two at a time to her room again.

It was funny how not even ten minutes before, everything was so perfect and warm. Now, it was just a cold shell. She wanted him here. She wanted him to hold her while she complained about her mom and have him reassure her about University. He hadn't even texted yet that he was home and she already missed him. More and more these days, it seemed like Eli was the only one who really understood her.

Holly J sat down at her computer and opened it up, going to see exactly what Jenna had posted that caused Fiona to get whipped into a frenzy. She clicked through the pictures, each one calming her down a bit until she found the one of her and Eli dancing. Fiona had added the comment, "They look cute together." It was nice to know that her best friend supported her no matter what, even though Holly J, admittedly, hadn't been very upfront with her. She went back to her profile page and stared at it for a second. This was it. She clicked on a few links and made the subtlest, but biggest, of changes.

"Back home, beautiful. Miss me?" Eli popped up in a FaceRange chat.

"Of course. Mom tried to make me feel bad about being with you but I won't let her :(" Holly J responded.

"Parents just don't understand. If it's any consolation, my parents love you :)"

"Your parents also seem a lot cooler than mine. My mom didn't even really like Declan."

"Whoa. Then she probably hates me…"

"She'll deal. She doesn't know you."

":D"

Holly J smiled to herself and clicked around the site, checking in on her friends. Fi had posted some pictures of her and Adam in the Hamptons for the weekend and Sav was still going on about his party.

"Accepted. We are now FaceRange official :)" Eli typed. Holly J's feed refreshed and the top headline read:

Holly J Sinclair is in a relationship with Eli Goldsworthy.

A/N: Thanks again to all my readers and especially to ToastMania, Rochelle, Steff, Lyssa, and Kasia. I love you!