"Clare." Helen called from the bottom of the stairs as she pulled on her jacket. Clare walked down the hallway and stopped at the top of the stairs.
"Yeah, mom?" Clare asked.
"I'm going to the meeting with the adoption company. I'm not sure how long it's going to take, but I left some money on the kitchen counter incase you want to order pizza or something for lunch. Or you can cook something; just try not to burn the house down." Helen smiled up at her daughter as she slid her purse onto her right shoulder.
Clare let out a sarcastic laugh and smiled down at her mother. "I promise not to burn the house down, mom. Good luck at the interview, I love you."
Helen blew Clare a kiss and waved as she opened the door. "I love you too." She slipped out of the door and shut it behind her.
Clare walked back to her room and looked at the clock. It read 11:45. Eli was coming over at noon at bring her to the park. She only had 15 minuets to get ready for their plan date thing. A small blush spread a cross Clare face when she though about how nervous Eli seemed when he was talking to her.
He liked her. She could tell. It was something about the way he spoke to her, the way he looked at her, that made it obvious to her he did.
Clare took out a pair of dark blue jeans and a light brown long sleeve out from her closet. She took off her pajamas and pulled the clothes on. Clare sat down at her vanity and took the elastic band out of her hair. Her red curls fell down and framed her face. Clare ran her fingers through her hair, separating some curls that were knotted together.
Clare looked down at the surface of her vanity desk. She bit her bottom lip as she contemplated on what makeup to wear. She picked up a tube of pink lip gloss and looked to over. She shook her head and put it down. She next pick up a brown eyeliner pencil and opened the cap. It made a loud popping when she opened it.
"I told you before; you look pretty without make up. You don't need it."
Clare jumped, like she always did when Eli snuck up behind her. She looked from her hands and into the mirror. She saw the faint reflection of Eli's body. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and a small smiled was spread across his face.
"I told you before, I hate when you sneak up on me like that." Clare mocked, sticking out her tongue.
Eli smirked and rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Clare." he laughed. "But I'm serious. We're only going to the park. You don't need makeup on to go to the park."
Clare rolled the pencil between her thumb and middle finger. "Yes the park, which is in public. I don't want random people; I don't know seeing me look like I just rolled out a bed." Clare leaned forward and applied the brown eyeliner under her eyes.
"Fine, don't listen to me Clare Diane." Eli said sarcastically.
Clare smiled and set down the pencil. She reached for the lip gloss she had put down earlier and applied it. She heard Eli let out a small groan.
"Why do girls take so long to get ready?" Eli asked.
Clare arched her eyebrow and took a glance at her clock. "Hey it's your own fault. You're 5 minuets early."
"Fine, fine. Take your time, I'll just wait." Eli said.
Clare dropped the lip gloss tube onto the vanity desk and stood up. "I'm ready, you impatient little ghost." Clare laughed.
Eli let out an exaggerated sigh. "Well, finally. Oh, you might want to grab a coat. I heard its cold out."
Clare nodded her head and picked up her black sweater that was hanging from her closet door knob. She slipped it on and zipped it up. "Well…" Clare motioned towards her open bed room door. "Lead the way Mr. Goldsworthy."
.
.
.
The cold autumn wind made Clare's hair blow around. Her cheeks slowly turn red from the cold air. Eli and she walked side by side, making their way to Empireville Park. Eli pointed out a few things from his past along the way. He showed her the bookstore he always went to and his and Felicity's favorite restaurant that, to Clare surprise, was still up and running.
"So where do you go at night? Like, after you leave Goldsworthy Manor?" Clare asked.
"Usually, I just walk around. Visit places I used to go to when I was younger." He said. "Sometimes I go to Felicity's and just hang out there."
"Have you ever left Empireville? I mean you're a ghost, you can just go anywhere you want, right?" Clare asked. She pulled her sweater closer to her body.
"I've never left Empireville. I just… can't. I don't know why, I've thought about it before. But I couldn't bring myself to leave." Eli explained.
Clare nodded her head.
Eli lifted his right hand and pointed to a metal arch that had the words Empireville Park on it. "There the park." He said. The two of them cross the street and walked through the arch way and into the park.
A few teen aged couples walked around the path holding hands, whispering cute words into each others ears. Groups of families sat on picnic blankets and shared food with each other. It seemed as though everyone there was with somebody else. For a moment Clare felt kind of awkward. She was the only one who could see Eli; therefore everyone else must have thought she was some girl who had no friends.
"She's right there." Eli pointed in the direction of an older lady who was holding a camera up to her eye. Clare watched as she pressed the top bottom of the camera and took a picture of a bird that was perched on a tree branch.
Felicity had long gray hair that was pulled together with an elastic band. She wore a long wool coat and a beige purse hung from her shoulder. She was skinny and from what Clare could see, her cheeks were slightly pink from the harsh wind hitting against them.
Clare and Eli continued to walk down the path, coming closer and closer to Felicity. Clare didn't notice a rock that was on the ground, right in her walk way. She stepped on it and twisted her ankle. She fell to the ground. Clare put her hands out in front of her, in an attempt to catch herself, but she failed. Her hands scrapped across the gravel of the pathway. Clare let out a small hiss as her knees hit the ground.
"Clare!" Eli gasped. He fell down next to her and looked over her hands.
"I'm fine, just a little blood." Clare forced a smile up at Eli.
"Sweetie?" Clare heard a voice say from a few feet away. Clare looked up and saw Felicity walking towards her with a worried look on her face. When Felicity reached Clare she kneeled down next to her. She grabbed Clare's hands and looked at the scraps. She then reached into her bag and pulled out a water bottle.
"You don't mind if I clean your hands, do you?" She asked. Clare shook her head no. Felicity told her to cup her hands, Clare did. Felicity then opened the bottle and poured some water into her cupped hands. The water cleaned the dirt and blood out of the scraps. The water trickled down through Clare's fingers and fell onto the path beneath them. Felicity set down the water bottle and pulled out a paper napkin.
"Here, press this on your scraps. It will stop the bleeding." Felicity said. She smiled at Clare. Tiny wrinkles formed in the corner of her eyes, which Clare realized were the same exact color green as Eli's.
"Thank you so much. I-I'm really clumsy." Clare laughed.
Felicity helped Clare stand back up. "No problem. I'm a grandma; I'm used to cuts and bruises." She looked around quickly and then looked back at Clare. "Are you here all by yourself?"
Clare shook her head yes. Technically she was there with Eli, but she couldn't tell her that. "I just came out for a walk. To get some fresh air."
"Ah, I love fresh air. Oh by the way, I'm Felicity Jacobs." She patted Clare's shoulder. "I would normally shake your hand, but I think that's out of the question."
Clare politely laughed. "I'm Clare Edwards."
"Well Clare Edwards, I came here today with my granddaughter. We were going to go get some hot chocolate right now. I think I have some Band-Aids in my car, if you would like to come with us I think I could give you a few for your hands." Felicity said.
Clare smiled. "I would love to."
"Alrighty, let me go get my granddaughter and we will be on our way." Felicity turned around and walked down the path towards a young girl. She looked about Clare's age. She was bundled up in a jacket and her hands were stuffed in her pockets. Felicity said something to her and pointed in Clare's direction. The girl nodded her head and picked up her bag that was resting at her feet.
"What's her granddaughter's name Eli?" She asked him.
"Rose. She's been staying at Felicity's house for a few days now. She's pregnant and she and her mother got into a very big fight over it. Felicity is letting her live with her until she gets her life back in control." Eli answered.
"That poor girl." Clare sighed.
Clare heard Eli chuckle lightly. "What?" She asked him furrowing her eyebrows.
"You are in for it Edwards. Felicity and Rose will talk your ear off." Eli smirked.
"I put up with one Goldsworthy; I think I can handle two more." Clare said flashing him a toothy grin.
"Touché."