Here's chapter 3. Just thought I should post it since I was already written. Hope you like it! :D Read and enjoy!
[Author Note: It's been a week or so. So Eli is back at school and is just starting to go through the stress of the "New" Degrassi]
Clare strutted up to Eli, sitting by the J.T. Memorial reading a book. "Hey Eli." She sat right next to him, brushing arms. "What's going on?"
"Just reading." He used a slight tone, that caught Clare off guard.
She shot her shoulders back, staring at him confusingly. "Sorry. Did I do something wrong?"
He looked at her confused, scared face. He set his book to the side and repositioned himself so his right leg was on the bench and he held her hands between his. "No Clare. I'm just a little stressed. The new semester has not started off too well as you have noticed."
"I'm sorry. Well I was just wondering if you would want to come to my house for dinner tonight? My parents want to meet you." She asked holding an innocent smile the entire time.
"I'd love to. It'd give me a chance to go somewhere in my own clothes and not this ugly uniform."
"You hate them because you hate colors." Clare joked.
He laughed a little bit, however the happy emotion went away as soon as he started to speak. "I just don't see why I don't have the right to express myself for who I am."
Clare sighed. "I know what you mean. And I'm sorry. I feel like this is my fault."
"What are you talking about?"
She looked at the ground, facing forward and not toward Eli. "If I didn't light that stink bomb. Fitz wouldn't of threatened to hurt you. And make me go to the dance with him. You wouldn't of gotten mad and he wouldn't of pretended to about… kill you." The memories of the "Night in Vegas" dance, effected her expression as she tried to hide her face from the tears that hadn't broken through yet.
Eli wrapped his arm around her shoulders for comfort. "Clare, nothing is your fault. None of it. You lit the stink bomb to help Adam. You did nothing wrong."
"But it's because of me you almost got stabbed that night." She laid her head against his chest.
"I didn't get stabbed, he was faking the entire time. I wasn't going to get hurt anyway." He stroked her back.
"Yeah. But we didn't know that at the time." One tear fell down her cheek. "When you pushed me to the side and got cornered by Fitz. I… I…" She choked up.
The bell rang for first period. "You what, Clare?"
She got up. "I got to go to class. See you later?" He nodded in reply, as she left.
Clare stood in front of the mirror brushing her bangs and readjusting her headband. The doorbell rang and she looked straight at the door, then looked back at her reflection smiling. She patted down her dress before opening the door.
Eli grinned holding a bouquet of flowers. "Hey Clare." Before she could reply he handed her the flowers and pecked a kiss on her lips. She blushed after he grinned at her.
Her mom and dad entered the room. "Why hello there." Her mom greeted.
Clare immediately turned around, "Mom, dad. This is Eli. My boyfriend."
"So we finally meet the famous Eli?" Helen said with a sweet voice, making Clare embarrassed.
Eli looked at her timid smile. "Nice to meet you Mr. and Mrs. Edwards." He held out his hand to shake both of their's.
"You too. Well shall we go into the dining hall," Helen said guiding them to the dining room.
They ate a small talked during dinner. Asking Eli commonly asked questions from a parent to their daughter's boyfriend, but still being appropriate. Randall was mostly silent the time, but all Clare could think at least he's not yelling at my mother making me eat in my room. Eli wiped his face, unnecessarily, with a napkin. "Well, thank you Mrs. Edwards. That was an amazing dinner."
"You are very welcome Eli. Thank you for coming tonight. And please call me Helen." Helen said as she cleared the table.
Clare enjoyed the sweetness and quiet, no fighting. It was calm and she liked it. So she got up and guided Eli to the living room, where they comfortably watched some television in silence for a while. Eli's arm around Clare's shoulders as she rested her head against his bicep, staring blankly at the television however, both with smiles on their faces.
Suddenly the sound of a glass dish fell breaking on a hard surface. Breaking the sweet moment between Eli and Clare, as they snapped their heads toward the kitchen. "Nice Helen!" Randall yelled with anger in his tone.
"What's that supposed to mean Randall?" Helen yelled in reply, however it was obvious she was trying to whisper it to him, but failed.
"Oh crap. Eli you got to go." Clare got up and pushed Eli out the door. "I'll call you." Clare escorted Eli out without even letting him respond then she peered into the kitchen.
"Even our fifteen year old daughter can find a better man than you!" Helen yelled as she cleaned up the broken glass on the floor. A little confused, Clare assumed she missed something as she was saying bye to Eli, on how they got on this topic.
"You're going to compare me to a sixteen year old boy!" Randall screamed.
"Well at least he cares about her!"
"Oh please! I was a sixteen year old boy before. He doesn't care."
Clare's mouth dropped gasping, they shut up. But didn't notice her and continued. "I'm going out." Randall grunted.
"Where are you going at nine-thirty on a Tuesday?"
"I don't know! Out! Away from you!" He headed for the back door.
"You're going to keep this up?"
Clare stepped into view, "STOP IT!" Tears fell down her face. She ran off once there was three seconds of silence. She grabbed one of her purses that were by the front door and ran outside.
Her breathing got heavy from all her tears. She wiped her eyes, smearing her make up, with her bare arm. Surprised to see Eli sitting on the hood of his car, staring at her with concern. No words had to even be spoken. They ran into each other's arms as he comforted her with a tight hug. "Want to talk? Or do you want silence?"
"Can we just go somewhere else? I don't think I can come back home tonight." She mumbled into his shirt.
"Of course. I know just where to go." He threw his blazer over her shoulders and opened the passenger door of Morty for her.
They drove to some parking lot by a park that no one was at. Eli turned on the heater and played some soft music as they cuddled in the back bed. She laid against his chest, listening to his heart beating like a metronome.
She didn't talk much, but enough to calm down and stop crying. Eli was starting to slowly drift off, but interrupted when Clare asked, "Do you care about me?"
"What kind of question is that? I care so much. You're my world Clare." He answered holding her tighter.
"My dad said sixteen year old guys don't care about their girlfriends."
"Your dad is wrong. Clare. Everyone says teenage guys care about only one thing, and that's sex. That's not true with you Clare. I've never cared more for a girl. Even Julia." He kissed the top of her head.
Clare blushed and she looked up at him. Sitting up to start making out with him. She pulled away with a heavy breath. "I think I love you Eli."
Eli's eyes widen and mouth dropped. "I love you too Clare."
She smiled, and so did he. Then they jumped to each other's lips kissing again. She laid on top of him and she begun to unbutton his shirt.
Eli finally got the strength to pull away. "Whoa! Clare! What are you doing?"
"Oh my god. You must think I'm some kind of whore now. You would never want to sleep with me. What was I thinking?" She ranted and pouted as she turned away, jumping off of him.
"No, Clare. I do want to sleep with you. Trust me, it's not like I haven't thought about it a million times before. But only if you are one-hundred percent sure you want to." He said. "But not now. You are in an emotional state right now an I don't want to be a part of something you might regret later."
Clare wiped some tears away again, still looking away. Eli sat up and reached his hand toward her chin, guiding it to face him. "I love you Clare And how I hope one day we do make love. I don't want you to break your faith because you're upset about your parents. I care too much about you to let you blow fifteen years of beliefs in one night."
Clare smiled, "Thanks Eli. I bet most guys wouldn't even of tried to stop me. I don't know what I did to deserve a guy as great as you"
Eli smiled back and kissed her lightly. "For just being yourself." And they leaned back cuddling again.
Hope you guys liked it! :D Please review! I love critique, good and bad! I got to know what I'm doing right or wrong, or if I should continue, etc.
If I get 5 more reviews = Chapter 4! Please and Thank you! :D