CLARE POV

"Mom, can't you call? I mean, really! What's dinner going to hurt? It will give us more time to prove him, just ASK. PLEASE!" I sighed, in defeat, I couldn't deny them that. It's just dinner, I couldn't be selfish, and not let the kids have him, just because I couldn't.

"Hey, Eli. It's Clare, from… wait why would I say that, like you would forget, anyway the kids wanted to know if you wanted to have dinner with us, we didn't think it would hurt to ask, so why not? But we totally understand if you can't make, it don't worry. And if you want to bring your girlfriend, feel free, were going to La Bella. It's a little Italian restaurant, right down the street from my old house you can't miss it, and we should be there by 6, its 4 now, so bye."

I felt super awkward leaving that message, I mean, what if she is like, super beautiful, and sexy. I can't let this shake me. I'm a 29 year old woman, who is worried that a man has a beautiful girlfriend. What is wrong with me?

6 OCLOCK
LA BELLA
ELI POV

I was excited to see how my kids were. I mean, I wasn't there while they grew up, and I've only heard about them from Clare.

I found them sitting at a table, all talking little filling words, they were talking about school, and each other.

"Hey."

They all looked shocked I showed up. I sat down, and say Charleigh looking down, smiling. Coby just rolled his eyes at her. It was cute, and Constance was wrapped up in looking at Clare, who I finally looked at, and she was deep in thought.

So I was curious as to what she was thinking of, but I didn't push it.

"Coby, when did you say you had to be back?"

"October 16th," what were they talking about?

"I'm really glad you finally asked her! I am truly sorry that I made us move, right when you asked her, I mean she is so wonderful, you guys have been friends forever, and NOW you asked her to Lake Hurst Homecoming! And even if she looks bad, I know she isn't, because come one, Johnny DiMarco, knows how to raise his kids, I love them."

It was so cute, how excited she got, talking to her son about girls.

"Mom, I love you and all, but here, now really mom?"

"Sorry,"

"So, mom, if your letting emoboy here, leave tomorrow, for home coming, could Leo come stay with us tomorrow? Please! I really miss him, he's my best friend." Clare smiled; I loved watching these little family moments.

"Of course, just make sure he's aloud also." This made Constance smile, as well."

"We're being rude, hi." I smiled at Charleigh; she is too sweet, just like Clare."

"Hi, so what's good here?"

"Well, we were just going to pizza, mom has a crush on the guy who delivers each pizza, its too cute watching her face light up. We came here last night, and they flirted for a couple minutes."

"Constance Edwards, I was not flirting with Chad, we were simply conversing in a friendly manner, I know him from College, and he's just a friend. He used to babysit you guys all the time."

Clare's smile faltered, and she got up, and pulled Charleigh to the bathroom. Why?

CLARE POV
GIRLS BATHROOM*

"Char, honey what's wrong?"

"It's nothing really,"

"Stop, rewind, and play." Realization got to me as I repeated the words Eli said to me once at this age. My heart beat dropped for a second. She wiped a tear from her eye.

"Well, Katherine told me she couldn't be with me anymore, because she met someone else, who still lived close to her, it hurts mom. A lot." She was crying by now, I knew once she started to get formal like she was, and secluding herself off from everyone, something is wrong.

"How about me and you get out of here, we'll have a girls, without Connie night." She giggled, and nodded, I do this when ever my kids feel down, it always seems to brighten their day.

ELI POV

We had a weird, but somewhat sweet conversation while they were in the bathroom.

"What was that all about?"

They shared a look. "Char, is mad about something, hurt, 10 bucks says, they ditch this Popsicle stand."

He nodded, with an evil grin. "Another ten says that they'll call it a girl's night, but wont take you with them."

"Fine Edwards, you're on. "

"Edwards really? You're an Edwards too dumbass."

"Yea, well…"

"Exactly! So do you know what's bothering her?" I felt a pang at my heart when I finally realized, they're last name was Edwards, not Goldsworthy.

She was typing away at her phone.

"Shi-oot"

"What?"

"Katherine's page says, in a relationship with Jessica Middleton."

"Oh, shit. Mom hates that bit- mean woman." I sighed,

"I don't care if you swear, as long as it's not too bad, but how do you know anything is wrong? She seemed perfectly fine." They nodded, and looked down.

"Ever since we were little, she would bottle up her emotions, and she wouldn't be so formal, she's more loving than that. One time, when we were 12, the Middleton's were holding a birthday party for Jessica, and they invited all of us, but then when we got there, all they did was pick on Charleigh, she acted totally fine, like it wasn't phasing her, but the next day at school, they continued to pick on her, and it was all because some Guthrie boy, had a crush on Char, and not Jessica. To say the least Jessica was pissed, and decided to make Char's life hell. Meanwhile she was just ignoring her, well at least that's what we thought, until one day, she came out of the bathroom, all her hair was cut off, and she said "Now he wont like me, and she'll leave me alone." I was so scared for her, mom made her take counseling for 2 years, and now she's better, but you know that girl, that ran up to you and hugged you, before you even knew her? That's the Char she always is, but when she gets all closed off, we know something is up." It was ridiculous how well they knew each other. (AU: KC isn't Jenna's babydaddy)

When they came out, Coby got 20 dollars, to say he was smug was an understatement.

CLARE POV

"So, what should we do tonight?" Charleigh had a huge grin on her face…