Thanks for reading! PLEASE COMMENT! =D
Chapter 5: Hypothetical Scenarios
"You invited him over? What in the world would make you do that?" Alli Bandhari asked, clearly exasperated. Both her and Clare were walking to the cafeteria for lunch. Clare was starving, and didn't really feel like hearing Alli question her motives for inviting KC to movie night.
"I don't know. I kinda, acted without really thinking? Plus, it's not even definite that he's coming," Clare hesitated. She was now regretting inviting KC over.
"Well, why don't you just invite Jenna over too? If you want drama, you might as well go all the way," Alli said, handing Clare a lunch tray and then grabbing one for herself.
"Alli, I don't want drama," Clare shot back while grabbing a tuna salad. "I just want to spend a nice evening with my boyfriend and some friends. You're sure you can't come?" Clare pleaded, wanting the evening to be less awkward.
"You know I have plans with Drew. We need some alone time," Alli winked. When do they not have alone time, Clare thought, rolling her eyes. Alli handed the lunch lady cash and waited for her change. "And sure Clare, cause inviting your boyfriend and ex-boyfriend to a movie night will totally be drama free. I love this fantasy world you live in. Can I live there too?" she teased.
Clare and Ali found a table to settle at, seating themselves across from each other. "Alli, I guarantee you that tonight will go smoothly. OK?"
"Yeah, yeah. Well, how did Eli react when you told him?" Alli asked, unscrewing the lid to her Pepsi. Her eyebrows were furrowed in anticipation for the answer.
Clare was just about to open her mouth when Eli sat next to her, and brown paper bag in his hand.
"Tell me what?" he asked, eyes shining with curiosity as he pulled an apple out of the bag.
"Uhhhhh, tell you," Clare began, suddenly terror-stricken. Her mind was racing for ideas of what to say. Now was not the time to tell him about KC. "To tell you that I've actually never seen The Lord of the Rings. I know, it's tragic," Clare lied, putting on a shameful face to make her story more believable. Since when did she start lying to Eli? The idea of lying to him made her stomach churn.
"Wait, what? How is that possible? You deprived child," Eli chuckled, shaking his head in disapproval.
"Yup, that's me," Clare laughed nervously. "What a sad life I lead."
Eli smiled, and opened his lunch bag again. She studied his hands, finding his intricate rings and black fingernails to be such a turn-on. "Well, now that I'm in it," Eli added, "it looks like it took a turn for the better. You have much to learn, little hobbit" playfully nudging Clare with his arm.
"Oh, yes you do Clare," Alli teased with playful eyes. Clare glared at her, wanting to put duct tape over Alli's mouth.
Maybe it wasn't a good idea to tell Eli. What if, in telling Eli, he calls the whole evening off? Clare was running out of time to make a decision, given that the school day was almost over. How would Eli react if KC just showed up? That might ensue the drama that Alli was talking about, Clare thought, taking a bite of her tuna salad as Eli tried explaining the plot of The Lord of the Rings, a plot which Clare was already familiar with. She made sure to intersperse an appropriate head-nod and "Oh, ok, I get it" throughout his explanation.
What hurt Clare more than the fact that she had lied to him and was keeping KC a secret, was the fact that Eli believed her. He trusted her, and right now, she was taking advantage of that trust. She felt dirty and gross. Clare decided that her guilt was far stronger than her fear of his reaction.
"Eli."
"Clare." Eli put his arms on the lunch table and turned his head towards Clare, waiting for her to speak. She looked nervous, which concerned him.
"I have a hypothetical scenario for you." Clare thought it best to test the water before she dove in. "Let's say I invited KC to movie night. How would you react?"
Eli paused a moment. "You mean the sleazebag who took your heart, threw it on the ground, stomped on it, kicked it in the gutter –"
"Eli!" Alli interrupted, "She get's it."
"So it would be bad?" Clare reiterated. She started digging her fingernails into her arm to keep from freaking out.
"Um, just a little," Eli answered sarcastically. "This is a very random 'hypothetical scenario'," he added, making air quotes when he said hypothetical scenario. He made no effort to hide his suspicion.
Clare looked defeated. "Well – "
"Well, I wanted to know," Alli cut in, saving Clare. "Clare asked cause I was too nervous. Me and my nosiness." Clare let out a sigh and mouthed "thank you" to Alli when Eli wasn't looking.
"Huh," was all Eli could muster.
Well, Clare thought, there's no way I can tell him now. And, it would be rude to uninvited KC, especially since he seemed to be trying so hard to be decent. Looks like tonight is gonna be a hell of a night, Clare thought, sipping her water like she had something to hide. And Eli didn't even know it.