"Get out of that car this instant!" Alli yelled, stomping her foot. But I just stayed still, staring at them with a blank expression on my face. I looked over at Eli and he started to laugh. I sighed and moved myself off of him, he opened the car door so I could get out. Somewhere along the way Eli squeaked. I looked at him, shocked, and I realized that my knee was pressed against his crotch, and I was hurting him terribly. I got out of the car and kissed his cheek to tell him that I was sorry, then I closed the door so he couldn't hear the conversation about to take place.

"What the hell are you doing making out with him?" Jenna fumed.

"Um? What's the problem?" I asked quietly, pushing my hair back behind my ear.

"You just met him yesterday!"

"No, I met him two months ago." I corrected her, "You're so stupid, you've seen us hanging out all the time!"

"And now you two are all kissy kissy?" Jenna raised an eyebrow, "What would your mother say?"

Oh, no she didn't.

I slapped her. That's right, I'm not afraid to slap pregnant girls. She looked at me shocked, "What was that for?"

Alli moved over to my side, "She had every right to do that. Don't you dare talk about her mother!"

"Thank you," I side-hugged her, "Now, I'm going to go back into that car with my boyfriend."

"Boyfriend, OMG!" Alli said, actually spelling 'OMG.' "Congratulations!"

"Uh, thanks." I said as she started to jump up and down. Jenna just flipped her hair and stormed off. What a ditz. Wait, "What a ditz."

Alli giggled, "I'm sorry about her, so tell meeee! How did it happen?"

"Well…" I told her everything in under 2 minutes. She just stared at me, jaw on the floor.

"So you lied to me? There is no 'Ellie?' Whatever, I can't believe it! My little Carly, lovin' like there's no tomorrow."

I narrowed my eyes, "Oh, shut up. It's not like… stuff is happening."

"Stuff? You can't even say the word?" Alli giggled. I looked from the ground to her, to Eli, to the ground, then back to Eli. He was waiting patiently inside the hearse, listening to his screamo music. I sighed mentally and stood up, hugging her goodbye.

"I'll text you later." I said, remembering that Eli did, in fact, buy me a new charger. Her eyes gleamed as I stood next to the hearse, looking back at her before I opened the passenger side door and climbed in. She waved and walked around the corner.

"So, is my eyesight going bad or did I see a mini cat-fight over there?" He gestured to where I slapped Jenna with his thumb, "I thought you two were good friends?"

"She talked about my family."

"What about it?" Crap.

"My um… my mom… She died."

"I'm so sorry." He picked up my hand and started to rub it.

"It's cool, it's been 4 years. I was in 6th grade, 10 years old," Yeah, I skipped a grade. I was at least 11 months younger than everyone in my grade… just so you're not confused, my birthday was last month so I'm 15, "She… was cooking dinner for my dad on their anniversary. Surprise, 'Happy Anniversary,' your present is your house on fire with your dead wife, son, and dog inside. I wasn't home, staying at my best friend Laylah's house.

"After that, my dad got a new job as sales representative for some big technology company, we left Minnesota and started our new lives here in Toronto. Although his job brings in the big bucks, I'm home alone all the time. It sucks."

Eli just stared at me, concern in his eyes, "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything." I reassured him, "I'm over it."

"I'm sorry for asking, but what were their names?"

"My brother's name was Daniel, and my dog's name was Fluffernutter." I started to laugh at that.

"And your mom?" He squeezed my hand.

"Rebecca." I said quietly.

"I'm really really sorry." He shifted in his seat do he could hug me. I closed my eyes and exhaled.

"Thanks."

EEEEEEEEH. The buzzer on the dryer… well, buzzed. I walked into Eli's laundry room and opened the little door, starting to fold the clothes. Eli rushed in from the kitchen and tried to help me. But I was already done, having folded 20 articles of clothing.

"Wow, how did you learn to do that so fast?" He smiled at me.

"My dad thinks that doing laundry is 'womens' work.'" I said while handing him a stack of towels. He went to go put them into his linnen closet. I got a text. It wasn't from Alli…

New Text Message

Dad

Hey sweetie, how are things? Just checking in, I'll be home tomorrow, not Monday. You can expect me at noon-ish. Love you, princess.

I didn't respond. I just shut my phone and walked up to Eli. He seemed shocked as I pulled him in by his collar and, no I didn't kiss him, I hugged him, my arms now around his neck. He quickly put his hands on the center of my back, applying just the right amount of pressure to the embrace. I moved my head up slightly and kissed his lips tenderly. Then I backed away slowly, "My dad's coming home early."

"So you're leaving me?" He said solemly.

"No, I can stay tonight… but I have to be back before 3 so he doesn't get suspicious. We can go leave a note on the door saying something like: 'Gone to The Dot with a friend, be back soon.'"

He scoffed, "Friend?"

"As far as my dad knows, yes." I said quietly.

"I'm hurt," He put his hand over his heart, sarcasm dripping from his voice, "I thought we had something special."

"I'm sorry, but I really don't want to give my dad a heart attack."

"Why would he have one, just because I don't wear, pfft, color?"

"Yes. Exactly." I smiled, but he pouted, "Oh, come on, Eli. I still like you."

"I'm not sure I believe you." He smirked.

"I'm not going to kiss you," I crossed my arms.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. Really." I looked up at him, "Not to pull a Bella Swan, but I'm not scared of you."

"Not to pull an Edward Cullen, but you really shouldn't have said that." He smiled, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. I kicked. I yelped. I begged. But no. He kept me like that, walking all the way to The Dot, not even bothering to take Morty. I really wondered how he managed to carry me all that time. I was definitely not a stick like Alli.

With me still on his shoulder, he walked inside and ordered two coffees. Peter just stared at him, and my butt right next to his face. Nice view, huh, Peter. I scowled. Eli walked over to the corner booth of the diner-type-place and set me down. He made a funny smacking noise as he kissed my cheek. I frowned as he brought me my drink.

"You don't drink coffee?" He said after 5 minutes of me not touching it.

"No, I do. But I'm mad at you." I said pouting.

"Aww, why?" He played innocent, "What did I do?"

"You went all firefighter on me," I poked his chest.

"You act like you didn't love it," He sipped his coffee. I elbowed him, and he started to nuzzle my ear when I stopped giggling, noticing who just walked in. No way. No freakin' way.

"Carly." Mason approached me, his dark brown hair pushed back. I looked him dead in the eyes.

"Mason." I said quietly, "Mason, this is Eli, my boyfriend."

His eyes shifted a little bit when I said 'boyfriend.' His face became darker, and I felt Eli tense as he put his arm around me. But nevertheless, he held his hand for Eli to shake it. I swallowed as their hands touched, and motioned for him to sit down.

"No, thanks. I'm meeting someone." He started to turn around, "It was good to see you, C."

"Right, you too." I swallowed again, instantly sinking back into Eli's chest.

"Ex-boyfriend?" Eli questioned, not bothering to hide the jealousy in his voice.

"Yeah, something like that."