Chapter 2

Trying to protect you

Clare strolled into her honors English class,taking a seat closest to the teachers desk. "Stop trying to be teachers pet" Adam whispered,sitting next to her. "ha ha I just am near sighted." Clare quickly covered,reaching for her binder.

"Alright lets assign partners! As English partners you will edit each others work and ultimately it will make you a better writer." The teacher clasped her hands together. "Adam Torez you will be paired with Mark Fitzgerald."

The school bully,with a secret love for poetry. Adam groaned in disappointment,but smiled when he saw Fitz wasn't in the classroom. "Clare Edwards,you will be paired with..."

The teacher searched the seats for Elijah Goldsworthy,he was no where to be found. "Are you the new student?" The boy in all black nodded,holding his buckled book bag,strutting to an empty desk.

"Alright meet your new English partner,Clare Edwards" The boy quickly checked Clare out,his eyes moving in a quick up and down motion." He smirked,liking what he saw and sat down at the desk next to her. "Hey pretty eyes." Clare took a breath. "Heyyy" She stretched out,trying to avoid eye contact.

"Alright so your first assignment,one of my favorites... The beating of the tell tale heart." Clare could feel herself sinking inside. She tried not to let it show. "Problem,Ms Edwards?" She nodded.

"It's just I read that book in elementary school." She quickly lied,thinking a heart racing story,just what I need. Eli rolled his eyes. "over achiever" He teased,making a cough noise.

"Well then you'll be up to speed." The English teacher,didn't seem to let Clare off the hook. She handed out work sheets and went back to her desk. "So you read it,what's it about?" The boy in all black asked.

Clare smiled at the ugly hello my name is...Eli sticker on his jacket. She caught a snicker. "Well Eli,It's just a book I find completely unrealistic and un pleasurable."

Eli raised his eyebrows. "I asked you for a summery,not an oppinion.." Clare rolled her eyes. "I didn't enjoy it,so why summerize it?"

"Right,because you're more into heavy romance novels,flipping the bean kind of smut." The boy said sarcastically. Clare turned around ,feeling insulted. "Excuse me, that's a really inappropriate assumption to make." The boy rolled his eyes.

"As much as I want to get in a verbal argument about proper assumptions..." The boy made air quotes,breathing sarcasm. "I have to maintain a B average in this class,and you little Miss know it all,can not get in the way of that,no matter how cute you may be."

Clare smacked her lips. "I'm not trying to get in the way of your grade point average. I simply do not like it when people assume things,and make spur of the moment judgements" Eli rolled his eyes again.

"hmm, touche` but it's going to take a lot more than big, ponderous words to impress me,pretty eyes."

Clare rolled her eyes at him. "Who says I'm trying to impress you?" Eli shook his head."I heard I literally swept you off your feet yesterday..." Eli smiled smugly.
"you know what? this conversation is over." Eli shook his head again. "I have to say,though, I'm impressed at the way you dodged that bullet."

"There was nothing to dodge because it wasn't true." Clare replied,staring at her note book. "Tell me Edwards,why do you avoid eye contact?" Clare was stopped in her thought.

"I just have poor eyesight" Clare lied. Eli smirked. "sure,that's it." He glanced down at his worksheet.

"So tell tale heart,ever felt extremely guilty about something Edwards,almost like your conscience had a mind of its own?" The way Eli breathed his words,caused shivers down Clare's spine. "beep beep"

"I have nothing to feel guilty about" Clare scoffed and turned around in her seat. "You're going to be a challenge." Eli said under his breath. Clare turned around. "What did you just say?" She asked.

"I said you're a tough nut to crack." Clare rolled her eyes. "and you're a smug,womanizer." Clare spat back.
Eli rolled his eyes. "Oh,Who's making assumptions now? hypocritical much?"

Clare looked at Adam like, Can you believe this guy? "Let's just focus on the assignment,shall we?" Adam cut in."Who's this,your boyfriend?" Eli asked,looking at Adam. "One of my best friends." Clare smiled and turned back to her notebook.

"Bring" The bell sounded,Clare got up from her desk,at the same time Eli did,bumping into him. "excuse you!" Clare said,rolling her eyes.

"Clare..." Adam stopped her from going after him. "He is so ugh!" Adam dropped his mouth open. "Clare...he's a danger to your heart." Clare rolled her eyes. "quit reminding me." "beep,beep,beep" Adam sighed. "That's a constant reminder,right there." Adam smirked,and walked off.

"Hey man,what's up? I'm Adam." Adam caught up with Eli. "and what do I owe this meeting to?" Eli said,trying to fit his school books in his locker. Adam smiled.

"My friend Clare,doesn't need all this flirting and sarcastic banter right now" Eli rolled his eyes,and shook his head. "Please,she enjoyed every minute of it."

"Look I don't want you messing her up." Eli felt threatened all of a sudden.
"What makes you think I'd mess her up? Is it my attire? My sarcastic nature? Did you make that judgement before we had this face to face conversation? Or perhaps you've allready heard about me from Lakehurst?" Adam blew out a breath.

"I'm a lover,not a fighter." Adam pushed Eli away from his face,ignoring his question.

"Just promise me,you won't flirt with her." Eli rolled his eyes. "Oh,I get it,the classic tragic tale ,of the best friend,but never the boyfriend. Say no more." Adam nodded. If this is what he'd have to do to protect his friend,then he was going to do it. "Problem is she's not your English partner..."

Eli gave off a sly vibe as Adam approached him on last time. "I mean it,you stay away from her,get the teacher to assign you a new partner." Eli wasn't having any of that. "may the best man win" He put out his hand. "How about the groom?" Adam shook his head again,before walking off. Talking To Eli was pointless.

"Clare!" Adam caught up with her in the hallway at her locker. "So I'm wondering If I could give you a ride home..." Clare smiled. "Sure" He saw Eli out of the corner of his eye,and quickly put his arm around her.

"just hear it's chilly out today." Clare raised her eyebrows. "It's still like Summer out,you wonder how that guy wears long sleeved black clothes and doesn't sweat to death." Clare mentally punched herself. "bad choice of words."

"Hello there,Edwards." She turned around to see Eli standing behind her as smug as ever. "So since you spent the whole period arguing and flirting with me,did you want to finish this worksheet at my house,or yours?" Clare gasped.

"Okay,Eli..." She looked down at his name tag instead of at him. "1, I was not flirting in anyway. I was utterly repulsed by you,and 2..." Eli laughed,interrupting her thought. "Why are you so nervous around me?" She's rambling.

Eli spat,picking up her chin. "It's rude to look at the floor,when you're talking to someone." "beep beep beep" Clare turned around. "Right,it's even ruder to turn your back to the person you're talking to!" He spun around and walked towards her.

"Why do I scare you so much,Edwards?" Clare smiled,trying to hide her fear. "Oh there's a smile..."

"Please I'm not a killer,even though I may drive a hearse..." Clare shook at those words. "beep beep beep beep beep" Adam walked in. "Oh shit!" He yelled. "shh just breathe." He held her in an embrace.

"Eli I think you should go..." Adam looked at Eli with serious eyes. "I don't get why she's crying over a missed call!" Eli didn't seem to stop. Adam rolled his eyes. "Take a hint and go!" Eli rolled his eyes and walked off.

to be continued...

Yay? tried to edit and spell check as best as I could :)