Warning this is going to be dramatic. yup,you've been warned :)

Chapter 12

True Colors part 1

"What do you think,the pink,the periwinkle,the peach?" Ally smiled. "The strapless." Ally suggested,holding up a baby blue corsetted bodice,with royal blue ribbons and beaded accents. "Ally,it's a little..." She started. "It's prom,baby live a little." Clare took a breath. "I can't believe he asked me." Clare blurted,a smile approaching her lips. Ally rolled her eyes. "The only reason he hasn't jumped you yet,is because he knows your heart is too fragile for that. I'm pretty sure you met your,uhhh..." Ally thought. "What those romantic novels talk about...help me out here..." She giggled.

"Soul mate?" Clare asked. "I doubt that...besides you'd be foolish to believe in that." Clare rolled her eyes. "Seeing is believing,believing is seeing. Come on at least try it on!" Ally begged. Clare swiveled her head in agreement and went into the change room. "quoting the Santa Claus?" Clare giggled. She pulled the dress on. "Lace it up!" Clare ordered. Ally tied the x ribbons around Clare's back.

"Owgh,not so tight!" Clare complained. "I need my circulation,to keep my heart pumping." Ally smiled. "okay,go look in the mirror now!" Clare picked up the large fluffy skirt and walked over to the long mirrors. "Whoa" Clare said.

"My thoughts,exactly." Adam cut in. "you look incredible." Clare could see the sincerity in his eyes. He licked his lips and walked over to the tuxedo section. "He's so jealous of Eli." Ally said,flipping through a bridal magazine. Clare looked around to make sure Adam wasn't listening. "I know he has some feelings,but they will evolve,don't worry." Ally rolled her eyes. "Eli's won't." Ally coughed.

"Just think,Clare pretty soon we'll be shopping for a wedding dress." Clare laughed at the thought,as she spun around in her prom dress.

"You don't think it's too showy? you know simpler is better?" Ally shook her head. "I think it's perfect." Ally commented. "I think Eli's in love" Ally said under her breath."Whoa what?" Clare asked surprised. "Trust me he's in love with you." Clare rolled her eyes. "How do you know?" Ally smiled. "I have my ways..." She boasted.

"Stop,thinking that." Ally snapped her fingers. Clare bit her lip in worry. "Thinking what?" Clare asked innocently.

"That he has some kind of ulterior motive,that he's going to dump you at prom,that Jenna hired him to fake falling in love with you." Clare jittered nervously,falling to the cushioned chair in the dressing room. "I can't think that way,that's being paranoid,but yah Jenna does like to make my life a living hell,and he took that I was dying rather well..." Clare thought outloud.

"Oh no,baby don't go there..." Clare shut her eyes. "Please God! don't let it be that,please don't let it be that." She mumbled. Ally rubbed her back. "Oh no,I've planted a horrible idea in your head." Clare was overcome with a bunch of worries. "beep beep beep" Adam heard the beeping and rushed into the dressing room. "What's wrong? the price too high?" Adam asked,looking at a distressed Clare.

"I mean,she told the whole school I was dying,took KC away from me,and..." Adam's eyes shot open at the site. "Whoa,no, no don't think that. I think Eli cares for you. I mean it." Adam said that ,even though part of him was wondering the same thing.

Clare shook her head. "What if he does have some kind of an ulterior motive?" Clare questioned. "Clare,I think it's scaring you,that you want to be with him,and you're going to look for some way out of that,by trying to convince yourself that's he's a horrible person." Ally said, laughing. "Babe,face it your over protective of yourself." Adam added. "I hope your right" Clare bit her finger,trying to keep herself from saying more.

"Everything alright?" The sales lady asked. "yup just the making of a paranoid prom queen." Adam joked. The sales lady stared at Clare. "We'll take this one." Ally said. "Take your time." The lady said.

"Well I'm out of here...I have homework to finish. Have fun at your slumber party,ladies." Adam announced. "okay" Clare and Ally waved,as Adam went to his car,searching through a phone book for Eli's address.

Eli was at home watching a horror movie,when he heard the doorbell. He paused his DVD and went to the door. "Adam?" He thought looking out the window,opening the door. "So what brings you to the neighborhood?" Eli asked. "I need to talk to you." Eli noted how Adam's face was a scowl,his eyebrows furrowed.

"Okay,You're apparently pissed off,so we're talking outside." Eli grabbed his leather jacket and went out to his porch.

Adam shook his head. "Tell me I'm wrong,okay?" Adam asked furious. "I sat for hours trying to think about why you would want to be with a girl who is dying. I'm sorry,maybe I'm just over protective of her,and I feel so stupid for not noticing this sooner,but what do you want with Clare,Eli?" Adam shook his finger at him.

"You are supporitive of her,over her house all the time,you were going to give away your heart! I mean Eli it's not adding up." Adam sat down on the porch swing. Eli raised his brows,bringing his hands behind his head.

"Well for starters,the doctor said she needs support right now. Secondly she's my english partner,and I was just aquiring about it,I wasn't going to do something that drastic!" Eli shook his head.

"Why is it so hard to believe that I want to be with her? Just a few days ago,you were telling me I was in love with her or something. Oh and just yesterday you were helping me to ask her to prom." Eli said. Adam shook his head.

"Look,all you have to say is you're wrong Adam. Eli,did someone put you up to this? I seriously doubt that you're in love with her,and if Jenna or KC put you up to this,then please don't hurt her anymore. Don't go to prom if you're just planning on hurting her."

Eli rolled his eyes. "I have no intention of hurting her! I don't even know Jenna or KC!" Eli yelled. He held onto the railings of the steps. "Tell me the truth,because if you hurt her I swear!" Adam put his finger up. "you'll what?" Eli asked,his threat not phasing him. Adam snickered. "The last guy to hurt her,let's just say I got rid of." Eli rolled his eyes. "I already told you,I'm not planning on hurting her." Eli repeated.

Adam blew out a breath.

"Then leave her alone." Adam warned. "I can't do that!" Eli yelled. "Why not!" Adam asked. "to tell or not to tell my nemisis my dark secret,now that's a dilliema." Eli

spat. "Tell me,I won't tell Clare."

"You know why,you sent me an IM last night..." Eli said. Adam raised his eyebrows in confusion. "huh,I didn't send you an IM last night." Adam said.

"Then who did?" Eli asked. The two pondered the thought. "Look, I'm..." Eli said. Adam listened to Eli attentively,thinking about how he could use this against him later.

Clare held her baby blue dress in her hands,smiling. "I really hope you're right" Clare said. Ally smiled. "I can't believe after all that you went with this one." Clare smiled. "simpler is better,and easier to run away in." Ally rolled her eyes.

"Well you're going to look beautiful in whatever you wear,cause you're gorgeous." Ally smiled. "Well hopefully this is not a down payment on another heart break." Clare said,slipping the dress into her closet.

"Ding Dong" Ally smiled. "I'll get it,probably just the celebration dinner I ordered." Ally slipped on a pair of fluffy slippers and went to the door. "Adam?" Ally asked.

He looked worried. "I have to talk to Clare" he said,walking into the house. "Adam? What you doing crashing our slumber party?" Clare made her way down the stairs in her puppy pajamas. "what's going on?"

Clare asked. "It's not easy for me to tell you this Clare,but you were right,Eli is a bad guy. I went over there to talk to him,and he's planning on standing you up. Apparentally he only stuck around this long because he couldn't afford to flunk out of english. He thinks you're a depressing wreck,and he pitties you. I told him if he knew what was good for him,he would leave you alone." Ally rolled her eyes. Clare gasped,as her worst fear was realized.

"I guess I'll return the dress then." She said in a low breath,tears cornering her eyes. Adam quickly stood up. "No,don't do that. My friends at lakehurst invited us to their prom,so we can all go as a group and that way it will be easier. You can forget about Eli." Clare nodded. Ally rolled her eyes. Why is Adam feeding her lies? Why was Clare believing them?

"okay,guess that sounds alright." Clare said,trying to hide her hurt. "yah,so um just give me a minute." Clare ran up the stairs. "beep beep beep" "I knew it Mr Deadsworthy,you didn't care about me,you were using me,you were planning on standing me up at prom,and!" "ugh!" She yelled,picking up his book,shoving it into a droor.

"Of course,all lies. This is probably the lowest anyone has ever sank!" She gasped for breath,throwing random items around her room. "Clare!" Ally yelled,grabbing a hold of her. "beep beep beep"

"Why does this happen to me! There is no such thing as a good guy!" "beep beep beep" Clare batted Ally away. "Clare,listen to me please!" Ally argued,trying to hold Clare back. Clare broke away. "I'm done!" Clare yelled,and raced down the stairs. "beep beep beep beep"

"He made me think he was one of the only things I had to live for! That jerk! That egotistical,sarcastic,hearse driving jerk!" She grabbed her jacket and went out the padio doors. "Clare!" Ally yelled. "Adam do something!" Adam ran after her. "Stop Clare!" Clare shook her head. "I want out" She yelled,and ran down the street.

"Bring Bring" Ally searched for the cordless phone."Hello" "Mrs. Edwards,we believe you are a match." Ally dropped the phone. "Oh God!" She said. Adam grabbed his car keys off the table. "You tell her you lied to her! you tell her that you are the jerk here,and if she lost all hope in men,it's because of you! Because you couldn't stand the fact that she was falling for a guy who was a better man than you!" Ally yelled at Adam. Adam rolled his eyes angrily,and rushed to his station wagon. Ally picked up the phone. "Hello,you still there?"

to be continued...