Eli's POV
Class finished up and it was on to lunch with Clare, and Adam, of course. I walked to my locker to exchange my books and ran into Adam. He was sitting on the ground, leaning against his locker; which was located right next to mine. He was reading a comic book, like always. I finished exchanging my books and then closed my locker. I turned around and leaned against my locker. I slid down on to the floor, next to Adam. Adam looked up and then back down at his comic book, "Where's Clare?" "I don't know probably at her locker." "And you chose me over her?" "Look, I'm sorry about all this. Clare just…..I don't know there's just something about her that makes me feel happy and like life is ok, even with my past." "And I am super happy that you are not Mr. Depressing anymore, but just remember that just because you are in a relationship, or whatever it is between you and Clare, doesn't mean you have to forget about me." I sighed. "Sorry. I promise I'll be a better best friend." "Ok, starting with this weekend. You and I are going comic book hunting." "Did you just say comic book hunting?" "It sounds weird if you say shopping." "True." "Hey, are we still on to go see that horror movie after school?" "Yeah." "Don't worry. Clare can come; just don't make me feel like a third wheel." "Alright and don't worry we'll lay off the relationship thing around you." "So, you guys are in a relationship." "To be honest, I don't know." "So, as far as you know, you are friends that kiss, go on dates and flirt?" "Pretty much." "Girls are a mystery."
Clare's POV
I waited at my locker for a while, until Alli approached me. "Hey." "Oh, hey Alli." "So, how was your date last night?" "Amazing, really amazing." "OMG. Are you glowing?" "Maybe. Eli is just so…different." "Aw so what did you guys do?" "We had coffee at the dot and then walked to the park and watched the sunset. Well, actually, when the sun was going down, we were kissing. Oh! And you remember Jake?" "Cabin Jake? The guy who threw a dead frog at you, that you dated when you guys were like thirteen?" "Yup. Well, he lives here now and he works at the Dot." "Ew! I never liked him." "Speaking of not liking, when Eli and I pass you in the halls, can you tone it down with the commentary?" "Sorry about that. Just got a little carried away." "Just try to keep the excitement inside." We both laughed. I thought for a moment then realized that Alli hadn't mentioned anything to me about crushing on anybody; which was strange for her. You see, Alli is the type of person that is constantly crushing on different people. I decide to ask her about it, "So, who is the guy of the week?" "Excuse me?" "Who are you crushing on Alli?" "Oh, well…Wait! Guy of the week? You make me sound like a slut," She laughed. ""NO, no, no. I did not mean it like that; I just meant that…well, how do I put this gently? You hop from one pretty flower to the next." "English, please?" "You're indecisive. When it comes to guys, you don't know how to make up your mind." "You're right, but that is only because I haven't met 'the one' yet. Like you and Eli." Is Eli 'the one'? I had never thought about it. Probably because we only had our first date last night and it wasn't like me to get way ahead of myself when it came to guys; that was Alli. "How do I know if he is 'the one'?" "Well, it is definitely too soon to tell, but when the time comes, you'll know," she advised me. I sure hope so. I don't want to think about because if this ends badly I don't want to get my hopes up and then have them crashing down like a stack of objects that got built up way too high to the point of collapsing. "Woe, I just realized, where's Eli?" Alli asked. I looked around. "Hmm, I don't know."
Eli's POV
It was nice hanging with Adam. I didn't realize how much I kind of neglected him. "Uh, dude?" Adam started. "Yeah?" "Weren't you supposed to meet Clare by her locker?" "SHIT! She probably thinks I forgot." "Well, you did." I turn to him and glare, "Really?" "Sorry dude just go get her." I got up and walked over to Clare's locker. She was standing with Alli. Phew. At least she wasn't alone. She looked up at me and smiled. "Hey, sorry, I got caught up talking to Adam." "No worries I was just hanging out with Alli." I look over at Alli. "I'm Eli; I don't think we ever got to meet." I smile a little. "I'm Alli; her best friend," Alli motions toward Clare. Clare looks up, "Should we go?" I look at her and think for a second. "Alli, do you want to sit with us?" I ask alli. I hope that if Alli sits with us then Adam won't feel like a third wheel. Alli smiles, "Is it just you two?" "Me, Clare and my friend, Adam." "Ok. Sounds good." I put my arm around Clare's shoulders and she puts her arm around my waist. We walk with Alli back over to Adam. We sit on the ground and lean up against the lockers. Clare is the first to speak, "So, Adam, this is my best friend, Alli; Alli, this is Adam." Adam and Alli both exchange 'Hello's'.
Clare's POV
"Clare," Adam starts. "Are you coming with Eli and I after school to see the new horror movie?" The truth was that I had never liked scary movies. When I was younger, my sister made me watch "The Shining"; which is more suspenseful then scary, but still freaked me out. I haven't seen a scary movie since; it scared me that bad. The thing was I really wanted to go. I noticed that Adam kind of felt left out and I want to become better friends with him. "Sure, I'll come. I haven't seen a scary movie in a long time." I looked over at Alli, who was giving me an 'I'm not believing what I am seeing' look. Probably because she knows that I get scared easily. "Cool, so we could probably just take Morty if that's ok with you," Adam looks at Eli. "Should be fine." Adam looked over at Alli, "You sure you don't want to come?" "Yeah, scary movies aren't really my thing. You guys have fun," She stated with a smile. "Suit yourself," I tease. The bell rang. Adam, Eli and I walked to English. We sat down in our seats near the back. Ms. Dawes walked to the front and started class, "Ok, pass up your projects." Everyone turned in their partner projects. Ms. Dawes collected all the projects then exchanged them for a stack of papers on her desk. "Here, in my hands, I have your next assignment." The class groaned. "The great sound of excitement," she said sarcastically. She started passing out the rubrics, "This assignment is an essay about something monumental in your life; whether it's your inspiration, a muse, an event that completely changed your life for better or for worse. Now get this in your head, the subject of your essay can be uplifting or tragic; I don't want all of these blissful papers. No one's life is a hundred percent cheerful. Dig deep and do not; I repeat, do not be afraid to take risks with your writing. Your partner will be your editor. This project is not due for a few weeks. I am just giving you the rubric now so you can have time to think of a worthy topic for your essay." Something monumental in my life? The only extreme thing in my life is my parents and there was no way on this earth that I was going to share that to my class. "You may have the rest of the period to brainstorm with your partners and only your partners; no combined groups." Once she finished I turned around and faced Eli. "So Ms. Edwards, what inspires you?" Eli joked. "Without being cheerful? The rain as it pounds on my broken heart as I lay on concrete pavement; bright red wounds on my wrist and my body may be alive, but inside I couldn't be more dead. The only colors I know are black, white and grey; the colors of the sky. I watch as the rain falls on me; ticking like the clock of my life, inching closer and closer to the end." Eli just sat there for a moment; silent. Then he finally spoke, "Woe, you have some serious talent. Please tell me that you don't actually feel that way." I laughed. "Don't worry, I don't. I was just kidding because she kept saying that she wants sad, not happy." "I think she meant that she doesn't want everyone writing about when they went on vacation to California or something not super meaningful; she wants to know what makes you you." "I know that," I smile and then continue. "So, what makes you you?" "I think you just said it all," he jokes some more. I laugh. "Come on. I know you're not all that dreary." "You sure about that?" "Positive." "Prove it." "Well," I motion for him to lean in closer so I can whisper. "You can smile and that's not dreary," I whisper to him. Eli chuckles and then leans back. "Good point. How about we talk more about what inspires us tomorrow at the dot?" "You seriously want to go back to the dot; after what happened yesterday?" "I haven't been able to get yesterday out of my mind; but about Jake, you're right. How about my place?" "Ok," I said with a smile. I was excited to see what Eli's room was like. You can always tell a person by their room and, well, Eli had so many different layers. He is definitely a challenge to figure out. "Eli, I need to tell you something." "Yes?" "About the movie, I-" " let me guess? You are terrified of scary movies?" "Is it that obvious?" "No, just a hunch. Don't worry if you get scared, I'll be right there for you," He smiled charmingly. "Thanks, I was kind of nervous." We both laugh. The bell rings. "Movie time," Eli says with a smile. "Oh boy," I express sarcastically. "I'll let you hold my hand," Eli bribes. "I'm coming." I smile and he returns one too. I interlace our fingers together and we start out to my locker, since Adam already left because he was still talking to Katie and said he would meet us at Morty. I put my books away and closed my locker. "On to your locker now?" "Nope. Next stop Morty; the hearse mobile." I couldn't help, but laugh, "You are such a dork." He just rolled his eyes and we continued towards Morty.