Hey guys! This chapter is longer than the previous one so I am on the right track to making these longer. Trust me, the next one is already almost done and it is definitely longer. Plus you will get a little peek at what Eli and Adam have been up to in a couple chapters. So stay tuned! As always, Read and Review!

Clare's POV

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Katie asked.

"Yes, Katie. I'm fine. Go have fun without me." I smiled into the phone. "I have a whole lot of work to do."

"Okay. But you better not be using this as an excuse to sneak off somewhere." Katie warned.

"I'm not. I promise. Where would I be going anyways? I don't have anywhere to go. Especially not one I would have to keep a secret." I explained.

"True. But just checking." She stated. "So have you heard back after the interview?"

"Not yet, but I was told it would be a couple weeks before I heard anything." I replied.

"Okay, well I just arrived at the band room. So I'll call you after the performance? Maybe we can get something to eat after if you are done?"

"Sounds great. Now if only I could get this finished so I could go." I smiled again.

"Well let me know." She said.

"I will. Thanks, Katie." I said.

I spent the next hour or so working on my assignments. I had three separate assignments, two were fairly easy. They just took up time that I should've been working on the last assignment. The last assignment was a project. It was a writing assignment and a presentation to go with. The essay was a piece of cake, it kind of hand to be if I wanted to be a journalist. So I decided to start on that first. I would figure out my presentation afterwards.

I was about halfway done with the essay when I heard a knock on my door. I closed my laptop and got up, hoping that it wasn't Katie coming to convince me to come hang out. I really needed to work on the project. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see Zig standing here.

"Hey." He smirked.

"Hey. What's up? I thought you would be performing still." I replied confused.

"I told Mo I wasn't feeling well. Maya said she would cover and sing." He explained.

"If you aren't feeling well, shouldn't you go lay down or something?" I asked.

"I only said that, because I wanted to come check up on you." He waved off my words.

"Uh huh. You know you shouldn't lie to your friends." I stated. "Not because of me. I don't want to be caught in the middle. Especially since I want to be friends with them too."

"How will they know I lied?" He asked stepping closer to me. I lost my train of thought at his proximity. "Unless you go and tell on me." He said, stepping even closer, cupping my face with both of his hands.

"I—uh." I stuttered, trying to think clearly.

"Clare Edwards, the girl with the writing skills has lost her capability to speak?" He teased.

"Just shut up and kiss me." I stammered, throwing my arms around him.

Our lips forced themselves together, and we stumbled further into my room. Zig slammed the door shut behind him, and we toppled over to the bed. As I felt myself lying on the homework, that was now long forgotten, I moved it out of my way. I also haphazardly handed my laptop to Zig who put it on the chair next to the bed, before returning to me.

We reattached our lips and pushed backwards further onto the bed, and Zig climbed on top of me. His kisses got harder and more bruising but I liked it. Frankly, because I was pushing against him as hard as he was on me. He moved his hand underneath my leg, guiding it to bend and move around his waist. When he was satisfied by that, he moved his hands to the hem of my shirt.

He slowly traced the edges of my shirt before running his hands up and under.

"Zig. I can't." I stated.

"I know. Don't worry. Pants will stay on." He reassured, before pushing my shirt up.

Eventually my shirt ended up on the ground, and Zig began kissing me again. When his lips moved down to my neck, I had to keep my eyes open. If I closed them and took in the sensations too much I would think I was with Eli. When Zig was kissing me, I could see that he was different, even with my eyes closed. His kisses were different than Eli's. I'm not saying they were bad, just different.

When Zig was kissing my neck, all I could see was black shaggy hair and black skinny jeans. It easily could've been Eli. It used to be Eli.

"I can't do this." I said pulling away. "I'm sorry."

"You really don't get the premise of a casual relationship do you?" He smirked pulling back and sitting up.

"I'll get the hang of it eventually." I exhaled, sitting up. "So are you mad?"

"About what? You said no sex. I wasn't going to push. However, I would've enjoyed kissing a bit longer." He smirked again, running his hand through his hair. "I should probably let you get back to your assignments."

"You mean the crumbled work we just made out on?" I asked jokingly.

"Yeah. Those." He leaned in and kissed me again. I closed my eyes, but I felt him move around while kissing. When he pulled back, I saw that he had my shirt in his hands. "You probably want this."

"Yeah. That's probably a good idea." I said, grabbing it and slipping it on.

"Another good idea would be to let me see you without it more often." He smirked.

"Go." I smiled, smacking his arm lightly. "Out."

"Ouch. What did I ever do to you?" He asked, feigning hurt and standing up.

"You distracted me from my assignments." I retorted, ushering him towards the door.

"You're right. I might have done that." He smirked, opening the door. "So I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Count on it." I smiled back.

"'Kay." He nodded before walking away, and I shut the door.

I leaned against it, not really sure how to ignore what just happened. I was making out with a perfectly good guy, and all I was thinking about was Eli. God, could I possibly get through another year without screwing everything up? I really didn't want it to be reoccurring thing with me, but that didn't seem like it was going to happen.

I was only able to work five minutes on the assignment before my phone started ringing. Maybe this assignment just wasn't meant to be? I had to find the phone because it had fallen when Zig and I were fooling around. When I did find it, I didn't recognize the number right away. I answered it anyways.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hello. I'm looking for a Clare Edwards." A female voice spoke.

"This is she." I confirmed.

"Hi. It's Ellie. I just wanted to contact you about your interview at the Core. If you are still interested, we'd like to offer you the position." The voice spoke.

"Yes. Of course I'm interested." I replied happily.

"Alright then. We will set you up for orientation. How about next Friday? Say nine?" She asked.

"Sounds great." I agreed.

"We'll see you then." Ellie replied.

"Yes. Thank you." I smiled as I hung up the phone.

I couldn't believe it. I just got accepted into my dream college job. How could life be any better right now? My brain started drifting to Eli and Adam but I refused to go there. I wanted to actually enjoy this moment and not dwell on the 'what ifs'. That would be tomorrow's problem. I decided to dial Katie and see if she was still up for meeting up. I couldn't wait to tell her.

"Hey, Clare." She answered the phone. "What's up?"

"Still up for hanging out?" I asked.

"Definitely. Why? Did you finish your assignments?" She asked happily.

"No. But I have news. And I want to celebrate." I smiled. Tonight was going to be good.