eli-gold49: more public embarrassment tonight?

clare-e23: is that an invitation?

eli-gold49: do you want it to be?

My parents were fighting…again, all the more reason to leave. Apparently my dad is ditching my mom when they were supposed to go to church fundraiser together. As my dad left the house, my mom had a worried look on her face. She turned to me, with a surprised look on her face. She hadn't seen me.

"Clare, any chance you want to sub in tonight?" she said hopefully.

I looked back at my computer monitor. I didn't want to leave her high and dry. When I was about to give my answer, the phone rang. I heard the happiness in my mom's voice.

"Yeah, that would be great, see you soon!"

My mom came rushing back in the room.

"Nevermind, Mrs. Johnson wants to join. It's a last minute thing on her part," she said with relief in her voice. 'Thank you, Mrs. Johnson, this has to be a sign from God' I thought to myself. I giggled on the inside. My mom came in the dining room and gave me a kiss on the forehead.

"Don't wait up," she says. That's weird, since when do church fundraisers last that long? I didn't think much of it because I was excited. As she walked out of the house, my computer let out a ding.

eli-gold49: tick tock, Clare

clare-e23: I guess I have time for you in my schedule :)

eli-gold49: cool, see you in ten

I haven't been this excited in a long time. But why? It's not like I'm in love with this guy. I shut off the computer and ran to the mirror and checked how I looked. I fluffed my hair and applied a tiny bit more makeup. After that, I impatiently waited on the couch.

Knock, knock, knock

I ran to the door, but I waited a few seconds to gain my composure…and my breath.

"Get it together, Clare," I said to myself.

I opened the door, and there he was. Of course I didn't say anything, like a dork. He did it for me.

"Hi Eli, how are you? Fine Clare, thanks for asking," he said sarcastically with a smirk on his face. I couldn't help but get a bit annoyed.

"Hi," I say with a hint of annoyance in my voice. I could tell he could sense this. "So? Public embarrassment?"

"Something like that" he said followed by a chuckled. I was definitely confused and it showed on my face. "Come on." He started walking to his hearse as I followed. I wasn't exactly thrilled about being a passenger in his mode of transportation, but I sucked it up. As we started driving, I questioned him about where he was taking me.

"Sooo…you never exactly told me where we were going," I say with a hint of worry.

"It's a surprise," he says smoothly. He turned to me to see my reaction. I smiled a bit. He had that effect on me for some reason. Soon, we started slowing down. We stopped at a very desolate part of town. I started to get scared. He could sense this, like everything else.

"Trust me, Clare, I'm not as psychopathic as you think I am," Again with sarcasm. I groaned. He got out on his side and walked around to open the door.

"What a gentleman," I say with a glare. He chuckled and shook his head. I stayed in the spot I got out in. When my head turned to Eli, He tilted his head in the direction he wanted to go. I followed. We started walking down a dark pathway. I could barely see around me, but he knew his way. I could tell he's been here before. As we were walking, I heard a rustling in the trees. I grabbed on to Eli's hand as fast I could. He looked down at my hand holding his and laughed.

"Wow, Clare, It's just the wind," he barely said as he was laughing too hard. I blushed, good thing he couldn't see it. I didn't let go of his hand. Wind or no wind, I was not letting go. He led me through some bushes and there we were. It was beautiful. There were plants and flowers everywhere. It was a garden! It smelled wonderful. I could see everything clearer because the moonlight shone brighter than it did in the woods.

"Wow!" I exclaimed. "It's beautiful, how did you find this place?"

"It's amazing what you find when you're not looking," he said as he was looking around. I let go of his hand and looked at everything around. It was most beautiful place I've ever been. Then I saw a white bench with chipping paint and automatically sat down. I was definitely drained from all of the excitement. Eli walked over and sat next to me. We were in the same positions as were earlier at the Dot. Déjà vu?

"So what do think?" He questioned.

"It's great! What do you come here for?"

"Well just to think mostly and write, anything. You're the first person that I've brought here."

"Well, I'm flattered" I say with a big smile on face.

"You should be" he says in a snarky tone.

"You sure know how to take a compliment" I say as a retort.

"Ha! You should talk. When I first complimented your eyes, you almost fainted," he says with his signature smirk.

"I still said 'Thanks'," I say sarcastically. Eli laughs and gives me a nudge. I nudge him back and give him a annoyed look. He smiles.

"I think you like to see me mad," I say.

"It's entertaining to see you mad," he replies. I scoff at him and we start play fighting again. We then start fighting standing up. I chase him around the garden as we both laugh. Then one wrong move lands us both on the ground, him on top of me. Great. Another awkward situation. His eyes are on mine. I can't help but look. I hate to admit it, but the boy is gorgeous. He smirks and I can't help but blush. I know he sees it this time around. As I looked down at my watch, I saw what time it was…one o'clock!

"Crap!" I exclaim. He climbs off me. "I should go."

"Okay," he says quietly, obviously disappointed. The car ride home was pretty awkward and silent. I couldn't help it. As he gets to my house, he turned off the ignition. He looked at me and I looked at him.

"I, uh, had a good time, Clare. We should do this again sometime."

"Yeah, I had a good time, too. That wouldn't be too horrible." We smiled at each other.

"See ya" Eli says as he smiles. I giggle.

"Bye Eli" I wave and walk up the stairs. I turn around and give him a smile and walk in my house. I sigh gently. This is the start of a beautiful relati- er, uh, friendship. Yeah.