A/N: This is a new story I'm working on. How long it is depends on you guys. I'll only take it so many updates before I ask you guys if you want me to continue, or do the whole (x) reviews and I'll do an update thing. It'll switch between Clare and Eli for a little bit, until they meet. I had Eli's birthday be March 3rd, so he just turned 13. Clare will be turning 12 that year, but for the moment she's 11. If I make it long enough, I MIGHT have something to do with her turning 12. Like I said. It's all on you guys. I got the idea partly from Murder In the Hamptons since Munro and Aislinn were in it together, and also from the picture that Helen Edwards showed Clare in Umbrella(1)
Just so it's easier to understand the order for POVs goes:Narrator, Eli, Clare, Clare/Darcy, Eli, Narrator. After this chapter, it will all be Narrator.
He was visiting Maine with his Mom, while his Dad worked.
She was visiting Maine with her Dad and sister, while her Mom stayed home.
Eli entered the ski resort, trying to get out of the falling snow. Cece laughed as she brushed the snow out of her son's dark chocolate hair. He batted his Mom's hands away, trying to get her to stop touching his hair. "Mom! You know I don't like my hair to be touched!"Cried the 13 year old.
It was the middle of March. They had come to Maine as a late birthday party for Eli. He always wanted to ski, so his Mom insisted they got out of the country for it. Bullfrog had to work, so he stayed behind in Toronto, and promised to make it up to him. They'd be there for a week.
Clare waited on the couch of the resort's lobby as her sister, Darcy, got them some hot chocolate, and their Dad checked in. She smiled at her sister, as she handed her a foam cup with the thick, warm, sweet drink. "Thanks, Darc,"The young 11-year old said.
Their Father insisted that the middle of March was the best time to come to Maine. There was snow, and not crowded. Most of the people were still in the South, trying to escape the cold. The sisters tried to convince their Mom to go, but she was set on staying home. They'd be there for a week.
Eli looked around the lobby, curious to see if there were any kids his age. Since it was March, most kids were in school. He smiled a little when he saw a girl around the age of 15, and another one about 11 or 12. They looked like sisters. Eli instantly took a liking to the younger girl. He now regretted letting his Mom dress him in thick black sweatpants and a big puffy black jacket. He would rather be in a pair of thick black skinnies and one of his more fitting jackets, now that he discovered the cute girl.
She looked up to see him looking at her, and they both looked away blushing.
Clare looked up as she felt someones eyes on her. She saw a cute, goth like, guy starring at her. Her blue eyes met his Green ones for an instant, before they both looked away blushing. Darcy realized her sister's random embarrassment, and looked to where she had been looking, seeing the same goth kid.
Darcy was glad for one reason that their Mom didn't come - She could dress herself and her sister. She had put Clare in a pale pink snow coat that wasn't too big, but enough to keep her warm, pulled her hair out of his normal pony-tail and put a white hat on her with a white snow scarf with blue jeans, and white boots. "You have a crush," Darcy said in a sing-song voice.
"What!" Clare asked, turning to face her sister, her face bright red. Darcy glanced at the goth kid again, then back to her sister. "Him? I don't even know him!" she cried.
"Well go get to know him," she said, when she saw the kid looking at her again. "It's so obvious that he likes you," she added, and pushed her little sister from the couch, toward the boy.
Eli couldn't keep his eyes off the cute girl, but would look away anytime her or her sister looked at him. He looked over, trying to understand their conversation. They both kept glancing toward him, so he guessed it was about him. He didn't hear the last few things her sister said before she pushed her toward him.
Both the kids smiled and blushed as Clare finally walked over. "Hi,"she said, shyly, brushing her hair out of her eyes.
"Hey... "Eli replied back, just as shyly.
"I-I'm Clare"She held out a shaking hand to him.
"El-Elijah. Most people just call me Eli though."He blushed a little more, as he took her hand. Cece always had great timing - She came up behind Eli.
"Hey there baby boy. You making friends already?"She asked with a smile, as she looked at Clare.
"Mom!"Eli groaned at the nickname.
"I'm Clare,"She told his Mom, with a smile.
"Hi Clare. I'm Eli's Mom, Cece," she smiled widely. "Do you live in Maine, or are you visiting?"She asked.
"I'm visiting with my sister Darcy, and My Dad. I like in Toronto,"She explained.
"Your from Canada, too! Maybe you two can be friends longer then the trip! We live in Hamilton. It's only about 50 miles from Toronto. How long are you staying?"She asked.
"A week."Clare smiled at Eli, before turning back to his Mom.
"I love the way fate works," Cece mostly said to herself, before smiling at Clare. "So are we. If you guys want to hang out while your here, you are welcome to."
Clare's Dad joined them. "Clare, Darcy and I want to get right onto the slopes. Do you want to stay here and get settled, or come with us?"He asked.
Clare looked at her Dad, then Eli.
"I'm not getting on the slopes right away,"he mouthed to her.
"I'll stay here. Get settled, and try to warm up. I really don't want to go back into the cold just yet,"she said. He nodded and kissed her head, before joining Darcy, heading out to get their gear.
The two kids sat on the couch, near the fire place. Cece had gone to unpack then go to the slopes.
"How old are you?" Eli asked, taking a sip of his hot chocolate.
"11. I'm turning 12 May 23rd, What about you?" She took a sip of her warm drink as well.
"I just turned 13 about a week ago."
"Oh, so your a big bad teenager?" She teased. He smirked. "Well happy late birthday," she added.
"Thank you,"he replied with a grin.
"Do you have any siblings? I just have my sister, Darcy."
Eli shook his head. "No. It's me, My Mom, and my Dad. My Dad's in Hamilton working. Where's your Mom"he asked.
Clare looked down a little. Eli regretted asking. "She's in Toronto. She didn't want to come. She said it was because she didn't know how to ski,"she explained.
"I don't think half the people here do,"he joked, trying to make her feel better. It worked a little; She smiled but her face fell again."Hey, are you okay?"he asked, setting down his empty Styrofoam cup, looking at her.
She nodded a little. "Yeah. I just... I don't think it was the skiing thing my Mom wanted to avoid... "She said, looking at the remaining Hot Chocolate in her cup.
"What do you mean?"He asked, his thick brows knitting together.
"My parents... They fight sometimes. Well... a lot, actually. They tell Darcy and I nothings wrong, but It just makes me worried,"she confessed, as she wiped a tear from her eye.
Eli looked at her, sympathetically. His parents never fought, but he had friends with Parents that had gotten divorced. He didn't even want to bring up that possibility to her. He put his arm around her, and hugged her. He was surprised how open they were to each other, after only knowing each other for a few minutes. Clare cried into his black jacket.
Tell me what you think so far. I just feel this chapter was right to end here. I'll be working on the next, right after I upload this.