I'm baaaack! Haha!

Goodness, I'm so terribly sorry for leaving this story for so long-for leaving Fanfiction for so long! I've been so busy with school and extra activities that I haven't had any time! But now I have yayayay!

HI!

So I hope I still have some readers, that'd honestly be awesome.

I had written this chapter months ago, well what would have been this chapter, except the 60 day rule deleted it, and I vaugely remember the direction I had gone with it, so I just kind of wrote this.

I don't really like it-sorry if it's painful to read.

Eli's words replayed in her head; "It's always been you," and for some reason, it made her breath hitch.

Clare took a breath locking eyes with his as she tried to figure why. Eli had always had some sort of assurance in his voice when he'd speak to her, but this time it was different.

Eli sounded credible.

Millions of times he had told her such things, but, Clare never truly believed him, or was led to believe that he was just speaking through insanity. However, this was different. His voice rang with honesty-it was telling, sincere, and candid. He sounded as if he knew what he saying. Eli sounded as if he actually meant it. There was no acting, joking, no punch line, it was real.

Clare bit her lip. "It's always been you," her conscience repeated. It was everything any girl could dream of hearing, especially by someone with Eli's looks. And in such a bold tone? So sexy. Immediately, Clare wanted to crash her lips onto his, to run her fingers through his hair, to feel his rough skin against hers, to taste him, to smell him, to be wrapped up in him.

The moment was, to be summed up, perfect. He himself was ironically perfect. Everything he had done for her, everything he had said, was perfect. Clare wanted noting more to celebrate the moment.

But, she couldn't. Clare couldn't let herself.

Clare couldn't tell what exactly what was wrong, she couldn't form her thoughts into words. She didn't know what to say. At a loss, all she could do was merely grumble a quiet; "Ugh."

This was not the response Eli was shooting for.

"Oh." He quickly sucked on his bottom lip, nodding d. his head as he took in the moment. "Huh. Alright then." Eli clasped his hands together feeling awkward. "Maybe I shouldn't have said that then…" his voice died off.

"No, no it's not that!" Clare cried earnestly. "It's not you, it's-"

Eli narrowed his eyes. "Please, save the clichés for someone who'll actually believe them." He cut her off quickly.

"Ugh okay, I know that sounded bad-but it's not what you think." Clare threw her hands up in defense.

"Hm, well-here I am being honest with you, and you merely respond with an Ugh. Now Clare, what am I supposed to think?" Eli feigned interest. "Enlighten me, please!" he drawled sarcastically.

"Eli stop, that's not fair." She replied curtly, holding her ground. "You know that's not what I mean."

Eli's face relaxed from annoyance to understanding. He felt foolish for jumping all over her. Instead of saying anything, he expectantly waited for her to speak.

"It's just…" Clare couldn't find her voice to finish her sentence. She closed her eyes in defeat.

Eli looked down and fiddled with his hands. "Jake…" he guessed softly. Clare looked up at him and nodded.

'Beep.' 'Beep.' 'Beep.'

The two stared at the ringing phone, but none made an effort to get it. Instead, Eli returned his gaze to Clare, and she followed suit. She wasn't going to let her phone, or that person texting her, ruin a moment ever again.

Eli's flashed a smirk dripping with amusement. "Clare, if you have failed to remember, less than five minutes ago you were crying over me. Not Jake. And an hour ago? Jake wasn't the one you were kissing…" his eyes twinkled deviously, with a suggestive air about him.

Clare couldn't help but smile lightly. "I know, you're right, you're right. I just feel bad about him and you. I don't deserve either one of you, to be honest, with the way I'm acting. You're just being so perfect and I just…I don't deserv-"

Eli rolled his eyes amusingly. "Clare, you're life doesn't have to be some sort of Lifetime movie." He quipped with a smirk, causing another light smile to appear on Clare's face. "I don't know why you're making this into a big deal. It doesn't need to be this complicated." His voice was soft, honest. "If you really like Jake-then sweet, I'll just have to try to get over you. But as of right now? At this moment? The only girl I want to ever like and be with is, you Clare."

Clare's heart swooned. How could you be so…perfect? Her mind screamed at her to say to him, but she felt it wouldn't do him justice. Instead, Clare crawled over to Eli, looking at him sensually. His features were soft, relaxed. For once, his eyes looked vulnerable. She closed her eyes and leaned in.

Their lips hovered over one another, and Clare felt a calming chill as his cold breath washed her lips, her warm breath mixed with his, creating the perfect temperature. She wanted to kiss him. He wanted to kiss her.

"Wait." Clare breathed, pulling away from him.

Eli raised a brow in puzzlement. "What?" he whispered.

Clare bit her lip. "What about Imogen…?" her voice was meek and vulnerable.

Eli smirked in amusement causing horror to be painted upon Clare's face. "Imogen who?" he raised his brows suggestively. Clare's face calmed and she let out a giggle.

She leaned in preparing for the kiss, and instead she felt Eli's arms around her, pulling her close in a warm embrace.

"I know you thought I was going to kiss you," he whispered in her ear. "But I want you to be caught off guard next time I do. And I want to remember this moment, holding you like this, for forever."

Clare closed her eyes smiling, snuggling her head into Eli's shoulder. As much as she had wanted to finally kiss him and taste him, this was even better. Just being as close to him she was, having his arms around her and protecting her satisfied her more than anything imaginable. She didn't even care they were still lost, she wouldn't have wanted to be any where other than where they were right at that moment.

Together.

And the moment was, again, perfect.

So, there we go.

Major fluff haha! Sorry if this chapter is just ugh terrible! Please give me some feedback!

I've been really looking for some good stories to read, so if you want me to read your story just let me know! That'd really be great.

Thanks for reading, hope you didn't cringe!

xxMarie