I am not dead for any of you who were wondering where I went. I kind of hit writer's block a couple of months ago and it's been tough to get back.

Oh yea. Eclare's back. They're back.

I can't even

srlekd;k

Yea I'm excited as you can see.

Follow me on tumblr :D : youhad-me-at-helloo

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"Eli, dear, look at this!" Becky Baker said in her high pitched voice, pointing eagerly at the school newspaper. Her eyes were shiny with pride and her perfectly manicured fingernail pointed at the title of the article under Arts. "Listen to this: 'The most amazing play of the year, produced by the widely known pair as Elijah Goldsworthy and Rebecca Baker. The show gave me chills. I applaud the two for having such patience and coordination in producing this. Antigone is certain to be a well-remembered play.' Our first play together, dear! Oh, it's just amazing."

Eli Goldsworthy plastered a smile on his face before turning to his girlfriend. She looked at him with such joy that he couldn't bring himself to admit that producing that stupid play had been hell. As much as he enjoyed spending time with Becky, he couldn't stand the perfectionist side of her. She was stubborn and too preoccupied with minor details. It irked Eli but he wouldn't confess this to the girl he'd been dating since summer.

The two were a strange pair. Becky was a strict Christian with good morals and a tender heart. She was passive and believed that there was a good side to everyone. She volunteered at the soup kitchen every Saturday and helped at the pet shelter every two weeks. She was caring and sweet, but also feisty. You wouldn't want to get on Becky's bad side.

Eli, on the other hand, was mischievous and what people would consider dark. He painted his fingernails with sharpie markers and wore eyeliner, listened to screamo music consisting of the band Dead Hand, and drove a hearse. He wasn't the nicest guy around, and would constantly be in fights with the school bully, Fitz.

However the two connected over drama class, in which they were assigned to write a short play during Grade 10. Long story short, Becky urged Eli to ask her out on a date and he did. At the end of the night, he figured he really did enjoy her company so he asked her on a second date. Their relationship bloomed rather quickly and soon they were dating.

"Elijah," Becky drawled out, running a finger down Eli's arm, "are you going to drop me home soon?"

Her eyes held a glint of edge and mysteriousness. Instead of bringing out some curiosity from Eli, he was a tad scared. Becky was a good girl and he was afraid she'd do something she'd regret later on.

"Uh...well it's almost six and I'd rather your dad not make me ride in Morty's back seat on the way home," Eli mumbled, referring to his hearse and Mr. Baker's strong dislike for it. He was understanding about Eli being different, but the hearse just didn't go with him.

Becky looked a bit disappointed but she didn't let on. Instead she jumped off Morty's hood and opened the passenger door. Eli followed suit, sighing before getting inside. He didn't want to be mean but in all honesty, he was getting bored of Becky. She was an amazing girl with a big heart but besides drama class they had nothing in common. She despised his music taste, as well as his reading selection. Apparently Chuck Palahniuk was too gruesome for her taste, and she preferred Stephenie Meyer. Now, Eli could understand why, but when she openly insulted his book, it went past the line. They also argued over the silliest things, like the weather or which ice cream flavor was better. Silly fights like this that ended in her tears pissed Eli off. Sometimes Becky got to be a bit too much. She was too clingy, too suffocating.

He had to plan out the right moment and end it before it got to be too much.

"Sweetheart, my mom is planning a dinner in celebration of Halloween next Friday," Becky commented, fixing her skirt and buttoning up her soft cardigan. "I'd be delighted if you came. Only if you don't have plans. My dad really wants to discuss that golfing article h showed you last time you came over. It'd be really fun! My cousins from the States are coming, and it'd be a good way to introduce you to the family."

"Well, I don't -"

"It's okay if you can't, I understand," Becky mumbled, her voice strained as she looked directly at Eli. They neared a stop sign but he turned his head. Their eyes met with such intensity and underlying anger that Eli wanted to say the words "It's over" right there and then.

"You probably have other plans, plans with your family, or maybe your friends," she spat, crossing her arms. "I understand."

Eli's grip on the steering wheel tightened and his foot pressed on the gas a little too much. "Rebecca, I think -"

"Eli!" she gasped out, her hand holding onto his bicep for dear life.

His eyes turned to the road and he stomped on the breaks quickly. Before his eyes stood a girl with a frozen expression. Her auburn curls were swept by the breeze and her eyes were glued to the driver of the hearse. She held her hands halfway up in a meager attempt to save herself from the impact.

"Oh my gosh, Elijah!" Becky shrieked, running out of the hearse and making her way to the frozen girl. She talked outside of the car in a frenzied manner, her hands sweeping up in exaggerated motions.

Eli remained in shock. It wasn't just the fact that he could have run over and killed an innocent girl. It was the girl herself who made him hold his breath. She made his hands sweat on the steering wheel which he still held onto for dear life. There was something about her. This sense of security, of familiarity, that held him captive under her gaze. Even through the dimming light and the dirty windshield, Eli could see the girl had icy blue eyes. They weren't cold or lustful as the eyes of many girls her age. They were soft and caring and compassionate and mesmerizing. His head spun in confusion when she turned toward Becky and offered a weak smile.

Eli figured he might as well head out of the hearse and apologize for his erratic behavior, possibly offer her a ride home. He found strength within his limbs and pushed open the door. His knees felt weak and his fingers shook, needing the comfort of something to hold on to.

"Eli! Thank goodness you came out here, I thought you'd gone into an anxiety attack in there," Becky called out, oblivious to the way Eli stiffened at her words. "This is Clare. I think you owe her an apology."

Eli looked from Becky to the girl. To Clare. She offered him a soft, weak smile and raised her hand in a half wave.

"H-Hi, I'm Clare," she stuttered, a blush cascading on her ivory skin.

When their eyes met, Eli was sure that it wasn't normal to feel that way. It wasn't right to hear the blood rushing in his ears as his heart pounded in his chest. It wasn't right for his eyes to be glued to her blue ones. She was a stranger, but in that moment she felt like home. His mouth was dry and he couldn't find the words to say "Sorry for almost killing you" or even introduce himself. Becky seemed to notice, though, so she wrapped a bony hand around Eli's shoulder, her manicured fingers digging into his skin.

Eli flinched but didn't tear his eyes off the beautiful girl in front of him. "Eli Goldsworthy. I'm terribly sorry for almost killing you."

This last part he blurted out, unsure of what to say. It brought a soft laugh from Clare, though, and that sent his stomach bubbling with happiness. The gentleness in it was like wind chimes on a summer day; it was inexplicable to be attracted to a complete stranger he had almost killed though.

"It's alright, no harm done," she smiled softly.

"Can I offer you a ride home? It's getting late and it's a bit chilly. You shouldn't be out here all alone. I mean...not that I should be telling you what to do or...it's just - can I just take you home? It's honestly the least I can do after what just happened."

A soft pink blush crept up Eli's neck and made its way to his cheeks. He never sounded so nervous and unsure in his life. To think this girl made him shaky was a horrible thing to even think. She was a stranger. A lovely stranger though, with the intoxicating sweetness of a drug.

"I can't really refuse, now can I?" Clare countered raising an eyebrow. "But if you and Becky here have something to do, that is perfectly understandable. I'll be fine."

Oh yeah. Becky. His girlfriend. The term made Eli flinch uncontrollably and he almost made a face. For at least a minute he'd completely forgotten about her existence and didn't regret it one bit. He turned his head to the girl next to him almost as if asking for permission.

Becky, however, was already opening the passenger door. "Of course, dear, it'll be no problem. Jump in, it looks like it's about to rain. Wouldn't want to get caught in a storm, would we?"

The overly done sweetness in Becky's voice told Eli she wasn't happy at all. He looked at Clare one last time and truly saw the minor details for the first time. er lips were chapped and plump, and her curly hair was a bit messy. She wore a chocolate-brown, knit sweater and dark jeans, with beaten-up Converse on her feet. It was this last detail that made Eli smirk a bit. Becky would always wear heels or flats, no matter what the weather. It was nice to see someone dressed so casually, yet making the look completely marvelous. Eli saw she had a plastic bag with his favorite bookshop's logo on one hand and her iPod in the other hand.

This intrigued Eli more than it should have. She was just a stranger - a pretty interesting one - but a stranger nonetheless. She wasn't supposed to make him nervous as he walked to the driver's side of the hearse. She wasn't supposed to make him shake as he climbed in and turned on the engine, only to be met with Becky's eyes.

The three were squished onto Morty's front seat, seeing as Eli couldn't really tell Becky to ride in the back. It turned out that Clare lived a block down from him so Becky was to be dropped off first. The car ride to her house was a bit uncomfortable as Becky filled Clare in with all the details of her and Eli's relationship.

"Eli and I began dating at the end of the last school year. We're going to make five months on Halloween."

Clare seemed to be on the verge of laughter. Oh the irony; the perfect snow princess making five months with her dark, Gothic prince on Halloween. The story just seemed to get more interesting.

"We're totally in love," Becky said, her eyes wide and nodding wildly.

Eli rolled his eyes and pulled off in front of Becky's large house, which was on the complete opposite of town from his own modest home.

"I'll see you tomorrow, baby," Becky cooed too loud and leaned in for a sloppy, wet kiss. Eli pulled away as fast as he could and tried not to show his disgust. She turned to Clare and the latter stepped out of the hearse so she could leave. "It was nice meeting you Clare, even if the circumstances were awful. Maybe we can hang out at Degrassi one of these days."

So she went to Degrassi. This little bit of information made Eli's mind wander and roam through lands he never thought he'd visit. He wondered what grade she was in, if she loved English just as much as him, what her lunch period was. These questions lurked in the back of his mind as the young girl stepped back into the hearse and shut the door softly.

"I'm really sorry about Becky," Eli blurted out as soon as he felt it was safe. "She's been...clingy to say the least. I'm sorry if she made you feel all, weird and what not."

Clare laughed softly again. That damn laugh sent goose bumps down Eli's spine and he shook it off by starting to drive.

"It's alright, Eli, she has every right to brag about being in love with you," she said a little sadly. Eli noticed her tone and snorted. She had no idea. She mumbled, "What's so funny? Do you not reciprocate the same feelings towards Becky? She's a great girl."

Eli shook his head a little sadly. "It's a little more complicated than that, Clare. Well a lot more complicated, but what can I say."

"You could say you don't have the same feelings or you do," Clare retorted with a small grin.

"Why should I explain my relationship to a stranger?" Eli challenged, tearing his eyes off the road for a fraction of a second to steal a look at the girl who sat a mere foot away.

She paused before answering, scratching her chin to add dramatic effect. "Oh, maybe perhaps you almost ran over the stranger an hour ago. Not that you owe her anything, much less the entertainment of explaining a so-called complicated relationship."

Eli smirked and turned to her. "You are quite something, Clare." When he realized how odd that sounded - and heard the longing in his voice - he sped into a summarized explanation of his feelings toward Becky. Clare listened attentively and nodded at all the right parts. When they were a couple houses down from her own home, he paused. "Why am I even telling you this?"

Again with the wind-chime laugh that bubbled from her throat. Clare shrugged gently. "I have no idea, Eli, but it sure is interesting. Having no relationship experience myself it's always good to hear what causes problems between couples."

Eli couldn't believe it. "You've never had a boyfriend? Seriously? But you're so...um...friendly! I- I mean, it's just that - um, well -"

"I know, I know, a sixteen year old who's never been out on a date," Clare sighed. "Pathetic. But that's all right. I've got my trusty Palahniuk novels and my iPod, no need for a guy."

"Palahniuk as in Chuck Palahniuk?" When Clare nodded, Eli let out a laugh - the realest laugh he'd let out in quite a long while. "I love him! Invisible Monsters is my favorite."

"I adore his writing," Clare said dreamily, staring at Eli with eager blue eyes. "It's so enticing and thrilling and gory -"

"That's why I love him!" Eli laughed enthusiastically, falling back against his seat.

They were currently parked outside Clare's home. The lights were dimming around them and it was getting cold, even for Eli who wore his leather jacket.

"I-I should...get going," Clare said, looking away from Eli's intense eyes. Her hand stopped on the door handle and she turned to look at him one last time. "It was really..um...great to meet you, even though you almost sent me to the morgue."

"Hey, I even have my trusty hearse to take you there," Eli smirked, patting the steering wheel. "As weird as this sounds, I'm glad I didn't run you over."

Clare rolled her eyes and pushed her bangs away from her eyes, a gentle pink rising in her cheeks. "Thanks, Eli. Um...so...I'll see you around."

This last part she said in a rush before nearly running out of the hearse. She shut the door and began walking to her front door, but not before turning to look at Eli. Their eyes met and he felt a surge of electricity run through his veins.

"Yeah, see you, Clare."

I have no idea where I'm going with this but it's definitely not a one-shot.

Please review! It makes me smile :3

Thanks for reading.